UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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):

January 14, 2015

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Maryland

No. 001-36523

No. 47-6311266

(State or Other

(Commission

(IRS Employer

Jurisdiction of

File Number)

Identification No.)

Incorporation)

 

 

 

888 Seventh Avenue

 

New York, New York

10019

(Address of Principal Executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 956-2556

 

Former name or former address, if changed since last report: N/A

 

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 (see General Instructions A.2.):

 

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 2.01              Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

On January 14, 2015, Urban Edge Properties (the “Company”) and Urban Edge Properties LP (the “Partnership”) entered into a separation and distribution agreement (the “Separation and Distribution Agreement”) with Vornado Realty Trust (“Vornado”) and Vornado Realty L.P. (“VRLP”), pursuant to which Vornado and VRLP agreed to transfer certain assets and liabilities to the Company (the “Separation”) and to distribute 100% of the outstanding common shares of the Company, par value $0.01 (the “Common Shares”), to holders of Vornado common shares and holders of VRLP common limited partnership units in tax-free distributions (the “Distribution”).  The Distribution took place on January 15, 2015 in the form of (i) a distribution by Vornado of one Common Share for every two common shares of Vornado held of record as of the close of business on January 7, 2015 (the “Record Date”) and (ii) a distribution by VRLP immediately prior to the distribution by Vornado of one Common Share for every two common limited partnership units of VRLP held of record as of the close of business on the Record Date.  As a result of the Distribution, the Company is now an independent public company trading under the symbol “UE” on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

 

The Company filed a Registration Statement on Form 10 with the Securities and Exchange Commission describing the Separation and Distribution that was declared effective on December 30, 2014.  The Company’s Information Statement, dated December 30, 2014 (the “Information Statement”), which was filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 31, 2014, described for shareholders the details of the Separation and Distribution and provided information as to the business and management of the Company.  Such information was provided in the sections entitled “The Separation,” “Business” and “Management” in the Information Statement, which sections are incorporated herein by reference.  The Information Statement was mailed to the holders of Vornado common shares and VRLP common limited partnership units as of the Record Date.

 

In connection with the Separation and Distribution, and in addition to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries entered into several agreements with Vornado on January 15, 2015, including the following agreements:

 

·                   Transition Services Agreement

·                   Tax Matters Agreement

·                   Employee Matters Agreement.

 

In addition, on January 15, 2015, the Partnership entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with certain lenders.

 

The Information Statement provides descriptions of the terms of each of the above agreements in the sections entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” and “Description of Material Indebtedness,” which descriptions are incorporated herein by reference, 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 2.01 related to the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02              Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

In connection with the Separation and Distribution, on January 15, 2015, the Company issued 99,246,806 Common Shares to VRLP in exchange for the contribution by VRLP of interests in certain of its properties (including interest in entities holding properties).  In addition, the Partnership issued 5,717,184 of its common partnership units (the “Units”) to VRLP in exchange for the contribution to the Partnership by VRLP of interests in certain of its properties (including interest in entities holding properties).  The Common Shares and Units issued to VRLP were issued in reliance upon an exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which exempts transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering.  Neither of these offerings was a “public offering” because only one person was involved in each transaction, neither the Company nor the Partnership has engaged in general solicitation or advertising with regard to the issuance and sale of the Common Shares and Units to VRLP and neither the Company nor the Partnership has offered securities to the public in connection with such issuances and sales to VRLP.

 

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Item 5.01              Change in Control of Registrant.

 

On January 15, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), the previously announced spin-off of the Company from Vornado was completed.  One Common Share was distributed to shareholders of record of Vornado for every two Vornado common shares held of record as of the close of business on the Record Date.  Immediately prior to such distribution, one Common Share was distributed to VRLP common limited partners for every two VRLP common limited partnership units held of record as of the close of business on the Record Date.  The Company began “regular-way” trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “UE” on January 16, 2015.  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.

 

Election of Trustees and Appointment of Officers

 

On December 19, 2014, Jeffrey S. Olson was appointed to the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Company. On December 29, 2014, Kevin P. O’Shea was also appointed to the Board. Mr. O’Shea serves as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board.

 

At the Company’s annual shareholder meeting held on January 7, 2015, Jeffrey S. Olson and Kevin P. O’Shea were elected to continue serving as trustees of the Company; and Michael Gould, Steven H. Grapstein, Steven Guttman, Amy Lane and Steven Roth were elected as new trustees of the Company, bringing the total Board size to seven trustees.  This election became effective on January 14, 2015, upon the filing of the Company’s amended and restated declaration of trust (the “Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust”) with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (the “SDAT”).  The Board has determined that Ms. Lane and Messrs. Gould, Grapstein, Guttman and O’Shea are independent trustees.

 

Set forth below are the trustees who are members of each committee of the Board:

 

·                   Audit Committee: Kevin P. O’Shea, Steven H. Grapstein, Amy Lane;

·                   Compensation Committee: Steven Guttman, Michael Gould, Kevin P. O’Shea; and

·                   Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee: Michael Gould, Steven H. Grapstein and Amy Lane.

 

Please see the section entitled “Management” in the Information Statement for biographical information about the newly elected trustees. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

In connection with the Separation, the Board appointed certain executive officers to hold the positions indicated below:

 

Jeffrey S. Olson — Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Robert Minutoli — Chief Operating Officer
Matthew Iocco — Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Donald P. Casey — General Counsel and Secretary
Jennifer Holmes — Chief Accounting Officer

Michael Zucker — Senior Vice President — Leasing.

 

2



 

2015 Omnibus Share Plan

 

On December 29, 2014, the Board adopted the 2015 Omnibus Share Plan (the “Plan”) and authorized the reservation of 15,000,000 Common Shares pursuant to the Plan.  On January 7, 2015, the Company’s sole shareholder approved the Plan.  Please see the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in the Information Statement for a description of the material provisions of the Plan, which description is incorporated herein by reference.  The description of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and is incorporated herein by reference.  Also attached hereto as Exhibit 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 and 10.9 are forms of award agreements for stock options, restricted shares, restricted LTIP units and non-employee trustee restricted LTIP units under the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Olson

 

On January 14, 2015, the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Jeffrey Olson and Vornado, previously filed as Exhibit 10.7 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form 10 as filed on December 11, 2014, was amended.  The amendment provides that the one-time option award and LTIP units to which Mr. Olson is entitled under the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement will be granted to Mr. Olson on the 21st trading day following the Separation and the exercise price and number of options (in the case of the option award) and the number of units (in the case of the partnership units) will be based on the volume-weighted average trading price of a Common Share for the 20 trading days following, but not including, the date of the Separation.  This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.11 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03              Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On December 29, 2014, the Company amended and restated its declaration of trust (subject to the approval of the Company’s sole shareholder) and bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), effective as of the filing of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust with the SDAT.  On January 7, 2015, the Company’s sole shareholder approved the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, which was filed with the  SDAT on January 14, 2015.  Please see the section entitled “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws” in the Information Statement for a description of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated Bylaws, which description is incorporated herein by reference.  The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and the Amended and Restated Bylaws are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

On January 14, 2015, Partnership’s  agreement of limited partnership agreement was executed (the “Partnership Agreement”).  Please see the section entitled “Partnership Agreement” in the Information Statement for a description of the provisions of the Partnership Agreement, which description is incorporated herein by reference.  The Partnership Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 5.05              Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

 

In connection with the Separation and the Distribution, the Board adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.  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.uedge.com.

 

Item 8.01              Other Events.

 

In connection with the Separation and the Distribution, the Board adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines.  A copy of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines is available under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.uedge.com.

 

3



 

Item 9.01 . Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)              Exhibits.

 

2.1    Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among Vornado Realty Trust, Vornado Realty L.P., Urban Edge Properties and Urban Edge Properties LP, dated as of January 14, 2015.

 

3.1    Declaration of Trust of Urban Edge Properties, as amended and restated.

 

3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Urban Edge Properties.

 

10.1  Limited Partnership Agreement of Urban Edge Properties LP, dated as of January 14, 2015.

 

10.2  Transition Services Agreement by and between Vornado Realty Trust and Urban Edge Properties, dated as of January 15, 2015.

 

10.3  Tax Matters Agreement by and between Vornado Realty Trust and Urban Edge Properties, dated as of January 15, 2015.

 

10.4  Employee Matters Agreement by and between Vornado Realty Trust, Vornado Realty L.P., Urban Edge Properties and Urban Edge Properties LP, dated as of January 15, 2015.

 

10.5  Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.6  Form of Stock Option Agreement under Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.7  Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.8   Form of Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement under Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.9   Form of Non-Employee Trustee Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement under Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.10 Revolving Credit Agreement among Urban Edge Properties LP, as Borrower, the Banks party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, dated as of January 15, 2015.

 

10.11  Amendment, dated as of January 14, 2015, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Vornado Realty Trust and Jeffrey Olson.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

Name:

Donald P. Casey

 

Title:

General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

Date:  January 21, 2015

 

5



 

Exhibit Index

 

2.1    Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among Vornado Realty Trust, Vornado Realty L.P., Urban Edge Properties and Urban Edge Properties LP, dated as of January 14, 2015.

 

3.1    Declaration of Trust of Urban Edge Properties, as amended and restated.

 

3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Urban Edge Properties.

 

10.1  Limited Partnership Agreement of Urban Edge Properties LP, dated as of January 14, 2015.

 

10.2  Transition Services Agreement by and between Vornado Realty Trust and Urban Edge Properties, dated as of January 15, 2015.

 

10.3  Tax Matters Agreement by and between Vornado Realty Trust and Urban Edge Properties, dated as of January 15, 2015.

 

10.4  Employee Matters Agreement by and between Vornado Realty Trust, Vornado Realty L.P., Urban Edge Properties and Urban Edge Properties LP, dated as of January 15, 2015.

 

10.5  Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.6  Form of Stock Option Agreement under Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.7  Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.8  Form of Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement under Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.9  Form of Non-Employee Trustee Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement under Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

10.10  Revolving Credit Agreement among Urban Edge Properties LP, as Borrower, the Banks party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, dated as of January 15, 2015.

 

10.11  Amendment, dated as of January 14, 2015, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Vornado Realty Trust and Jeffrey Olson.

 

6


Exhibit 2.1

 

SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

VORNADO REALTY TRUST,

 

VORNADO REALTY L.P.,

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

AND

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP

 

DATED AS OF JANUARY 14, 2015

 



 

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

UE Assets

15

2.3

UE Liabilities; Vornado Liabilities

17

2.4

Approvals and Notifications

18

2.5

Novation of Liabilities

19

2.6

Release of Guarantees

20

2.7

Termination of Agreements

21

2.8

Treatment of Shared Contracts

22

2.9

Bank Accounts; Cash Balances

22

2.10

Ancillary Agreements

23

2.11

Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties

23

2.12

UE Assumption of Indebtedness

24

2.13

Separate Contribution

24

2.14

Financial Information Certifications

25

2.15

Transition Committee

25

 

 

 

ARTICLE III THE DISTRIBUTION

26

 

 

 

3.1

Sole and Absolute Discretion; Cooperation

26

3.2

Actions Prior to the Distribution

26

3.3

Conditions to the Distribution

27

3.4

The Distribution

29

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

30

 

 

 

4.1

Release of Pre-Distribution Claims

30

4.2

Indemnification by UE

32

4.3

Indemnification by Vornado

33

4.4

Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts

34

4.5

Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims

34

4.6

Additional Matters

37

4.7

Right of Contribution

38

4.8

Covenant Not to Sue

38

4.9

Remedies Cumulative

39

4.10

Survival of Indemnities

39

4.11

Certain Tax Procedures

39

 

i



 

ARTICLE V CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

43

 

 

 

5.1

Insurance Matters

43

5.2

Late Payments

46

5.3

Treatment of Payments for Tax Purposes

46

5.4

Inducement

46

5.5

Post-Effective Time Conduct

46

5.6

Non-Solicitation Covenant

46

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

47

 

 

 

6.1

Agreement for Exchange of Information

47

6.2

Ownership of Information

47

6.3

Compensation for Providing Information

47

6.4

Record Retention

48

6.5

Limitations of Liability

48

6.6

Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information

48

6.7

Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation

48

6.8

Privileged Matters

49

6.9

Confidentiality

51

6.10

Protective Arrangements

52

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII DISPUTE RESOLUTION

53

 

 

 

7.1

Good-Faith Negotiation

53

7.2

Mediation

53

7.3

Arbitration

54

7.4

Litigation and Unilateral Commencement of Arbitration

55

7.5

Conduct During Dispute Resolution Process

55

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

55

 

 

 

8.1

Further Assurances

55

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX TERMINATION

56

 

 

 

9.1

Termination

56

9.2

Effect of Termination

56

 

 

 

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

57

 

 

 

10.1

Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power

57

10.2

Governing Law

57

10.3

Assignability

58

10.4

Third-Party Beneficiaries

58

10.5

Notices

58

10.6

Severability

59

10.7

Force Majeure

59

 

ii



 

10.8

No Set-Off

60

10.9

Publicity

60

10.10

Expenses

60

10.11

Headings

60

10.12

Survival of Covenants

60

10.13

Waivers of Default

60

10.14

Specific Performance

60

10.15

Amendments

61

10.16

Interpretation

61

10.17

Limitations of Liability

61

10.18

Performance

62

10.19

Mutual Drafting

62

 

SCHEDULES

 

1.3

UE Contracts

1.4

UE Intellectual Property

1.5

Transferred Entities

1.6

UE Properties

2.1(a)

Plan of Reorganization

2.2(a)(x)

UE Assets

2.2(b)(v)

Vornado Assets

2.3(a)(vi)

UE Liabilities

2.3(b)

Vornado Liabilities

2.7(b)(ii)

Agreements, Arrangements, Commitments or Understandings Which Shall Not Terminate

2.12

UE Assumption of Indebtedness and Other Financing Arrangements

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

Form of Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of UE

Exhibit B

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of UE

Exhibit C

Form of UELP Partnership Agreement

Exhibit D

Form of Contribution Agreement

 

iii



 

SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as of January 14, 2015 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and among Vornado Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“ Vornado ”), Vornado Realty L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ VRLP ”), Urban Edge Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“ UE ”), and Urban Edge Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ UELP ”). 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 trustees of Vornado (the “ Vornado Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of Vornado and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that shall operate the UE Business;

 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Vornado Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the UE Business from the Vornado 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)                                  VRLP and certain of its Subsidiaries will contribute the UE Assets and UE Liabilities (other than any such UE Assets and UE Liabilities which will be contributed by VRLP to UELP as provided elsewhere in this Agreement) to UE (the “ VRLP Contribution ”) in exchange for common shares, par value $0.01 per share, in UE (“ UE Shares ”) and the assumption by UE and certain other members of the UE Group of such UE Liabilities;

 

(b)                                  VRLP will distribute, in one or more distributions, all of the UE Shares held by VRLP to the holders of record (including Vornado), as of the Record Date, of common limited partnership interests in VRLP entitled to participate in such distributions (“ VRLP Interests ”), with such distribution to be made on a pro rata basis, with each holder of VRLP Interests as of the Record Date entitled to receive one UE Share for every two VRLP Interests (the “ VRLP Distribution ”);

 

(c)                                   Vornado will distribute, in one or more distributions, all of the UE Shares it receives from VRLP to the holders of record, as of the Record Date, of common shares of Vornado, par value $0.04 per share (“ Vornado Shares ”) entitled to participate in such distributions, with such distribution to be made on a pro rata basis, with each holder of Vornado Shares as of the Record Date entitled to receive one UE Shares for every two Vornado Shares (the “ Vornado Distribution ” and, together with the VRLP Distribution, the “ Distribution ”);

 



 

(d)                                  VRLP will contribute certain UE Assets and UE Liabilities to UELP (the “ Separate Contribution ” and, together with the VRLP Contribution, the “ Contribution ”) in exchange for limited partnership interests in UELP (“ UELP Interests ”) pursuant to the Contribution Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Vornado Board, acting on behalf of Vornado in its capacity as general partner of VRLP, has approved the VRLP Distribution and, acting in its capacity as such, has approved the Vornado Distribution;

 

WHEREAS, UE and UELP have been organized solely for these purposes, and have not engaged in activities except in preparation for the Separation, the VRLP Distribution and the Distribution;

 

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Contribution is intended to qualify as a transaction that is tax-free under Sections 351 and 1032 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), the VRLP Distribution is intended to qualify as a transaction that is tax-free under Section 731 of the Code, and the Vornado Distribution is intended to qualify as a transaction that is tax-free under Section 355 of the Code;

 

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

 

WHEREAS, each of Vornado and UE 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 Vornado, UE 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

 

2



 

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

 

Agent ” shall mean the trust company or bank duly appointed by Vornado and VRLP to act as distribution agent, transfer agent and registrar for the UE 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 Contribution Agreement 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.

 

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

 

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

 

Contribution Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13(b) .

 

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

 

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

 

3



 

Delayed UE 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 filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority, in each case which describes the Separation, the Distribution or the UE 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 Vornado 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 Vornado and UE (or certain 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.

 

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, in the case of computer systems,

 

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any failure in electrical or air conditioning equipment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receipt by a Party of an unsolicited takeover offer or other 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 UE with the SEC to effect the registration of UE 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 UE Group or the Vornado 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.

 

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Information Statement ” shall mean the information statement to be sent to the holders of Vornado Shares and the holders of VRLP Interests 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 .

 

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.

 

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.

 

Qualifying Income ” means income described in Sections 856(c)(2)(A) through (I) and 856(c)(3)(A) through (I) of the Code.

 

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Record Date ” shall mean the close of business on the date to be determined by the Vornado Board, acting both on behalf of Vornado in its capacity as the general partner of VRLP and on its own behalf, as the record date for determining holders of VRLP Interests entitled to receive UE Shares pursuant to the VRLP Distribution and for determining holders of Vornado Shares entitled to receive UE Shares pursuant to the Vornado Distribution.

 

Record Holders ” shall mean the holders of record of Vornado Shares and the holders of record of the VRLP Interests, in each case, 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.

 

REIT Guidance ” shall mean either a ruling from the IRS or an opinion of Tax counsel selected by the Party who has given the relevant REIT Savings Notice, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Party.

 

“REIT Savings Notice ” shall mean the written notice delivered by UE or Vornado, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 4.11(a) or Section 4.11(b), respectively.

 

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, trustees, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants, attorneys or other representatives.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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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 ” means the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code.

 

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 Vornado and UE (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 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 2.15 .

 

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Transition Services Agreement ” shall mean the transition services agreement to be entered into by and between Vornado and UE (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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

UE Balance Sheet ” shall mean the unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet of the UE Business, including any notes and subledgers thereto, as of September 30, 2014, as presented in the Information Statement mailed to the Record Holders.

 

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

 

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

 

UE 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 UE Contracts shall not include (x) any contract or agreement that is contemplated to be retained by Vornado or any member of the Vornado Group from and after the Effective Time pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or (y) any contract or agreement that would constitute UE Software or UE Technology:

 

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

 

(b)                                  any joint venture, shareholder, equityholder, partnership or similar agreements with any Third Party relating primarily to any UE 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 UE Business, excluding any such contracts or agreements for services that are addressed in the Transition Services Agreement or any other Ancillary 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 UE Contract, any UE Liability or the UE Business;

 

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(e)                                   any employment, change of control, retention, consulting, indemnification, termination, severance or other similar agreement with any UE Group Employee or consultants of the UE 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 UE or any member of the UE Group;

 

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

 

(h)                                  any contract, guarantee, note, mortgage, bond, debenture or other agreement providing for indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, which relates primarily to the UE Business; 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.

 

UE Declaration of Trust ” shall mean the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of UE, substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

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

 

UE Group ” shall mean (a) prior to the Effective Time, UE and each Person that will be a Subsidiary of UE 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 UE; and (b) on and after the Effective Time, UE and each Person that is a Subsidiary of UE.

 

UE Group Employee ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

UE 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 exclusively used or exclusively held for use in the UE Business, including any Other IP set forth on Schedule 1.4 .

 

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

 

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

 

UELP Interests ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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UELP Partnership Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a) .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

UE Software ” shall mean all Software owned or licensed by either Party or any member of its Group exclusively used or exclusively held for use in the UE Business as of the Effective Time.

 

UE Technology ” shall mean all Technology owned or licensed by either Party or any member of its Group exclusively used or exclusively held for use in the UE Business as of the Effective Time.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Vornado 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 UE Business.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Vornado Name and Vornado 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 “Vornado Realty” or “Vornado,” either alone or in

 

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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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

VRLP Interests ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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

 

(ii)                                   Acceptance and Assumption of UE Liabilities . The applicable members of the UE Group shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all of the UE Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms. The applicable members of the UE Group shall be responsible for all UE Liabilities, regardless of when or where such UE 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 UE Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any UE Liabilities arising out of claims made by Vornado’s or UE’s respective trustees, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any member of the Vornado Group or the UE 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 Vornado Group or the

 

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UE Group, or any of their respective directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

 

(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 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any cash amount required to be contributed by one Party to the other in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization), such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Asset to the Party so entitled 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 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. For the avoidance of doubt, 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 make a payment in respect of any Liability that the Parties agree is allocated to the other Party pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, such other Party shall reimburse the first Party for the amount so paid as promptly as is reasonably practicable.

 

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

 

2.2                                UE Assets .

 

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

 

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(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 UE Properties of whatever nature, including easements, whether as owner, mortgagee or holder of a Security Interest in the UE 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 UE Property or otherwise appertaining to or benefitting any UE 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 UE 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 UE Property, and all easements, rights of way and other appurtenances used or connected with the beneficial use or enjoyment of any UE Property;

 

(iii)                                all Assets of either Party or any members of its Group included or reflected as assets of the UE Group on the UE Balance Sheet, subject to any dispositions of such Assets subsequent to the date of the UE Balance Sheet; provided that the amounts set forth on the UE 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 UE Assets pursuant to this subclause (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 UE or members of the UE Group on a pro forma combined balance sheet of the UE 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 UE Balance Sheet), it being understood that (x) the UE Balance Sheet shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Assets that are included in the definition of UE Assets pursuant to this subclause (iv); and (y) the amounts set forth on the UE 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 UE 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 UE or any other member of the UE Group;

 

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(vi)                               all UE 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 UE Intellectual Property, UE Software and UE 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 UE 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 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 UE Assets, the UE Liabilities, the UE 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 UE Assets, the UE Liabilities, the UE Business or the Transferred Entities; and

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                                  Vornado Assets . For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Vornado Assets ” shall mean all Assets of either Party or the members of its Group as of the Effective Time, other than the UE Assets, it being understood that the Vornado 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 Vornado, VRLP or any other member of the Vornado Group;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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2.3                                UE Liabilities; Vornado Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  UE Liabilities . For the purposes of this Agreement, “ UE 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 UE or the members of the UE Group on the UE Balance Sheet, subject to any discharge of such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the UE Balance Sheet; provided that the amounts set forth on the UE 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 UE 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 UE or the members of the UE Group on a pro forma combined balance sheet of the UE 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 UE Balance Sheet), it being understood that (x) the UE Balance Sheet shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Liabilities that are included in the definition of UE Liabilities pursuant to this subclause (ii), and (y) the amounts set forth on the UE 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 UE 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 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 UE Business or any UE 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 UE or any other member of the UE Group, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any member of the UE Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

 

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

 

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

 

(vii)                            all Liabilities arising out of claims made by any Third Party (including Vornado’s or UE’s respective trustees, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the Vornado Group or the UE Group to the extent relating

 

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to, arising out of or resulting from the UE Business or any UE Asset 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 Vornado Group pursuant to the Ancillary Agreements, shall not be UE Liabilities but instead shall be Vornado Liabilities.

 

(b)                                  Vornado Liabilities . For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Vornado 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 Vornado Group and, prior to the Effective Time, any member of the UE Group, in each case that are not UE 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 Vornado’s or UE’s respective trustees, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the Vornado Group or the UE Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Vornado Business or the Vornado Assets.

 

2.4                                Approvals and Notifications .

 

(a)                                  Approvals and Notifications for UE Assets . To the extent that the transfer or assignment of any UE Asset, the assumption of any UE 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 Vornado and UE, neither Vornado nor UE shall be obligated to contribute capital or pay any consideration in any 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 UE Transfers . If and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to the UE Group of any UE Asset or assumption by the UE Group of any UE Liability would be a violation of applicable Law or require any Approval or Notification 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 UE Group of such UE Assets or the assumption by the UE Group of such UE 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 UE Assets or UE Liabilities shall continue to constitute UE Assets and UE Liabilities for all other purposes of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Treatment of Delayed UE Assets and Delayed UE Liabilities . If any transfer or assignment of any UE Asset or any assumption of any UE 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

 

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reason (any such UE Asset, a “ Delayed UE Asset ” and any such UE Liability, a “ Delayed UE Liability ”), then, insofar as reasonably possible and subject to applicable Law, the member of the Vornado Group retaining such Delayed UE Asset or such Delayed UE Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Delayed UE Asset or Delayed UE Liability, as the case may be, for the use and benefit or burden, as applicable, of the member of the UE Group entitled thereto (at the expense of the member of the UE Group entitled thereto). In addition, the member of the Vornado Group retaining such Delayed UE Asset or such Delayed UE Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Delayed UE Asset or Delayed UE 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 UE Group to whom such Delayed UE Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Delayed UE Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the UE Group in a substantially similar position as if such Delayed UE Asset or Delayed UE Liability had been transferred, assigned or assumed as contemplated hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Delayed UE Asset or Delayed UE Liability, as the case may be, including use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such Delayed UE Asset or Delayed UE Liability, as the case may be, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Time to the UE Group.

 

(d)                                  Transfer of Delayed UE Assets and Delayed UE Liabilities . If and when the Approvals or Notifications, the absence of which caused the deferral of transfer or assignment of any Delayed UE Asset or the deferral of assumption of any Delayed UE 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 UE Asset or the assumption of any Delayed UE Liability have been removed, the transfer or assignment of the applicable Delayed UE Asset or the assumption of the applicable Delayed UE Liability, as the case may be, shall be effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Costs for Delayed UE Assets and Delayed UE Liabilities . Any member of the Vornado Group retaining a Delayed UE Asset or Delayed UE Liability due to the deferral of the transfer or assignment of such Delayed UE Asset or the deferral of the assumption of such Delayed UE 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 UE or the member of the UE Group entitled to or burdened by the Delayed UE Asset or Delayed UE Liability, other than reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, attorneys’ fees and recording or similar fees, all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by UE or the member of the UE Group entitled to or burdened by such Delayed UE Asset or Delayed UE Liability.

 

2.5                                Novation of Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  Each of Vornado and UE, 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 UE Liabilities and obtain in writing the unconditional release of each member of the Vornado Group that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, the members of the UE Group shall be solely responsible for such UE Liabilities; provided , however , that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, neither Vornado nor

 

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UE 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 Vornado or UE 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 Vornado Group continues to be bound by such UE Liability (or any agreement, lease, license or other obligation, in each case, pursuant to which any UE Liability arises) (each, an “ Unreleased UE Liability ”), UE shall, to the extent not prohibited by Law, as indemnitor, guarantor, agent or subcontractor for such member of the Vornado Group, as the case may be, (i) pay, perform and discharge fully all of the obligations or other Liabilities of such member of the Vornado Group that constitute Unreleased UE Liabilities from and after the Effective Time and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such payment, performance or discharge prior to the time any demand for such payment, performance or discharge is permitted to be made by the obligee thereunder on any member of the Vornado Group. If and when any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release shall be obtained or the Unreleased UE Liabilities shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, Vornado shall promptly assign, or cause to be assigned, and UE or the applicable UE Group member shall assume, such Unreleased UE 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 :

 

(a)                                  On or prior to the Effective Time or as soon as practicable thereafter, each of Vornado and UE 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 Vornado Group removed as guarantor of, indemnitor of or obligor for any UE Liability to the extent that they relate to UE Liabilities, including the removal of any Security Interest on or in any Vornado Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such UE Liability; and (ii) have any member(s) of the UE Group removed as guarantor of, indemnitor of or obligor for any Vornado Liability to the extent that they relate to Vornado Liabilities, including the removal of any Security Interest on or in any UE Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such Vornado Liability.

 

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

 

(i)                                      any member of the Vornado Group, UE or one or more members of the UE 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 Vornado Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such UE Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee or indemnity contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (i) with which UE would be reasonably unable to comply or (ii) which UE would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching; and

 

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(ii)                                   any member of the UE Group, Vornado or one or more members of the Vornado 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 UE Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such Vornado Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (i) with which Vornado would be reasonably unable to comply or (ii) which Vornado would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching.

 

(c)                                   Until such time as Vornado or UE 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 , (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 Vornado and UE, on behalf of itself and the other members of its respective Group, agree not to renew or extend the term of, 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 , UE and each member of the UE Group, on the one hand, and Vornado and each member of the Vornado Group, on the other hand, hereby terminate any and all agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings, whether or not in writing, between or among UE and/or any member of the UE Group, on the one hand, and Vornado and/or any member of the Vornado 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; (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

 

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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 Vornado or UE, 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 Vornado Group, on the one hand, and any member of the UE 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 Vornado 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 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 Vornado Group with a Third Party that is not a UE Contract, but pursuant to which the UE Business, as of the Effective Date, has been provided certain revenues or other benefits in respect of the UE Properties (any such contract or agreement, a “ Shared Contract ”) shall not be assigned in relevant part to the applicable member(s) of the UE Group or amended to give the relevant member(s) of the UE 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 UE Group to receive the rights and benefits previously provided in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, to the UE Business pursuant to such Shared Contract and (ii) the relevant member of the UE Group to bear the burden of the corresponding Liabilities under such Shared Contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no member of the Vornado Group shall be required by this Section 2.8 to maintain in effect any Shared Contract, and no member of the UE Group shall have any approval or other rights with respect to any amendment, termination or other modification of any Shared Contract.

 

(b)                                  Each of Vornado and UE 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:

 

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(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 UE or any other member of the UE Group (collectively, the “ UE Accounts ”) and all contracts or agreements governing each bank or brokerage account owned by Vornado or any other member of the Vornado Group (collectively, the “ Vornado Accounts ”) so that each such UE Account and Vornado Account, if currently Linked (whether by automatic withdrawal, automatic deposit or any other authorization to transfer funds from or to, hereinafter “ Linked ”) to any Vornado Account or UE Account, respectively, is de-Linked from such Vornado Account or UE 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 UE Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one (1) or more accounts maintained by UE or a member of the UE 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 which the Vornado Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one (1) or more accounts maintained by Vornado or a member of the Vornado Group.

 

(d)                                  With respect to any outstanding checks issued or payments initiated by Vornado, UE, 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 Vornado and UE (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 Vornado and UE will, or will cause the applicable members of their Groups to, execute and deliver all Ancillary Agreements to which it (or any member of its Group) is a party.

 

2.11                         Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties . EACH OF VORNADO (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE VORNADO GROUP) AND UE (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE UE 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

 

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

 

2.12                         UE Assumption of Indebtedness and Other Financing Arrangements .

 

(a)                                  Prior to and/or immediately after the Effective Time and pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, (i) UE and/or other member(s) of the UE Group shall continue to be borrowers under and, to the extent the borrowers thereunder are any members of the Vornado Group, shall assume all existing indebtedness which relates primarily to one or more UE Properties, as set forth in further detail on Schedule 2.12 , and (ii) UELP shall enter into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility, as set forth in further detail on Schedule 2.12 (the foregoing subclauses (i) and (ii), the “ UE Financing Arrangements ”).  Vornado and UE agree to take all necessary actions to assure the full release and discharge of Vornado and the other members of the Vornado Group from all obligations pursuant to the UE Financing Arrangements as of no later than the Effective Time. The parties agree that UE or another member of the UE Group, as the case may be, and not Vornado or any member of the Vornado Group, are and shall be responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the UE Financing Arrangements.

 

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

 

2.13                         Separate Contribution .  Prior to the Distribution, in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization, the Parties shall cause the following to occur:

 

(a)                                  UE shall, in its capacity as the general partner of and a limited partner in UELP and on behalf of and as attorney in fact for the other limited partners, enter into the

 

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limited partnership agreement of UELP effective as of the Effective Time, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ UELP Partnership Agreement ”); and

 

(b)                                  VRLP and UELP shall enter into the contribution agreement providing for the Separate Contribution, effective as of the Effective Time, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “ Contribution Agreement ”).

 

2.14                         Financial Information Certifications . Vornado’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as each is contemplated by the Exchange Act) are currently applicable to the UE Group insofar as the members of the UE Group are Subsidiaries of Vornado. In order to enable the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of UE to make the certifications required of them under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Vornado, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Distribution Date and in any event prior to such time as UE is required to file its first quarterly report on Form 10-Q, shall provide UE 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 Vornado (and not by any officer or employee in their individual capacity). Subject to the provisions of the Transition Services Agreement, 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 UE.

 

2.15                         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 Vornado and UE. 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 2.15 , 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.

 

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ARTICLE III
THE DISTRIBUTION

 

3.1                                Sole and Absolute Discretion; Cooperation .

 

(a)                                  Vornado 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 effect the Distribution and the timing and conditions to the consummation of the Distribution. In addition, Vornado 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 Vornado’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)                                  UE shall cooperate with Vornado to accomplish the Distribution and shall, at Vornado’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 UE Shares on the Form 10. Vornado 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 Vornado. UE and Vornado, 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 . Vornado 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)                                  UE Declaration of Trust and UE Bylaws . On or prior to the Distribution Date, Vornado and UE shall take all necessary actions so that, as of the Effective Time, the UE Declaration of Trust and the UE Bylaws shall become the declaration of trust and bylaws of UE, respectively.

 

(c)                                   UE Trustees and Officers . On or prior to the Distribution Date, Vornado and UE shall take all necessary actions so that as of the Effective Time: (i) the trustees and executive officers of UE 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; and (ii) UE shall have such other officers as UE shall appoint.

 

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

 

(e)                                   Securities Law Matters . UE 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.

 

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Vornado and UE 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. Vornado and UE will prepare, and UE will, to the extent required under applicable Law, file with the SEC any such documentation and any requisite no-action letters which Vornado determines are necessary or desirable to effectuate the Distribution, and Vornado and UE shall each use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary approvals from the SEC with respect thereto as soon as practicable. Vornado and UE 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 . Vornado shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the Form 10 is declared effective under the Exchange Act and the Vornado Board has approved the Distribution, cause the Information Statement to be mailed to the Record Holders.

 

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

 

(h)                                  Share-Based Employee Benefit Plans . Vornado and UE shall take all actions as may be necessary to approve the grants of adjusted equity awards by Vornado (in respect of Vornado shares) and UE (in respect of UE 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 Vornado in its sole and absolute discretion, of the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      The receipt of an opinion of Roberts & Holland LLP, special tax counsel to Vornado, satisfactory to the Vornado Board, to the effect that the VRLP Distribution and the Vornado Distribution, together with certain related transactions, will, with respect to UE, VRLP, Vornado and the shareholders of Vornado, qualify as transactions that are generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 351, 355, and 731 of the Code, including with respect to certain matters relating to these transactions that are not covered by the private letter ruling that Vornado has received from the IRS;

 

(ii)                                   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;

 

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

 

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(iv)                               The transfer of the UE Assets (other than any Delayed UE Asset) and UE Liabilities (other than any Delayed UE Liability) contemplated to be transferred from Vornado to UE on or prior to the Distribution shall have occurred as contemplated by Section 2.1 , and the transfer of the Vornado Assets (other than any Delayed Vornado Asset) and Vornado Liabilities (other than any Delayed Vornado Liability) contemplated to be transferred from UE to Vornado 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;

 

(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 UE Shares to be distributed to the holders of Vornado Shares in the Vornado Distribution and to the holders of VRLP Interests in the VRLP Distribution shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution;

 

(ix)                               UE and other members of the UE Group shall have assumed or entered into, as applicable, the UE Financing Arrangements, and Vornado 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 UE Financing Arrangements;

 

(x)                                  UE shall have received an opinion of its counsel, satisfactory to it, to the effect that the manner in which UE 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 Vornado 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 Vornado and shall not give rise to or create any duty on the part of Vornado or the Vornado Board to waive or not waive any such condition or in any way limit Vornado’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 Vornado 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

 

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conclusive and binding on the Parties. If Vornado 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, UE will deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of the Record Holders, book-entry transfer authorizations for such number of the outstanding UE Shares as is necessary to effect the Distribution, and shall cause the transfer agent for the Vornado Shares or the VRLP Interests, as the case may be, to instruct the Agent to distribute at the Effective Time the appropriate number of UE Shares to each such Record Holder or designated transferee or transferees of such Record Holder by way of direct registration in book-entry form. UE will not issue paper share certificates in respect of the UE 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 UE Share for every two Vornado Shares or VRLP Interests, as the case may be, 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 shareholder of UE. 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 UE Share pursuant to the Distribution, as applicable, shall be paid cash, without any interest thereon, as hereinafter provided. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Vornado shall direct the Agent to determine the number of whole and fractional UE 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 Vornado, VRLP, UE or the Agent will be required to guarantee any minimum sale price for the fractional UE Shares sold in accordance with this Section 3.4(c) . None of Vornado, VRLP or UE 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 Vornado or UE. Solely for purposes of computing fractional share interests pursuant to this Section 3.4(c)  and Section 3.4(d) , the beneficial owner of Vornado Shares or VRLP Interests, as the case may be, 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 or interests.

 

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

 

(e)                                   Until the UE Shares are duly transferred in accordance with this Section 3.4 and applicable Law, from and after the Effective Time, UE will regard the Persons entitled to receive such UE Shares as record holders of UE Shares in accordance with the terms of the Distribution without requiring any action on the part of such Persons. UE agrees that, subject to any transfers of such shares, from and after the Effective Time (i) each such holder will be entitled to receive all dividends payable on, and exercise voting rights and all other rights and privileges with respect to, the UE 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 UE Shares then held by such holder.

 

ARTICLE IV
MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

 

4.1                                Release of Pre-Distribution Claims .

 

(a)                                  UE Release of Vornado. Except as provided in Sections 4.1(c)  and 4.1(d) , effective as of the Effective Time, UE does hereby, for itself and each other member of the UE 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, trustees, officers, agents or employees of any member of the UE Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge (i) Vornado and the members of the Vornado Group, and their respective successors and assigns, (ii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, trustees, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Vornado 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, trustees, officers, agents or employees of a Transferred Entity and who are not, as of immediately following the Effective Time, directors, trustees, officers or employees of UE or a member of the UE Group, in each case from: (A) all UE 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 UE Business, the UE Assets or the UE Liabilities.

 

(b)                                  Vornado Release of UE. Except as provided in (i)  Sections 4.1(c)  and 4.1(d) , effective as of the Effective Time, Vornado does hereby, for itself and each other member of the Vornado Group and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by

 

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Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, trustees, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Vornado Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge UE and the members of the UE Group and their respective successors and assigns, from (A) all Vornado 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 Vornado Business, the Vornado Assets or the Vornado Liabilities.

 

(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 Vornado Group or the UE 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 Vornado Group from honoring its existing obligations to indemnify any director, trustee, officer or employee of UE who was a director, trustee, officer or employee of any member of the Vornado Group on or prior to the Effective Time, to the extent such director, trustee, officer or employee becomes a named defendant in any Action with respect to which such director, trustee, officer or employee

 

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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 UE Liability, UE shall indemnify Vornado for such Liability (including Vornado’s costs to indemnify the director, trustee, officer or employee) in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Article IV .

 

(d)                                  No Claims. UE shall not make, and shall not permit any member of the UE 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 Vornado or any other member of the Vornado Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(a) , with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.1(a) . Vornado shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the Vornado 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 UE or any other member of the UE 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 UE . Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, UELP shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Vornado, VRLP, each other member of the Vornado Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, trustees, 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 “ Vornado Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the Vornado Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):

 

(a)                                  any UE Liability;

 

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

 

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

 

(d)                                  except to the extent it relates to a Vornado 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 UE Group by any member of the Vornado 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 UE shall have furnished any

 

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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 Vornado and VRLP to enter into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, UE hereby irrevocably guarantees the due and punctual performance and observance by UELP of its obligations contained in this Section 4.2 , subject, in each case, to all of the terms, provisions and conditions herein, and Vornado, VRLP and the other Vornado 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 UE; provided that UE shall in no event be liable for any percentage of indemnification obligations that exceeds its then current ownership percentage in UELP.

 

4.3                                Indemnification by Vornado . Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, VRLP shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless UE, UELP, each other member of the UE Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, trustees, 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 “ UE Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the UE Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):

 

(a)                                  any Vornado Liability;

 

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

 

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

 

(d)                                  except to the extent it relates to a UE 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 Vornado Group by any member of the UE 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, in each case to the extent relating to Vornado or the members of the Vornado Group, in the Form 10, the Information Statement (as amended or supplemented if UE shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any other Disclosure Document.

 

In order to induce UE and UELP to enter into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, Vornado hereby irrevocably guarantees the due and punctual performance and observance by VRLP of its obligations contained in this Section 4.3 , subject, in each case, to all of the terms, provisions and conditions herein, and UE, UELP and the other UE 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 Vornado; provided

 

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that Vornado shall in no event be liable for any percentage of indemnification obligations that exceeds its then current ownership percentage in VRLP.

 

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 4.4 of the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

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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 Vornado Group or the UE 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 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 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

 

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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 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.

 

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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 as 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 as soon as practicable, but in any event within fourteen (14) days (or sooner if the nature of the claim so requires) after becoming aware of such claim; 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

 

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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 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 UE Assets or Delayed UE Liabilities (except for the gross negligence or willful misconduct of a member of the Vornado Group) or with the ownership, operation or activities of the UE Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of UE and the other members of the UE Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of Vornado or any other member of the Vornado Group; (ii) any fault associated with the business conducted with Delayed Vornado Assets or Delayed Vornado Liabilities (except for the gross negligence or willful misconduct of a member of the UE Group) shall be deemed to be the fault of Vornado and the other members of the Vornado Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of UE or any other member of the UE Group; and (iii) any fault associated with the ownership, operation or activities of the Vornado Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of Vornado and the other members of the Vornado Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of UE or any other member of the UE 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 UE Liabilities by UE or a member of the UE

 

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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 Vornado Liabilities by Vornado or a member of the Vornado 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 Vornado and UE 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 UE .

 

(i)                                      With respect to any period in which UE 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 UE Group pursuant to Section 4.3 or 4.4 or any indemnification payments to be made to any member of the UE Group pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement (a “ UE Indemnity Payment ”) for any calendar year, upon receipt of a REIT Savings Notice from UE at least fifteen (15) business days before the date on which such UE Indemnity Payment is due, shall not exceed the sum of

 

(A)                                the amount that is determined (x) will not be gross income of UE or (y) will be Qualifying Income of UE, in each case for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements and for any period in which UE has made any election to be taxed as a REIT, with such determination to be set forth in REIT Guidance,

 

plus

 

(B)                                such additional amount that is estimated can be paid to UE in such taxable year without causing UE 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 UE (and any other relevant member of the UE Group) during such taxable year that do not constitute Qualifying Income, which determination shall be

 

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(xx) made by independent tax accountants to UE, and (yy) submitted to and approved by UE’s outside tax counsel.

 

(ii)                                   Vornado shall place (or cause to be placed) the full amount of any UE Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be made in a mutually agreed escrow account upon mutually acceptable terms, which shall provide that

 

(A)                                the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of Vornado or the applicable member of the Vornado Group, unless it is released from such escrow account to any UE Indemnified Party,

 

(B)                                all income earned upon the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of Vornado or the applicable member of the Vornado 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 Vornado or the applicable member of the Vornado Group whether or not said income has been distributed during such taxable year,

 

(C)                                the amount in the escrow account shall be invested only as determined by Vornado in its sole discretion, and

 

(D)                                any portion thereof shall not be released to any UE Indemnified Party unless and until Vornado receives any of the following: (x) a letter from UE’s independent tax accountants indicating the amount that it is estimated can be paid at that time to the UE Indemnified Parties without causing UE 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 (y) an opinion of outside tax counsel selected by UE, such opinion to be reasonably satisfactory to UE, 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 UE Indemnification Payments otherwise required to be paid either would be excluded from gross income of UE 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 UE Indemnified Parties in an amount equal to the lesser of the unpaid UE 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 (D)(x) above.

 

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(iii)                                Any amount held in escrow pursuant to Section 4.11(a)(ii)  for ten (10) years shall be released from such escrow to be used as determined by Vornado in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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

 

(v)                                  Vornado shall cooperate in good faith with UE (including amending this Section 4.11(a)  at the reasonable request of UE) in order to (1) maximize the portion of the payments that may be made to the UE Indemnified Parties hereunder without causing UE to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements, (2) improve UE’s chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 4.11(a) , or (3) assist UE in obtaining a favorable opinion from its outside tax counsel or determination from its tax accountants as described in this Section 4.11(a) . Such cooperation shall include, for example, agreeing to make payments hereunder to a taxable REIT subsidiary of UE or an affiliate or designee of UE.  UE shall reimburse Vornado for all reasonable costs and expenses of such cooperation.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification Payments to Vornado .

 

(i)                                      With respect to any period in which Vornado 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 Vornado Group pursuant to Section 4.2 or 4.4 or any indemnification payments to be made to any member of the Vornado Group pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement (a “ Vornado Indemnity Payment ”) for any calendar year, upon receipt of a REIT Savings Notice from Vornado at least fifteen (15) business days before the date on which such Vornado Indemnity Payment is due, shall not exceed the sum of

 

(A)                                the amount that is determined (x) will not be gross income of Vornado or (y) will be Qualifying Income of Vornado, in each case for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements and for any period in which Vornado has made any election to be taxed as a REIT, with such determination to be set forth in REIT Guidance,

 

plus

 

(B)                                such additional amount that is estimated can be paid to Vornado in such taxable year without causing Vornado 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 Vornado (and any other relevant member of the Vornado Group) during such taxable year that do not constitute Qualifying Income,

 

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which determination shall be (xx) made by independent tax accountants to Vornado, and (yy) submitted to and approved by Vornado’s outside tax counsel.

 

(ii)                                   UE shall place (or cause to be placed) the full amount of any Vornado Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be made in a mutually agreed escrow account upon mutually acceptable terms, which shall provide that

 

(A)                                the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of UE or the applicable member of the UE Group, unless it is released from such escrow account to any Vornado Indemnified Party,

 

(B)                                all income earned upon the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of UE or the applicable member of the UE 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 UE or the applicable member of the UE Group whether or not said income has been distributed during such taxable year,

 

(C)                                the amount in the escrow account shall be invested only as determined by UE in its sole discretion, and

 

(D)                                any portion thereof shall not be released to any Vornado Indemnified Party unless and until UE receives any of the following: (x) a letter from Vornado’s independent tax accountants indicating the amount that it is estimated can be paid at that time to the Vornado Indemnified Parties without causing Vornado 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 (y) an opinion of outside tax counsel selected by Vornado, such opinion to be reasonably satisfactory to Vornado, 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 Vornado Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be paid either would be excluded from gross income of Vornado 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 Vornado Indemnified Parties in an amount equal to the lesser of the unpaid Vornado Indemnity Payments due and owing (determined without regard to this Section 4.11(b) )

 

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or the maximum amount stated in the letter referred to in clause (D)(x) above.

 

(iii)                                Any amount held in escrow pursuant to Section 4.11(b)(ii)  for ten (10) years shall be released from such escrow to be used as determined by UE in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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

 

(v)                                  UE shall cooperate in good faith with Vornado (including amending this Section 4.11(b)  at the reasonable request of Vornado) in order to (1) maximize the portion of the payments that may be made to the Vornado Indemnified Parties hereunder without causing Vornado to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements, (2) improve Vornado’s chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 4.11(b) , or (3) assist Vornado in obtaining a favorable opinion from its outside tax counsel or determination from its tax accountants as described in this Section 4.11(b) . Such cooperation shall include, for example, agreeing to make payments hereunder to a taxable REIT subsidiary of Vornado or an affiliate or designee of Vornado.  Vornado shall reimburse UE 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 June 30, 2015, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, Vornado and VRLP shall, and shall cause the relevant members of the Vornado Group to, maintain the insurance coverage applicable to the UE Business pursuant to the terms and conditions and coverages of the existing insurance policies of the Vornado Group in effect as of the Effective Time; provided , however , that in no event shall Vornado, any other member of the Vornado Group or any Vornado Indemnitee have any Liability or obligation whatsoever to any member of the UE 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 UE Group for any reason whatsoever or shall not be renewed or extended with respect to the UE Business beyond the current expiration date. With respect to each insurance policy, the “ Insurance Termination Date ” shall be June 30, 2015, or such earlier date as of which the UE Business ceases to be covered by the insurance policies of the Vornado Group in effect as of the Effective Time in accordance with this Section 5.1(a) . Prior to the Insurance Termination Date, Vornado and UE 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 Vornado shall not be required to continue any such insurance coverages beyond the Insurance Termination Date.

 

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(b)                                  From and after the Effective Time, with respect to any losses, damages and Liability incurred by any member of the UE Group prior to the Insurance Termination Date, Vornado will provide UE with access to, and UE may, upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to Vornado, make claims under, Vornado’s third-party insurance policies in place prior to the Insurance Termination Date and Vornado’s historical policies of insurance, but solely to the extent that such policies provided coverage for members of the UE Group prior to the Insurance Termination Date; provided that such access to, and the right to make claims under, such 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)                                      UE shall report any claim to Vornado, as promptly as practicable, and in any event in sufficient time so that such claim may be made in accordance with Vornado’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 Vornado to UE in writing);

 

(ii)                                   UE and the members of the UE Group shall exclusively bear and be liable for (and neither Vornado nor any members of the Vornado Group shall have any obligation to repay or reimburse UE or any member of the UE Group for), and shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse Vornado and the members of the Vornado Group for, any deductibles, self-insured retention, fees and expenses to the extent resulting from any access to, or any claims made by UE or any other members of the UE Group or otherwise made in respect of losses of the UE 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 UE Group, its employees or third Persons; and

 

(iii)                                UE shall exclusively bear and be liable for (and neither Vornado nor any members of the Vornado Group shall have any obligation to repay or reimburse UE or any member of the UE Group for) all uninsured, uncovered, unavailable or uncollectible amounts of all such claims made by UE or any member of the UE 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 UE Group, on the one hand, and the Vornado 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 Vornado’s insurance carrier(s) (including any submissions prior to the Insurance Termination Date). To the extent that the Vornado Group or the UE Group is allocated more than its pro rata portion of such premium due to the timing of losses submitted to Vornado’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, Vornado may elect not to reinstate the policy aggregate. In the event that, at any time prior to the Insurance Termination Date, Vornado elects not to reinstate the policy aggregate, it shall provide prompt written notice to UE, and UE may direct Vornado in writing to, and Vornado shall, in such case, reinstate the policy aggregate; provided that UE shall be responsible for all reinstatement premiums and other costs associated with such reinstatement.

 

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(c)                                   Except as provided in Section 5.1(b) , from and after the Insurance Termination Date, neither UE nor any member of the UE Group shall have any rights to or under any of the insurance policies of Vornado or any other member of the Vornado Group. At the Insurance Termination Date, UE shall, unless it has obtained the prior written consent of Vornado or VRLP, have in effect all insurance programs required to comply with UE’s contractual obligations and such other insurance policies required by Law or as reasonably necessary or appropriate for companies operating a business similar to UE’s. Such insurance programs may include but are not limited to general liability, commercial auto liability, worker’s compensation, employer’s liability, product/completed operations liability, pollution legal liability, surety bonds, professional services liability, property, cargo, employment practices liability, employee dishonesty/crime, directors’ and officers’ liability and fiduciary liability.

 

(d)                                  Neither UE nor any member of the UE Group, in connection with making a claim under any insurance policy of Vornado or any member of the Vornado 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 Vornado or any member of the Vornado 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 Vornado or any member of the Vornado Group under the applicable insurance policy; or (iii) otherwise compromise, jeopardize or interfere with the rights of Vornado or any member of the Vornado Group under the applicable insurance policy.

 

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

 

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(g)                                   UE does hereby, for itself and each other member of the UE Group, agree that no member of the Vornado Group shall have any Liability whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies and practices of Vornado and the members of the Vornado 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.

 

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 hereto shall treat (i) any payment made pursuant to this Agreement (other than payments representing interest) as either a contribution by the relevant entity or a distribution by the relevant entity (or as adjustments to such contribution or distribution) occurring immediately prior to the applicable Distribution or the VRLP Contribution, as the case may be, 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 . UE acknowledges and agrees that Vornado’s willingness to cause, effect and consummate the Separation and the Distribution has been conditioned upon and induced by UE’s covenants and agreements in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including UE’s assumption of the UE Liabilities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and UE’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, UE shall not, and shall procure that the other members of the UE Group shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or hire any employees of the Vornado Group who have been engaged in providing services to the UE Group pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement without the prior written consent of Vornado; 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 Vornado Group for at least six (6) months prior to the date when any solicitation activity occurs, and (ii) this Section 5.6 shall not

 

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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 Vornado Group.

 

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 Vornado and UE, 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 to the extent that (i) such information relates to the UE Business, or any UE Asset or UE Liability, if UE is the requesting Party, or to the Vornado Business, or any Vornado Asset or Vornado Liability, if Vornado 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 .

 

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 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.

 

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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 Vornado as in effect on the Effective Time or such other policies as may be adopted by Vornado after the Effective Time ( provided , in the case of UE, that Vornado notifies UE 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 in this Section 6.4 , 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.

 

6.7                                Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation .

 

(a)                                  After the Effective Time, except in the case of an adversarial Action or Dispute between Vornado and UE, 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, trustees, 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, trustees, 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.

 

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(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, trustees, 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, trustees, 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 collective benefit of each of the members of the Vornado Group and the UE Group, and that each of the members of the Vornado Group and the UE 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 Vornado Group or the UE Group, as the case may be.

 

(b)                                  The Parties agree as follows:

 

(i)                                      Vornado 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 Vornado Business and not to the UE Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the Vornado Group or any member of the UE Group. Vornado shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in

 

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connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any Vornado 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 Vornado Group or any member of the UE Group;

 

(ii)                                   UE 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 UE Business and not to the Vornado Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the UE Group or any member of the Vornado Group. UE 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 UE 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 UE Group or any member of the Vornado 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 Vornado Business, solely to the UE Business, or to both the Vornado Business and the UE 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.

 

(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 Vornado and UE, 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

 

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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, trustees, 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 Vornado and UE 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.

 

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 Vornado and UE, 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 Vornado’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

 

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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 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,

 

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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 UE Assets, any Liabilities are UE 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. All such negotiations shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence. Any resolution reached by the applicable executives through negotiation shall be subject to final approval by the Chief Administrative Officer of Vornado and the Chief Operating Officer of UE. 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 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) New York, New York 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

 

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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 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

 

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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.

 

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, 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

 

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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 UE Assets and the Vornado Assets and the assignment and assumption of the UE Liabilities and the Vornado 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, Vornado and UE 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 Vornado, UE 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)                                  Vornado and UE, 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 UE or any other member of the UE Group, on the one hand, or of Vornado or any other member of the Vornado 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 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 Vornado, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the approval or consent of any other Person, including UE or UELP. 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, trustees, officers or employees) shall have any Liability or further obligation to the other Party by reason of this Agreement.

 

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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)           Vornado represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the Vornado Group, and UE represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the UE Group, as follows:

 

(i)            each such Person has the requisite power and authority and has taken all 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.

 

(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

 

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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 New York irrespective of the choice of laws principles of the State of New York 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.

 

10.4        Third-Party Beneficiaries . Except for the indemnification rights under this Agreement of any Vornado Indemnitee or UE 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 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 Vornado, to:

 

Vornado Realty Trust
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Corporation Counsel
Facsimile: (212) 894-7996

 

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with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Attention: William G. Farrar
Facsimile: (212) 558-3588

 

If to UE, to:

 

Urban Edge Properties
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (212) 894-7996

 

with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Attention: William G. Farrar             
Facsimile: (212) 558-3588

 

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

 

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 an arbitration tribunal or 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.

 

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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, the Chief Executive Officer of UE and the Chief Administrative Officer of Vornado shall consult with each other prior to either Party 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, (a) 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 Form 10, the Plan of Reorganization and the Distribution and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been incurred on behalf of, and for the benefit of, UE and shall be borne by UE; and (b) all 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.

 

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,

 

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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 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 New York, New York; (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 January 14, 2015.  In the case of any conflict between this Agreement and any of the Transition Services Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Contribution Agreement and the Employee Matters Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by such Ancillary Agreement, the applicable Ancillary Agreement shall prevail unless such Ancillary Agreement explicitly states that this Agreement shall control.

 

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 UE or any member of the UE Group, on the one hand, nor Vornado or any member of the Vornado 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).

 

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10.18      Performance . Vornado 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 Vornado Group. UE 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 UE 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.

 

 

VORNADO REALTY TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Alan J. Rice

 

 

Name: Alan J. Rice

 

 

Title: Corporation Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VORNADO REALTY L.P.

 

 

 

 

By VORNADO REALTY TRUST, its

 

General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Alan J. Rice

 

 

Name: Alan J. Rice

 

 

Title: Corporation Counsel 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

 

Name: Donald P. Casey

 

 

Title: General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP

 

 

 

 

By URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES, its

 

General Partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

 

Name: Donald P. Casey

 

 

Title: General Counsel and Secretary

 

[ Signature Page to Separation and Distribution Agreement ]

 


Exhibit 3.1

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

 

FIRST :  Urban Edge Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Trust”) formed under Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (“Title 8”), desires to amend and restate its Declaration of Trust as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

 

FORMATION

 

The Trust is a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Title 8.  The Trust shall not be deemed to be a general partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, joint stock company or a corporation but nothing herein shall preclude the Trust from being treated for tax purposes as an association under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

ARTICLE II

 

NAME

 

The name of the Trust is:

 

Urban Edge Properties

 

Under circumstances in which the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees” or “Board”) determines that the use of the name of the Trust is not practicable, the Trust may use any other designation or name for the Trust.

 



 

ARTICLE III

 

PURPOSES AND POWERS

 

Section 3.1  Purposes .  The purposes for which the Trust is formed are to invest in and to acquire, hold, manage, administer, control and dispose of property, including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code (a “REIT”).

 

Section 3.2  Powers . The Trust shall have all of the powers granted to real estate investment trusts by Title 8 or any successor statute and all other powers set forth in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) which are not inconsistent with law and are appropriate to promote and attain the purposes set forth in the Declaration of Trust.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

RESIDENT AGENT

 

The name of the resident agent of the Trust in the State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, whose post office address is 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.  The resident agent is a Maryland corporation.  The Trust may have such offices or places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine.

 

ARTICLE V

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

Section 5.1  Powers .  Subject to any express limitations contained in the Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws, (a) the business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees and (b) the Board shall have full, exclusive and absolute power, control and authority over any and all property and business of the Trust.  The Board may take any action as in its sole judgment and discretion is necessary or appropriate to conduct the business and affairs of the Trust.  The Declaration of Trust shall be construed with the presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Board.  Any construction of the Declaration of Trust or determination made by the Board concerning its powers and authority

 

2



 

hereunder shall be conclusive.  The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board of Trustees included in the Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws of the Trust (the “Bylaws”) shall in no way be construed or deemed by inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit the powers conferred upon the Board or the Trustees under the general laws of the State of Maryland or any other applicable laws.

 

The Board, without any action by the shareholders of the Trust, shall have and may exercise, on behalf of the Trust, without limitation, the power to terminate the status under the Code of the Trust as a REIT; to determine that compliance with any restriction or limitations on ownership and transfers of shares of the Trust’s beneficial interest set forth in Article VII of the Declaration of Trust is no longer required in order for the Trust to qualify as a REIT; to adopt, amend and repeal Bylaws; to elect officers in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws; to solicit proxies from holders of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust; and to do any other acts and deliver any other documents necessary or appropriate to the foregoing powers.

 

Section 5.2  Number and Classification .  The number of Trustees (hereinafter the “Trustees”) initially shall be 7, which number may be increased or decreased pursuant to the Bylaws.  No reduction in the number of Trustees shall cause the removal of any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his or her term.  The Trustees (other than any Trustee elected solely by holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares) shall be classified, with respect to the terms for which they severally hold office, into three classes, one class (“Class I”) to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2016, another class (“Class II”) to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2017 and another class (“Class III”) to hold office initially for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2018, with the members of each class to hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualify.  At the annual meeting of shareholders held in 2016, the successors to the Trustees whose terms expire at such meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders held in 2018 and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. At the annual meeting of shareholders held in 2017 and each annual

 

3



 

meeting of shareholders held thereafter, the successors to the Trustees whose terms expire at each annual meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. The names and class of the Trustees who shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:

 

 

Class I

 

 

 

 

 

Steven H. Grapstein

 

 

Amy B. Lane

 

 

 

 

 

Class II

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin P. O’Shea

 

 

Steven Guttman

 

 

Michael Gould

 

 

 

 

 

Class III

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey S. Olson

 

 

Steven Roth

 

 

The Trustees shall be elected in the manner provided in the Bylaws and (subject to the following paragraph) any vacancy on the Board of Trustees may be filled in the manner provided in the Bylaws.  It shall not be necessary to list in the Declaration of Trust the names and addresses of any Trustees hereinafter elected.

 

The Trust elects, pursuant to Section 3-802(b) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), that, except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the terms of any class or series of Shares, any and all vacancies on the Board of Trustees may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Trustees in office, even if the remaining Trustees do not constitute a quorum, and any Trustee elected to fill a vacancy

 

4



 

shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the trusteeship in which such vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

 

Section 5.3  Removal .   Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares to elect or remove one or more Trustees, a Trustee may be removed at any time, but only for cause and then only, by the affirmative vote of the holders of two thirds of the Shares then outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of Trustees. Any amendment to this Section 5.3 that amends or removes the requirement of cause for the removal of Trustees shall not apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any Trustee in office at the time of such amendment.

 

Section 5.4  Determinations by Board .  The determination as to any of the following matters, made by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Trustees shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Trust and every holder of Shares:  the amount of the net income of the Trust for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, acquisition of Shares or the payment of other distributions on Shares; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, cash flow, funds from operations, adjusted funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation or resolution of any ambiguity with respect to any provision of the Declaration of Trust (including any of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any shares of any class or series of Shares) or of the Bylaws; the number of Shares of any class or series of the Trust; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Trust or of any Shares of the Trust; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Trust; any interpretation of the terms and conditions

 

5



 

of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other organization; the compensation of Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Trust or required or permitted by applicable law, the Declaration of Trust or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 5.5  Business Opportunities .

 

(a)                                  The Trust shall have the power to renounce, by resolution of the Board of Trustees, any interest or expectancy of the Trust in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities or classes or categories of business opportunities that are (i) presented to the Trust or (ii) developed by or presented to one or more Trustees or officers of the Trust.

 

(b)                                  A Trustee of the Trust who is also a trustee, officer, employee or agent of Vornado Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“Vornado”), or any of Vornado’s affiliates (each such Trustee, a “Covered Person”) shall not have a duty to communicate or present any business opportunity to the Trust, and the Trust renounces, on its behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries, any potential interest or expectation in, or right to be offered or to participate in such business opportunity and waives to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law any claim against a Covered Person arising from the fact that he or she does not present, communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Trust or any of its subsidiaries or pursues such business opportunity or facilitates the pursuit of such business opportunity by others; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply in a case in which a Covered Person is presented with a business opportunity in writing expressly in his or her capacity as a Trustee of the Trust. The taking by a Covered Person for himself or herself, or the offering or other transfer to another person or entity, of any potential business opportunity, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.5(b), shall not constitute or be construed or interpreted as (i) an act or omission of the Trustee committed in bad faith or as the result of active or deliberate dishonesty or (ii) receipt by the Covered Person of an improper benefit or profit in money, property, services or otherwise. No amendment or repeal of the foregoing provision of this Declaration of Trust shall affect the treatment of, or obligations with respect to, any business opportunity of which a Covered Person learned prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

Section 6.1  Authorized Shares .  The beneficial interest of the Trust shall be divided into shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”).   The Trust has authority to issue 500,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Shares”), and 200,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Shares”). If shares of one class are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of shares pursuant to this Article VI, the number of authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of beneficial interest of all classes that the Trust has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of beneficial interest set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph.  The Board of Trustees, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without any action by the shareholders of the Trust, may amend the Declaration of Trust from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of Shares or the number of Shares of any class or series that the Trust has authority to issue.

 

Section 6.2   Common Shares .  Subject to the provisions of Article VII and except as may otherwise be specified in the Declaration of Trust, each Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter upon which holders of Common Shares are entitled to vote.  The Board of Trustees may reclassify any unissued Common Shares from time to time into one or more classes or series of Shares.

 

Section 6.3  Preferred Shares .  The Board of Trustees may classify any unissued Preferred Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Preferred Shares of any series from time to time, into one or more series of Shares.

 

7



 

Section 6.4  Classified or Reclassified Shares .  Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified Shares of any class or series, the Board of Trustees by resolution shall (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of Shares; (b) specify the number of Shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set, subject to the provisions of Article VII and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Shares outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Trust to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”).  Any of the terms of any class or series of Shares set pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 6.4 may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the Declaration of Trust (including the occurrence of any event, including a determination or action by the Trust or any other person or body) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of Shares is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary filed with the SDAT.

 

Section 6.5  Authorization by Board of Share Issuance .  The Board of Trustees may authorize the issuance from time to time of Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration (whether in cash, property, past or future services, obligation for future payment or otherwise) as the Board of Trustees may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a Share split or Share dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws.

 

Section 6.6  Dividends and Other Distributions .  The Board of Trustees may from time to time authorize, and cause the Trust to declare to shareholders, such dividends or other distributions, in cash or other assets of the Trust or in securities of the Trust or from any other source as the Board of Trustees in its discretion shall determine.  The Board of Trustees shall endeavor to cause the Trust to declare and pay such dividends and other distributions as shall be

 

8



 

necessary for the Trust to qualify under the Code as a REIT; however, shareholders shall have no right to any dividend or distribution unless and until authorized by the Board and declared by the Trust.  The exercise of the powers and rights of the Board of Trustees pursuant to this Section 6.6 shall be subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding.  Notwithstanding any other provision in the Declaration of Trust, no determination shall be made by the Board of Trustees nor shall any transaction be entered into by the Trust which would cause any Shares or other beneficial interest in the Trust not to constitute “transferable shares” or “transferable certificates of beneficial interest” under Section 856(a)(2) of the Code or which would cause any distribution to constitute a preferential dividend as described in Section 562(c) of the Code.

 

Section 6.7  General Nature of Shares .  All Shares shall be personal property entitling the shareholders only to those rights provided in the Declaration of Trust.  The shareholders shall have no interest in the property of the Trust and shall have no right to compel any partition, division, dividend or distribution of the Trust or of the property of the Trust.  The death of a shareholder shall not terminate the Trust or give his or her legal representatives any rights against other shareholders, the Trustees or the property of the Trust.  The Trust is entitled to treat as shareholders only those persons in whose names Shares are registered as holders of Shares on the beneficial interest ledger of the Trust.

 

Section 6.8  Fractional Shares .  The Trust may, without the consent or approval of any shareholder, issue fractional Shares, eliminate a fraction of a Share by rounding up or down to a full Share, arrange for the disposition of a fraction of a Share by the person entitled to it, or pay cash for the fair value of a fraction of a Share.

 

Section 6.9  Declaration and Bylaws .  The rights of all shareholders and the terms of all Shares are subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws.

 

Section 6.10  Divisions and Combinations of Shares .  Subject to an express provision to the contrary in the terms of any class or series of beneficial interest hereafter authorized, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to divide or combine the outstanding

 

9



 

shares of any class or series of beneficial interest, without a vote of shareholders, so long as the number of shares combined into one share in any such combination or series of combinations within any period of twelve months is not greater than ten.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

 

Section 7.1  Definitions .  For the purposes of this Article VII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Adoption Date” shall mean the first date on which Vornado, distributes to holders of common shares of beneficial interest in Vornado all of the Equity Shares then owned by Vornado.

 

“Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Equity Shares either directly or constructively through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code.  The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

“Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Special Trust as determined pursuant to Section 7.3.6.

 

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

“Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Equity Shares either directly or constructively through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code.  The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

“Constructive Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive), or such other percentage determined by the Board in accordance with Section 7.2.8, of the outstanding Equity Shares of any class or series.

 

“Equity Shares” shall mean Shares of any class or series, including, without limitation, Common Shares and Preferred Shares.

 

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“Market Price” shall mean the last reported sales price of Equity Shares of the relevant class or series reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date, or if the Equity Shares of the relevant class or series are not then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the last reported sales price of Equity Shares of the relevant class or series on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date, as reported on any other exchange or quotation system over which the Equity Shares of the relevant class or series may be traded, or if the Equity Shares of the relevant class or series are not then traded over any exchange or quotation system, then the market price of the Equity Shares of the relevant class or series on the relevant date as determined by the Board.

 

“Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive), or such other percentage determined by the Board in accordance with Section 7.2.8, of the outstanding Equity Shares of any class or series.

 

“Ownership Limitation Termination Date” shall mean, with respect to any or all of the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfer of Equity Shares set forth herein, the first day after the Adoption Date on which the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with such restriction or limitation on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership or Transfer of Equity Shares is no longer required in order for the Trust to qualify as a REIT.

 

“Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity or any government or agency or political subdivision thereof and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, but does not include an underwriter which participates in a

 

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public offering of Equity Shares for a period of 25 days following the purchase by such underwriter of those Equity Shares.

 

“Prohibited Owner” shall mean with respect to any purported Transfer or other event, any Person that, but for the provisions of Section 7.2.2, would have Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned the Equity Shares that were transferred to a Special Trust and, if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the Equity Shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

 

“Special Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 7.3.

 

“Special Trustee” shall mean the Person unaffiliated with the Trust and the Prohibited Owner that is appointed by the Trust to serve as trustee of the Special Trust.

 

“Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of Equity Shares (including (i) the granting of any option or entering into any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of Equity Shares or (ii) the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares), whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of record or beneficially and whether by operation of law or otherwise.

 

Section 7.2  Equity Shares .

 

Section 7.2.1  Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer .

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, no Person shall Beneficially Own Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series and no Person shall Constructively Own Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series.

 

(b)                                  Except as provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning Equity Shares of any class or series in

 

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excess of the Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Equity Shares that would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by such Person in excess of such Ownership Limit; and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights to such Equity Shares.

 

(c)                                   Except as provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person Constructively Owning Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Equity Shares that would be otherwise Constructively Owned by such Person in excess of such Constructive Ownership Limit; and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares.

 

(d)                                  From the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in Equity Shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 Persons (within the meaning of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder)  shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Equity Shares that would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by the transferee; and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares.

 

(e)                                   From the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Trust being “closely held” (within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code) or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT, shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of the Equity Shares that would cause the Trust to be “closely held” (within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code) or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Trust owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Trust from such tenant would cause the Trust to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of

 

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Section 856(c) of the Code); and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares.

 

(f)                                    From the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, no Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares of any class or series that would cause the Trust to be “closely held” (within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code) or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Trust owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Trust from such tenant would cause the Trust to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).

 

Section 7.2.2  Transfer of Equity Shares to Special Trust .

 

(a)                                  If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, there is a purported or attempted Transfer that, if effective, would cause any Person to Beneficially Own Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series, then, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), the Equity Shares that would have been Beneficially Owned in excess of such Ownership Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole Share) shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported or attempted Transfer.

 

(b)                                  If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, there is a purported or attempted Transfer that, if effective, would cause any Person to Constructively Own Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series, then, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), the Equity Shares that would have been Constructively Owned in excess of such Constructive Ownership Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole Share) shall be

 

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transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported or attempted Transfer.

 

(c)                                   If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, there is a purported or attempted Transfer that, if effective, would cause the Trust to become “closely held” (within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code) or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT, then the Equity Shares being Transferred that would have caused the Trust to become “closely held” (within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code) or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported or attempted Transfer.

 

(d)                                  If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, any Person (the “Beneficial Purchaser”) purchases or otherwise acquires an interest in a Person that Beneficially Owns Equity Shares (the “Beneficial Purchase”) and, as a result, the Beneficial Purchaser would Beneficially Own Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series, then, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), such number of Equity Shares, the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of which would cause the Beneficial Purchaser to Beneficially Own Equity Shares in excess of such Ownership Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole Share), shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Beneficial Purchase.  In determining which Equity Shares are so transferred to a Special Trust, Equity Shares Beneficially Owned by the Beneficial Purchaser prior to the Beneficial Purchase shall be transferred to the Special Trust before any Equity Shares Beneficially Owned by the Person, an interest in which is being so purchased or acquired, are so transferred.

 

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(e)                                   If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, any Person (the “Constructive Purchaser”) purchases or otherwise acquires an interest in a Person that Constructively Owns Equity Shares (the “Constructive Purchase”) and, as a result, the Constructive Purchaser would Constructively Own Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series, then, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), such number of Equity Shares, the acquisition of Constructive Ownership of which would cause the Constructive Purchaser to Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of such Constructive Ownership Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole Share), shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Constructive Purchase.  In determining which Equity Shares are so transferred to a Special Trust, Equity Shares Constructively Owned by the Constructive Purchaser prior to the Constructive Purchase shall be transferred to the Special Trust before any Equity Shares Constructively Owned by the Person, an interest in which is being so purchased or acquired, are so transferred.

 

(f)                                    If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, there is a redemption, repurchase, restructuring or similar transaction with respect to a Person that Beneficially Owns Equity Shares (the “Beneficial Entity”) and, as a result, any Person holding a direct or indirect interest in the Beneficial Entity would Beneficially Own Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series, then, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), such number of Equity Shares, the Beneficial Ownership of which by the Beneficial Entity would cause such Person to Beneficially Own Equity Shares in excess of such Ownership Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole Share), shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of such redemption, repurchase, restructuring or similar transaction.  In determining which Equity Shares are so

 

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transferred to a Special Trust, Equity Shares of the relevant class or series Beneficially Owned by the Beneficial Entity shall be transferred to the Special Trust before any Equity Shares Beneficially Owned by the Person holding an interest in the Beneficial Entity (independently of such Person’s interest in the Entity) are so transferred.

 

(g)                                   If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, there is a redemption, repurchase, restructuring or similar transaction with respect to a Person that Constructively Owns Equity Shares (the “Constructive Entity”) and, as a result, any Person holding a direct or indirect interest in the Constructive Entity would Constructively Own Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series, then, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), such number of Equity Shares, the Constructive Ownership of which by the Constructive Entity would cause such Person to Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of such Constructive Ownership Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole Share), shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of such redemption, repurchase, restructuring or similar transaction.  In determining which Equity Shares are so transferred to a Special Trust, Equity Shares of the relevant class or series Constructively Owned by the Constructive Entity shall be transferred to the Special Trust before any Equity Shares Constructively Owned by the Person holding an interest in the Constructive Entity (independently of such Person’s interest in the Entity) are so transferred.

 

(h)                                  If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, an event, other than an event described in Sections 7.2.2(a) through (g), occurs that would, if effective, result in any Person Constructively Owning Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series, then, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), the smallest whole number of Equity Shares of such class or series Constructively Owned by such Person which, if transferred

 

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to a Special Trust, would result in such Person’s Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares not being in excess of such Constructive Ownership Limit, shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the relevant event.

 

(i)                                      If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, an event, other than an event described in Sections 7.2.2(a) through (g), occurs that would, if effective, result in any Person Beneficially Owning Equity Shares of any class or series in excess of the Ownership Limit with respect to Equity Shares of such class or series, then, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2.8(a)(ii), the smallest whole number of Equity Shares of such class or series Beneficially Owned by such Person which, if transferred to a Special Trust, would result in such Person’s Beneficial Ownership of Equity Shares not being in excess of such Ownership Limit, shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the relevant event.

 

(j)                                     If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article VII, at any time from the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date, an event, other than an event described in Sections 7.2.2(a) through (g), occurs that, if effective, would cause the Trust to become “closely held” (within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code) or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT, then the Equity Shares that would have caused the Trust to become “closely held” (within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code) or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be transferred automatically to a Special Trust, effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the event that would have caused such violation.

 

(k)                                  To the extent that, upon a transfer of Equity Shares pursuant to this Section 7.2.2, a violation of any provision of this Article VII would nonetheless be continuing (for example, where the ownership of Equity Shares by a single Special Trust would violate the restrictions in Section 7.2.1(d)), then Equity Shares may be transferred to that

 

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number of Special Trusts, each having a distinct Special Trustee and Beneficiary or Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Special Trust, such that no violation of this Article VII results.

 

(l)                                      In determining which Equity Shares are to be transferred to a Special Trust in accordance with this Section 7.2.2, Equity Shares shall be so transferred to the Special Trust in such a manner as minimizes the aggregate value of the Equity Shares that are transferred to the Special Trust and, to the extent not inconsistent herewith, on a pro rata basis.

 

Section 7.2.3  Remedies For Breach .  If the Board of Trustees or its designees shall at any time determine that a Transfer has taken place in violation of Section 7.2.1 or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire beneficial ownership (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code), Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Equity Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1, the Board of Trustees or its designees may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect or to prevent such Transfer (or any Transfer related to such intent), including, but not limited to, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Trust or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer; provided, however, that any Transfers or attempted Transfers in violation of Sections 7.2.1(a) through (c) or Section 7.2.1(e) shall automatically result in the transfer to a Special Trust as provided in Section 7.2.2, irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 7.2.4  Notice of Ownership or Attempted Ownership in Violation of Section 7.2.1 .  Any Person who acquires or attempts to acquire Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1, shall immediately give written notice to the Trust of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted acquisition, give at least 15 days’ prior written notice, and shall provide to the Trust such other information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such acquisition or attempted acquisition on the Trust’s status as a REIT.

 

Section 7.2.5  Owners Required to Provide Information .  From the Adoption Date and prior to the Ownership Limitation Termination Date:

 

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(a)                                  Every Beneficial Owner and Constructive Owner of more than 1.0% (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding Equity Shares of any class or series shall, within 30 days after January 1 of each year, give written notice to the Trust stating the name and address of such Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner, the number of Equity Shares Beneficially Owned and/or Constructively Owned, and a description of how such Equity Shares are held.  Each such Beneficial Owner and Constructive Owner shall provide to the Trust such additional information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership and/or Constructive Ownership on the Trust’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Ownership Limit and the Constructive Ownership Limit.

 

(b)                                  Each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Equity Shares and each Person (including the shareholder of record) who is holding Equity Shares for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Trust such information as the Trust may request in order to determine the Trust’s status as a REIT or to comply with regulations promulgated under the REIT provisions of the Code or the requirements of any other taxing authority or governmental authority, or to determine such compliance.

 

Section 7.2.6  Remedies Not Limited .  Subject to Section 5.1, nothing contained in this Article VII shall limit the power of the Board of Trustees to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to preserve the Trust’s status as a REIT.

 

Section 7.2.7  Ambiguity In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article VII, including any definition contained in Section 7.1 and any ambiguity with respect to which Equity Shares are transferred to a Special Trust in a given situation, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 7.2 or 7.3 requires an action by the Board of Trustees and the Declaration of Trust fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Trustees may

 

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determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3.

 

Section 7.2.8  Modifications of Ownership Limit .

 

(a)                                  The Board of Trustees may from time to time, prospectively or retroactively, (i) increase or decrease the Ownership Limit and/or the Constructive Ownership Limit with respect to one or more classes or series of Equity Shares for one or more Persons and increase or decrease the Ownership Limit and the Constructive Ownership Limit with respect to one or more classes or series of Equity Shares for all other Persons and (ii) exempt one or more Persons from the Ownership Limit and Constructive Ownership Limit, as the case may be, with respect to a class or series of Equity Shares, if in each case the Board of Trustees obtains such representations, covenants and undertakings as the Board of Trustees may deem appropriate in order to conclude that increasing or decreasing the Ownership Limit or the Constructive Ownership Limit or granting the exemption, as the case may be, will not cause the Trust to lose its status as a REIT under the Code.

 

(b)                              Prior to modifications or exemptions of any Ownership Limit or Constructive Ownership Limit pursuant to this Section 7.2.8, the Board of Trustees may require such opinions of counsel, affidavits, undertakings or agreements or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Trust’s status as a REIT, and any such modification or exemption may be subject to such conditions or restrictions as the Board may impose.

 

(c)                                   No decreased Ownership Limit or Constructive Ownership Limit will be effective for any Person whose percentage of ownership of Equity Shares is in excess of such decreased Ownership Limit or Constructive Ownership Limit, as applicable, until such time as such Person’s percentage of ownership of Equity Shares equals or falls below the decreased Ownership Limit or Constructive Ownership Limit (the “Reduced Limit Trigger”); provided, however, until the Reduced Limit Trigger occurs, such Person (other than a Person for whom an exemption has been granted pursuant to Section 7.2.8(a)(ii)) shall not be entitled to

 

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make any further acquisition of Equity Shares to the extent such acquisition would result in such Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning in excess of the lesser of (i) the number of Equity Shares owned by such Person on the date the adoption of the decreased Ownership Limit or Constructive Ownership Limit or (ii) if, after the adoption of such decreased Ownership Limit or Constructive Ownership Limit, such Person Transfers Equity Shares, the number of Equity Shares owned by such Person after such Transfer or Transfers, and such acquisition in excess of the lesser of (i) or (ii) above shall be a violation of the Ownership Limit or Constructive Ownership Limit.

 

Section 7.2.9  Legend .  (a) Each certificate for Equity Shares, if certificated, or the notice in lieu of a certificate, if any, shall bear substantially the following legend:

 

The Equity Shares evidenced by this certificate are subject to restrictions on transfer and ownership for the purpose, among others, of the Trust’s maintenance of its status as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, (i) no Person may Beneficially Own Equity Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit; (ii) no Person may Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the Constructive Ownership Limit; (iii) no Person may Transfer Equity Shares if such Transfer would result in the Equity Shares of the Trust being owned by fewer than 100 Persons; and (iv) no Person may Transfer Equity Shares if such Transfer would result in the Trust being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Trust to fail to qualify as a REIT.  Any Person who Beneficially or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially or Constructively Own Equity Shares which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Trust.  Attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above will be void ab initio , and if the Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership or Transfer of the Equity Shares represented hereby violates the restrictions on transfer or ownership set forth in clauses (i), (ii) or (iv), the Equity Shares represented hereby will be automatically transferred to a Special Trust for the benefit of one or more Beneficiaries.  In addition, the Trust may redeem Equity Shares upon the terms and

 

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conditions specified by the Board of Trustees in its sole and absolute discretion if the Board of Trustees determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above.  All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings set forth in the Declaration of Trust, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Equity Shares of the Trust on request and without charge.  Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Trust at its principal office.

 

Instead of the foregoing legend, a certificate or notice in lieu of a certificate may state that the Trust will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transfer and ownership of the Equity Shares to a shareholder on request and without charge.

 

Section 7.3  Transfer of Equity Shares in Special Trust .

 

Section 7.3.1  Ownership in Trust .  The Equity Shares transferred to the Special Trust pursuant to Section 7.2.2 shall be held in trust by a Special Trustee for the exclusive benefit of one or more Beneficiaries.  The Special Trustee shall be appointed by the Trust and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Trust and any Prohibited Owner.  Each Beneficiary shall be designated by the Trust as provided in Section 7.3.6.  Equity Shares so held in a Special Trust shall be issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest in the Trust.  The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in such Equity Shares.  The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any Equity Shares held in a Special Trust by the Special Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the Equity Shares held in the Special Trust.

 

Section 7.3.2  Dividend Rights .  The Special Trustee shall have all rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to Equity Shares held in a Special Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Beneficiary.  Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Trust that the Equity Shares have been transferred to the Special Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or other distribution to the Special Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall

 

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be paid when due to the Special Trustee.  Any dividend or other distribution so paid to the Special Trustee shall be held in trust for the Beneficiary.

 

Section 7.3.3  Voting Rights .  The Special Trustee shall have all voting rights with respect to the Equity Shares held in a Special Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to Equity Shares held in a Special Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the Equity Shares have been transferred to the Special Trustee, the Special Trustee shall have the authority (at the Special Trustee’s sole and absolute discretion) (a) to rescind as void any vote cast by Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Trust that the Equity Shares have been transferred to the Special Trustee and (b) to recast such vote; provided, however, that if the Trust has already taken irreversible trust action, then the Special Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, until the Trust has received notification that Equity Shares have been transferred into a Special Trust, the Trust shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes and determining the other rights of stockholders.

 

Section 7.3.4  Sale of Equity Shares by Special Trustee .  Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Special Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to a Special Trust, the Special Trustee shall sell such Equity Shares to a Person or Persons designated by the Special Trustee, whose ownership of the Equity Shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 7.2.1. Upon such sale, the interest of the Beneficiary in the Equity Shares sold shall terminate and the Special Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Beneficiary as provided in this Section 7.3.4.  The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (i) the price such Prohibited Owner paid (or proposed to pay) for the Equity Shares, or if the transaction or event that caused the Equity Shares to be transferred to the Special Trust did not involve a purchase of such shares at Market Price, a price per share equal to

 

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the Market Price of such Equity Shares on the date of the event that resulted in the transfer to the Special Trust and (ii) the price per share received by the Special Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the Equity Shares. The Special Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Special Trustee pursuant to Section 7.3.2 of this Article VII.  Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner and any other amounts held in the Special Trust with respect to such Equity Shares shall be immediately paid to the Beneficiary.  If, prior to the discovery by the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Special Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Special Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 7.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Special Trustee upon demand.

 

Section 7.3.5  Purchase Right in Equity Shares .  Equity Shares transferred to a Special Trust shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Trust, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price such Prohibited Owner paid (or proposed to pay) for the Equity Shares, or if the transaction or event that caused the Equity Shares to be transferred to the Special Trust did not involve a purchase of such shares at Market Price, a price per share equal to the Market Price of such Equity Shares on the date of the event that resulted in the transfer to the Special Trust and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Trust, or its designee, accepts such offer.  The Trust may reduce the amount so payable by the amount of dividends and other distributions which has been paid to the Prohibited Owner and is owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Special Trustee pursuant to Section 7.3.2 of this Article VII and pay the amount of such reduction to the Special Trustee for the benefit of the Beneficiary.  The Trust shall have the right to accept such offer until the Special Trustee has sold the shares held in the Special Trust pursuant to Section 7.3.4.  Upon such a sale to the Trust, the interest of the Beneficiary in the

 

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Equity Shares sold shall terminate and the Special Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner, and distribute any dividends or other distributions held by the Special Trustee with respect to such Equity Shares to the Beneficiary.

 

Section 7.3.6  Designation of Beneficiaries .  By written notice to the Special Trustee, the Trust shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Beneficiary of the interest in a Special Trust such that (i) the Equity Shares held in the Special Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) in the hands of such Beneficiary and (ii) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.  Neither the failure of the Trust to make such designation nor the failure of the Trust to appoint the Special Trustee before the automatic transfer provided in Section 7.2.2 shall make such transfer ineffective, provided that the Trust thereafter makes such designation and appointment.

 

Section 7.4  Severability .  If any provision of this Article VII or any application of any such provision is determined to be invalid by any Federal or state court having jurisdiction over the issues, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected and other applications of such provision shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.

 

Section 7.5  New York Stock Exchange Transactions .  Nothing in this Article VII, shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange.  The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VII and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VII.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 8.1  Meetings .  There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders, to be held on proper notice at such time (after the delivery of the annual report) and location as shall be determined by or in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws, for the election of the Trustees, if required, and for the transaction of any other business within the powers of the Trust. Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust, special meetings of shareholders may be called in the manner provided in the Bylaws.  If there are no Trustees, the officers of the Trust shall promptly call a special meeting of the shareholders entitled to vote for the election of successor Trustees.  Any meeting may be adjourned and reconvened as the Trustees determine or as provided in the Bylaws.

 

Section 8.2  Voting Rights .  Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares then outstanding, the shareholders shall be entitled to vote only on the following matters: (a) election of Trustees as provided in Section 5.2 and the removal of Trustees as provided in Section 5.3; (b) amendment of the Declaration of Trust as provided in Article X; (c) termination of the Trust as provided in Section 12.2; (d) merger or consolidation of the Trust, to the extent a vote of the shareholders is required by Title 8; (e) the sale or disposition of substantially all of the property of the Trust, to the same extent as a stockholder of a Maryland corporation would be entitled to vote on such sale or disposition under the MGCL; and (e) such other matters with respect to which the Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution declaring that a proposed action is advisable and directing that the matter be submitted to the shareholders for approval or ratification.  Except with respect to the foregoing matters, no action taken by the shareholders at any meeting shall in any way bind the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 8.3  Preemptive and Appraisal Rights .  Except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the terms of classified or reclassified Shares pursuant to Section 6.4, or as may otherwise be provided by contract approved by the Board of Trustees, no holder of Shares shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any

 

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additional Shares of the Trust or any other security of the Trust which it may issue or sell. Holders of shares of beneficial interest shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting shareholder provided for under Title 8 and Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board of Trustees, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees and upon such terms and conditions as may be specified by the Board of Trustees, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of shares of beneficial interest, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Trust is subject to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act, holders of shares of beneficial interest shall be entitled to exercise rights of an objecting shareholder under Section 3-708(a) of the MGCL.

 

Section 8.4  Extraordinary Actions .  Notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of Shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

Section 8.5  Board Approval .  The submission of any action of the Trust to the shareholders for their consideration shall first be approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

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Section 8.6  Action By Shareholders without a Meeting .  The Bylaws may provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders may be taken without a meeting by the written consent of the shareholders entitled to cast the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to approve the matter at a meeting at which all Shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, as required by statute, the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

LIABILITY LIMITATION, INDEMNIFICATION

 

AND TRANSACTIONS WITH THE TRUST

 

Section 9.1  Limitation of Shareholder Liability .  No shareholder shall be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Trust by reason of his being a shareholder, nor shall any shareholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any person in connection with the property or the affairs of the Trust by reason of his being a shareholder.

 

Section 9.2  Limitation of Trustee and Officer Liability .  To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of trustees and officers of a real estate investment trust, no present or former Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any shareholder for money damages.  Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 9.2, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust inconsistent with this Section 9.2, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.  No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any shareholder for money damages except to the extent that (a) the Trustee or officer actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services, for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property or services actually received; or (b) a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the Trustee or officer is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the Trustee’s or officer’s action or failure to act was the result of

 

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active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding.

 

Section 9.3 Express Exculpatory Clauses in Instruments .  Neither the shareholders nor the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust shall be liable under any written instrument creating an obligation of the Trust, and all persons shall look solely to the property of the Trust for the payment of any claim under or for the performance of that instrument. The omission of the foregoing exculpatory language from any instrument shall not affect the validity of enforceability of such instrument and shall not render any shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable thereunder to any third party, nor shall the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust be liable to anyone for such omission.

 

Section 9.4  Indemnification .  To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Trust shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former Trustee or officer of the Trust and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a Trustee or officer of the Trust and at the request of the Trust, serves or has served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, member or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.  The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by this Declaration of Trust shall vest immediately upon election of a Trustee or officer. The Trust may, with the approval of its Board of Trustees, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to an individual who served a predecessor of the Trust in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust.  The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in this Declaration of Trust shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking

 

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indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement or otherwise.

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 9.4, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of this Declaration of Trust inconsistent with this Section 9.4, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph of this Section 9.4 with respect to any act or failure to act that occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

Section 9.5  Transactions Between the Trust and its Trustees, Officers, Employees and Agents .  Subject to any express restrictions in the Declaration of Trust or adopted by the Trustees in the Bylaws or by resolution, the Trust may enter into any contract or transaction of any kind with any person, including any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or any person affiliated with a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, whether or not any of them has a financial interest in such transaction.

 

Section 9.6  Insurance .  The Trust may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in the preceding paragraph against any liability which may be asserted against such person.

 

Section 9.7  No Limitation .  The indemnification provided herein shall not be deemed to limit the right of the Trust to indemnify any other person for any such expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law, nor shall it be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification from the Trust may be entitled under any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested trustees, or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

ARTICLE X

 

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 10.1  General .  The Trust reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Declaration of Trust, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Declaration of Trust,

 

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of any Shares.  All rights and powers conferred by the Declaration of Trust on shareholders, Trustees and officers are granted subject to this reservation.  An amendment to the Declaration of Trust (a) shall be signed and acknowledged by at least a majority of the Trustees, or an officer duly authorized by at least a majority of the Trustees, (b) shall be filed for record as provided in Section 13.5 and (c) shall become effective as of the later of the time the SDAT accepts the amendment for record or the time established in the amendment, not to exceed 30 days after the amendment is accepted for record.  All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include all amendments thereto.

 

Section 10.2  By Trustees .  The Trustees may amend the Declaration of Trust from time to time, in the manner provided by Title 8, without any action by the shareholders, (i) to qualify under the Code as a REIT or as a real estate investment trust under Title 8, (ii) in any respect in which the charter of a corporation may be amended in accordance with Section 2-605 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and (iii) as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust.

 

Section 10.3  By Shareholders.   Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust, any amendment to the Declaration of Trust shall be valid only if approved by the affirmative vote of majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Any amendment to Section 5.3 or to this sentence of the Declaration of Trust shall be valid only if approved by the affirmative vote of two thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF TRUST PROPERTY

 

Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding, the Trust may (a) merge the Trust into another entity, (b) consolidate the Trust with one or more other entities into a new entity or (c) sell, lease, exchange or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the property of the Trust. Any such action must be approved (a) by the Board of Trustees and (b) if a vote of shareholders is required by Title 8, after notice to all shareholders entitled to vote on the matter, by the affirmative vote of a majority of votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

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ARTICLE XII

 

DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST

 

Section 12.1  Duration .  The Trust shall continue perpetually unless terminated pursuant to Section 12.2 or pursuant to any applicable provision of Title 8.

 

Section 12.2  Termination .

 

(a)           Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding, after approval by a majority of the entire Board of Trustees, the Trust may be terminated at any meeting of shareholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.  Upon the termination of the Trust:

 

(i)            The Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.

 

(ii)           The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees under the Declaration of Trust shall continue, including the powers to fulfill or discharge the Trust’s contracts, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining property of the Trust to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business.  The Trustees may appoint any officer of the Trust or any other person to supervise the winding up of the affairs of the Trust and delegate to such officer or such person any or all powers of the Trustees in this regard.

 

(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trust may distribute the remaining property of the Trust, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the shareholders so that after payment in full or the setting apart for payment of such preferential amounts, if any, to which the holders of any Shares at the time outstanding shall be entitled, the remaining property of the Trust shall, subject to any

 

33



 

participating or similar rights of Shares  at the time outstanding, be distributed ratably among the holders of Common Shares at the time outstanding.

 

(b)           After termination of the Trust, the liquidation of its business and the distribution to the shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and file with the Trust’s records a document certifying that the Trust has been duly terminated, and the Trustees shall be discharged from all liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all shareholders shall cease.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 13.1  Governing Law .  The Declaration of Trust is executed by the undersigned Trustees and delivered in the State of Maryland with reference to the laws thereof, and the rights of all parties and the validity, construction and effect of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

 

Section 13.2  Reliance by Third Parties .  Any certificate shall be final and conclusive as to any person dealing with the Trust if executed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust or a Trustee, and if certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees, officers of the Trust or shareholders; (b) the due authorization of the execution of any document; (c) the action or vote taken, and the existence of a quorum, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees or shareholders; (d) a copy of the Declaration of Trust or of the Bylaws as a true and complete copy as then in force; (e) an amendment to the Declaration of Trust; (f) the termination of the Trust; or (g) the existence of any fact  relating to the affairs of the Trust.  No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trust on its behalf or by any officer, employee or agent of the Trust.

 

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Section 13.3  Severability .

 

(a)           The provisions of the Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Board of Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any one or more of such provisions (the “Conflicting Provisions”) are in conflict with the Code, Title 8 or other applicable federal or state laws, the Conflicting Provisions, to the extent of the conflict, shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of the Declaration of Trust, even without any amendment of the Declaration of Trust pursuant to Article X and without affecting or impairing any of the remaining provisions of the Declaration of Trust or rendering invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.  No Trustee shall be liable for making or failing to make such a determination.  In the event of any such determination by the Board of Trustees, the Board shall amend the Declaration of Trust in the manner provided in Section 10.2.

 

(b)           If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such holding shall apply only to the extent of any such invalidity or unenforceability and shall not in any manner affect, impair or render invalid or unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

 

Section 13.4  Construction .  In the Declaration of Trust, unless the context otherwise requires, words used in the singular or in the plural include both the plural and singular and words denoting any gender include all genders.  The title and headings of different parts are inserted for convenience and shall not affect the meaning, construction or effect of the Declaration of Trust.  In defining or interpreting the powers and duties of the Trust and its Trustees and officers, reference may be made by the Trustees or officers, to the extent appropriate and not inconsistent with the Code or Title 8, to Titles 1 through 3 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

 

Section 13.5  Recordation .  The Declaration of Trust and any amendment hereto shall be filed for record with the SDAT and may also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate, but failure to file for record the Declaration of Trust or any

 

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amendment hereto in any office other than in the State of Maryland shall not affect or impair the validity or effectiveness of the Declaration of Trust or any amendment hereto.  A restated Declaration of Trust shall, upon filing, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and may thereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration of Trust and the various amendments  thereto.

 

THIRD :  The amendment to and restatement of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Trustees and approved by the shareholders of the Trust as required by law.

 

FOURTH:  The total number of shares of beneficial interest which the Trust had authority to issue immediately prior to this amendment and restatement was 1,000, consisting of 1,000 Common Shares, $0.01 par value per share.  The aggregate par value of all shares of beneficial interest having par value was $10.00.

 

FIFTH :  The total number of shares of beneficial interest which the Trust has authority to issue pursuant to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the Declaration of Trust is 700,000,000, consisting of 500,000,000 Common Shares, $0.01 par value per share, and 200,000,000 Preferred Shares, $0.01 par value per share.  The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of beneficial interest having par value is $7,000,000.

 

The undersigned acknowledges these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the trust act of the Trust and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary on this 14th day of January, 2015.

 

 

ATTEST:

 

Urban Edge Properties

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

/s/ Jeffrey S. Olson

(SEAL)

Secretary

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

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Exhibit 3.2

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

Section 1.  PRINCIPAL OFFICE .  The principal office of the Trust in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Trustees may designate.

 

Section 2.  ADDITIONAL OFFICES .  The Trust may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine or the business of the Trust may require.

 

ARTICLE II

 

MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 1.  PLACE .  All meetings of shareholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Trust or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 2.  ANNUAL MEETING .  An annual meeting of shareholders for the election of trustees and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Trust shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 3.  SPECIAL MEETINGS .   Each of the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president and a majority of the Board of Trustees then in office shall have the exclusive power to call a special meeting of shareholders.  A special meeting of shareholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Trustees, whoever has called the meeting.

 

Section 4.  NOTICE .  Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of shareholders, the secretary shall give to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each shareholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such shareholder personally, by leaving it at the shareholder’s residence or usual place of business or by any other means permitted by Maryland law.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the shareholder at the shareholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Trust, with postage thereon prepaid.  If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the shareholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the shareholder at which the shareholder receives electronic transmissions. 

 



 

The Trust may give a single notice to all shareholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any shareholder at such address, unless such shareholder objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice.  Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more shareholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

 

Subject to Section 12(a) of this Article II, any business of the Trust may be transacted at an annual meeting of shareholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice.  No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of shareholders except as specifically designated in the notice.  The Trust may postpone or cancel a meeting of shareholders by making a “public announcement” (as defined in Section 12(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting.  Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.

 

Section 5. ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT .  Every meeting of shareholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Trustees to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order:  the vice chairman of the board, if there is one, the chief executive officer, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, the secretary or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the shareholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present in person or by proxy.  The secretary or, in the secretary’s absence, an assistant secretary, or, in the absence of both the secretary and assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Trustees or, in the absence of such appointment, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary.  In the event that the secretary presides at a meeting of shareholders, an assistant secretary or, in the absence of all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Trustees or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting.  The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of shareholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting.  The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the shareholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to shareholders of record of the Trust, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to shareholders of record of the Trust entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments; (e) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) removing any shareholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date and time and at a place announced at the

 

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meeting; and (i) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security.  Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of shareholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

Section 6.  QUORUM .  At any meeting of shareholders, the presence in person or by proxy of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the Declaration of Trust of the Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter.  If such quorum is not established at any meeting of the shareholders, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting sine die or from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting.  At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

 

The shareholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough shareholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.

 

Section 7.  VOTING .  A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a trustee. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are trustees to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted.  A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the Declaration of Trust.  Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Declaration of Trust, each outstanding share of beneficial interest, regardless of class, entitles the holder thereof to cast one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders.  Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

 

Section 8.  PROXIES .  A holder of record of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust may cast votes in person or by proxy executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law.  Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust before or at the meeting.  No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

 

Section 9.  VOTING OF SHARES BY CERTAIN HOLDERS .  Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust registered in the name of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, managing member, manager, general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such shares pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the

 

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governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such shares.  Any trustee or fiduciary, in such capacity, may vote shares of beneficial interest registered in such trustee’s or fiduciary’s name, either in person or by proxy.

 

Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.

 

The Board of Trustees may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a shareholder may certify in writing to the Trust that any shares of beneficial interest registered in the name of the shareholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the shareholder.  The resolution shall set forth the class of shareholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date, the time after the record date within which the certification must be received by the Trust; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Trustees considers necessary or desirable.  On receipt by the Trust of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified shares of beneficial interest in place of the shareholder who makes the certification.

 

Section 10.  INSPECTORS .  The Board of Trustees or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector.  Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of beneficial interest represented at the meeting in person or by proxy and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and (v) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote.  Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting.  If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors.  The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

 

Section 11.  REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS .  The president or some other executive officer designated by the Board of Trustees shall prepare annually a full and correct statement of the affairs of the Trust, which shall include a balance sheet and a financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year.  The statement of affairs shall be submitted at the annual meeting of the shareholders and, within 20 days after the annual meeting of shareholders, placed on file at the principal office of the Trust.

 

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Section 12.  ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER NOMINEES FOR TRUSTEE AND OTHER SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS .

 

(a)                                  Annual Meetings of Shareholders .  (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Trustees and the proposal of other business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders (i) pursuant to the Trust’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (iii) by any shareholder of the Trust who was a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the shareholder as provided for in this Section 12(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 12(a).

 

(2)                                  For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 12, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Trust and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the shareholders.  To be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 12 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Trust not earlier than the 150 th  day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120 th  day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 12(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that, in connection with the Trust’s first annual meeting or in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in order for notice by the shareholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150 th  day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120 th  day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.  The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

(3)                                  Such shareholder’s notice shall set forth:

 

(i) as to each individual whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a trustee (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a trustee in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”);

 

(ii) as to any other business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the shareholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the shareholder or the Shareholder Associated Person therefrom;

 

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(iii) as to the shareholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Shareholder Associated Person,

 

(A) the class, series and number of all shares of beneficial interest or other securities of the Trust or any affiliate thereof (collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such shares or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,

 

(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person,

 

(C) whether and the extent to which such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of (x)  Company Securities or (y) any security of any entity that was listed in the Peer Group in the Share Performance Graph in the most recent annual report to security holders of the Trust (a “Peer Group Company”) for such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person in the Trust or any affiliate thereof (or, as applicable, in any Peer Group Company) disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities (or, as applicable, in any Peer Group Company) and

 

(D) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Trust), by security holdings or otherwise, of such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person, in the Trust or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;

 

(iv) as to the shareholder giving the notice, any Shareholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 12(a) and any Proposed Nominee,

 

(A) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Trust’s share ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Shareholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee,

 

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(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such shareholder and each such Shareholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such shareholder and each such Shareholder Associated Person; and

 

(C) whether any such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person has received any financial assistance, funding or other consideration from any other person in respect of the nomination or such other business.

 

(v) the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the shareholder giving the notice or any Shareholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee or other business proposal prior to the date of such shareholder’s notice; and

 

(vi) to the extent known by the shareholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other shareholder supporting the Proposed Nominee or the proposal of other business on the date of such shareholder’s notice.

 

(4)                                  Such shareholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a certificate executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) certifying that such Proposed Nominee (a) is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Trust in connection with service or action as a trustee that has not been disclosed to the Trust and (b) will serve as a trustee of the Trust if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Trust, upon request, to the shareholder providing the notice and shall include all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a trustee in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, or would be required pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Trust are listed or over-the-counter market on which any securities of the Trust are traded).

 

(5)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 12 to the contrary, in the event that the number of trustees to be elected to the Board of Trustees is increased, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 12(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a shareholder’s notice required by this Section 12(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Trust not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Trust.

 

(6)                                  For purposes of this Section 12, “Shareholder Associated Person” of any shareholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with, such shareholder, (ii) any beneficial

 

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owner of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder (other than a shareholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person.

 

(b)                                  Special Meetings of Shareholders .  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Trust’s notice of meeting.  Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Trustees may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which trustees are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing trustees, by any shareholder of the Trust who is a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 12 and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12.  In the event the Trust calls a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Trustees, any shareholder may nominate an individual or individuals  (as the case may be) for election as a trustee as specified in the Trust’s notice of meeting, if the shareholder’s notice, containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 12 is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Trust not earlier than the 120 th  day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Trustees to be elected at such meeting.  The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)                                   General .  (1)  If information submitted pursuant to this Section 12 by any shareholder proposing a nominee for election as a trustee or any proposal for other business at a meeting of shareholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12.  Any such shareholder shall notify the Trust of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information.  Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Trustees, any such shareholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Trustees or any authorized officer of the Trust, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the shareholder pursuant to this Section 12 and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Trust, written confirmation by such shareholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the shareholder pursuant to this Section 12 as of an earlier date.  If a shareholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12.

 

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(2)                                  Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 12 shall be eligible for election by shareholders as trustees, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 12.  The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 12.

 

(3)                                  For purposes of this Section 12, “the date of the proxy statement” shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.  “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(4)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 12.  Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to affect any right of a shareholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Trust to omit a proposal from, the Trust’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.  Nothing in this Section 12 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by the shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

(5)                                  For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Section 13.  CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or any successor statute (the “MGCL”), shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust.  This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

 

Section 14.  SHAREHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING .  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting (a) if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the shareholders or (b) if the action is advised, and submitted to the shareholders for approval, by the Board of Trustees and a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of shareholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary

 

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to authorize or take the action at a meeting of shareholders is delivered to the Trust in accordance with the Maryland REIT Law or the other applicable provisions of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (collectively, the “MRL”).  The Trust shall give notice of any action taken by less than unanimous consent to each shareholder not later than ten days after the effective time of such action.

 

ARTICLE III

 

TRUSTEES

 

Section 1.                                            GENERAL POWERS .  The business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Trustees.

 

Section 2.                                            NUMBER, TENURE, QUALIFICATIONS AND RESIGNATION .  At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Trustees may establish, increase or decrease the number of trustees, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MRL, nor more than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a trustee shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of trustees.  In case of failure to elect trustees at the designated time, the trustees holding over shall continue to serve as trustees until their successors are elected and qualify.  Any trustee of the Trust may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Trustees, the chairman of the board or the secretary.  Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.

 

Section 3.                                            ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS .  An annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of shareholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary.  In the event such meeting is not so held, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees may provide, by resolution, the time and place of regular meetings of the Board of Trustees without other notice than such resolution.

 

Section 4.                                            SPECIAL MEETINGS .  Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or a majority of the trustees then in office.  The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Trustees the time and place of any special meeting of the Board of Trustees called by them.  The Board of Trustees may provide, by resolution, the time and place for special meetings of the Board of Trustees without other notice than such resolution.

 

Section 5.                                            NOTICE .  Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each trustee at his or her business or residence address.  Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.  Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the

 

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meeting.  Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting.  Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the trustee or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the trustee or his or her agent is a party.  Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Trust by the trustee.  Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Trust by the trustee and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt.  Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid.  Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Trustees need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

 

Section 6.                                            QUORUM .  A majority of the trustees shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Trustees, provided that, if less than a majority of such trustees is present at such meeting, a majority of the trustees present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to applicable law, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other percentage of a particular group of trustees is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or such other percentage of such group.

 

The trustees present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough trustees to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum.

 

Section 7.                                            VOTING .  The action of a majority of the trustees present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws.  If enough trustees have withdrawn from a meeting to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum, but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of trustees necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws.

 

Section 8.                                            ORGANIZATION .  At each meeting of the Board of Trustees, the chairman of the board or, in the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman of the board, if any, shall act as chairman of the meeting.  In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman of the board, the chief executive officer or, in the absence of the chief executive officer, the president or, in the absence of the president, a trustee chosen by a majority of the trustees present, shall act as chairman of the meeting.  The secretary or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the Trust or, in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

 

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Section 9.                                            TELEPHONE MEETINGS .  Trustees may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.  Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 10.                                     CONSENT BY TRUSTEES WITHOUT A MEETING .  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each trustee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 11.                         VACANCIES If for any reason any or all the trustees cease to be trustees, such event shall not terminate the Trust or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining trustees hereunder.  Except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred shares of beneficial interest, any vacancy on the Board of Trustees may be filled only by a majority of the remaining trustees, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum.  Any trustee elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the trusteeship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

 

Section 12.                  COMPENSATION .  Trustees shall not receive any stated salary for their services as trustees but, by resolution of the trustees, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Trust and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as trustees.  Trustees may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the trustees or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they perform or engage in as trustees; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any trustees from serving the Trust in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

 

Section 13.                                     RELIANCE .  Each trustee and officer of the Trust shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Trust, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Trust whom the trustee or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other person, as to a matter which the trustee or officer reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, with respect to a trustee, by a committee of the Board of Trustees on which the trustee does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the trustee reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.

 

Section 14.                                        RATIFICATION .  The Board of Trustees or the shareholders may ratify and make binding on the Trust any action or inaction by the Trust or its officers to the extent that the Board of Trustees or the shareholders could have originally authorized the matter.  Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any shareholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a trustee, officer or shareholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of

 

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improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Trustees or by the shareholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Trust and its shareholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

 

Section 15.                                        INTERESTED TRUSTEE TRANSACTIONS .  Section 2-419 of the MGCL shall be available for and apply to any contract or other transaction between the Trust and any of its trustees or between the Trust and any other trust, corporation, firm or other entity in which any of its trustees is a trustee or director or has a material financial interest.

 

Section 16.                                     CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS .   Any trustee or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Trust.

 

Section 17.                                     EMERGENCY PROVISIONS .  Notwithstanding any other provision in the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, this Section 17 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Trustees under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”).  During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Trustees, (i) a meeting of the Board of Trustees or a committee thereof may be called by any trustee or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Trustees during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many trustees and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) the number of trustees necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Trustees.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

COMMITTEES

 

Section 1.                                            NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS .  The Board of Trustees may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and other committees, composed of one or more trustees, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 2.                                            POWERS .  The Board of Trustees may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article IV any of the powers of the Board of Trustees.  Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Trustees, any committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority to one or more subcommittees, composed of one or more trustees, as the committee deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Section 3.                                            MEETINGS .  Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Trustees.  A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the

 

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committee.  The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee.  The Board of Trustees may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide.  In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another trustee to act in the place of such absent member.

 

Section 4.                                            TELEPHONE MEETINGS .  Members of a committee of the Board of Trustees may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.  Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 5.                                            CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING .  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Trustees may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

 

Section 6.                                            VACANCIES .  Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Trustees shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

 

ARTICLE V

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                                            GENERAL PROVISIONS .  The officers of the Trust shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers.  In addition, the Board of Trustees may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or desirable.  The officers of the Trust shall be elected annually by the Board of Trustees, except that the chief executive officer or president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers.  Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.  Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person.  Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Trust and such officer or agent.

 

Section 2.                                            REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION .  Any officer or agent of the Trust may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Trustees if in its judgment the best

 

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interests of the Trust would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.  Any officer of the Trust may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Trustees, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary.  Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.  Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Trust.

 

Section 3.                                            VACANCIES .  A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Trustees for the balance of the term.

 

Section 4.                                            CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER .  The Board of Trustees may designate a chief executive officer.  In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the board shall be the chief executive officer of the Trust.  The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Trust, as determined by the Board of Trustees, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Trust.  He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Trustees or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Trust or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees from time to time.

 

Section 5.                                            CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER .  The Board of Trustees may designate a chief operating officer.  The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Trustees or the chief executive officer.

 

Section 6.                                            CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER .  The Board of Trustees may designate a chief financial officer.  The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Trustees or the chief executive officer.

 

Section 7.                                            CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD .  The Board of Trustees may designate from among its members a chairman of the board, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Trust.  The Board of Trustees may designate the chairman of the board as an executive or non-executive chairman.  The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Trustees.  The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these Bylaws or the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 8.                                            PRESIDENT .   In the absence of a chief executive officer, the president shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Trust.  In the absence of a designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Trustees, the president shall be the chief operating officer.  He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Trustees or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Trust or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees from time to time.

 

15



 

Section 9.                                            VICE PRESIDENTS .  In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such vice president by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president, senior vice president, or vice president for particular areas of responsibility.

 

Section 10.                                     SECRETARY .  The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders, the Board of Trustees and committees of the Board of Trustees in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the trust records and of the seal of the Trust; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each shareholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such shareholder; (e) have general charge of the share transfer books of the Trust; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 11.                                     TREASURER .  The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Trust, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust, shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Trust in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Trustees and in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Trustees.  In the absence of a designation of a chief financial officer by the Board of Trustees, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Trust.

 

The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Trust as may be ordered by the Board of Trustees, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and Board of Trustees, at the regular meetings of the Board of Trustees or whenever it may so require, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Trust.

 

Section 12.                                     ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS .  The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 13.                                     COMPENSATION .  The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Trustees and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a trustee.

 

16



 

ARTICLE VI

 

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

 

Section 1.                                            CONTRACTS .  The Board of Trustees may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Trust and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.  Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Trust when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Trustees and executed by an authorized person.

 

Section 2.                                            CHECKS AND DRAFTS .  All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Trust in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Trustees.

 

Section 3.                                            DEPOSITS .  All funds of the Trust not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Trust as the Board of Trustees, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, or any other officer designated by the Board of Trustees may determine.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

SHARES

 

Section 1.                                            CERTIFICATES .  Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Trustees, shareholders of the Trust are not entitled to certificates evidencing the shares of beneficial interest held by them.  In the event that the Trust issues shares of beneficial interest evidenced by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Trustees or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MRL and shall be signed by the officers of the Trust in any manner permitted by the MRL.  In the event that the Trust issues shares of beneficial interest without certificates, to the extent then required by the MRL, the Trust shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MRL to be included on share certificates.  There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of shareholders based on whether or not their shares are evidenced by certificates.

 

Section 2.                                        TRANSFERS .  All transfers of shares shall be made on the books of the Trust, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Trustees or any officer of the Trust may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed.  The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Trustees that such shares shall no longer be evidenced by certificates.  Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares the Trust shall provide to the record holders of such shares, to the extent then required by the MRL, a written statement of the information required by the MRL to be included on share certificates.

 

17



 

The Trust shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of beneficial interest as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of beneficial interest will be subject in all respects to the Declaration of Trust and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

 

Section 3.                                            REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE .  Any officer of the Trust may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such shareholder and the Board of Trustees has determined that such certificates may be issued.  Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Trust, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Trust a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Trust.

 

Section 4.                                            FIXING OF RECORD DATE .  The Board of Trustees may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose.  Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of shareholders of record is to be held or taken.

 

When a record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been set as provided in this section, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if adjourned or postponed, except if the meeting is adjourned or postponed to a date more than 120 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting shall be determined as set forth herein.

 

Section 5.                                            SHARE LEDGER .  The Trust shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate share ledger containing the name and address of each shareholder and the number of shares of each class held by such shareholder.

 

Section 6.                                            FRACTIONAL SHARES; ISSUANCE OF UNITS .  The Board of

 

18



 

Trustees may authorize the Trust to issue fractional shares or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as it may determine.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the Board of Trustees may authorize the issuance of units consisting of different securities of the Trust.  Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Trust, except that the Board of Trustees may provide that for a specified period securities of the Trust issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Trust only in such unit.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

ACCOUNTING YEAR

 

The Board of Trustees shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Trust by a duly adopted resolution.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 1.                                            AUTHORIZATION .  Dividends and other distributions upon the shares of beneficial interest of the Trust may be authorized by the Board of Trustees, subject to the provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust.  Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or shares of beneficial interest of the Trust, subject to the provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust.

 

Section 2.                                            CONTINGENCIES .  Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Trust available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Trustees may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Trust or for such other purpose as the Board of Trustees shall determine, and the Board of Trustees may modify or abolish any such reserve.

 

ARTICLE X

 

INVESTMENT POLICY

 

Subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, the Board of Trustees may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Trust as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

19



 

ARTICLE XI

 

SEAL

 

Section 1.                                            SEAL .  The Board of Trustees may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Trust.  The seal shall contain the name of the Trust and the year of its formation and the words “Formed Maryland.”  The Board of Trustees may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.

 

Section 2.                                            AFFIXING SEAL .  Whenever the Trust is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Trust.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

 

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Trust shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former trustee or officer of the Trust and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a trustee or officer of the Trust and at the request of the Trust, serves or has served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, member or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.  The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Declaration of Trust and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a trustee or officer.  The Trust may, with the approval of its Board of Trustees, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to an individual who served a predecessor of the Trust in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust.  The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement or otherwise.

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article XII, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph of this Article XII with respect to any act or failure to act that occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

20



 

ARTICLE XIII

 

WAIVER OF NOTICE

 

Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission, given by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.  Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by statute.  The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION

 

Unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any trustee or officer or other employee of the Trust to the Trust or to the shareholders of the Trust, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Trust or any trustee or officer or other employee of the Trust arising pursuant to any provision of the MRL, the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Trust or any trustee or officer or other employee of the Trust that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

The Board of Trustees shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE XVI

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include all amendments and supplements thereto and any other documents filed with and accepted for record by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation related thereto.

 

21


Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP

 

Dated as of:  January 14, 2015

 

 

 

 

THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION, UNLESS THE TRANSFEROR DELIVERS TO THE PARTNERSHIP AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE PARTNERSHIP, TO THE EFFECT THAT THE PROPOSED SALE, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR “BLUE SKY” LAWS.

 

IN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION INVESTORS MUST RELY ON THEIR OWN EXAMINATION OF THE PERSON OR ENTITY CREATING THE SECURITIES AND THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, INCLUDING THE MERITS AND RISKS INVOLVED.  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN RECOMMENDED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY AUTHORITY.  FURTHERMORE, THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THE ACCURACY OR DETERMINED THE ADEQUACY OF THIS DOCUMENT.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE I

DEFINED TERMS

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

1

 

 

 

“704(c) Value”

1

“Act”

1

“Additional Limited Partner”

1

“Adjusted Capital Account”

1

“Adjusted Capital Account Deficit”

2

“Adjusted Property”

2

“Affiliate”

2

“Agreed Value”

2

“Agreement”

2

“Assignee”

2

“Bankruptcy”

2

“Book-Up Target”

3

“Book-Tax Disparities”

3

“Business Day”

3

“Capital Account”

3

“Capital Contribution”

3

“Carrying Value”

3

“Cash Amount”

4

“Certificate”

4

“Code”

4

“Common Partnership Unit”

4

“Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance”

4

“Consent”

4

“Constructive Ownership” and “Constructively Own”

4

“Contributed Property”

4

“Conversion Factor”

4

“Convertible Funding Debt”

6

“Covered Person”

6

“Debt”

6

“Declaration of Trust”

6

“Depreciation”

6

“Economic Capital Account Balance”

6

“EDGAR”

6

“ERISA”

6

“Exchange Act”

7

“final adjustment”

7

“Funding Debt”

7

“GAAP”

7

 

i



 

“General Partner”

7

“General Partner Entity”

7

“General Partner Payment”

7

“General Partnership Interest”

7

“Immediate Family”

7

“Incapacity”

7

“Indemnitee”

7

“IRS”

8

“Limited Partner”

8

“Limited Partnership Interest”

8

“Liquidating Event”

8

“Liquidating Gains”

8

“Liquidating Losses”

8

“Liquidator”

8

“LTIP Unit”

8

“LTIP Unit Initial Sharing Percentage”

9

“LTIP Unitholder”

9

“Majority in Interest”

9

“Net Income”

9

“Net Loss”

9

“New Securities”

9

“Nonrecourse Built-in Gain”

9

“Nonrecourse Deductions”

9

“Nonrecourse Liability”

10

“Notice of Redemption”

10

“Partner”

10

“Partner Minimum Gain”

10

“Partner Nonrecourse Debt”

10

“Partner Nonrecourse Deductions”

10

“Partnership”

10

“Partnership Interest”

10

“Partnership Minimum Gain”

10

“Partnership Record Date”

10

“Partnership Unit” or “Unit”

10

“Partnership Year”

11

“Percentage Interest”

11

“Person”

11

“Predecessor Entity”

11

“Pro Rata Portion”

11

“Publicly Traded”

11

“Qualified REIT Subsidiary”

11

“Recapture Income”

11

“Redeeming Partner”

11

“Redemption Amount”

11

“Redemption Right”

12

“Regulations”

12

“REIT”

12

“REIT Expenses”

12

 

ii



 

“REIT Requirements”

12

“Required Cash Payment”

12

“Safe Harbors”

12

“SEC”

12

“Securities Act”

12

“Share”

12

“Shares Amount”

13

“Specified Redemption Date”

13

“Stock Option Plan”

13

“Subsidiary”

13

“Substituted Limited Partner”

13

“Successor Entity”

13

“Tenant”

13

“Terminating Capital Transaction”

13

“Trading Days”

13

“Unit Equivalent”

13

“Valuation Date”

13

“Value”

13

 

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

Section 2.1

Organization

14

Section 2.2

Name

14

Section 2.3

Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office

14

Section 2.4

Power of Attorney

15

Section 2.5

Term

16

Section 2.6

Admission of Limited Partners

16

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Purpose and Business

16

Section 3.2

Powers

17

Section 3.3

Representations and Warranties by the Parties

17

Section 3.4

Partnership Only for Purposes Specified

18

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCES

OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Capital Contributions of the Partners

19

Section 4.2

Issuances of Partnership Interests

19

Section 4.3

Contribution of Proceeds of Issuance of Securities by the General Partner

21

Section 4.4

No Preemptive Rights

22

Section 4.5

Other Contribution Provisions

22

Section 4.6

No Interest on Capital

22

 

iii



 

ARTICLE V

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 5.1

Requirement and Characterization of Distributions

22

Section 5.2

Amounts Withheld

23

Section 5.3

Distributions Upon Liquidation

23

Section 5.4

Restricted Distributions

23

Section 5.5

Revisions to Reflect Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests

23

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

ALLOCATIONS

 

Section 6.1

Allocations For Capital Account Purposes

23

Section 6.2

Revisions to Allocations to Reflect Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests

26

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1

Management

26

Section 7.2

Certificate of Limited Partnership

31

Section 7.3

Restrictions on General Partner Authority

31

Section 7.4

Reimbursement of the General Partner

31

Section 7.5

Outside Activities of the General Partner

32

Section 7.6

Transactions with Affiliates

33

Section 7.7

Indemnification

34

Section 7.8

Liability of the Covered Persons

36

Section 7.9

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

37

Section 7.10

Title to Partnership Assets

38

Section 7.11

Reliance by Third Parties

38

Section 7.12

Loans by Third Parties

39

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 8.1

Limitation of Liability

39

Section 8.2

Management of Business

39

Section 8.3

Outside Activities of Limited Partners

39

Section 8.4

Return of Capital

40

Section 8.5

Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership

40

Section 8.6

Redemption Right

41

Section 8.7

Right of Offset

44

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 9.1

Records and Accounting

44

Section 9.2

Fiscal Year

45

 

iv



 

Section 9.3

Reports

45

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

TAX MATTERS

 

Section 10.1

Preparation of Tax Returns

45

Section 10.2

Tax Elections

46

Section 10.3

Tax Matters Partner

46

Section 10.4

Organizational Expenses

48

Section 10.5

Withholding

48

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS

 

Section 11.1

Transfer

49

Section 11.2

Transfers of Partnership Interests of General Partner

49

Section 11.3

Limited Partners’ Rights to Transfer

50

Section 11.4

Substituted Limited Partners

52

Section 11.5

Assignees

52

Section 11.6

General Provisions

53

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 12.1

Admission of Successor General Partner

55

Section 12.2

Admission of Additional Limited Partners

55

Section 12.3

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

56

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 13.1

Dissolution

56

Section 13.2

Winding Up

57

Section 13.3

Compliance with Timing Requirements of Regulations

58

Section 13.4

Deemed Distribution and Recontribution

59

Section 13.5

Rights of Limited Partners

59

Section 13.6

Notice of Dissolution

59

Section 13.7

Termination of Partnership and Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

59

Section 13.8

Reasonable Time for Winding Up

59

Section 13.9

Waiver of Partition

60

Section 13.10

Liability of Liquidator

60

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS

 

Section 14.1

Amendments

60

Section 14.2

Meetings of the Partners

62

 

v



 

ARTICLE XV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 15.1

Addresses and Notice

63

Section 15.2

Titles and Captions

63

Section 15.3

Pronouns and Plurals

63

Section 15.4

Further Action

64

Section 15.5

Binding Effect

64

Section 15.6

Creditors; Other Third Parties

64

Section 15.7

Waiver

64

Section 15.8

Counterparts

64

Section 15.9

Applicable Law

64

Section 15.10

Invalidity of Provisions

64

Section 15.11

Entire Agreement

65

Section 15.12

No Rights as Shareholders

65

Section 15.13

Limitation to Preserve REIT Status

65

 

vi



 

EXHIBIT A

PARTNERS AND
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

EXHIBIT B

CAPITAL ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE

 

EXHIBIT C

SPECIAL ALLOCATION RULES

 

EXHIBIT D

NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

 

EXHIBIT E

DESIGNATION OF THE PREFERENCES, CONVERSION
AND OTHER RIGHTS, VOTING POWERS, RESTRICTIONS,
LIMITATIONS AS TO DISTRIBUTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF REDEMPTION
OF THE
LTIP UNITS

 

EXHIBIT F

 

CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP DEFINITION

 

EXHIBIT G

 

SCHEDULE OF PARTNERS’ OWNERSHIP
WITH RESPECT TO TENANTS

 

vii



 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP

 

THIS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF Urban Edge Properties LP (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 14, 2015, is entered into by and among Urban Edge Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ General Partner ”), as the general partner of and a limited partner in the Partnership, and the General Partner, on behalf of and as attorney in fact for each of the persons and entities identified on Exhibit A hereof as a Limited Partner in the Partnership, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership as provided herein.

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS

 

Section 1.1                                     Definitions .

 

The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

 

704(c) Value ” of any Contributed Property means the fair market value of such property or other consideration at the time of contribution, as determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.  Subject to Exhibit B hereof, the General Partner shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, use such method as it deems reasonable and appropriate to allocate the aggregate of the 704(c) Values of Contributed Properties in a single or integrated transaction among the separate properties on a basis proportional to their respective fair market values.(1)

 

Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Del . C. §17-101, et seq ., as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

 

Additional Limited Partner ” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 12.2 hereof and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

Adjusted Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for each Partner as of the end of each Partnership Year (i) increased by any amounts which such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or is treated as obligated to restore to the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) of the Regulations or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of

 


(1)                                  NTD: We may need to include a schedule like Exhibit E in the original VRLP agreement (specifying the value of each contributed property) for the RD Management properties.

 



 

Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) and (ii) decreased by the items described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).  The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means, with respect to any Partner, the deficit balance, if any, in such Partner’s Adjusted Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Partnership Year.

 

Adjusted Property ” means any property the Carrying Value of which has been adjusted pursuant to Exhibit B hereof.

 

Affiliate ” means, (a) respect to any individual Person, any member of the Immediate Family of such Person or a trust established for the benefit of such member, or (b) with respect to any Person who is not an individual, (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, (ii) any Person owning or controlling ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding voting interests of such Person, (iii) any Person of which such Person owns or controls ten percent (10%) or more of the voting interests or (iv) any officer, director, general partner or trustee of such Person or any Person referred to in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) above.  For purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Agreed Value ” means (i) in the case of any Contributed Property as of the time of its contribution to the Partnership, the 704(c) Value of such property, reduced by any liabilities either assumed by the Partnership upon such contribution or to which such property is subject when contributed; and (ii) in the case of any property distributed to a Partner by the Partnership, the Partnership’s Carrying Value of such property at the time such property is distributed, reduced by any indebtedness either assumed by such Partner upon such distribution or to which such property is subject at the time of distribution as determined under Section 752 of the Code and the Regulations thereunder.

 

Agreement ” means this Limited Partnership Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Assignee ” means a Person to whom one or more Partnership Units have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement, but who has not become a Substituted Limited Partner, and who has the rights set forth in Section 11.5 hereof.

 

Bankruptcy ” with respect to any Person shall be deemed to have occurred when (a) the Person commences a voluntary proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (b) the Person is adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a final and nonappealable order for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect has been entered against the Person, (c) the Person executes and delivers a general assignment for the benefit of the Person’s

 

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creditors, (d) the Person files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the Person in any proceeding of the nature described in clause (b) above, (e) the Person seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for the Person or for all or any substantial part of the Person’s properties, (f) any proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect has not been dismissed within one hundred twenty (120) days after the commencement thereof, (g) the appointment without the Person’s consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver of liquidator has not been vacated or stayed within ninety (90) days of such appointment or (h) an appointment referred to in clause (g) is not vacated within ninety (90) days after the expiration of any such stay.

 

Book-Up Target ” for each LTIP Unit means the lesser of (i) the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance as determined on the date such LTIP Unit was granted and as reduced (not to less than zero) by allocations of Liquidating Gains pursuant to Section 6.1.E(i) and reallocations of Economic Capital Account Balances to such LTIP Unit as a result of a forfeiture of an LTIP Unit, as determined by the General Partner and (ii) the amount required to be allocated to such LTIP Unit for the Economic Capital Account Balance, to the extent attributable to such LTIP Unit, to be equal to the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Book-Up Target shall be equal to zero for any LTIP Unit for which the Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to such LTIP Unit has, at any time, reached an amount equal to the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance determined as of such time.

 

Book-Tax Disparities ” means, with respect to any item of Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as of the date of any determination, the difference between the Carrying Value of such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property and the adjusted basis thereof for federal income tax purposes as of such date.  A Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Book-Tax Disparities in all of its Contributed Property and Adjusted Property will be reflected by the difference between such Partner’s Capital Account balance as maintained pursuant to Exhibit B hereof and the hypothetical balance of such Partner’s Capital Account computed as if it had been maintained, with respect to each such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, strictly in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles.

 

Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for a Partner pursuant to Exhibit B hereof.

 

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, any cash, cash equivalents or the Agreed Value of Contributed Property which such Partner contributes or is deemed to contribute to the Partnership pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 hereof.

 

Carrying Value ” means (i) with respect to a Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, the 704(c) Value of such property reduced (but not below zero) by all Depreciation with respect to such Contributed Property or Adjusted Property, as the case may be, charged to the Partners’ Capital Accounts following the contribution of or adjustment with respect to such property; and (ii) with respect to any other Partnership property, the adjusted basis of such property for federal income tax purposes, all as of the time of determination.  The Carrying Value of any property shall be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Exhibit B hereof, and to reflect changes, additions or other adjustments to the Carrying Value for dispositions and acquisitions of Partnership properties, as deemed appropriate by the General Partner.

 

Cash Amount ” means an amount of cash equal to the Value on the Valuation Date of the Shares Amount.

 

Certificate ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership as filed in the office of the Delaware Secretary of State on July 11, 2014, as amended and/or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and the Act.

 

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 “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, as interpreted by the applicable regulations thereunder.  Any reference herein to a specific section or sections of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of future law.

 

Common Partnership Unit ” means any Partnership Unit other than any series of units of limited partnership interest issued in the future and designated as preferred or that is otherwise different from the Common Partnership Units, including, but not limited to, with respect to the payment of distributions, including distributions upon liquidation.

 

Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance ” means (i) the Capital Account balance of the General Partner, plus the amount of the General Partner’s share of any Partner Minimum Gain or Partnership Minimum Gain, in either case to the extent attributable to the General Partner’s ownership of Common Partnership Units and computed on a hypothetical basis after taking into account all allocations through the date on which any allocation is made under Section 6.1.E, divided by (ii) the number of the General Partner’s Common Partnership Units.

 

Consent ” means the consent or approval of a proposed action by a Partner given in accordance with Section 14.2 hereof.

 

Constructive Ownership ” and “ Constructively Own ” mean ownership under the constructive ownership rules described in Exhibit F .

 

 “ Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Act (but excluding cash), contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership.  Once the Carrying Value of a Contributed Property is adjusted pursuant to Exhibit B hereof, such property shall no longer constitute a Contributed Property for purposes of Exhibit B hereof, but shall be deemed an Adjusted Property for such purposes.

 

Conversion Factor ” means, as of the date of this Agreement, 1.0; provided that in the event that (x) the General Partner Entity (i) declares (and the applicable record date has passed or will have passed before a redeeming Partner would receive cash or common Shares in respect of the Partnership Units being redeemed) or pays a dividend on its outstanding Shares in Shares or makes a distribution to all holders of its outstanding Shares in Shares, (ii) subdivides or reclassifies its outstanding Shares or (iii) combines its outstanding Shares into a smaller number of Shares, and (y) in connection with any such event described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above does not cause the Partnership to make a comparable distribution of additional Units to all holders of the Partnership’s outstanding Common Partnership Units (and to all holders of Units of any other class issued by the Partnership after the date hereof which are, by their terms, redeemable for cash or, at the General Partner’s election, common Shares as set forth in Section 8.6), or a subdivision or combination of the Partnership’s outstanding Common Partnership Units (and of all Units of any other class issued by the Partnership after the date hereof which are, by their terms, redeemable for cash or, at the General Partner’s election, common Shares as set forth in Section 8.6) in any such case so that the number of Common Partnership Units held by the General Partner after such distribution, subdivision or combination is equal to the number of the General Partner’s then-outstanding Shares, then upon completion of such declaration, subdivision or combination the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Shares issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination (assuming for such purposes that such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination has occurred as of such time) and the denominator of which shall be the actual

 

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number of Shares (determined without the above assumption) issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination; and provided further that in case the General Partner Entity (w) shall issue rights or warrants to all holders of Shares entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Shares at a price per share less than the daily market price per Share on the date fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants, (x) shall not issue similar rights or warrants to all holders of Common Partnership Units entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Shares or Partnership Units at a comparable price (determined, in the case of Partnership Units, by reference to the Conversion Factor), and (y) cannot issue such rights or warrants to a Redeeming Partner as required by the definition of “Shares” set forth in this Article I, then the Conversion Factor in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination shall be increased by multiplying such Conversion Factor by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of Shares outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of Shares so offered for subscription or purchase, and of which the denominator shall be the number of Shares outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Shares so offered for subscription would purchase at such daily market price per share, such increase of the Conversion Factor to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination; and provided further that in the event that an entity shall cease to be the General Partner Entity (the “Predecessor Entity”) and another entity shall become the General Partner Entity (the “Successor Entity”), the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Value of one Share of the Predecessor Entity, determined as of the time immediately prior to when the Successor Entity becomes the General Partner Entity, and the denominator of which is the Value of one Share of the Successor Entity, determined as of that same date.  (For purposes of the second proviso in the preceding sentence, in the event that any shareholders of the Predecessor Entity will receive consideration in connection with the transaction in which the Successor Entity becomes the General Partner Entity, the numerator in the fraction described above for determining the adjustment to the Conversion Factor (that is, the Value of one Share of the Predecessor Entity) shall be the sum of the greatest amount of cash and the fair market value of any securities and other consideration that the holder of one Share in the Predecessor Entity could have received in such transaction (determined without regard to any provisions governing fractional shares).)  Except as noted above, any adjustment to the Conversion Factor shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for the event giving rise thereto; it being intended that (x) adjustments to the Conversion Factor are to be made in order to avoid unintended dilution or anti-dilution as a result of transactions in which Shares are issued, redeemed or exchanged without a corresponding issuance, redemption or exchange of Partnership Units and (y) if a Specified Redemption Date shall fall between the record date and the effective date of any event of the type described above, that the Conversion Factor applicable to such redemption shall be adjusted to take into account such event.

 

Convertible Funding Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.D hereof.

 

Covered Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8.A hereof.

 

Debt ” means, as to any Person, as of any date of determination, (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property

 

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or services, (ii) all amounts owed by such Person to banks or other Persons in respect of reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments guaranteeing payment or other performance of obligations by such Person, (iii) all indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services secured by any lien on any property owned by such Person, to the extent attributable to such Person’s interest in such property, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment thereof, and (iv) obligations of such Person incurred in connection with entering into a lease which, in accordance with GAAP, should be capitalized.

 

Declaration of Trust ” means the Declaration of Trust or other similar organizational document governing the General Partner, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Depreciation ” means, for each taxable year, an amount equal to the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such year, except that if the Carrying Value of an 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 Carrying Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such year 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 Carrying Value using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.

 

Economic Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to LTIP Unitholders, their Capital Account balances, plus the amount of their shares of any Partner Minimum Gain or Partnership Minimum Gain, in either case to the extent attributable to their ownership of LTIP Units.

 

 “ EDGAR ” means the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System or any successor system for filing information, documents or reports with the SEC.

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended and in effect from time to time, as interpreted by the applicable regulations thereunder. Any reference herein to a specific section or Title of ERISA shall be deemed to include a reference to any corresponding provision of future law.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

final adjustment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.3.B.

 

Funding Debt ” means any Debt incurred by or on behalf of the General Partner for the purpose of providing funds to the Partnership.

 

GAAP ” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

General Partner ” means Urban Edge Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or any Person who becomes a successor general partner of the Partnership.

 

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General Partner Entity ” means the General Partner; provided , however , that if (i) the common shares of beneficial interest (or other comparable equity interests) of the General Partner are at any time not Publicly Traded and (ii) the shares of common stock (or other comparable equity interests) of an entity that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the common shares of beneficial interest (or other comparable equity interests) of the General Partner are Publicly Traded, the term “General Partner Entity” shall refer to such entity whose shares of common stock (or other comparable equity securities) are Publicly Traded.  If both requirements set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above are not satisfied, then the term “General Partner Entity” shall mean the General Partner.

 

General Partner Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.13 hereof.

 

General Partnership Interest ” means a Partnership Interest held by the General Partner in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership.  A General Partnership Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

 

Immediate Family ” means, with respect to any natural Person, such natural Person’s spouse, parents, descendants, nephews, nieces, brothers and sisters.

 

Incapacity ” or “ Incapacitated ” means, (i) as to any individual Partner, death, total physical disability or entry by a court of competent jurisdiction adjudicating such Partner incompetent to manage his or her Person or estate, (ii) as to any corporation which is a Partner, the filing of a certificate of dissolution, or its equivalent, for the corporation or the revocation of its charter, (iii) as to any partnership or limited liability company which is a Partner, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of such partnership or limited liability company, (iv) as to any estate which is a Partner, the distribution by the fiduciary of the estate’s entire interest in the Partnership, (v) as to any trustee of a trust which is a Partner, the termination of the trust (but not the substitution of a new trustee) or (vi) as to any Partner, the Bankruptcy of such Partner.

 

Indemnitee ” means (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding or threatened with being made a party to a proceeding by reason of (A) his or its status as the General Partner, or as a trustee, director, officer, shareholder, partner, member, employee, representative or agent of the General Partner or as an officer, employee, representative or agent of the Partnership; (B) his or its status as a Limited Partner; (C) his or its status as a trustee, director or officer of any Subsidiary or other entity in which the Partnership owns an equity interest or any Subsidiary or other entity in which the General Partner owns an equity interest (so long as the General Partner’s ownership of an interest in such entity is not prohibited by Section 7.5.A) or for which the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Partnership, requests the trustee, director, officer or shareholder to serve as a director, officer, trustee or agent, including serving as a trustee of an employee benefit plan; or (D) his or its liabilities, pursuant to a loan guarantee or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including, without limitation, any indebtedness which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken assets subject to); and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner, a Limited Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service, which administers the internal revenue laws of the United States.

 

Limited Partner ” means any Person named as a Limited Partner of the Partnership in Exhibit A attached hereof, as such Exhibit may be amended and restated from time to time, or any Substituted Limited Partner or Additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

 

Limited Partnership Interest ” means a Partnership Interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled, as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.  A Limited Partnership Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

 

Liquidating Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.1 hereof.

 

Liquidating Gains ” means any net capital gain realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, including but not limited to net capital gain realized in connection with an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership assets under Section 1.D of Exhibit B of this Agreement.

 

Liquidating Losses ” means any net capital loss realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, including but not limited to net capital gain realized in connection with an adjustment to the Carrying Value of Partnership assets under Section 1.D of Exhibit B of this Agreement.

 

Liquidator ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2.A hereof.

 

LTIP Unit ” means a Partnership Unit which is designated as an LTIP Unit and which has the rights, preferences and other privileges designated in Exhibit E hereof. The allocation of LTIP Units among the Partners shall be set forth on Exhibit A , as may be amended from time to time.

 

LTIP Unit Initial Sharing Percentage ” means such percentage as set forth in the related Vesting Agreement or other applicable documentation pursuant to which such LTIP Unit is awarded or, if no such percentage is stated, one hundred percent (100%).

 

LTIP Unitholder ” means a holder of LTIP Units.

 

Majority in Interest ” means Partners who hold more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Partnership Units; provided , however, with respect to any matter to be voted on by the Partners, there shall be included in both the numerator and the denominator of the computation all (x) preferred Partnership Units of any class or series and (y) any other class or series of Partnership Units which, in each case, are expressly entitled to vote thereon pursuant to the terms of such Partnership Unit or this Agreement.

 

Net Income ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period.  The items included in the calculation of Net Income shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, subject to the specific adjustments provided for in Exhibit B hereof.  If an item of income, gain, loss or deduction that has been included in the initial computation of Net Income is subjected to the special allocation rules in Exhibit C hereof, Net Income or the resulting Net Loss, whichever the case may be, shall be recomputed without taking such item into account.

 

Net Loss ” means, for any taxable period, the excess, if any, of the Partnership’s items of loss and deduction for such taxable period over the Partnership’s items of income and gain for such taxable period.  The items included in the calculation of Net Loss shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, subject to the specific

 

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adjustments provided for in Exhibit B hereof.  If an item of income, gain, loss or deduction that has been included in the initial computation of Net Loss is subjected to the special allocation rules in Exhibit C hereof, Net Loss or the resulting Net Income, whichever the case may be, shall be recomputed without taking such item into account.

 

New Securities ” means (i) any rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities having the right to subscribe for or purchase shares of beneficial interest (or other comparable equity interest) of the General Partner, excluding grants under any Stock Option Plan, or (ii) any Debt issued by the General Partner that provides any of the rights described in clause (i).

 

Nonrecourse Built-in Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(2).

 

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1), and the amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a Partnership Year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

 

Nonrecourse Liability ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2).

 

Notice of Redemption ” means a Notice of Redemption substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto.

 

Partner ” means the General Partner or a Limited Partner, and “ Partners ” means the General Partner and the Limited Partners collectively.

 

Partner Minimum Gain ” means an amount, with respect to each Partner Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such Partner Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2), and the amount of Partner Nonrecourse Deductions with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt for a Partnership Year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

Partnership ” means the limited partnership heretofore formed and continued under the Act and pursuant to this Agreement, and any successor thereto.

 

Partnership Interest ” means a Limited Partnership Interest or the General Partnership Interest, as the context requires, and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.  A

 

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Partnership Interest may be (but is not required to be) expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

 

Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2), and the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain, as well as any net increase or decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain, for a Partnership Year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

 

Partnership Record Date ” means the record date established by the General Partner either (i) for the making of any distribution pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner Entity for a distribution to its shareholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution received by the General Partner if the shares of common stock (or comparable equity interests) of the General Partner Entity are Publicly Traded, or (ii) if applicable, for determining the Partners entitled to vote on or consent to any proposed action for which the consent or approval of the Partners is sought pursuant to Section 14.2 hereof.

 

Partnership Unit ” or “ Unit ” means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 hereof, and includes Common Partnership Units, LTIP Units and any other classes or series of Partnership Units established after the date hereof.  The number of Partnership Units outstanding and the Percentage Interests in the Partnership represented by such Partnership Units are set forth in Exhibit A hereof, as such Exhibit may be amended and restated from time to time.  The ownership of Partnership Units shall be evidenced by such form of certificate for Partnership Units as the General Partner adopts from time to time unless the General Partner determines that the Partnership Units shall be uncertificated securities.

 

Partnership Year ” means the fiscal year of the Partnership.

 

Percentage Interest ” means, as to a Partner, its interest in the Partnership as determined by dividing the total number of Common Partnership Units (and LTIP Units, other than to the extent provided in the applicable LTIP Unit designation) owned by such Partner by the total number of Common Partnership Units (and LTIP Units, other than to the extent provided in any applicable LTIP Unit designation) then outstanding as specified in Exhibit A attached hereto, as such exhibit may be amended and restated from time to time.

 

 “ Person ” means an individual or a real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association or other entity.

 

Predecessor Entity ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Conversion Factor” herein.

 

Pro Rata Portion ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.A hereof.

 

Publicly Traded ” means listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange or designated for quotation on the NASDAQ National Market, or any successor to any of the foregoing.

 

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Qualified REIT Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the General Partner that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning Section 856(i) of the Code.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, a Qualified REIT Subsidiary of the General Partner that holds as its only assets direct and/or indirect interests in the Partnership will not be treated as an entity separate from the General Partner.

 

Recapture Income ” means any gain recognized by the Partnership upon the disposition of any property or asset of the Partnership, which gain is characterized as ordinary income because it represents the recapture of deductions previously taken with respect to such property or asset.

 

Redeeming Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.A hereof.

 

Redemption Amount ” means either the Cash Amount or the Shares Amount, as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion.  A Redeeming Partner shall have no right, without the General Partner’s consent, in its sole and absolute discretion, to receive the Redemption Amount in the form of the Shares Amount.

 

Redemption Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.A hereof.

 

Regulations ” means the Income Tax Regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

 

REIT ” means a real estate investment trust under Section 856 of the Code.

 

REIT Expenses ” shall mean (i) costs and expenses relating to the continuity of existence of the General Partner and any Person in which the General Partner owns an equity interest, to the extent not prohibited by Section 7.5.A, other than the Partnership (which Persons shall, for purposes of this definition, be included within the definition of “General Partner”), including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith (other than federal, state or local income taxes imposed upon the General Partner as a result of the General Partner’s failure to distribute to its shareholders an amount equal to its taxable income), any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any trustee or director of the General Partner or such Persons, (ii) costs and expenses relating to any offer or registration of securities by the General Partner (the proceeds of which will be contributed or advanced to the Partnership) and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, (iii) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic reports by the General Partner under federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with the SEC, (iv) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the SEC, and (v) all other operating or administrative costs of the General Partner incurred in the ordinary course of its business; provided , however , that any of the foregoing expenses that are determined by the General Partner to be expenses relating to the ownership and operation of, or for the benefit of, the Partnership shall be treated as reimbursable expenses under Section 7.4.B hereof rather than as “REIT Expenses”.

 

REIT Requirements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.A hereof.

 

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Required Cash Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.A hereof.

 

Safe Harbors ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.6.F hereof.

 

SEC ”  means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Share ” means a share of beneficial interest (or other comparable equity interest) of the General Partner Entity.  Shares may be issued in one or more classes or series in accordance with the terms of the Declaration of Trust (or, if the General Partner is not the General Partner Entity, the organizational documents of the General Partner Entity).  In the event that there is more than one class or series of Shares, the term “Shares” shall, as the context requires, be deemed to refer to the class or series of Shares that correspond to the class or series of Partnership Interests for which the reference to Shares is made.  When used with reference to Common Partnership Units, the term “Shares” refers to common shares of beneficial interest (or other comparable equity interest) of the General Partner Entity.

 

Shares Amount ” means a number of Shares equal to the product of the number of Partnership Units offered for redemption by a Redeeming Partner times the Conversion Factor; provided , that in the event the General Partner Entity issues to all holders of Shares rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities entitling such holders to subscribe for or purchase Shares or any other securities or property (collectively, the “rights”), then the Shares Amount shall also include such rights that a holder of that number of Shares would be entitled to receive.

 

Specified Redemption Date ” means the tenth (10th) Business Day after receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption; provided , that if the Shares are not Publicly Traded, the Specified Redemption Date means the thirtieth Business Day after receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption.

 

Stock Option Plan ” means any share or stock incentive plan or similar compensation arrangement of the General Partner, the Partnership or any Affiliate of the Partnership or the General Partner, as the context may require.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities; or (ii) the outstanding equity interests, is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner to the Partnership pursuant to Section 11.4 hereof.

 

Successor Entity ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Conversion Factor” herein.

 

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Tenant ” means any tenant from which the General Partner derives rent either directly or indirectly through partnerships or limited liability companies, including the Partnership, or through any Qualified REIT Subsidiary.

 

Terminating Capital Transaction ” means any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership for cash or a related series of transactions that, taken together, result in the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership.

 

Trading Days ” means days on which the primary trading market for Shares, if any, is open for trading.

 

Unit Equivalent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.A hereof.

 

Valuation Date ” means the date of receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter.

 

Value ” means, with respect to a Share, the average of the daily market price for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Valuation Date. The daily market price for each such Trading Day shall be: (i) if the Shares are listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market, the closing price on such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day; (ii) if the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market, the last reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner; or (iii) if the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than ten (10) days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided , that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten (10) days prior to the date in question, the Value of the Shares shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate. In the event the Shares Amount includes rights that a holder of Shares would be entitled to receive, then the Value of such rights shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

 

ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

Section 2.1                                     Organization .

 

The Partnership is a limited partnership under, and has been formed pursuant to, the Act and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.  Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, the rights

 

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and obligations of the Partners and the administration and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Act.  The Partnership Interest of each Partner shall be personal property for all purposes.

 

Section 2.2                                     Name .

 

The name of the Partnership is Urban Edge Properties LP.  The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof.  The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires.  The General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

 

Section 2.3                                     Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office .

 

The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware shall be located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware, 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Trust Company.  The principal office of the Partnership shall be Urban Edge Properties LP, 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners.  The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems advisable.

 

Section 2.4                                     Power of Attorney .

 

A.                                     General .  Each Limited Partner and each Assignee hereby constitutes and appoints the General Partner, any Liquidator, and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead to:

 

(1)                                  execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (a) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including, without limitation, this Agreement and the Certificate and all amendments or restatements thereof) that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may or plans to conduct business or own property; (b) all instruments that the General Partner deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (c) all conveyances and other instruments or documents that the General Partner or the Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, a

 

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certificate of cancellation; (d) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article XI, XII or XIII hereof or the Capital Contribution of any Partner; and (e) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of a Partnership Interest; and

 

(2)                                  execute, swear to, seal, acknowledge and file all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner or any Liquidator, to make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or appropriate or necessary, in the sole discretion of the General Partner or any Liquidator, to effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner or any Liquidator to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article XIV hereof or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

 

B.                                     Irrevocable Nature .  The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, in recognition of the fact that each of the Partners will be relying upon the power of the General Partner or any Liquidator to act as contemplated by this Agreement in any filing or other action by it on behalf of the Partnership, and it shall survive and not be affected by the subsequent Incapacity of any Limited Partner or Assignee and the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Units and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.  Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by the General Partner or any Liquidator, acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby waives any and all defenses which may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or any Liquidator, taken in good faith under such power of attorney.  Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or the Liquidator, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the General Partner’s or Liquidator’s request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or the Liquidator, as the case may be, deems necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

 

Section 2.5                                     Term .

 

The term of the Partnership commenced on the date that the Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and shall continue until December 31, 2114 (as such date may be extended by the General Partner in its sole discretion), unless it is dissolved sooner pursuant to the provisions of Article XIII hereof or as otherwise provided by law.

 

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Section 2.6                                     Admission of Limited Partners .

 

On the date hereof, and subsequently upon the execution of this Agreement or a counterpart of this Agreement, each of the Persons identified as a limited partner of the Partnership on Exhibit A to this Agreement is hereby admitted to the Partnership as a limited partner of the Partnership.

 

ARTICLE III
PURPOSE

 

Section 3.1                                     Purpose and Business .

 

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership formed pursuant to the Act; provided , however , that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the General Partner Entity (or the General Partner, as applicable) at all times to qualify as a REIT, unless the General Partner Entity (or the General Partner, as applicable) ceases to qualify as a REIT for reasons other than the conduct of the business of the Partnership or voluntarily revokes its election to be a REIT; (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or to own interests in any entity engaged, directly or indirectly, in any of the foregoing; and (iii) to do anything necessary, convenient or incidental to the foregoing.

 

Section 3.2                                     Powers .

 

The Partnership is empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described herein and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership, and shall have, without limitation, any and all of the powers that may be exercised on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner pursuant to this Agreement including, without limitation, directly or through its ownership interest in other entities, to enter into, perform and carry out contracts of any kind, borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness whether or not secured by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien, acquire, own, manage, improve and develop real property, and lease, sell, transfer and dispose of real property; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not take, or omit to take, any action which, in the judgment of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, (i) could adversely affect the ability of the General Partner Entity (or the General Partner, as applicable) to qualify and continue to qualify as a REIT, (ii) could subject the General Partner Entity (or the General Partner, as applicable) to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code or any other related or successor provision of the Code or (iii) could violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the General Partner Entity (or the General Partner, if different) its securities or the Partnership, unless such action (or inaction) shall have been specifically consented to by the General Partner in writing.

 

Section 3.3                                     Representations and Warranties by the Parties .

 

A.                                     Each Partner that is an individual represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) such Partner has the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and perform such Partner’s obligations hereunder, (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this

 

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Agreement to be performed by such Partner will not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s property is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner is subject, (iii) such Partner is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, and (iv) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms.

 

B.                                     Each Partner that is not an individual represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) its execution and delivery of this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by it have been duly authorized by all necessary action, including without limitation, that of its general partner(s), committee(s), trustee(s), beneficiaries, director(s) and/or shareholder(s), as the case may be, as required, (ii) the consummation of such transactions shall not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, its certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, trust agreement, limited liability company operating agreement, declaration of trust, charter or bylaws, as the case may be, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s properties or any of its partners, beneficiaries, trustees or shareholders, as the case may be, is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner or any of its partners, trustees, beneficiaries or shareholders, as the case may be, is or are subject, (iii) such Partner is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and (iv) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms.

 

C.                                     Each Partner represents, warrants and agrees that it has acquired and continues to hold its interest in the Partnership for its own account for investment only and not for the purpose of, or with a view toward, the resale or distribution of all or any part thereof, nor with a view toward selling or otherwise distributing such interest or any part thereof at any particular time or under any predetermined circumstances. Each Partner further represents and warrants that it is a sophisticated investor, able and accustomed to handling sophisticated financial matters for itself, particularly real estate investments, and that it has a sufficiently high net worth that it does not anticipate a need for the funds it has invested in the Partnership in what it understands to be a highly speculative and illiquid investment.

 

D.                                     Each Partner further represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows.

 

(1)                                  Upon request of the General Partner, it will promptly disclose to the General Partner the amount of Shares or other capital shares of the General Partner that it actually owns or Constructively Owns; and

 

(2)                                  Without the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion, no Partner shall take any action that would cause the Partnership at any time to have more than 100 partners (including as partners those Persons indirectly owning an interest in the Partnership through a partnership, limited liability company, S corporation or grantor trust (such entity, a “ flow through entity ”), but only if substantially all of the value of such person’s interest in the flow through entity is attributable to the flow through entity’s interest (direct or indirect) in the Partnership).

 

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E.                                      The representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.3 shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Partner and the dissolution and winding up of the Partnership.

 

F.                                       Each Partner hereby acknowledges that no representations as to potential profit, cash flows, funds from operations or yield, if any, in respect of the Partnership or the General Partner have been made by any Partner or any employee or representative or Affiliate of any Partner, 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 any representation or warranty of any kind or nature, express or implied

 

Section 3.4                                     Partnership Only for Purposes Specified .

 

The Partnership shall be a partnership only for the purposes specified in Section 3.1 above, and this Agreement shall not be deemed to create a partnership among the Partners with respect to any activities whatsoever other than the activities within the purposes of the Partnership as specified in Section 3.1 above.

 

ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ISSUANCES
OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Section 4.1                                     Capital Contributions of the Partners .

 

A.                                     Capital Contributions .  At the time of their respective execution of this Agreement, the Partners shall make or shall have made Capital Contributions as set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement. The Partners shall own Partnership Units of the class or series and in the amounts set forth in Exhibit A and shall have a Percentage Interest in the Partnership which shall be set forth in Exhibit A , which Percentage Interest shall be adjusted in Exhibit A from time to time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to reflect accurately exchanges, redemptions, additional Capital Contributions, the issuance of additional Partnership Units (pursuant to any merger or otherwise), or similar events having an effect on any Partner’s Percentage Interest. Except as provided in Sections 4.2, 7.5 and 10.5, the Partners shall have no obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership. Each Limited Partner that contributes any Contributed Property shall promptly provide the General Partner with any information regarding such Contributed Property that is requested by the General Partner, including for Partnership tax return reporting purposes. Cash Capital Contributions by the General Partner will be deemed to equal the cash contributed by the General Partner plus (a) in the case of cash contributions funded by an offering of any equity interests in or other securities of the General Partner, the offering costs attributable to the cash contributed to the Partnership, and (b) in the case of Partnership Units issued pursuant to Section 7.5.C hereof, an amount equal to the difference between the Value of the Shares sold pursuant to any Stock Option Plan and the net proceeds of such sale.

 

B.                                     General Partnership Interest .  A number of Partnership Units held by the General Partner equal to one percent (1%) of all outstanding Partnership Units shall be deemed

 

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to be the General Partner Partnership Units and shall be the General Partnership Interest.  All other Partnership Units held by the General Partner shall be Limited Partnership Interests and shall be held by the General Partner in its capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

 

C.                                     Capital Contributions By Merger .  To the extent the Partnership acquires any property by the merger of any other Person into the Partnership, Persons who receive Partnership Interests in exchange for their interests in the Person merging into the Partnership shall become Limited Partners and shall be deemed to have made Capital Contributions as provided in the applicable merger agreement and as set forth in Exhibit A , as amended to reflect such deemed Capital Contributions.

 

Section 4.2                                     Issuances of Partnership Interests .

 

A.                                     General .  The General Partner is hereby authorized, without the need for any vote or approval of any Partner or any other Person who may hold Partnership Units or Partnership Interests, to cause the Partnership from time to time to issue to any existing Partner (including the General Partner) or to any other Person, and to admit such Person as a limited partner in the Partnership, Partnership Units (including, without limitation, Common Partnership Units and preferred Partnership Units), in each case in exchange for the contribution by such Person of property or other assets, in one or more classes, or in one or more series of any of such classes, or otherwise with such designations, preferences, redemption and conversion rights and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to Limited Partnership Interests, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion subject to Delaware law, including, without limitation, (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Interests, (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share in Partnership distributions and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided that, no such Partnership Units shall be issued (x) to the General Partner unless either (a)(1) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in connection with an issuance of Shares or other securities by the General Partner, which securities have designations, preferences and other rights such that the economic interests attributable to such securities are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights (except voting rights) of the additional Partnership Interests issued to the General Partner in accordance with this Section 4.2.A, and (2) the General Partner shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the proceeds, if any, raised in connection with such issuance, (b) the additional Partnership Interests are issued to all Partners holding Partnership Interests in the same class in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests in such class, or (c) the additional Partnership Interests are issued in connection with a contribution of property to the Partnership by the General Partner. In addition, the General Partner may acquire Units from other Partners pursuant to this Agreement. In the event that the Partnership issues Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 4.2.A, the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Agreement (including but not limited to the revisions described in Section 5.5, Section 6.2 and Section 8.6 hereof) as it deems necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests.

 

B.                                     Issuances of Shares .  In accordance with, and subject to the terms of Section 4.3 hereof, the General Partner shall not issue any Shares (other than Shares issued

 

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pursuant to Section 8.6 or pursuant to a dividend or distribution (including any share split)), other equity securities of the General Partner, New Securities or Convertible Funding Debt other than to all holders of Shares unless (i) the General Partner shall cause, pursuant to Section 4.2.A hereof, the Partnership to issue to the General Partner Partnership Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of such additional Shares, other equity securities, New Securities or Convertible Funding Debt, as the case may be; and (ii) the General Partner contributes to the Partnership the proceeds, if any, from the issuance of such Shares, other equity securities, New Securities or Convertible Funding Debt, as the case may be, and, if applicable, from the exercise of rights contained in such Shares, other equity securities, New Securities or Convertible Funding Debt, as the case may be. Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to issue Shares, other equity securities, New Securities or Convertible Funding Debt, as the case may be, for less than fair market value, and the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner corresponding Partnership Interests, so long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the interests of the General Partner and the Partnership (for example, and not by way of limitation, the issuance of Shares and corresponding Partnership Units pursuant to an employee share purchase plan providing for employee purchases of Shares at a discount from fair market value or employee share options that have an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the Shares, either at the time of issuance or at the time of exercise, or in order to comply with the REIT share ownership requirements set forth in Section 856(a)(5) of the Code); and (y) the General Partner contributes all proceeds from such issuance and exercise to the Partnership.

 

C.                                     Classes of Partnership Units .  Subject to Section 4.2.A above, the Partnership shall have one class of Common Partnership Units entitled “Common Partnership Units” which shall be issued to the General Partner in respect of its General Partnership Interest and in respect of its Limited Partnership Interest. The General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, issue to newly admitted Partners Common Partnership Units or Partnership Units of any other class established by the Partnership in accordance with Section 4.2.A in exchange for the contribution by such Partners of cash, real estate partnership interests, stock, notes or any other assets or consideration; provided that any Partnership Unit that is not specifically designated by the General Partner as being of a particular class shall be deemed to be a Common Partnership Unit unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

 

D.                                     Issuance of LTIP Units .  The Partnership shall be authorized to issue Partnership Units of a series designated as “LTIP Units.”  From time to time the General Partner may issue LTIP Units to Persons providing services to or for the benefit of the Partnership. LTIP Units are intended to qualify as profits interests in the Partnership and for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 4.5 shall not apply to the issuance of LTIP Units.  LTIP Units shall have the terms set forth in Exhibit E attached hereto and made part hereof.

 

Section 4.3                                     Contribution of Proceeds of Issuance of Securities by the General Partner .

 

In connection with any primary offering by the General Partner of its Shares and any other issuance of Shares, other equity securities of the General Partner, New Securities or Convertible Funding Debt pursuant to Section 4.2, the General Partner shall contribute to the

 

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Partnership any proceeds (or a portion thereof) raised in connection with such issuance in exchange for Partnership Interests or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the Shares, other equity securities of the General Partner, New Securities or Convertible Funding Debt contributed to the Partnership; provided , that, in each case, if the proceeds actually received by the General Partner are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any underwriter’s discount or other expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the General Partner shall be deemed to have made a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in the amount equal to the sum of the net proceeds of such issuance plus the amount of such underwriter’s discount and other expenses paid by the General Partner (which discount and expense shall be treated as an expense for the benefit of the Partnership in accordance with Section 7.4). In the case of employee purchases of New Securities at a discount from fair market value, the amount of such discount representing compensation to the employee, as determined by the General Partner, shall be treated as an expense of the issuance of such New Securities.

 

Section 4.4                                     No Preemptive Rights .

 

Except to the extent expressly granted by the General Partner (on behalf of the Partnership) pursuant to another agreement, no Person shall have any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to (i) additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership or (ii) issuance or sale of any Partnership Units.

 

Section 4.5                                     Other Contribution Provisions .

 

In the event that any Partner is admitted to the Partnership and is given a Capital Account in exchange for services rendered to the Partnership, such transaction shall be treated by the Partnership and the affected Partner as if the Partnership had compensated such Partner in cash for the fair market value of such services, and the Partner had contributed such cash to the capital of the Partnership.

 

Section 4.6                                     No Interest on Capital .

 

No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contributions or its Capital Account.

 

ARTICLE V
DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 5.1                                     Requirement and Characterization of Distributions .

 

A.                                     General .  The General Partner shall have the exclusive right and authority to declare and cause the Partnership to make distributions as and when the General Partner deems appropriate or desirable in its sole discretion.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event may a Partner receive a distribution with respect to a Partnership Unit for a quarter or shorter period if such Partner is entitled to receive a distribution for such quarter or shorter period with respect to a Share for which such Partnership Unit has been redeemed or exchanged.  Unless otherwise expressly provided for herein or in an agreement at

 

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the time a new class of Partnership Interests is created in accordance with Article IV hereof, no Partnership Interest shall be entitled to a distribution in preference to any other Partnership Interest.  For so long as the General Partner elects to qualify as a REIT, the General Partner shall make such reasonable efforts, as determined by it in its sole and absolute discretion and consistent with the qualification of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) as a REIT, to make distributions to the Partners in amounts such that the General Partner will receive amounts sufficient to enable the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) to pay shareholder dividends that will (1) satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code and the Regulations (the “ REIT Requirements ”) and (2) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability for the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable).

 

B.                                     Method .  When, as and if declared by the General Partner, the Partnership will make distributions to the General Partner in any amount necessary to enable the General Partner to pay REIT Expenses, and thereafter to holders of Partnership Units in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.

 

In making distributions pursuant to this Section 5.1.B, the General Partner shall take into account the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Exhibit E to this Agreement.

 

Section 5.2                                     Amounts Withheld .

 

All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any state or local tax law and Section 10.5 hereof with respect to any allocation, payment or distribution to the Partners or Assignees shall be treated as amounts distributed to the Partners or Assignees pursuant to Section 5.1 for all purposes under this Agreement.

 

Section 5.3                                     Distributions Upon Liquidation .

 

Proceeds from a Terminating Capital Transaction and any other cash received or reductions in reserves made after commencement of the liquidation of the Partnership shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with Section 13.2.

 

Section 5.4                                     Restricted Distributions .

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership, and the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership, shall not make a distribution to any Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate Section 17-607 of the Act or other applicable law.

 

Section 5.5                                     Revisions to Reflect Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests .

 

If the Partnership issues additional Partnership Interests to the General Partner or any Additional Limited Partner pursuant to Article IV hereof, the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Article V as it deems necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests.

 

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ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATIONS

 

Section 6.1                                     Allocations For Capital Account Purposes .

 

For purposes of maintaining the Capital Accounts and in determining the rights of the Partners among themselves, the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction (computed in accordance with Exhibit B hereof) shall be allocated among the Partners in each taxable year (or portion thereof) as provided herein below.

 

A.                                     Net Income .  After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit C attached hereto, Net Income shall be allocated (i) first, to the General Partner to the extent that Net Losses previously allocated to the General Partner pursuant to the last sentence of Section 6.1.B below exceed Net Income previously allocated to the General Partner pursuant to this clause (i) of Section 6.1.A; (ii) second, to all holders of Partnership Units in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.

 

B.                                     Net Losses .  After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit C attached hereto, Net Losses shall be allocated to all holders of Partnership Units in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests; provided that, Net Losses shall not be allocated to any Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1.B to the extent that such allocation would cause such Limited Partner to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (or increase any existing Adjusted Capital Account Deficit) at the end of such taxable year (or portion thereof).  All Net Losses in excess of the limitations set forth in this Section 6.1.B shall be allocated to the General Partner.

 

C.                                     Allocation of Nonrecourse Debt .  For purposes of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a), the Partners agree that Nonrecourse Liabilities of the Partnership in excess of the sum of (i) the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain and (ii) the total amount of Nonrecourse Built-in Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with any permissible method determined by the General Partner.

 

D.                                     Recapture Income .  Any gain allocated to the Partners upon the sale or other taxable disposition of any Partnership asset shall, to the extent possible after taking into account other required allocations of gain pursuant to Exhibit C hereof, be characterized as Recapture Income, as required by Regulations Section 1.1245-1(e).

 

E.                                      Special Allocations with Respect to LTIP Units.

 

(i)                                      After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit C hereto, and notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6.1.A and 6.1.B above, but subject to the prior allocation of income and gain under Subsections 6.1.A(i) and (ii) above, any remaining Liquidating Gains shall first be allocated to the holders of LTIP Units until the Economic Capital Account Balances of such holders, to the extent attributable to their ownership of LTIP Units, are equal to (i) the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance, multiplied by (ii) the number of their LTIP Units; provided that no such Liquidating Gains will be allocated with respect to any particular LTIP Unit unless and to the extent that such Liquidating Gains, when aggregated with other Liquidating Gains realized since the issuance of such LTIP Unit, exceed Liquidating Losses realized since the issuance of such LTIP Unit.

 

(ii)                                   Liquidating Gain allocated to an LTIP Unitholder under this Section 6.1.E will be attributed to specific LTIP Units of such LTIP Unitholder for purposes of determining (i) allocations under this Section 6.1.E, (ii) the effect of the forfeiture or conversion of specific LTIP Units on such LTIP Unitholder’s Economic Capital Account Balance and (iii) the ability of such LTIP Unitholder to convert specific LTIP Units into Common Partnership Units. Such Liquidating Gain will be attributed to LTIP Units in the following order: (i) first, to Vested LTIP Units held for more than two years, (ii) second, to Vested LTIP Units held for two years or less, (iii) third, to Unvested LTIP Units that have remaining vesting conditions that only require continued employment or service to the Partnership, the General Partner or an Affiliate of either for a certain period of time (with such Liquidating Gains being attributed in order of vesting from soonest vesting to latest vesting), and (iv) fourth, to other Unvested LTIP Units (with such Liquidating Gains being attributed in order of issuance from earliest issued to latest issued). Within each such category, Liquidating Gain will be allocated serially (i.e., entirely to the first unit in the category, then entirely to the next unit in the category, and so on, until a full allocation is made to the last unit in the category) in the order of smallest Book-Up Target to largest Book-Up Target until the Economic Capital Account Balance of such LTIP Unitholder attributable to such LTIP Unitholder’s ownership of each LTIP Unit in the category is equal to the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance; provided, however, that if there is not sufficient Liquidating Gain for the Economic Capital Account Balance of such LTIP Unitholder attributable to such LTIP Unitholder’s ownership of each LTIP Unit to be equal to the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance and the Book-Up Target for any LTIP Unit is less than the amount required to be allocated to the LTIP Unit for the Economic Capital Account attributable to the LTIP Unit to equal the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance, then Liquidating Gains shall be allocated pursuant to the waterfall set forth in 6.1.E(ii)(i)—(iv) above until the Book-Up Target of each such LTIP Unit in each category has been reduced to zero and, thereafter, any remaining Liquidating Gain shall be further allocated pursuant to such waterfall until the Economic Capital Account Balance of an LTIP Unitholder attributable to such LTIP Unitholder’s ownership of each LTIP Unit in the category is equal to the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance.

 

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(iii)                                After giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 1 of Exhibit C hereto, and notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6.1.A and 6.1.B above, in the event that, due to distributions with respect to Common Partnership Units in which the LTIP Units do not participate or otherwise, the Economic Capital Account Balance of any present or former holder of LTIP Units, to the extent attributable to the holder’s ownership of LTIP Units, exceeds the target balance specified above, the amount of such excess shall be re-allocated to such LTIP Unitholder’s remaining LTIP Units to the same extent and in the same manner as would apply pursuant to Section 6.1.E(iv) below in the event of a forfeiture of LTIP Units. To the extent such excess may not be re-allocated, any remaining Liquidating Losses shall be allocated to such LTIP Unitholder to the extent necessary to reduce or eliminate the disparity; provided, however, that if Liquidating Losses are insufficient to completely eliminate all such disparities, such losses shall be allocated among the LTIP Unitholders as reasonably determined by the General Partner.

 

(iv)                               If an LTIP Unitholder forfeits any LTIP Units to which Liquidating Gain has previously been allocated under this Section 6.1.E the Capital Account associated with such forfeited LTIP Units will be re-allocated to that LTIP Unitholder’s remaining LTIP Units using a methodology similar to that described in Section 6.1.E(ii) above to the extent necessary to cause such LTIP Unitholder’s Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to each LTIP Unit to equal the Common Partnership Unit Economic Balance.

 

(v)                               In the event that Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses are allocated under this Section 6.1.E, Net Income allocable under Section 6.1.A and any Net Losses shall be recomputed without regard to the Liquidating Gains or Liquidating Losses so allocated.

 

(vi)                               The parties agree that the intent of this Section 6.1.E is to make the Capital Account balance associated with each LTIP Unit economically equivalent to the Capital Account balance associated with the General Partner’s Common Partnership Units (on a per-unit basis), but only if the Partnership has recognized cumulative net gains with respect to its assets since the issuance of the relevant LTIP Unit.

 

F.                                       Allocations to Ensure Intended Results . Recognizing the complexity of the allocations pursuant to this Article VI, the General Partner is authorized to modify these allocations (including by making allocations of gross items of income, gain, loss or deduction rather than allocations of net items) to ensure that they achieve the intended results, to the extent permitted by Section 704(b) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder.

 

Section 6.2                                     Revisions to Allocations to Reflect Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests .

 

If the Partnership issues additional Partnership Interests to the General Partner or any Additional Limited Partner pursuant to Article IV hereof, the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Article VI as it deems necessary to reflect the terms of the issuance of such additional Partnership Interests, including making preferential allocations to classes of Partnership Interests that are entitled thereto. Such revisions shall not require the consent or approval of any other Partner.

 

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ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS

 

Section 7.1                                     Management .

 

A.                                     Powers of General Partner .  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership are and shall be exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership.  The General Partner may not be removed by the Limited Partners with or without cause.  In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to Sections 7.3 and 7.6.A hereof, shall have full power and authority to do all things deemed necessary, desirable or convenient by it to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 3.2 hereof and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 3.1 hereof, including, without limitation:

 

(1)                                  the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money (including, without limitation, making prepayments on loans and borrowing money to permit the Partnership to make distributions to its Partners in such amounts as will permit the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) (as long as the General Partner Entity or the General Partner qualifies as a REIT) to avoid the payment of any federal income tax (including, for this purpose, any excise tax pursuant to Section 4981 of the Code) and to make distributions to its shareholders sufficient to permit the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) to satisfy the REIT Requirements), the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness (including the securing of same by mortgage, deed of trust or other lien or encumbrance on the Partnership’s assets) and the incurring of any obligations the General Partner deems necessary or desirable for the conduct of the activities of the Partnership;

 

(2)                                  the making of tax, regulatory and other filings or elections, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;

 

(3)                                  the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any assets of the Partnership (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege, or subscription right or other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Partnership) or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another entity (all of the foregoing subject to any prior approval only to the extent required by Section 7.3 hereof);

 

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(4)                                  the mortgage, pledge, encumbrance or hypothecation of any assets of the Partnership, the use of the assets of the Partnership (including, without limitation, cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement and on any terms that it sees fit, including, without limitation, the financing of the conduct of the operations of the Partnership, the General Partner or any of the Partnership’s or the General Partner’s Subsidiaries, the lending of funds to other Persons (including, without limitation, the Subsidiaries of the Partnership and/or the General Partner) and the repayment of obligations of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity investment, and the making of capital contributions to its Subsidiaries;

 

(5)                                  the management, operation, leasing, landscaping, repair, alteration, demolition, disposition or improvement of any real property or improvements owned by the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership;

 

(6)                                  the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments that the General Partner considers useful or necessary or convenient to the conduct of the Partnership’s operations or the implementation of the General Partner’s powers under this Agreement, including, without limitation, contracting with consultants, accountants, legal counsel, other professional advisors and other agents and the payment of their expenses and compensation out of the Partnership’s assets;

 

(7)                                  the distribution of Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(8)                                  holding, managing, investing and reinvesting cash and other assets of the Partnership;

 

(9)                                  the collection and receipt of revenues and income of the Partnership;

 

(10)                           the establishment of one or more divisions of the Partnership, the selection and dismissal of employees of the Partnership (including, without limitation, employees who may be designated as officers with titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer” of the Partnership), and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors of the Partnership, and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

 

(11)                           the maintenance of such insurance for the benefit of the Partnership and the Partners as it deems necessary or appropriate;

 

(12)                           the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property to, any further limited or general partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts, corporations, entities that are

 

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treated as REITs, “taxable REIT subsidiaries” or as foreign corporations for federal income tax purposes, joint ventures or other relationships that it deems desirable (including, without limitation, the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property or the making of loans to, its or the General Partner’s Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity investment from time to time or the incurrence of indebtedness on behalf of such Persons or the guarantee of obligations of such Persons and the making of any tax, regulatory or other filing or election with respect to any of the foregoing Persons); provided , that as long as the General Partner has determined to continue to qualify as a REIT, the Partnership may not engage in any such formation, acquisition or contribution that would cause the General Partner to fail to qualify as a REIT;

 

(13)                           the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the settlement, compromise, submission to arbitration or any other form of dispute resolution, or abandonment of, any claim, cause of action, liability, debt or damages, due or owing to or from the Partnership, the commencement or defense of suits, legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations or other forms of dispute resolution, and the representation of the Partnership in all suits or legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations or other forms of dispute resolution, the incurrence of legal expense, and the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

 

(14)                           the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s direct or indirect investment in any Subsidiary or any other Person (including, without limitation, the contribution or loan of funds by the Partnership to such Persons);

 

(15)                           the determination of the fair market value of any Partnership property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as the General Partner may adopt;

 

(16)                           the enforcement of any rights against any Partner pursuant to representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities relating to such Partner’s contribution of property or assets to the Partnership;

 

(17)                           the exercise, directly or indirectly, through any attorney-in-fact acting under a general or limited power of attorney, of any right, including the right to vote, appurtenant to any asset or investment held by the Partnership;

 

(18)                           the exercise of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of or in connection with any Subsidiary of the Partnership or any other Person in which the Partnership has a direct or indirect interest, or jointly with any such Subsidiary or other Person;

 

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(19)                           the exercise of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of any Person in which the Partnership does not have an interest pursuant to contractual or other arrangements with such Person;

 

(20)                           the making, execution, delivery and performance of any and all deeds, leases, notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, conveyances, contracts, guarantees, warranties, indemnities, waivers, releases or legal instruments or agreements in writing necessary, appropriate or convenient, in the judgment of the General Partner, for the accomplishment of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement;

 

(21)                           the issuance of additional Partnership Units and other partnership interests, as appropriate, in connection with Capital Contributions by Additional Limited Partners and additional Capital Contributions by Partners pursuant to Article IV hereof;

 

(22)                           the distribution of cash to acquire Partnership Units held by a Limited Partner in connection with a Limited Partner’s exercise of its Redemption Right under Section 8.6 hereof;

 

(23)                           the amendment and restatement of Exhibit A hereof to reflect at all times the Capital Contributions and Percentage Interests of the Partners as the same are adjusted from time to time to the extent necessary to reflect redemptions, Capital Contributions, the issuance of Partnership Units, the admission of any Additional Limited Partner or any Substituted Limited Partner or otherwise, which amendment and restatement, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, shall not be deemed an amendment of this Agreement, as long as the matter or event being reflected in Exhibit A hereof otherwise is authorized by this Agreement;

 

(24)                           the approval and/or implementation of any merger (including a triangular merger), consolidation or other combination between the Partnership and another person that is not prohibited under this Agreement, whether with or without Consent; the terms of Section 17-211(g) of the Act shall be applicable such that the General Partner shall have the right to effect any amendment to this Agreement or effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for a limited partnership if it is the surviving or resulting limited partnership on the merger or consolidation (except as may be expressly prohibited under Section 14.1.C, Section 14.1.D or Section 14.1.F);

 

(25)                           the taking of any action necessary or appropriate to enable the General Partner to qualify as a REIT; and

 

(26)                           the taking of any and all actions necessary or desirable in furtherance of, in connection with or incidental to the foregoing.

 

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B.                                     No Approval by Limited Partners .  Each of the Limited Partners agrees that the General Partner is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the above-mentioned agreements and transactions on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (except as provided in Section 7.3), the Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation, to the full extent permitted under the Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation.  The execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner or the Partnership of any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

 

C.                                     Insurance .  At all times from and after the date hereof, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to obtain and maintain (i) casualty, liability and other insurance on the properties of the Partnership, (ii) liability insurance for the Indemnitees hereunder and (iii) such other insurance as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines to be necessary.

 

D.                                     Working Capital and Other Reserves .  At all times from and after the date hereof, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to establish and maintain working capital reserves and other cash or similar balances in such amounts as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate and reasonable from time to time, including upon liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to Section 13.2 hereof.

 

E.                                      No Obligations to Consider Tax Consequences of Limited Partners .  In exercising its authority under this Agreement, the General Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to any Partner (including the General Partner) of any action taken (or not taken) by it.  The General Partner and the Partnership shall not have liability to a Limited Partner under any circumstances as a result of an income tax or other tax liability incurred by such Limited Partner as a result of an action (or inaction) by the General Partner taken pursuant to its authority under this Agreement and in accordance with the terms of Section 7.3.

 

Section 7.2                                     Certificate of Limited Partnership .

 

The General Partner has filed the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Act. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents as may be reasonable and necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and any other state, or the District of Columbia, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. To the extent that such action is determined by the General Partner to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate or convenient, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate and do all of the things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware and each other state, or the District of Columbia, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 8.5.A(4) hereof, the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing,

 

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to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate or any amendment thereto or restatement thereof to any Limited Partner.

 

Section 7.3                                     Restrictions on General Partner Authority .

 

The General Partner may not take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation of this Agreement without the written Consent of (i) all Partners adversely affected or (ii) such lower percentage of the Limited Partnership Interests as may be specifically provided for under a provision of this Agreement or the Act.

 

Section 7.4                                     Reimbursement of the General Partner .

 

A.                                     No Compensation .  Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles V and VI hereof regarding distributions, payments and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.

 

B.                                     Responsibility for Partnership Expenses .  The Partnership shall be responsible for and shall pay all expenses relating to the Partnership’s organization, the ownership of its assets and its operations.  The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, for all expenses it incurs relating to the ownership and operation of the Partnership or for the benefit of the Partnership, including, without limitation, all expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, expenses related to the operations of the General Partner and to the management and administration of any Subsidiaries of the General Partner or the Partnership or Affiliates of the Partnership, such as auditing expenses and filing fees and any and all salaries, compensation and expenses of officers and employees of the General Partner; provided that (x), the amount of any such reimbursement shall be reduced by (i) any interest earned by the General Partner with respect to bank accounts or other instruments or accounts held by it as permitted in Section 7.5.A below and (ii) any amount derived by the General Partner from any investments permitted in Section 7.5.A below and (y) REIT Expenses shall not be treated as Partnership expenses for purposes of this Section 7.4.B.  The General Partner shall determine in good faith the amount of expenses incurred by it related to the ownership and operation of, or for the benefit of, the Partnership.  If certain expenses are incurred for the benefit of the Partnership and other entities (including the General Partner), such expenses will be allocated to the Partnership and such other entities in such a manner as the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion deems fair and reasonable.  Such reimbursements shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner pursuant to Section 10.3.C hereof and as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7 below.  All payments and reimbursements hereunder shall be characterized for federal income tax purposes as expenses of the Partnership incurred on its behalf, and not as expenses of the General Partner.

 

C.                                     Partnership Interest Issuance Expenses .  The General Partner shall also be reimbursed for all expenses it incurs relating to any issuance of additional Partnership Interests, Debt of the Partnership or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities pursuant to Article IV hereof (including, without limitation, all costs, expenses, damages and

 

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other payments resulting from or arising in connection with litigation related to any of the foregoing), all of which expenses are considered by the Partners to constitute expenses of, and for the benefit of, the Partnership.

 

D.                                     Purchases of Shares by the General Partner .  In the event that the General Partner shall elect to purchase from its shareholders Shares in connection with a share repurchase or similar program or for the purpose of delivering such Shares to satisfy an obligation under any distribution reinvestment or share purchase program adopted by the General Partner, any employee share purchase plan adopted by the General Partner or any similar obligation or arrangement undertaken by the General Partner in the future, the purchase price paid by the General Partner for such Shares and any other expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with such purchase shall be considered REIT Expenses and shall be reimbursed to the General Partner, subject to the conditions that:  (i) if such Shares subsequently are to be sold by the General Partner, the General Partner pays to the Partnership any proceeds received by the General Partner for such Shares (which sales proceeds shall include the amount of distributions reinvested under any distribution reinvestment or similar program; provided that a transfer of Shares for Partnership Units pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof would not be considered a sale for such purposes); and (ii) if such Shares are not retransferred by the General Partner within thirty (30) days after the purchase thereof, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to cancel a number of Partnership Units of the appropriate class (rounded to the nearest whole Partnership Unit) held by the General Partner equal to the product attained by multiplying the number of such Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the Conversion Factor in effect on the date of such cancellation (in which case such reimbursement shall be treated as a distribution in redemption of Partnership Units held by the General Partner).

 

Section 7.5                                     Outside Activities of the General Partner .

 

A.                                     General .  The General Partner shall not directly or indirectly enter into or conduct any material business other than in connection with the ownership, acquisition and disposition of Partnership Interests and the management of the business of the Partnership, and such activities as are incidental thereto. The General Partner and any Affiliates of the General Partner may acquire Limited Partnership Interests and shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a Limited Partner relating to such Limited Partnership Interests.

 

B.                                     Forfeiture of Shares .  In the event the Partnership or the General Partner acquires Shares as a result of the forfeiture of such Shares under a restricted or similar share plan, then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to cancel that number of Partnership Units of the appropriate class equal to the number of Shares so acquired, and, if the Partnership acquired such Shares, it shall transfer such Shares to the General Partner for cancellation.

 

C.                                     Stock Option Plan .  If at any time or from time to time, the General Partner sells Shares pursuant to any Stock Option Plan, the General Partner shall transfer the net proceeds of the sale of such Shares to the Partnership as an additional Capital Contribution in exchange for an amount of additional Partnership Units equal to the number of Shares so sold divided by the Conversion Factor.

 

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D.                                     Funding Debt .  The General Partner may incur a Funding Debt, including, without limitation, a Funding Debt that is convertible into Shares or otherwise constitutes a class of New Securities (“ Convertible Funding Debt ”), subject to the condition that the General Partner lends to the Partnership the net proceeds of such Funding Debt; provided , that Convertible Funding Debt shall be issued pursuant to Section 4.2.B above; and, provided , further , that the General Partner shall not be obligated to lend the net proceeds of any Funding Debt to the Partnership in a manner that would be inconsistent with the General Partner’s ability to remain qualified as a REIT.  If the General Partner enters into any Funding Debt, the loan to the Partnership shall be on comparable terms and conditions, including interest rate, repayment schedule and costs and expenses, as are applicable with respect to or incurred in connection with such Funding Debt.

 

Section 7.6                                     Transactions with Affiliates .

 

A.                                     The Partnership may lend or contribute funds or other assets to its or the General Partner’s Subsidiaries or other Persons in which it or the General Partner has an equity investment and such Persons may borrow funds from the Partnership, on terms and conditions established in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. The foregoing authority shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person

 

B.                                     Except as provided in Section 7.5.A, the Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions consistent with this Agreement and applicable law as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes are advisable.

 

C.                                     Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are determined by the General Partner in good faith to be fair and reasonable.

 

D.                                     The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of the Limited Partners, may propose and adopt, on behalf of the Partnership, employee benefit plans, stock option plans, and similar plans funded by the Partnership for the benefit of employees of the General Partner, the Partnership, Subsidiaries of the Partnership or any Affiliate of any of them in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership, the General Partner or any Subsidiaries of the Partnership.

 

E.                                      The General Partner is expressly authorized to enter into, in the name and on behalf of the Partnership, and without the approval of the Limited Partners, a right of first opportunity arrangement and other conflict avoidance agreements with various Affiliates of the Partnership and the General Partner, on such terms as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes are advisable

 

Section 7.7                                     Indemnification .

 

A.                                     General .  To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Partnership shall indemnify each Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities,

 

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joint or several, expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership or the General Partner as set forth in this Agreement, in which such Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, except to the extent such Indemnitee acted in bad faith, or with gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnitee, pursuant to a loan guaranty or otherwise for any indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including without limitation, any indebtedness which the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken subject to), and the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Partnership, to enter into one or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section 7.7 in favor of any Indemnitee having or potentially having liability for any such indebtedness.  The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order or settlement does not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct set forth in this Section 7.7.A. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership, and neither the General Partner nor any Limited Partner shall have any obligation to contribute to the capital of the Partnership, or otherwise provide funds, to enable the Partnership to fund its obligations under this Section 7.7.

 

B.                                     Advancement of Expenses .  Reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding, upon receipt by the Partnership of (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Partnership as authorized in Section 7.7.A has been met and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.

 

C.                                     No Limitation of Rights .  The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity unless otherwise provided in a written agreement pursuant to which such Indemnitee is indemnified.

 

D.                                     Insurance .  The Partnership may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase and maintain insurance, on behalf of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

E.                                      Benefit Plan Fiduciary .  For purposes of this Section 7.7, (i) the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan, (ii) excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 7.7 and (iii) actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the

 

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performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

 

F.                                       No Personal Liability for Limited Partners .  In no event may an Indemnitee subject any of the Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

G.                                     Interested Transactions .  An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

H.                                    Benefit .  The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.  Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the Partnership’s liability to any Indemnitee under this Section 7.7, as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or related to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

I.                                         Indemnification Payments Not Distributions .  If and to the extent any payments to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.7 constitute gross income to the General Partner (as opposed to the repayment of advances made on behalf of the Partnership), such amounts shall constitute guaranteed payments within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code, shall be treated consistently therewith by the Partnership and all Partners, and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Partners’ Capital Accounts.

 

Section 7.8                                     Liability of the Covered Persons .

 

A.                                     General .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, none of the General Partner, its Affiliates, or any of their respective officers, trustees, directors, shareholders, partners, members, employees, representatives or agents or any officer, employee, representative or agent of the Partnership and its Affiliates (individually, a “ Covered Person ” and collectively, the “ Covered Persons ”) shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, any Partners or any Assignees for losses sustained or liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or of any act or omission if the Covered Person’s conduct did not constitute bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

B.                                     No Obligation to Consider Separate Interests of Limited Partners or Shareholders .  The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting on behalf of the Partnership, the Limited Partners and the shareholders of the General Partner collectively, that the General Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited Partners or Assignees or to such shareholders) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions. In the event of a conflict between the interests of the shareholders of

 

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the General Partner on the one hand and the Limited Partners on the other, the General Partner shall endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either the shareholders of the General Partner or the Limited Partners; provided , however , that any such conflict that the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either the shareholders of the General Partner or the Limited Partners shall be resolved in favor of the shareholders of the General Partner. The General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages or otherwise for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions, provided that the General Partner has acted in good faith.

 

C.                                     Actions of Agents .  Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1.A hereof, the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its employees and agents.  The General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such employee or agent appointed by the General Partner in good faith.

 

D.                                     Effect of Amendment .  Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the Covered Person’s liability to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

E.                                      Good Faith Reliance on Agreement .  To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to the Partners, any Covered Person acting under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of a Covered Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Covered Person to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

F.                                       General Partner’s Discretion .  Whenever in this Agreement the General Partner is permitted or required to make a decision (i) in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” or under a similar grant of authority or latitude, the General Partner shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires and may consider its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Partnership or the Limited Partners, or (ii) in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the General Partner shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or by law or any other agreement contemplated herein.

 

Section 7.9                                     Other Matters Concerning the General Partner .

 

A.                                     Reliance on Documents .  The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or

 

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document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

B.                                     Reliance on Advisors .  The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers architects, engineers, environmental consultants and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the opinion of such Persons as to matters which the General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

 

C.                                     Action Through Agents .  The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers and a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact.  Each such attorney shall, to the extent provided by the General Partner in the power of attorney, have full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and duty which is permitted or required to be done by the General Partner hereunder.

 

D.                                     Actions to Maintain REIT Status or Avoid Taxation of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) .  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement (other than the limitations on the General Partner’s authority set forth in Sections 7.3, 7.5 and 7.6.A) 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 the ability of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) to continue to satisfy the REIT Requirements or (ii) to avoid the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) incurring any taxes under Section 337(d), 857, 1374 or 4981 of the Code, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.

 

Section 7.10                              Title to Partnership Assets .

 

Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partners, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof.  Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, including Affiliates of the General Partner.  The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which legal title is held in the name of the General Partner or any nominee or Affiliate of the General Partner shall be held by the General Partner for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause beneficial and record title to such assets to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Partnership assets is held.

 

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Section 7.11                              Reliance by Third Parties .

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (other than the limitations on the General Partner’s authority set forth in Sections 7.3, 7.5 and 7.6.A), any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner has full power and authority, without consent or approval of any other Partner or Person, to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership, to enter into any contracts on behalf of the Partnership and to take any and all actions on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner as if the General Partner were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially.  Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies which may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner in connection with any such dealing.  In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or its representatives.  Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (i) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (ii) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership, and (iii) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

 

Section 7.12                              Loans by Third Parties .

 

The Partnership may incur Debt, or enter into similar credit, guarantee, financing or refinancing arrangements for any purpose (including, without limitation, in connection with any acquisition of property) with any Person upon such terms as the General Partner determines appropriate; provided , that the Partnership shall not incur any Debt that is recourse to the General Partner unless, and then only to the extent that, the General Partner has expressly agreed.

 

ARTICLE VIII
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

Section 8.1                                     Limitation of Liability .

 

The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement except as expressly provided in this Agreement, including Section 10.5 hereof, or under the Act.

 

Section 8.2                                     Management of Business .

 

No Limited Partner or Assignee (other than the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, trustee, director, member, employee, partner or agent of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such) shall take part in the operation, management or control (within the meaning of the Act) 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.  The transaction of any such business by the General Partner, any

 

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of its Affiliates or any officer, trustee, director, member, employee, partner or agent of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such, shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

 

Section 8.3                                     Outside Activities of Limited Partners .

 

Subject to any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 7.6.E hereof and any other agreements entered into by a Limited Partner or its Affiliates with the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, any Limited Partner (other than the General Partner) and any officer, trustee, director, member, employee, agent, Affiliate or shareholder of any Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities that are in direct competition with the Partnership or that are enhanced by the activities of the Partnership.  Neither the Partnership nor any Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee.  None of the Limited Partners (other than the General Partner) nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any other Person (other than the General Partner to the extent expressly provided herein), and such Person shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any such other Person, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or such other Person, could be taken by such Person.

 

Section 8.4                                     Return of Capital .

 

Except pursuant to the right of redemption set forth in Section 8.6, no Limited Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of its Capital Contribution, except to the extent of distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership as provided herein. Except to the extent provided by Exhibit C hereof or as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no Limited Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Limited Partner or Assignee, either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses or distributions.

 

Section 8.5                                     Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership .

 

A.                                     General .  In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by the Act, and except as limited by Section 8.5.D below, each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon written demand with a statement of the purpose of such demand and at such Limited Partner’s own expense (including such copying and administrative charges as the General Partner may establish from time to time):

 

(1)                                  to obtain a copy of the most recent annual and quarterly reports prepared by the General Partner Entity and distributed to shareholders, including annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC by the General Partner Entity pursuant to the Exchange Act;

 

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(2)                                  to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each Partnership Year;

 

(3)                                  to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner as reflected in the Partnership’s records;

 

(4)                                  to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate and all amendments thereto, together with copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

 

(5)                                  to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of any other property or services contributed by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner.

 

B.                                     Notice of Conversion Factor .  The Partnership shall notify each Limited Partner, upon request, of the then current Conversion Factor.

 

C.                                     Notice of Extraordinary Transaction of the General Partner Entity .  The General Partner Entity shall not make any extraordinary distributions of cash or property to its shareholders or effect a merger (including, without limitation, a triangular merger), a sale of all or substantially all of its assets or any other similar extraordinary transaction without notifying the Limited Partners of its intention to make such distribution or effect such merger, sale or other extraordinary transaction not later than the time, if any, at which the General Partner is required to provide notice of such transaction to its shareholders.  This provision for such notice shall not be deemed (i) to permit any transaction that otherwise is prohibited by this Agreement or requires a Consent of the Partners or (ii) to require a Consent of the Limited Partners to a transaction that does not otherwise require Consent under this Agreement.  Each Limited Partner agrees, as a condition to the receipt of the notice pursuant hereto, to keep confidential the information set forth therein until such time as the General Partner Entity has made public disclosure thereof and to use such information during such period of confidentiality solely for purposes of determining whether or not to exercise the Redemption Right; provided , however , that a Limited Partner may disclose such information to its attorney, accountant and/or financial advisor for purposes of obtaining advice with respect to such exercise so long as such attorney, accountant and/or financial advisor agrees to receive and hold such information subject to this confidentiality requirement.

 

D.                                     Confidentiality .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.5, the General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner determines in its sole and absolute discretion to be reasonable, any information that (i) the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information, the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership or could damage the Partnership or its business; or (ii) the Partnership is required by law or by agreements with an unaffiliated third party to keep confidential.

 

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Section 8.6                                     Redemption Right .

 

A.                                     General .  (i) Subject to Sections 8.6B and 8.6.C hereof and on or after the date one (1) year after January 14, 2015 (or, if later than January 14, 2015, the date of the issuance of a Partnership Unit to a Limited Partner pursuant to Article IV hereof), which one-year period shall commence upon the issuance of such Partnership Unit regardless of whether such Partnership Unit is designated upon issuance as a Common Partnership Unit or otherwise, or on or after such date prior to the expiration of such one-year period as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, designates with respect to any or all Partnership Units then outstanding, the holder of a Partnership Unit (if other than the General Partner or the General Partner Entity or any Subsidiary of either the General Partner or the General Partner Entity) shall have the right (the “ Redemption Right ”) to require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Redemption Date all or a portion of the Partnership Units (provided that such Partnership Units constitute Common Partnership Units) held by such Limited Partner at a redemption price per Unit equal to and in the form of the Cash Amount to be paid by the Partnership. The Redemption Right shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Redemption delivered to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) by the Limited Partner who is exercising the redemption right (the “ Redeeming Partner ”); provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be obligated to satisfy such Redemption Right if the General Partner elects to purchase the Partnership Units subject to the Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 8.6.B. A Limited Partner may not exercise the Redemption Right for less than one thousand (1,000) Partnership Units at any one time or, if such Limited Partner holds less than one thousand (1,000) Partnership Units, all of the Partnership Units held by such Partner. The Redeeming Partner shall have no right, with respect to any Partnership Units so redeemed, to receive any distributions paid on or after the Specified Redemption Date unless the record date for such distribution was a date prior to the Specified Redemption Date. The Assignee of any Limited Partner may exercise the rights of such Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 8.6, and such Limited Partner shall be deemed to have assigned such rights to such Assignee and shall be bound by the exercise of such rights by such Assignee. In connection with any exercise of such rights by an Assignee on behalf of a Limited Partner, the Cash Amount shall be paid by the Partnership directly to such Assignee and not to such Limited Partner. Any Partnership Units redeemed by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 8.6.A shall be cancelled upon such redemption.

 

(ii)                                   Notwithstanding the terms of Section 8.6.A(i) or anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, if there shall have been a merger or consolidation of the General Partner, or a sale or all or substantially all of the assets of the General Partner as an entirety, and in either case, in connection therewith, the shareholders of the General Partner are obligated to accept cash and/or debt obligations in full or partial consideration for their Shares, then the portion of the Redemption Amount per Partnership Unit that corresponds to the portion of Value of the total consideration receivable for one Share multiplied by the Conversion Factor (a “ Unit Equivalent ”) that is required to be accepted in cash and/or debt obligations shall thereafter be an amount of cash equal to the sum of (i) the cash payable for a Unit Equivalent on the date of the closing of such merger, consolidation or sale and (ii) the Value on the date of the closing of such merger, consolidation, or sale of the debt obligations to be received with respect to a Unit Equivalent, adjusted as set forth below (this amount of cash is referred to as the “ Required Cash Payment ”) (the percentage that the Required Cash Payment represents of the total Redemption Amount with respect to a Partnership Unit, determined as of such closing date, is referred to as

 

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the “ Pro Rata Portion ”).  The balance of the Redemption Amount per Partnership Unit shall be determined as provided for in the definitions of Conversion Factor, Redemption Amount, Shares Amount, Cash Amount and Value.

 

B.                                     General Partner Assumption of Right .  (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.6.A, a Limited Partner that exercises the Redemption Right shall be deemed to have offered to sell the Partnership Units described in the Notice of Redemption to the General Partner, and the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to purchase directly and acquire such Partnership Units by paying to the Redeeming Partner either the Cash Amount or the Shares Amount, as elected by the General Partner (in its sole and absolute discretion), on the Specified Redemption Date, whereupon the General Partner shall acquire the Partnership Units offered for redemption by the Redeeming Partner and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Partnership Units. Unless the General Partner (in its sole and absolute discretion) shall exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units from the Redeeming Partner pursuant to this Section 8.6.B, the General Partner shall not have any obligation to the Redeeming Partner or the Partnership with respect to the Redeeming Partner’s exercise of the Redemption Right. In the event the General Partner shall exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units with respect to the exercise of a Redemption Right in the manner described in the first sentence of this Section 8.6.B, the Partnership shall have no obligation to pay any amount to the Redeeming Partner with respect to such Redeeming Partner’s exercise of such Redemption Right, and each of the Redeeming Partner, the Partnership and the General Partner shall treat the transaction between the General Partner and the Redeeming Partner, for federal income tax purposes, as a sale of the Redeeming Partner’s Partnership Units to the General Partner. Each Redeeming Partner agrees to execute such documents as the General Partner may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of Shares upon exercise of the Redemption Right. In case of any reclassification of the Shares (including, but not limited to, any reclassification upon a consolidation or merger in which the General Partner is the continuing entity) into securities other than Shares, for purposes of this Section 8.6.B, the General Partner (or its successor) may thereafter exercise its right to purchase Partnership Units for the kind and amount of shares of such securities receivable upon such reclassification by a holder of the number of Shares for which such Units could be purchased pursuant to this Section 8.6.B immediately prior to such reclassification.

 

(ii)                                   In the event that the General Partner determines to pay the Redeeming Partner the Redemption Amount in the form of Shares, the total number of Shares to be paid to the Redeeming Partner in exchange for the Redeeming Partner’s Partnership Units shall be the applicable Shares Amount.  In the event this amount is not a whole number of Shares, the Redeeming Partner shall be paid (i) that number of Shares which equals the nearest whole number less than such amount plus (ii) an amount of cash which the General Partner determines, in its reasonable discretion, to represent the fair value of the remaining fractional Share which would otherwise be payable to the Redeeming Partner.

 

C.                                     Exceptions to Exercise of Redemption Right .  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.6.A and Section 8.6.B, a Partner shall not be entitled to exercise the Redemption Right pursuant to Section 8.6.A to the extent that the delivery of Shares to such Partner on the Specified Redemption Date by the General Partner pursuant to Section 8.6.B (regardless of whether or not the General Partner would in fact exercise its rights under Section

 

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8.6.B) would (i) be prohibited, as determined in the sole discretion of the General Partner, under the Declaration of Trust, (ii) cause the acquisition of Shares by such Partner to be “integrated” with any other distribution of Shares for purposes of complying with the Securities Act or (iii) would otherwise be prohibited under applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations.

 

D.                                     No Liens on Partnership Units Delivered for Redemption .  Each Limited Partner covenants and agrees with the General Partner that all Partnership Units delivered for redemption shall be delivered to the Partnership or the General Partner, as the case may be, free and clear of all liens, and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the General Partner nor the Partnership shall be under any obligation to acquire Partnership Units which are or may be subject to any liens.  Each Limited Partner further agrees that, in the event any state or local property transfer tax is payable as a result of the transfer of its Partnership Units to the Partnership or the General Partner, such Limited Partner shall assume and pay such transfer tax.

 

E.                                      Additional Partnership Interests .  In the event that the Partnership issues Partnership Interests to any Additional Limited Partner pursuant to Article IV hereof, the General Partner shall make such amendments to this Section 8.6 as it determines are necessary to reflect the issuance of such Partnership Interests (including setting forth any restrictions on the exercise of the Redemption Right with respect to such Partnership Interests).

 

F.                                       LTIP Unit Exception and Redemption of Common Partnership Units Issued Upon Conversion of LTIP Units .  Holders of LTIP Units shall not be entitled to the Redemption Right provided for in Section 8.6.A of this Agreement, unless and until such LTIP Units have been converted into Common Partnership Units (or any other class or series of Partnership Units entitled to such Redemption Right) in accordance with their terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise permitted by the award, plan or other agreement pursuant to which an LTIP Units was issued, the Redemption Right shall not be exercisable with respect to any Common Partnership Unit issued upon conversion of an LTIP Unit until on or after the date that is two years after the date on which the LTIP Unit was issued, provided however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply if the Redemption Right is exercised by a LTIP Unit holder in connection with a transaction that falls within the definition of a “change of control” under the agreement or agreements pursuant to which the LTIP Units were issued to him or her and provided further that the one (1) year requirement set forth in the first sentence of Subsection 8.6.A(i) shall not apply with respect to Common Partnership Units issued upon conversion of LTIP Units.

 

Section 8.7                                     Right of Offset .

 

The General Partner shall have the right to offset any amounts owed to the Partnership or the General Partner by any Limited Partner pursuant to (i) any written agreement between such Limited Partner and the Partnership, the General Partner or an Affiliate of either of them pursuant to which such Limited Partner acquired Partnership Units or (ii) the provisions of Section 5.2 of this Agreement, against any amounts owed to such Limited Partner by the Partnership or the General Partner hereunder, including the right to cancel or acquire, as applicable, the Units held by such Limited Partner, based on the Cash Amount that would be payable therefor, assuming a redemption as of the date of cancellation or acquisition, as applicable.  In exercising the foregoing offset rights, the General Partner shall be required to give

 

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a Limited Partner, in the case of an offset against a distribution, five (5) days prior written notice ( provided , however , that if a distribution is to be made at any time during such five day period the General Partner may retain the distribution payable to any Limited Partner to whom such a written notice has been given to the extent of the amount owed by such limited Partner pending the passage of such period and upon the passage of such period without payment of all amounts owed by the applicable Limited Partner, the General Partner shall be entitled to the right of offset described above, it being understood that if the Limited Partner pays in full the amount owed the General Partner shall promptly release the retained distribution to such Limited Partner) and, in the case of an offset against Partnership Units (through cancellation or acquisition), ten (10) days’ prior written notice, in each case of the amount owed (determined as of a date reasonably close to the date of such notice) and the proposed offset and the Limited Partner has not paid the amount owed within such period.

 

ARTICLE IX
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

Section 9.1                                     Records and Accounting .

 

The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership those records and documents required to be maintained by the Act and other books and records deemed by the General Partner to be appropriate with respect to the Partnership’s business, including, without limitation, all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof. Any records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business may be kept on, or be in the form of, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, micrographics or any other information storage device; provided , that the records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial and tax reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, or such other basis as the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 9.2                                     Fiscal Year .

 

The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year.

 

Section 9.3                                     Reports .

 

A.                                     Annual Reports .  As soon as practicable, but in no event later than the date on which the General Partner Entity mails its annual report to its shareholders, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner as of the close of the Partnership Year, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the General Partner, for such Partnership Year, presented in accordance with GAAP, such statements to be audited by a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

 

B.                                     Quarterly Reports .  If and to the extent that the General Partner Entity mails quarterly reports to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the date on which such reports are mailed, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each

 

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Limited Partner as of the last day of the calendar quarter, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner, if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the General Partner, and such other information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or as the General Partner determines to be appropriate.

 

C.                                     Other Reports .  The Partnership shall also cause to be prepared such reports and/or information as are necessary for the General Partner to determine its qualification as a REIT and its compliance with the REIT Requirements, but only for so long as the General Partner elects to remain qualified as a REIT.

 

D.                                     Delivery Method .  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner may deliver to the Limited Partners each of the reports described above, as well as any other communications that it may provide hereunder, by e-mail or by any other electronic means, provided that if a report is filed with the SEC via EDGAR it shall be deemed to have been delivered to each Limited Partner.

 

ARTICLE X
TAX MATTERS

 

Section 10.1                              Preparation of Tax Returns .

 

The General Partner shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns of Partnership income, gains, deductions, losses and other items required of the Partnership for federal and state income tax purposes and shall furnish by July 31 of the year immediately following each taxable year, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, the tax information reasonably required by Limited Partners for federal and state income tax reporting purposes.  If required under the Code or applicable state or local income tax law, the General Partner shall also arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all returns of income, gains, deductions, losses and other items required of the Subsidiaries of the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and shall use all reasonable efforts to furnish, by July 31 of the year immediately following each taxable year, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, the tax information required by the Limited Partners for U.S. federal and state income tax reporting purposes.

 

Section 10.2                              Tax Elections .

 

A.                                     Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine whether to make any available election pursuant to the Code; provided , that the General Partner shall make the election under Section 754 of the Code in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder.  The General Partner shall have the right to seek to revoke any such election (including, without limitation, the election under Section 754 of the Code) upon the General Partner’s determination in its sole and absolute discretion that such revocation is in the best interests of the Partners.

 

B.                                     To the extent provided for in Regulations, revenue rulings, revenue procedures and/or other IRS guidance issued after the date hereof, the Partnership is hereby authorized to, and at the direction of the General Partner shall, elect a safe harbor under which the fair market value of any Partnership Interests issued after the effective date of such

 

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Regulations (or other guidance) will be treated as equal to the liquidation value of such Partnership Interests (i.e., a value equal to the total amount that would be distributed with respect to such interests if the Partnership sold all of its assets for their fair market value immediately after the issuance of such Partnership Interests, satisfied its liabilities (excluding any non-recourse liabilities to the extent the balance of such liabilities exceeds the fair market value of the assets that secure them) and distributed the net proceeds to the Partners under the terms of this Agreement). In the event that the Partnership makes a safe harbor election as described in the preceding sentence, each Partner hereby agrees to comply with all safe harbor requirements with respect to transfers of such Partnership Interests while the safe harbor election remains effective.

 

Section 10.3                              Tax Matters Partner .

 

A.                                     General .  The General Partner shall be the “tax matters partner” of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes.  Pursuant to Section 6230(e) of the Code, upon receipt of notice from the IRS of the beginning of an administrative proceeding with respect to the Partnership, the tax matters partner shall furnish the IRS with the name, address, taxpayer identification number and profit interest of each of the Limited Partners and any Assignees; provided , however , that such information is provided to the Partnership by the Limited Partners and the Assignees.

 

B.                                     Powers .  The tax matters partner is authorized, but not required:

 

(1)                                  to enter into any settlement with the IRS with respect to any administrative or judicial proceedings for the adjustment of Partnership items required to be taken into account by a Partner for income tax purposes (such administrative proceedings being referred to as a “tax audit” and such judicial proceedings being referred to as “judicial review”), and in the settlement agreement the tax matters partner may expressly state that such agreement shall bind all Partners, except that such settlement agreement shall not bind any Partner (i) who (within the time prescribed pursuant to the Code and Regulations) files a statement with the IRS providing that the tax matters partner shall not have the authority to enter into a settlement agreement on behalf of such Partner or (ii) who is a “notice partner” (as defined in Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code) or a member of a “notice group” (as defined in Section 6223(b)(2) of the Code);

 

(2)                                  in the event that a notice of a final administrative adjustment at the Partnership level of any item required to be taken into account by a Partner for tax purposes (a “ final adjustment ”) is mailed to the tax matters partner, to seek judicial review of such final adjustment, including the filing of a petition for readjustment with the United States Tax Court or the filing of a complaint for refund with the United States Claims Court or the District Court of the United States for the district in which the Partnership’s principal place of business is located;

 

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(3)                                  to intervene in any action brought by any other Partner for judicial review of a final adjustment;

 

(4)                                  to file a request for an administrative adjustment with the IRS and, if any part of such request is not allowed by the IRS, to file an appropriate pleading (petition or complaint) for judicial review with respect to such request;

 

(5)                                  to enter into an agreement with the IRS to extend the period for assessing any tax which is attributable to any item required to be taken into account by a Partner for tax purposes, or an item affected by such item; and

 

(6)                                  to take any other action on behalf of the Partners or the Partnership in connection with any tax audit or judicial review proceeding to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulations.

 

The taking of any action and the incurring of any expense by the tax matters partner in connection with any such proceeding, except to the extent required by law, is a matter in the sole and absolute discretion of the tax matters partner and the provisions relating to indemnification of the General Partner set forth in Section 7.7 of this Agreement shall be fully applicable to the tax matters partner in its capacity as such.

 

C.                                     Reimbursement .  The tax matters partner shall receive no compensation for its services.  All third party costs and expenses incurred by the tax matters partner in performing its duties as such (including legal and accounting fees and expenses) shall be borne by the Partnership.  Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the Partnership from engaging an accounting and/or law firm to assist the tax matters partner in discharging its duties hereunder, so long as the compensation paid by the Partnership for such services is reasonable.

 

Section 10.4                              Organizational Expenses .

 

The Partnership shall elect to deduct expenses, if any, incurred by it in organizing the Partnership ratably over a one hundred eighty (180) month period as provided in Section 709 of the Code.

 

Section 10.5                              Withholding .

 

Each Limited Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold from or pay on behalf of or with respect to such Limited Partner any amount of federal, state, local, or foreign taxes that the General Partner determines that the Partnership is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any taxes required to be withheld or paid by the Partnership pursuant to Section 1441, 1442, 1445, or 1446 of the Code.  Any amount paid on behalf of or with respect to a Limited Partner shall constitute a loan by the Partnership to such Limited Partner, which loan shall be repaid by such Limited Partner within fifteen (15) days after notice from the General Partner that such payment must be made unless (i) the Partnership withholds such payment from a distribution which would otherwise be made to the Limited Partner or (ii) the General Partner determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that such

 

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payment may be satisfied out of the available funds of the Partnership which would, but for such payment, be distributed to the Limited Partner.  Any amounts withheld pursuant to the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall be treated as having been distributed to such Limited Partner.  Each Limited Partner hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Partnership a security interest in such Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest to secure such Limited Partner’s obligation to pay to the Partnership any amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Section 10.5.  In the event that a Limited Partner fails to pay any amounts owed to the Partnership pursuant to this Section 10.5 when due, the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to make the payment to the Partnership on behalf of such defaulting Limited Partner, and in such event shall be deemed to have loaned such amount to such defaulting Limited Partner and shall succeed to all rights and remedies of the Partnership as against such defaulting Limited Partner. Without limitation, in such event the General Partner shall have the right to receive distributions that would otherwise be distributable to such defaulting Limited Partner until such time as such loan, together with all interest thereon, has been paid in full, and any such distributions so received by the General Partner shall be treated as having been distributed to the defaulting Limited Partner and immediately paid by the defaulting Limited Partner to the General Partner in repayment of such loan. Any amounts payable by a Limited Partner hereunder shall bear interest at the lesser of (A) 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 , plus four (4) percentage points or (B) 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.  Each Limited Partner shall take such actions as the Partnership or the General Partner shall request in order to perfect or enforce the security interest created hereunder. Upon a Limited Partner’s complete withdrawal from the Partnership, such Limited Partner shall be required to restore funds to the Partnership to the extent that the cumulative amount of taxes withheld from or paid on behalf of, or with respect to, such Limited Partner exceeds the sum of such amounts (i) repaid to the Partnership by such Limited Partner, (ii) withheld from distributions to such Limited Partner and (iii) paid by the General Partner on behalf of such Limited Partner.

 

ARTICLE XI
TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS

 

Section 11.1                              Transfer .

 

A.                                     Definition .  The term “transfer,” when used in this Article XI with respect to a Partnership Interest or a Partnership Unit, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the General Partner purports to assign all or any part of its General Partnership Interest to another Person or by which a Limited Partner purports to assign all or any part of its Limited Partnership Interest to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by law or otherwise.  The term “transfer” when used in this Article XI does not include (i) any redemption or repurchase of Partnership Units by the Partnership from a Partner (including the General Partner), (ii) any acquisition of Partnership Units from a Limited Partner by the General Partner pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof or otherwise or (iii) any distribution of Partnership Units by a Limited Partner to its beneficial owners.  No part of the interest of a Limited Partner shall be subject to the claims of any creditor, any spouse for alimony or support, or to legal process, and no part of the interest

 

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of a Limited Partner may be voluntarily or involuntarily alienated or encumbered except as may be specifically provided for in this Agreement.

 

B.                                     General .  No Partnership Interest shall be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article XI.  Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article XI shall be null and void.

 

Section 11.2                              Transfers of Partnership Interests of General Partner .

 

A.                                     Except for transfers of Partnership Units to the Partnership as provided in Section 7.5 or Section 8.6 hereof, the General Partner may not transfer any of its Partnership Interest (including both its General Partnership Interest and its Limited Partnership Interest) except in connection with a transaction described in Section 11.2.B or 11.2.C below or as otherwise expressly permitted under this Agreement), nor shall the General Partner withdraw as General Partner except in connection with a transaction described in Section 11.2.B or 11.2.C below.

 

B.                                     Except as set forth in Section 11.2.C, the General Partner shall not withdraw from the Partnership and shall not transfer all or any portion of its Limited Partnership Interest in the Partnership (whether by sale, disposition, statutory merger or consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) unless a Majority in Interest Consents to such transfer or withdrawal. Upon any transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest pursuant to the Consent of a Majority in Interest and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.2.B, the transferee shall become a successor General Partner for all purposes herein, and shall be vested with the powers and rights of the transferor General Partner, and shall be liable for all obligations and responsible for all duties of the 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 Interest so acquired. It is a condition to any transfer by the General Partner 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 Interest, and such transfer shall relieve the transferor General Partner of its obligations under this Agreement without the Consent of the Limited Partners. In the event that the General Partner withdraws from the Partnership, in violation of this Agreement or otherwise, or otherwise dissolves or terminates, or upon an event of Bankruptcy of the General Partner, the remaining Partners may agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership by selecting a successor General Partner in accordance with the Act.

 

C.                                     The General Partner may merge with another entity if immediately after such merger substantially all of the assets of the surviving entity, other than the General Partnership Interest held by the General Partner, are contributed to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution in exchange for Partnership Units.

 

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Section 11.3                              Limited Partners’ Rights to Transfer .

 

A.                                     General .  Except as provided in Section 11.3.B, no Limited Partner shall transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to any transferee without the written consent of the General Partner, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; provided, however, that the General Partner may not transfer any portion of its Limited Partnership Interest without the Consent of a Majority in Interest; and provided, further, that if a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, such Incapacitated Limited Partner may transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest;

 

B.                                     Transfers to Affiliates .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XI, a Limited Partner may transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to any of its Affiliates and such transferee shall be admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner, all without obtaining the consent of the General Partner.

 

C.                                     Incapacitated Limited Partners .  If a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, the executor, administrator, trustee, committee, guardian, conservator or receiver of such Limited Partner’s estate shall have all the rights of a Limited Partner, but not more rights than those enjoyed by other Limited Partners for the purpose of settling or managing the estate and such power as the Incapacitated Limited Partner possessed to transfer all or any part of its interest in the Partnership.  The Incapacity of a Limited Partner, in and of itself, shall not dissolve or terminate the Partnership.

 

D.                                     No Transfers Violating Securities Laws .  Without limiting the generality of Section 11.3.A hereof, the General Partner may prohibit any transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Interest if, in the opinion of legal counsel to the Partnership, such transfer would require filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act or would otherwise violate any federal or state securities laws or regulations applicable to the Partnership or the Partnership Units

 

E.                                      No Transfers Affecting Tax Status of Partnership .  No transfer of Partnership Units by a Limited Partner (including a redemption or exchange pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof) may be made to any Person if (i) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, it could result in the Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or would result in a termination of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes (except as a result of the redemption or exchange for Shares of all Partnership Units held by all Limited Partners other than the General Partner or the General Partner Entity or any Subsidiary of either the General Partner or the General Partner Entity or pursuant to a transaction not prohibited under Section 11.2 hereof), (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, it would adversely affect the ability of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) to continue to qualify as a REIT or would subject the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code, (iii) 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), (iv) such transfer would, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, cause any portion of the assets of the Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to

 

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Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.3-101, (v) such transfer would subject the Partnership to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, as amended, or the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA, or (vi) such transfer is effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or otherwise cause the Partnership to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

F.                                       No Transfers to Holders of Nonrecourse Liabilities .  No pledge or transfer of any Partnership Units may be made to a lender to the Partnership or any Person who is related (within the meaning of Section 1.752-4(b) of the Regulations) to any lender to the Partnership whose loan constitutes a Nonrecourse Liability without the consent of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion; provided , that as a condition to such consent the lender will be required to enter into an arrangement with the Partnership and the General Partner to exchange or redeem for the Redemption Amount any Partnership Units in which a security interest is held simultaneously with the time at which such lender would be deemed to be a partner in the Partnership for purposes of allocating liabilities to such lender under Section 752 of the Code.

 

G.                                     Register .  The General Partner shall keep a register for the Partnership on which the transfer, pledge or release of Partnership Units shall be shown and pursuant to which entries shall be made to effect all transfers, pledges or releases as required by the applicable sections of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended, in effect in the State of Delaware. The General Partner shall (i) place proper entries in such register clearly showing each transfer and each pledge and grant of security interest and the transfer and assignment pursuant thereto, such entries to be endorsed by the General Partner, and (ii) maintain the register and make the register available for inspection by all of the Partners and their pledgees at all times during the term of this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be deemed a consent to any pledge or transfer otherwise prohibited under this Agreement

 

Section 11.4                              Substituted Limited Partners .

 

A.                                     Consent of General Partner .  No Limited Partner shall have the right to substitute a transferee as a Limited Partner in his or its place. The General Partner shall, however, have the right to consent to the admission of a transferee of the interest of a Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 11.4 as a Substituted Limited Partner, which consent may be given or withheld by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion.  The General Partner’s failure or refusal to permit a transferee of any such interests to become a Substituted Limited Partner shall not give rise to any cause of action against the Partnership or any Partner. A Person shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner only upon the aforementioned consent of the General Partner and the furnishing to the General Partner of (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the power of attorney granted in Section 2.4 hereof and (ii) such other documents of the General Partner in order to effect such Person’s admission as a Substituted Limited Partner. The admission of any Person as a Substituted Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

 

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B.                                     Rights of Substituted Limited Partner .  A transferee who has been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner in accordance with this Article XI shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the restrictions and liabilities of a Limited Partner under this Agreement.

 

C.                                     Amendment and Restatement of Exhibit A .  Upon the admission of a Substituted Limited Partner, the General Partner shall amend and restate Exhibit A to reflect the name, address, Capital Account, number of Partnership Units, and Percentage Interest of such Substituted Limited Partner and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the name, address, Capital Account, number of Partnership Units and Percentage Interest of the predecessor of such Substituted Limited Partner.

 

Section 11.5                              Assignees .

 

If the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, does not consent to the admission of any permitted transferee as a Substituted Limited Partner, as described in Section 11.4, such transferee shall be considered an Assignee for purposes of this Agreement.  An Assignee shall be deemed to have had assigned to it, and shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Partnership and the share of Net Income, Net Losses, Recapture Income, and any other items, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Partnership attributable to the Partnership Interest assigned to such transferee, but shall not be deemed to be a holder of a Partnership Interest for any other purpose under this Agreement, and shall not be entitled to vote such Partnership Interest in any matter presented to the Limited Partners for a vote (such Partnership Interest being deemed to have been voted on such matter in the same proportion as all other Partnership Interest held by Limited Partners are voted). In the event any such transferee desires to make a further assignment of any such Partnership Interest, such transferee shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Article XI to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of his or its Partnership Interest.

 

Section 11.6                              General Provisions .

 

A.                                     Withdrawal of Limited Partner .  No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted transfer of all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest in accordance with this Article XI or pursuant to redemption of all of its Partnership Units, or the acquisition thereof by the General Partner, under Section 8.6.

 

B.                                     Termination of Status as Limited Partner .  Any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of its Partnership Interest in a transfer permitted pursuant to this Article XI or pursuant to redemption of all of its Partnership Units under Section 8.6 hereof shall cease to be a Limited Partner upon the admission of all Assignees of such Partnership Interest as Substituted Limited Partners. Similarly, any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of its Partnership Units pursuant to a redemption of all of its Partnership Units, or the acquisition thereof by the General Partner, under Section 8.6 shall cease to be a Limited Partner.

 

C.                                     Timing of Transfers .  Transfers pursuant to this Article XI may only be made on the first day of a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, unless the General Partner otherwise agrees.

 

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D.                                     Allocations .  If any Partnership Interest is transferred during any quarterly segment of the Partnership’s fiscal year in compliance with the provisions of this Article XI or redeemed or transferred pursuant to Section 8.6 on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Net Income, Net Losses, each item thereof and all other items attributable to such interest for such Partnership Year shall be divided and allocated between the transferor Partner and the transferee Partner by taking into account their varying interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Section 706(d) of the Code, using the interim closing of the books method (unless the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, elects to adopt a daily, weekly, or a monthly proration period, in which event Net Income, Net Losses, each item thereof and all other items attributable to such interest for such Partnership Year shall be prorated based upon the applicable method selected by the General Partner).  Solely for purposes of making such allocations, each of such items for the calendar month in which the transfer or redemption occurs shall be allocated to the Person who is a Partner as of midnight on the last day of said month.  All distributions attributable to such Partnership Interest with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such transfer, assignment or redemption shall be made to the transferor Partner or the Redeeming Partner, as the case may be, and, in the case of a transfer or assignment other than a redemption, all distributions thereafter attributable to such Partnership Interest shall be made to the transferee Partner.

 

E.                                      Additional Restrictions .  In addition to any other restrictions on transfer herein contained, including without limitation the provisions of this Article XI, in no event may any transfer or assignment of a Partnership Interest by any Partner (including pursuant to Section 8.6 hereof) be made without the express consent of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, (i) to any person or entity who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own a Partnership Interest; (ii) in violation of applicable law; (iii) of any component portion of a Partnership Interest, such as the Capital Account, or rights to distributions, separate and apart from all other components of a Partnership Interest; (iv) if in the opinion of legal counsel to the Partnership such transfer would cause a termination of the Partnership for federal or state income tax purposes (except as a result of the redemption or exchange for Shares of all Partnership Units held by all Limited Partners or pursuant to a transaction not prohibited under Section 11.2 hereof); (v) if in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership, such transfer would cause the Partnership to cease to be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (except as a result of the redemption or exchange for Shares of all Partnership Units held by all Limited Partners or pursuant to a transaction not prohibited under Section 11.2 hereof); (vi) 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(c) of the Code); (vii) if such transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership, cause any portion of the assets of the Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.1-101; (viii) if such transfer requires the registration of such Partnership Interest pursuant to any applicable federal or state securities laws; (ix) 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 of the Code or such transfer causes the Partnership to become a “publicly traded partnership,” as such term is defined in Section 469(k)(2) or Section 7704(b) of the Code; (x) if such transfer subjects the Partnership to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, each as amended; (xi) if such transfer could adversely

 

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affect the ability of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) to remain qualified as a REIT; or (xii) if in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, such transfer would adversely affect the ability of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) to continue to qualify as a REIT or subject the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (as applicable) to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code.

 

F.                                       Avoidance of “Publicly Traded Partnership” Status .  The General Partner shall (a) use commercially reasonable efforts (as determined by it in its sole discretion exercised in good faith) to monitor the transfers of interests in the Partnership to determine (i) if such interests are being traded on an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and (ii) whether additional transfers of interests would result in the Partnership being unable to qualify for at least one of the “safe harbors” set forth in Regulations Section 1.7704-1 (or such other guidance subsequently published by the IRS setting forth safe harbors under which interests will not be treated as “readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code) (the “ Safe Harbors ”) and (b) take such steps as it believes are commercially reasonable and appropriate (as determined by it in its sole discretion exercised in good faith) to prevent any trading of interests or any recognition by the Partnership of transfers made on such markets and, except as otherwise provided herein, to insure that at least one of the Safe Harbors is met.

 

ARTICLE XII
ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

Section 12.1                              Admission of Successor General Partner .

 

A successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 11.2 hereof who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective upon such transfer.  Any such transferee shall carry on the business of the Partnership without dissolution.  In each case, the admission shall be subject to the successor General Partner’s executing and delivering to the Partnership an acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect the admission. In the case of such admission on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, all items attributable to the General Partnership Interest for such Partnership Year shall be allocated between the transferring General Partner and such successor as provided in Section 11.6.D hereof.

 

Section 12.2                              Admission of Additional Limited Partners .

 

A.                                     General .  A Person who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the power of attorney granted in Section 2.4 hereof and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the General Partner in order to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

 

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B.                                     General Partner’s Consent .  No Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner, which consent shall be given or withheld in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion.  The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.  Regardless of the means by which any Additional Limited Partner is admitted to the Partnership, such Additional Limited Partner shall, automatically upon such admission, become subject to and bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 2.4 hereof.

 

C.                                     Allocations to Additional Limited Partners .  If any Additional Limited Partner is admitted to the Partnership on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Net Income, Net Losses, each item thereof and all other items allocable among Partners and Assignees for such Partnership Year shall be allocated among such Additional Limited Partner and all other Partners and Assignees by taking into account their varying interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Section 706(d) of the Code, using the interim closing of the books method (unless the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, elects to adopt a daily, weekly or monthly proration method, in which event Net Income, Net Losses, and each item thereof would be prorated based upon the applicable period selected by the General Partner).  Solely for purposes of making such allocations, each of such items for the calendar month in which an admission of any Additional Limited Partner occurs shall be allocated among all the Partners and Assignees including such Additional Limited Partner.  All distributions with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such admission shall be made solely to Partners and Assignees other than the Additional Limited Partner, and all distributions thereafter shall be made to all the Partners and Assignees including such Additional Limited Partner.

 

Section 12.3                              Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

 

For the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Act to amend the records of the Partnership and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practical an amendment of this Agreement (including an amendment and restatement of Exhibit A hereof)  and, if required by law, shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate and may for this purpose exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof.

 

ARTICLE XIII
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 13.1                              Dissolution .

 

The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Upon the withdrawal of the General Partner, any successor General Partner shall continue the business of the Partnership without dissolution.  The Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon the first to occur of any of the following (each a “ Liquidating Event ”) :

 

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(i)                                      the expiration of its term as provided in Section 2.5 hereof;

 

(ii)                                   an event of withdrawal of the General Partner, as defined in the Act (other than an event of Bankruptcy), unless, (a) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one remaining general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to and does carry on the business of the Partnership, or (b) within ninety (90) days after such event of withdrawal a Majority in Interest of the remaining Partners (or such greater Percentage Interest as may be required by the Act and determined in accordance with the Act) Consent in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of the date of withdrawal, of a substitute General Partner;

 

(iii)                                from and after the date of this Agreement through December 31, 2064, an election to dissolve the Partnership made by the General Partner with the Consent of a Majority in Interest;

 

(iv)                               on or after January 1, 2065, an election to dissolve the Partnership made by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion;

 

(v)                                  entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act;

 

(vi)                               the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Partnership for cash or for marketable securities; or

 

(vii)                            a final and nonappealable judgment is entered by a court of competent jurisdiction ruling that the General Partner is bankrupt or insolvent, or a final and nonappealable order for relief is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction against the General Partner, in each case under any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or hereafter in effect, unless prior to or within ninety days after of the entry of such order or judgment a Majority in Interest of the remaining Partners Consent in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of a date prior to the date of such order or judgment, of a substitute General Partner.

 

Section 13.2                              Winding Up .

 

A.                                     General .  Upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Partnership shall continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its creditors and Partners.  No Partner shall take any action that is inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of the Partnership’s business and affairs.  The General Partner (or, in the event there is no remaining General Partner, any Person elected by a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners (the “ Liquidator ”)) shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the Partnership and shall take full account of the Partnership’s liabilities and property and the Partnership property shall be liquidated as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof, and the proceeds therefrom (which may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, include equity or other securities of the General Partner or any other entity) shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

 

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(1)                                  First, in satisfaction of all of the Partnership’s debts and liabilities to creditors other than the Partners (whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof);

 

(2)                                  Second, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s debts and liabilities to the General Partner

 

(3)                                  Third, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s debts and liabilities to the other Partners; and

 

(4)                                  The balance, if any, to the General Partner and Limited Partners in accordance with their Capital Accounts, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for all periods.

 

The General Partner shall not receive any additional compensation for any services performed pursuant to this Article XIII.

 

B.                                     Deferred Liquidation .  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.2.A hereof which require liquidation of the assets of the Partnership, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if prior to or upon dissolution of the Partnership the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners, the Liquidator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the Partnership (including to those Partners as creditors) and/or distribute to the Partners, in lieu of cash, as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.2.A hereof, undivided interests in such Partnership assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable for liquidation.  Any such distributions in kind shall be made only if, in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator, such distributions in kind are in the best interest of the Partners, and shall be subject to such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such properties as the Liquidator deems reasonable and equitable and to any agreements governing the operation of such properties at such time.  The Liquidator shall determine the fair market value of any property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

C.                                     Deferred Liquidation .  In the discretion of the Liquidator, a pro rata portion of the distributions that would otherwise be made to the General Partner and Limited Partners pursuant to this Article XIII may be:

 

(1)                                  distributed to a trust established for the benefit of the General Partner and Limited Partners for the purposes of liquidating Partnership assets, collecting amounts owed to the Partnership, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Partnership or the General Partner arising out of or in connection with the Partnership. The assets of any such trust shall be distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners from time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the Liquidator, in the same proportions as the amount distributed to such trust by the Partnership would otherwise have been distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners pursuant to this Agreement; or

 

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(2)                                  withheld or escrowed to provide a reasonable reserve for Partnership liabilities (contingent or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any installment obligations owed to the Partnership; provided , that such withheld or escrowed amounts shall be distributed to the General Partner and Limited Partners in the manner and order of priority set forth in Section 13.2.A as soon as practicable.

 

Section 13.3                              Compliance with Timing Requirements of Regulations .

 

Subject to Section 13.4 below, in the event the Partnership is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), distributions shall be made pursuant to this Article XIII to the General Partner and Limited Partners who have positive Capital Accounts in compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2).  If any Partner has a deficit balance in his or its Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), such Partner shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Partnership with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever.

 

Section 13.4                              Deemed Distribution and Recontribution .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XIII, in the event the Partnership is “liquidated” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) but no Liquidating Event has occurred, the Partnership’s property shall not be liquidated, the Partnership’s liabilities shall not be paid or discharged and the Partnership’s affairs shall not be wound up.  Instead, for federal income tax purposes and for purposes of maintaining Capital Accounts pursuant to Exhibit B hereto, the Partnership shall be deemed to have contributed all Partnership property and liabilities to a new limited partnership in exchange for an interest in such new limited partnership and immediately thereafter, the Partnership will be deemed to liquidate by distributing interests in the new limited partnership to the Partners.

 

Section 13.5                              Rights of Limited Partners .

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Limited Partner shall look solely to the assets of the Partnership for the return of its Capital Contributions and shall have no right or power to demand or receive property other than cash from the Partnership. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Limited Partner shall have priority over any other Partner as to the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions, or allocations.

 

Section 13.6                              Notice of Dissolution .

 

In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would, but for provisions of an election or objection by one or more Partners pursuant to Section 13.1, result in a dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall, within thirty (30) days thereafter, provide written notice thereof to each of the Partners and to all other parties with whom the Partnership regularly conducts business (as determined in the discretion of the General Partner) and shall publish notice thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in each place in which the Partnership regularly conducts business (as determined in the discretion of the General Partner).

 

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Section 13.7                              Termination of Partnership and Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership .

 

Upon the completion of the winding up of the Partnership and liquidation of its assets, as provided in Section 13.2 hereof, the Partnership shall be terminated by filing a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, canceling all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware and taking such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership.

 

Section 13.8                              Reasonable Time for Winding Up .

 

A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding-up of the business and affairs of the Partnership and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 13.2 hereof, in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding-up, and the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect among the Partners during the period of liquidation.

 

Section 13.9                              Waiver of Partition .

 

Each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

 

Section 13.10                       Liability of Liquidator .

 

The Liquidator shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership in the same manner and to the same degree as an Indemnitee may be indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7 hereof.

 

ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; MEETINGS

 

Section 14.1                              Amendments .

 

A.                                     General .  Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed only by the General Partner.  Following such proposal (except an amendment pursuant to Section 14.1.B below), the General Partner shall submit any proposed amendment to the Limited Partners and shall seek the written vote of the Partners on the proposed amendment or shall call a meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other business that it may deem appropriate.  For purposes of obtaining a written vote, the General Partner may require a response within a reasonable specified time, but not less than fifteen (15) days, and failure to respond in such time period shall constitute a vote which is consistent with the General Partner’s recommendation with respect to the proposal. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an amendment hereto if it is approved by the General Partner and it receives the Consent of a Majority in Interest.

 

B.                                     Amendments Not Requiring Limited Partner Approval .  Subject to Section 14.1.C and 14.1.D, the General Partner shall have the power, without the Consent of the Limited Partners, to amend this Agreement as may be required to reflect any changes to this Agreement that the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion.  Without limitation, the General Partner shall have the power, without the Consent of the Limited

 

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Partners, to amend this Agreement as may be required to facilitate or implement any of the following purposes:

 

(i)                                      to add to the obligations of the General Partner or surrender any right or power granted to the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner for the benefit of the Limited Partners;

 

(ii)                                   to reflect the issuance of additional Partnership Units or the admission, substitution, termination, or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(iii)                                to set forth or amend the designations, rights (including redemption rights that differ from those specified in Section 8.6), powers, duties, and preferences of Partnership Units issued pursuant to Section 4.2.A hereof;

 

(iv)                               to reflect a change that is of an inconsequential nature and does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect, or to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in this Agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions, or make other changes with respect to matters arising under this Agreement that will not be inconsistent with law or with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(v)                                  to reflect such changes as are reasonably necessary for the General Partner to maintain its status as a REIT, including changes which may be necessitated due to a change in applicable law (or an authoritative interpretation thereof) or a ruling of the IRS;

 

(vi)                               to modify the manner in which Capital Accounts are computed;

 

(vii)                            to include provisions in this Agreement that may be referenced in any rulings, regulations, notices, announcements, or other guidance regarding the federal income tax treatment of compensatory partnership interests issued and made effective after the date hereof or in connection with any elections that the General Partner determines to be necessary or advisable in respect of any such guidance. Any such amendment may include, without limitation, (a) a provision authorizing or directing the General Partner to make any election under the such guidance, (b) a covenant by the Partnership and all of the Partners to agree to comply with the such guidance, (c) an amendment to the capital account maintenance provisions and the allocation provisions contained in this Agreement so that such provisions comply with (I) the provisions of the Code and the Regulations as they apply to the issuance of compensatory partnership interests and (II) the requirements of such guidance and any election made by the General Partner with respect thereto, including, a provision requiring “forfeiture allocations” as appropriate. Any such amendments to this Agreement shall be binding upon all Partners; and

 

(viii)                         to satisfy any requirements, conditions, or guidelines contained in any order, directive, opinion, ruling or regulation of a federal or state agency or contained in federal or state law.

 

The General Partner shall notify the Limited Partners when any action under this Section 14.1.B is taken.

 

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C.                                     Amendments Requiring Certain Limited Partner Approval .  Notwithstanding Sections 14.1.A and 14.1.B hereof, this Agreement shall not be amended with respect to any Partner adversely affected without the Consent of such Partner adversely affected if such amendment would (i) convert a Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership into a General Partnership Interest; (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited Partner in a manner adverse to such Limited Partner; (iii) alter rights of such Partner to receive distributions pursuant to Article V or Article XIII, or the allocations specified in Article VI (except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.2, Section 5.5, Section 6.2 and Section 14.1.B(iii) hereof) in a manner adverse to such Partner; (iv) alter or modify the Redemption Right and Shares Amount as set forth in Section 8.6, and the related definitions, in a manner adverse to such Partner (except as permitted in Section 8.6.E); (v) cause the termination of the Partnership prior to the time set forth in Section 2.5 or 13.1; or (vi) amend this Section 14.1.C; provided , however , that the Consent of each Partner adversely affected shall not be required for any amendment or action that affects all Partners holding the same class or series of Partnership Units on a uniform or pro rata basis. Any amendment consented to by any Partner shall be effective as to that Partner, notwithstanding the absence of such Consent by any other Partner. For the avoidance of doubt, any amendment that would require the Consent of Partners adversely affected pursuant to this Section 14.1.C shall be effective with respect to all Partners who are not adversely affected thereby without the Consent of such Partners.

 

D.                                     Other Amendments Requiring Limited Partner Approval.   Notwithstanding Section 14.1.A or Section 14.1.B hereof, the General Partner shall not amend Sections 4.2.A, 7.5, 7.6, 11.2 or 14.2 without the Consent of a Majority in Interest.

 

E.                                      Amendment and Restatement of Exhibit A Not An Amendment .  Notwithstanding anything in this Article XIV or elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, any amendment and restatement of Exhibit A hereof by the General Partner to reflect events or changes otherwise authorized or permitted by this Agreement, whether pursuant to Section 7.1.A(20) hereof or otherwise, shall not be deemed an amendment of this Agreement and may be done at any time and from time to time, as necessary by the General Partner without the Consent of the Limited Partners.

 

F.                                       Amendment by Merger .  In the event that the Partnership participates in any merger (including a triangular merger), consolidation or combination with another entity in a transaction not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement and as a result of such merger, consolidation or combination this Agreement is to be amended (or a new agreement for a limited partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, is to be adopted for the surviving entity) and any of the Limited Partners will hold equity interests in the continuing or surviving entity, then any such amendments to this Agreement (or changes from this Agreement reflected in the new agreement for the surviving entity) that would have required the consents provided in Section 14.1.C and 14.1.D shall require such consents.

 

Section 14.2                              Meetings of the Partners .

 

A.                                     General .  Meetings of the Partners may be called only by the General Partner.  The call shall state the nature of the business to be transacted.  Notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Partners not less than seven (7) days nor more than thirty (30) days

 

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prior to the date of such meeting; provided that a Partner’s attendance at any meeting of Partners shall be deemed a waiver of the foregoing notice requirement with respect to such Partner.  Partners may vote in person or by proxy at such meeting.  Whenever the vote or Consent of Partners is permitted or required under this Agreement, such vote or Consent may be given at a meeting of Partners or may be given in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section 14.1.A above.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Consent of holders of a Majority in Interest shall control.

 

B.                                     Actions Without a Meeting .  Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Partners may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth the action so taken is signed by a majority of the Percentage Interests of the Partners (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement).  Such consent may be in one instrument or in several instruments, and shall have the same force and effect as a vote of a Majority in Interest (or such other percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement).  Such consent shall be filed with the General Partner.  An action so taken shall be deemed to have been taken at a meeting held on the effective date so certified.

 

C.                                     Proxy .  Each Limited Partner may authorize any Person or Persons to act for such Limited Partner by proxy on all matters in which a Limited Partner is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting.  Every proxy must be signed by the Limited Partner or his or its attorney-in-fact.  No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy.  Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Limited Partner executing it, such revocation to be effective upon the Partnership’s receipt of written notice of such revocation from the Limited Partner executive such proxy.

 

D.                                     Conduct of Meeting .  Each meeting of Partners shall be conducted by the General Partner or such other Person as the General Partner may appoint pursuant to such rules for the conduct of the meeting as the General Partner or such other Person deems appropriate. Without limitation, meetings of Partners may be conducted in the same manner as meetings of the shareholders of the General Partner and may be held at the same time, and as part of, meetings of the shareholders of the General Partner.

 

ARTICLE XV
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 15.1                              Addresses and Notice .

 

Any notice, demand, request or report required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail or by other means of written communication to such Partner or Assignee at the address set forth in Exhibit A or such other address of which such Partner or Assignee shall notify the General Partner in writing.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner may elect to deliver any such notice, demand, request or report by e-mail or by any other electronic means, in which case such communication shall be deemed given or made one day after being sent.

 

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Section 15.2                              Titles and Captions .

 

All article or section titles or captions in this Agreement are for convenience only.  They shall not be deemed part of this Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof.  Except as specifically provided otherwise, references to “Articles” and “Sections” are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.

 

Section 15.3                              Pronouns and Plurals .

 

Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.

 

Section 15.4                              Further Action .

 

The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 15.5                              Binding Effect .

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

Section 15.6                              Creditors; Other Third Parties .

 

Other than as expressly set forth herein with regard to any Indemnitee, none of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership or other third party having dealings with the Partnership, 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.

 

Section 15.7                              Waiver .

 

No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 15.8                              Counterparts .

 

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on all of the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.  Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing his or its signature hereto.

 

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Section 15.9                              Applicable Law .

 

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

Section 15.10                       Invalidity of Provisions .

 

If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

 

Section 15.11                       Entire Agreement .

 

This Agreement and all Exhibits attached hereto (which Exhibits are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein) contains the entire understanding and agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior written or oral understandings or agreements among them with respect thereto.

 

Section 15.12                       No Rights as Shareholders .

 

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as conferring upon the holders of the Partnership Units any rights whatsoever as shareholders of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (if different), including, without limitation, any right to receive dividends or other distributions made to shareholders of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (if different) or to vote or to consent or receive notice as shareholders in respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors of the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (if different) or any other matter.

 

Section 15.13                       Limitation to Preserve REIT Status .

 

To the extent that any amount paid or credited to the General Partner or its officers, directors, employees or agents pursuant to Section 7.4 or Section 7.7 hereof would constitute gross income to the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (if it is to be qualified as a REIT) for purposes of Section 856(c)(2) or 856(c)(3) of the Code (a “ General Partner Payment ”) then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of such General Partner Payments for any fiscal year shall not exceed the lesser of:

 

(i)                                      an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) 5% of the General Partner Entity’s or the General Partner’s (if it is to be qualified as a REIT) total gross income (but not including the amount of any General Partner Payments) for the fiscal year over (b) the amount of gross income (within the meaning of Section 856(c)(2) of the Code) derived by the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (if it is to be qualified as a REIT) from sources other than those described in subsections (A) through (H) of Section 856(c)(2) of the Code (but not including the amount of any General Partner Payments); or

 

(ii)                                   an amount equal to the excess, if any of (a) 25% of the General Partner Entity’s or the General Partner’s (if it is to be qualified as a REIT) total gross income (but not including the amount of any General Partner Payments) for the fiscal year over (b) the

 

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amount of gross income (within the meaning of Section 856(c)(3) of the Code) derived by the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (if it is to be qualified as a REIT) from sources other than those described in subsections (A) through (I) of Section 856(c)(3) of the Code (but not including the amount of any General Partner Payments);

 

provided , however , that General Partner Payments in excess of the amounts set forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) above may be made if the General Partner Entity or the General Partner (if it is to be qualified as a REIT), as a condition precedent, obtains an opinion of tax counsel that the receipt of such excess amounts would not adversely affect the General Partner Entity’s or the General Partner’s (if it is to be qualified as a REIT) ability to qualify as a REIT.  To the extent General Partner Payments may not be made in a year due to the foregoing limitations, such General Partner Payments shall carry over and be treated as arising in the following year, provided , however , that such amounts shall not carry over for more than five years, and if not paid within such five year period, shall expire; provided , further , that (i) as General Partner Payments are made, such payments shall be applied first to carry over amounts outstanding, if any, and (ii) with respect to carry over amounts for more than one Partnership Year, such payments shall be applied to the earliest Partnership Year first.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the General Partner has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

 

Name:

Donald P. Casey

 

 

Title:

General Counsel and Secretary

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

 

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

DATED AS OF JANUARY 15, 2015

 

BETWEEN

 

VORNADO REALTY TRUST

 

AND

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I

SERVICES

 

 

 

Section 1.01.

General

1

Section 1.02.

Quality of Services

2

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

3

Section 1.11.

New Services

4

Section 1.12.

Amendments to Schedule A

4

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

COMPENSATION; BILLING

 

 

 

Section 2.01.

Service Fees

4

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

5

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

COOPERATION AND CONSENTS

 

 

 

Section 3.01.

General

5

Section 3.02.

Transition

6

Section 3.03.

Consents

6

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

 

 

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

Section 4.05.

Third-Person Confidential Information

9

 

i



 

ARTICLE V

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

 

 

Section 5.01.

Recipient Intellectual Property

9

Section 5.02.

Provider Intellectual Property

9

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

 

 

Section 6.01.

Remedies

9

Section 6.02.

Limitation of Liability

10

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

 

 

Section 7.01.

General

11

Section 7.02.

Indemnification Procedures

11

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

TERM AND TERMINATION

 

 

 

Section 10.01.

Term

11

Section 10.02.

Termination of this Agreement

12

Section 10.03.

Effect

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

NOTICES

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

Section 12.01.

Dispute Resolution

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

Section 13.01.

Amendment

14

Section 13.02.

Waiver

14

Section 13.03.

Governing Law; Jurisdiction

14

Section 13.04.

Assignability

15

Section 13.05.

Subcontracting

15

Section 13.06.

No Third-Person Beneficiaries

15

 

ii



 

Section 13.07.

Severability

15

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

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

 

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TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

This Transition Services Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into and effective as of January 15, 2015 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Vornado Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“ Provider ”), and Urban Edge Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“ Recipient ”). Provider and Recipient may each be referred to herein as a “ Party ,” and are collectively referred to as the “ Parties .”

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Provider, as general partner of its operating partnership, Vornado Realty L.P. (“ VRLP ”), has determined that it is in the best interests of VRLP to distribute to Provider and the other holders of common limited partnership units of VRLP 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 shopping center and mall businesses, and the board of trustees of Provider has determined that it is in the best interests of Provider to distribute to holders of Provider common shares all of the common shares of Recipient to be received by Provider in the distribution by VRLP (the “ Separation ”);

 

WHEREAS, Provider, VRLP and Recipient have entered into that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2015 (the “ Separation Agreement ”), to carry out, effect, and consummate the Separation; and

 

WHEREAS, the Parties have agreed that Provider will, or will cause one or more of its Subsidiaries (as defined below) to, provide to Recipient or one or more of its Subsidiaries, and Recipient and/or its Subsidiaries will receive, the transition services described in Article I 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, (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;  for the avoidance of doubt, “ Subsidiary ” shall include VRLP, when used with respect to Provider, and Urban Edge Properties LP, when used with respect to Recipient.

 



 

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 increase in costs, or

 

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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.

 

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

 

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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 any 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.

 

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 ”).  Except 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 .

 

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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 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

 

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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, trustees, 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).  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

 

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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 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-

 

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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, regulatory or self-regulatory process (including to the extent requested by any governmental authority, stock exchange or other self-regulatory organization in connection with any such law or legal, regulatory or self-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, stock exchange or other self-regulatory organization or pursuant to applicable law, to disclose or provide any Confidential Information, the Party or third Person receiving such 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, stock exchange or other self-regulatory organization.

 

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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 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.

 

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Section 6.02.                                     Limitation of Liability .

 

(a)                                  No member of the Provider Group or their respective controlling persons, trustees, 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.

 

(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.

 

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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 IV 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 in all material respects. 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.

 

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

 

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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; it being agreed that notice of a Change of Control will be provided by the Party undergoing a Change in Control to the other Party not later than ten (10) days prior to signing a definitive agreement and, in any event, not later than 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,

 

12



 

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 trustees of such Party ceases to consist of individuals who have become trustees as a result of being nominated or elected by a majority of such Party’s trustees.

 

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.

 

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 Provider, to:

 

Vornado Realty Trust

888 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attention:  Corporation Counsel

 

13



 

Facsimile:  (212) 894-7996

Email:  arice@vno.com

 

If to Recipient, to:

 

Urban Edge Properties

888 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attention:  General Counsel

Facsimile:  (212) 894-7996

Email:  dcasey@uedge.com

 

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.

 

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 New York, without regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof, to the extent such

 

14



 

rules would require the application of the law of another jurisdiction. In addition, each of the Parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “ Applicable Courts ”) with respect to any suit (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) relating to or arising out of this Agreement (other than arbitrable Disputes (as defined in the Separation Agreement) governed by Article XII ), (b) agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, attempt to defeat or deny such personal jurisdiction or venue by motion or otherwise, (c) agrees that it will not, and it will cause its subsidiaries not to, bring or support any such suit in any court other than the Applicable Courts, (d) irrevocably agrees that any such suit (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise) will be heard and determined exclusively in the Applicable Courts, and (e) agrees to service of process in any such action in any manner prescribed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

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 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

 

15



 

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 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

 

16



 

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 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;

 

17



 

(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.

 

 

 

VORNADO REALTY TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Alan J. Rice

 

 

Name:

Alan J. Rice

 

 

Title:

Corporation Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

 

Name:

Donald P. Casey

 

 

Title:

General Counsel and Secretary

 

19


Exhibit 10.3

 

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
VORNADO REALTY TRUST
AND
URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES
DATED AS OF JANUARY 15, 2015

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1. Definition of Terms

 

2

 

 

 

SECTION 2. Allocation of Taxes and Tax-Related Losses

 

9

 

 

 

 

2.1

Allocation of Taxes

 

9

2.2

Allocation of Distribution Taxes and Transfer Taxes

 

10

2.3

Tax Payments

 

11

2.4

Closing of Tax Year

 

11

2.5

Allocation of Tax Attributes

 

11

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3. Preparation and Filing of Tax Returns

 

12

 

 

 

 

3.1

Returns

 

12

3.2

Provision of Information

 

13

3.3

Special Rules Relating to the Preparation of Tax Returns

 

13

3.4

Refunds, Credits or Offsets

 

13

3.5

Carrybacks

 

14

3.6

Amended Returns

 

14

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4. Tax Payments

 

14

 

 

 

4.1

Payment of Taxes to Tax Authority

 

14

4.2

Indemnification Payments

 

15

4.3

Interest on Late Payments

 

15

4.4

Tax Consequences of Payments

 

15

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5. Cooperation and Tax Contests

 

16

 

 

 

 

5.1

Cooperation

 

16

5.2

Notices of Tax Contests

 

16

5.3

Control of Tax Contests

 

16

5.4

Cooperation Regarding Tax Contests

 

17

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6. Tax Records

 

17

 

 

 

 

6.1

Retention of Tax Records

 

17

6.2

Access to Tax Records

 

18

6.3

Confidentiality

 

18

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7. Representations and Covenants

 

18

 

 

 

7.1

Covenants of Parent and Spinco

 

18

7.2

Private Letter Ruling

 

19

7.3

Covenants of Spinco

 

19

 

i



 

7.4

Covenants of Parent

 

19

7.5

Spinco Representations

 

20

7.6

Parent Representations

 

20

7.7

Notices and Exceptions

 

20

7.8

Relief

 

20

7.9

Operating Rule

 

21

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8. General Provisions

 

21

 

 

 

 

8.1

Predecessors or Successors

 

21

8.2

Construction

 

21

8.3

Counterparts

 

21

8.4

Notices

 

21

8.5

Amendments

 

22

8.6

Assignment

 

22

8.7

Successors and Assigns

 

23

8.8

Change in Law

 

23

8.9

Authorization, Etc.

 

23

8.10

Termination

 

23

8.11

Subsidiaries

 

23

8.12

Third-Party Beneficiaries

 

23

8.13

Governing Law

 

23

8.14

Waiver of Jury Trial

 

24

8.15

Severability

 

24

8.16

Waiver

 

24

8.17

No Double Recovery

 

24

8.18

No Strict Construction; Interpretation

 

24

 

ii



 

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

THIS TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is dated as of January 15, 2015, by and among Vornado Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“ Parent ”) and Urban Edge Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust and a Subsidiary of Parent immediately prior to the Distribution (as defined below) (“ Spinco ” and, together with Parent, the “ Parties ”, and each, a “ Party ”). Unless otherwise indicated, all “Section” references in this Agreement are to sections of the Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Parent determined that, based on the Corporate Business Purposes (as defined below), it is in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders to separate the businesses of Spinco from Parent’s other businesses on the terms and conditions set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among Parent, VRLP, Spinco and  Urban Edge Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Spinco OP ”), dated on or about the date hereof (the “ Separation and Distribution Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Parent has authorized the distribution of approximately 94.67% of all the issued and outstanding common shares, par value $0.01 per share, of Spinco (the “ Spinco Shares ”) to the holders of record, as of the record date, of common shares of Parent, par value $0.04 per share ( Parent Shares ”) entitled to participate in such distributions, with such distribution to be made on a pro rata basis, with each holder of Parent Shares as of the record date entitled to receive one Spinco Shares for every two Parent Shares (such distribution, the “ Distribution ”);

 

WHEREAS, Parent and Spinco intend the VRLP Contribution (as defined below) to qualify as a tax-free transaction described under Sections 351(a) and 1032(a) of the Code (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, Parent and Spinco intend the VRLP Distribution (as defined below) to qualify, with respect to Parent, as a tax-free distribution under Section 731(a) of the Code (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, Parent and Spinco intend the Distribution to qualify for the Tax-Free Status (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, the boards of directors of Parent and Spinco have each determined that the Distribution and the other transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement are in furtherance of and consistent with the Corporate Business Purposes and, as such, are in the best interests of their respective companies and stockholders and have approved the Separation and Distribution Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Parties intend the Separate Contribution (as defined below) to qualify as a partnership contribution described under Section 721(a) of the Code (as defined below), and Spinco and Spinco OP intend the Spinco Contribution  (as defined below) to qualify as a partnership contribution described under Section 721(a) of the Code (as defined below);

 



 

WHEREAS, the Parties set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement the principal arrangements between them regarding the separation of the Spinco Group from the Parent Group; and

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to provide for and agree upon the allocation between the Parties of liabilities for Taxes (as defined below) arising prior to, as a result of, and subsequent to the Distribution, and to provide for and agree upon other matters relating to Taxes.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.  Definition of Terms For purposes of this Agreement (including the recitals hereof), the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“Agreed Treatment” means the treatment of (i) the VRLP Contribution as a tax-free transaction described under Sections 351(a) and 1032(a) of the Code, (ii) the VRLP Distribution with respect to Parent as a tax-free distribution under Section 731(a) of the Code, (iii) the Distribution in accordance with the Tax-Free Status, and (iv) the Separate Contribution as a partnership contribution described under Section 721(a) of the Code.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a statutory holiday on which banks in the State of New York are closed.

 

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

 

“Companies” means Parent and Spinco.

 

“Company” means Parent or Spinco, as the context requires.

 

“Control” means, with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through ownership of securities or partnership, membership, limited liability company, or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Controlling Party” means, with respect to a Tax Contest, the Person that has responsibility, control and discretion in handling, defending, settling or contesting such Tax Contest.

 

“Corporate Business Purposes” means the corporate business purposes as set forth in Ruling Request.

 

“Disclosing Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.

 

2



 

“Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.

 

“Distribution Date” means the Date on which Parent distributes the Spinco Shares to the holders of the Parent Shares.

 

“Distribution Taxes” means any (i) Taxes arising from a Relevant Final Determination (including, for the avoidance of doubt, (1) Taxes imposed because “Section 1374 treatment” (as that phrase is defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.337(d)-7(b)) applies and (2) Spin-Failure Related REIT Compliance Taxes) and all reasonable costs and expenses associated with such Taxes and (ii) all costs, expenses and damages associated with shareholders litigation or controversies and any amount paid by a Party in respect of the liability of its shareholders, whether paid to its shareholders or to any Tax Authority, resulting from the failure or alleged failure of the Distribution to qualify for the Tax-Free Status and all reasonable costs and expenses associated with such payments.

 

“Due Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

 

“Effective Time” shall mean 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Date.

 

“Equity Interest” shall mean any instrument treated as equity for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

“Expert Law Firm” means a law firm nationally recognized for its expertise in the matter for which its opinion is sought that is reasonably satisfactory to the Party seeking such opinion.

 

“Fifty-Percent Equity Interest” means, in respect of any corporation (within the meaning of the Code), stock or other equity interests of such corporation possessing (i) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or equity interests entitled to vote, or (ii) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value of shares of all classes of stock or of the total value of all equity interests.

 

“Final Determination” means a determination within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code or any similar provision of Local Tax Law.

 

“Group” means the Parent Group or the Spinco Group, as the context requires.

 

“Indemnification-Receipt Related Corporate Taxes” means Taxes imposed on a Parent Indemnified Party at the entity level if, as the result of a accruing or receiving an amount required to be paid pursuant to Sections 2.2(a)(i) or 2.2(a)(ii), such party is unable to comply with the requirements of operating as a REIT (including as a result of Spinco failing to qualify as a REIT for any period).

 

“Indemnified Party” shall mean each Spinco Indemnified Party and each Parent Indemnified Party, as the context requires.

 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

 

3



 

“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Law” means any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, injunction or decree enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered by any federal, state, local or foreign court, administrative body or other governmental or quasi-governmental entity with competent jurisdiction.

 

“Local” means pertaining to a jurisdiction (whether within or outside the United States of America), other than the Federal Government of the United States of America.

 

“Non-Controlling Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

 

“Non-Preparer” means any Company that is not responsible for the preparation and filing of the applicable Tax Return pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

“Parent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.

 

“Parent Business” means the “Segment A Active Business,” as set forth in the Ruling Request that constitutes an active trade or business, within the meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code, of the separate affiliated group of Parent, as represented in the Ruling Request.

 

“Parent Group” means Parent and each Subsidiary of Parent (but only while such Subsidiary is a Subsidiary of Parent) other than any Person that is a member of the Spinco Group (but only during the period such Person is treated as a member of the Spinco Group).

 

“Parent Indemnified Party” includes each member of the Parent Group, each of their Representatives, each of their respective heirs, executors, trustees, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

“Parent Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Parent Taint” means any violation of a covenant or any inaccuracy or falsity of a representation made by Parent in Section 7.1 or 7.4 of this Agreement.

 

“Parties” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.

 

“Payment Date” means (x) with respect to any U.S. federal income tax return, the date on which any required installment of estimated taxes determined under Section 6655 of the Code is due, the date on which (determined without regard to extensions) filing the return determined under Section 6072 of the Code is required, and the date the return is filed, and (y) with respect to any other Tax Return, the corresponding dates determined under the applicable Tax Law.

 

“Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition (as a result of the Distribution) of Spinco Shares solely by reason of holding Parent Shares, but does not include such an acquisition if such Parent Shares, before such acquisition, was itself acquired in a manner to which the flush

 

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language of Section 355(e)(3)(A) of the Code applies (thus causing, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 355(e)(3)(A)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) not to apply).

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, company, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity of any kind.

 

“Post-Distribution Period” means any Tax Year or other taxable period beginning after the Distribution Date and, in the case of any Straddle Period, that part of the Tax Year or other taxable period that begins at the beginning of the day after the Distribution Date.

 

“Pre-Distribution Period” means any Tax Year or other taxable period that ends on or before the Distribution Date and, in the case of any Straddle Period, that part of the Tax Year or other taxable period through the end of the day on the Distribution Date.

 

“Preparer” means the Company that is responsible for the preparation and filing of the applicable Tax Return pursuant to Section 3.1.

 

“Real Estate Taxes” means ad valorem and other property Taxes measured by reference to the value of realty and not measured by reference to income or gross receipts.

 

“Receiving Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.

 

“REIT” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of section 856 of the Code.

 

“REIT Compliance Taxes” means any Taxes that are described in Section 2.2(a)(ii) and Section 2.2(a)(iii).

 

“Relevant Final Determination” means a Final Determination that the Distribution failed to qualify for the Tax-Free Status (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of the application of Section 355(d) or Section 355(e) of the Code).

 

“Relevant Gain” means, in respect of a Party to be indemnified, gain or income that arises to such Party as a result of a Relevant Final Determination.

 

“Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants, attorneys and representatives.

 

“Restricted Action” means any action by Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries inconsistent with the covenants set forth in Section 7.3; and, for the avoidance of doubt, an action shall be and remain a Restricted Action even if Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries is permitted to take such an action pursuant to Section 7.7.

 

“Restriction Period” means the period beginning on the Distribution Date and ending twenty-four (24) months after the Distribution Date.

 

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“Ruling” means the private letter ruling that was issued to Parent in response to the Ruling Request.

 

“Ruling Request” means the request for ruling in connection with the Distribution filed on behalf of Parent with the IRS, as amended or supplemented, including any appendices and exhibits attached thereto or included therewith and including the pre-submission materials submitted by Parent to the IRS; provided that, to the extent that any of the foregoing materials are inconsistent with any other of the foregoing materials, the later-dated materials shall control.

 

“Satisfactory Guidance” means either a ruling from the IRS or an Unqualified Opinion, in either case reasonably satisfactory to Parent in both form and substance.

 

“Separate Contribution” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“Separation and Distribution Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.

 

“Spinco” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.

 

“Spinco Business” means the “Segment C Active Business,” as set forth in the Ruling Request, that constitutes an active trade or business, within the meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code, of the separate affiliated group of Spinco, as represented in the Ruling Request.

 

“Spinco Contribution” means the contribution by Spinco to Spinco OP of properties, as described in the Separation and Distribution Agreement, in exchange for units of equity interests of Spinco OP

 

“Spinco Group” means (x) with respect to any Tax Year (or portion thereof) ending at or before the Effective Time, Spinco and each of its Subsidiaries at the Effective Time; and (y) with respect to any Tax Year (or portion thereof) beginning after the Effective Time, Spinco and each Subsidiary of Spinco (but only while such Subsidiary is a Subsidiary of Spinco).

 

“Spinco Indemnified Party” includes each member of the Spinco Group, each of their Representatives, each of their respective heirs, executors, trustees, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

“Spinco OP” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Spinco Shares” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Spinco Taint” means any violation of a covenant or any inaccuracy or falsity of a representation made by Spinco in Section 7.1, 7.3, or 7.5 of this Agreement or the taking of a Restricted Action by Spinco.

 

“Spin-Failure Related REIT Compliance Taxes” means, in case of a Relevant Final Determination, and in respect of a Party that otherwise qualifies as a REIT (or would have so

 

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qualified in the absence of such Relevant Final Determination), Taxes imposed on such Party as a result of (i) such Party’s being treated as having failed to distribute, in the taxable year that includes the date of Distribution, any amount of Relevant Gain, (ii) the application of any of the provisions of Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code and any related provisions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 856(c)(7), 856(g)(5), 857(b)(3), 857(b)(5) or 4981 of the Code) to such Party as a result of such Party’s having Relevant Gain, (iii) such party being unable to comply with the requirements of operating as a REIT as a result of recognizing any amount of Relevant Gain, and (iv) all costs, expenses and damages associated with shareholders litigation or controversies and any amount paid by a Party in respect of the liability of its shareholders, whether paid to its shareholders or to any Tax Authority, in connection with clauses (i), (ii), (iii) hereof, and all reasonable costs and expenses associated with such payments.

 

“Straddle Period” means any taxable period beginning on or prior to, and ending after, the Distribution Date.

 

“Subsidiary” when used with respect to any Person, means (i) (A) a corporation a majority in voting power of whose share capital or capital stock with voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, whether or not such power is subject to a voting agreement or similar encumbrance, (B) a partnership or limited liability company in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, (1) in the case of a partnership, a general partner of such partnership with the power affirmatively to direct the policies and management of such partnership or (2) in the case of a limited liability company, the managing member or, in the absence of a managing member, a member with the power affirmatively to direct the policies and management of such limited liability company, or (C) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has or have (1) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the members of the governing body of such Person, whether or not such power is subject to a voting agreement or similar encumbrance, or (2) in the absence of such a governing body, at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) any other Person of which an aggregate of 50% or more of the equity interests are, at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person and/or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

“Tax” or “Taxes” means any income, gross income, gross receipts, profits, capital stock, franchise, withholding, payroll, social security, workers’ compensation, employment, unemployment, disability, property, ad valorem, stamp, excise, severance, occupation, service, sales, use, license, lease, transfer, import, export, value added, alternative minimum, estimated or other similar tax (including any fee, assessment, or other charge in the nature of or in lieu of any tax) imposed by any Tax Authority, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing, together with any reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in defending against any such Tax.

 

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“Tax Authority” means, with respect to any Tax, the governmental entity or political subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Local governmental authority) that imposes such Tax, and the agency, commission or authority (if any) charged with the assessment, determination or collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision.

 

“Tax Benefit” means a reduction in the Tax liability of a taxpayer (or of the affiliated group of which it is a member) for any taxable period.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a Tax Benefit shall be deemed to have been realized or received from a Tax Item in a taxable period only if and to the extent that the Tax liability of the taxpayer (or of the affiliated group of which it is a member) for such period, after taking into account the effect of the Tax Item on the Tax liability of such taxpayer in the current period and all prior periods, is less than it would have been if such Tax liability were determined without regard to such Tax Item.

 

“Tax Contest” means an audit, review, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding with the purpose, potential or effect of redetermining Taxes of any member of either Group (including any administrative or judicial review of any claim for refund).

 

“Tax Counsel” means Roberts & Holland LLP.

 

“Tax-Free Status” means the qualification the Distribution (a) as a transaction described in Section 355 of the Code, (b) as a transaction in which the stock distributed by Parent is “qualified property” for purposes of Section 355(d) and 355(e) of the Code, and (c) a transaction in which shareholders of Parent will not recognize gain or loss upon the Distribution under Section 355(a) of the Code.

 

“Tax Item” means, with respect to any Tax, any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or other attribute that may have the effect of increasing or decreasing any Tax.

 

“Tax Law” means the law of any governmental entity or political subdivision thereof, and any controlling judicial or administrative interpretations of such law, relating to any Tax.

 

“Tax Opinion” means the opinion to be delivered by Tax Counsel to Parent in connection with the Distribution.

 

“Tax Opinion Representations” means the representations made to Tax Counsel in connection with the Tax Opinion.

 

“Tax Records” means Tax Returns, Tax Return work papers, documentation relating to any Tax Contests, and any other books of account or records required to be maintained under applicable Tax Laws (including but not limited to Section 6001 of the Code) or under any record retention agreement with any Tax Authority.

 

“Tax Return” means any report of Taxes due, any claims for refund of Taxes paid, any information return with respect to Taxes, or any other similar report, statement, declaration, or document filed or required to be filed (by paper, electronically or otherwise) under any

 

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applicable Tax Law, including any attachments, exhibits, or other materials submitted with any of the foregoing, and including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing.

 

“Tax Year” means, with respect to any Tax, the year, or shorter period, if applicable, for which the Tax is reported as provided under applicable Tax Law.

 

“Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement and includes, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) the VRLP Contribution, (ii) the VRLP Distribution, (iii) the Distribution, and (v) the Separate Contribution.

 

“Transfer Taxes” means all U.S. federal or Local sales, use, privilege, transfer, documentary, gains, stamp, duties, recording, and similar Taxes and fees (including any penalties, interest or additions thereto) imposed upon any Party hereto or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Distribution.

 

“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated from time to time under the Code as in effect for the relevant Tax Year.

 

“Unqualified Opinion” means an unqualified “will” opinion of an Expert Law Firm that permits reliance by Parent.  For the avoidance of doubt, an Unqualified Opinion may be based on factual representations and assumptions that are reasonably satisfactory to Parent.

 

“VRLP” means Vornado Realty L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

“VRLP Contribution” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

“VRLP Distribution” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.  Allocation of Taxes and Tax-Related Losses .

 

2.1                                Allocation of Taxes .  Except as provided in Section 2.2 (Allocation of Distribution Taxes and Transfer Taxes), Taxes shall be allocated as follows:

 

(a)                                  Parent shall be liable for and shall be allocated (i) any Taxes attributable to members of the Parent Group for all periods, and (ii) any Taxes attributable to members of the Spinco Group for a Pre-Distribution Period.

 

(b)                                  Spinco shall be liable for and shall be allocated any Taxes attributable to members of the Spinco Group for any Post-Distribution Period.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) (but subject to the provisions of Section 2.2), Taxes attributable to any transaction or action taken by or with respect to any member of the Spinco Group before the Effective Time on the Distribution Date shall be allocated to the Pre-Distribution Period, and Taxes attributable

 

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to any transaction or action taken by or with respect to any member of the Spinco Group after the Effective Time on the Distribution Date shall be allocated to the Post-Distribution Period.

 

(d)                                  Real Estate Taxes, whenever due, shall be borne and paid by the Party liable therefor under applicable Law and shall not be allocated pursuant to the other provisions of this Section 2.  As a result, Parent shall not be required to indemnify Spinco on account of any Real Estate Taxes and Spinco shall not be required to indemnify Parent on account of any Real Estate Taxes.

 

(e)                                   To the extent Parent is liable for Taxes under this Section 2.1, it shall indemnify Spinco for such Taxes.  To the extent Spinco is liable for Taxes under this Section 2.1, it shall indemnify Parent for such Taxes.

 

2.2                                Allocation of Distribution Taxes and Transfer Taxes .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  Spinco shall indemnify and hold harmless each Parent Indemnified Party from and against any liability of such party for

 

(i)                                      Distribution Taxes to the extent such Distribution Taxes result from a Spinco Taint, provided , however , that Spinco shall have no obligation to indemnify any Parent Indemnified Party hereunder if there has occurred, prior to such Spinco Taint, a Parent Taint from which such Distribution Taxes result; provided further , in the case Spinco’s obligation to indemnify arises pursuant to the provision of this Section 2.2(a)(i) immediately before this further proviso, Parent shall determine its REIT compliance requirements in its discretion and shall be under no obligation to minimize Spin-Failure Related REIT Compliance Taxes for the benefit of Spinco;

 

(ii)                                   Any Taxes imposed on such party under Sections 856(c)(7), 856(g)(5), 857(b)(3), 857(b)(5) or 4981 of the Code, as the result of accruing or receiving an amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(i) or this Section 2.2(a)(ii) (including as a result of Spinco failing to qualify as a REIT for any period);

 

(iii)                                Any Indemnification-Receipt Related Corporate Taxes.

 

It is understood and agreed that, in determining the amounts payable under Section 2.2(a)(ii), 2.2(a)(iii) above, there shall be included all costs, expenses and damages associated with shareholders litigation or controversies and any amount paid by Parent in respect of the liability of its shareholders, whether paid to its shareholders or to any Tax Authority, in connection with liability that may arise to shareholders as a result of receiving or accruing an amount payable under this Section 2.2(a), and all reasonable costs and expenses associated with such payments.

 

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(b)                                  Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless each Spinco Indemnified Party from and against any liability of such party for Distribution Taxes to the extent such Distribution Taxes result from a Parent Taint, provided , however , that Parent shall have no obligation to indemnify any Spinco Indemnified Party hereunder if there has occurred, prior to such Parent Taint, a Spinco Taint from which such Distribution Taxes result.

 

(c)                                   The Parties shall cooperate with each other and use their commercially reasonable efforts to reduce and/or eliminate any Transfer Taxes.  If any Transfer Tax remains payable after application of the first sentence of this Section 2.2(c) and notwithstanding any other provision in this Section 2, all Transfer Taxes shall be allocated to Parent.

 

2.3                                Tax Payments Each Company shall be liable for and shall pay the Taxes allocated to it by this Section 2 either to the applicable Tax Authority or to the other Company in accordance with Section 4 and the other applicable provisions of this Agreement.

 

2.4                                Closing of Tax Year Each member of the Spinco Group shall, unless prohibited by applicable Tax Law, close its Tax Year on the Distribution Date for each applicable Tax (whatever and wherever located the Governmental Authority that imposes it).  If applicable Tax Law does not permit a member of the Spinco Group to close its Tax Year on the Distribution Date or in any case in which a Tax is assessed with respect to a Straddle Period, the Taxes, if any, attributable to a Straddle Period shall be allocated (i) to the period up to and including the Distribution Date, on the one hand, and (ii) to the period subsequent to the Distribution Date, on the other hand, by means of a closing of the books and records of such member of the Spinco Group as of the close of the Distribution Date, provided that Taxes, exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated on a periodic basis shall be allocated between the period ending on the Distribution Date and the period after the Distribution Date in proportion to the number of days in each such period.

 

2.5                                Allocation of Tax Attributes Parent shall in good faith advise Spinco in writing of the portion, if any, of any earnings and profits and other Tax attributes which Parent determines shall be allocated or apportioned to the Spinco Group under applicable Tax Law.  Spinco and all members of the Spinco Group shall prepare all Tax Returns in accordance with such written notice.  In the event that, as a result of a Final Determination, the allocation provided by Parent is required to be adjusted in accordance with such Final Determination, Parent shall promptly notify Spinco in writing of such adjustment and Spinco and all members of the Spinco Group shall prepare all Tax Returns, from the date of such notification, in accordance with the adjusted amounts set forth in such notification.  For the avoidance of doubt, Parent shall not be liable to Spinco or any member of the Spinco Group for any failure of any determination under this Section 2.5 to be accurate under applicable Tax Law.

 

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SECTION 3.  Preparation and Filing of Tax Returns .

 

3.1                                Returns .

 

(a)                                  Tax Returns to be Prepared by Parent.  Parent shall be responsible for preparing and filing (or causing to be prepared and filed):

 

(i)                                      all Tax Returns which relate to one or more members of the Parent Group for any Tax Year, and

 

(ii)                                   all Tax Returns which relate to one or more members of the Spinco Group for any Pre-Distribution Period or Straddle Period if such return includes a Tax for which Parent is liable under Section 2.1(a), provided , however , that Spinco shall furnish any relevant information, including pro-forma returns, disclosures, apportionment data and supporting schedules, relating to any member of the Spinco Group necessary for completing any Tax Return for any Pre-Distribution Period or Straddle Period in a format suitable for inclusion in such return, and provided further, that Spinco shall have the right to review and reasonably comment with respect to items on such returns if and to the extent such items directly relate to a Tax for which Spinco would be liable under Section 2.1(b), such comments not to be unreasonably rejected.

 

(b)                                  Tax Returns to be Prepared by Spinco.  Subject to Section 3.1(d), Spinco shall be responsible for preparing and filing (or causing to be prepared and filed) all Tax Returns which relate to one or more members of the Spinco Group and for which Parent is not responsible under Section 3.1(a).

 

(c)                                   Agent.   Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 5), Spinco irrevocably designates, and agrees to cause each member of the Spinco Group to designate, Parent as its sole and exclusive agent and attorney-in-fact to take such action (including execution of documents) as Parent may deem reasonably appropriate in matters relating to the preparation or filing of any Tax Return described in Section 3.1(a)(ii).

 

(d)                                  Tax Returns Relating to Distribution Taxes.   No member of the Spinco Group shall file or caused to be filed any Tax Return which relates to matters involving Distribution Taxes without the consent of Parent.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Parent shall not be liable for any Distribution Taxes under Section 2.2(b) to the extent such Distribution Taxes arise from a breach of this Section 3.1(d) by any member of the Spinco Group.

 

(e)                                   Manner of Tax Return Preparation.   Unless otherwise required by a Tax Authority, the Parties shall prepare and file all Tax Returns, and take all other actions, in a manner consistent with this Agreement, and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, the Ruling Request and the Ruling.  All Tax Returns shall be filed on a

 

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timely basis (taking into account applicable extensions) by the Party responsible for filing such Tax Returns under this Agreement.  Subject to the preceding sentences of this Section 3.1(e), Parent shall have the exclusive right, in its reasonable discretion, with respect to any Tax Return described in Section 3.1(a) to determine (i) the manner in which such Tax Return shall be prepared and filed, including the elections, methods of accounting, positions, conventions and principles of taxation to be used and the manner in which any Tax Item shall be reported, (ii) whether any extensions may be requested, (iii) the elections that will be made on such Tax Return, (iv) whether any amended Tax Return(s) shall be filed, (v) whether any claim(s) for refund shall be made, (vi) whether any refund shall be paid by way of refund or credited against any liability for the related Tax, and (vii) whether to retain outside firms to prepare or review such Tax Returns.

 

3.2                                Provision of Information .

 

(a)                                  Parent shall provide to Spinco, and Spinco shall provide to Parent, any information about members of the Parent Group or the Spinco Group, respectively, that the Preparer reasonably requires to determine the amount of Taxes due on any Payment Date with respect to a Tax Return for which the Preparer is responsible pursuant to Section 3.1 and to properly and timely file all such Tax Returns.

 

(b)                                  If a member of the Spinco Group supplies information to a member of the Parent Group, or a member of the Parent Group supplies information to a member of the Spinco Group, and an officer of the requesting member intends to sign a statement or other document under penalties of perjury in reliance upon the accuracy of such information, then a duly authorized officer of the member supplying such information shall certify, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, the accuracy of the information so supplied.

 

3.3                                Special Rules Relating to the Preparation of Tax Returns .  All Tax Returns that include any members of the Spinco Group or Parent Group shall be prepared in a manner that is consistent with the Ruling Request, the Ruling, and the Tax Opinion (including, for the avoidance doubt, the Tax Opinion Representations).  Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, all Tax Returns for which Parent is responsible under Section 3.1(a) shall be prepared (x) in accordance with elections, Tax accounting methods and other practices used with respect to such Tax Returns filed prior to the Distribution Date (unless such past practices are not permissible under applicable law), or (y) to the extent any items are not covered by past practices (or in the event such past practices are not permissible under applicable Tax Law), in accordance with reasonable practices selected by Parent.

 

3.4                                Refunds, Credits or Offsets .

 

(a)                                  Any refunds, credits or offsets with respect to Taxes allocated to, and actually paid by, Parent (or actually paid, at whatever time, by any entity that was a Subsidiary of Parent during any period up to and including the Distribution Date) pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the account of Parent.  Any refunds, credits or

 

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offsets with respect to Taxes not allocated to Parent pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be for the account of Spinco.  For the avoidance of doubt, consistent with Section 2.1(d), any refunds, credits, or offsets with respect to Real Estate Taxes shall belong to the Party entitled thereto under applicable Law and shall not otherwise be allocated pursuant to this Section 3.4.

 

(b)                                  Parent shall forward to Spinco, or reimburse Spinco for, any such refunds, credits or offsets, plus any interest received thereon, net of any Taxes incurred with respect to the receipt or accrual thereof and any expenses incurred in connection therewith, that are for the account of Spinco within fifteen Business Days from receipt thereof by Parent.  Spinco shall forward to Parent, or reimburse Parent for, any refunds, credits or offsets, plus any interest received thereon, net of any Taxes incurred with respect to the receipt or accrual thereof and any expenses incurred in connection therewith, that are for the account of Parent within fifteen Business Days from receipt thereof by Spinco.  If, subsequent to a Tax Authority’s allowance of a refund, credit or offset, such Tax Authority reduces or eliminates such allowance, any refund, credit or offset, plus any interest received thereon, forwarded or reimbursed under this Section 3.4 shall be returned to the party who had forwarded or reimbursed such refund, credit or offset and interest upon the request of such forwarding party in an amount equal to the applicable reduction, including any interest received thereon.

 

3.5                                Carrybacks.  To the extent permitted under applicable Tax Laws, the Spinco Group shall make the appropriate elections in respect of any Tax Returns to waive any option to carry back any net operating loss, any credits or any similar item from a Post-Distribution Period to any Pre-Distribution Period or to any Straddle Period.  Any refund of or credit for Taxes resulting from any such carryback by a member of the Spinco Group that cannot be waived shall be payable to Spinco net of any Taxes incurred with respect to the receipt or accrual thereof and any expenses incurred in connection therewith.

 

3.6                                Amended Returns Any amended Tax Return or claim for Tax refund, credit or offset with respect to any member of the Spinco Group may be made (or be caused to be made) only by the Company responsible for preparing the original Tax Return with respect to such member pursuant to Section 3.1(a) (and, for the avoidance of doubt, subject to the same review and comment rights set forth in Section 3.1(a), to the extent applicable).  Such Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the other Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), file, or cause to be filed, any such amended Tax Return or claim for Tax refund, credit or offset to the extent that such filing, if accepted, is likely to increase the Taxes allocated to, or the Tax indemnity obligations under this Agreement of, such other Company for any Tax Year (or portion thereof).

 

SECTION 4.  Tax Payments .

 

4.1                                Payment of Taxes to Tax Authority Parent shall be responsible for remitting to the proper Tax Authority the Tax shown on any Tax Return for which it is responsible for the preparation and filing pursuant to Section 3.1(a), and Spinco shall be responsible for remitting to

 

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the proper Tax Authority the Tax shown on any Tax Return for which it is responsible for the preparation and filing pursuant to Section 3.1(b).

 

4.2                                Indemnification Payments .

 

(a)                                  Tax Payments Made by the Parent Group.  If any Parent Indemnified Party is required to make a payment to a Tax Authority for Taxes allocated to Spinco under this Agreement, Spinco will pay the amount of Taxes allocated to it to Parent not later than the later of (i) ten Business Days after receiving notification requesting such amount, and (ii) one Business Day prior to the date such payment is required to be made to such Tax Authority.

 

(b)                                  Tax Payments Made by the Spinco Group.  If any Spinco Indemnified Party is required to make a payment to a Tax Authority for Taxes allocated to Parent under this Agreement, Parent will pay the amount of Taxes allocated to it to Spinco not later than the later of (i) ten Business Days after receiving notification requesting such amount, and (ii) one Business Day prior to the date such payment is required to be made to such Tax Authority.

 

4.3                                Interest on Late Payments Any amount not paid when due pursuant to this 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 the rate specified for late payments in the Separation and Distribution Agreement or, if higher and if with respect to a payment to indemnify for a Tax to which the “large corporate underpayment” provision within the meaning of Section 6621(c) applies, such interest rate that would be applicable at such time to such “large corporate underpayment.”

 

4.4                                Tax Consequences of Payments.  For all Tax purposes, the Parties hereto shall treat (i) any payment made pursuant to this Agreement (other than payments representing interest) as either a contribution by the relevant entity or a distribution by the relevant entity (or as adjustments to such contribution or distribution) occurring immediately prior to the VRLP Distribution or the Distribution or the VRLP Contribution, as the case may be, 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.  If the receipt or accrual of any indemnity payment under this Agreement causes, directly or indirectly, an increase in the taxable income of the recipient under one or more applicable Tax Laws, such payment shall be increased so that, after the payment of any Taxes with respect to the payment, the recipient thereof shall have realized the same net amount it would have realized had the payment not resulted in taxable income.  For the avoidance of doubt, any liability for Taxes due to an increase in taxable income described in the immediately preceding sentence shall be governed by this Section 4.4 and not by Section 2.1.  To the extent that Taxes for which any Party hereto (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) is required to pay an Indemnified Party pursuant to this Agreement may be deducted or credited in determining the

 

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amount of any other Taxes required to be paid by the Indemnified Party (for example, state Taxes which are permitted to be deducted in determining federal Taxes), the amount of any payment made to the Indemnified Party by the Indemnifying Party shall be decreased by taking into account any resulting reduction in other Taxes actually realized by the Indemnified Party.  If such a reduction in Taxes of the Indemnified Party occurs following the payment made to the Indemnified Party with respect to the relevant indemnified Taxes, the Indemnified Party shall promptly repay the Indemnifying Party the amount of such reduction when actually realized.  If the Tax Benefit arising from the foregoing reduction of Taxes described in this Section 4.4 is subsequently decreased or eliminated, then the Indemnifying Party shall promptly pay the Indemnified Party the amount of the decrease in such Tax Benefit.

 

SECTION 5.  Cooperation and Tax Contests .

 

5.1                                Cooperation In addition to the obligations enumerated in Sections 3.2 and 5.4, Parent and Spinco will cooperate (and cause their respective Subsidiaries and Representatives to cooperate) with each other and with each other’s agents, including accounting firms and legal counsel, in connection with Tax matters, including provision of relevant documents and information in their possession and making available to each other, as reasonably requested and available, personnel (including officers, directors, employees and agents of the Parties or their respective Subsidiaries or Representatives) responsible for preparing, maintaining, and interpreting information and documents relevant to Taxes, and personnel reasonably required as witnesses or for purposes of providing information or documents in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes.

 

5.2                                Notices of Tax Contests Each Company shall provide prompt notice to the other Company of any pending or threatened Tax audit, assessment or proceeding or other Tax Contest of which it becomes aware relating to (i) Taxes for which it is or may reasonably be expected to be indemnified by such other Company hereunder or (ii) Tax Items that may reasonably be expected to affect the amount or treatment of Tax Items of such other Company.  Such notice shall contain factual information (to the extent known) describing any asserted Tax liability in reasonable detail and shall be accompanied by copies of any notice and other documents received from any Tax Authority in respect of any such matters; provided , however , that failure to give such notification shall not affect the indemnification provided hereunder except, and only to the extent that, the indemnifying Company shall have been actually prejudiced as a result of such failure.  Thereafter, the indemnified Company shall deliver to the indemnifying Company such additional information with respect to such Tax Contest in its possession that the indemnifying Company may reasonably request.

 

5.3                                Control of Tax Contests .

 

(a)                                  Controlling Party.  Subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 5.3(b) and 5.3(c), each Preparer (or the appropriate member of its Group) shall be the Controlling Party with respect to any Tax Contest involving a Tax reported (or that, it is asserted, should have been reported) on a Tax Return for which such Company is responsible for preparing and filing (or causing to be prepared and filed) pursuant to

 

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Section 3 of this Agreement, in which case any Non-Preparer that could have liability under this Agreement for a Tax to which such Tax Contest relates shall be treated as the “Non-Controlling Party.”  Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if a Non-Preparer (x) acknowledges to the Preparer in writing its full liability under this Agreement to indemnify for any Tax, and (y) provides to the Preparer evidence (that is satisfactory to the Preparer as determined in the Preparer’s reasonable discretion) of the Non-Preparer’s financial readiness and capacity to make such indemnity payment, then thereafter with respect to the Tax Contest relating solely to such Tax the Non-Preparer shall be the Controlling Party (subject to Section 5.3(b)) and the Preparer shall be treated as the Non-Controlling Party.

 

(b)                                  Non-Controlling Party Participation Rights.  With respect to a Tax Contest of any Tax Return that could result in a Tax liability that is allocated under this Agreement, (i) the Non-Controlling Party shall, at its own cost and expense, be entitled to participate in such Tax Contest, (ii) the Controlling Party shall keep the Non-Controlling Party updated and informed, and shall consult with the Non-Controlling Party, (iii) the Controlling Party shall act in good faith with a view to the merits in connection with the Tax Contest, and (iv) the Controlling Party shall not settle or compromise such Tax Contest without the prior written consent of the Non-Controlling Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned).

 

(c)                                   Parent Control in Tax Contests Relating to Distribution Taxes and the Tax-Free Status.  Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 5.3, Parent shall be the Controlling Party with respect to (i) any Tax Contest involving Distribution Taxes, and (ii) any Tax Contest involving the qualification of the Distribution for the Tax-Free Status.

 

5.4                                Cooperation Regarding Tax Contests.  The Parties shall provide each other with all information relating to a Tax Contest which is needed by the other Party to handle, participate in, defend, settle or contest the Tax Contest.  At the request of any Party, the other Party shall take any action ( e.g. , executing a power of attorney) that is reasonably necessary in order for the requesting Party to exercise its rights under this Agreement in respect of a Tax Contest.  Spinco shall assist Parent, and Parent shall assist Spinco, in taking any remedial actions that are necessary or desirable to minimize the effects of any adjustment made by a Tax Authority.  The Indemnifying Party shall reimburse the Indemnified Party for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in complying with this Section 5.4.

 

SECTION 6.  Tax Records .

 

6.1                                Retention of Tax Records .   Each of Parent and Spinco shall preserve, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to preserve, all Tax Records that are in their possession, and that could affect the liability of any member of the other Group for Taxes, for as long as the contents thereof may become material in the administration of any matter under applicable Tax Law, but in any event until the later of (x) the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations, as extended, and (y) seven years after the Distribution Date.

 

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6.2                                Access to Tax Records Spinco shall make available, and cause its Subsidiaries to make available, to members of the Parent Group for inspection and copying (x) all Tax Records in their possession that relate to a Pre-Distribution Period, and (y) the portion of any Tax Record in their possession that relates to a Post-Distribution Period and which is reasonably necessary for the preparation of a Tax Return by a member of the Parent Group or with respect to any Tax Contest with respect to such return.  Parent shall make available, and cause its Subsidiaries to make available, to members of the Spinco Group for inspection and copying the portion of any Tax Record in their possession that relates to a Pre-Distribution Period and which is reasonably necessary for the preparation of a Tax Return by a member of the Spinco Group or with respect to any Tax Contest with respect to such return.

 

6.3                                Confidentiality Each party hereby agrees that it will hold, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors and agents to hold, in confidence all records and information prepared and shared by and among the Parties in carrying out the intent of this Agreement, except as may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns or any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes or unless disclosure is compelled by a governmental authority.  Information and documents of one Party (the “ Disclosing Party ”) shall not be deemed to be confidential for purposes of this Section 6.3 to the extent that such information or document (i) is previously known to or in the possession of the other Party (the “ Receiving Party ”) and is not otherwise subject to a requirement to be kept confidential, (ii) becomes publicly available by means other than unauthorized disclosure under this Agreement by the Receiving Party or (iii) is received from a third party without, to the knowledge of the Receiving Party after reasonable diligence, a duty of confidentiality owed to the Disclosing Party.

 

SECTION 7.  Representations and Covenants .

 

7.1                                Covenants of Parent and Spinco.

 

(a)                                  Parent hereby covenants that, to the fullest extent permissible under United States federal income and state Tax Laws, it will, and will cause the members of the Parent Group to, treat the applicable Transactions in accordance with the Agreed Treatment.  Spinco hereby covenants that, to the fullest extent permissible under United States federal income and state Tax Laws, it will, and will cause each Subsidiary of Spinco to, treat the applicable Transactions in accordance with the Agreed Treatment.

 

(b)                                  Parent further covenants that, as of and following the date hereof, Parent shall not and shall cause the members of the Parent Group not to take any action that (or fail to take any action the omission of which) would be inconsistent with the applicable Transactions qualifying for the Agreed Treatment.  Spinco further covenants that, as of and following the date hereof, Spinco shall not and shall cause the members of the Spinco Group not to take any action that (or fail to take any action the omission of which) would be inconsistent with the applicable Transactions qualifying for the Agreed Treatment.

 

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7.2                                Private Letter Ruling .  Parent represents that it has provided Spinco with a copy of the Ruling and the Ruling Request submitted on or prior to the Distribution Date, and agrees to provide Spinco with copies of any additional documents submitted to the IRS relating to the Ruling Request and prepared after the Distribution Date prior to the submission of such documents to the IRS in connection with the Distribution.

 

7.3                                Covenants of Spinco .  Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 7.1, Spinco, on behalf of itself and each member of the Spinco Group, agrees and covenants that Spinco and each member of the Spinco Group will not, directly or indirectly, during the Restriction Period, (i) take any action that would result in Spinco’s ceasing to be engaged in the active conduct of the Spinco Business within the meaning of Section 355(b)(2)(A) of the Code, (ii) redeem or otherwise repurchase (directly or indirectly) any of Spinco’s outstanding stock other than pursuant to open market stock repurchase programs meeting the requirements of Section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue Procedure 96-30, 1996-1 C.B. 696, (iii) vary the relative voting rights of separate classes of Spinco’s stock or convert one class of Spinco’s stock into another class of its stock, (iv) liquidate or partially liquidate Spinco, (v) merge or consolidate Spinco with any other corporation, (vi) sell or otherwise dispose of (other than in the ordinary course of business) the assets of Spinco and its Subsidiaries, or take any other action or actions if such sale, other disposition or other action or actions in the aggregate would have the effect that one or more Persons acquire (or have the right to acquire), directly or indirectly, as part of a plan or series of related transactions, assets representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the fair market value of the assets of the Spinco Group, or (vii) take any other action or actions that in the aggregate would have the effect that one or more Persons acquire (or have the right to acquire), directly or indirectly, as part of a plan or series of related transactions, stock or equity securities of Spinco representing a Fifty-Percent Equity Interest in Spinco, other than a Permitted Acquisition.  Spinco further covenants that it qualifies and will qualify as a REIT for its taxable year that includes the date of the Distribution.

 

7.4                                Covenants of Parent .  Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 7.1, Parent, on behalf of itself and each member of the Parent Group, agrees and covenants that Parent and each member of the Parent Group will not, directly or indirectly, during the Restriction Period, (i) take any action that would result in Parent’s ceasing to be engaged in the active conduct of the Parent Business within the meaning of Section 355(b)(2)(A) of the Code, (ii) redeem or otherwise repurchase (directly or indirectly) any of Parent’s outstanding stock other than pursuant to open market stock repurchase programs meeting the requirements of Section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue Procedure 96-30, 1996-1 C.B. 696, (iii) vary the relative voting rights of separate classes of Parent’s stock or convert one class of Parent’s stock into another class of its stock, (iv) liquidate or partially liquidate Parent, (v) merge or consolidate Parent with any other corporation, (vi) sell or otherwise dispose of (other than in the ordinary course of business) the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries, or take any other action or actions if such sale, other disposition or other action or actions in the aggregate would have the effect that one or more Persons acquire (or have the right to acquire), directly or indirectly, as part of a plan or series of related transactions, assets representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the fair market value of the assets of the Parent Group, or (vii) take any other action or actions that in the aggregate would have the effect that one or more Persons acquire (or have the right to acquire),

 

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directly or indirectly, as part of a plan or series of related transactions, stock or equity securities of Parent representing a Fifty-Percent Equity Interest in Parent.

 

7.5                                Spinco Representations .  Spinco represents that it knows of no facts that would be inconsistent with (i) the VRLP Contribution qualifying as a tax-free transaction described under Sections 351(a) and 1032(a) of the Code, (ii) the VRLP Distribution with respect to Parent qualifying as a tax-free distribution under Section 731(a) of the Code, (iii) the Distribution qualifying for the Tax-Free Status, or (iv) the Separate Contribution qualifying as a partnership contribution described under Section 721(a) of the Code.  Spinco further represents that, from the time of its formation to the date of this Agreement, it has qualified as a REIT and that it has no intention, and knows no facts which would cause it, not to so qualify hereafter.

 

7.6                                Parent Representations .  Parent represents that it knows of no facts that would be inconsistent with (i) the VRLP Contribution qualifying as a tax-free transaction described under Sections 351(a) and 1032(a) of the Code, (ii) the VRLP Distribution with respect to Parent qualifying as a tax-free distribution under Section 731(a) of the Code, (iii) the Distribution qualifying for the Tax-Free Status, or (iv) the Separate Contribution qualifying as a partnership contribution described under Section 721(a) of the Code.

 

7.7                                Notices and Exceptions .

 

(a)                                  If Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries determines that it desires to take a Restricted Action, Spinco shall notify Parent of this fact in writing.  Nonetheless, Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries may take a Restricted Action if Parent consents in writing to such Restricted Action, or if Spinco provides Parent with Satisfactory Guidance concluding that such Restricted Action will not alter the Tax-Free Status of the Distribution in respect of Parent or Parent’s shareholders.

 

(b)                                  Spinco and each of its Subsidiaries agree that Parent and each Parent Indemnified Party are to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any Restricted Actions permitted pursuant to this Section 7.7 and, subject to Section 2.2, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Parent Indemnified Party against any such Tax.  Spinco shall bear all costs incurred by it, and all reasonable costs incurred by Parent, in connection with requesting and/or obtaining any Satisfactory Guidance.

 

(c)                                   Spinco shall promptly notify Parent in the event that Spinco has knowledge that any of the representations made in Section 7.5 is false.

 

(d)                                  Parent shall promptly notify Spinco in the event that Parent has knowledge that any of the representations made in Section 7.6 is false.

 

7.8                                Relief .

 

(a)                                  For the avoidance of doubt, Parent shall have the right to seek injunctive relief to prevent Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries from taking any action that is not

 

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consistent with the covenants of Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 7.1 or 7.3.

 

(b)                                  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any Spinco Indemnified Party any right to remedies other than indemnification for any increase in the actual Tax liability (and/or decrease in Tax Benefit) of such Spinco Indemnified Party that results from Parent Group’s failure to comply with the covenants in made in Section 7.1 or 7.4.

 

7.9                                Operating Rule s.  For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of Sections 7.3 and 7.4, (i) any arrangement whereby a Person that is a corporation has the right to satisfy an obligation to purchase property by delivering either cash or its own stock shall be treated as an arrangement to which Treasury Regulations Section 1.355-7(e) applies, (ii) the issuance of any compensatory stock or compensatory stock options, the issuance of any stock pursuant to any equity award, compensatory option, or restricted stock unit, or the repurchase of any restricted stock, if such issuance or repurchase satisfies the conditions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(d)(8)(i), shall not be taken into account, and (iii) the issuance of stock to a retirement plan qualified under Section 401(a) or 403(a) of the Code in a transaction that satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(d)(9) shall not be taken into account.

 

SECTION 8.  General Provisions .

 

8.1                                Predecessors or Successors .  Any reference to Parent, Spinco, a Person, or a Subsidiary in this Agreement shall include any predecessors or successors ( e.g. , by merger or other reorganization, liquidation, conversion, or election under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3) of Parent, Spinco, such Person, or such Subsidiary, respectively, including within the meaning of Section 355(e)(4)(D) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.  For the avoidance of doubt, no member of the Parent Group shall be deemed to be a predecessor or successor of Spinco and no member of the Spinco Group shall be deemed to be a predecessor or successor of Parent.

 

8.2                                Construction.   This Agreement and so much of the Separation and Distribution Agreement as relates to the subject matter hereof shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments and writings with respect to such subject matter.

 

8.3                                Counterparts This 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 such counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party.

 

8.4                                Notices All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall reference this Agreement and shall be hand delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other

 

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addresses for a Party as shall be specified by like notice) and will be deemed given on the date on which such notice is received:

 

If to Parent, to:

 

Vornado Realty Trust
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention:  Corporation Counsel
Facsimile:  (212) 894-7996

 

with a copy (until 12:01 a.m., Eastern time, on the Distribution Date) to:

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Attention:  William G. Farrar
Facsimile:  (212) 558-3588

 

If to Spinco, to:

 

Urban Edge Properties
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention:  General Counsel
Facsimile:  (212) 894-7996

 

with a copy (until 12:01 a.m., Eastern time, on the Distribution Date) to:

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Attention:  William G. Farrar
Facsimile:  (212) 558-3588

 

8.5                                Amendments .  T his Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an agreement in writing signed by each of the Parties.

 

8.6                                Assignment This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations arising under this Agreement without such consent shall be void; provided that, subject to compliance with Section 7, if applicable, either Party may assign this Agreement to a purchaser of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such Party so long as such purchaser expressly assumes, in a written instrument in form reasonably satisfactory

 

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to the non-assigning Party, the due and punctual performance or observance of every agreement and covenant of this Agreement on the part of the assigning Party to be performed or observed.

 

8.7                                Successors and Assigns The provisions to this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

8.8                                Change in Law Any reference to a provision of the Code, the Treasury Regulations or any other Tax Law shall include a reference to any applicable successor provision or law.

 

8.9                                Authorization, Etc.   Each of the Parties hereto hereby represents and warrants that it has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, that this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such Party, that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Party and that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Party does not contravene or conflict with any provision of law or the Party’s charter or bylaws or any agreement, instrument or order binding such Party.

 

8.10                         Termination This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Distribution by and in the sole discretion of Parent without the approval of Spinco or the stockholders of Parent.  In the event of such termination, no Party shall have any liability of any kind to any other Party or any other Person.  After the Distribution, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by the Parties.

 

8.11                         Subsidiaries Each of the Parties shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any entity that is contemplated to be a Subsidiary of such Party after the Distribution Date.

 

8.12                         Third-Party Beneficiaries .  Except with respect to Parent Indemnified Parties and Spinco Indemnified Parties, and in each case, only where and as indicated herein, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries and shall not be deemed to confer upon any other Person any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, cause of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement is not intended to confer upon any Spinco Indemnified Parties any rights or remedies against Spinco hereunder, and this Agreement is not intended to confer upon any Parent Indemnified Parties any rights or remedies against Parent hereunder.

 

8.13                         Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York.

 

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8.14                         Waiver of Jury Trial The Parties hereby irrevocably waive any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

8.15                         Severability In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement were to be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.  The Parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

8.16                         Waiver The Parties may waive a provision of this Agreement only by a writing signed by the party intended to be bound by the waiver.  A party is not prevented from enforcing any right, remedy or condition in the Party’s favor because of any failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy or in requiring satisfaction of any condition, except to the extent that the Party specifically waives the same in writing. A written waiver given for one matter or occasion is effective only in that instance and only for the purpose stated. A waiver once given is not to be construed as a waiver for any other matter or occasion. Any enumeration of a Party’s rights and remedies in this Agreement is not intended to be exclusive, and a Party’s rights and remedies are intended to be cumulative to the extent permitted by law and include any rights and remedies authorized in law or in equity.

 

8.17                         No Double Recovery No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to provide an indemnity or other recovery for any costs, damages, or other amounts for which the damaged Party has been fully compensated under any other provision of this Agreement or under any other agreement or action at law or equity. Unless expressly required in this Agreement, a Party shall not be required to exhaust all remedies available under other agreements or at law or equity before recovering under the remedies provided in this Agreement.

 

8.18                         No Strict Construction; Interpretation .

 

(a)                                  Each of Parent and Spinco acknowledges that this Agreement has been prepared jointly by the Parties hereto and shall not be strictly construed against any Party hereto.

 

(b)                                  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.  Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”.  The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.  The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine

 

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as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term.  Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.  References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by the respective officers as of the date set forth above.

 

 

 

Vornado Realty Trust

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Alan J. Rice

 

 

Name:  Alan J. Rice

 

 

Title:    Corporation Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

Urban Edge Properties

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

 

Name:  Donald P. Casey

 

 

Title:    General Counsel and Secretary

 

[Signature Page to Tax Matters Agreement]

 


Exhibit 10.4

 

EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
 VORNADO REALTY TRUST,
VORNADO REALTY L.P.,
URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES
AND
URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP

 

DATED AS OF JANUARY 15, 2015

 

EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 15, 2015, is by and among  Vornado Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“ VNO ”), Vornado Realty L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ VRLP ”), Urban Edge Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“ UE ”), and Urban Edge Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ UELP ” and together with VNO, VRLP and UE, each a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the board of trustees of VNO (the “ VNO Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of VNO and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that will operate the UE Business (as defined below);

 

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

 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Parties have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2015 (the “ Separation Agreement ”), and have entered or will enter into other Transaction Documents that will govern certain matters relating to the Distribution (as defined below) and the relationship of VNO, UE and their respective Affiliates prior to and following the Distribution Date (as defined below); 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 that vary 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 UE Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the VNO Group and (b) no member of the VNO Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the UE Group.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Benefit Plan ” means, with respect to an entity, any “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), and 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, sponsored or maintained by such entity (or to which such entity contributes or is required to contribute or with respect to which such entity has any liability).

 

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.

 

DCP II ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to the Separation Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

Employee ” means any individual who is a full-time or part-time 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 VNO or an Affiliate of VNO or of UE or an Affiliate of UE, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether having last been employed by a member of the VNO Group or a member of the UE Group, including retired Employees.

 

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 UE Group or the VNO 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.

 

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 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 and the Transfer Documents, as such terms are defined in the Separation Agreement (if not defined in this Agreement).

 

Transition Services Agreement ” means the Transition Services Agreement to be entered into by and between VNO and UE 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.

 

UE ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

UE 401(k) Plan ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

UE Annual Bonus Plan ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1 of this Agreement.

 

UE Benefit Plan ” means any Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by a member of the UE Group after the Effective Time, but excluding any VNO Benefit Plan.

 

UE Business ” shall mean the business, operations and activities of the VNO Group relating to the UE 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.

 

UE Common Share ” shall mean a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of UE.

 

UE Equity Plan ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

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UE Group ” shall mean (a) prior to the Effective Time, UE and each Person that will be a Subsidiary of UE 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 UE; and (b) on and after the Effective Time, UE and each Person that is a Subsidiary of UE.

 

UE Group Employee ” means any person who, immediately following the Effective Time, is an Employee of any member of the UE Group, including any such Employee who is on an approved leave at such time other than long-term disability leave.

 

UE Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

UE Participant ” shall mean any UE Group Employee who was, prior to the Effective Time, a participant in the applicable VNO Benefit Plan or is, after the Effective Time, a participant in the applicable UE Benefit Plan, or is a beneficiary, dependent or alternate payee of such a participant.

 

UE Welfare Plans ” means Welfare Plans which are maintained or contributed to by a member of the UE Group, but excluding the VNO Welfare Plans.

 

VNO 401(k) Plan ” shall mean the Vornado Realty Trust 401(k) Plan.

 

VNO Annual Bonus Plans ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1 of this Agreement.

 

VNO Benefit Plan ” shall mean any Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by VNO or any of its Affiliates.

 

VNO Board ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

VNO 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 UE Business.

 

VNO Common Share ” shall mean a common share, par value of $0.04 per share, of VNO.

 

VNO Equity Plan ” shall mean the Vornado Realty Trust 2010 Omnibus Share Plan.

 

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

 

VNO Group Employee ” shall mean any person who, immediately following the Effective Time, is an Employee of any member of the VNO Group, including any such Employee who is on an approved leave at such time.

 

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VNO Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

VNO Participant ” shall mean any VNO Group Employee or Former Employee and who is, at any time prior to, on, or after the Effective Time, a participant in the applicable VNO Benefit Plan or is a beneficiary, dependent or alternate payee of such a participant.

 

VNO Severance Benefits Program ” shall mean the VNO severance program which covers employees of the UE Group immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

VNO Welfare Plans ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

Welfare Plan ” shall mean a plan that provides for health, welfare or other insurance benefits within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA.

 

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, VNO 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 UE Group Employees, including any such Employees who are on short-term disability leave or other approved leave of absence, are employed by a member of the UE Group and (ii) all Employees intended by the Parties to be VNO Group Employees are employed by a member of the VNO Group.

 

2.2                                Service Recognition .  UE shall give, or shall cause its Affiliates to give, each UE Group Employee full credit for all purposes under any UE Benefit Plan for such UE Group Employee’s service with VNO or any of its Affiliates prior to the Effective Time to the same extent such service was recognized by the corresponding VNO 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 VNO 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, VNO Benefit Plan or UE Benefit Plan provided , however , that any Employee of VNO or any of its Affiliates whose employment is not intended to be continued by VNO or any of its Affiliates following the Effective Time and is not assigned to a member of the UE Group, and whose employment is involuntarily terminated by VNO 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 7.2 of this Agreement.

 

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2.4                                Former Employees .  UE shall have no liability with respect to Former Employees, if any, as of (or after) the Effective Time. VNO shall retain liability, if any, with respect to Former Employees.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if after the Effective Time UE hires a Former Employee (not in violation of the nonsolicitation obligations in Section 5.6 of the Separation Agreement), then UE shall be responsible for any prospective compensation and benefits provided to such person.

 

ARTICLE III
RETIREMENT PLANS

 

3.1                                The VNO 401(k) Plan and UE 401(k) Plan .

 

(a)                                  Establishment of Plan and Trust .  UE or one of its Affiliates shall adopt a retirement plan and related trust that are qualified and tax-exempt pursuant to Code Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, and that is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 401(k) (the “ UE 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 UE 401(k) Plan.  Such actions shall be completed prior to, or as soon as reasonably practicable following, the Effective Time.  Subject to the written consent of VNO, UE may satisfy its obligations under this Section 3.1 by establishing or adopting a multiple employer 401(k) plan of which VNO or an Affiliate of VNO is the primary sponsoring employer. If such a multiple employer 401(k) plan is established, it shall be deemed, for purposes of this Section 3.1, to be the UE 401(k) Plan referenced herein.

 

(b)                                  Assumption of Liabilities Transfer of Assets .  As soon as practicable after the Effective Time and subject to Applicable Law:  (i) VNO shall cause the accounts (including any outstanding loan balances) of each UE Employee in the VNO 401(k) Plan to be transferred to the UE 401(k) Plan and its related trust; (ii) the UE 401(k) Plan shall assume and be solely responsible for all Liabilities under the UE 401(k) Plan relating to the accounts that are so transferred as of and following the time of such transfer; and (iii) UE shall cause such transferred accounts to be accepted by the UE 401(k) Plan and its related trust and shall cause the UE 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, only to the extent it is not practicable to transfer in kind (as determined by the administrator of the VNO 401(k) Plan) and (ii) promissory notes evidencing the transfer of outstanding loans.

 

(c)                                   Contributions Under the VNO 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 UE Participants under the VNO 401(k) Plan through the Effective Time, determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of the VNO 401(k) Plan, ERISA and the Code, and based on all service performed and compensation accrued through the Effective Time, shall be deposited by VNO in the VNO 401(k) Plan and allocated to the VNO 401(k) Plan accounts of the applicable UE 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) VNO or any of its

 

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Affiliates to continue the VNO 401(k) Plan before or after the Effective Time, and (b) UE or any of its Affiliates to continue the UE 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) VNO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the VNO 401(k) Plan at any time following the date of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and applicable Law, and (ii) UE reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the UE 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 VNO 401(k) Plan or the UE 401(k) Plan shall prevent the actions described in Section 3.1.

 

ARTICLE IV
HEALTH AND WELFARE PLANS

 

4.1                                UE Health and Welfare Plans .

 

(a)                                  Cessation of Participation in VNO Health and Welfare Plans .  No later than the Effective Time, UE (acting directly or through its Affiliates) shall establish the UE Welfare Plans, which shall generally correspond to the VNO health and welfare plans in which UE Group Employees participate immediately prior to the Effective Time (“ VNO Welfare Plans ”).  UE shall cause UE Group Employees and their covered dependents who participate in VNO Welfare Plans to be automatically enrolled no later than the Effective Time in UE Welfare Plans corresponding to the VNO Welfare Plans in which the UE Employee or his or her covered dependents, if any, participated before the Effective Time; provided that, with respect to flexible spending accounts, if automatic enrollment is not possible, UE Group Employees shall be eligible to elect coverage before, as of or as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time under each UE Welfare Plan which is a flexible spending account plan and which corresponds to a VNO 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 on behalf of UE Employees or their covered dependents under the VNO Welfare Plans on or before the Effective Time, including claims incurred but not reported, shall be retained by VNO or the applicable member of the VNO Group.

 

(c)                                   Waiver of Conditions .  To the extent permitted by applicable Law and the terms of the applicable UE Welfare Plan, UE (acting directly or through its Affiliates) shall cause the UE 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 UE Group Employee, other than limitations that were in effect with respect to the UE Group Employee under the corresponding VNO Welfare Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) waive any waiting period limitation or evidence of insurability requirement applicable to a UE Group Employee other than limitations or requirements that were in effect with respect to such UE Group Employee under the corresponding VNO Welfare Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time.  Such waivers described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the foregoing sentence, with respect to the UE Welfare Plans, shall apply to initial enrollment effective immediately following the Effective Time.  Following the initial enrollment, pre-existing condition limitations,

 

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exclusions, and services conditions under the UE Welfare Plans may apply only to the extent allowable under HIPAA.

 

(d)                                  Deductibles, Etc.   To the extent permitted by applicable Law and the terms of the applicable UE Welfare Plan, expenses incurred by any UE Group Employee and credited during the year that includes the Distribution Date for purposes of calculating deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket maximums under a VNO Welfare Plan shall be taken into account as if such expense had been incurred under the corresponding UE Welfare Plan.

 

4.2                                COBRA and HIPAA Compliance .  VNO 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 VNO Welfare Plans with respect to any UE 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).  UE 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 UE Welfare Plans, with respect to any UE Group Employees or any of their covered dependents who incur a qualifying event or loss of coverage under the UE Welfare Plans after the Effective Time.

 

4.3                                Time-Off Benefits .  UE shall credit each UE Group Employee immediately following the Effective Time with the amount of accrued but unused paid time-off as such UE Group Employee had under the applicable VNO 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 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 .  The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Article IV shall be construed to require (a) VNO or any of its Affiliates to continue any VNO Benefit Plan before or after the Effective Time, or (b) UE or any of its Affiliates to continue any UE Benefit Plan before or after the Effective Time, in each case, except as set forth in Article VII.  Each of VNO and UE reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or

 

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terminate any VNO Benefit Plan and any UE Benefit Plan, respectively, at any time after the date of this Agreement, to the extent permitted or required under the terms of the applicable VNO Benefit Plan, UE Benefit Plan or applicable Law; provided that no such amendment or termination shall prevent the actions described in Article IV.

 

ARTICLE V
EQUITY PLANS AND AWARDS

 

5.1                                Establishment of UE Equity Plan .  As of or prior to the Effective Time, UE shall adopt an omnibus equity compensation plan (the “ UE Equity Plan ”) pursuant to which equity awards may be granted to UE Group Employees.  The UE Equity Plan shall provide for the same types of awards as the VNO Equity Plan.  VNO and UE shall take all actions as may be necessary or advisable to adopt and obtain approval of the UE Equity Plan (and the awards in respect of UE 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 UE Common Shares will be traded.  The UE Equity Plan shall be approved prior to the Effective Time by VRLP as UE’s sole shareholder.

 

5.2                                Liabilities for Settlement of Awards .  VNO shall be responsible for all Liabilities associated with awards made under the VNO Equity Plan, including without limitation such awards made to UE Group Employees at the time they were VNO Group Employees.  UE shall be responsible for all Liabilities associated with awards made under the UE Equity Plan.

 

5.3                                Reservation of Rights .  The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Article V shall be construed to require (a) VNO or any of its Affiliates to continue the VNO Equity Plan before or after the Effective Time, or (b) UE or any of its Affiliates to continue the UE Equity Plan before or after the Effective Time.  Each of VNO and UE reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the VNO Equity Plan (and the awards thereunder) and the UE Equity Plan (and the awards thereunder), respectively, at any time after the date of this Agreement, to the extent permitted or required under the terms of the VNO Equity Plan, UE Equity Plan or applicable Law; provided that no such amendment or termination shall prevent the actions described in Article V.

 

ARTICLE VI
NONQUALIFIED PLANS

 

6.1                                Deferred Compensation Plans .  Effective no later than the Effective Time, UE Group Employees shall cease to be eligible to actively participate in the Vornado Realty Trust Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan II (the “ DCP II ”) and no further deferrals shall be made to the DCP II on behalf of UE Group Employees with respect to compensation or earnings for services on or for the year in which the Effective Time occurs.  Each UE Group Employee who immediately prior to the Effective Time was a participant in, or entitled to future benefits under, the DCP II and/or the Vornado Realty Trust Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (together, the “ VNO Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans ”) shall continue to have such rights, privileges and obligations under the VNO Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans as are provided thereunder. A UE Group Employee shall not be deemed to have separated from

 

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service or incurred a termination of employment for purposes of the VNO Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans until such UE Group Employee incurs a separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) from UE and the UE Affiliates (and provided such UE Group Employee is not employed by or providing services to VNO or any VNO Affiliate).  UE agrees to promptly notify VNO if and when a UE Group Employee who is a participant of the VNO Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans separates from service with UE and the UE Affiliates.

 

6.2                                Reservation of Rights .  The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Article VI shall be construed to require VNO or any of its Affiliates to continue the VNO Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans before or after the Effective Time.  VNO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the VNO Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans at any time after the date of this Agreement, to the extent permitted or required under the terms of the VNO Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans or applicable Law.

 

ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION MATTERS; SEVERANCE

 

7.1                                Annual Cash Incentive Awards .  As of January 1, 2015, UE Group Employees shall cease participating in each VNO annual bonus plan or policy (“ VNO Annual Bonus Plans ”).  As of January 1, 2015, (i) UE shall establish annual bonus plans or policies (“ UE Annual Bonus Plans ”) and (ii) UE Group Employees who were eligible to participate in the VNO Bonus Plans shall be eligible to participate in the UE Bonus Plans.  UE shall be solely responsible for funding, paying and discharging all obligations under the UE Annual Bonus Plans and VNO shall have no liability with respect to annual bonuses to be paid to UE group employees with respect to the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs.  Vornado shall remain solely responsible for funding and discharging all obligations under the VNO Annual Bonus Plans with respect to annual bonuses to be paid to UE group employees with respect to the 2014 calendar year.

 

7.2                                Assumption of Severance Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  Severance Liabilities .  UE shall be responsible for the severance obligations to UE Group Employees whose employment is terminated on or after the Effective Time and VNO shall have no liability with respect to such severance obligations.

 

(b)                                  Severance Agreements .  In the event any UE Group Employee who is a salaried employee is eligible for severance benefits on account of a termination of employment on or after the Effective Time, unless agreed otherwise by an executive officer of VNO, UE 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 UE and VNO, in such form as UE and VNO mutually agree.

 

7.3                                Reservation of Rights .  The Parties hereby acknowledge that, except for the obligations described in this Article VII, nothing in this Article VII shall be construed to require either VNO or UE (and their respective Affiliates) to continue any cash incentive awards

 

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program, deferred compensation plan, or severance plan after the Effective Time.  The Parties agree that each of VNO and UE 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 VNO Group or the UE 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 VII.

 

ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

 

8.1                                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 VNO Group Employee, UE Group Employee or any Former Employee, or future Employee of VNO or any of its Affiliates or of UE or any of its Affiliates under any VNO Benefit Plan or UE 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.”

 

8.2                                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 UE Participants under VNO Benefit Plans shall be transferred to and be in full force and effect under the corresponding UE Benefit Plans until such beneficiary designations, authorizations or rights are replaced or revoked by, or no longer apply, to the relevant UE Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, UE shall seek to obtain, before or as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time, beneficiary designations, authorizations for the release of Information and rights to reimbursement from all UE Participants under UE Benefit Plans.

 

8.3                                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 VNO Benefit Plan or UE Benefit Plan.

 

8.4                                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, VNO and UE 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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ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.1                                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.

 

9.2                                Affiliates .  Each of VNO and UE 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.

 

9.3                                Corporate Power .  VNO represents on behalf of itself and on behalf of other members of the VNO Group, and UE represents on behalf of itself and on behalf of other members of the UE Group, as follows:

 

(a)                                  each such Person has the requisite trust 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.

 

9.4                                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 New York irrespective of the choice of laws principles of the State of New York including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

9.5                                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.

 

9.6                                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

 

13



 

remove any such causes and resume performance under the Transaction Documents, as applicable, as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

9.7                                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 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 9.7):

 

If to Vornado, to:

 

Vornado Realty Trust
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention:  Corporation Counsel
Facsimile:  (212) 894-7996

 

with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Attention:  William G. Farrar

Matthew M. Friestedt

Facsimile:  (212) 558-3588

 

If to UE, to:

 

Urban Edge Properties
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention:  General Counsel
Facsimile:  (212) 894-7996

 

with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Attention:  William G. Farrar

Matthew M. Friestedt

Facsimile:  (212) 558-3588

 

9.8                                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

 

14



 

in the sole discretion of VNO without the prior approval of any Person, including UE.  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.

 

9.9                                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 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.

 

9.10                         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.

 

9.11                         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.

 

9.12                         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 VNO 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 VNO; provided , however , that, in each case, no such assignment shall release VNO 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.

 

9.13                         Public Announcements .  From and after the Effective Time, VNO and UE 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.

 

15



 

9.14                         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 requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are waived by each of the Parties.

 

9.15                         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.

 

9.16                         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 VNO or UE, as appropriate, and references to “ Parties ” shall mean VNO and UE, (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) VNO and UE 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.

 

9.17                         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.

 

16



 

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

 

17



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

VORNADO REALTY TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Alan J. Rice

 

 

Name:  Alan J. Rice

 

 

Title:  Corporation Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

VORNADO REALTY L.P.

 

 

 

By VORNADO REALTY TRUST, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Alan J. Rice

 

 

Name:  Alan J. Rice

 

 

Title:  Corporation Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

 

Name:  Donald P. Casey

 

 

Title:  General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP

 

 

 

By URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Donald P. Casey

 

 

Name:  Donald P. Casey

 

 

Title:  General Counsel and Secretary

 


Exhibit 10.5

 

 

Urban Edge Properties

 

Form of 2015 Omnibus Share Plan

 

(As approved by shareholders on January 7, 2015)

 

 



 

Table of Contents

 

1.

Purpose

2

 

 

 

2.

Shares Available for Awards

2

 

 

 

3.

Administration

3

 

 

 

4.

Eligibility

4

 

 

 

5.

Awards

4

 

 

 

6.

Stock Options

5

 

 

 

7.

Stock Appreciation Rights

5

 

 

 

8.

Performance Shares

6

 

 

 

9.

Restricted Stock

6

 

 

 

10.

Other Stock-Based Awards

6

 

 

 

11.

Operating Partnership Units

8

 

 

 

12.

Award Agreements

9

 

 

 

13.

Withholding

9

 

 

 

14.

Nontransferability

10

 

 

 

15.

No Right to Employment

10

 

 

 

16.

Adjustment of and Changes in Shares

10

 

 

 

17.

Amendment

11

 

 

 

18.

Section 409A

11

 

 

 

19.

Effective Date

11

 

1



 

1.                                       Purpose

 

The purpose of the 2015 Omnibus Share Plan of Urban Edge Properties, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), is to promote the financial interests of Urban Edge Properties (the “Trust”), including its growth and performance, by encouraging employees of the Trust and its subsidiaries, including officers (together, the “Employees”), its non-employee trustees of the Trust and non-employee directors of its subsidiaries (together, the “Non-Employee Trustees”), and certain non-employee advisors and consultants that provide bona fide services to the Trust or its subsidiaries (together, the “Consultants”) to acquire an ownership position in the Trust, enhancing the ability of the Trust and its subsidiaries to attract and retain Employees, Non-Employee Trustees and Consultants of outstanding ability, and providing Employees, Non-Employee Trustees and Consultants with a way to acquire or increase their proprietary interest in the Trust’s success and to further align the interests of the Employees, Non-Employee Trustees and Consultants with shareholders of the Trust.

 

2.                                       Shares Available for Awards

 

Subject to the provisions of this Section 2 or any adjustment as provided in Section 16 , awards may be granted under the Plan with respect to 7,500,000 Share Equivalents (as defined below), which, in accordance with the share counting provisions of this Section 2 , would result in the issuance of up to a maximum of 7,500,000 common shares, par value $.01, of beneficial interest in the Trust (the “Shares”) if all awards granted under the Plan were Full Value Awards (as defined below) and 15,000,000 Shares if all awards granted under the Plan were not Full Value Awards.  No Participant (as defined in Section 3 ) who is an Employee shall be granted during any period of 12 consecutive months stock options, stock appreciation rights or any award intended to be “performance-based compensation” (as that term is used in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) with respect to more than 15,000,000 Shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 ).  The Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares, as the Trust may from time to time determine.  Any Shares that are subject to awards that are not Full Value Awards shall be counted against the number of Share Equivalents available for the grant of awards under the Plan, as set forth in the first sentence of this Section 2 , as one-half Share Equivalent for every Share granted pursuant to an award; any Shares that are subject to awards that are Full Value Awards shall be counted as one Share Equivalent for every Share granted pursuant to an award.  “Full Value Award” means an award under the Plan other than a stock option, stock appreciation right or other award that does not deliver to a Participant on the grant date of such award the full value of the underlying Shares.  “Share Equivalent” shall be the measuring unit for purposes of the Plan to determine the number of Shares that may be subject to awards hereunder, which number of Shares shall not in any event exceed 15,000,000, subject to the provisions of this Section 2 or any adjustment as provided in Section 16 .

 

The Committee (as defined in Section 3 ) may, without affecting the number of Share Equivalents available pursuant to this Section 2 , authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under the Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, reorganization or similar transaction upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A (as defined in Section 16 ) and any other applicable provisions of the Code.

 

2



 

Shares subject to an award granted under the Plan that expires unexercised, that is forfeited, terminated or cancelled, in whole or in part, or is paid in cash in lieu of Shares, shall thereafter again be available for grant under the Plan; provided, however, that the number of Share Equivalents that shall again be available for the grant under the Plan shall be increased by one Share Equivalent for each Share that is subject to a Full Value Award at the time such Full Value Award expires or is forfeited, terminated or cancelled and by one-half Share Equivalent for each Share that is subject to an award that is not a Full Value Award at the time such award expires or is forfeited, terminated or cancelled.  Awards that use Shares as a reference but that are paid or settled in whole or in part in cash shall not affect the number of Share Equivalents available under the Plan pursuant to this Section 2 to the extent paid or settled in cash.  The number of Share Equivalents available for the purpose of awards under the Plan shall be reduced by (i) one-half of the gross number of Shares for which stock options or stock appreciation rights are exercised, regardless of whether any of the Shares underlying such awards are not actually issued to the Participant as the result of a net settlement and (ii) one-half of any Shares withheld to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to any award that is not a Full Value Award and one Share for each Share withheld to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to any Full Value Award, as described further in Section 13 .

 

The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code shall not exceed 15,000,000 Shares (as adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 16 ).

 

3.                                       Administration

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.  A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of a majority shall be the acts of the Committee.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board of Trustees may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant awards or administer the Plan.  In any such case, the Board of Trustees will have all of the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall select the Employees, Non-Employee Trustees and Consultants who will be participants in the Plan (together, the “Participants”).  The Committee shall (i) determine the type of awards to be made to Participants, determine the Shares or share units subject to awards, and (ii) have the authority to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of any agreements entered into hereunder, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, based on, among other things, information made available to the Committee by the management of the Trust.  The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry it into effect.  The determinations of the Committee in its administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall be final and conclusive.

 

3



 

4.                                       Eligibility

 

All Employees who have demonstrated significant management potential or who have the capacity for contributing in a substantial measure to the successful performance of the Trust, as determined by the Committee, and Non-Employee Trustees and Consultants, as determined by the Committee, are eligible to be Participants in the Plan.

 

5.                                       Awards

 

Awards under the Plan may consist of the following:  stock options (either incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or non-qualified stock options), stock appreciation rights, performance shares, grants of restricted stock and other-stock based awards, including OP Units (as defined in Section 11 ).  Awards of performance shares, restricted stock or share units and other-stock based awards may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents and voting rights prior to vesting (whether based on a period of time or based on attainment of specified performance conditions).  Unless the Committee otherwise specifies in the award agreement, if dividends or dividend equivalent rights are granted, dividends and dividend equivalents shall be paid to the Participant at the same time as the Trust pays dividends to common shareholders (even if the Shares subject to the underlying award are held by the Trust) but not less than annually and not later than the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which the dividends or dividend equivalents are credited (or, if later, the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which the dividends or dividend equivalents are no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Section 409A (as defined in Section 16 )); provided , however , that dividend and dividend equivalent payments in the case of an award that is subject to performance vesting conditions shall be treated as unvested so long as such award remains unvested, and any such dividend and dividend equivalent payments that would otherwise have been paid during the vesting period shall instead be accumulated (and, if paid in cash, reinvested in additional Shares based on the Surrender Value (as defined in Section 6 ) of the Shares on the date of reinvestment) and paid within 30 days following the date on which such award is determined by the Committee to have satisfied such performance vesting conditions.  Any dividends or dividend equivalents that are accumulated and paid after the date specified in the preceding sentence may be treated separately from the right to other amounts under the award.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, Full Value Awards (a) that vest on the basis of the Participant’s continued employment or service shall be subject to a minimum vesting schedule of at least three years (with no more than one-third of the Shares subject thereto vesting earlier than a date 60 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which such award is granted and on each of the next two anniversaries of such initial vesting date) and (b) that vest on the basis of the attainment of performance goals shall provide for a performance period that ends no earlier than 60 days prior to the first anniversary of the commencement of the period over which performance is evaluated; provided , however , that the foregoing limitations shall not preclude the acceleration of vesting of any such award upon the death, disability or retirement of the Participant or upon an actual change in control (and not, for example, the commencement of a tender offer for the Trust’s shares or shareholder approval of a transaction that, if consummated, would result in an actual change in control).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Full Value Awards with respect to 5% of the maximum

 

4



 

aggregate number of Share Equivalents available for the purpose of awards under the Plan pursuant to Section 2 may be granted under the Plan to any one or more Participants without respect to such minimum vesting provisions and (ii) Full Value Awards granted in connection with the Spinoff (as defined in Section 19) pursuant to a legally binding right that existed prior to the Spinoff shall not be subject to the provisions of this paragraph and shall not be counted against the 5% exception in clause (i).

 

6.                                       Stock Options

 

The Committee shall establish the option price at the time each stock option is granted, which price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of the Shares on that date.  Stock options shall be exercisable for such period as specified by the Committee but in no event may options be exercisable more than ten years after their date of grant.  No stock option shall be exercisable earlier than a date 60 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which such award is granted, except in the event of the Participant’s retirement, death or disability or an actual change in control.  The option price of each Share as to which a stock option is exercised shall be paid in full at the time of such exercise.  Such payment shall be made (i) in cash, (ii) by tender of Shares owned by the Participant valued at Surrender Value as of the date of exercise, (iii) to the extent approved by the Committee in its sole discretion, by surrender of all or part of the Shares issuable upon exercise of the option by the largest whole number of Shares with a Surrender Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Trust shall accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole Shares to be issued, (iv) in such other consideration as the Committee deems appropriate, or (v) by a combination of cash, Shares and such other consideration.

 

For purposes of the Plan, (i) “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to a Share, the average of the high and the low prices reported for the Shares on the applicable date as reported on the New York Stock Exchange or, if not so reported, as determined in accordance with a valuation methodology approved by the Committee in a manner consistent with Section 409A, unless determined as otherwise specified herein; provided that the “Fair Market Value” for purposes of any award granted in connection with the Spinoff pursuant to a legally binding right that existed prior to the Spinoff may be determined based on the volume-weighted average trading price of the Shares for up to 20 trading days following (but not including) the date of the Spinoff, and (ii) “Surrender Value” means, with respect to a Share, the closing price reported for the Shares on the applicable date as reported on the New York Stock Exchange or, if not so reported, as determined in accordance with a valuation methodology approved by the Committee in a manner consistent with Section 409A, unless determined as otherwise specified herein.  For purposes of the grant of any award, the applicable date will be the trading day on which the award is granted or, if the date the award is granted is not a trading day, the trading day immediately prior to the date the award is granted.  For purposes of the exercise of any award, the applicable date is the date a notice of exercise is received by the Trust or, if such date is not a trading day, the trading day immediately following the date a notice of exercise is received by the Trust.

 

7.                                       Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Stock appreciation rights may be granted in tandem with a stock option, in addition to a stock option, or may be freestanding and unrelated to a stock option.  Stock appreciation rights granted in tandem with or in addition to a stock option may be granted either at the same time as the stock option or at a later time.  The Committee shall establish the grant price of each stock appreciation right granted at the time each such

 

5



 

stock appreciation right is granted, which price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such award on that date.  No stock appreciation right shall be exercisable earlier than a date 60 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which such award is granted, except in the event of the Participant’s retirement, death or disability or an actual change in control, or later than 10 years from the grant date of such award.  A stock appreciation right shall entitle the Participant to receive from the Trust an amount equal to the increase of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the exercise of the stock appreciation right over the grant price.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether the stock appreciation right shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares.

 

8.                                       Performance Shares

 

Performance shares may be granted in the form of actual Shares or share units having a value equal to an identical number of Shares.  In the event that a certificate is issued in respect of Shares subject to a grant of performance shares, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant but shall be held by the Trust until the time the Shares subject to the grant of performance shares are earned.  The performance conditions and the length of the performance period shall be determined by the Committee.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether performance shares granted in the form of share units shall be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, performance shares granted under this Section 8 may, at the discretion of the Committee, be granted in a manner which is intended to be deductible by the Trust under Section 162(m) of the Code.  In such event, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Section 10 for Performance-Based Awards (as defined in Section 10 ).

 

9.                                       Restricted Stock

 

Restricted stock may be granted in the form of actual Shares or share units having a value equal to an identical number of Shares.  In the event that a certificate is issued in respect of Shares subject to a grant of restricted stock, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant but shall be held by the Trust until the end of the restricted period.  The employment conditions and the length of the period for vesting of restricted stock shall be established by the Committee at time of grant.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether restricted stock granted in the form of share units shall be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, restricted stock granted under this Section 9 may, at the discretion of the Committee, be granted in a manner which is intended to be deductible by the Trust under Section 162(m) of the Code.  In such event, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Section 10 for Performance-Based Awards.

 

10.                                Other Stock-Based Awards

 

Other types of equity-based or equity-related awards (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares and performance stock and performance units settled in

 

6



 

shares or cash) may be granted under such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any other stock-based awards may, at the discretion of the Committee, be granted in a manner that is intended to be deductible by the Trust under Section 162(m) of the Code (a “Performance-Based Award”).  In such event, the Committee shall follow the following procedures:

 

A Participant’s Performance-Based Award shall be determined based on the attainment of written objective performance goals approved by the Committee for a performance period generally of one year established by the Committee (i) while the outcome for that performance period is substantially uncertain and (ii) no more than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which the performance goal relates or, if less, the number of days which is equal to 25% of the relevant performance period.  At the same time as the performance goals are established, the Committee will prescribe a formula to determine the amount of the Performance-Based Award that may be payable based upon the level of attainment of the performance goal during the performance period.

 

The performance goals shall be based on one or more of the following business criteria (either separately or in combination) with regard to the Trust (or a subsidiary, division, other operational unit or administrative department of the Trust):  (i) pre-tax income, (ii) after-tax income, (iii) net income (meaning net income as reflected in the Trust’s financial reports for the applicable period, on an aggregate, diluted and/or per share basis), (iv) operating income, (v) cash flow, (vi) earnings per share, (vii) return on equity, (viii) return on invested capital or assets, (ix) cash and/or funds available for distribution, (x) appreciation in the Fair Market Value of Shares, (xi) return on investment, (xii) total return to shareholders, (xiii) net earnings growth, (xiv) stock appreciation (meaning an increase in the price or value of the Shares after the date of grant of an award and during the applicable period), (xv) related return ratios, (xvi) increase in revenues, (xvii) net earnings, (xviii) changes (or the absence of changes) in the per share or aggregate market price of the Shares, (xix) number of securities sold, (xx) earnings before any one or more of the following items:  interest, taxes, depreciation or amortization for the applicable period, as reflected in the Trust’s financial reports for the applicable period, (xxi) total revenue growth (meaning the increase in total revenues after the date of grant of an award and during the applicable period, as reflected in the Trust’s financial reports for the applicable period), (xxii) total shareholder return, (xxiii) funds from operations, as determined and reported by the Trust in its financial reports and (xxiv) increase in net asset value per Share.

 

Performance criteria may be absolute amounts or percentages of amounts or may be relative to the performance of a peer group of real estate investment trusts or other corporations or indices.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided, all financial terms are used as defined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and all determinations shall be made in accordance with GAAP, as applied by the Trust in the preparation of its periodic reports to shareholders.

 

In addition, the performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of Trust (or subsidiary, division, other operational unit or administrative department

 

7



 

of the Trust) performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other real estate investment trusts or the historic performance of the Trust.  To the extent permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, unless the Committee provides otherwise at the time of establishing the performance goals, for each fiscal year of the Trust, the Committee may (i) designate additional business criteria on which the performance goals may be based or (ii) provide for objectively determinable adjustments, modifications or amendments, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to any of the performance criteria described above for one or more of the items of gain, loss, profit or expense:  (A) determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence, (B) related to the disposal of a segment of a business, (C) related to a change in accounting principle under GAAP, (D) related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of business under GAAP, and (E) attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Trust during the fiscal year.

 

Following the completion of each performance period, the Committee shall have the sole discretion to determine, based on information made available to the Committee by the management of the Trust, whether the applicable performance goals have been met with respect to a given Participant and, if they have, shall so certify and ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award.  No Performance-Based Awards will be paid for such performance period until such certification is made by the Committee.  The amount of the Performance-Based Award actually paid to a given Participant may be less (but not more) than the amount determined by the applicable performance goal formula, at the discretion of the Committee.  The amount of the Performance-Based Award determined by the Committee for a performance period shall be paid to the Participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, after the end of such performance period and after the Committee’s certification described above.

 

11.                                Operating Partnership Units

 

Awards may be granted under the Plan in the form of undivided fractional limited partnership interests in Urban Edge Properties LP (together with any successor entity, the “Operating Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, the entity through which the Trust conducts its business and an entity that has elected to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, of one or more classes (“OP Units”) established pursuant to the Operating Partnership’s agreement of limited partnership, as amended from time to time.  Awards of OP Units shall be valued by reference to, or otherwise determined by reference to or based on, Shares.  OP Units awarded under the Plan may be (1) convertible, exchangeable or redeemable for other limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership (including OP Units of a different class or series) or Shares, or (2) valued by reference to the book value, fair value or performance of the Operating Partnership.  Awards of OP Units are intended to qualify as “profits interests” within the meaning of IRS Revenue Procedure 93-27, as clarified by IRS Revenue Procedure 2001-43, with respect to a Participant in the Plan who is rendering services to or for the benefit of the Operating Partnership, including its subsidiaries.

 

For purposes of calculating the number of Shares underlying an award of OP Units relative to the total number of Share Equivalents available for issuance under the Plan, the Committee shall establish in good faith the maximum number of Shares to which a Participant receiving such award of OP Units may be entitled upon fulfillment of all applicable conditions set forth in the relevant award documentation, including vesting conditions, partnership capital account allocations, value accretion factors, conversion

 

8



 

ratios, exchange ratios and other similar criteria.  If and when any such conditions are no longer capable of being met, in whole or in part, the number of Shares underlying such awards of OP Units shall be reduced accordingly by the Committee, and the number of Share Equivalents shall be increased by one Share Equivalent for each Share so reduced.  Awards of OP Units may be granted either alone or in addition to other awards granted under the Plan.  The Committee shall determine the eligible Participants to whom, and the time or times at which, awards of OP Units shall be made; the number of OP Units to be awarded; the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for the acquisition of such OP Units; and the restrictions and conditions applicable to such award of OP Units.  Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other service relationship), computation of financial metrics and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives, with related length of the service period for vesting, minimum or maximum performance thresholds, measurement procedures and length of the performance period to be established by the Committee at the time of grant, in its sole discretion.  The Committee may allow awards of OP Units to be held through a limited partnership, or similar “look-through” entity, and the Committee may require such limited partnership or similar entity to impose restrictions on its partners or other beneficial owners that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 11 .  The provisions of the grant of OP Units need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

Notwithstanding Section 5 of the Plan, the award agreement or other award documentation in respect of an award of OP Units may provide that the recipient of an award under this Section 11 shall be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred or contingent basis, dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to the number of Shares underlying the award or other distributions from the Operating Partnership prior to vesting (whether based on a period of time or based on attainment of specified performance conditions), as determined at the time of grant by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and the Committee may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or OP Units.

 

OP Units awarded under this Section 11 may be issued for no cash consideration.

 

12.                                Award Agreements

 

Each award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement setting forth the terms and conditions, as determined by the Committee, which shall apply to such award, in addition to the terms and conditions specified in the Plan.

 

13.                               Withholding

 

The Trust shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made pursuant to the Plan, or to require prior to the issuance or delivery of any Shares or the payment of cash under the Plan, any taxes required by law to be withheld therefrom.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant who is an employee of the Trust or its subsidiaries to elect to satisfy such withholding obligation by having the Trust retain the number of Shares whose Fair Market Value equals the minimum statutory amount of taxes required by applicable law to be withheld.  Any fraction of a Share required to satisfy such obligation shall be disregarded, and the amount due shall instead be paid in cash to or by the Participant, as the case may be.

 

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14.                                Nontransferability

 

No award under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and no right or interest of any Participant shall be subject to any lien, obligation or liability of the Participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, at the time of grant or thereafter, that an award (other than stock options intended to be incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) is transferable by the Participant to such Participant’s immediate family members (or trusts, partnerships, or limited liability companies established for such immediate family members).  For this purpose, immediate family member means, except as otherwise defined by the Committee, the Participant’s children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, spouse, siblings (including half brothers and sisters), in-laws and persons related by reason of legal adoption.  Such transferees may transfer an award only by will or the laws of descent or distribution.  An award transferred pursuant to this Section 14 shall remain subject to the provisions of the Plan, and shall be subject to such other rules as the Committee shall determine.  Upon transfer of a stock option, any related stock appreciation right shall be canceled.  Except in the case of a holder’s incapacity, an award shall be exercisable only by the holder thereof.

 

15.                                No Right to Employment

 

No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an award, and the grant of an award shall not be construed as giving a Participant any right to continue his or her service to the Trust or its subsidiaries as an Employee, Non-Employee Trustee or Consultant.  Further, the Trust and its subsidiaries expressly reserve the right at any time to dismiss a Participant free from any liability, or any claim under the Plan, except as provided herein or in any agreement entered into hereunder.

 

16.                                Adjustment of and Changes in Shares

 

In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares by reason of any share dividend or split, reverse split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spinoff, combination or exchange of Shares or other corporate change, or any distributions to common shareholders other than regular cash dividends, the Committee shall make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to (i) the number of Share Equivalents for which awards may be granted under the Plan, (ii) the number or kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding awards, (iii) the individual Participant limitation set forth in Section 2 , and (iv) the number of Shares set forth in Section 2 that can be issued through incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code; provided , however , that no such substitution or adjustment shall be required if the Committee determines that such action could cause an award to fail to satisfy the conditions of an applicable exception from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”) or otherwise could subject a Participant to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A in respect of an outstanding award; and further provided that no Participant shall have the right to require the Committee to make any adjustment or substitution under this Section 16 or have any claim or right whatsoever against the Trust or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any of their respective trustees, directors, officer or employees in respect of any action taken or not taken under this Section 16 .

 

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17.                                Amendment

 

The Committee may amend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof from time to time, provided that no amendment shall be made without shareholder approval if such amendment (i) would increase the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (other than pursuant to Section 16 ), (ii) would materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan, (iii) would result in a material increase in the benefits accrued to Participants under the Plan, (iv) would reduce the exercise price of outstanding stock options or stock appreciation rights or cancel outstanding stock options or stock appreciation rights in exchange for cash, other awards or stock options or stock appreciation rights with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original stock options or stock appreciation rights (other than pursuant to Section 16 ) or (v) requires shareholder approval to comply with any applicable laws, regulations or rules, including the rules of a securities exchange or self-regulatory agency.

 

18.                                Section 409A

 

It is the Trust’s intent that awards under the Plan be exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A, and that the Plan be administered and interpreted accordingly.  If and to the extent that any award made under the Plan is determined by the Trust to constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A and is payable to a Participant by reason of the Participant’s termination of employment, then (a) such payment or benefit shall be made or provided to the Participant only upon a “separation from service” as defined for purposes of Section 409A under applicable regulations and (b) if the Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and as determined by the Trust), such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided before the date that is six months after the date of the Participant’s separation from service (or the Participant’s earlier death).

 

19.                                Effective Date

 

The Plan was adopted on October 23, 2014 by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees of Vornado Realty Trust, subject to the approval of Vornado Realty L.P. (as the sole shareholder of the Trust), and shall be effective as of the date the Trust is separated (the “Spinoff”) from Vornado Realty Trust (the “Effective Date”).  Subject to earlier termination pursuant to Section 17 , the Plan shall have a term of ten years from the Effective Date; provided , however , that all awards made under the Plan before its termination, and the Committee’s authority to administer the terms of such awards, will remain in effect until such awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and the applicable award agreements.

 

11


Exhibit 10.6

 

FORM OF URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES 2015 OMNIBUS SHARE PLAN
[INCENTIVE/NON-QUALIFIED] STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) made as of the date set forth on Schedule A hereto between Urban Edge Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”), and the employee of the Company or one of its affiliates listed on Schedule A (the “ Employee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                     In accordance with the Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan, as it may be amended or modified from time to time (the “ Plan ”), the Company desires, in connection with the employment of the Employee, to provide the Employee with an opportunity to acquire shares of the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share (the “ Common Shares ”), and thereby provide additional incentive for the Employee to promote the progress and success of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

B.                                     Schedule A hereto sets forth certain significant details of the option grant herein and is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings provided on Schedule A .

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.                                       GRANT OF OPTIONS : On the terms and conditions set forth below, as well as the terms and conditions of the Plan and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8 hereof, the Company hereby grants to the Employee the right to purchase (the “ Option ”) an aggregate of such number of Common Shares as is set forth on Schedule A at a purchase price per Common Share equal to the Exercise Price set forth on Schedule A . The Option [is/is not] intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) to the extent set forth on Schedule A .

 

2.                                       TERM OF OPTION : The term of the Option shall be the time period indicated on Schedule A from the date of grant referred to on Schedule A , subject to earlier termination or cancellation as provided in this Agreement.

 

Except as otherwise permitted under Section 7 hereof, the Option shall not be exercisable unless the Employee shall, at the time of exercise, be an employee of the Company or its affiliates.

 

3.                                       NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION : The Option shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and the Option may be exercised during the Employee’s lifetime only by the Employee. More particularly, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Option may not be assigned, transferred (except as provided in the preceding sentence), pledged, or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise), and shall not be

 



 

subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions of the Plan or this Agreement, and any levy of any attachment or similar process upon the Option, shall be null and void and without effect, and the Compensation Committee of the Company (the “ Committee ”) may, in its discretion, upon the happening of any such event, terminate the Option forthwith.

 

4.                                       EXERCISE OF OPTION : Unless terminated pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Option may be exercised as to not more than the Annual Option Vesting Amount (as defined on Schedule A ) of the aggregate number of Common Shares originally subject thereto commencing on the first Annual Vesting Date (as defined on Schedule A ) following the date of grant. Thereafter, on each Annual Vesting Date and until the expiration of the term of this Agreement (unless earlier terminated or canceled as provided in this Agreement), the Option may be exercised for an additional Annual Option Vesting Amount. To the extent that Schedule A provides for amounts or schedules of vesting that conflict with the provisions of this paragraph, the provisions of Schedule A will govern.

 

The right to purchase Common Shares pursuant to the Option shall be cumulative. If the full number of Common Shares available for purchase under the Option, to the extent the Option is vested, has not been purchased, the balance may be purchased at any time or from time to time thereafter, but prior to the termination of such Option. The Option shall not, however, be exercisable after the expiration thereof; and except as provided in Section 7 hereof, the Option shall not be exercisable unless the Employee is an employee of the Company or its affiliates at the time of exercise.

 

The holder of the Option shall not have any rights to dividends or any other rights of a shareholder with respect to the Common Shares subject to the Option until such Common Shares shall have been issued to him (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), upon the purchase of such Common Shares through exercise of the Option.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary set forth herein, upon (a) the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company and (b) the termination of employment of the Employee with the Company or its affiliates within 24 months of such Change in Control either (i) by the Company (or its successor) without Cause (as defined below) or (ii) by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined below), then the Option shall become vested and immediately exercisable in full. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Change in Control ” of the Company means the occurrence of one of the following events:

 

(i)                                      individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board of Trustees of the Company (the “ Incumbent Trustees ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Trustees (the “ Board ”), provided that any person becoming a trustee subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Trustees then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for trustee, without objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Trustee; provided , however , that no individual initially elected or nominated as a trustee of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to trustees or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Trustee;

 

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(ii)                                   any “person” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes, after the date hereof, a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the “ Company Voting Securities ”); provided , however , that an event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control if any of following becomes such a beneficial owner: (A) the Company or any majority-owned subsidiary of the Company ( provided that this exclusion applies solely to the ownership levels of the Company or the majority-owned subsidiary), (B) any tax-qualified, broad-based employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any such majority-owned subsidiary, (C) any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) any person pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii));

 

(iii)                                the consummation of a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar form of transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (a “ Business Transaction ”), unless immediately following such Business Transaction (a) more than 50% of the total voting power of the entity resulting from such Business Transaction or the entity acquiring the Company’s assets in such Business Transaction (the “ Surviving Corporation ”) is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to any such Business Transaction, and (b) no person (other than the persons set forth in clauses (A), (B) or (C) of paragraph (ii) above or any tax-qualified, broad-based employee benefit plan of the Surviving Corporation or its affiliates) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the total voting power of the Surviving Corporation (a “ Non-Qualifying Transaction ”); or

 

(iv)                               Board approval of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, unless the voting common equity interests of an ongoing entity (other than a liquidating trust) are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company’s shareholders in substantially the same proportions as such shareholders owned the Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such liquidation and such ongoing entity assumes all existing obligations of the Company to Employee under this Agreement.

 

For the purposes of this Section and Section 7, “ Cause ” will mean, with respect to the Employee, the Employee’s: (a) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony pertaining or otherwise relating to his or her employment with the Company or an affiliate; or (b) willful misconduct that is materially economically injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, in each case as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. For the purposes of this Section, “ Good Reason ” will mean (a) the assignment to the Employee of duties materially and adversely inconsistent with the Employee’s status prior to the Change in Control or a material and adverse alteration in the nature of the Employee’s duties, responsibilities or authority; (b) a reduction in the Employee’s base salary; or (c) a relocation of the Employee’s own office location to a location more than 30 miles from its location prior to the Change in Control. In the event the Employee is a party to an employment agreement with the Company or an affiliate thereof, and the definitions of Cause or Good Reason contained herein conflict with terms provided therefor in such employment agreement (or similar terms or provisions intended to cover substantially

 

3



 

similar circumstances), the definitions contained in such employment agreement will govern.

 

5.                                       METHOD OF EXERCISE : The Option shall be exercisable by written notice specifying the number of Common Shares purchased and accompanied by payment in full in cash or by certified or bank cashier’s check payable to the order of the Company, by tender of Common Shares owned by the employee valued at fair market value as of the date of exercise or by a combination of cash and Common Shares. Upon delivery, by hand or by registered mail directed to the Company at its executive offices (currently at 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 Attn: Stock Option Administrator), the Company shall issue the number of Common Shares purchased, which issuance shall, in the event of a hand delivery of the exercise price, occur immediately upon such delivery, provided the holder of the Option shall have given two business days’ advance notice of such delivery. In no case may a fraction of a Common Share be purchased or issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option. The Option shall be deemed to have been exercised with respect to any particular Common Shares, if, and only if, the provisions of this Agreement shall have been complied with, in which event the Option shall be deemed to have been exercised on the date on which the notice described above shall have been delivered to the Company. The certificate or certificates of Common Shares as to which the Options shall be exercised shall be registered in the name of the person or persons exercising the Option.

 

6.                                       RESTRICTIONS ON COMMON SHARES : Common Shares issued upon the exercise of the Option shall be issued only to the holder of the Option. Any restrictions upon transfer of Common Shares issued upon the exercise of the Option, which in the opinion of the Company’s counsel are required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall be noted on the certificate thereof by appropriate legend.

 

7.                                       TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT : Any Options held by the Employee upon termination of employment shall remain exercisable as follows:

 

(I)                                    If the Employee’s termination of employment is due to death, all unvested Options shall become immediately exercisable in full and shall be exercisable by the Employee’s designated beneficiary, or, if none, the person(s) to whom such Employee’s rights under the Option are transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution for the Applicable Option Exercise Period (as defined on Schedule A ) following the date of death (but in no event beyond the term of the Option), and shall thereafter terminate;

 

(II)                               If the Employee’s termination of employment is due to disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, or Section 422(c)(6) of the Code if this Option is intended to be an incentive stock option), all unvested Options shall become immediately exercisable in full and shall be exercisable for the Applicable Option Exercise Period following such termination of employment (but in no event beyond the term of the Option), and shall thereafter terminate;

 

(III)                          If the Employee’s termination of employment is due to retirement on or after the attainment of age 65, all unvested Options shall become immediately exercisable in full and shall be exercisable for the Applicable Option Exercise Period following such retirement (but in no event beyond the term of the Option), and shall thereafter terminate;

 

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(IV)                           If the Employee’s termination of employment is for Cause, all Options, to the extent not vested, shall terminate on the date of termination and, all other Options, to the extent exercisable as of the date of termination, shall be exercisable for the Applicable Option Exercise Period, if any, following such termination of employment (but in no event beyond the term of the Option), and shall thereafter terminate; and

 

(V)                                If the Employee’s termination of employment is for any reason other than as set forth in clause (I), (II), (III) or (IV) of this Section 7, all unvested Options shall terminate on the date of termination, and all other Options, to the extent exercisable as of the date of termination, shall be exercisable for the Applicable Option Exercise Period following such termination of employment (but in no event beyond the term of the Option), and shall thereafter terminate. An Employee’s status as an employee shall not be considered terminated in the case of a leave of absence agreed to in writing by the Company (including, but not limited to, military and sick leave); provided that such leave is for a period of not more than one year or re-employment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute.

 

8.                                       RECLASSIFICATION, CONSOLIDATION OR MERGER : In the event of any change in the outstanding Common Shares by reason of any share dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of Common Shares or other corporate change, or any distributions to common shareholders other than regular dividends, the Committee shall make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to the Exercise Price and the number or kind of Common Shares issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan and to outstanding awards or make such other cash or other distribution as is equitable. If the Company is reorganized or consolidated or merged with another corporation, the Employee shall be entitled to receive options covering shares of such reorganized, consolidated or merged company in the same proportion, at an equivalent price, and subject to the same conditions. For purposes of the preceding sentence the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to the Option immediately after the reorganization, consolidation or merger over the aggregate option price of such shares shall not be more than the excess of the aggregate fair market value of all shares subject to the Option immediately before the reorganization, consolidation or merger over the aggregate option price of the shares, and the new Option or assumption of the old Option shall not give the Employee additional benefits which he did not have under the old Option.

 

9.                                       APPROVAL OF COUNSEL : The issuance and delivery of Common Shares pursuant to the Option shall be subject to the reasonable approval by the Company’s counsel with respect to compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the requirements of any national securities exchange upon which the Common Shares may then be listed as in compliance with any other law or regulation, including, but not limited to, Section 856 of the Code.

 

10.                                NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT : Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of the Company or any affiliate to terminate the Employee’s services, responsibilities and duties at any time for any reason whatsoever.

 

5



 

11.                                GOVERNING LAW : This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without references to principles of conflict of laws.

 

12.                                SEVERABILITY : If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement not so held invalid, and each such other provision shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way affect the rest of such provision not held so invalid, and the rest of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Agreement, shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

 

13.                                HEADINGS : The headings of paragraphs hereof are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

14.                                COUNTERPARTS : This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if each of the signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.

 

15.                                BENEFITS OF AGREEMENT : This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each successor of the Company. All obligations imposed upon the Employee and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Employee’s heirs, legal representatives and successors. The Agreement shall be the sole and exclusive source of any and all rights which the Employee or his heirs, legal representatives or successors may have in respect to the Option and any Common Shares granted or issued hereunder whether to himself or any other person.

 

16.                                MISCELLANEOUS : This Agreement may not be amended except in writing signed by the Company and the Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended in writing signed only by the Company to: (a) correct any errors or ambiguities in this Agreement; and/or (b) to make such changes that do not materially adversely affect the Employee’s rights hereunder. This option grant shall in no way affect the Employee’s participation or benefits under any other plan or benefit program maintained or provided by the Company. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern.

 

17.                                CONFLICT WITH EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT : If (and only if) the Employee and the Company or its affiliates have entered into an employment agreement, in the event of any conflict between any of the provisions of this Agreement and any such employment agreement (in particular, but without limitation, with respect to the definition of “Cause”), the provisions of such employment agreement will govern. As further provided in Section 10, nothing herein shall imply that any employment agreement exists between the Employee and the Company or its affiliates.

 

18.                                TAX WITHHOLDING : The Company or its applicable affiliate has the right to withhold from other compensation payable to the Employee any and all applicable income and employment taxes due and owing with respect to the Options to the extent such amount is required to be paid by the Company or its applicable affiliate (the “ Withholding Amount ”), and/or to delay delivery of Common Shares until appropriate arrangements have been made for payment of such withholding. In the alternative, the

 

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Company has the right to retain and cancel, or sell or otherwise dispose of, such number of Common Shares underlying Options as have a market value (determined at date the Withholding Amount becomes payable) approximately equal to the Withholding Amount, with any excess proceeds being paid to Employee.

 

19.                                ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .  The Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement and the Option issued hereunder shall constitute satisfaction in full of all obligations of the Company, if any, to grant to the Employee stock options pursuant to the terms of any written employment agreement or letter or other written offer or description of employment with the Company executed prior to or coincident with the date hereof.

 

[ signature page follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EMPLOYEE]

 

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SCHEDULE A TO OPTION AGREEMENT

 

(Terms being defined are in quotation marks.)

 

Date of Option Agreement:

 

As of

 

 

 

Name of Employee:

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Common Shares Subject to Grant:

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise Price ”:

 

 

 

 

 

Date of Grant:

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive and/or Non-Qualified Options

 

Number of:

Incentive Stock Options (ISO)
Non-Qualified Stock Options (NQ)

 

 

 

Term of Option from Date of Grant:

 

(Check the applicable box to indicate term of Option)

 

 

 

 

 

o

Ten years — expires on                , 20

 

 

o

Five years — expires on                , 20

 

 

o

 

Vesting Period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Option Vesting Amount
Insert the number of Options that vest each year or other applicable vesting schedule.

 

20 -
20 -
20 -
20 -
20 -

(NQ) and
(NQ) and
(NQ) and
(NQ) and
(NQ) and

(ISO)
(ISO)
(ISO)
(ISO)
(ISO)

 

 

 

Annual Vesting Date ” (or if such date is not a business day, on the next succeeding business day):

 

 

 

 

 

Insert the calendar date of each year in which Options will vest or other appropriate vesting schedule.

 

 

 

A- 1



 

Applicable Option Exercise Period ”:
Insert the period following termination for which an Option may still be exercised for each event referenced and as cross-referenced to the applicable Section of the Agreement.

 

Death (Section 7(I)):

Disability (Section 7(II)):

Retirement (Section 7(III)):

Cause (Section 7(IV)):

Other Termination (Section 7(V)):

 

 

 

Initials of Company representative:

 

 

 

 

 

Initials of Employee:

 

 

 

A- 2


Exhibit 10.7

 

FORM OF URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES 2015 OMNIBUS SHARE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT

 

RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ” or “ Restricted Stock Agreement ”), made as of the date set forth on Schedule A hereto between URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”), and the employee of the Company or one of its affiliates listed on Schedule A (the “ Employee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A. In accordance with the Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), the Company desires, in connection with the employment of the Employee, to provide the Employee with an opportunity to acquire shares of the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Shares ”), and thereby provide additional incentive for the Employee to promote the progress and success of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

B. Schedule A hereto sets forth certain significant details of the share grant herein and is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings provided on Schedule A .

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.                                       Grant of Restricted Stock . On the terms and conditions set forth below, as well as the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Employee such number of Common Shares as is set forth on Schedule A (the “ Restricted Stock ”).

 

2.                                       Vesting Period . The vesting period of the Restricted Stock (the “ Vesting Period ”) begins on the Grant Date and continues until such date as is set forth on Schedule A as the date on which the Restricted Stock is fully vested. On the first Annual Vesting Date following the date of this Agreement and each Annual Vesting Date thereafter, the number of shares of Restricted Stock equal to the Annual Vesting Amount shall become vested, subject to earlier forfeiture as provided in this Agreement. To the extent that Schedule A provides for amounts or schedules of vesting that conflict with the provisions of this paragraph, the provisions of Schedule A will govern. Except as permitted under Section 10, the shares of Restricted Stock for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered (whether voluntary or involuntary or by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal or equitable proceeding).

 

The Employee shall not have the right to receive dividends paid on shares of Restricted Stock for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired. In lieu thereof, the Employee shall have the right to receive from the Company an amount, in cash, equal to the dividends payable on shares of Restricted Stock for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired, provided the Employee is employed by the Company or its affiliates

 



 

on the payroll date coinciding with or immediately following the date any such dividends are paid on the Restricted Stock.

 

The Employee shall have the right to vote the Restricted Stock, regardless of whether the applicable Vesting Period has expired.

 

3.                                       Forfeiture of Restricted Stock . If the employment of the Employee by the Company or its affiliates terminates for any reason except death or following a Change in Control as described below, the shares of Restricted Stock for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired as of the date of such termination shall be forfeited and returned to the Company. Upon the Employee’s death, all of the shares of Restricted Stock (whether or not vested) shall become fully vested and shall not be forfeitable. Upon the occurrence of (a) a Change in Control of the Company, and (b) the termination of employment of the Employee with the Company or its affiliates within 24 months of such Change in Control either (i) by the Company (or its successor) without Cause (as defined below) or (ii) by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined below), then any shares of Restricted Stock for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired, shall become fully vested and shall not be forfeitable. For purposes of this Restricted Stock Agreement, a “ Change in Control ” of the Company means the occurrence of one of the following events:

 

(i)                                      individuals who, on the Grant Date, constitute the Board of Trustees of the Company (the “ Incumbent Trustees ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Trustees (the “ Board ”), provided that any person becoming a trustee subsequent to the Grant Date whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Trustees then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for trustee, without objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Trustee; provided , however , that no individual initially elected or nominated as a trustee of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to trustees or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Trustee;

 

(ii)                                   any “person” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes, after the Grant Date, a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the “ Company Voting Securities ”); provided , however , that an event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control if any of following becomes such a beneficial owner: (A) the Company or any majority-owned subsidiary of the Company ( provided that this exclusion applies solely to the ownership levels of the Company or the majority-owned subsidiary), (B) any tax-qualified, broad-based employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any such majority-owned subsidiary, (C) any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) any person pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii));

 

(iii)                                the consummation of a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar form of transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (a “ Business Transaction ”),

 

2



 

unless immediately following such Business Transaction (a) more than 50% of the total voting power of the entity resulting from such Business Transaction or the entity acquiring the Company’s assets in such Business Transaction (the “ Surviving Corporation ”) is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to any such Business Transaction, and (b) no person (other than the persons set forth in clauses (A), (B) or (C) of paragraph (ii) above or any tax-qualified, broad-based employee benefit plan of the Surviving Corporation or its affiliates) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the total voting power of the Surviving Corporation (a “ Non-Qualifying Transaction ”); or

 

(iv)                               Board approval of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, unless the voting common equity interests of an ongoing entity (other than a liquidating trust) are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company’s shareholders in substantially the same proportions as such shareholders owned the Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such liquidation and such ongoing entity assumes all existing obligations of the Company to Employee under this Restricted Stock Agreement.

 

For the purposes of this Section, “ Cause ” will mean, with respect to the Employee, the Employee’s: (a) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony pertaining or otherwise relating to his or her employment with the Company or an affiliate; or (b) willful misconduct that is materially economically injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, in each case as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. For the purposes of this Section, “ Good Reason ” will mean (a) the assignment to the Employee of duties materially and adversely inconsistent with the Employee’s status prior to the Change in Control or a material and adverse alteration in the nature of the Employee’s duties, responsibilities or authority; (b) a reduction in the Employee’s base salary; or (c) a relocation of the Employee’s own office location to a location more than 30 miles from its location prior to the Change in Control. In the event the Employee is a party to an employment agreement with the Company or an affiliate thereof, and the definitions of Cause or Good Reason contained herein conflict with terms provided therefor in such employment agreement (or similar terms or provisions intended to cover substantially similar circumstances), the definitions contained in such employment agreement will govern.

 

4.                                       Certificates . Each certificate issued in respect of the Restricted Stock awarded under this Restricted Stock Agreement shall be registered in the Employee’s name and held by the Company until the expiration of the applicable Vesting Period. At the expiration of each Vesting Period, the Company shall deliver to the Employee (or, if applicable, to the Employee’s legal representatives, beneficiaries or heirs) certificates representing the number of Common Shares that vested upon the expiration of such Vesting Period. The Employee agrees that any resale of the Common Shares received upon the expiration of the applicable Vesting Period shall not occur during the “blackout periods” forbidding sales of Company securities, as set forth in the then-applicable Company employee manual or insider trading policy. In addition, any resale shall be made in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an applicable exemption therefrom, including, without limitation, the exemption provided by Rule 144 promulgated thereunder (or any successor rule).

 

5.                                       Tax Withholding . The Company or its applicable affiliate has the right to withhold from cash compensation payable to the Employee all applicable income and employment taxes due and owing at the time the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock

 

3



 

becomes includible in the Employee’s income (the “ Withholding Amount ”), and/or to delay delivery of Restricted Stock until appropriate arrangements have been made for payment of such withholding. In the alternative, the Company has the right to retain and cancel, or sell or otherwise dispose of, such number of shares of Restricted Stock as have a market value, determined at date the applicable shares vest, approximately equal to the Withholding Amount, with any excess proceeds being paid to Employee.

 

6.                                       Certain Adjustments . In the event of any change in the outstanding Common Shares by reason of any share dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other corporate change, or any distribution to common shareholders other than regular dividends, any shares or other securities received by the Employee with respect to the applicable Restricted Stock for which the Vesting Period shall not have expired will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock with respect to an equivalent number of shares and shall be deposited with the Company.

 

7.                                       No Right to Employment . Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of the Company or any affiliate to terminate the Employee’s services, responsibilities and duties at any time for any reason whatsoever.

 

8.                                       Notice . Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company at 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, and any notice to be given the Employee shall be addressed to the Employee at the Employee’s address as it appears on the employment records of the Company, or at such other address as the Company or the Employee may hereafter designate in writing to the other.

 

9.                                       Governing Law . This Restricted Stock Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without references to principles of conflict of laws.

 

10.                                Successors and Assigns . This Restricted Stock Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and any successors to the Company and any successors to the Employee by will or the laws of descent and distribution, but this Restricted Stock Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable or otherwise subject to hypothecation by the Employee.

 

11.                                Severability . If, for any reason, any provision of this Restricted Stock Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Restricted Stock Agreement not so held invalid, and each such other provision shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Restricted Stock Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way affect the rest of such provision not held so invalid, and the rest of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Restricted Stock Agreement, shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

 

12.                                Headings . The headings of paragraphs hereof are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Restricted Stock Agreement.

 

13.                                Counterparts . This Restricted Stock Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if each of the signing parties had signed the

 

4



 

same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.

 

14.                                Miscellaneous . This Restricted Stock Agreement may not be amended except in writing signed by the Company and the Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Restricted Stock Agreement may be amended in writing signed only by the Company to: (a) correct any errors or ambiguities in this Restricted Stock Agreement; and/or (b) to make such changes that do not materially adversely affect the Employee’s rights hereunder. This grant shall in no way affect the Employee’s participation or benefits under any other plan or benefit program maintained or provided by the Company. In the event of a conflict between this Restricted Stock Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern.

 

15.                                CONFLICT WITH EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT . If (and only if) the Employee and the Company or its affiliates have entered into an employment agreement, in the event of any conflict between any of the provisions of this Agreement and any such employment agreement, the provisions of such employment agreement will govern. As further provided in Section 7, nothing herein shall imply that any employment agreement exists between the Employee and the Company or its affiliates.

 

16.                                Acknowledgement .  The Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Restricted Stock Agreement and the Restricted Stock issued hereunder shall constitute satisfaction in full of all obligations of the Company, if any, to grant to the Employee restricted shares pursuant to the terms of any written employment agreement or letter or other written offer or description of employment with the Company executed prior to or coincident with the date hereof.

 

[ signature page follows ]

 

5



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Restricted Stock Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EMPLOYEE]

 

6



 

SCHEDULE A TO RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT

 

(Terms being defined are in quotation marks.)

 

Date of Restricted Stock Agreement:

 

As of:

 

 

 

Name of Employee:

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Common Shares Subject to Grant:

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date ”:

 

 

 

 

 

Date on which Restricted Stock is Fully Vested:

 

 

 

 

 

Vesting Period:

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Vesting Amount
Insert the number of shares of Restricted Stock that vest each year or other applicable vesting schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Vesting Date
(or if such date is not a business day, on the next succeeding business day): Insert the calendar date of each year on which shares of Restricted Stock will vest or other appropriate vesting schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

Initials of Company representative:

 

 

 

 

 

Initials of Employee:

 

 

 

A- 1


Exhibit 10.8

 

FORM OF URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES OMNIBUS SHARE PLAN
RESTRICTED LTIP UNIT AGREEMENT

 

RESTRICTED LTIP UNIT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ” or “ Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement ”) made as of the date set forth on Schedule A hereto between URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”), its subsidiary Urban Edge Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and the employee of the Company or one of its affiliates listed on Schedule A (the “ Employee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                     In accordance with the Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), the Company desires, in connection with the employment of the Employee, to provide the Employee with an opportunity to acquire LTIP Units (as defined in the agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership, as amended (the “ Partnership Agreement ”)) having the rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption and conversion set forth herein, in the Plan and in the Partnership Agreement, and thereby provide additional incentive for the Employee to promote the progress and success of the business of the Company, the Partnership and its subsidiaries.

 

B.                                     Schedule A hereto sets forth certain significant details of the LTIP Unit grant herein and is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings provided on Schedule A .

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Partnership and the Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.                                       Grant of Restricted LTIP Units . On the terms and conditions set forth below, as well as the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Employee such number of LTIP Units as is set forth on Schedule A (the “ Restricted LTIP Units ”).

 

2.                                       Vesting Period . The vesting period of the Restricted LTIP Units (the “ Vesting Period ”) begins on the Grant Date and continues until such date as is set forth on Schedule A as the date on which the Restricted LTIP Units are fully vested. On the first Annual Vesting Date following the date of this Agreement and each Annual Vesting Date thereafter, the number of LTIP Units equal to the Annual Vesting Amount shall become vested, subject to earlier forfeiture as provided in this Agreement. To the extent that Schedule A provides for amounts or schedules of vesting that conflict with the provisions of this paragraph, the provisions of Schedule A will govern. Except as permitted under Section 10, the Restricted LTIP Units for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered (whether voluntary or involuntary or by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal or equitable proceeding).

 



 

The Employee shall be entitled to receive distributions with respect to Restricted LTIP Units to the extent provided for in the Partnership Agreement, as modified hereby, if applicable. The Distribution Participation Date (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) for the Restricted LTIP Units shall be the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee shall not have the right to receive cash distributions paid on Restricted LTIP Units for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired unless the Employee is employed by the Company or an affiliate on the payroll date coinciding with or immediately following the date any such distributions are payable.

 

The Employee shall have the right to vote the Restricted LTIP Units if and when voting is allowed under the Partnership Agreement, regardless of whether the applicable Vesting Period has expired.

 

3.                                       Forfeiture of Restricted LTIP Units . If the employment of the Employee by the Company or an affiliate terminates for any reason except death or following a Change in Control as described below, the Restricted LTIP Units for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired as of the date of such termination shall be forfeited and returned to the Company for delivery to the Partnership and cancellation. Upon the Employee’s death, all of the Restricted LTIP Units (whether or not vested) shall become fully vested and shall not be forfeitable. Upon the occurrence of (a) a Change in Control of the Company, and (b) the termination of employment of the Employee with the Company or its affiliates within 24 months of such Change in Control either (i) by the Company (or its successor) without Cause (as defined below) or (ii) by the Employee for Good Reason (as defined below), then any Restricted LTIP Units for which the applicable Vesting Period has not expired shall become fully vested and shall not be forfeitable. For purposes of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement, a “ Change in Control ” of the Company means the occurrence of one of the following events:

 

(i)                                      individuals who, on the Grant Date, constitute the Board of Trustees of the Company (the “ Incumbent Trustees ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Trustees (the “ Board ”), provided that any person becoming a trustee subsequent to the Grant Date whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Trustees then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for trustee, without objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Trustee; provided , however , that no individual initially elected or nominated as a trustee of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to trustees or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Trustee;

 

(ii)                                   any “person” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”) and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes, after the Grant Date, a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the “ Company Voting Securities ”); provided , however , that an event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control if any of following becomes such a beneficial owner: (A) the Company or any majority-owned subsidiary of the Company ( provided that this exclusion applies solely to the ownership levels of the Company or the majority-owned subsidiary), (B) any tax-qualified, broad-based employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained

 

2



 

by the Company or any such majority-owned subsidiary, (C) any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) any person pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii));

 

(iii)                                the consummation of a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar form of transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (a “ Business Transaction ”), unless immediately following such Business Transaction (a) more than 50% of the total voting power of the entity resulting from such Business Transaction or the entity acquiring the Company’s assets in such Business Transaction (the “ Surviving Corporation ”) is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to any such Business Transaction, and (b) no person (other than the persons set forth in clauses (A), (B) or (C) of paragraph (ii) above or any tax-qualified, broad-based employee benefit plan of the Surviving Corporation or its affiliates) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the total voting power of the Surviving Corporation (a “ Non-Qualifying Transaction ”); or

 

(iv)                               Board approval of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, unless the voting common equity interests of an ongoing entity (other than a liquidating trust) are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company’s shareholders in substantially the same proportions as such shareholders owned the Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such liquidation and such ongoing entity assumes all existing obligations of the Company to Employee under this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement.

 

For the purposes of this Section, “ Cause ” will mean, with respect to the Employee, the Employee’s: (a) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony pertaining or otherwise relating to his or her employment with the Company or an affiliate; or (b) willful misconduct that is materially economically injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, in each case as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. For the purposes of this Section, “ Good Reason ” will mean (a) the assignment to the Employee of duties materially and adversely inconsistent with the Employee’s status prior to the Change in Control or a material and adverse alteration in the nature of the Employee’s duties, responsibilities or authority; (b) a reduction in the Employee’s base salary; or (c) a relocation of the Employee’s own office location to a location more than 30 miles from its location prior to the Change in Control. In the event the Employee is a party to an employment agreement with the Company or an affiliate thereof, and the definitions of Cause or Good Reason contained herein conflict with terms provided therefor in such employment agreement (or similar terms or provisions intended to cover substantially similar circumstances), the definitions contained in such employment agreement will govern.

 

4.                                       Certificates . Each certificate, if any, issued in respect of the Restricted LTIP Units awarded under this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall be registered in the Employee’s name and held by the Company until the expiration of the applicable Vesting Period. If certificates representing the LTIP Units are issued by the Partnership, at the expiration of each Vesting Period, the Company shall deliver to the Employee (or, if applicable, to the Employee’s legal representatives, beneficiaries or heirs) certificates representing the number of LTIP Units that vested upon the expiration of such Vesting Period. The Employee agrees that any resale of the LTIP Units received upon the expiration of the applicable Vesting Period (or shares of the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Shares ”) received upon

 

3



 

redemption of or in exchange for LTIP Units or Class A Units of the Partnership into which LTIP Units may have been converted) shall not occur during the “blackout periods” forbidding sales of Company securities, as set forth in the then-applicable Company employee manual or insider trading policy. In addition, any resale shall be made in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or an applicable exemption therefrom, including, without limitation, the exemption provided by Rule 144 promulgated thereunder (or any successor rule).

 

5.                                       Tax Withholding . The Company or its applicable affiliate has the right to withhold from cash compensation payable to the Employee all applicable income and employment taxes due and owing at the time the applicable portion of the Restricted LTIP Units becomes includible in the Employee’s income (the “ Withholding Amount ”), and/or to delay delivery of Restricted LTIP Units until appropriate arrangements have been made for payment of such withholding. In the alternative, the Company has the right to retain and cancel, or sell or otherwise dispose of, such number of Restricted LTIP Units as have a market value (determined as of the date the applicable LTIP Units vest) approximately equal to the Withholding Amount, with any excess proceeds being paid to Employee.

 

6.                                       Certain Adjustments . If (i) the Company shall at any time be involved in a merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, reorganization, exchange of shares, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the Company or other transaction similar thereto, (ii) any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, stock combination, reclassification, recapitalization, significant repurchases of stock, or other similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or any extraordinary dividend or other distribution to holders of Common Shares or Class A Units other than regular dividends shall occur, or (iii) any other event shall occur that in each case in the good faith judgment of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Committee ”) necessitates action by way of appropriate equitable adjustment in the terms of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement, the Plan or the LTIP Units, then the Committee shall take such action as it deems necessary to maintain the Employee’s rights hereunder so that they are substantially proportionate to the rights existing under this Agreement and the terms of the LTIP Units prior to such event, including, without limitation: (A) adjustments in the LTIP Units; and (B) substitution of other awards under the Plan or otherwise. In the event of any change in the outstanding Common Shares (or corresponding change in the Conversion Factor (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) applicable to Class A Units of the Partnership) by reason of any share dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other corporate change, or any distribution to common shareholders of the Company other than regular dividends, any Class A Units, shares or other securities received by the Employee with respect to the applicable Restricted LTIP Units for which the Vesting Period shall not have expired will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted LTIP Units with respect to an equivalent number of shares or securities and shall be deposited with the Company.

 

7.                                       No Right to Employment . Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of the Company or any affiliate to terminate the Employee’s services, responsibilities and duties at any time for any reason whatsoever.

 

8.                                       Notice . Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Executive Vice President of the Company at 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, and any notice to be given the Employee shall be addressed to the Employee at the Employee’s address as it appears on the employment records of the Company, or at such other address as the Company or the Employee may hereafter designate in writing to the other.

 

4



 

9.                                       Governing Law . This Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without references to principles of conflict of laws.

 

10.                                Successors and Assigns . This Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and any successors to the Company and any successors to the Employee by will or the laws of descent and distribution, but this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable or otherwise subject to hypothecation by the Employee. None of the LTIP Units shall be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered (whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal or equitable proceeding) (each such action, a “ Transfer ”), or redeemed in accordance with the Partnership Agreement (a) prior to vesting and (b) unless such Transfer is in compliance with all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act), and such Transfer is in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement. Any attempted Transfer of LTIP Units not in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 10 shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall not reflect on its records any change in record ownership of any LTIP Units as a result of any such Transfer, and shall otherwise refuse to recognize any such Transfer.

 

11.                                Severability . If, for any reason, any provision of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement not so held invalid, and each such other provision shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way affect the rest of such provision not held so invalid, and the rest of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement, shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

 

12.                                Headings . The headings of paragraphs hereof are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement.

 

13.                                Counterparts . This Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if each of the signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.

 

14.                                Miscellaneous . This Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement may not be amended except in writing signed by the Company and the Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement may be amended in writing signed only by the Company to: (a) correct any errors or ambiguities in this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement; and/or (b) to make such changes that do not materially adversely affect the Employee’s rights hereunder. This grant shall in no way affect the Employee’s participation or benefits under any other plan or benefit program maintained or provided by the Company. In the event of a conflict between this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern.

 

15.                                Conflict With Employment Agreement . If (and only if) the Employee and the Company or its affiliates have entered into an employment agreement, in the event of any conflict between any of the provisions of this Agreement and any such employment agreement, the provisions of such employment agreement will govern. As further provided

 

5



 

in Section 7, nothing herein shall imply that any employment agreement exists between the Employee and the Company or its affiliates.

 

16.                                Status as a Partner . As of the Grant Date, the Employee shall be admitted as a partner of the Partnership with beneficial ownership of the number of LTIP Units issued to the Employee as of such date pursuant to this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement by: (A) signing and delivering to the Partnership a copy of this Agreement; and (B) signing, as a Limited Partner, and delivering to the Partnership a counterpart signature page to the Partnership Agreement (attached hereto as Exhibit A ).

 

17.                                Status of LTIP Units under the Plan . The LTIP Units are both issued as equity securities of the Partnership and granted as awards under the Plan. The Company will have the right at its option, as set forth in the Partnership Agreement, to issue Common Shares in exchange for Class A Units into which LTIP Units may have been converted pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Partnership Agreement, and such Common Shares, if issued, will be issued under the Plan. The Employee must be eligible to receive the LTIP Units in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and to that effect is required to complete, execute and deliver certain covenants, representations and warranties (attached as Exhibit B ). The Employee acknowledges that the Employee will have no right to approve or disapprove such determination by the Company.

 

18.                                Investment Representations; Registration . The Employee hereby makes the covenants, representations and warranties as set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto. All of such covenants, warranties and representations shall survive the execution and delivery of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement by the Employee. The Partnership will have no obligation to register under the Securities Act any LTIP Units or any other securities issued pursuant to this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement or upon conversion or exchange of LTIP Units.

 

19.                                Section 83(b) Election . In connection with this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement, the Employee hereby agrees to make an election to include in gross income in the year of transfer the applicable LTIP Units pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C and to supply the necessary information in accordance with the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

20.                                Acknowledgement .  The Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement and the LTIP Units issued hereunder shall constitute satisfaction in full of all obligations of the Company and the Partnership, if any, to grant to the Employee LTIP Units pursuant to the terms of any written employment agreement or letter or other written offer or description of employment with the Company and/or the Partnership executed prior to or coincident with the date hereof.

 

[ signature page follows ]

 

6



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

7



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF LIMITED PARTNER SIGNATURE PAGE

 

The Employee, desiring to become one of the within named Limited Partners of Urban Edge Properties LP, hereby accepts all of the terms and conditions of (including, without limitation, the provisions related to powers of attorney), and becomes a party to, the Limited Partnership Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2014, of Urban Edge Properties LP, as amended (the “ Partnership Agreement ”). The Employee agrees that this signature page may be attached to any counterpart of the Partnership Agreement and further agrees as follows (where the term “Limited Partner” refers to the Employee): Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Partnership Agreement.

 

1.                                       The Limited Partner hereby confirms that it has reviewed the terms of the Partnership Agreement and affirms and agrees that it is bound by each of the terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions thereof relating to limitations and restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Units.

 

2.                                       The Limited Partner hereby confirms that it is acquiring the Partnership Units for its own account as principal, for investment and not with a view to resale or distribution, and that the Partnership Units may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Limited Partner otherwise than in a transaction pursuant to a registration statement filed by the Partnership (which it has no obligation to file) or that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and all applicable state and foreign securities laws, and the General Partner may refuse to transfer any Partnership Units as to which evidence of such registration or exemption from registration satisfactory to the General Partner is not provided to it, which evidence may include the requirement of a legal opinion regarding the exemption from such registration. If the General Partner delivers to the Limited Partner Common Shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner (“ Common Shares ”) upon redemption of any Partnership Units, the Common Shares will be acquired for the Limited Partner’s own account as principal, for investment and not with a view to resale or distribution, and the Common Shares may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Limited Partner otherwise than in a transaction pursuant to a registration statement filed by the General Partner with respect to such Common Shares (which it has no obligation under the Partnership Agreement to file) or that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and all applicable state and foreign securities laws, and the General Partner may refuse to transfer any Common Shares as to which evidence of such registration or exemption from such registration satisfactory to the General Partner is not provided to it, which evidence may include the requirement of a legal opinion regarding the exemption from such registration.

 

3.                                       The Limited Partner hereby affirms that it has appointed the General Partner, any Liquidator and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead, in accordance with Section 2.4 of the Partnership Agreement, which section is hereby incorporated by reference. The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and not be affected by the death, incompetency, dissolution, disability, incapacity, bankruptcy or termination

 

Exhibit A- 1



 

 

of the Limited Partner and shall extend to the Limited Partner’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

4.                                       The Limited Partner hereby confirms that, notwithstanding any provisions of the Partnership Agreement to the contrary, the LTIP Units shall not be redeemable by the Limited Partner pursuant to Section 8.6 of the Partnership Agreement.

 

5.                                       (a)  The Limited Partner hereby irrevocably consents in advance to any amendment to the Partnership Agreement, as may be recommended by the General Partner, intended to avoid the Partnership being treated as a publicly-traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code, including, without limitation, (x) any amendment to the provisions of Section 8.6 of the Partnership Agreement intended to increase the waiting period between the delivery of a Notice of Redemption and the Specified Redemption Date and/or the Valuation Date to up to sixty (60) days or (y) any other amendment to the Partnership Agreement intended to make the redemption and transfer provisions, with respect to certain redemptions and transfers, more similar to the provisions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(f).

 

(b)                                  The Limited Partner hereby appoints the General Partner, any Liquidator and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to execute and deliver any amendment referred to in the foregoing paragraph 5(a) on the Limited Partner’s behalf. The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and not be affected by the death, incompetency, dissolution, disability, incapacity, bankruptcy or termination of the Limited Partner and shall extend to the Limited Partner’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

6.                                       The Limited Partner agrees that it will not transfer any interest in the Partnership Units (x) through (i) a national, non-U.S., regional, local or other securities exchange, (ii) PORTAL or (iii) an over-the-counter market (including an interdealer quotation system that regularly disseminates firm buy or sell quotations by identified brokers or dealers by electronic means or otherwise) or (y) to or through (a) a person, such as a broker or dealer, that makes a market in, or regularly quotes prices for, interests in the Partnership or (b) a person that regularly makes available to the public (including customers or subscribers) bid or offer quotes with respect to any interests in the Partnership and stands ready to effect transactions at the quoted prices for itself or on behalf of others.

 

7.                                       The Limited Partner acknowledges that the General Partner shall be a third-party beneficiary of the representations, covenants and agreements set forth in Sections 4 and 6 hereof. The Limited Partner agrees that it will transfer, whether by assignment or otherwise, Partnership Units only to the General Partner or to transferees that provide the Partnership and the General Partner with the representations and covenants set forth in Sections 4 and 6 hereof.

 

Exhibit A- 2



 

8.                                       This acceptance shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

 

 

Signature Line for Limited Partner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Date:

           , 20

 

 

Address of Limited Partner:

 

Exhibit A- 3



 

EXHIBIT B

 

EMPLOYEE’S COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Employee hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

 

(a)                                  The Employee has received and had an opportunity to review the following documents (the “ Background Documents ”):

 

(i)                                      The Company’s latest Annual Report to Shareholders;

 

(ii)                                   The Company’s Proxy Statement for its most recent Annual Meeting of Shareholders;

 

(iii)                                The Company’s and the Partnership’s Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year most recently ended;

 

(iv)                               The Company’s and the Partnership’s Form 10-Q, if any, for the most recently ended quarter filed by the Company and the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission since the filing of the Form 10-K described in clause (iii) above;

 

(v)                                  Each of the Current Report(s) on Form 8-K of the Company and the Partnership, if any, filed since the end of the fiscal year most recently ended for which a Form 10-K has been filed by the Company and the Partnership;

 

(vi)                               The Partnership Agreement; and

 

(vii)                            The Plan.

 

The Employee also acknowledges that any delivery of the Background Documents and other information relating to the Company and the Partnership prior to the determination by the Partnership of the suitability of the Employee as a holder of LTIP Units shall not constitute an offer of LTIP Units until such determination of suitability shall be made.

 

(b)                                  The Employee hereby represents and warrants that:

 

(i)                                      The Employee either (A) is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or (B) by reason of the business and financial experience of the Employee, together with the business and financial experience of those persons, if any, retained by the Employee to represent or advise him with respect to the grant to him of LTIP Units, the potential conversion of LTIP Units into Class A Units of the Partnership (“ Common Units ”) and the potential redemption of such Common Units for the Company’s Common Shares (“ REIT Shares ”), has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in financial and business matters and in making investment decisions of this type that the Employee (I) is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Partnership and potential investment in the Company and of making an informed investment decision, (II) is capable of protecting his own interest or has engaged representatives or advisors to assist him in protecting his interests, and (III) is capable of bearing the economic risk of such investment.

 

Exhibit B- 1



 

(ii)                                   The Employee understands that (A) the Employee is responsible for consulting his own tax advisors with respect to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws, and the tax laws of any state, local or other taxing jurisdiction to which the Employee is or by reason of the award of LTIP Units may become subject, to his particular situation; (B) the Employee has not received or relied upon business or tax advice from the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective employees, agents, consultants or advisors, in their capacity as such; (C) the Employee provides services to the Partnership on a regular basis and in such capacity has access to such information, and has such experience of and involvement in the business and operations of the Partnership, as the Employee believes to be necessary and appropriate to make an informed decision to accept this award of LTIP Units; and (D) an investment in the Partnership and/or the Company involves substantial risks. The Employee has been given the opportunity to make a thorough investigation of matters relevant to the LTIP Units and has been furnished with, and has reviewed and understands, materials relating to the Partnership and the Company and their respective activities (including, but not limited to, the Background Documents). The Employee has been afforded the opportunity to obtain any additional information (including any exhibits to the Background Documents) deemed necessary by the Employee to verify the accuracy of information conveyed to the Employee. The Employee confirms that all documents, records, and books pertaining to his receipt of LTIP Units which were requested by the Employee have been made available or delivered to the Employee. The Employee has had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Partnership and the Company, or from a person or persons acting on their behalf, concerning the terms and conditions of the LTIP Units. The Employee has relied upon, and is making its decision solely upon, the Background Documents and other written information provided to the Employee by the Partnership or the Company.

 

(iii)                                The LTIP Units to be issued, the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units and any REIT Shares issued in connection with the redemption of any such Common Units will be acquired for the account of the Employee for investment only and not with a current view to, or with any intention of, a distribution or resale thereof, in whole or in part, or the grant of any participation therein, without prejudice, however, to the Employee’s right (subject to the terms of the LTIP Units, the Plan and this Agreement) at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of his LTIP Units, Common Units or REIT Shares in compliance with the Securities Act, and applicable state securities laws, and subject, nevertheless, to the disposition of his assets being at all times within his control.

 

(iv)                               The Employee acknowledges that (A) neither the LTIP Units to be issued, nor the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units, have been registered under the Securities Act or state securities laws by reason of a specific exemption or exemptions from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and, if such LTIP Units or Common Units are represented by certificates, such certificates will bear a legend to such effect, (B) the reliance by the Partnership and the Company on such exemptions is predicated in part on the accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Employee contained herein, (C) such LTIP Units or Common Units, therefore, cannot be resold unless registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or unless an exemption from registration is available, (D) there is no

 

Exhibit B- 2



 

public market for such LTIP Units and Common Units and (E) neither the Partnership nor the Company has any obligation or intention to register such LTIP Units or the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to take any action that would make available any exemption from the registration requirements of such laws, except that, upon the redemption of the Common Units for REIT Shares, the Company may issue such REIT Shares under the Plan and pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act, to the extent that (I) the Employee is eligible to receive such REIT Shares under the Plan at the time of such issuance, (II) the Company has filed a Form S-8 Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering the issuance of such REIT Shares and (III) such Form S-8 is effective at the time of the issuance of such REIT Shares. The Employee hereby acknowledges that because of the restrictions on transfer or assignment of such LTIP Units acquired hereby and the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units which are set forth in the Partnership Agreement or this Agreement, the Employee may have to bear the economic risk of his ownership of the LTIP Units acquired hereby and the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units for an indefinite period of time.

 

(v)                                  The Employee has determined that the LTIP Units are a suitable investment for the Employee.

 

(vi)                               No representations or warranties have been made to the Employee by the Partnership or the Company, or any officer, director, shareholder, agent or affiliate of any of them, and the Employee has received no information relating to an investment in the Partnership or the LTIP Units except the information specified in paragraph (a) above.

 

(c)                                   So long as the Employee holds any LTIP Units, the Employee shall disclose to the Partnership in writing such information as may be reasonably requested with respect to ownership of LTIP Units as the Partnership may deem reasonably necessary to ascertain and to establish compliance with provisions of the Code applicable to the Partnership or to comply with requirements of any other appropriate taxing authority.

 

(d)                                  The Employee hereby agrees to make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to the LTIP Units awarded hereunder, and has delivered with this Agreement a completed, executed copy of the election form attached hereto as Exhibit C . The Employee agrees to file the election (or to permit the Partnership to file such election on the Employee’s behalf) within thirty (30) days after the award of the LTIP Units hereunder with the IRS Service Center at which such Employee files his personal income tax returns, and to file a copy of such election with the Employee’s U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year in which the LTIP Units are awarded to the Employee.

 

(e)                                   The address set forth on the signature page of this Agreement is the address of the Employee’s principal residence, and the Employee has no present intention of becoming a resident of any country, state or jurisdiction other than the country and state in which such residence is sited.

 

Exhibit B- 3



 

EXHIBIT C

 

ELECTION TO INCLUDE IN GROSS INCOME IN YEAR OF TRANSFER OF PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 83(B) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

 

The undersigned hereby makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the property described below and supplies the following information in accordance with the regulations promulgated thereunder:

 

1.                                       The name, address and taxpayer identification number of the undersigned are:

 

Name: (the “ Taxpayer ”)

 

Address :

 

Social Security No./Taxpayer Identification No.:

 

2.                                       Description of property with respect to which the election is being made:

 

The election is being made with respect to LTIP Units in Urban Edge Properties LP (the “ Partnership ”).

 

3.                                       The date on which the LTIP Units were transferred is             , 20 . The taxable year to which this election relates is calendar year 20  .

 

4.                                       Nature of restrictions to which the LTIP Units are subject:

 

(a)                                  With limited exceptions, until the LTIP Units vest, the Taxpayer may not transfer in any manner any portion of the LTIP Units without the consent of the Partnership.

 

(b)                                  The Taxpayer’s LTIP Units vest in accordance with the vesting provisions described in the Schedule attached hereto. Unvested LTIP Units are forfeited in accordance with the vesting provisions described in the Schedule attached hereto.

 

5.                                       The fair market value at time of transfer (determined without regard to any restrictions other than restrictions which by their terms will never lapse) of the LTIP Units with respect to which this election is being made was $0 per LTIP Unit.

 

6.                                       The amount paid by the Taxpayer for the LTIP Units was $0 per LTIP Unit.

 

7.                                       A copy of this statement has been furnished to the Partnership and Urban Edge Properties.

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

Exhibit C- 1



 

SCHEDULE TO EXHIBIT C

 

Vesting Provisions of LTIP Units

 

The LTIP Units are subject to time-based vesting with % vesting on each of         , 20  ,          , 20  ,         , 20   and          , 20  , provided that the Taxpayer remains an employee of Urban Edge Properties or its affiliates through such dates, subject to acceleration in the event of certain extraordinary transactions or termination of the Taxpayer’s service relationship with Urban Edge Properties (or its affiliate) under specified circumstances. Unvested LTIP Units are subject to forfeiture in the event of failure to vest based on the passage of time and continued employment.

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee

 

Exhibit C- 2



 

SCHEDULE A TO RESTRICTED LTIP UNIT AGREEMENT

 

(Terms being defined are in quotation marks.)

 

Date of Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement:

 

As of:

 

 

 

Name of Employee:

 

 

 

 

 

Number of LTIP Units Subject to Grant:

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date ”:

 

 

 

 

 

Date on Which Restricted LTIP Units are Fully Vested:

 

 

 

 

 

Vesting Period:

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Vesting Amount
Insert the number of LTIP Units that vest each year or other applicable vesting schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Vesting Date ” (or if such date is not a business day, on the next succeeding business day):
Insert the calendar date of each year in which LTIP Units will vest or other appropriate vesting schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Matters :

 

 

 

 

 

Initials of Company representative:

 

 

 

 

 

Initials of Employee:

 

 

 

A- 1


Exhibit 10.9

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES 2015 OMNIBUS SHARE PLAN
NON-EMPLOYEE TRUSTEE RESTRICTED LTIP UNIT AGREEMENT

 

RESTRICTED LTIP UNIT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ” or “ Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement ”) made as of the date set forth on Schedule A hereto between URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”), its subsidiary Urban Edge Properties LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and the trustee of the Company or one of its affiliates listed on Schedule A (the “ Grantee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                     In accordance with the Urban Edge Properties 2015 Omnibus Share Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), the Company desires, in connection with the service of the Grantee to the Company, to provide the Grantee with an opportunity to acquire LTIP Units (as defined in the agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership, as amended (the “ Partnership Agreement ”)) having the rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption and conversion set forth herein, in the Plan and in the Partnership Agreement, and thereby provide additional incentive for the Grantee to promote the progress and success of the business of the Company, the Partnership and its subsidiaries.

 

B.                                     Schedule A hereto sets forth certain significant details of the LTIP Unit grant provided for herein and is incorporated herein by reference.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings provided on Schedule A .

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Partnership and the Grantee hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.                                       Grant of Restricted LTIP Units .  On the terms and conditions set forth below, as well as the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee such number of LTIP Units as is set forth on Schedule A (the “ Restricted LTIP Units ”).

 

2.                                       Vesting .  The Restricted LTIP Units will vest immediately upon grant, but be subject to such transfer restrictions as may be provided for under Section 4 or on Schedule A .

 

3.                                       Certificates .  Restricted LTIP Units may or may not be certificated, at the option of the Company.

 

4.                                       Transfer Restrictions .  None of the LTIP Units shall be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered (whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal or equitable proceeding) (each such action, a “ Transfer ”), or redeemed in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, unless (i) such Transfer is in compliance with all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) or an applicable exemption therefrom, including, without limitation, the exemption provided by Rule 144 promulgated thereunder or any successor rule), and (ii) such Transfer is in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement.  In addition to the

 



 

foregoing, unless otherwise provided on Schedule A , the Grantee hereby agrees that he or she will not, without the prior written consent of the Board of Trustees (the “ Board ”) of the Company (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly convert, sell, offer, contract or grant an option to sell, loan, pledge or otherwise Transfer any of the LTIP Units hereunder granted during the period of time beginning with the Grant Date and ending on the first business date following the date that the Grantee ceases to be a trustee of the Company.  Any attempted Transfer of LTIP Units not in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 4 shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall not reflect on its records any change in record ownership of any LTIP Units as a result of any such Transfer, and shall otherwise refuse to recognize any such Transfer.

 

The restrictions on Transfer provided for in this Section will also apply to shares of the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, received upon redemption of or in exchange for LTIP Units or Class A Units of the Partnership into which LTIP Units may have been converted.

 

5.                                       Tax Withholding .  The Company has the right to withhold and/or to delay delivery of Restricted LTIP Units until appropriate arrangements have been made for payment of applicable withholding or other applicable taxes due at the time the applicable portion of Restricted LTIP Units becomes includible in the Grantee’s taxable income (the “ Withholding Amount ”).  In the alternative, the Company has the right to retain and cancel, or sell or otherwise dispose of, such number of Restricted LTIP Units as have a market value (determined on the applicable date) approximately equal to the Withholding Amount, with any excess proceeds being paid to Grantee.

 

6.                                       Certain Adjustments .  If (i) the Company shall at any time be involved in a merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, reorganization, exchange of shares, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the Company or other transaction similar thereto, (ii) any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, stock combination, reclassification, recapitalization, significant repurchases of stock, or other similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or any extraordinary dividend or other distribution to holders of Common Shares or Class A Units other than regular cash dividends shall occur, or (iii) any other event shall occur that in each case in the good faith judgment of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Committee ”) necessitates action by way of appropriate equitable adjustment in the terms of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement, the Plan or the LTIP Units, then the Committee shall take such action as it deems necessary to maintain the Grantee’s rights hereunder so that they are substantially proportionate to the rights existing under this Agreement and the terms of the LTIP Units prior to such event, including, without limitation:  (A) adjustments in the LTIP Units; and (B) substitution of other awards under the Plan or otherwise.

 

7.                                       Notice .  Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company at 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, and any notice to be given the Grantee shall be addressed to the Grantee at the Grantee’s address as it appears in the records of the Company, or at such other address as the Company or the Grantee may hereafter designate in writing to the other.

 

8.                                       Governing Law .  This Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without references to principles of conflict of laws.

 

2



 

9.                                       Successors and Assigns .  This Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and any successors to the Company and any successors to the Grantee by will or the laws of descent and distribution, but this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable or otherwise subject to hypothecation by the Grantee.

 

10.                                Severability .  If, for any reason, any provision of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement not so held invalid, and each such other provision shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way affect the rest of such provision not held so invalid, and the rest of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement, shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

 

11.                                Headings .  The headings of paragraphs hereof are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement.

 

12.                                Counterparts .  This Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if each of the signing parties had signed the same document.  All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.

 

13.                                Miscellaneous .  This Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement may not be amended except in writing signed by the Company, the Partnership and the Grantee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement may be amended in writing signed only by the Company to:  (a) correct any errors or ambiguities in this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement; and/or (b) to make such changes that do not materially adversely affect the Grantee’s rights hereunder.  This grant shall in no way affect the Grantee’s participation or benefits under any other plan or benefit program maintained or provided by the Company.  In the event of a conflict between this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern.

 

14.                                Status as a Partner .  As of the Grant Date, the Grantee shall be admitted as a partner of the Partnership (unless previously admitted) with beneficial ownership of the number of LTIP Units issued to the Grantee as of such date pursuant to this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement by:  (A) signing and delivering to the Partnership a copy of this Agreement; and (B) signing, as a Limited Partner, and delivering to the Partnership a counterpart signature page to the Partnership Agreement (attached hereto as Exhibit A ) if not previously done.

 

15.                                Status of LTIP Units under the Plan .  The LTIP Units are both issued as equity securities of the Partnership and granted as awards under the Plan.  The Company will have the right at its option, as set forth in the Partnership Agreement, to issue Common Shares in exchange for Class A Units into which LTIP Units may have been converted pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Partnership Agreement, and such Common Shares, if issued, will be issued under the Plan.  The Grantee must be eligible to receive the LTIP Units in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and to that effect is required to complete, execute and deliver certain covenants, representations and warranties (attached as

 

3



 

Exhibit B ).  The Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee will have no right to approve or disapprove such determination by the Company.

 

16.                                Investment Representations; Registration .  The Grantee hereby makes the covenants, representations and warranties as set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto.  All of such covenants, warranties and representations shall survive the execution and delivery of this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement by the Grantee.  The Partnership will have no obligation to register under the Securities Act any LTIP Units or any other securities issued pursuant to this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement or upon conversion or exchange of LTIP Units.

 

17.                                Section 83(b) Election .  In connection with this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement, the Grantee hereby agrees to make an election to include in gross income in the year of transfer the applicable LTIP Units pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C and to supply the necessary information in accordance with the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

18.                                Acknowledgement .  The Grantee hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement and the LTIP Units issued hereunder shall constitute satisfaction in full of all obligations of the Company and the Partnership, if any, to grant to the Grantee LTIP Units pursuant to the terms of any agreement with the Company and/or the Partnership.

 

[signature page follows]

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the date and year first above written or referenced.

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

 

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Urban Edge Properties, its general partner

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

GRANTEE

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

5



 

EXHIBIT A

 

(to be executed if party has not previously received LTIPs and been
admitted as an LP)

 

FORM OF LIMITED PARTNER SIGNATURE PAGE

 

The Grantee, desiring to become one of the within named Limited Partners of Urban Edge Properties LP, hereby accepts all of the terms and conditions of (including, without limitation, the provisions related to powers of attorney), and becomes a party to, the Limited Partnership Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2014, of Urban Edge Properties LP, as amended (the “ Partnership Agreement ”).  The Grantee agrees that this signature page may be attached to any counterpart of the Partnership Agreement and further agrees as follows (where the term “Limited Partner” refers to the Grantee):  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Partnership Agreement.

 

1.                                       The Limited Partner hereby confirms that it has reviewed the terms of the Partnership Agreement and affirms and agrees that it is bound by each of the terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions thereof relating to limitations and restrictions on the transfer of Partnership Units.

 

2.                                       The Limited Partner hereby confirms that it is acquiring the Partnership Units for its own account as principal, for investment and not with a view to resale or distribution, and that the Partnership Units may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Limited Partner otherwise than in a transaction pursuant to a registration statement filed by the Partnership (which it has no obligation to file) or that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and all applicable state and foreign securities laws, and the General Partner may refuse to transfer any Partnership Units as to which evidence of such registration or exemption from registration satisfactory to the General Partner is not provided to it, which evidence may include the requirement of a legal opinion regarding the exemption from such registration.  If the General Partner delivers to the Limited Partner Common Shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner (“ Common Shares ”) upon redemption of any Partnership Units, the Common Shares will be acquired for the Limited Partner’s own account as principal, for investment and not with a view to resale or distribution, and the Common Shares may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Limited Partner otherwise than in a transaction pursuant to a registration statement filed by the General Partner with respect to such Common Shares (which it has no obligation under the Partnership Agreement to file) or that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and all applicable state and foreign securities laws, and the General Partner may refuse to transfer any Common Shares as to which evidence of such registration or exemption from such registration satisfactory to the General Partner is not provided to it, which evidence may include the requirement of a legal opinion regarding the exemption from such registration.

 

3.                                       The Limited Partner hereby affirms that it has appointed the General Partner, any Liquidator and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead, in accordance with Section 2.4 of the Partnership Agreement, which section is hereby incorporated by reference.  The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be

 

Exhibit A- 1



 

irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and not be affected by the death, incompetency, dissolution, disability, incapacity, bankruptcy or termination of the Limited Partner and shall extend to the Limited Partner’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

4.                                       The Limited Partner hereby confirms that, notwithstanding any provisions of the Partnership Agreement to the contrary, the LTIP Units shall not be redeemable by the Limited Partner pursuant to Section 8.6 of the Partnership Agreement.

 

5.                                       (a)  The Limited Partner hereby irrevocably consents in advance to any amendment to the Partnership Agreement, as may be recommended by the General Partner, intended to avoid the Partnership being treated as a publicly-traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code, including, without limitation, (x) any amendment to the provisions of Section 8.6 of the Partnership Agreement intended to increase the waiting period between the delivery of a Notice of Redemption and the Specified Redemption Date and/or the Valuation Date to up to sixty (60) days or (y) any other amendment to the Partnership Agreement intended to make the redemption and transfer provisions, with respect to certain redemptions and transfers, more similar to the provisions described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(f).

 

(b)                                  The Limited Partner hereby appoints the General Partner, any Liquidator and authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead, to execute and deliver any amendment referred to in the foregoing paragraph 5(a) on the Limited Partner’s behalf.  The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, and it shall survive and not be affected by the death, incompetency, dissolution, disability, incapacity, bankruptcy or termination of the Limited Partner and shall extend to the Limited Partner’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

6.                                       The Limited Partner agrees that it will not transfer any interest in the Partnership Units (x) through (i) a national, non-U.S., regional, local or other securities exchange, (ii) PORTAL or (iii) an over-the-counter market (including an interdealer quotation system that regularly disseminates firm buy or sell quotations by identified brokers or dealers by electronic means or otherwise) or (y) to or through (a) a person, such as a broker or dealer, that makes a market in, or regularly quotes prices for, interests in the Partnership or (b) a person that regularly makes available to the public (including customers or subscribers) bid or offer quotes with respect to any interests in the Partnership and stands ready to effect transactions at the quoted prices for itself or on behalf of others.

 

7.                                       The Limited Partner acknowledges that the General Partner shall be a third-party beneficiary of the representations, covenants and agreements set forth in Sections 4 and 6 hereof.  The Limited Partner agrees that it will transfer, whether by assignment or otherwise, Partnership Units only to the General Partner or to transferees that provide the Partnership and the General Partner with the representations and covenants set forth in Sections 4 and 6 hereof.

 

8.                                       This acceptance shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

Exhibit A- 2



 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Line for Limited Partner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Date:

               , 20

 

 

Address of Limited Partner:

 

Exhibit A- 3



 

EXHIBIT B

 

GRANTEE’S COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Grantee hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

 

(a)                                  The Grantee has received and had an opportunity to review the following documents (the “ Background Documents ”): ^

 

(i)                                      The Company’s latest Annual Report to Shareholders;

 

(ii)                                   The Company’s Proxy Statement for its most recent Annual Meeting of Shareholders;

 

(iii)                                The Company’s and the Partnership’s Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year most recently ended;

 

(iv)                               The Company’s and the Partnership’s Form 10-Q, if any, for the most recently ended quarter filed by the Company or the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission since the filing of the Form 10-K described in clause (iii) above;

 

(v)                                  Each of the Company’s and the Partnership’s Current Report(s) on Form 8-K, if any, filed since the end of the fiscal year most recently ended for which a Form 10-K has been filed by the Company or the Partnership;

 

(vi)                               The Plan; and

 

(vii)                            The Partnership Agreement.

 

The Grantee also acknowledges that any delivery of the Background Documents and other information relating to the Company and the Partnership prior to the determination by the Partnership of the suitability of the Grantee as a holder of LTIP Units shall not constitute an offer of LTIP Units until such determination of suitability shall be made.

 

(b)                                  The Grantee hereby represents and warrants that:

 

(i)                                      The Grantee either (A) is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or (B) by reason of the business and financial experience of the Grantee, together with the business and financial experience of those persons, if any, retained by the Grantee to represent or advise him with respect to the grant to him of LTIP Units, the potential conversion of LTIP Units into Class A Units of the Partnership (“ Common Units ”) and the potential redemption of such Common Units for the Company’s Common Shares (“ REIT Shares ”), has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in financial and business matters and in making investment decisions of this type that the Grantee (I) is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Partnership and potential investment in the Company and of making an informed investment decision, (II) is capable of protecting his own interest or has engaged representatives or advisors to assist him in protecting his interests, and (III) is capable of bearing the economic risk of such investment.

 

Exhibit B- 1



 

(ii)                                   The Grantee understands that (A) the Grantee is responsible for consulting his own tax advisors with respect to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws, and the tax laws of any state, local or other taxing jurisdiction to which the Grantee is or by reason of the award of LTIP Units may become subject, to his particular situation; (B) the Grantee has not received or relied upon business or tax advice from the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective employees, agents, consultants or advisors, in their capacity as such; (C) the Grantee provides services to the Company or the Partnership on a regular basis and in such capacity has access to such information, and has such experience of and involvement in the business and operations of the Partnership, as the Grantee believes to be necessary and appropriate to make an informed decision to accept this award of LTIP Units; and (D) an investment in the Partnership and/or the Company involves substantial risks.  The Grantee has been given the opportunity to make a thorough investigation of matters relevant to the LTIP Units and has been furnished with, and has reviewed and understands, materials relating to the Partnership and the Company and their respective activities (including, but not limited to, the Background Documents).  The Grantee has been afforded the opportunity to obtain any additional information (including any exhibits to the Background Documents) deemed necessary by the Grantee to verify the accuracy of information conveyed to the Grantee.  The Grantee confirms that all documents, records, and books pertaining to his receipt of LTIP Units, which were requested by the Grantee have been made available or delivered to the Grantee.  The Grantee has had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Partnership and the Company, or from a person or persons acting on their behalf, concerning the terms and conditions of the LTIP Units.  The Grantee has relied upon, and is making its decision solely upon, the Background Documents and other written information provided to the Grantee by the Partnership or the Company.

 

(iii)                                The LTIP Units to be issued, the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units and any REIT Shares issued in connection with the redemption of any such Common Units will be acquired for the account of the Grantee for investment only and not with a current view to, or with any intention of, a distribution or resale thereof, in whole or in part, or the grant of any participation therein, without prejudice, however, to the Grantee’s right (subject to the terms of the LTIP Units, the Plan and this Agreement) at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of his LTIP Units, Common Units or REIT Shares in compliance with the Securities Act, and applicable state securities laws, and subject, nevertheless, to the disposition of his assets being at all times within his control.

 

(iv)                               The Grantee acknowledges that (A) neither the LTIP Units to be issued, nor the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units, have been registered under the Securities Act or state securities laws by reason of a specific exemption or exemptions from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and, if such LTIP Units or Common Units are represented by certificates, such certificates will bear a legend to such effect, (B) the reliance by the Partnership and the Company on such exemptions is predicated in part on the accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Grantee contained herein, (C) such LTIP Units or Common Units, therefore, cannot be resold unless registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or unless an exemption from registration is available, (D) there is no public

 

Exhibit B- 2



 

market for such LTIP Units and Common Units and (E) neither the Partnership nor the Company has any obligation or intention to register such LTIP Units or the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to take any action that would make available any exemption from the registration requirements of such laws, except that, upon the redemption of the Common Units for REIT Shares, the Company may issue such REIT Shares under the Plan and pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act, to the extent that (I) the Grantee is eligible to receive such REIT Shares under the Plan at the time of such issuance, (II) the Company has filed a Form S-8 Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering the issuance of such REIT Shares and (III) such Form S-8 is effective at the time of the issuance of such REIT Shares.  The Grantee hereby acknowledges that because of the restrictions on transfer or assignment of such LTIP Units acquired hereby and the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units which are set forth in the Partnership Agreement or this Agreement, the Grantee may have to bear the economic risk of his ownership of the LTIP Units acquired hereby and the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the LTIP Units for an indefinite period of time.

 

(v)                                  The Grantee has determined that the LTIP Units are a suitable investment for the Grantee.

 

(vi)                               No representations or warranties have been made to the Grantee by the Partnership or the Company, or any officer, director, shareholder, agent, or affiliate of any of them, and the Grantee has received no information relating to an investment in the Partnership or the LTIP Units except the information specified in paragraph (a) above.

 

(c)                                   So long as the Grantee holds any LTIP Units, the Grantee shall disclose to the Partnership in writing such information as may be reasonably requested with respect to ownership of LTIP Units as the Partnership may deem reasonably necessary to ascertain and to establish compliance with provisions of the Code, applicable to the Partnership or to comply with requirements of any other appropriate taxing authority.

 

(d)                                  The Grantee hereby agrees to make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to the LTIP Units awarded hereunder, and has delivered with this Agreement a completed, executed copy of the election form attached hereto as Exhibit C .  The Grantee agrees to file the election (or to permit the Partnership to file such election on the Grantee’s behalf) within thirty (30) days after the award of the LTIP Units hereunder with the IRS Service Center at which such Grantee files his personal income tax returns, and to file a copy of such election with the Grantee’s U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year in which the LTIP Units are awarded to the Grantee.

 

(e)                                   The address set forth on the signature page of this Agreement is the address of the Grantee’s principal residence, and the Grantee has no present intention of becoming a resident of any country, state or jurisdiction other than the country and state in which such residence is sited.

 

Exhibit B- 3



 

EXHIBIT C

 

ELECTION TO INCLUDE IN GROSS INCOME IN YEAR OF TRANSFER OF PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 83(B) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

 

The undersigned hereby makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the property described below and supplies the following information in accordance with the regulations promulgated thereunder:

 

1.                                       The name, address and taxpayer identification number of the undersigned are:

 

Name: (the “ Taxpayer ”)

 

Address :

 

Social Security No./Taxpayer Identification No.:

 

2.                                       Description of property with respect to which the election is being made:

 

The election is being made with respect to LTIP Units in Urban Edge Properties LP (the “ Partnership ”).

 

3.                                       The date on which the LTIP Units were transferred is             , 20 . The taxable year to which this election relates is calendar year 20  .

 

4.                                       Nature of restrictions to which the LTIP Units are subject:  With limited exceptions, until the Taxpayer ceases to be a trustee of Urban Edge Properties, the Taxpayer may not transfer in any manner any portion of the LTIP Units without the consent of the Partnership.

 

5.                                       The fair market value at time of transfer (determined without regard to any restrictions other than restrictions which by their terms will never lapse) of the LTIP Units with respect to which this election is being made was $0 per LTIP Unit.

 

6.                                       The amount paid by the Taxpayer for the LTIP Units was $0 per LTIP Unit.

 

7.                                       A copy of this statement has been furnished to the Partnership and Urban Edge Properties.

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

Exhibit C- 1



 

SCHEDULE A TO RESTRICTED LTIP UNIT AGREEMENT

 

(Terms being defined are in quotation marks.)

 

Date of Restricted LTIP Unit Agreement:

 

As of:

 

 

 

Name of Grantee:

 

 

 

 

 

Number of LTIP Units Subject to Grant:

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date ”:

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Matters :

 

 

 

 

 

Initials of Company representative:

 

 

 

 

 

Initials of Grantee:

 

 

 

A- 1


Exhibit 10.10

 

Loan Number: 1012829

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of January 15, 2015

 

among

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP,

 

as Borrower,

 

THE BANKS SIGNATORY HERETO,

 

each as a Bank,

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Administrative Agent,

 


 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

and

PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,

 

Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners,

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Syndication Agent,

 

and

 

Each of

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Documentation Agents

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I. DEFINITIONS; ETC.

1

SECTION 1.01. Definitions

1

SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms

27

SECTION 1.03. Computation of Time Periods

27

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction

27

SECTION 1.05. Specific Rule re: Public Affiliates and Unconsolidated Affiliates That Are Non-Real Estate Affiliates But Are Not Public Affiliates

28

 

 

Article II. THE LOANS

28

SECTION 2.01. Ratable Loans; Bid Rate Loans

28

SECTION 2.02. Bid Rate Loans

29

SECTION 2.03. Swingline Loan Subfacility

31

SECTION 2.04. Advances, Generally

33

SECTION 2.05. Procedures for Advances

34

SECTION 2.06. Interest Periods; Renewals

34

SECTION 2.07. Interest

34

SECTION 2.08. Fees

35

SECTION 2.09. Notes; Records

35

SECTION 2.10. Prepayments

36

SECTION 2.11. Method of Payment

37

SECTION 2.12. Elections, Conversions or Continuation of Loans

37

SECTION 2.13. Minimum Amounts

37

SECTION 2.14. Certain Notices Regarding Elections, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

37

SECTION 2.15. Changes of Loan Commitments

38

SECTION 2.16. Letters of Credit

39

SECTION 2.17. Extension Option

44

SECTION 2.18.

44

SECTION 2.19. Funds Transfer Disbursements

44

 

 

Article III. YIELD PROTECTION; ILLEGALITY; ETC.

44

SECTION 3.01. Additional Costs

44

SECTION 3.02. Alternate Rate of Interest

46

SECTION 3.03. Illegality

46

SECTION 3.04. Treatment of Affected Loans

46

SECTION 3.05. Certain Compensation

46

SECTION 3.06. Capital Adequacy

47

SECTION 3.07. Substitution of Banks

48

SECTION 3.08. Obligation of Banks to Mitigate

49

 

 

Article IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

49

SECTION 4.01. Conditions Precedent to the Loans

49

SECTION 4.02. Conditions Precedent to All Advances and Letters of Credit

51

SECTION 4.03. Deemed Representations

52

 

 

Article V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

52

SECTION 5.01. Existence

52

SECTION 5.02. Corporate/Partnership Powers

52

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION 5.03. Power of Officers

52

SECTION 5.04. Power and Authority; No Conflicts; Compliance With Laws

53

SECTION 5.05. Legal Enforceable Agreements

53

SECTION 5.06. Litigation

53

SECTION 5.07. Good Title to Properties; Liens

53

SECTION 5.08. Taxes

53

SECTION 5.09. ERISA

54

SECTION 5.10. No Default on Outstanding Judgments or Orders

54

SECTION 5.11. No Defaults on Other Agreements

54

SECTION 5.12. Government Regulation

54

SECTION 5.13. Environmental Protection

54

SECTION 5.14. Solvency

55

SECTION 5.15. Financial Statements

55

SECTION 5.16. Valid Existence of Subsidiaries

55

SECTION 5.17. Insurance

55

SECTION 5.18. Accuracy of Information; Full Disclosure

55

SECTION 5.19. Use of Proceeds

56

SECTION 5.20. Governmental Approvals

56

SECTION 5.21. Principal Offices

56

SECTION 5.22. General Partner Status

56

SECTION 5.23. Labor Matters

56

SECTION 5.24. Organizational Documents

56

SECTION 5.25. Existing Indebtedness

56

SECTION 5.26. Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Terrorism Laws and Sanctions

57

 

 

Article VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

57

SECTION 6.01. Maintenance of Existence

57

SECTION 6.02. Maintenance of Records

57

SECTION 6.03. Maintenance of Insurance

57

SECTION 6.04. Compliance With Laws; Payment of Taxes

57

SECTION 6.05. Right of Inspection

57

SECTION 6.06. Compliance with Environmental Laws

58

SECTION 6.07. Payment of Costs

58

SECTION 6.08. Maintenance of Properties

58

SECTION 6.09. Reporting and Miscellaneous Document Requirements

58

SECTION 6.10. Business

60

SECTION 6.11. Guarantors

60

 

 

Article VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

62

SECTION 7.01. Mergers, Etc.

62

SECTION 7.02. Distributions

62

SECTION 7.03. Amendments to Organizational Documents

62

SECTION 7.04. Transactions with Affiliates

63

SECTION 7.05. Activities of General Partner

63

SECTION 7.06. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit

63

 

 

Article VIII. FINANCIAL COVENANTS

63

SECTION 8.01. Ratio of Total Outstanding Indebtedness to Capitalization Value

63

SECTION 8.02. Ratio of Combined EBITDA to Fixed Charges

63

 

ii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION 8.03. Ratio of Unencumbered Combined EBITDA to Unsecured Interest Expense

64

SECTION 8.04. Ratio of Unsecured Indebtedness to Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets

64

SECTION 8.05. Ratio of Secured Indebtedness to Capitalization Value

64

SECTION 8.06. Indebtedness of the General Partner

64

 

 

Article IX. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

64

SECTION 9.01. Events of Default

64

SECTION 9.02. Remedies

68

SECTION 9.03. Allocation of Proceeds

68

SECTION 9.04. Performance by Administrative Agent

69

SECTION 9.05. Right Cumulative

69

 

 

Article X. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT; RELATIONS AMONG BANKS

70

SECTION 10.01. Appointment, Powers and Immunities of Administrative Agent

70

SECTION 10.02. Reliance by Administrative Agent

71

SECTION 10.03. Defaults

71

SECTION 10.04. Rights of Agent as a Bank

71

SECTION 10.05. Indemnification of Agents

72

SECTION 10.06. Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Banks

72

SECTION 10.07. Failure of Administrative Agent to Act

73

SECTION 10.08. Resignation or Removal of Administrative Agent

73

SECTION 10.09. Amendments Concerning Agency Function

74

SECTION 10.10. Liability of Administrative Agent

74

SECTION 10.11. Transfer of Agency Function

74

SECTION 10.12. Non-Receipt of Funds by Administrative Agent

74

SECTION 10.13. Withholding Taxes

74

SECTION 10.14. Pro Rata Treatment

78

SECTION 10.15. Sharing of Payments Among Banks

78

SECTION 10.16. Possession of Documents

79

SECTION 10.17. Syndication Agents and Documentation Agents

79

 

 

Article XI. NATURE OF OBLIGATIONS

79

SECTION 11.01. Absolute and Unconditional Obligations

79

SECTION 11.02. Non-Recourse to Principals and the General Partner

79

 

 

Article XII. MISCELLANEOUS

80

SECTION 12.01. Binding Effect of Request for Advance

80

SECTION 12.02. Amendments and Waivers

80

SECTION 12.03. Expenses; Indemnification

81

SECTION 12.04. Assignment; Participation

82

SECTION 12.05. Documentation Satisfactory

86

SECTION 12.06. Notices

86

SECTION 12.07. Setoff

89

SECTION 12.08. Table of Contents; Headings

89

SECTION 12.09. Severability

89

SECTION 12.10. Counterparts

90

SECTION 12.11. Integration

90

 

iii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION 12.12. Governing Law

90

SECTION 12.13. Waivers

90

SECTION 12.14. Jurisdiction; Immunities

90

SECTION 12.15. Designated Lender

91

SECTION 12.16. No Bankruptcy Proceedings

92

SECTION 12.17. Intentionally Omitted

92

SECTION 12.18. USA Patriot Act

92

SECTION 12.19. Defaulting Lenders

92

SECTION 12.20. Use for Mortgages

95

SECTION 12.21. Bottom-Up Guaranties

96

SECTION 12.22. Confidentiality

96

SECTION 12.23. Construction

97

SECTION 12.24. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

97

 

Schedule 1

Loan Commitments

Schedule 5.22(1)

General Partner Investments

 

 

Exhibit A

Disbursement Instruction Agreement

Exhibit B

Ratable Loan Note

Exhibit C

Bid Rate Loan Note

Exhibit D

Solvency Certificate

Exhibit E

Assignment and Assumption Agreement

Exhibit F-1

Bid Rate Quote Request

Exhibit F-2

Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes

Exhibit F-3

Bid Rate Quote

Exhibit F-4

Acceptance of Bid Rate Quote

Exhibit G

Designation Agreement

Exhibit H

Compliance Certificate

Exhibit I

Guaranty

Exhibit J

Tax Compliance Certificates

 

iv



 

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of January 15, 2015 among URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP, a limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (“ Borrower ”), WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its individual capacity and not as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders signatory hereto (said lenders signatory hereto and the lenders who from time to time become Banks pursuant to Section 3.07 or 12.04 and, if applicable, any of the foregoing lenders’ Designated Lenders, each a “ Bank ” and collectively, the “ Banks ”) with each of WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC and PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, as a joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner (in such capacities, the “ Lead Arrangers ”), PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Syndication Agent, and BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCATION, CITIBANK, N.A., JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., MUFG UNION BANK, N.A. and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Documentation Agents.

 

WHEREAS, Borrower has requested an unsecured revolving line of credit in the amount of Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000), which may be increased pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to Nine Hundred Million Dollars ($900,000,000) and the Administrative Agent and the Banks have agreed to Borrower’s request pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth, Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each of the Banks agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.  DEFINITIONS; ETC.

 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions .  As used in this Agreement the following terms have the following meanings (except as otherwise provided, terms defined in the singular have a correlative meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa ):

 

Accession Agreement ” means an Accession Agreement substantially in the form of Annex I to the Guaranty.

 

Additional Costs ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

 

Administrative Agent ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as contractual representative of the Banks under this Agreement, or any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Section 10.08.

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means Administrative Agent’s office located at 608 Second Avenue S., 11 th  Floor, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-1196, or such other office in the United States as Administrative Agent may designate by written notice to Borrower and the Banks.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affected Bank ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

Affected Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person (the “first Person”), any other Person, which directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the first Person. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power, alone, to direct or cause the

 



 

direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

 

Agent ” means, individually and collectively, Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger, each Syndication Agent and each Documentation Agent.

 

Agreement ” means this Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Anti-Terrorism Laws ” means (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States, 50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq., as amended; (b) any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, including without limitation, Executive Order No. 13224, effective as of September 24, 2001 relating to Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001); and (c) the Patriot Act.

 

Applicable Lending Office ” means, for each Bank and for its LIBOR Loan, Bid Rate Loan(s), Base Rate Loan or Swingline Loan, as applicable, the lending office of such Bank (or of an Affiliate of such Bank) designated as such in its Administrative Questionnaire or in the applicable Assignment and Assumption Agreement, or such other office of such Bank (or of an Affiliate of such Bank) as such Bank may from time to time specify to Administrative Agent and Borrower as the office by which its LIBOR Loan, Bid Rate Loan(s), Base Rate Loan or Swingline Loan, as applicable, is to be made and maintained.

 

Applicable Margin ” means

 

(a)                                  At any time other than during the Investment Grade Pricing Period, the percentage rate set forth below corresponding to the ratio of Total Outstanding Indebtedness to Capitalization Value as determined in accordance with Section 8.01:

 

Level

 

Ratio of Total
Outstanding
Indebtedness to
Capitalization Value

 

Applicable Margin
for LIBOR Loans

 

Applicable Margin
for Base Rate
Loans

 

1

 

< 0.40 to 1.00

 

1.150

%

0.150

%

2

 

> 0.40 to 1.00 but < 0.45 to 1.00

 

1.200

%

0.200

%

3

 

> 0.45 to 1.00 but < 0.50 to 1.00

 

1.250

%

0.250

%

4

 

> 0.50 to 1.00 but < 0.55 to 1.00

 

1.300

%

0.300

%

5

 

> 0.55 to 1.00

 

1.550

%

0.550

%

 

The Applicable Margin shall be determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time, based on the ratio of Total Outstanding Indebtedness to Capitalization Value as set forth in the Compliance Certificate most recently delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.09(3).  Any adjustment to the Applicable Margin under this clause (a) shall be effective as of the first day of the calendar month immediately following the month during which the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent the applicable Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.09(3).  At such time or times as the Applicable Margin is determined under this clause (a), if the Borrower fails to deliver a Compliance Certificate

 

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within the applicable time period required pursuant to such Section and such failure continues for three days following notice of such failure from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, then the Applicable Margin shall equal the percentages corresponding to Level 5 from the date of such notice until the first day of the calendar month immediately following the month that the required Compliance Certificate is delivered.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the period from the Closing Date through but excluding the date on which the Administrative Agent first determines the Applicable Margin for Loans as set forth above, the Applicable Margin shall be determined based on the ratio of Total Outstanding Indebtedness to Capitalization Value as set forth in the Compliance Certificate delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.01(13).  Thereafter, such Applicable Margin shall be adjusted from time to time as set forth in this definition.

 

(b)                                  During the Investment Grade Pricing Period, the percentage rate set forth in the table below corresponding to the Level into which the Credit Rating then falls.  Any change in the Credit Rating which would cause the Applicable Margin to be determined at a different Level shall be effective as of the first day of the first calendar month immediately following receipt by the Administrative Agent of written notice delivered by the Borrower in accordance with Section 6.09(16) that the Credit Rating has changed; provided, however, if the Borrower has not delivered the notice required by such Section but the Administrative Agent becomes aware that the Credit Rating has changed, then the Administrative Agent may, in its reasonable discretion, adjust the Level at which the Applicable Margin is determined effective as of the first day of the first calendar month following the date the Administrative Agent becomes aware that the Credit Rating has changed.  The Applicable Margin for purposes of this clause (b) shall be determined based on the Level corresponding to the lower of the highest two Credit Ratings; provided that if the higher two Credit Ratings are from S&P and Moody’s, then the Applicable Margin for purposes of this clause (b) shall be determined based on the higher of such two Credit Ratings.  During any period for which the Borrower has received a Credit Rating from only one Rating Agency, the Applicable Margin for purposes of this clause (b) shall be determined based on such Credit Rating so long as such Credit Rating is from either S&P or Moody’s.  During any period during the Investment Grade Pricing Period that the Borrower has (a) no Credit Rating from any Rating Agency or (b) received a Credit Rating from only one Rating Agency that is neither S&P or Moody’s, the Applicable Margin for purposes of this clause (b) shall be determined based on Level 5.

 

Level

 

Credit Rating (S&P/Moody’s/Fitch)

 

Applicable Margin for
LIBOR Loans

 

Applicable Margin for
Base Rate Loans

 

1

 

A-/A3/A (or equivalent) or better

 

0.875

%

0.000

%

2

 

BBB+/Baa1/BBB+ (or equivalent)

 

0.925

%

0.000

%

3

 

BBB/Baa2/BBB (or equivalent)

 

1.050

%

0.050

%

4

 

BBB-/Baa3/BBB- (or equivalent)

 

1.250

%

0.250

%

5

 

Lower than BBB-/Baa3/BBB- (or equivalent or unrated)

 

1.550

%

0.550

%

 

(c)                                   The provisions of clause (a) of this definition shall be subject to the last paragraph of Section 2.07.

 

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Bank, (b) an Affiliate of a Bank, or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of any entity that administers or manages a Bank.

 

Assignment and Assumption Agreement ” means an Assignment and Assumption, substantially in the form of EXHIBIT E, pursuant to which a Bank assigns and an assignee Bank assumes rights and obligations in accordance with Section 12.04.

 

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Available Total Loan Commitment ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

 

Bank ” and “ Banks ” have the respective meanings specified in the preamble; provided , however , that the term “Bank” (1) shall exclude each Designated Lender when used in reference to a Ratable Loan, the Loan Commitments or terms relating to the Ratable Loans and the Loan Commitments and (2) shall include the Swingline Lender as the context requires.

 

Bank Parties ” means Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Banks.

 

Bank Reply Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 12.02.

 

Banking Day ” means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth in clause (b) below, any day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday) on which banks in New York, New York, are open for the conduct of their commercial banking business, and (b) with respect to all notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, any LIBOR Loan, Bid Rate Loan or any Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to LIBOR, any day that is a Banking Day described in clause (a) and that is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.  Unless specifically referenced in this Agreement as a Banking Day, all references to “days” shall be to calendar days.

 

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, entitled “Bankruptcy”, as amended from time to time, and any successor or statute or statutes.

 

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 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 ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(g).

 

Base Rate ” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 1.0%.  Each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the LIBOR Market Index Rate (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

Base Rate Loan ” means all or any portion (as the context requires) of a Ratable Loan of a Bank which shall accrue interest at a rate determined in relation to the Base Rate.

 

Bid Borrowing Limit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c).

 

Bid Rate Loan Note ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09.

 

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Bid Rate Loans ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c).

 

Bid Rate Quote ” means an offer by a Bank to make a Bid Rate Loan in accordance with Section 2.02.

 

Bid Rate Quote Request ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).

 

Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the preamble.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means 6.75%.

 

Capitalization Value ” means, at any time, the sum (without duplication) of the Borrower’s Ownership Share of (a) with respect to Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, individually determined and aggregated, NOI (excluding NOI attributable to Properties the value of which is to be included in Capitalization Value under the immediately following clause (b)) of each such Property for the most recently ended calendar quarter, annualized (i.e., multiplied by four), capitalized at the Capitalization Rate; (b) the GAAP book value of (i) all Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries acquired during the four fiscal quarters most recently ended and (ii) all Transition Properties (except in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), of any such Property which the Borrower has elected in a written notice to the Administrative Agent be included in determinations of Capitalization Value under the immediately preceding clause (a)); (c) all Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (d) the fair market value of publicly traded securities and the book value of notes and mortgage loans receivable, Capitalized Development Costs, Equity Interests in Non-Real Estate Affiliates which do not have publicly traded securities, other Stock Holdings and Unimproved Land of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such time, all as determined in accordance with GAAP; and (e) leasing commissions, management fees and development fees paid by third parties to the Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower in respect of any Property owned by another Subsidiary (other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) or an Unconsolidated Affiliate to the extent that the Borrower’s or such Wholly Owned Subsidiary’s share of such commissions and fees exceeds the Borrower’s Ownership Share of such Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, for the most recently ended calendar quarter, annualized (i.e., multiplied by four), capitalized at the Capitalization Rate.  The Borrower’s Ownership Share of assets held by (A) Unconsolidated Affiliates (excluding assets of the type described in the immediately preceding clause (c)) will be included in the calculation of Capitalization Value consistent with the above described treatment for assets owned by the Borrower or a Subsidiary and (B) Public Affiliates the publicly traded securities of which, or Non-Real Estate Affiliates (other than Public Affiliates) the Equity Interest of which, are included in Capitalization Value under the immediately preceding clause (d) shall not be included under any of the other preceding clauses.  For the purposes of this definition, (1) for any Disposition of Property by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during any calendar quarter, NOI will be reduced by actual NOI generated from such Property, (2) the aggregate contribution to Capitalization Value in excess of 35% of the aggregate of notes and mortgage loans receivable, Capitalized Development Costs, publicly traded securities, other Stock Holdings and Unimproved Land of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and leasing commissions and management and development fees (determined after giving effect to any exclusion required under the immediately following clause (3)) shall not be included in Capitalization Value, (3) the aggregate amount of leasing commissions and management and development fees in excess of 15% of NOI included in the determination of Capitalization Value under the immediately preceding clause (e) shall not be included in Capitalization Value and (4) if the amount otherwise included pursuant to the above terms of this definition in Capitalization Value derived from Unconsolidated Affiliates that are not Public Affiliates, less the Borrower’s Ownership Share of the Total Outstanding Indebtedness of such Unconsolidated Affiliates, exceeds 25% of the Capitalization Value (determined without giving effect to this clause (4)), Capitalization Value shall be reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

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Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets ” means Capitalization Value determined with respect to Unencumbered Assets pursuant to the first two sentences of the definition of “Capitalization Value”.  For the purposes of this definition, the aggregate contribution to Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets in excess of 35% of the aggregate of the following: Properties not located in a State of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia or in Puerto Rico, notes and mortgage loans receivable, Capitalized Development Costs, publicly traded securities, other Stock Holdings, Unimproved Land and Properties and other assets owned by Unconsolidated Affiliates and Subsidiaries that are not Wholly Owned Subsidiaries shall not be included in Capitalization Value.

 

Capitalized Development Costs ” means development cost (including land and building for out of service assets during development or redevelopment) capitalized in accordance with GAAP.  Development costs for a Property on which development or redevelopment has been completed for at least 12 months or which has achieved an occupancy rate of at least 85% (determined, in the case of redevelopment, with respect to the portion of such Property undergoing redevelopment) shall be excluded from Capitalized Development Costs.

 

Capitalized Lease Obligations ” means obligations under a lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use property) to pay rent or other amounts that are required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.  The amount of a Capitalized Lease Obligation is the capitalized amount of such obligation as would be required to be reflected on a balance sheet of the applicable Person prepared in accordance with GAAP as of the applicable date.

 

Cash or Cash Equivalents ” means (a) cash; (b) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States Government or issued by an agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one (1) year after the date of acquisition thereof; (c) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within ninety (90) days after the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from any two of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (or, if at any time no two of the foregoing shall be rating such obligations, then from such other nationally recognized rating services as are reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent); (d) domestic corporate bonds, other than domestic corporate bonds issued by Borrower or any of its Affiliates, maturing no more than two (2) years after the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at least A or the equivalent from any two (2) of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (or, if at any time no two of the foregoing shall be rating such obligations, then from such other nationally recognized rating services as are reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent); (e) variable-rate domestic corporate notes or medium term corporate notes, other than notes issued by Borrower or any of its Affiliates, maturing or resetting no more than one (1) year after the date of acquisition thereof and having a rating of at least A or the equivalent from two of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (or, if at any time no two of the foregoing shall be rating such obligations, then from such other nationally recognized rating services as are reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent); (f) commercial paper (foreign and domestic) or master notes, other than commercial paper or master notes issued by Borrower or any of its Affiliates, and, at the time of acquisition, having a long-term rating of at least A or the equivalent from S&P, Moody’s or Fitch and having a short-term rating of at least A-2 and P-2 from S&P and Moody’s, respectively (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, then the highest rating from such other nationally recognized rating services as are reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent); (g) domestic and foreign certificates of deposit or domestic time deposits or foreign deposits or bankers’ acceptances (foreign or domestic) in Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars, Singapore Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euros or Yen that are issued by a bank (I) which has, at the time of acquisition, a long-term rating of at least A or the equivalent from S&P, Moody’s or Fitch (or, if at any time no two of the foregoing shall be rating such obligations, then from such other nationally recognized rating services as are reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent) and (II) if a domestic bank, which is

 

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a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (h) overnight securities repurchase agreements, or reverse repurchase agreements secured by any of the foregoing types of securities or debt instruments, provided that the collateral supporting such repurchase agreements shall have a value not less than 101% of the principal amount of the repurchase agreement plus accrued interest; and (i) money market funds invested in investments substantially all of which consist of the items described in clauses (a) through (h) above.

 

Cash Collateralize ” means, to pledge and deposit with or deliver to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Fronting Banks and the Banks, as collateral for Letter of Credit Liabilities or obligations of Banks to fund participations in respect of Letter of Credit Liabilities, cash or deposit account balances or, if Administrative Agent and the relevant Fronting Bank shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and the relevant Fronting Bank.  “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

Closing Date ” means the date on which all of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 shall have been fulfilled or waived by all of the Banks.

 

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

 

Combined EBITDA ” means, for any quarter, the Borrower’s Ownership Share of net income or loss plus Interest Expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and excluding the effect of non-recurring items (such as, without limitation, (i) gains or losses from asset sales, (ii) gains or losses from debt restructurings or write-ups or forgiveness of indebtedness, and costs and expenses incurred during such period with respect to acquisitions consummated during such period, (iii) severance and non-cash stock based compensation expenses and other restructuring, impairment or one-time charges and (iv) non-cash gains or losses from foreign currency fluctuations), all as determined in accordance with GAAP, of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and its Unconsolidated Affiliates, as the case may be, multiplied by four (4).  For purposes of this definition, Combined EBITDA shall be adjusted to remove any impact from straight line rent adjustments required under GAAP and amortization of intangibles pursuant to FASB ASC 805.  In calculating for this definition income constituting percentage rents (other than percentage rents payable without regard to a breakpoint, and in such case, percentage rents shall be included in Combined EBITDA when received), (i) for each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, Combined EBITDA shall include, on a Property-by-Property basis, the lesser of (A) 25% of the budgeted percentage rents for such fiscal year or (B) 25% of the actual percentage rents received in the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) for the fourth fiscal quarter of each fiscal year, Combined EBITDA shall include 25% of the percentage rents actually received in such fiscal year.  Public Affiliates and Unconsolidated Affiliates that are Non-Real Estate Affiliates but are not Public Affiliates shall be excluded when determining Combined EBITDA; provided that dividends or distributions or other payments that are actually paid by such Public Affiliates and Unconsolidated Affiliates to the Borrower or a Subsidiary shall be included in the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

 

Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.09(3).

 

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.

 

Continue ”, “ Continuation ” and “ Continued ” refer to the continuation pursuant to Section 2.12 of a LIBOR Loan as a LIBOR Loan from one Interest Period to the next interest Period.

 

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Convert ”, “ Conversion ” and “ Converted ” refer to a conversion pursuant to Section 2.12 of a Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Loan or a LIBOR Loan into a Base Rate Loan, each of which may be accompanied by the transfer by a Bank (at its sole discretion) of all or a portion of its Ratable Loan from one Applicable Lending Office to another.

 

Credit Party ” means the Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Bank.

 

Credit Rating ” means the rating assigned by the Ratings Agencies to Borrower’s senior unsecured long-term indebtedness.

 

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar Laws relating to the relief of debtors in the United States of America or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

 

Default ” means any event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default.

 

Default Rate ” means a rate per annum equal to: (1) with respect to Base Rate Loans, the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin plus an additional two percent (2.0%); (2) with respect to LIBOR Loans and Bid Rate Loans, the applicable LIBOR Interest Rate plus the Applicable Margin or LIBOR Bid Margin, as the case may be, plus an additional two percent (2.0%); (3) with respect to any other Obligation, the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans plus an additional two percent (2.0%).

 

Defaulting Lender ” means any Bank that (a) has failed, within three Banking 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 Bank notifies the Administrative Agent and Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Bank’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 Bank notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of a good faith dispute which has been 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 Bank’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 Banking Days after request by the Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank, the Swingline Lender or Borrower, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Bank 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 Bank shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon the Administrative Agent’s, such Fronting Bank’s, the Swingline Lender’s or Borrower’s and the Administrative Agent’s (as applicable) receipt of such certification in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it or them (as applicable), or (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event.

 

Designated Lender ” means a special purpose corporation that (i) shall have become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.15 and (ii) is not otherwise a Bank.

 

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Designating Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 12.15.

 

Designation Agreement ” means an agreement in substantially the form of EXHIBIT G, entered into by a Bank and a Designated Lender and accepted by Administrative Agent.

 

Disbursement Instruction Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of EXHIBIT A to be executed and delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.01(11), as the same may be amended, restated or modified from time to time with the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld).

 

Disposition ” means a sale (whether by assignment, transfer or a lease described in the definition “Capitalized Lease Obligation”) of an asset.

 

Dollars ” and the sign “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Elect ”, “ Election ” and “ Elected ” refer to elections, if any, by Borrower pursuant to Section 2.12 to have all or a portion of an advance of the Ratable Loans be outstanding as LIBOR Loans.

 

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 or any of its Affiliates or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system(s).

 

Eligible Assignee ” means (a) a Bank, (b) an Affiliate of a Bank, (c) an Approved Fund and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

Eligible Ground Lease ” means a ground lease (or a sale/leaseback transaction with an industrial development authority and/or other municipal equivalent, or a similarly structured transaction), containing terms and conditions customarily required by mortgagees making a loan secured by the interest of the holder of the leasehold estate demised pursuant to a ground lease, including without limitation, the following: (a) a remaining term (inclusive of any unexercised extension options that may be exercised by the applicable tenant without the consent of the lessor) of 20 years or more; (b) permitting the lessee to mortgage and encumber its interest in the leased property, and to amend the terms of any such mortgage or encumbrance, in each case, without the consent of the lessor or with the consent of lessor so long as the lease provides such consent is not to be unreasonably withheld; (c) subject to customary requirements that the holder of the mortgage be an “institutional lender” or satisfy similar eligibility requirements to be a recognized mortgagee, requiring the lessor to give the holder of any mortgage lien on such leased property written notice of any defaults on the part of the lessee and customary leasehold mortgagee cure rights; (d) permitting the transfer or assignment of the leasehold interest by the lessee without the consent of lessor or with the consent of lessor so long as the lease provides such consent is not to be unreasonably withheld; (e) permitting the use of the leased property for its then current use or, in the case of unimproved land, for the intended use of the Borrower; and (f) providing for clearly determinable rental payment terms (it being acknowledged that rental adjustments or resets based on fair market value, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics or similar methods of future rent determination are clearly determinable for purposes of this definition).  Sale/leaseback and/or lease/leaseback transactions with an industrial development authority and/or other municipal equivalent, or a similarly structured transaction with remaining terms of less than 20 years or which fail to satisfy one or more other requirements of the definition of “Eligible Ground Lease” shall be subject to approval by Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld).

 

9



 

Environmental Claims ” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, accusations, allegations, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Person in the ordinary course of business and not in response to any third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way to any actual or alleged violation of or liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any and all claims by Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages, contribution, indemnification cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to human health or the environment

 

Environmental Discharge ” means any discharge or release of any Hazardous Materials in violation of any applicable Environmental Law.

 

Environmental Law ” means any applicable Law relating to pollution or the environment, including Laws relating to noise or to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials into the work place, the community or the environment, or otherwise relating to the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials.

 

Environmental Notice ” means any written complaint, order, citation, letter, inquiry, notice or other written communication from any Person (1) affecting or relating to Borrower’s compliance with any Environmental Law in connection with any activity or operations at any time conducted by Borrower, (2) relating to the occurrence or presence of or exposure to or possible or threatened or alleged occurrence or presence of or exposure to Environmental Discharges or Hazardous Materials at any of Borrower’s locations or facilities, including, without limitation: (a) the existence of any contamination or possible or threatened contamination at any such location or facility and (b) remediation of any Environmental Discharge or Hazardous Materials at any such location or facility or any part thereof; and (3) any violation or alleged violation of any relevant Environmental Law.

 

Equity Interest ” means, with respect to any Person, any share of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, any warrant, option or other right for the purchase or other acquisition from such Person of any share of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, whether or not certificated, any security convertible into or exchangeable for any share of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrant, right or option for the purchase or other acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and any other ownership or profit interest in such Person (including, without limitation, partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such share, warrant, option, right or other interest is authorized or otherwise existing on any date of determination.

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” means any corporation or trade or business which is a member of the same controlled group of organizations (within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Code) as Borrower or General Partner or is under common control (within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Code) with Borrower or General Partner or is required to be treated as a single employer with Borrower or General Partner under Section 414(m) or 414(o) of the Code.

 

Escrow Date means November 26, 2014.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01.

 

10



 

Excluded Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (a) which (i) holds title to assets which are or are to become collateral for any Secured Indebtedness of such Subsidiary or, in the case of a Subsidiary that is an SPE, where the obligee or holder of Secured Indebtedness of such Subsidiary is the beneficiary of a Negative Pledge in respect of assets of such Subsidiary or (ii) is an owner of the Equity Interests of one or more Subsidiaries holding title to assets described in the preceding clause (i) or Equity Interest of other Excluded Subsidiaries (but has no assets other than such Equity Interests and other assets of nominal value incidental thereto) and (b) which is or will be prohibited from guarantying the Indebtedness of any other Person (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) pursuant to (i) any document, instrument or agreement evidencing such Secured Indebtedness or (ii) a provision of such Subsidiary’s organizational documents which provision was included in such Subsidiary’s organizational documents as a condition to the extension of such Secured Indebtedness.

 

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), profits or gains, franchise Taxes (imposed in lieu of income Taxes), and branch profits Taxes (or any similar Taxes), in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Bank, 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 Bank, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Bank with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Loan Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Bank acquires such interest in such Loan, Letter of Credit or Loan Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment requested by the Borrower under Section 3.07) or (ii) such Bank changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 10.13, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Bank’s assignor immediately before such Bank acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Loan Commitment or to such Bank immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 10.13 and (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Extended Letter of Credit ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(e).

 

Extension Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17.

 

Extension Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17.

 

Facility Fee ” means:

 

(a)                                  At any time other than during the Investment Grade Pricing Period, the percentage per annum set forth in the table below corresponding to the Level at which the “Applicable Margin” is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition thereof:

 

 

Level

 

Facility Fee

 

 

 

1

 

0.200

%

 

 

2

 

0.200

%

 

 

3

 

0.250

%

 

 

4

 

0.300

%

 

 

5

 

0.350

%

 

 

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(b)                                  During the Investment Grade Pricing Period, the percentage per annum set forth in the table below corresponding to the Level at which the “Applicable Margin” is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition thereof:

 

 

Level

 

Facility Fee

 

 

 

1

 

0.125

%

 

 

2

 

0.150

%

 

 

3

 

0.200

%

 

 

4

 

0.250

%

 

 

5

 

0.300

%

 

 

(c)                                   Any change in the applicable Level at which the Applicable Margin is determined shall result in a corresponding and simultaneous change in the Facility Fee.  The provisions of this definition shall be subject to Section 2.07.

 

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code.

 

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 Banking Day, for the immediately preceding Banking Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Banking Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate determined as provided above would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fiscal Year ” means each period from January 1 to December 31.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc. and its successors.

 

Fixed Charges ” means, without duplication, in respect of any quarter, (a) the sum of (i) Interest Expense for such period; (ii) the Borrower’s Ownership Share of the aggregate amount of all regularly scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Public Affiliates) payable by such Persons during such period (excluding balloon, bullet or similar payments of principal due upon the stated maturity of Indebtedness and excluding amounts paid by any Subsidiary of Borrower to any other Subsidiary of Borrower or to Borrower), (iii) the aggregate amount of all Preferred Dividends paid by the General Partner, the Borrower or by any of their respective Subsidiaries (other than Public Affiliates) during such period limited, in the case of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Borrower’s Ownership Share thereof (excluding, however, (A) amounts paid by the Borrower to the General Partner to the extent a corresponding Preferred Dividend is paid by the General Partner and taken into Fixed Charges and (B) amounts paid by any such Subsidiary of Borrower to another Subsidiary of Borrower or to Borrower) and (iv) the Borrower’s Ownership Share of the Fixed Charges of its Unconsolidated Affiliates (other than Unconsolidated Affiliates that are Non-Real Estate Affiliates but not Public Affiliates); multiplied by (b) four (4).

 

12



 

Foreign Bank ” means a Bank that is not a U.S. Person.

 

Form 10 ” means the Form 10 filed by Borrower with the SEC on November 13, 2014 in connection with the Spin-Off, as amended.

 

Fronting Bank ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, PNC Bank, National Association and any other Bank that shall become a Fronting Bank as provided in Section 2.16(m).

 

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to a Fronting Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Letter of Credit Liabilities other than Letter of Credit Liabilities as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Banks or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of outstanding Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Banks.

 

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

Funds From Operations ” means Funds from Operations as determined by the Borrower in a manner substantially similar to the manner in which Funds from Operations is determined by other, similarly situated real estate investment trusts.

 

GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with those used in the preparation of the most recent financial statements of the General Partner delivered to Administrative Agent prior to the Escrow Date (except for changes concurred to by the General Partner’s Auditors); provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision of the Loan Documents to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Escrow Date in GAAP or in the application of any such change on the operation of such provision, or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Banks request an amendment to any provision of the Loan Documents for such purpose, in either case, regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application of any such change, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied for purposes of the Loan Documents immediately before such change shall have become effective.

 

General Partner ” means Urban Edge Properties, a real estate investment trust organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and the sole general partner of Borrower.

 

General Partner’s Auditors ” means Deloitte & Touche LLP or any other “Big 4” accounting firm selected by Borrower (or a successor thereof), or such other accounting firm(s) selected by Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Required Banks.

 

General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements ” means the consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of operations, changes in equity and cash flows, and footnotes thereto, of General Partner, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP and as filed with the SEC as SEC Filings.

 

Good Faith Contest ” means the contest of an item if: (1) the item is diligently contested in good faith, and, if appropriate, by proceedings timely instituted; (2) adequate reserves are established with

 

13



 

respect to the contested item; (3) during the period of such contest, the enforcement of any contested item is effectively stayed; and (4) the failure to pay or comply with the contested item during the period of the contest is not likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantor ” means any Person that is party to the Guaranty as a “Guarantor”.

 

Guaranty ” means the guaranty executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 and substantially in the form of EXHIBIT I.

 

Hazardous Materials ” means any pollutant, effluents, emissions, contaminants, toxic or hazardous wastes or substances, as any of those terms are defined from time to time in or for the purposes of any relevant Environmental Law, including asbestos fibers and friable asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, and any petroleum or hydrocarbon-based products or derivatives.

 

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to a Person, at the time of computation thereof, without duplication: (a) all indebtedness and liabilities of a Person for borrowed money, secured or unsecured, including mortgage and other notes payable (but excluding any indebtedness to the extent secured by cash or cash equivalents or marketable securities, or defeased), as determined in accordance with GAAP; (b) all liabilities of a Person consisting of indebtedness for borrowed money, determined in accordance with GAAP, that are or would be stated and quantified as contingent liabilities in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of such Person as of that date; (c) all obligations of such Person (excluding trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business), whether or not for money borrowed (i) represented by notes payable, or drafts accepted, in each case representing extensions of credit, (ii) evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, or (iii) constituting purchase money indebtedness (including the deferred purchase price of property or services), conditional sales contracts, title retention debt instruments or other similar instruments, upon which interest charges are customarily paid or that are issued or assumed as full or partial payment for property or for services rendered; (d) Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (e) all reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Person under or in respect of any letters of credit or acceptances (whether or not the same have been presented for payment); (f) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Mandatorily Redeemable Stock issued by such Person or any other Person, valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; (g) all Indebtedness of other Persons which such Person has guaranteed or is otherwise recourse to such Person to the extent of such Person’s liability therefor (except for guaranties of customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability) and (h) all Indebtedness of another Person secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property or assets owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness or other payment obligation.  Indebtedness of any Person shall include Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer to the extent of such Person’s Ownership Share of such partnership or joint venture (except if such Indebtedness, or portion thereof, is recourse to such Person, in which case the greater of such Person’s Ownership Share of such Indebtedness or the amount of the recourse portion of the Indebtedness, shall be included as Indebtedness of such Person). For purposes of determining “Total Outstanding Indebtedness” and “Indebtedness”, the term “without duplication” shall mean (without limitation) that amounts loaned from

 

14



 

one Person to a second Person that under GAAP would be consolidated with the first Person shall not be treated as Indebtedness of the second Person.

 

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 other Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a) hereof, Other Taxes.

 

Initial Advance ” means the first advance of proceeds of the Loans and/or issuance of Letters of Credit.

 

Interest Expense ” means, for any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the Borrower’s Ownership Share of interest expense, whether paid, accrued or capitalized (without deduction of consolidated interest income) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Public Affiliates), including, without limitation or duplication (or, to the extent not so included, with the addition of), (1) the portion of any rental obligation in respect of any Capitalized Lease Obligations allocable to interest expense in accordance with GAAP; (2) the amortization of Indebtedness discounts and premiums; (3) any payments or fees (other than upfront fees) with respect to interest rate swap or similar agreements; and (4) the interest expense and items listed in clauses (1) through (3) above applicable to each of the Borrower’s Unconsolidated Affiliates (to the extent not included above but excluding Unconsolidated Affiliates that are Non-Real Estate Affiliates and not Public Affiliates) multiplied by the Borrower’s Ownership Share in the Unconsolidated Affiliates of the Borrower, in all cases as reflected in (or, to the extent not reflected therein, consistent with) the General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements, provided that there shall be excluded from Interest Expense capitalized interest covered by an interest reserve established under a loan facility (such as capitalized construction interest provided for in a construction loan). “Interest Expense” shall not include the non-cash portion of interest expense attributable to convertible Indebtedness determined in accordance with ASC 470-20.

 

Interest Period ” means, (1) with respect to any LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date the same is advanced, converted from a Base Rate Loan or Continued, as the case may be, and ending, as Borrower may select pursuant to Section 2.06, on the numerically corresponding day in the first, third or sixth calendar month thereafter (or at Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, a period of shorter duration), provided that each such Interest Period which commences on the last Banking Day of a calendar month (or on any day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the appropriate subsequent calendar month) shall end on the last Banking Day of the appropriate subsequent calendar month; and (2) with respect to any Bid Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date the same is advanced and ending, as Borrower may select pursuant to Section 2.02, on the date 30, 60, 90 or 180 days thereafter.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day which is not a Banking Day shall end on the immediately following Banking Day (or, if such immediately following Banking Day falls in the next calendar month, on the immediately preceding Banking Day).

 

Investment ” means, with respect to any Person, any acquisition or investment (whether or not of a controlling interest) by such Person, by means of any of the following:  (a) the purchase or other acquisition of any Equity Interest in another Person, (b) a loan, advance or extension of credit to, capital contribution to, guaranty of Indebtedness of, or purchase or other acquisition of any Indebtedness of, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person (other than deposits with financial institutions available for withdrawal on demand, prepaid expenses, security deposits, accounts receivable and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, directors and employees), or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute the business or a division or operating unit of another Person. Any commitment to make an Investment in another Person, as well as any option of another Person to require an Investment in such Person, shall constitute an Investment.  Except as expressly provided otherwise, for

 

15


 


 

purposes of determining compliance with any covenant contained in any Loan Document, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

 

Investment Grade Pricing Period means the period commencing on the date specified by the Borrower in a written notice to the Administrative Agent after the Borrower obtains an Investment Grade Rating from at least two of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch.  The Investment Grade Pricing Period shall end on the date specified by the Borrower in a written notice to the Administrative Agent that the Borrower elects to commence a Leverage Pricing Period.  There shall only be one Investment Grade Pricing Period.

 

Investment Grade Rating ” means a credit rating of BBB- (or equivalent) or higher from S&P or Fitch and Baa3 (or equivalent) or higher from Moody’s.

 

Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(b).

 

Law ” means any federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, order, code, or rule of common law, now or hereafter in effect, and in each case as amended, and any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof by a Governmental Authority or otherwise, including any judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment.

 

L/C Disbursements ” has the meaning specified in Section 12.19(b).

 

Lead Arranger ” has the meaning given that term in the introductory paragraph hereof and shall include successors and permitted assigns.

 

Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(a).

 

Letter of Credit Documents ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, collectively, any application therefor, any certificate or other document presented in connection with a drawing under such Letter of Credit and any other agreement, instrument or other document governing or providing for (1) the rights and obligations of the parties concerned or at risk with respect to such Letter of Credit or (2) any collateral security for any of such obligations.

 

Letter of Credit Liabilities ” means, without duplication, at any time and in respect of any Letter of Credit (1) the stated undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit plus (2) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower at such time due and payable in respect of all drawings made under such Letter of Credit.  For purposes of this Agreement, with respect to a Letter of Credit, a Bank (including the Bank that is the Fronting Bank for such Letter of Credit) shall be deemed to hold a Letter of Credit Liability in an amount equal to such Bank’s Pro Rata Share of the stated undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit and any outstanding Reimbursement Obligations in respect of such Letter of Credit.

 

Level ” means, with respect to the Applicable Margin, (i) at any time other than during the Investment Grade Pricing Period, the number set forth in the first column of the table in clause (a) of the definition of “Applicable Margin” and (ii) during the Investment Grade Pricing Period, the number set forth in the first column of the table in clause (b) of the definition of “Applicable Margin”.

 

Leverage Pricing Period means any period other than the Investment Grade Pricing Period.

 

LIBOR Bid Margin ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(c)(2)(iii).

 

16



 

LIBOR Bid Rate ” means a rate per annum equal to the sum of (1) the LIBOR Interest Rate for a Bid Rate Loan with the applicable Interest Period and (2) the LIBOR Bid Margin.

 

LIBOR Interest Rate ” means, with respect to any LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan for any Interest Period, the rate of interest obtained by dividing (i) the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Banking Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) as specified in Regulation D (or against any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined or any applicable category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by an office of any Bank outside of the United States of America).  If, for any reason, the rate referred to in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page), then the rate to be used for such clause (i) shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Banking Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBOR Interest Rate determined as provided above would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.  Any change in the maximum rate or reserves described in the preceding clause (ii) shall result in a change in the LIBOR Interest Rate on the date on which such change in such maximum rate becomes effective.

 

LIBOR Loan ” means all or any portion (as the context requires) of a Ratable Loan of a Bank which shall accrue interest at rate(s) determined in relation to LIBOR Interest Rate(s).

 

LIBOR Market Index Rate ” means, for any day, the LIBOR Interest Rate as of that day that would be applicable for a LIBOR Loan having a one-month Interest Period determined at approximately 10:00 a.m. Central time for such day (rather than 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Banking Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period as otherwise provided in the definition of “LIBOR Interest Rate”), or if such day is not a Banking Day, the immediately preceding Banking Day.  The LIBOR Market Index Rate shall be determined on a daily basis.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, hypothecation, assignment for collateral purposes, deposit arrangement, lien (statutory or other), or other security agreement or charge of any kind or nature whatsoever of any third party (excluding any right of setoff but including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, and the filing of any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable law of any jurisdiction to evidence any of the foregoing).

 

Loan ” means a Ratable Loan, a Bid Rate Loan or a Swingline Loan.

 

Loan Commitment ” means, with respect to each Bank, the obligation of such Bank to make Ratable Loans in an aggregate principal amount set forth on SCHEDULE 1 attached hereto and incorporated herein as such Bank’s “Loan Commitment”, as such amount may be reduced or increased from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 (upon the execution of Assignment and Assumption Agreements, the definition of “Loan Commitment” shall be deemed revised to reflect the assignment being effected pursuant to each such Assignment and Assumption Agreement).

 

17



 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty (if then in effect), the Disbursement Instruction Agreement, the Letter of Credit Documents and the Solvency Certificate.

 

Loan Party ” means the Borrower and each Guarantor (if any).

 

Mandatorily Redeemable Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interest of such Person which by the terms of such Equity Interest (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable or exercisable), upon the happening of any event or otherwise, (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than an Equity Interest to the extent redeemable in exchange for common stock or other equivalent common Equity Interests at the option of the issuer of such Equity Interest), (b) is convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Indebtedness or Mandatorily Redeemable Stock, or (c) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than an Equity Interest which is redeemable solely in exchange for common stock or other equivalent common Equity Interests); in each case, on or prior to the Maturity Date.

 

Mandatory Borrowing ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(3).

 

Material Acquisition ” means any acquisition (whether by direct purchase, merger or otherwise and whether in one or more related transactions) by Borrower or any Subsidiary in which the purchase price of the assets acquired exceeds (a) for purposes of Section 8.01, 5% of the Capitalization Value and (b) for purposes of Section 8.04, 5% of the Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets, in each case, determined as of the last day of the most recently ending fiscal quarter of General Partner for which financial statements are publicly available.

 

Material Adverse Change ” means either (1) a material adverse change in the status of the business, results of operations, financial condition, or property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (2) any event or occurrence of whatever nature which is likely to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Borrower and the other Loan Parties taken as a whole to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

Maturity Date ” means January 15, 2019, subject to extension pursuant to Section 2.17.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

 

Multiemployer Plan ” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Sections 3(37) or 4001(a)(3)  of ERISA covered by Title IV of ERISA and to which contributions have been or are required or have been required to be made by Borrower or General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

Negative Pledge ” means, with respect to a given asset, any provision of a document, instrument or agreement (other than any Loan Document) which prohibits or purports to prohibit the creation or assumption of any Lien on such asset as security for Indebtedness of the Person owning such asset or any other Person; provided , however , that (i) an agreement that conditions a Person’s ability to encumber its assets upon the maintenance of one or more specified ratios that limit such Person’s ability to encumber its assets but that do not generally prohibit the encumbrance of its assets, or the encumbrance of specific assets, shall not constitute a Negative Pledge and (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by agreements relating to Secured Indebtedness permitted under the Loan Documents if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or the Equity Interests of any Person obligated in respect of such Indebtedness.

 

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Net Operating Income ” or “ NOI ” means, for any Property and for a given period, the sum of the following (without duplication and determined on a consistent basis with prior periods): (a) rents and other revenues received in the ordinary course from such Property (including proceeds of rent loss or business interruption insurance (but not in excess of the actual rent otherwise payable) but excluding pre-paid rents and revenues and security deposits except to the extent applied in satisfaction of tenants’ obligations for rent) minus (b) all expenses paid (excluding interest but including an appropriate accrual for property taxes and insurance) related to the ownership, operation or maintenance of such Property, including but not limited to property taxes, assessments and the like, insurance, utilities, payroll costs, maintenance, repair and landscaping expenses, marketing expenses and other expenses incurred in connection with such Property (but specifically excluding general overhead expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and any property management fees and excluding any amount required to be capitalized under GAAP) minus (c) the greater of (i) the actual property management fee paid during such period and (ii) an imputed management fee in the amount of 4% of the aggregate base rents of such Property for such period (and there shall be no deduction for any other property management fees, corporate general or administrative expenses of the Borrower, the General Partner, any Subsidiary or any Unconsolidated Affiliate or fees and commissions payable to the Borrower, the General Partner, any Subsidiary or any Unconsolidated Affiliate).  For purposes of calculating rents under (a) hereinabove (other than percentage rents payable without regard to a breakpoint, and in such case, percentage rents shall be included in NOI when received), (i) for each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, NOI shall include the lesser of (A) 25% of the budgeted percentage rents for such fiscal year or (B) 25% of the actual percentage rents received in the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) for the fourth fiscal quarter of each fiscal year, NOI shall include, on a Property-by-Property basis, 25% of the percentage rents actually received in such fiscal year.  For purposes of determining Capitalization Value and Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets, NOI of any Property that is less than zero shall be disregarded.

 

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, each Bank that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

 

Non-Real Estate Affiliate ” means an Unconsolidated Affiliate not engaged primarily in the owning of real property assets from which income is derived predominately from contractual rental payments under leases with unaffiliated third party tenants.

 

Nonrecourse Obligations ” means, with respect to a Person, obligations or liabilities in respect of which recourse for payment (except for customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, violation of “special purpose entity” covenants, voluntary bankruptcy, collusive involuntary bankruptcy and other similar customary exceptions to non-recourse liability) is contractually limited to specific assets of such Person.

 

Note ” and “ Notes ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 2.09.

 

Obligations ” means each and every obligation, covenant and agreement of Borrower and each other Loan Party, now or hereafter existing, contained in this Agreement, and any of the other Loan Documents, whether for principal, Reimbursement Obligations, interest, fees, expenses, indemnities or otherwise, and any amendments or supplements thereto, extensions or renewals thereof or replacements therefor, including but not limited to all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of Borrower or another Loan Party to Administrative Agent and any Bank now existing or hereafter incurred under or arising out of or in connection with the Notes, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any documents or instruments executed in connection therewith; in each case whether direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now or hereafter existing, renewed or restructured, whether or not from time to time decreased or extinguished and later increased, created or incurred, and

 

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including all indebtedness of Borrower under any instrument now or hereafter evidencing or securing any of the foregoing.

 

OFAC ” means The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

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 3.07).

 

Ownership Share ” means, with respect to any Subsidiary of a Person (other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) or any Unconsolidated Affiliate of a Person, the greater of (a) such Person’s relative nominal direct and indirect ownership interest (expressed as a percentage) in such Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate or (b) such Person’s relative direct and indirect economic interest (calculated as a percentage) in such Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of the declaration of trust, articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of organization, partnership agreement, joint venture agreement or other applicable organizational document of such Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate. In an instance in which a Person holds an interest in an asset directly and not through a Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, such Person’s Ownership Share with respect to such interest shall be 100%.

 

Parent ” means, with respect to any Bank, any Person controlling such Bank.

 

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 12.04(d).

 

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 12.04(d).

 

Patriot Act ” means The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

 

Payor ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.12.

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

 

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any asset or property of a Person, (a) Liens securing taxes, assessments and other charges or levies imposed by any Governmental Authority (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the provisions of ERISA or pursuant to any Environmental Laws), (b) the claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords or similar claims or liens for labor, materials, supplies or rentals incurred in the ordinary course of business, which, in each case, are not more than 60 days past due or are being contested in good faith; (c) Liens consisting of deposits or

 

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pledges made, in the ordinary course of business, in connection with, or to secure payment of, obligations under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or similar applicable laws or legislation; (d) Liens consisting of encumbrances in the nature of zoning restrictions, easements, and rights or restrictions of record on or otherwise affecting the use of real property, which do not materially impede the operation of the property in the manner then being operated; (e) the rights of tenants under leases or subleases not materially impeding the operation of the property in the manner then being operated; (f) Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for its benefit and the benefit of the Banks and the Fronting Banks; (g) Liens on Equity Interests arising under partnership agreements, limited liability company operating agreements or other similar joint venture agreements to secure the obligation of partners, members or joint venturers to make capital contributions or other payments required thereunder; (h) Liens in favor of a lessor arising under a lease securing the lessee’s obligations under such lease and not otherwise securing Indebtedness; (i) Liens in existence on the Escrow Date and referred to in Section 5.25; and (j) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under the Loan Documents.

 

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, joint stock company, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, company, trust, bank, trust company, land trust, business trust or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, or any other nongovernmental entity, or any governmental authority.

 

Plan ” means any employee benefit or other plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) established or maintained, or to which contributions have been or are required or have been required to be made, by Borrower or General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate and which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or to which Section 412 of the Code applies.

 

Preferred Dividends ” means, for any period and without duplication, all Restricted Payments paid during such period on Preferred Equity Interests issued by the General Partner, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.  Preferred Dividends shall not include dividends or distributions (a) paid or payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Mandatorily Redeemable Stock) payable to holders of such class of Equity Interests, (b) paid or payable to the General Partner, the Borrower or a Subsidiary, or (c) constituting or resulting in the redemption of Preferred Equity Interests, other than scheduled redemptions not constituting balloon, bullet or similar redemptions in full.

 

Preferred Equity Interest ” means, with respect to any Person, Equity Interests in such Person which are entitled to preference or priority over any other Equity Interest in such Person in respect of the payment of dividends or distribution of assets upon liquidation or both.

 

presence ” when used in connection with any Environmental Discharge or Hazardous Materials, means and includes presence, generation, manufacture, installation, treatment, use, storage, handling, repair, encapsulation, disposal, transportation, spill, discharge and release.

 

Prime Rate ” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Bank then acting as the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Bank acting as Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

 

Principals ” means the trustees, executive officers and directors of Borrower (other than General Partner) or General Partner at any applicable time.

 

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Pro Rata Share ” means, with respect to each Bank, the percentage of the Total Loan Commitment represented by such Bank’s Loan Commitment.  If the Loan Commitments have terminated or expired, the Pro Rata Share shall be determined based upon the Loan Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Bank’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

 

Prohibited Transaction ” means any transaction set forth in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

 

Property ” means any real property owned or leased by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Unconsolidated Affiliate.

 

Public Affiliate ” means a Person that is a Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate of the Borrower by virtue of the Borrower’s direct or indirect ownership of publicly traded securities of such Person

 

Qualified Institution ” means one or more banks, finance companies, insurance or other financial institutions which (A) has (or, in the case of a bank which is a subsidiary, such bank’s parent has) a rating of its senior debt obligations of not less than BBB+ by S&P or Baal by Moody’s or a comparable rating by a rating agency reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (B) has total assets in excess of Ten Billion Dollars ($10,000,000,000).

 

Ratable Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

 

Ratable Loan Note ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09.

 

Rating Agencies ” means, collectively, S&P, Moody’s and Fitch.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent, any Bank and any Fronting Bank, as applicable.

 

Recourse ” means, with reference to any obligation or liability, any liability or obligation that is not a Nonrecourse Obligation to the obligor thereunder, directly or indirectly. For purposes hereof, a Person shall not be deemed to be “indirectly” liable for the liabilities or obligations of an obligor solely by reason of the fact that such Person has an ownership interest in such obligor, provided that such Person is not otherwise legally liable, directly or indirectly, for such obligor’s liabilities or obligations (e.g. by reason of a guaranty or contribution obligation, by operation of law or by reason of such Person being a general partner of such obligor). A guaranty of Indebtedness by the Borrower or the General Partner (as distinguished from a Subsidiary) shall be Recourse, but a guaranty for completion of improvements by the Borrower or the General Partner shall be deemed to be without Recourse, unless and except to the extent of amounts due and payable under such guaranty that remain unpaid.

 

Refinancing Mortgage ” has the meaning specified in Section 12.20.

 

Register ” has the meaning given that term in Section 12.04(c).

 

Regulation D ” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or any similar Law from time to time in effect.

 

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Regulation U ” means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or any similar Law from time to time in effect.

 

Regulatory Change ” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement or, with respect to any Bank, such later date on which such Bank becomes a party to this Agreement, of (a) the adoption of or taking effect 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 Bank or any Fronting Bank (or, for purposes of Section 3.06, by any lending office of such Bank or by such Bank’s or such Fronting 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 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 “Regulatory Change,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued, provided, however, that if the applicable Bank shall have implemented changes prior to the Escrow Date in response to any such requests, rules, guidelines or directives, then the same shall not be deemed to be a Regulatory Change with respect to such Bank.

 

Reimbursement Obligation ” means the absolute, unconditional and irrevocable obligation of the Borrower to reimburse a Fronting Bank for any drawing honored by such Fronting Bank under a Letter of Credit it issued in accordance with (or under) this Agreement.

 

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust,” as such term is defined in Section 856 of the Code.

 

Related Parties ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01.

 

Relevant Documents ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.02.

 

Replacement Bank ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

Replacement Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the thirty (30) day notice period is waived by the PBGC.

 

Required Banks ” means, as of any date, (a) Banks having more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Loan Commitments or (b) if the Banks’ Loan Commitments have been terminated or reduced to zero, Banks holding more than 50% of the principal amount of the aggregate outstanding Loans and Letter of Credit Liabilities; provided that (i) in determining such percentage at any given time, all then existing Defaulting Lenders will be disregarded and excluded, and (ii) at all times when there are two or more Banks (excluding Defaulting Lenders), the term “Required Banks” shall in no event mean less than two Banks.  For purposes of this definition, a Bank (other than the Swingline Lender) shall be deemed to hold a Swingline Loan, and a Bank shall be deemed to hold a Letter of Credit Liability, in each case, in an amount equal to such Bank’s Pro Rata Share of such Swingline Loan or Letter of Credit Liability, as applicable.

 

Required Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.12.

 

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Restricted Payment ” means (1) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any Equity Interest of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries now or hereafter outstanding, except a dividend payable solely in shares of that class of Equity Interests to the holders of that class; (2) any redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries now or hereafter outstanding; and (3) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire any Equity Interests of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries now or hereafter outstanding.

 

Revolving Credit Exposure ” means, as to any Bank at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Ratable Loans and such Bank’s participation in Letter of Credit Liabilities and Swingline Loans at such time.

 

Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, including but not limited to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

 

Sanctioned Person ” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

 

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 OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SEC Filings ” means the reports required to be delivered to, and other filings with, the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means, with respect to a Person as of a given date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of such Person outstanding on such date that is secured in any manner by any Lien on any property or, in the case of a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is an SPE, where the obligee or holder of such Indebtedness of such Subsidiary is the beneficiary of a Negative Pledge in respect of assets of such Subsidiary, and in the case of the Borrower, shall include (without duplication), the Borrower’s Ownership Share of the Secured Indebtedness of its Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates (other than (x) Unconsolidated Affiliates that are Non-Real Estate Affiliates but are not Public Affiliates and (y) Public Affiliates).

 

Secured Indebtedness Adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05.

 

Solvency Certificate ” means a certificate in substantially the form of EXHIBIT D, to be delivered by Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Solvent ” means, when used with respect to any Person, that (1) the fair value of the property of such Person, on a going concern basis, is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including, without limitation, contingent liabilities) of such Person; (2) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person, on a going concern basis, is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable

 

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liabilities of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured; (3) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; (4) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged; and (5) such Person has sufficient resources, provided that such resources are prudently utilized, to satisfy all of such Person’s obligations. Contingent liabilities will be computed at the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and its successors.

 

SPE ” means, with respect to a Subsidiary, that such Subsidiary is subject to customary limitations in its organizational documents intended to make such Subsidiary a single purpose, bankruptcy remote entity.

 

Spin-Off ” means the distribution by Vornado Realty Trust to its shareholders of substantially all of the outstanding shares of common stock of General Partner as described in the Form 10.

 

Stock Holdings ” means Investments in Persons that are not Unconsolidated Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

Subsidiary ” means, for any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which at least a majority of the Equity Interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other individuals performing similar functions of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, and shall include all Persons the accounts of which are consolidated with those of such Person pursuant to GAAP

 

Swingline Commitment ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).

 

Swingline Lender ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as Swingline Lender hereunder, and its permitted successors in such capacity in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Swingline Loan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).

 

Swingline Maturity Date ” means the date which is seven (7) Banking Days prior to the Maturity Date.

 

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.

 

Total Loan Commitment ” means an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all Loan Commitments.

 

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Total Outstanding Indebtedness ” means, without duplication, the sum of (a) all Indebtedness of the Borrower and (b) the Borrower’s Ownership Share of all Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries and the Unconsolidated Affiliates (other than (x) Unconsolidated Affiliates that are Non-Real Estate Affiliates but are not Public Affiliates and (y) Public Affiliates) of the Borrower.

 

Transition Property ” means each Property (a) that the Borrower has determined to be in transition and has designated as a “Transition Property” in a Compliance Certificate delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.09(3) and (b) either (i) such Property was acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not earlier than the first day of the fiscal quarter to which such Compliance Certificate relates or (ii) the Administrative Agent has agreed in writing (acting reasonably) that such Property may be considered to be a “Transition Property,” based on the fact that the Property in question has been placed in service within the prior twelve (12) months or is being readied for redevelopment expected to commence within the next twelve (12) months (in either case as such 12-month period may be extended in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent) or that the book value of the Property in question otherwise provides a more accurate valuation for the Property.

 

Unconsolidated Affiliates ” means, at any time, (1) Investments of the Borrower that are accounted for under the equity method in the General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and (2) Investments of the Borrower in which the Borrower owns less than 50% of the Equity Interests and that are consolidated in the General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Unencumbered Assets ” means, collectively, all Properties, Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, notes and mortgage loans receivable, Capitalized Development Costs, publicly traded securities, other Stock Holdings and Unimproved Land reflected in the General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements that satisfy all of the following applicable requirements: (a) in the case of a Property, such Property is owned in fee simple (it being acknowledged that ownership of the shares and proprietary lease related to a commercial cooperative unit on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent will be deemed fee simple ownership), or leased under an Eligible Ground Lease, in whole directly by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an Unconsolidated Affiliate; (b) neither such asset, nor if such asset is owned by a Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect ownership interest in such Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Affiliate, is subject to (i) any Lien other than Permitted Liens (but not Permitted Liens described in clause (i) or (j) of the definition of that term) or (ii) any Negative Pledge; (c) if such asset is owned by the Borrower or a Subsidiary, the Borrower has the right directly, or indirectly through a Subsidiary, to take the following actions without the need to obtain the consent of any Person or with the need to obtain such consent so long as the same may not be unreasonably withheld: (i) to create Liens on such asset as security for Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, and (ii) to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of such asset; provided that (x) this clause (c) shall not apply to a Property leased under an Eligible Ground Lease or to assets not owned by Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and (y) without limitation, a Property subject to a right of first refusal or offer or a prohibition on sale to a tenant’s competitor shall nevertheless satisfy this clause (c); and (d) in the case of a Property, such Property is free of all structural defects or major architectural deficiencies, title defects, environmental conditions or other similar adverse physical or legal defects except for any of the foregoing that, individually or collectively, are not material to the long-term profitability of such Property in the manner in which it is currently being operated or are susceptible to remediation or cure in all material respects (which remediation or cure is being or at the appropriate time will be undertaken by the owner or lessee of such Property or such other Person as is legally responsible therefor).

 

Unencumbered Combined EBITDA ” means that portion of Combined EBITDA attributable to Unencumbered Assets

 

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Unencumbered Indebtedness Adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.

 

Unfunded Current Liability ” of any Plan means the amount, if any, by which the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits as of the close of its most recent plan year, based upon the actuarial assumptions used by such Plan’s actuary in the most recent annual valuation of such Plan, exceeds the fair market value of the assets allocable thereto, determined in accordance with Section 412 of the Code.

 

Unimproved Land ” means land on which no development (other than improvements that are not material or are temporary in nature) has occurred.

 

Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents ” means cash and cash equivalents held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than tenant deposits and other cash and cash equivalents that are subject to a Lien or a Negative Pledge or the disposition of which is restricted in any way

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means, with respect to a Person, Indebtedness of such Person that is not Secured Indebtedness.

 

Unsecured Interest Expense ” means, with respect to a Person and for any period, all Interest Expense of such Person for such Period attributable to Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

U.S. Person ” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.13(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of a Person in respect of which all of the Equity Interests (other than (x) in the case of a corporation, directors’ qualifying shares and (y) in the case of a Subsidiary which is qualified as a real estate investment trust, Equity Interests issued to not more than 125 separate Persons solely in order to satisfy the requirements for such qualification) are at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

Withholding Agent ” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms .  All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, and, except as otherwise provided herein, all financial data required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

SECTION 1.03. Computation of Time Periods .  Except as otherwise provided herein, 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 words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”.

 

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction .  When used in this Agreement: (1) “or” is not exclusive; (2) a reference to a Law includes any amendment or modification to such Law; (3) a reference to a Person includes its permitted successors and permitted assigns; (4) except as provided otherwise, all references to the singular shall include the plural and vice versa ; (5) except as provided in this Agreement, a reference to an agreement, instrument or document shall include such agreement, instrument or document as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms and as permitted by the Loan Documents; (6) all references to Articles or Sections shall be to Articles and

 

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Sections of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated; (7) all Exhibits to this Agreement shall be incorporated into this Agreement; and (8) unless explicitly set forth to the contrary, a reference to “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower or a Subsidiary of such Subsidiary and a reference to an “Affiliate” means an Affiliate of the Borrower.

 

SECTION 1.05. Specific Rule re: Public Affiliates and Unconsolidated Affiliates That Are Non-Real Estate Affiliates But Are Not Public Affiliates .  For the avoidance of doubt, Public Affiliates and Unconsolidated Affiliates that are Non-Real Estate Affiliates but are not Public Affiliates are not to be included in the determination of Fixed Charges, Indebtedness, Interest Expense, Secured Indebtedness or Total Outstanding Indebtedness.

 

ARTICLE II.  THE LOANS

 

SECTION 2.01. Ratable Loans; Bid Rate Loans .

 

(a)            Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Banks agree to make loans to Borrower as provided in this Article II.

 

(b)            Each of the Banks severally agrees to make loans in Dollars to Borrower (each such loan by a Bank, a “ Ratable Loan ”) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed such Bank’s Loan Commitment pursuant to which such Bank shall from time to time advance and readvance to Borrower an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the excess (the “ Available Total Loan Commitment ”) of the Total Loan Commitment minus the sum of (1) all advances previously drawn and currently outstanding (including Bid Rate Loans and Swingline Loans) made by the Banks which remain unpaid, (2) the aggregate outstanding amount of all Letter of Credit Liabilities, and (3) without duplication of any amount included in clause (1) above, Swingline Loans outstanding.  Within the limits set forth herein, Borrower may borrow from time to time under this paragraph (b) and prepay from time to time pursuant to Section 2.10 (subject, however, to the restrictions on prepayment set forth in said Section), and thereafter reborrow pursuant to this paragraph (b). The Ratable Loans may be outstanding as: (1) Base Rate Loans; (2) LIBOR Loans; or (3) a combination of the foregoing, as Borrower shall elect and notify Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.14. Each LIBOR Loan, Bid Rate Loan, Base Rate Loan and Swingline Loan of each Bank shall be maintained at such Bank’s Applicable Lending Office.

 

(c)            In addition to Ratable Loans pursuant to paragraph (b) above, so long as the Borrower maintains an Investment Grade Rating from at least two of the Ratings Agencies, one or more Banks may, at Borrower’s request and in their sole discretion, make non-ratable loans in Dollars which shall bear interest at the LIBOR Bid Rate in accordance with Section 2.02 (such loans being referred to in this Agreement as “ Bid Rate Loans ”). Borrower may borrow Bid Rate Loans from time to time pursuant to this paragraph (c) in an amount up to fifty percent (50%) of the Total Loan Commitment at the time of the borrowing (taking into account any repayments of the Loans made simultaneously therewith) (the “ Bid Borrowing Limit ”), provided that at no time shall the sum of all Loans outstanding plus the aggregate outstanding amount of all Letter of Credit Liabilities exceed the Total Loan Commitment, and shall repay such Bid Rate Loans as required by Section 2.09, and Borrower may thereafter reborrow pursuant to this paragraph (c) or paragraph (b) above; provided , however , that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Bid Rate Loans at any particular time shall not exceed the Bid Borrowing Limit.

 

(d)            The obligations of the Banks under this Agreement are several and not joint, and no Bank shall be responsible for the failure of any other Bank to make any advance of a Loan to be made by such other Bank. However, the failure of any Bank to make any advance of each Loan to be made by it

 

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hereunder on the date specified therefor shall not relieve any other Bank of its obligation to make any advance of its Loans specified hereby to be made on such date.

 

SECTION 2.02. Bid Rate Loans .

 

(a)            When Borrower has the Credit Rating required by Section 2.01(c) and wishes to request offers from the Banks to make Bid Rate Loans, it shall deliver to Administrative Agent a request (a “ Bid Rate Quote Request ”) substantially in the form of EXHIBIT F-1 so as to be received not later than 10:30 a.m. (New York time) on the fourth Banking Day prior to the date for funding of the Bid Rate Loan(s) proposed therein, specifying:

 

(1)            the proposed date of funding of such Bid Rate Loan(s), which shall be a Banking Day;

 

(2)            the aggregate amount of the Bid Rate Loans requested, which shall be at least Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) and an integral multiple of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000);

 

(3)            the prepayment terms of such Bid Rate Loan(s), which, if not specified, shall have the same prepayment terms as Ratable Loans; and

 

(4)            the duration of the Interest Period(s) applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the definition of “ Interest Period ”.

 

Borrower may request offers to make Bid Rate Loans for more than one (1) Interest Period in a single Bid Rate Quote Request. No Bid Rate Quote Request may be submitted by Borrower (i) sooner than three (3) calendar days after the submission of any other Bid Rate Quote Request and (ii) if four other Bid Rate Quote Requests have been submitted by the Borrower in the same calendar month.

 

(b)            Promptly upon receipt of a Bid Rate Quote Request, Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Banks an invitation (an “ Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes ”) substantially in the form of EXHIBIT F-2, which shall constitute an invitation by Borrower to the Banks to submit Bid Rate Quotes offering to make Bid Rate Loans to which such Bid Rate Quote Request relates in accordance with this Section 2.02.

 

(c)            (1) Each Bank may submit a Bid Rate Quote containing an offer or offers to make Bid Rate Loans in response to any Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes. Each Bid Rate Quote must comply with the requirements of this paragraph (c) and must be submitted to Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the third Banking Day prior to the proposed date of the Bid Rate Loan(s); provided that Bid Rate Quotes submitted by the Bank serving as Administrative Agent (or any Affiliate of the Bank serving as Administrative Agent) in its capacity as a Bank may be submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Bank serving as Administrative Agent or such Affiliate notifies Borrower of the terms of the offer or offers contained therein not later than fifteen (15) minutes prior to the deadline for the other Banks. Any Bid Rate Quote so made shall (subject to Borrower’s satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in this Agreement to its entitlement to an advance) be irrevocable except with the written consent of Administrative Agent given on the instructions of Borrower. Bid Rate Loans to be funded pursuant to a Bid Rate Quote may, as provided in Section 12.15, be funded by a Bank’s Designated Lender. A Bank making a Bid Rate Quote shall specify in its Bid Rate Quote whether the related Bid Rate Loans are intended to be funded by such Bank’s Designated Lender, as provided in Section 12.15.

 

(2) Each Bid Rate Quote shall be in substantially the form of EXHIBIT F-3 and shall in any case specify:

 

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(i)             the proposed date of funding of the Bid Rate Loan(s);

 

(ii)            the principal amount of the Bid Rate Loan(s) for which each such offer is being made, which principal amount (w) may be greater than or less than the applicable Loan Commitment of the quoting Bank, (x) must be in the aggregate at least Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) and an integral multiple of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), (y) may not exceed the principal amount of Bid Rate Loans for which offers were requested and (z) may be subject to an aggregate limitation as to the principal amount of Bid Rate Loans for which offers being made by such quoting Bank may be accepted;

 

(iii)           the margin above or below the applicable LIBOR Interest Rate (the “ LIBOR Bid Margin ”) offered for each such Bid Rate Loan, expressed as a percentage per annum (specified to the nearest 1/1,000th of 1%) to be added to (or subtracted from) the applicable LIBOR Interest Rate;

 

(iv)           the applicable Interest Period; and

 

(v)            the identity of the quoting Bank.

 

A Bid Rate Quote may set forth up to five (5) separate offers by the quoting Bank with respect to each Interest Period specified in the related Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes.

 

(3) Any Bid Rate Quote shall be disregarded if it:

 

(i)             is not substantially in conformity with EXHIBIT F-3 or does not specify all of the information required by subparagraph (c)(2) above;

 

(ii)            contains qualifying, conditional or similar language (except for an aggregate limitation as provided in subparagraph (c)(2)(ii)(z) above);

 

(iii)           proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes (except for an aggregate limitation as provided in subparagraph (c)(2)(ii)(z) above); or

 

(iv)           arrives after the time set forth in sub-paragraph (c)(1) above.

 

(d)            Administrative Agent shall no later than 10:15 a.m. (New York City time) on the third Banking Day prior to the proposed date for the requested Bid Rate Loan notify Borrower in writing of the terms of any Bid Rate Quote submitted by a Bank that is in accordance with paragraph (c). Any subsequent Bid Rate Quote shall be disregarded by Administrative Agent unless such subsequent Bid Rate Quote is submitted solely to correct a manifest error in such former Bid Rate Quote. Administrative Agent’s notice to Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of Bid Rate Loans for which offers have been received for each Interest Period specified in the related Bid Rate Quote Request, (B) the respective principal amounts and LIBOR Bid Margins so offered and (C) if applicable, limitations on the aggregate principal amount of Bid Rate Loans for which offers in any single Bid Rate Quote may be accepted.

 

(e)            Not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the third Banking Day prior to the proposed date of funding of the Bid Rate Loan, Borrower shall notify Administrative Agent of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the Bid Rate Quotes so notified to it pursuant to paragraph (d). A notice

 

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of acceptance shall be substantially in the form of EXHIBIT F-4 and shall specify the aggregate principal amount of offers for each Interest Period that are accepted.  Borrower may accept any Bid Rate Quote in whole or in part; provided that:

 

(i)             the principal amount of each Bid Rate Loan may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Bid Rate Quote Request or be less than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) and shall be an integral multiple of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000);

 

(ii)            acceptance of offers with respect to a particular Interest Period may only be made on the basis of ascending LIBOR Bid Margins offered for such Interest Period from the lowest effective cost; and

 

(iii)           Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in subparagraph (c)(3) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this Agreement.

 

(f)             If offers are made by two (2) or more Banks with the same LIBOR Bid Margins, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect of which such offers are permitted to be accepted for the related Interest Period, the principal amount of Bid Rate Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted shall be allocated by Administrative Agent among such Banks as nearly as possible (in multiples of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000)) in proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of such offers. Administrative Agent shall promptly (and in any event within one (1) Banking Day after such offers are accepted) notify Borrower and each such Bank in writing of any such allocation of Bid Rate Loans. Determinations by Administrative Agent of the allocation of Bid Rate Loans shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(g)            In the event that Borrower accepts the offer(s) contained in one (1) or more Bid Rate Quotes in accordance with paragraph (e), the Bank(s) making such offer(s) shall make a Bid Rate Loan in the accepted amount (as allocated, if necessary, pursuant to paragraph (f)) on the date specified therefor, in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 2.05.

 

(h)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each Bank shall be required to fund its Pro Rata Share of the Available Total Loan Commitment in accordance with Section 2.01(b) despite the fact that any Bank’s Loan Commitment may have been or may be exceeded as a result of such Bank’s making Bid Rate Loans.

 

(i)             A Bank which is notified that it has been selected to make a Bid Rate Loan as provided above may designate its Designated Lender (if any) to fund such Bid Rate Loan on its behalf, as described in Section 12.15. Any Designated Lender which funds a Bid Rate Loan shall on and after the time of such funding become the obligee under such Bid Rate Loan and be entitled to receive payment thereof when due. No Bank shall be relieved of its obligation to fund a Bid Rate Loan, and no Designated Lender shall assume such obligation, prior to the time the applicable Bid Rate Loan is funded.

 

SECTION 2.03. Swingline Loan Subfacility .

 

(a)            Swingline Commitment . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, during the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the Swingline Maturity Date, Swingline Lender, in its individual capacity, agrees to make certain revolving credit loans in Dollars to Borrower (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

 

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exceed the least of (i) Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000), (ii) the Total Loan Commitment less the sum of (A) all Loans then outstanding, excluding Swingline Loans, and (B) the outstanding amount of all Letter of Credit Liabilities and (iii) the Loan Commitment of the Bank then acting as the Swingline Lender less its Pro Rata Share of the principal amount of all Ratable Loans and Letter of Credit Liabilities then outstanding (the “ Swingline Commitment ”). Subject to the limitations set forth herein, any amounts repaid in respect of Swingline Loans may be reborrowed.

 

(b)            Swingline Borrowings .

 

(1)            Notice of Borrowing . With respect to any Swingline Loan, Borrower shall give Swingline Lender and Administrative Agent notice in writing which is received by Swingline Lender and Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the proposed date of such Swingline Loan (and confirmed by telephone by such time), specifying (A) that a Swingline Loan is being requested, (B) the amount of such Swingline Loan, (C) the proposed date of such Swingline Loan, which shall be a Banking Day and (D) stating that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing both before and after giving effect to such Swingline Loan. Such notice shall be irrevocable.

 

(2)            Minimum Amounts . Each Swingline Loan shall be at least Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) and, or an integral multiple of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).

 

(3)            Repayment of Swingline Loans . Each Swingline Loan shall be due and payable on the earliest of (A) five (5) Banking Days from and including the date of such Swingline Loan and (B) the Swingline Maturity Date. If, and to the extent, any Swingline Loans shall be outstanding on the date of any Ratable Loan, such Swingline Loans shall first be repaid from the proceeds of such Ratable Loan prior to the disbursement of the same to Borrower. If, and to the extent, a Ratable Loan is not requested prior to the earliest of the Swingline Maturity Date and the end of the five (5) Banking Day period after such Swingline Loan was made, or unless Borrower shall have notified Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the third (3rd) Banking Day after such Swingline Loan was made that Borrower intends to reimburse Swingline Lender for the amount of such Swingline Loan with funds other than proceeds of Ratable Loans, Borrower shall be deemed to have requested Ratable Loans 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 Swingline Lender. In addition, if (x) Borrower does not repay a Swingline Loan on or prior to the end of such five (5) Banking Day period, or (y) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred during such five (5) Banking Day period, Swingline Lender may, at any time, in its sole discretion, by written notice to the Borrower and Administrative Agent, demand repayment of its Swingline Loans by way of Ratable Loans, in which case the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested Ratable Loans 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 Swingline Lender. Any Ratable Loan which is deemed requested by the Borrower in accordance with this Section 2.03(b)(3) is hereinafter referred to as a “ Mandatory Borrowing ”. Each Bank hereby irrevocably agrees to make Ratable Loans promptly upon receipt of notice from Administrative Agent 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 Bank (or the next Banking Day if such notice is received after 12:00 p.m. (New York City time)) notwithstanding (I) the amount of the Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount of Ratable Loans otherwise required hereunder, (II) whether any conditions specified in Section 4.02 are then satisfied, (III) whether a Default or an Event of Default then exists, (IV) failure of any such deemed request for a Ratable Loan to be made by the time otherwise required

 

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in Section 2.05, (V) the date of such Mandatory Borrowing (provided that such date must be a Banking Day), or (VI) any termination of the Loan Commitments immediately prior to such Mandatory Borrowing or contemporaneously therewith.

 

(4)            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 Bank 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 Swingline Lender such participations in the outstanding Swingline Loans as shall be necessary to cause each such Bank to share in such Swingline Loans ratably based upon its Pro Rata Share (determined before giving effect to any termination of the Loan Commitments), provided that (A) all interest payable on the Swingline Loans with respect to any participation shall be for the account of 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 Bank shall be required to pay to 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) Banking Days after the date the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, and thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate.

 

(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 Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans or at such other rate or rates as Borrower and Swingline Lender may agree in writing.

 

SECTION 2.04. Advances, Generally .  Each borrowing of Ratable Loans shall be an aggregate principal amount of at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and in an integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (or if less, the amount of the Available Total Loan Commitment).  Additional restrictions on the amounts and timing of, and conditions to the making of, advances of Bid Rate Loans and Swingline Loans are set forth in Sections 2.02 and 2.03, respectively.

 

Each advance shall be subject, in addition to the limitations and conditions applicable to advances of the Loans generally, to Administrative Agent’s receipt, on or immediately prior to the date the request for such advance is made, of a certificate from the officer requesting the advance certifying that Borrower is in compliance with all covenants enumerated in paragraphs 3(a) and 3(b) of Section 6.09 and containing covenant compliance calculations with respect to Sections 8.01 and 8.04 only, that include the proforma adjustments described below, which calculations shall demonstrate Borrower’s compliance with covenants on a proforma basis.

 

In connection with each advance of Loan proceeds, the following proforma adjustments shall be made to the covenant compliance calculations required with respect to Sections 8.01 and 8.04 as of the end of the most recently ended calendar quarter for which financial results are required hereunder to have been reported by Borrower:

 

(i)             Total Outstanding Indebtedness and Unsecured Indebtedness shall be adjusted by adding thereto, respectively, all Indebtedness and Unsecured Indebtedness, respectively, that is incurred and/or repaid by Borrower in connection with such advance;

 

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(ii)            Capitalization Value shall be adjusted by adding thereto the purchase price of any Property or Equity Interests (including capitalized acquisition costs determined in accordance with GAAP) and any appropriate value of other assets that would otherwise be included under the Capitalization Value definition that are acquired in connection with such advance;

 

(iii)           Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets shall be adjusted by adding thereto the purchase price of any Property or Equity Interest and any appropriate value of other assets that would otherwise be included under the Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets definition that are acquired in connection with such advance; and

 

(iv)           For purposes of Section 8.01(i) and Section 8.04(l)(i), Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents shall be increased as appropriate and for purposes of Section 8.04(l)(ii), the Unencumbered Indebtedness Adjustment shall be increased as appropriate.

 

SECTION 2.05. Procedures for Advances .  In the case of advances of Ratable Loans, Borrower shall submit to Administrative Agent a request for each such advance, stating the amount requested and the expected purpose for which such advance is to be used, no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date, in the case of advances of Base Rate Loans, which is one (1) Banking Day, and, in the case of advances of LIBOR Loans, which is three (3) Banking Days, prior to the date such advance is to be made. In the case of advances of Bid Rate Loans, Borrower shall submit a Bid Rate Quote Request at the time specified in Section 2.02. In the case of advances of Swingline Loans, Borrower shall submit a notice of borrowing at the time specified in Section 2.03.  Administrative Agent, upon its receipt and approval of the request for advance, will so notify the Banks. Not later than 11:30 a.m. (New York time) on the date of each advance, each Bank (in the case of Ratable Loans) or the applicable Banks (in the case of Bid Rate Loans) shall, through its Applicable Lending Office and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, make the amount to be advanced by it on such day available to Administrative Agent, at Administrative Agent’s Office and in immediately available funds for the account of Borrower. The amount so received by Administrative Agent shall, subject to the conditions of this Agreement, be made available to Borrower, in immediately available funds, by Administrative Agent’s wire of such amount to an account designated by Borrower in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.  The proceeds of a Swingline Loan shall, subject to the conditions of this Agreement, be made available to Borrower, in immediately available funds, by Swingline Lender’s wire of such proceeds to an account designated by Borrower in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.06. Interest Periods; Renewals .  In the case of the LIBOR Loans, Borrower shall select an Interest Period of any duration in accordance with the definition of “Interest Period”, subject to the following limitations: (1) no Interest Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; (2) if an Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Banking Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next Banking Day, unless such Banking Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Banking Day; and (3) only eight (8) Interest Periods for Ratable Loans may be outstanding at any one time.

 

Upon notice to Administrative Agent as provided in Section 2.14, Borrower may Continue any LIBOR Loan on the last day of the Interest Period of the same or different duration in accordance with the limitations provided above.

 

SECTION 2.07. Interest .  Borrower shall pay interest to Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Bank on the outstanding and unpaid principal amount of the Loans, at a rate per annum as follows: (1) for Base Rate Loans at a rate equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin; (2) for LIBOR Loans at a rate equal to the applicable LIBOR Interest Rate plus the Applicable Margin; and (3) for Bid Rate Loans at a rate equal to the applicable LIBOR Bid Rate.  Any principal amount not paid

 

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when due (when scheduled, at acceleration or otherwise) shall bear interest thereafter, payable on demand, at the Default Rate.  While any Event of Default exists, at the election of Required Banks, the Borrower shall pay interest on all Obligations at the applicable Default Rate; provided that if an Event of Default under Section 9.01(5) exists or if any of the Obligations have been accelerated by reason of an Event of Default, all Obligations shall bear interest at the applicable Default Rate.

 

The interest rate on Base Rate Loans shall change when the Base Rate changes. Interest on Base Rate Loans, LIBOR Loans and Bid Rate Loans shall not exceed the maximum amount permitted under applicable law. Interest shall be calculated for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year consisting of three hundred sixty (360) days.

 

Accrued interest shall be due and payable in arrears, (x) in the case of Base Rate Loans, on the first Banking Day of each calendar month and (y) in the case of Bid Rate Loans and LIBOR Loans, at the expiration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, but no less frequently than once every three (3) months determined on the basis of the first (1st) day of the Interest Period applicable to the Loan in question; provided , however , that interest accruing at the Default Rate shall be due and payable on demand.  All accrued and unpaid interest on Swingline Loans shall be payable on the dates and in the manner provided above with respect to interest on Base Rate Loans (except as the Swingline Lender and Borrower may otherwise agree in writing in connection with any particular Swingline Loan).

 

The parties understand that during a Leverage Pricing Period the applicable interest rate for the Obligations and certain fees set forth herein may be determined and/or adjusted from time to time based upon certain financial ratios and/or other information to be provided or certified to the Banks by the Borrower (the “Borrower Information”).  If it is subsequently determined that any such Borrower Information was incorrect (for whatever reason, including without limitation because of a subsequent restatement of earnings by the Borrower) at the time it was delivered to the Administrative Agent, and if the applicable interest rate or fees calculated for any period during a Leverage Pricing Period were lower than they should have been had the correct information been timely provided, then, such interest rate and such fees for such period shall be automatically recalculated using correct Borrower Information.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower in writing of any additional interest and fees due because of such recalculation, and the Borrower shall pay such additional interest or fees due to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Bank, within 5 Banking Days of receipt of such written notice.  Any recalculation of interest or fees required by this provision shall survive for a period of one year following the termination of this Agreement, and this provision shall not in any way limit any of the Administrative Agent’s, a Fronting Bank’s, or any Bank’s other rights under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.08. Fees .  Borrower shall, during the term of the Loans commencing as of the Closing Date, pay to Administrative Agent for the account of each Bank a facility fee computed, on the daily Loan Commitment of such Bank, by multiplying the aggregate Loan Commitments on such day by an amount equal to the daily Facility Fee, calculated on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty (360) days for the actual number of days elapsed. The accrued facility fee shall be due and payable in arrears on the first Banking Day of January, April, July and October of each year, commencing on the first such date after the Closing Date, and upon the Maturity Date (as the case may be accelerated) or earlier termination of the Loan Commitments.

 

SECTION 2.09. Notes; Records .  Except in the case of a Bank that has notified the Administrative Agent in writing that it elects not to receive a Ratable Loan Note, the Ratable Loans and Swingline Loans made by each Bank under this Agreement shall, in addition to this Agreement, be evidenced by, and repaid with interest in accordance with, a promissory note of Borrower substantially in the form of EXHIBIT B duly completed and executed by Borrower, in a principal amount equal to such Bank’s Loan Commitment, payable to such Bank for the account of its Applicable Lending Office (each

 

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such note, as the same may hereafter be amended, modified, extended, severed, assigned, substituted, renewed or restated from time to time, including any substitute note pursuant to Section 3.07 or 12.04, a “ Ratable Loan Note ”). The Bid Rate Loans of the Banks shall be evidenced by a single global promissory note of Borrower substantially in the form of EXHIBIT C, duly completed and executed by Borrower, in the principal amount of Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000), subject to adjustment pursuant to Sections 2.15(a) and (c), payable to Administrative Agent for the account of the respective Banks making Bid Rate Loans (such note, as the same may hereafter be amended, modified, extended, severed, assigned, substituted, renewed or restated from time to time, the “ Bid Rate Loan Note ”). A particular Bank’s Ratable Loan Note, together with its interest, if any, in the Bid Rate Loan Note, are referred to collectively in this Agreement as such Bank’s “ Note ”; all such Ratable Loan Notes and interests are referred to collectively in this Agreement as the “ Notes ”. The Ratable Loans shall mature, and all outstanding principal of and accrued interest and other Obligations shall be paid in full, on the Maturity Date, or, in the case of Swingline Loans, in accordance with Section 2.03, in either case as the same may be accelerated in accordance with this Agreement. The outstanding principal amount of each Bid Rate Loan, and all accrued interest and other sums with respect thereto, shall become due and payable to the Bank making such Bid Rate Loan at the earlier of the expiration of the Interest Period applicable thereto or the Maturity Date, as the same may be accelerated in accordance with this Agreement.

 

The Loans made by each Bank shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Bank and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business.  The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Bank shall be conclusive (absent manifest error) of the amount of a Loan made by a Bank to Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Bank and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

In connection with a Refinancing Mortgage, Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, a mortgage note, payable to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Banks, which shall be secured by the applicable Refinancing Mortgage. Such note shall be in such form as shall be requested by Borrower, subject to the Administrative Agent’s reasonable approval. Each reference in this Agreement to the “ Notes ” shall be deemed to refer to and include any or all of such mortgage notes, as the context may require.

 

SECTION 2.10. Prepayments .  Without prepayment premium or penalty but subject to Section 3.05, Borrower may, upon at least one (1) Banking Day’s notice to Administrative Agent in the case of the Base Rate Loans, and at least three (3) Banking Days’ notice to Administrative Agent in the case of LIBOR Loans, prepay Ratable Loans, in whole or in part, provided that (1) any partial prepayment under this Section shall be in integral multiples of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); and (2) each prepayment under this Section shall include, at Administrative Agent’s option, all interest accrued on the amount of principal prepaid to (but excluding) the date of prepayment. Borrower shall have the right to prepay Bid Rate Loans only if so provided in the Bid Rate Loan Request, and otherwise with the consent of the Bank or the Designated Lender that funded the Bid Rate Loan that Borrower desires to prepay. Borrower may, from time to time on any Banking Day so long as prior notice is given to Administrative Agent and Swingline Lender no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day on which Borrower intends to make such prepayment, prepay any Swingline Loans in whole or in part in amounts aggregating at least One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), and in an integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (or, if less, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Swingline Loans then outstanding) by paying the principal amount to be prepaid together with accrued

 

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interest thereon to the date of prepayment by initiating a wire transfer of the principal and interest on the Swingline Loans no later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on such day.

 

SECTION 2.11. Method of Payment .  Borrower shall make each payment under this Agreement and under the Notes not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date when due in Dollars to Administrative Agent at Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds, without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff (each such payment made after such time on such due date to be deemed to have been made on the immediately following Banking Day). Borrower shall deliver federal reference number(s) evidencing the applicable wire transfer(s) to Administrative Agent as soon as available thereafter on such day. Subject to Section 9.03, Borrower shall, at the time of making each payment under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, specify to Administrative Agent the amounts payable by Borrower hereunder to which such payment is to be applied.  Each payment received by Administrative Agent for the account of a Bank under this Agreement or any Note shall be paid to such Bank by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the wiring instructions provided by such Bank to Administrative Agent from time to time, for the account of such Bank at the Applicable Lending Office of such Bank.  Each payment received by Administrative Agent for the account of a Fronting Bank under this Agreement shall be paid to such Fronting Bank by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the wiring instructions provided by such Fronting Bank to Administrative Agent from time to time, for the account of such Fronting Bank.  If Administrative Agent fails to pay such amounts to a Bank or a Fronting Bank, as the case may be, within one Banking Day of receipt of such amounts, Administrative Agent shall pay interest on such amount until paid at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.

 

Except to the extent provided in this Agreement, whenever any payment to be made under this Agreement or under the Notes is due on any day other than a Banking Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Banking Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of the payment of interest and other fees, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 2.12. Elections, Conversions or Continuation of Loans .  Subject to the provisions of Article III and Sections 2.06 and 2.13, Borrower shall have the right to Elect to have all or a portion of any advance of Ratable Loans be LIBOR Loans, to Convert Base Rate Loans into LIBOR Loans, to Convert LIBOR Loans into Base Rate Loans, or to Continue LIBOR Loans as LIBOR Loans, at any time or from time to time, provided that: (1) Borrower shall give Administrative Agent notice of each such Election, Conversion or Continuation as provided in Section 2.14; and (2) a LIBOR Loan may be Continued or Converted only on the last day of the applicable Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Banks, may require, by notice to Borrower, that (i) no outstanding Ratable Loan may be converted to or continued as a LIBOR Loan and (ii) unless repaid, each Ratable Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

SECTION 2.13. Minimum Amounts .  With respect to the Ratable Loans as a whole, each Election and each Conversion shall be in an amount at least equal to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and in integral multiples of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) or such lesser amount as shall be available or outstanding, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 2.14. Certain Notices Regarding Elections, Conversions and Continuations of Loans .  Notices by Borrower to Administrative Agent of Elections, Conversions and Continuations of LIBOR Loans shall be irrevocable and shall be effective only if received by Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the number of Banking Days prior to the date of the relevant Election, Conversion or Continuation specified below:

 

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Notice

 

Number of
Banking Days Prior

 

 

Conversions into Base Rate Loans

 

One (1)

 

 

Elections of, Conversions into or Continuations as LIBOR Loans

 

Three (3)

 

 

Promptly following its receipt of any such notice, Administrative Agent shall so advise the Banks. Each such notice of Election shall specify the portion of the amount of the advance that is to be LIBOR Loans (subject to Section 2.13) and the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to Section 2.06); each such notice of Conversion shall specify the LIBOR Loans or Base Rate Loans to be Converted; and each such notice of Conversion or Continuation shall specify the date of Conversion or Continuation (which shall be a Banking Day), the amount thereof (subject to Section 2.13) and the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to Section 2.06). In the event that Borrower fails to Elect to have any portion of an advance of the Ratable Loans be LIBOR Loans, the portion of such advance for which a LIBOR Loan Election is not made shall constitute Base Rate Loans. In the event that Borrower fails to Continue LIBOR Loans within the time period and as otherwise provided in this Section, such LIBOR Loans will be automatically Converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current applicable Interest Period for such LIBOR Loans.

 

SECTION 2.15. Changes of Loan Commitments .

 

(a)            At any time, Borrower shall have the right, without premium or penalty, to terminate any unused Loan Commitments existing as of the date of such termination, in whole or in part, from time to time, provided that: (1) Borrower shall give notice of each such termination to Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify each of the Banks) no later than 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date which is three (3) Banking Days prior to the effectiveness of such termination; (2) the Loan Commitments of each of the Banks must be terminated (and, in the case of a partial termination, on a pro rata basis) (taking into account, however, Section 2.02(h)) and simultaneously with those of the other Banks; (3) each partial termination of the Loan Commitments in the aggregate (and corresponding reduction of the Total Loan Commitment) shall be in an integral multiple of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); and (4) Borrower may not reduce the aggregate amount of the Loan Commitments below One Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) unless the Borrower is terminating the Total Loan Commitments in full. A reduction of the unused Loan Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall not effect a reduction in the Swingline Commitment (unless so elected by the Borrower) until the aggregate unused Loan Commitments have been reduced to an amount equal to or less than the Swingline Commitment.

 

(b)            The Loan Commitments and the Swingline Commitment, to the extent terminated pursuant to this Section 2.15, may not be reinstated.

 

(c)            Unless a Default under Section 9.01(1) or 9.01(5) or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower, by written notice to Administrative Agent, may request on up to four (4) occasions during the term of this Agreement that the Total Loan Commitment be increased by an amount not less than Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) per request and not more than Four Hundred Million Dollars ($400,000,000) in the aggregate (such that the Total Loan Commitment after such increase shall never exceed Nine Hundred Million Dollars ($900,000,000)); provided that for any such request (a) the Borrower shall not have delivered an Extension Notice prior to, or simultaneously with, such request, (b) any Bank which is a party to this Agreement prior to such request for increase, at its sole discretion, may elect to increase its Loan Commitment but shall not have any obligation to so increase its Loan Commitment and (c) such request shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Borrower confirming that the representations and warranties of Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of the requested increase in the Total Loan Commitments (except in those cases where such

 

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representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Change” or similar language (which shall be true and correct in all respects as qualified therein) and except for changes in factual circumstances permitted hereunder).  Administrative Agent, in consultation with Borrower, shall manage all aspects of the syndication of such increase in the Total Loan Commitments, including decisions as to the selection of the existing Banks and/or other banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders to be approached with respect to such increase and the allocations of the increase in the Total Loan Commitments among such existing Banks and/or other banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders. In the event that existing Banks or Persons that will become Banks commit to any such increase, the Total Loan Commitment and the Loan Commitments of the committed Banks shall be increased, the Pro Rata Shares of the Banks shall be adjusted, new Notes shall be issued, Borrower shall make such borrowings and repayments as shall be necessary to effect the reallocation of the Ratable Loans so that the Ratable Loans are held by the Banks in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares after giving effect to such increase, and other changes shall be made to the Loan Documents as may be necessary to reflect the aggregate amount, if any, by which Banks have agreed to increase their respective Loan Commitments or make new Loan Commitments in response to the Borrower’s request for an increase in the Total Loan Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.15(c), in each case without the consent of the Banks other than those Banks increasing their Loan Commitments. The fees payable by Borrower upon any such increase in the Total Loan Commitment shall be agreed upon by the Joint Lead Arrangers and Borrower at the time of such increase.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 2.15(c) shall constitute or be deemed to constitute an agreement by any Bank to increase its Loan Commitment hereunder.

 

SECTION 2.16. Letters of Credit .

 

(a)            During the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the Maturity Date, Borrower, by notice to Administrative Agent and the applicable Fronting Bank, may request, in lieu of advances of proceeds of the Ratable Loans, that a Fronting Bank issue unconditional, irrevocable standby letters of credit (each, a “ Letter of Credit ”) for the account of Borrower or its designee (which shall be a Subsidiary or other Affiliate of Borrower) (it being understood that the issuance of a Letter of Credit for the account of a designee shall not in any way relieve Borrower of any of its obligations hereunder), payable by sight drafts, for such beneficiaries and with such other terms as Borrower shall specify and which are reasonably acceptable to such Fronting Bank. Unless the applicable Fronting Bank has received written notice from the Administrative Agent, not less than one (1) Banking Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Section 4.02 shall not have been satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such Fronting Bank, on the requested date, shall issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such Fronting Bank’s usual and customary business practices. Promptly upon issuance of a Letter of Credit by a Fronting Bank, such Fronting Bank shall notify Administrative Agent and Administrative Agent shall notify each of the Banks.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Fronting Banks shall have no obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or target of any Sanctions or (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement.

 

(b)            The amount of any such Letter of Credit shall be limited to the lesser of (1) Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) (as such amount may be reduced by written notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent consistent with the requirements of Section 2.15(a) so long as the outstanding Letters of Credit do not exceed such reduced amount) less the aggregate face amount of all other Letters of Credit then issued and outstanding or (2) the Available Total Loan Commitment, it being understood

 

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that the amount of each Letter of Credit issued and outstanding shall effect a reduction, by an equal amount, of the Available Total Loan Commitment as provided in Section 2.01(b) (such reduction to be allocated to each Bank’s Loan Commitment ratably in accordance with the Banks’ respective Pro Rata Shares); provided, however, that (i) no Fronting Bank shall be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, the aggregate face amount of Letters of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank would exceed Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) and (ii) a Fronting Bank (other than Wells Fargo Bank, National Association) shall not issue a Letter of Credit unless the aggregate stated amount of outstanding Letters of Credit issued by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association would exceed Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) if Wells Fargo Bank, National Association were to issue such Letter of Credit.  Upon the issuance by a Fronting Bank of a Letter of Credit and until such Letter of Credit shall have expired or been cancelled, the Loan Commitment of each Bank shall be deemed to be utilized for all purposes of this Agreement in an amount equal to the product of such Bank’s Pro Rata Share of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit plus any related Reimbursement Obligations in respect of such Letter of Credit then outstanding.

 

(c)            The amount of each Letter of Credit shall be further subject to the conditions and limitations applicable to amounts of advances set forth in Section 2.04 and the procedures for the issuance of each Letter of Credit shall be the same as the procedures applicable to the making of advances as set forth in the first sentence of Section 2.05.

 

(d)            A Fronting Bank’s issuance of each Letter of Credit shall be subject to Borrower’s satisfaction of all conditions precedent to its entitlement to an advance of proceeds of the Loans.

 

(e)            Each Letter of Credit shall (i) unless approved by the Administrative Agent and the Fronting Bank that is to issue such Letter of Credit, expire no later than the earlier of (x) seven (7) days prior to the Maturity Date or (y) one (1) year after the date of its issuance; provided, however, a Letter of Credit may contain a provision providing for the automatic extension of its expiration date in the absence of a notice of non-renewal from the relevant Fronting Bank but (unless approved by the Administrative Agent and the Fronting Bank that is to issue such Letter of Credit) in no event shall any such provision permit the extension of the expiration date of such Letter of Credit beyond the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to the Maturity Date and (ii) be in a minimum amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), or such lesser amount approved by the applicable Fronting Bank.  In no event shall a Letter of Credit expire later than the first anniversary of the Maturity Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that, with the approval of the Administrative Agent and each Fronting Bank with a Letter of Credit then outstanding, any Letters of Credit are issued and outstanding on the date that is fourteen (14) days prior to the Maturity Date (any such Letter of Credit being referred to as an “ Extended Letter of Credit ”), Borrower shall deliver to Administrative Agent on such date by wire transfer of immediately available funds a cash deposit in the amount of such Letters of Credit in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16(i).  To the extent Borrower fails to provide such cash deposit with respect to any Extended Letter of Credit by the date that is fourteen (14) days prior to the Maturity Date, such failure shall be treated as a drawing under such Extended Letter of Credit (in an amount equal to the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit), which shall be reimbursed (or participations therein funded) by the Banks in accordance with Section 2.16(h), with the proceeds being utilized to provide such cash deposit for such Extended Letter of Credit.  Such funds shall be held by Administrative Agent and applied to repay the amount of any drawing under such Extended Letters of Credit on or after the Maturity Date.  Such funds, with any interest earned thereon, will be returned to Borrower (and may be returned from time to time with respect to any applicable Extended Letter of Credit) on the earlier of (a) the date that the applicable Extended Letter of Credit or Extended Letters of Credit expire in accordance with their terms; and (b) the date that the applicable Extended Letter of Credit or Extended Letters of Credit are cancelled; provided that upon the expiration or cancellation of an Extended Letter of Credit for which the Banks reimbursed (or funded participations in) a drawing deemed to have occurred as provided in this Section 2.16 but in respect of

 

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which the Banks have not otherwise received payment for the amount so reimbursed or funded, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Banks the amount of such funds so reimbursed or funded for such Extended Letter of Credit, pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid reimbursements or funded participations of the Banks in respect of such Extended Letter of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to, and shall not, return any such funds to the extent doing so would result in the amount of such funds being less than the stated amount of all Extended Letters of Credit then outstanding.

 

(f)             In connection with, and as a further condition to the issuance of, a Letter of Credit, Borrower shall execute and deliver to the relevant Fronting Bank an application for the Letter of Credit in such form, and together with such other documents, opinions and assurances, as such Fronting Bank shall reasonably require.

 

(g)            In connection with each Letter of Credit, Borrower hereby covenants to pay (i) to Administrative Agent, quarterly in arrears (on the first Banking Day of each calendar quarter following the issuance of such Letter of Credit), a fee, payable to Administrative Agent for the account of the Banks, computed daily (calculated on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty (360) days for the actual number of days elapsed) on the face amount of such Letter of Credit issued and outstanding at a rate per annum equal to the “ Banks’ L/C Fee Rate ” (as hereinafter defined) and (ii) to the Fronting Bank of such Letter of Credit on the date that such Letter of Credit is issued, an issuance fee of 0.125% (or such other amount as the Borrower and such Fronting Bank may agree in writing) of the face amount of such Letter of Credit, payable to the applicable Fronting Bank only at the time of issuance of such letter of credit.  Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility for the collection of the fee for any Letter of Credit that is payable to a Fronting Bank. For purposes of this Agreement, the “ Banks’ L/C Fee Rate ” shall mean, provided no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a rate per annum (calculated on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty (360) days for the actual number of days elapsed) equal to the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans minus 0.125% and, in the event an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a rate per annum (calculated on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty (360) days for the actual number of days elapsed) equal to the Default Rate. 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 calendar quarter following the surrender, cancellation or expiration of such Letter of Credit.  Borrower shall pay directly to a Fronting Bank from time to time on demand all commissions, charges, costs and expenses (excluding any issuance fee other than as provided in clause (ii) above) in the amounts customarily charged or incurred by such Fronting Bank from time to time in like circumstances with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any other transaction relating thereto.

 

(h)            A Fronting Bank shall promptly notify Borrower and Administrative Agent of any drawing under a Letter of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank. Borrower hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to pay and reimburse each Fronting Bank for the amount of each demand for payment under each Letter of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank at or prior to the date on which payment is to be made by such Fronting Bank to the beneficiary thereunder, without presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any kind.  Upon its receipt of a notice referred to in the first sentence of this subsection, Borrower shall advise the Administrative Agent and the applicable Fronting Bank whether or not Borrower intends to borrow hereunder to finance its obligation to reimburse such Fronting Bank for the amount of the related demand for payment and if it does Borrower shall submit a timely request for such borrowing as provided in the applicable provisions of this Agreement.  If Borrower fails to so advise the Administrative Agent and such Fronting Bank, or if Borrower fails to reimburse such Fronting Bank for a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit by the date of such payment (the failure of which such Fronting Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent), then Administrative Agent shall notify the Banks of such failure and of any drawing under a Letter of Credit,

 

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and each Bank shall, notwithstanding the existence of a Default or Event of Default or the non-satisfaction of any conditions precedent to the making of an advance of the Loans, advance proceeds of a Ratable Loan, in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of such drawing, which advance shall be made to Administrative Agent for disbursement to the Fronting Bank issuing such Letter of Credit to reimburse such Fronting Bank, for its own account, for such drawing.  The Borrower’s failure to reimburse a Fronting Bank as provided above shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default so long as the conditions set forth in Section 4.02(1) and (2) to the making of Loan are satisfied at such time.  Each of the Banks further acknowledges that its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of drawings under Letters of Credit as aforesaid shall survive the Banks’ termination of this Agreement or enforcement of remedies hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. If any Ratable Loan 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 any applicable bankruptcy law with respect to Borrower), then each of the Banks shall purchase (on the date such Ratable Loan would otherwise have been made) from the applicable Fronting Bank a participation interest in any unreimbursed drawing in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of such unreimbursed drawing.  Each Bank confirms that its obligations under this subsection (h) shall be reinstated in full and apply if the delivery of any cash deposit in respect of an Extended Letter of Credit is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise.

 

(i)             Borrower agrees (i) as required by Section 9.02 upon and during the occurrence of an Event of Default and (ii) as required by Section 2.16(e) with respect to Extended Letters of Credit, (x) to deposit with Administrative Agent cash collateral in the amount of all the outstanding Letters of Credit or Extended Letters of Credit as applicable, which cash collateral is hereby pledged and shall be held by Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Banks and the Fronting Banks in an account as security for Borrower’s obligations in connection with the Letters of Credit and (y) to execute and deliver to Administrative Agent such documents as Administrative Agent requests to confirm and perfect the assignment of such cash collateral and such account to Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Banks.  Any such cash collateral deposited with Administrative Agent as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default shall be returned immediately to Borrower upon the cure of such Event of Default.

 

(j)             In examining documents presented in connection with drawings under Letters of Credit and making payments under such Letters of Credit against such documents, a Fronting Bank shall only be required to use the same standard of care as it uses in connection with examining documents presented in connection with drawings under letters of credit in which it has not sold participations and making payments under such letters of credit.  Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, none of the Fronting Banks, Administrative Agent or any of the Banks shall be responsible for, and Borrower’s obligations in respect of Letters of Credit shall not be affected in any manner by, (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effects of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of or any drawing honored under any Letter of Credit even if such document should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any 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; (iii) failure of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telex, telecopy, electronic mail or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any Letter of Credit, or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, or of the proceeds of

 

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any drawing under any Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of a Fronting Bank, the Administrative Agent or the Banks.  None of the above shall affect, impair or prevent the vesting of any of the rights or powers of the Fronting Banks or Administrative Agent hereunder.  Any action taken or omitted to be taken by a Fronting Bank under or in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it, if taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment), shall not create against such Fronting Bank any liability to Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Bank.  In this connection, the obligation of Borrower to reimburse a Fronting Bank for any drawing made under any Letter of Credit issued by it, and to repay the Ratable Loans made pursuant to the last sentence of the immediately preceding subsection (h), shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any other applicable Letter of Credit Document under all circumstances whatsoever, including without limitation, the following circumstances: (A) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit Document or any term or provisions therein; (B) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the Letter of Credit Documents; (C) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which Borrower may have at any time against a Fronting Bank, the Administrative Agent, any Bank, any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or in the Letter of Credit Documents or any unrelated transaction; (D) any breach of contract or dispute between Borrower, a Fronting Bank, the Administrative Agent, any Bank or any other Person; (E) any demand, statement or any other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein or made in connection therewith being untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever; (F) any non application or misapplication by the beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; (G) payment by a Fronting Bank under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate which does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and (H) any other act, omission to act, delay or circumstance whatsoever that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable defense to or discharge of Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligations.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section or Section 12.03., but not in limitation of Borrower’s unconditional obligation to reimburse a Fronting Bank for any drawing made under a Letter of Credit issued by it as provided in this Section and to repay any Ratable Loan made pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the immediately preceding subsection (h), Borrower shall have no obligation to indemnify the Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or any Bank in respect of any liability incurred by the Administrative Agent, such Fronting Bank or such Bank arising solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, such Fronting Bank or such Bank in respect of a Letter of Credit as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment.  Notwithstanding anything herein that may be to the contrary, nothing in this Section or in the Loan Documents shall affect any rights Borrower may have with respect to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or any Bank with respect to any Letter of Credit.

 

(k)            The issuance by a Fronting Bank of any amendment, supplement or other modification to any Letter of Credit issued by it shall be subject to the same conditions applicable under this Agreement to the issuance of new Letters of Credit, and no such amendment, supplement or other modification shall be issued unless either (i) the respective Letter of Credit affected thereby would have complied with such conditions had it originally been issued hereunder in such amended, supplemented or modified form or (ii) the Administrative Agent and the Banks, if any, required by Section 12.02 shall have consented thereto.

 

(l)             Promptly following any change in Letters of Credit outstanding, the relevant Fronting Bank shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, which shall promptly deliver the same to each Bank and Borrower, a notice describing the aggregate amount of all Letters of Credit issued by such Fronting Banks

 

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that are outstanding at such time.  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent from time to time, a Fronting Bank shall deliver any other information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank then outstanding.  Other than as set forth in this subsection, a Fronting Bank shall have no duty to notify the Banks regarding the issuance or other matters regarding Letters of Credit issued hereunder.  The failure of a Fronting Bank to perform its requirements under this subsection shall not relieve any Bank from its obligations under the immediately preceding subsection (h).

 

(m)           In addition to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and PNC Bank, National Association, Borrower may from time to time, with notice to the Banks and the written consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and the applicable Bank being so appointed, appoint additional Banks to be Fronting Banks hereunder.  Upon the appointment of a Bank as a Fronting Bank hereunder such Person shall become vested will all the rights, powers, privileges and duties as a Fronting Bank hereunder.

 

SECTION 2.17. Extension Option.  Borrower may extend the Maturity Date two times only for a period of six (6) months per extension upon satisfaction of the following terms and conditions for each extension: (i) delivery by Borrower of a written notice to Administrative Agent (an “ Extension Notice ”) on or before a date that is not more than one hundred eighty (180) days nor less than ninety (90) days prior to the then-scheduled Maturity Date, which Extension Notice Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver to the Banks, which Extension Notice shall include a certification dated as of the date of such Extension Notice signed by a duly authorized signatory of Borrower, stating, to the best of the certifying party’s knowledge, (x) all representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and in each of the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Extension Notice (except in those cases where such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Change” or similar language (which shall be true and correct in all respects as qualified therein) and except for changes in factual circumstances permitted hereunder), and (y) no Default under Section 9.01(1) and no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; (ii) no Default under Section 9.01(1) and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the original Maturity Date (an “ Extension Date ”), and (iii) Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent on or before such Extension Date a fee equal to 0.075% of the Total Loan Commitment on such Extension Date, which fee shall be distributed by Administrative Agent pro rata to each of the Banks based on each Bank’s Pro Rata Share; provided, however, that the extension fee set forth in this Section 2.17 shall not be payable if the Borrower rescinds the Extension Notice prior to the then current Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.19. Funds Transfer Disbursements .  Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of any Loan made by the Banks or any of their Affiliates pursuant to the Loan Documents as requested by an authorized representative of the Borrower to any of the accounts designated in the Disbursement Instruction Agreement.

 

ARTICLE III.  YIELD PROTECTION; ILLEGALITY; ETC.

 

SECTION 3.01. Additional Costs .  Borrower shall pay directly to each Bank from time to time on demand such amounts as such Bank may reasonably determine to be necessary to compensate it for any increased costs which such Bank determines are attributable to its making, Continuing, Converting to, or maintaining a LIBOR Loan or making or maintaining a Bid Rate Loan, or its obligation to make, maintain, Continue or Convert to a LIBOR Loan or make or maintain a Bid Rate Loan, or its obligation to Convert a Base Rate Loan to a LIBOR Loan hereunder, or any reduction in any amount receivable by such Bank hereunder in respect of its LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan(s) or such obligations (such

 

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increases in costs and reductions in amounts receivable being herein called “ Additional Costs ”), in each case resulting from any Regulatory Change which:

 

(1)            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, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

 

(2)            (other than Regulation D or other similar reserve requirement applicable to any other category of liabilities or category of extensions of credit or other assets by reference to which the interest rate on LIBOR Loans or Bid Rate Loans is determined to the extent utilized when determining the LIBOR Interest Rate for such Loans) imposes or modifies any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge, liquidity, deposit insurance or assessment, minimum capital, capital ratio or similar requirements relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other liabilities of, such Bank (including any LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan or any deposits referred to in the definition of “LIBOR Interest Rate”), or any commitment of such Bank (including such Bank’s Loan Commitment hereunder); or

 

(3)            imposes any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or the Notes (or any of such extensions of credit or liabilities).

 

Without limiting the effect of the provisions of the first paragraph of this Section, in the event that, by reason of any Regulatory Change, any Bank becomes subject to restrictions on the amount of such a category of liabilities or assets which it may hold, then, if such Bank so elects by notice to Borrower (with a copy to Administrative Agent), the obligation of such Bank to permit Elections of, to Continue, or to Convert Base Rate Loans into, LIBOR Loans shall be suspended (in which case the provisions of Section 3.04 shall be applicable) until such Regulatory Change ceases to be in effect.  The obligations of Borrower under this Section shall survive the repayment of all amounts due under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents and the termination of the Loan Commitments in respect of the period prior to such termination.

 

Determinations and allocations by a Bank or Fronting Bank for purposes of this Section of the effect of any Regulatory Change pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section, on its costs or rate of return of making, Continuing, Converting to, or maintaining its Loan or portions thereof or on amounts receivable by it in respect of its Loan or portions thereof or issuing or maintaining Letters of Credit (or participations therein), and the amounts required to compensate such Bank or Fronting Bank under this Section, shall be included in a calculation of such amounts given to Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article III to the contrary, Borrower shall only be obligated to pay any amounts due under this Section 3.01 or under Section 3.06 if, and a Bank shall not exercise any right under this Section 3.01 or Sections 3.02, 3.03, 3.04 or 3.06 unless, the applicable Bank is generally imposing a similar charge on, or otherwise similarly enforcing its agreements with, its other similarly situated borrowers. In addition, Borrower shall not be obligated to compensate any Bank under any such provision for any amounts attributable to any period which is more than one (1) year prior to such Bank’s delivery of notice thereof to Borrower; provided that, if the circumstance giving rise to Borrower’s obligation to compensate any Bank under any such provision is retroactive, then such one-year period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

For purposes of this Section 3.01, the term “Bank” includes any Fronting Bank.

 

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SECTION 3.02. Alternate Rate of Interest .  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, on or prior to the determination of the LIBOR Interest Rate for any Interest Period:

 

(1)            Administrative Agent reasonably determines (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBOR Interest Rate for such Interest Period; or

 

(2)            Administrative Agent reasonably determines (which determination shall be conclusive) that the relevant rates of interest referred to in the definition of “LIBOR Interest Rate” upon the basis of which the rate of interest for LIBOR Loans or Bid Rate Loans for such Interest Period is to be determined do not adequately cover the cost to any Bank of making or maintaining such LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan for such Interest Period;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Banks as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Banks that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any notice by the Borrower of Election, Conversion or Continuation that requests the Conversion of any Loan to, or Continuation of any Loan as, a LIBOR Loan shall be ineffective, (ii) if the Borrower requests a Ratable Loan, such Loan shall be made or Continued as a Base Rate Loan and (iii) any request by the Borrower for a Bid Rate Loan shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice do not affect all the Banks, then requests by the Borrower for Bid Rate Loans may be made to Banks that are not affected thereby.

 

SECTION 3.03. Illegality .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Bank or its Applicable Lending Office to honor its obligation to make or maintain a LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan hereunder, to allow Elections or Continuations of a LIBOR Loan or to Convert a Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Loan, then such Bank shall promptly notify Administrative Agent and Borrower thereof and such Bank’s obligation to make or maintain a LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan, or to permit Elections of, to Continue, or to Convert its Base Rate Loan into, a LIBOR Loan shall be suspended (in which case the provisions of Section 3.04 shall be applicable) until such time as such Bank may again make and maintain a LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan.

 

SECTION 3.04. Treatment of Affected Loans .  If the obligations of any Bank to make or maintain a LIBOR Loan or a Bid Rate Loan, or to permit an Election of a LIBOR Loan, to Continue its LIBOR Loan, or to Convert its Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Loan, are suspended pursuant to Section 3.02 or 3.03 (each LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan so affected being herein called an “ Affected Loan ”), such Bank’s Affected Loan shall be automatically Converted into a Base Rate Loan (or, in the case of an Affected Loan that is a Bid Rate Loan, the interest rate thereon shall be converted to the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans) on the last day of the then current Interest Period for the Affected Loan (or, in the case of a Conversion or conversion resulting from Section 3.03, on such earlier date as such Bank may specify to Borrower).

 

To the extent that such Bank’s Affected Loan has been so Converted (or the interest rate thereon so converted), all payments and prepayments of principal which would otherwise be applied to such Bank’s Affected Loan shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loan (or to its Bid Rate Loan bearing interest at the converted rate) and such Bank shall have no obligation to Convert its Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Loan.

 

SECTION 3.05. Certain Compensation .  Other than in connection with a Conversion of an Affected Loan, Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Bank, upon the request of Administrative Agent which request includes a calculation of the amount(s) due, such amount or amounts as shall be sufficient (in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent) to

 

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compensate such Bank for any loss, cost or expense which such Bank reasonably determines is attributable to:

 

(1)            any payment or prepayment of a LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan made by such Bank, or any Conversion of a LIBOR Loan (or conversion of the rate of interest on a Bid Rate Loan) made by such Bank, in any such case on a date other than the last day of an applicable Interest Period, whether by reason of acceleration, the exercise by Borrower of its rights under Section 3.07 or otherwise;

 

(2)            any failure by Borrower for any reason to Convert a LIBOR Loan or a Base Rate Loan or to Continue a LIBOR Loan, as the case may be, to be Converted or Continued by such Bank on the date specified therefor in the relevant notice under Section 2.14;

 

(3)            any failure by Borrower to borrow (or to qualify for a borrowing of) a LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan which would otherwise be made hereunder on the date specified in the relevant Election notice under Section 2.14 or Bid Rate Quote acceptance under Section 2.02(e) given or submitted by Borrower; or

 

(4)            any failure by Borrower to prepay a LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan on the date specified in a notice of prepayment.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, such compensation shall include an amount equal to the present value (using as the discount rate an interest rate equal to the rate determined under (2) below) of the excess, if any, of (1) the amount of interest (less the Applicable Margin) which otherwise would have accrued on the principal amount so paid, prepaid, Converted or Continued (or not Converted, Continued or borrowed) for the period from the date of such payment, prepayment, Conversion or Continuation (or failure to Convert, Continue or borrow) to the last day of the then current applicable Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to Convert, Continue or borrow, to the last day of the applicable Interest Period which would have commenced on the date specified therefor in the relevant notice) at the applicable rate of interest for the LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan provided for herein, over (2) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Bank) based upon the interest rate which such Bank would have bid in the London interbank market for Dollar deposits, for amounts comparable to such principal amount and maturities comparable to such period. A determination of Administrative Agent as to the amounts payable pursuant to this Section shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

The obligations of Borrower under this Section shall survive the repayment of all amounts due under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents and the termination of the Loan Commitments in respect of the period prior to such termination.

 

SECTION 3.06. Capital Adequacy .  If any Bank shall have determined that, after the date hereof, due to any Regulatory Change or the adoption of, or any change in, any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or any request or directive regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on capital of such Bank (or its Parent) as a consequence of such Bank’s obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Bank (or its Parent) could have achieved but for such adoption, change, request or directive (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity) by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then from time to time, within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Bank (with a copy to Administrative Agent), Borrower shall pay to such Bank such additional amount or amounts as

 

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will compensate such Bank (or its Parent) for such reduction. A certificate of any Bank claiming compensation under this Section, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis therefor, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The obligations of Borrower under this Section shall survive the repayment of all amounts due under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents and the termination of the Loan Commitments in respect of the period prior to such termination.

 

SECTION 3.07. Substitution of Banks .  If any Bank (an “ Affected Bank ”) (i) makes demand upon Borrower for (or if Borrower is otherwise required to pay) Additional Costs pursuant to Section 3.01, (ii) is unable to make or maintain a LIBOR Loan or Bid Rate Loan as a result of a condition described in Section 3.03 or clause (2) of Section 3.02, (iii) has any increased costs as described in Section 3.06, or (iv) requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or other amounts to such Bank or any Governmental Authority pursuant to Section 10.13, Borrower may, within ninety (90) days of receipt of such demand or notice of the occurrence of an event described above in this Section 3.07) (provided such 90-day period shall be extended for an additional period of 60 days if Borrower shall have attempted during such 90-day period to secure a Replacement Bank (as defined below) and shall be diligently pursuing such attempt), give written notice (a “ Replacement Notice ”) to Administrative Agent and to each Bank of Borrower’s intention either (x) to prepay in full the Affected Bank’s Loans and to terminate the Affected Bank’s entire Loan Commitment or (y) to replace the Affected Bank with another financial institution (the “ Replacement Bank ”) designated in such Replacement Notice. After its replacement, an Affected Bank shall remain entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.06, 10.13 and 12.03 in respect of the period prior to its replacement.

 

In the event Borrower opts to give the notice provided for in clause (x) above, and if the Affected Bank shall not agree within thirty (30) days of its receipt thereof to waive the payment of the Additional Costs, Indemnified Taxes or other amounts in question or the effect of the circumstances described in Section 3.03, in clause (2) of Section 3.02 or in Section 3.06, then, so long as no Event of Default shall exist, Borrower may (notwithstanding the provisions of clause (2) of Section 2.15(a)) terminate the Affected Bank’s entire Loan Commitment; provided that in connection therewith it pays to the Affected Bank all outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest under the Affected Bank’s Loans, together with all other amounts, if any, due from Borrower to the Affected Bank, including all amounts properly demanded and unreimbursed under Sections 3.01, 3.05, 3.06 or 10.13. After any termination as provided in this paragraph, an Affected Bank shall remain entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.06, 10.13 and 12.04 in respect of the period prior to such termination.

 

In the event Borrower opts to give the notice provided for in clause (y) above, and if Administrative Agent shall promptly (and in any event, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of the Replacement Notice), notify Borrower and each Bank in writing that the Replacement Bank is reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, then the Affected Bank shall, so long as no Event of Default shall exist, assign its Loans and all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to the Replacement Bank, and the Replacement Bank shall assume all of the Affected Bank’s rights and obligations, pursuant to an agreement, substantially in the form of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, executed by the Affected Bank and the Replacement Bank. In connection with such assignment and assumption, the Replacement Bank shall pay to the Affected Bank an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Affected Bank’s Loans plus all interest accrued thereon, plus all other amounts, if any (other than the Additional Costs in question), then due and payable to the Affected Bank; provided , however , that prior to or simultaneously with any such assignment and assumption, Borrower shall have paid to such Affected Bank all amounts properly demanded and reimbursable under Sections 3.01, 3.05 or 10.13. Upon the effective date of such assignment and assumption, the Replacement Bank shall become a Bank party to this Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Bank as set forth in such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, and the Affected Bank shall be released from its obligations hereunder, and no further consent or action by any party shall be required. Upon the consummation of any

 

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assignment pursuant to this Section, if requested by the Replacement Bank, a substitute Ratable Loan Note shall be issued to the Replacement Bank by Borrower, in exchange for the return of the Affected Bank’s Ratable Loan Note. The obligations evidenced by such substitute note shall constitute “ Obligations ” for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. If the Replacement Bank is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof, it shall, prior to the first date on which interest or fees are payable hereunder for its account, deliver to Borrower and Administrative Agent a certification as to exemption from deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes in accordance with Section 10.13. Each Replacement Bank shall be deemed to have made the representations contained in, and shall be bound by the provisions of, Section 10.13.  After any assignment as provided in this paragraph, an Affected Bank shall remain entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.06, 10.13 and 12.03 in respect of the period prior to such assignment.

 

Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Banks shall execute such modifications to the Loan Documents as shall be reasonably required in connection with and to effectuate the foregoing.

 

SECTION 3.08. Obligation of Banks to Mitigate .  Each Bank agrees that, as promptly as practicable after such Bank has actual knowledge of the occurrence of an event or the existence of a condition that would cause such Bank to become an Affected Bank or that would entitle such Bank to receive payments under Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.06 or 10.13, it will, to the extent not inconsistent with any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions, use reasonable efforts at the cost and expense of the Borrower to (i) make, issue, fund, or maintain the Loan Commitment of such Bank or the affected Loans of such Bank through another lending office of such Bank, or (ii) assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if as a result thereof the circumstances that would cause such Bank to be an Affected Bank would cease to exist or the additional amounts that would otherwise be required to be paid to such Bank pursuant to Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.06 or 10.13 would be reduced and if, as reasonably determined by such Bank in its sole discretion, the making, issuing, funding, or maintaining of such Loan Commitment or Loans through such other lending office or in accordance with such other measures, as the case may be, would not otherwise adversely affect such Loan Commitment or Loans or would not be otherwise disadvantageous to the interests of such Bank.

 

ARTICLE IV.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

SECTION 4.01. Conditions Precedent to the Loans .  The obligations of the Banks hereunder including the obligation of each Bank to make or permit the occurrence of the Initial Advance are subject to the condition precedent that Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following documents, and each of the following requirements shall have been fulfilled:

 

(1)            Fees and Expenses . The payment of all fees and expenses owed to or incurred by Administrative Agent and Lead Arrangers (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel of Administrative Agent), and the payment of all fees owed to the Banks, in each case, in connection with the origination of the Loans;

 

(2)            Note . A Ratable Loan Note for each Bank (excluding any Bank that has notified the Administrative Agent that it elects not to receive a Ratable Loan Note) and the Bid Rate Loan Note for Administrative Agent, each duly executed by Borrower;

 

(3)            Certificates of Limited Partnership/Trust .  A copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership for Borrower and a copy of the articles of trust of General Partner, each certified by the appropriate Secretary of State or equivalent state official;

 

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(4)            Agreements of Limited Partnership/Bylaws . A copy of the Agreement of Limited Partnership for Borrower and a copy of the bylaws of General Partner, including all amendments thereto, each certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of General Partner as being in full force and effect on the Closing Date;

 

(5)            Good Standing Certificates . A certified copy of a certificate from the Secretary of State or equivalent state official of the states where Borrower and General Partner are organized, dated as of the most recent practicable date, showing the good standing or partnership qualification of Borrower and General Partner;

 

(6)            Foreign Qualification Certificates . A certified copy of a certificate from the Secretary of State or equivalent state official of the state where Borrower and General Partner maintain their principal places of business (if different from its respective state of formation) dated as of the most recent practicable date, showing the qualification to transact business in such state as a foreign limited partnership or foreign trust, as the case may be, for Borrower and General Partner;

 

(7)            Resolutions . A copy of a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees of General Partner, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of General Partner as being in full force and effect on the Closing Date, authorizing the Loans provided for herein and the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by General Partner hereunder on behalf Borrower;

 

(8)            Incumbency Certificate . A certificate, signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of General Partner and dated the Closing Date, as to the incumbency, and containing the specimen signature or signatures, of the Persons authorized to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by it and Borrower hereunder;

 

(9)            Solvency Certificate . A Solvency Certificate, duly executed, from Borrower;

 

(10)          Opinion of Counsel for Borrower . Favorable opinions, dated as of the Closing Date, from counsels for Borrower and General Partner addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Banks, as to such matters as Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

 

(11)          Disbursement Instruction Agreement .  The Disbursement Instruction Agreement, duly executed by Borrower;

 

(12)          Certificate . The following statements shall be true and Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate dated as of the Closing Date signed by a duly authorized signatory of Borrower stating, to the best of the certifying party’s knowledge, the following:

 

(a)            All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and in each of the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date (except in those cases where such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Change” or similar language (which shall be true and correct in all respects as qualified therein) and except for changes in factual circumstances permitted hereunder);

 

(b)            No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(c)            No litigation, action, suit, investigation or other arbitral, administrative or judicial proceeding shall be pending or threatened which could reasonably be expected to (A) result in a Material Adverse Change or (B) restrain or enjoin, impose materially burdensome conditions on, or otherwise materially and adversely affect, the ability of Borrower to fulfill its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and

 

(d)            Borrower has received all approvals, consents and waivers, and have made or given all necessary filings and notices, as shall be required to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby without the occurrence of any default under, conflict with or violation of (A) any Law or (B) any agreement, document or instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower or its properties is bound;

 

(13)          Compliance Certificate . A certificate of the sort required by paragraph (3) of Section 6.09 calculated on a pro forma basis as of the quarter ending September 30, 2014, consistent with the financial statements for such period set forth in the Form 10, adjusted to reflect any net change in Indebtedness and in Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents and as otherwise may reasonably be required to reflect balances as of the Closing Date;

 

(14)          Insurance . Evidence of the insurance described in Section 5.17;

 

(15)          Spin-Off Matters .  Administrative Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, that (i) the Form 10 has become effective, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form 10 is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the SEC, (ii) the Spin-Off has occurred and (iii) General Partner’s common stock has been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance from Borrower; and

 

(16)          KYC Information .  The Administrative Agent and the Banks shall have received all documentation and other information about the Borrower as shall have been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or such Bank that it shall have reasonably determined is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations.

 

SECTION 4.02. Conditions Precedent to All Advances and Letters of Credit .  In addition to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent contained in Section 4.01, the obligation of each Bank to make any Loan and the obligation of each Fronting Bank to issue, renew or increase any Letter of Credit shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(1)            No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(2)            Each of the representations and warranties of Borrower and the other Loan Parties contained in this Agreement and in each of the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the advance, issuance, renewal or increase (except in those cases where such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Change” or similar language (which shall be true and correct in all respects as qualified therein) and except for changes in factual circumstances permitted hereunder); and

 

(3)            In the case of a Loan, Administrative Agent shall have received a request for such Loan in accordance with Section 2.05, and in the case of a Letter of Credit, the relevant

 

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Fronting Bank shall have received a request for such Letter of Credit and such other items as may be required to be delivered to such Fronting Bank under Section 2.16(f).

 

SECTION 4.03. Deemed Representations .  Each request by Borrower for, and acceptance by Borrower of, an advance of proceeds of the Loans or the issuance, renewal or increase of any Letter of Credit, shall constitute a representation and warranty by Borrower that, as of both the date of such request and the date of such advance, issuance, renewal or increase (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the date of such advance, issuance, renewal or increase, and (2) each of the representations and warranties by Borrower contained in this Agreement and in each of the other Loan Documents is true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date (except in those cases where such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Change” or similar language (which shall be true and correct in all respects as qualified therein) and except for changes in factual circumstances permitted hereunder).  In addition, the request by Borrower for, and acceptance by Borrower of, the Initial Advance shall constitute a representation and warranty by Borrower that, as of the Closing Date, each certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01 is true and correct in all material respects.

 

ARTICLE V.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Borrower represents and warrants to Administrative Agent and each Bank as follows:

 

SECTION 5.01. Existence .  Borrower is a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal executive office in the State of New York, and is duly qualified as a foreign limited partnership, properly licensed, in good standing and has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which it owns properties or conducts business except where the failure to be so qualified or to obtain such authority would not constitute a Material Adverse Change.  Each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which it owns property or conducts business, except where the failure to be so qualified or to obtain such authority would not constitute a Material Adverse Change. General Partner is a REIT duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland, with its principal executive office in the State of New York, is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or trust and properly licensed and in good standing in each jurisdiction where the failure to qualify or be licensed would constitute a Material Adverse Change.  As of the Closing Date, the common shares of beneficial interest of General Partner are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

SECTION 5.02. Corporate/Partnership Powers .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents required to be delivered by Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder are within the partnership or other authority of Borrower or such Loan Party, as applicable, have been duly authorized by all requisite action, and are not in conflict with the terms of any organizational documents of such entity, or any instrument or agreement to which Borrower, any other Loan Party or General Partner is a party or by which Borrower, any other Loan Party or General Partner or any of their respective assets may be bound or affected (which conflict with any such instrument or agreement would likely cause a Material Adverse Change to occur).

 

SECTION 5.03. Power of Officers .  The officers of General Partner executing the Loan Documents required to be delivered by it on behalf of Borrower hereunder and the officers or other representatives of the other Loan Parties executing the Loan Documents required to be delivered by such Loan Parties hereunder have been duly elected or appointed and were fully authorized to execute the same at the time each such Loan Document was executed.

 

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SECTION 5.04. Power and Authority; No Conflicts; Compliance With Laws .  The execution and delivery of, and the performance of the obligations required to be performed by Borrower and the other Loan Parties under, the Loan Documents do not and will not (a) violate any provision of, or, except for those which have been made or obtained, require any filing (other than SEC disclosure filings), registration, consent or approval under, any Law (including, without limitation, Regulation U), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award presently in effect having applicability to it, except for such violations, or filings, registrations, consents and approvals which if not done or obtained would not likely cause a Material Adverse Change to occur, (b) result in a breach of or constitute a default under or require any consent under any indenture or loan or credit agreement or any other agreement, lease or instrument to which it may be a party or by which it or its properties may be bound or affected except for consents which have been obtained or which if not obtained are not likely to cause a Material Adverse Change to occur, (c) result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien, upon or with respect to any of its properties now owned or hereafter acquired which would likely cause a Material Adverse Change to occur, or (d) cause it to be in default under any such Law, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award or any such indenture, agreement, lease or instrument which would likely cause a Material Adverse Change to occur; to the best of its knowledge, Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Laws applicable to it and its respective properties where the failure to be in compliance would cause a Material Adverse Change to occur.

 

SECTION 5.05. Legal Enforceable Agreements .  Each Loan Document to which Borrower or another Loan Party is party is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Borrower or such other Loan Party, as applicable, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, as well as general principles of equity.

 

SECTION 5.06. Litigation .  Except as disclosed in General Partner’s publicly filed SEC Filings existing as of the Escrow Date, there are no investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against Borrower, General Partner or any of their Affiliates before any court or arbitrator or any Governmental Authority reasonably likely to (i) have a material effect on Borrower’s ability to repay the Loans, (ii) result in a Material Adverse Change, or (iii) affect the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document.

 

SECTION 5.07. Good Title to Properties; Liens .  Borrower and each Subsidiary have good, marketable and legal title to all of the properties and assets each of them purports to own (including, without limitation, those reflected in financial statements referred to in Section 5.15 and only with exceptions which do not materially detract from the value of such property or assets or the use thereof in the Loan Parties’ and each Affiliate’s businesses, and except to the extent that any such properties and assets have been encumbered or disposed of since the date of such financial statements without violating any of the covenants contained in Article VII or elsewhere in this Agreement) and except where failure to comply with the foregoing would likely result in a Material Adverse Change.  The Borrower and its Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession of all leased property under leases which are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect, except to the extent that the failure to be so would not likely result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

SECTION 5.08. Taxes .  Borrower, the other Loan Parties and General Partner have filed all tax returns (federal, state and local) required to be filed and have paid all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies due and payable without the imposition of a penalty, including interest and penalties, except to the extent they are the subject of a Good Faith Contest or where the failure to comply with the foregoing would not likely result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

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SECTION 5.09. ERISA .  To the knowledge of Borrower, each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with its terms and all applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. Neither a Reportable Event nor a Prohibited Transaction has occurred with respect to any Plan that, assuming the taxable period of the transaction expired as of the date hereof, could subject Borrower, General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate to a tax or penalty imposed under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA in an amount that is in excess of $250,000; no Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan within the last six (6) years; no notice of intent to terminate a Plan has been filed nor has any Plan been terminated within the past five (5) years; Borrower is not aware of any circumstances which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA entitling the PBGC to institute proceedings to terminate, or appoint a trustee to administer, a Plan, nor has the PBGC instituted any such proceedings; Borrower, General Partner and the ERISA Affiliates have met the minimum funding requirements of Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA of each with respect to the Plans of each and except as disclosed in the General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements there was no Unfunded Current Liability with respect to any Plan established or maintained by each as of the last day of the most recent plan year of each Plan; and Borrower, General Partner and the ERISA Affiliates have not incurred any liability to the PBGC under ERISA (other than for the payment of premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) which is due and payable for more than 45 days and has not been reserved against.  Assuming that no portion of the assets used by Bank Parties in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan and the Loan Documents constitute assets of a “benefit plan investor” (as defined in Section 3(42) of ERISA) with respect to which Borrower, Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate is a “party in interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA), none of the assets of Borrower, General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate under this Agreement constitute “plan assets” of any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of ERISA or of any “plan” within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code, as interpreted by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor in rules, regulations, releases or bulletins or as interpreted under applicable case law.

 

SECTION 5.10. No Default on Outstanding Judgments or Orders .  Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries have satisfied all judgments which are not being appealed and are not in default with respect to any rule or regulation or any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree applicable to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, of any court, arbitrator or federal, state, municipal or other Governmental Authority, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, in each case which failure to satisfy or which being in default is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

SECTION 5.11. No Defaults on Other Agreements .  Except as disclosed to the Bank Parties in writing prior to the Escrow Date or as disclosed in General Partner’s publicly filed SEC Filings existing as of the Escrow Date, none of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, is a party to any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any lease or other agreement or instrument or subject to any partnership, trust or other restriction which is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. To the best of Borrower’s knowledge, none of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is in default in any respect in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement or instrument which is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

SECTION 5.12. Government Regulation .  None of Borrower, General Partner or any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

SECTION 5.13. Environmental Protection .  To Borrower’s knowledge, except as disclosed in General Partner’s publicly filed SEC Filings existing as of the Escrow Date, none of the properties of Borrower, any other Loan Party or General Partner contains any Hazardous Materials that, under any Environmental Law currently in effect, (1) would impose liability on Borrower or any Subsidiary that is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, or (2) is likely to result in the imposition of a Lien on any assets of Borrower or any Subsidiary that is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. To Borrower’s

 

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knowledge, neither it nor any Subsidiaries are in violation of, or subject to any existing, pending or threatened investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Authority under any Environmental Law that is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

SECTION 5.14. Solvency .  Borrower and the other Loan Parties are, and upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any other documents, instruments or agreements relating thereto, will be, Solvent.

 

SECTION 5.15. Financial Statements .  Borrower has furnished to each Bank copies of (i) the audited combined balance sheets of the UE Businesses (as defined in the financial statements attached to the Form 10 most recently filed with the SEC prior to the Escrow Date) as of December 31, 2013 and as of December 31, 2012, and the related combined statements of income, changes in equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Years ending December 31, 2013, December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and (ii) the unaudited combined balance sheet of such UE Businesses as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the unaudited combined statements of income for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, and the unaudited statements of changes in equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, all in the forms attached to the Form 10 most recently filed with the SEC prior to the Escrow Date.  Such financial statements (including in each case related schedules and notes) are complete and correct in all material respects and present fairly, in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved, the consolidated financial position of such UE Businesses as at their respective dates and the results of operations and the cash flow for such periods (subject, as to interim statements, to changes resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments).  There has been no Material Adverse Change since the Escrow Date or if any of the General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been furnished pursuant to Section 6.09(1) or (2) subsequent to the Escrow Date, there has been no Material Adverse Change since the date of such most recently delivered General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

SECTION 5.16. Valid Existence of Subsidiaries .  Each Subsidiary is an entity duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.  As to each Subsidiary and as of the Closing Date, its correct name and the jurisdiction of its formation are set forth in the Form 10.

 

SECTION 5.17. Insurance .  Each of Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has in force paid insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks substantially similar to that usually carried by companies engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated.

 

SECTION 5.18. Accuracy of Information; Full Disclosure .  Neither this Agreement nor any documents, financial statements, reports, notices, schedules, certificates, statements or other writings furnished by or on behalf of Borrower to Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or any Bank in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, required herein to be furnished by or on behalf of Borrower (other than projections which are made by Borrower in good faith) or certified as being true and correct by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or any Bank in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so certified) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in any material respect; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. There is no fact which Borrower has not disclosed to Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Banks in writing or that is not disclosed in General Partner’s publicly

 

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filed SEC Filings that materially affects adversely or, so far as Borrower can now reasonably foresee, will materially affect adversely the business or financial condition of Borrower or the ability of Borrower to perform this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 5.19. Use of Proceeds .  All proceeds of the Loans and all Letters of Credit will be used by Borrower to finance pre-development costs, development costs, acquisitions, working capital, equity investments, debt investments, capital expenditures, repayment of Indebtedness, to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and for other general corporate purposes.  Neither the making of any Loan nor the use of the proceeds thereof nor any other extension of credit hereunder will violate the provisions of Regulations T, U, or X of the Federal Reserve Board. No Swingline Loan shall be used for the purpose of refinancing another Swingline Loan, in whole or part.

 

SECTION 5.20. Governmental Approvals .  No order, consent, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any Governmental Authority is required to authorize, or is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of any Loan Document or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby other than those that have already been duly made or obtained and remain in full force and effect, those which, if not made or obtained, would not likely result in a Material Adverse Change and those which will be made in due course as SEC disclosure filings.

 

SECTION 5.21. Principal Offices .  As of the Closing Date, the principal office, chief executive office and principal place of business of Borrower is 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10106.

 

SECTION 5.22. General Partner Status .  General Partner is qualified and General Partner intends to continue to qualify as a REIT.

 

(1)            As of the date hereof, the General Partner owns no assets other than (i) ownership interests in Borrower, (ii) assets the General Partner is permitted to own under Section 7.5.A of the Borrower’s Agreement of Limited Partnership in the form filed as an Exhibit to the Form 10 most recently filed with the SEC prior to the Escrow Date and (iii) as disclosed on SCHEDULE 5.22(1) attached hereto.

 

(2)            The General Partner is neither the borrower nor guarantor of any Indebtedness.

 

SECTION 5.23. Labor Matters .  As of the Closing Date, there are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of Borrower, General Partner, or any ERISA Affiliate.  Neither Borrower, General Partner, nor any ERISA Affiliate has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years which would likely result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

SECTION 5.24. Organizational Documents .  The documents delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(3) and (4) constitute, as of the Closing Date, all of the organizational documents of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and General Partner.  Borrower represents that it has delivered to Administrative Agent true, correct and complete copies of each such documents.  General Partner is the general partner of the Borrower. General Partner holds (directly or indirectly) not less than ninety percent (90%) of the ownership interests in Borrower as of the Closing Date.

 

SECTION 5.25. Existing Indebtedness .  As of the Closing Date, a complete and correct listing of all Indebtedness (including all guarantees of Indebtedness) of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and if such Indebtedness is secured by any Lien, a description of all of the property subject to such Lien, is set forth in the Form 10 most recently filed with the SEC prior to the Escrow Date.

 

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SECTION 5.26. Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Terrorism Laws and Sanctions .  The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to attain compliance by the General Partner, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, trustees, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Terrorism Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and to the knowledge of the Borrower its directors, trustees, agents, Affiliates and representatives, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Terrorism Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the General Partner, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, trustees, 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 Loan or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate any Anti-Corruption Law, Anti-Terrorism Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

ARTICLE VI.  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any of the Loans shall remain unpaid or the Loan Commitments remain in effect, or any other amount is owing by Borrower to any Bank hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding (other than a Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized in full), Borrower shall:

 

SECTION 6.01. Maintenance of Existence .  Preserve and maintain, and cause each Subsidiary to preserve and maintain, its legal existence and, if applicable, good standing in its jurisdiction of organization and, if applicable, qualify and remain qualified as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except to the extent that failure to so qualify would not likely result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

SECTION 6.02. Maintenance of Records .  Keep adequate records and books of account, in which entries will be made in accordance with GAAP in all material respects, except as disclosed in Borrower’s financial statements, reflecting all of its financial transactions.

 

SECTION 6.03. Maintenance of Insurance .  At all times, maintain and keep in force, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and keep in force, insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks as are usually carried by companies engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated, which insurance may provide for reasonable deductibles from coverage thereof.

 

SECTION 6.04. Compliance With Laws; Payment of Taxes .  Comply, and cause each Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all Laws applicable to it or to any of its properties or any part thereof, such compliance to include, without limitation, paying before the same become delinquent all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or upon any of its property, except to the extent they are the subject of a Good Faith Contest or the failure to so comply would not cause a Material Adverse Change.  The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to attain compliance by the General Partner, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, trustees, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

SECTION 6.05. Right of Inspection .  At any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable notice, but not more frequently than twice in any 12-month period provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, permit, and cause each Subsidiary to permit, Administrative Agent or any Bank or any agent or representative thereof (provided that, at Borrower’s request, Administrative Agent or such Bank, or such representative, must be accompanied by a representative of Borrower), to examine and make copies and abstracts from the records and books of

 

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account of, and visit the properties of, Borrower and its Subsidiaries and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of Borrower and its Subsidiaries with the independent accountants of the General Partner. The request by any Bank or agent or representative thereof for such an inspection shall be made to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent promptly shall notify all the Banks of such request (or if the Administrative Agent shall have requested the same on its behalf, the Administrative Agent shall notify all the Banks thereof) and any Bank that shall so desire may accompany Administrative Agent or such Bank, or such representative on such examination.

 

SECTION 6.06. Compliance with Environmental Laws .  Comply in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws and immediately pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incurred in connection with such compliance, except to the extent there is a Good Faith Contest or the failure to so comply would not likely cause a Material Adverse Change.  Nothing in this Section shall impose any obligation or liability whatsoever on Administrative Agent, any Fronting Bank, or any Bank.

 

SECTION 6.07. Payment of Costs .  Pay all fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent required by this Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.08. Maintenance of Properties .  Do all things reasonably necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep its and its Subsidiaries’ properties in good repair, working order and condition except where the failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

SECTION 6.09. Reporting and Miscellaneous Document Requirements .  Furnish to Administrative Agent (which shall promptly distribute to each of the Banks):

 

(1)            Annual Financial Statements . As soon as available and in any event within ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, the General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of the end of and for such Fiscal Year, such financial statements to be certified by the General Partner’s chief executive officer or chief financial officer and audited by General Partner’s Auditors;

 

(2)            Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available and in any event within fifty (50) days after the end of each calendar quarter (other than the last quarter of the Fiscal Year), the unaudited General Partner’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of the end of and for such calendar quarter, such quarterly statements to be certified by the General Partner’s chief executive officer or chief financial officer and reviewed by General Partner’s Auditors;

 

(3)            Certificate of No Default and Financial Compliance . Within fifty (50) days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each Fiscal Year and within ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a certificate substantially in the form of EXHIBIT H (a “ Compliance Certificate ”) of the chief financial officer or other appropriate financial officer of General Partner (a) stating that, to the best of his or her knowledge, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, specifying the nature thereof and the action which is being taken with respect thereto; (b) stating that the covenants contained in Article VIII have been complied with (or specifying those that have not been complied with) and including computations demonstrating such compliance (or non-compliance); (c) setting forth all items comprising Total Outstanding Indebtedness (including amount, maturity, interest rate and amortization requirements), Capitalization Value, Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets, Secured Indebtedness, Combined EBITDA, Unencumbered Combined EBITDA, Interest Expense, Unsecured Interest Expense and Unsecured Indebtedness; and (d) only at the end of each Fiscal Year an estimate of Borrower’s taxable income.  Each Compliance Certificate shall be accompanied by (x) a

 

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statement of Funds from Operations (to the extent not included in the General Partner’s form 10-K or 10-Q); and (y) a report of newly acquired Properties, including their NOI, costs and mortgage debt, if any;

 

(4)            Certificate of General Partner’s Auditors . Within ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a report with respect thereto of General Partner’s Auditors, which report shall not be subject to (i) any “going concern” qualification or exception or (ii) any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, and shall state that such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial position of each of the General Partner and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years (except for changes which shall have been disclosed in the notes to the financial statements);

 

(5)            Notice of Litigation . Promptly after the commencement and knowledge thereof, notice of all (i) actions, suits, and proceedings before any court or arbitrator, (ii) judgments, or (iii) investigations by any Governmental Authority affecting the General Partner or Borrower which, if determined adversely to the General Partner or Borrower is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change and which would be required to be reported in the General Partner’s SEC Filings;

 

(6)            Notice of ERISA Events . Promptly after the occurrence thereof, notice of any action or event described in clauses (b) through (e) of Section 9.01(7) (assuming for purposes of this clause (6) only that each reference in Section 9.01(7) to $20,000,000 were instead a reference to $10,000,000);

 

(7)            Notices of Defaults and Events of Default . As soon as possible and in any event within ten (10) days after Borrower becomes aware of the occurrence of a material Default or any Event of Default a written notice setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default and the action which is proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

 

(8)            Sales or Acquisitions of Assets . Promptly after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any Disposition or acquisition of an individual asset (other than acquisitions or Dispositions of investments such as certificates of deposit, Treasury securities and money market deposits in the ordinary course of Borrower’s cash management) in excess of Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000) and, in the case of any acquisition of such an asset, within ten (10) Banking Days after Administrative Agent’s request, copies of the agreements governing the acquisition and historical financial information and Borrower’s summary analysis with respect to the property acquired;

 

(9)            Material Adverse Change . As soon as is practicable and in any event within five (5) days after knowledge of the occurrence of any event or circumstance which is likely to result in or has resulted in a Material Adverse Change and which would be required to be reported in the General Partner’s SEC Filings, written notice thereof;

 

(10)          Bankruptcy of Tenants . Promptly after becoming aware of the same, written notice of the bankruptcy, insolvency or cessation of operations of any tenant in any Property of Borrower or any Subsidiary or in which Borrower or any Subsidiary has an interest to which four percent (4%) or more of aggregate annual minimum rent payable to Borrower directly or through its Subsidiaries is attributable;

 

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(11)          Offices . Thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of any change in the principal executive office of Borrower;

 

(12)          Environmental and Other Notices . As soon as possible and in any event within thirty (30) days after receipt, copies of all Environmental Notices received by Borrower or any Subsidiary which are not received in the ordinary course of business and which relate to a previously undisclosed situation which is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(13)          Insurance Coverage . Promptly, such information concerning insurance coverage of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

 

(14)          Proxy Statements, Etc .  Promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all proxy statements, financial statements and reports which Borrower or General Partner sends to its respective shareholders, and copies of all regular, periodic and special reports, and all registration statements, which Borrower or General Partner files with the SEC or any Governmental Authority which may be substituted therefor, or with any national securities exchange;

 

(15)          Capital Expenditures . If reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, a schedule of such Fiscal Year’s capital expenditures and a budget for the next Fiscal Year’s planned capital expenditures for Borrower and each Subsidiary;

 

(16)          Change in Credit Rating . Within two (2) Banking Days after receipt by General Partner or Borrower of notice of any change in the Credit Rating, written notice of such change; and

 

(17)          General Information . Promptly, such other information respecting the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the General Partner, of Borrower or any properties of Borrower as Administrative Agent or any Bank (acting through the Administrative Agent) may from time to time reasonably request.

 

SECTION 6.10. Business .  Engage, and cause its Subsidiaries to engage, primarily in the business of acquiring, owning, redeveloping, developing, leasing, operating, maintaining and managing retail properties, mixed use properties with a retail component, vacant or improved property for development as retail or mixed use property and other similar real property, including direct or indirect interests therein and equity and debt investments in companies which have interests therein, together with business activities reasonably related thereto.

 

SECTION 6.11. Guarantors .  If (a) any Subsidiary guarantees, or otherwise becomes obligated in respect of, any Indebtedness of which General Partner, Borrower or any other Subsidiary is the primary obligor (other than an Excluded Subsidiary guaranteeing or otherwise becoming obligated in respect of the Indebtedness of another Excluded Subsidiary) or (b) any Subsidiary that owns an Unencumbered Asset or other asset the value of which is included in the determination of Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets (it being acknowledged that Borrower may elect to exclude the assets of any Subsidiary that is an SPE in making such determination in which event such Subsidiary will not be required to become a Guarantor) has incurred, acquired or suffered to exist any Indebtedness that is Recourse to such Subsidiary, then, within 5 Banking Days thereof, deliver to the Administrative Agent each of the following in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(1)            Accession Agreement . An Accession Agreement (or if the Guaranty is not then in effect, a Guaranty);

 

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(2)            Certified Organizational Documents .  The certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, declaration of trust or other comparable organizational document (if any) for such Subsidiary, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Secretary of State or equivalent state official;

 

(3)            Governing Documents . A copy of such Subsidiary’s by-laws, if a corporation, operating agreement, if a limited liability company, partnership agreement, if a limited or general partnership, or other comparable document in the case of any other form of legal entity or other comparable organizational instrument (if any), including all amendments thereto, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or other individual performing similar functions) of such Subsidiary, as being in full force and effect;

 

(4)            Good Standing Certificates . A certificate from the Secretary of State or equivalent state official of the state where such Subsidiary is organized, dated as of a recent date, evidencing the good standing of such Subsidiary;

 

(5)            Foreign Qualification Certificates . A certified copy of a certificate from the Secretary of State or equivalent state official of the state where such Subsidiary maintains its principal place of business, dated as of a recent date, showing the qualification to transact business in such state as a foreign limited partnership, foreign trust or other foreign entity, as the case may be;

 

(6)            Resolutions . A copy of a resolution or resolutions adopted by the partners, members or directors, as required, for such Subsidiary, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or other individual performing similar functions) of such Subsidiary as being in full force and effect, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by such Subsidiary;

 

(7)            Incumbency Certificate . A certificate, signed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or other individual performing similar functions) of such Subsidiary, as to the incumbency, and containing the specimen signature or signatures, of the Persons authorized to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by such Subsidiary;

 

(8)            Opinion of Counsel . Favorable opinions from counsel for such Loan Party, as to such matters as Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

 

(9)            KYC Information .  All documentation and other information about such Subsidiary as shall have been reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Bank that it shall have reasonably determined is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations; and

 

(10)          Other Documents .  Such other usual and customary documents, agreements and instruments as the Administrative Agent, or any Bank through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably request.

 

Borrower may request in writing that the Administrative Agent release, and upon receipt of such request the Administrative Agent shall release, a Guarantor from the Guaranty so long as: (i) such Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a party to the Guaranty under the immediately preceding sentence; (ii) no Default under Section 9.01(1) or Event of Default shall then be in existence or would occur as a result of such release; (iii) the representations and warranties of Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of

 

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the date of such release (except in those cases where such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Change” or similar language (which shall be true and correct in all respects as qualified therein) and except for changes in factual circumstances permitted hereunder); and (iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received such written request at least 10 Banking Days (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior to the requested date of release.  Delivery by Borrower to the Administrative Agent of any such request shall constitute a representation by Borrower that the matters set forth in the preceding sentence (both as of the date of the giving of such request and as of the date of the effectiveness of such request) are true and correct with respect to such request.

 

ARTICLE VII.  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any of the Loans shall remain unpaid, or the Loan Commitments remain in effect, or any other amount is owing by Borrower to Administrative Agent or any Bank hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding (other than a Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized in full), Borrower shall not do any or all of the following:

 

SECTION 7.01. Mergers, Etc .  Without the Required Banks’ consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) merge or consolidate, or permit any other Loan Party to merge or consolidate, with (except where Borrower or General Partner, or in the case of any other Loan Party, another Loan Party, is the surviving entity, or in a transaction of which the purpose is to redomesticate such entity in another United States jurisdiction, and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), or sell, assign, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) (except in the case of a sale, assignment or disposition of all or a substantial part of the assets of a Loan Party (other than Borrower) where Borrower or any other Loan Party is the transferee of such assets and shall unconditionally assume all obligations of the transferor Loan Party, and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing) or enter into any agreement to do any of the foregoing.  Without the Required Banks’ consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) none of Borrower, General Partner or any other Loan Party shall liquidate, wind up or dissolve (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution) or discontinue its business, except that a Guarantor may liquidate, wind up or dissolve or discontinue a business so long as the continuing entity is a Loan Party.

 

SECTION 7.02. Distributions .  Subject to the following sentence, if a Default or Event of Default resulting from noncompliance with any of the provisions of Article VIII exists, declare or make any Restricted Payments other than the declaration and making of cash distributions to General Partner and other holders of partnership interests in the Borrower with respect to any Fiscal Year to the extent necessary for General Partner to distribute an aggregate amount not to exceed the minimum amount necessary to avoid an Event of Default under Section 9.01(8)(ii).  If a Default or Event of Default, in each case, specified in Section 9.01(1) or Section 9.01(5) shall exist, or if as a result of the occurrence of any other Event of Default any of the Obligations have been accelerated pursuant to Section 9.02, Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, make any Restricted Payments to any Person other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that in the case of a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary distributions are made only to holders of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary ratably according to the holders’ respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such distributions are being made.

 

SECTION 7.03. Amendments to Organizational Documents .  Amend Borrower’s agreement of limited partnership or other organizational documents in any manner that would result in a Material Adverse Change without the Required Banks’ consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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Without limitation of the foregoing, no Person shall be admitted as a general partner of the Borrower other than General Partner.

 

SECTION 7.04. Transactions with Affiliates .  Permit to exist or enter into, or permit any Subsidiary to permit to exist or enter into, any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate, except transactions upon fair and reasonable terms which are no less favorable to Borrower or such other Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate.

 

SECTION 7.05. Activities of General Partner .  Permit General Partner to conduct, transact or otherwise engage in any business or operations other than as permitted under Section 7.5.A of the Borrower’s Agreement of Limited Partnership in the form filed as an exhibit to the Form 10 most recently filed with the SEC prior to the Escrow Date.

 

SECTION 7.06. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit .  Request any Loan or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, trustees, 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.

 

ARTICLE VIII.  FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

So long as any of the Loans shall remain unpaid, or the Loan Commitments remain in effect, or any other amount is owing by Borrower to Administrative Agent or any Bank under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding (other than a Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized in full), Borrower shall not permit or suffer:

 

SECTION 8.01. Ratio of Total Outstanding Indebtedness to Capitalization Value .  Total Outstanding Indebtedness to exceed sixty percent (60%) of Capitalization Value, each measured as of the most recently ended calendar quarter; provided, however, with respect to any fiscal quarter in which a Material Acquisition occurs, the ratio of Total Outstanding Indebtedness to Capitalization Value as of the end of such fiscal quarter and the next succeeding four fiscal quarters may increase to 65%, provided such ratio does not exceed 60% as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately thereafter; for purposes of this covenant, (i) Total Outstanding Indebtedness shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom the amount by which Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents exceeds $10,000,000, and (ii) Capitalization Value shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom the amount by which Total Outstanding Indebtedness is adjusted under the preceding clause (i); for purposes of determining Capitalization Value for this covenant only, costs and expenses incurred during the applicable period with respect to acquisitions that failed to close and were abandoned during such period shall not be deducted in determining NOI and the Borrower’s Ownership Share of any Cash or Cash Equivalents owned by any Unconsolidated Affiliate shall not be included.

 

SECTION 8.02. Ratio of Combined EBITDA to Fixed Charges .  The ratio of Combined EBITDA to Fixed Charges, each measured as of the most recently ended calendar quarter, to be less than 1.50 to 1.00.

 

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SECTION 8.03. Ratio of Unencumbered Combined EBITDA to Unsecured Interest Expense .  The ratio of Unencumbered Combined EBITDA to Unsecured Interest Expense, each measured as of the most recently ended calendar quarter, to be less than 1.50 to 1.00.

 

SECTION 8.04. Ratio of Unsecured Indebtedness to Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets .  Unsecured Indebtedness to exceed sixty percent (60%) of Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets, each measured as of the most recently ended calendar quarter; provided , however , with respect to any fiscal quarter in which a Material Acquisition occurs, the ratio of Unsecured Indebtedness to Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets as of the end of such fiscal quarter and the next succeeding four fiscal quarters may increase to 65%, provided such ratio does not exceed 60% as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately thereafter; for purposes of this covenant, (1)(i) Unsecured Indebtedness shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom the amount by which Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents exceeds $10,000,000 or such lesser amount of Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents as Borrower shall specify for this purpose, and (ii) Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom the amount by which Unsecured Indebtedness is adjusted under the preceding clause (i) (the “ Unencumbered Indebtedness Adjustment ”); (2) for purposes of determining Capitalization Value of Unencumbered Assets for this covenant only, costs and expenses incurred during the applicable period with respect to acquisitions that failed to close and were abandoned during such period shall not be deducted in determining NOI; (3) for purposes of clause (1)(i) above, Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents shall be adjusted to deduct therefrom any Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents used to determine the Secured Indebtedness Adjustment in Section 8.05; and (4) Borrower’s Ownership Share of any Cash or Cash Equivalents owned by any Unconsolidated Affiliate shall not be included.

 

SECTION 8.05. Ratio of Secured Indebtedness to Capitalization Value .  The ratio of Secured Indebtedness to Capitalization Value, each measured as of the most recently ended calendar quarter, to exceed 60%; for purposes of this covenant, (i) Secured Indebtedness shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom the amount by which Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents exceeds $10,000,000 or such lesser amount of Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents as Borrower shall specify for this purpose and (ii) Capitalization Value shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom the amount by which Secured Indebtedness is adjusted under the preceding clause (i) (the “ Secured Indebtedness Adjustment ”); for purposes of determining Capitalization Value for this covenant only, costs and expenses incurred during the applicable period with respect to acquisitions that failed to close and were abandoned during such period shall not be deducted in determining NOI and the Borrower’s Ownership Share of any Cash or Cash Equivalents owned by any Unconsolidated Affiliate shall not be included; and for purposes of clause (i) above, Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents shall be adjusted to deduct therefrom any Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents used to determine the Unencumbered Indebtedness Adjustment in Section 8.04.

 

SECTION 8.06. Indebtedness of the General Partner .  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, any Indebtedness of the General Partner shall be deemed to be Indebtedness of the Borrower (provided that the same shall be without duplication), for purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in this Article VIII.

 

ARTICLE IX.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

SECTION 9.01. Events of Default .  Any of the following events shall be an “Event of Default”:

 

(1)            If Borrower shall (i) fail to pay the principal of any Loans or Reimbursement Obligations as and when due; or (ii) fail to pay interest accruing on any Loans as and when due and such failure to pay interest shall continue unremedied for five (5) days after the due date of such amount; or (iii) fail to pay any fee or any other amount due under this Agreement or any

 

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other Loan Document as and when due and such failure to pay shall continue unremedied for five (5) days after notice by Administrative Agent of such failure to pay;

 

(2)            If any representation or warranty made or deemed made by Borrower or any other Loan Party in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document or which is contained in any certificate, document, opinion, financial or other statement furnished at any time under or in connection with a Loan Document shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made;

 

(3)            If Borrower shall fail (a) to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Article VII or Article VIII; or (b) to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than obligations specifically referred to elsewhere in this Section 9.01) and such failure shall remain unremedied for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; provided , however , that if any such default under clause (b) above cannot by its nature be cured within such thirty (30) day grace period and so long as Borrower shall have commenced cure within such thirty (30) day grace period and shall, at all times thereafter, diligently prosecute the same to completion, Borrower shall have an additional period to cure such default; provided , however , that, in no event, is the foregoing intended to effect an extension of the Maturity Date;

 

(4)            If Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) shall fail (a) to pay any Indebtedness (other than the payment obligations described in paragraph (1) of this Section 9.01 or obligations that are recourse to Borrower solely for fraud, misappropriation, environmental liability and other normal and customary bad-act carveouts to nonrecourse obligations) the Recourse portion of which to Borrower or such Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) is an amount equal to or greater than Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) in the aggregate when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) after the expiration of any applicable grace period, or (b) to perform or observe any material term, covenant, or condition under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness, when required to be performed or observed, if the effect of such failure to perform or observe is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, after the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both (other than in cases where, in the judgment of the Required Banks, meaningful discussions likely to result in (i) a waiver or cure of the failure to perform or observe or (ii) otherwise averting such acceleration are in progress between Borrower and the obligee of such Indebtedness), the maturity of such Indebtedness, or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid, repurchased or defeased (other than by a regularly scheduled or otherwise required prepayment, repurchase or defeasance not triggered by such failure), prior to the stated maturity thereof; for purposes of this clause (4) to the extent the Indebtedness of a Subsidiary exceeds the value of the total assets of such Subsidiary, such excess shall be disregarded;

 

(5)            If Borrower, General Partner, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) shall (a) generally not, or be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as such debts become due; (b) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, petition or apply to any tribunal for the appointment of a custodian, receiver or trustee for it or a substantial part of its assets; (c) commence any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect; (d) have had any such petition or application filed or any such proceeding shall have been commenced, against it, in which an adjudication or appointment is made or order for relief is entered, or which petition, application or proceeding remains undismissed or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days or more; (e) be the subject of any

 

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proceeding under which all or a substantial part of its assets may be subject to seizure, forfeiture or divestiture by any governmental entity; (f) by any act or omission indicate its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such petition, application or proceeding or order for relief or the appointment of a custodian, receiver or trustee for all or any substantial part of its property; or (g) suffer any such custodianship, receivership or trusteeship for all or any substantial part of its property, to continue undischarged for a period of sixty (60) days or more; provided, that this Section 9.01(5) shall only apply to a Guarantor or Subsidiary if such Guarantor or Subsidiary accounts for more than Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200,000,000) of the Capitalization Value as of any date of determination;

 

(6)                                  If one or more judgments, decrees or orders for the payment of money in excess of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) in the aggregate shall be rendered against Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary), and any such judgments, decrees or orders shall continue unsatisfied and in effect for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days without being vacated, discharged, satisfied or stayed or bonded pending appeal; provided, however, that the calculation of amounts under this Section 9.01(6) shall exclude (i) the amount of any such judgment, decree or order for which insurance coverage has not been denied by the applicable insurance carrier and (ii) in the case of a Subsidiary, the aggregate amount of all such judgments, decrees and orders (subject to the preceding clause (i)) against such Subsidiary in excess of the value of the total assets of such Subsidiary;

 

(7)                                  If any of the following events shall occur or exist with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan: (a) any Prohibited Transaction with respect to a Plan; (b) any Reportable Event with respect to a Plan; (c) the filing under Section 4041 of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate any Plan or the termination of any Plan; (d) receipt of notice of an application by the PBGC to institute proceedings under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or for the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or the institution by the PBGC of any such proceedings; (e) a condition exists which gives rise to imposition of a lien under Section 412 of the Code on Borrower, General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate; (f) any liability with respect to the “withdrawal” or “partial withdrawal” (as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan; (g) the failure by the Borrower, General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate to make when due required contributions to a Multiemployer Plan or Plan, and in each case above, if either (1) such event or conditions, if any, result in Borrower, General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate being subject to any tax, penalty or other liability to a Plan, the PBGC or otherwise (or any combination thereof), which in the aggregate exceeds or is reasonably likely to exceed Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000), and the same continues unremedied or unpaid for a period of forty-five (45) consecutive days after the same is due and payable by Borrower, General Partner or an ERISA Affiliate or (2) such event or conditions, if any, is reasonably likely to result in Borrower, General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate being subject to any tax, penalty or other liability to a Plan, the PBGC or otherwise (or any combination thereof), which in the aggregate exceeds or may exceed Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) and such event or condition is unremedied, or such tax, penalty or other liability is not reserved against or the payment thereof otherwise secured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, for a period of forty-five (45) consecutive days after notice from the Administrative Agent;

 

(8)                                  If General Partner shall fail at any time to (i) maintain at least one class of its common shares which has trading privileges on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex Equities or another recognized United States stock exchange, unless at such time it is subject to price quotations on the NASDAQ Stock Market National Market System, or (ii) maintain its status as a self-directed and self-administered REIT, and in either case such failure shall remain

 

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unremedied for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent;

 

(9)                                  If General Partner acquires any material assets other than additional interests in Borrower or as permitted by Borrower’s partnership agreement and shall fail to dispose of any such material asset for thirty (30) consecutive calendar days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent;

 

(10)                           If at any time assets of the Borrower, General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate constitute Plan assets for ERISA purposes (within the meaning of C.F.R. § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA), unless the assets of Borrower, General Partner or any ERISA Affiliate constitute such Plan assets as a result of any portion of the assets used by Bank Parties in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan and the Loan Documents constituting assets of a “benefit plan investor” (as defined in Section 3(42) of ERISA);

 

(11)                           A default beyond applicable notice and grace periods (if any) under any of the other Loan Documents;

 

(12)                           Borrower or any other Loan Party shall disavow, revoke or terminate any Loan Document to which it is a party or shall otherwise challenge or contest in any action, suit or proceeding in any court or before any Governmental Authority the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any Loan Document shall cease to be in full force and effect (except, in each case, as a result of the express terms thereof or as the Administrative Agent may approve in writing);

 

(13)                           Any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person will be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such Person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 40.0% of the total voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of General Partner;

 

(14)                           During any period of 12 consecutive months ending after the Closing Date, individuals who at the beginning of any such 12-month period constituted the Board of Trustees of the General Partner (together with any new trustees whose election by such Board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of General Partner was approved by a vote of a majority of the trustees then still in office who were either trustees at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved but excluding any trustee whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a trustee occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more trustees by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more trustees by or on behalf of the Board of Trustees) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Trustees of General Partner then in office;

 

(15)                           General Partner shall cease to own or control, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding Equity Interests of Borrower; or

 

(16)                           General Partner, or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the General Partner, shall cease to be the sole general partner of Borrower or shall cease to have the sole and exclusive power to exercise all management and control over Borrower substantively in the same manner as

 

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provided for in Borrower’s Agreement of Limited Partnership as contained in the Form 10 most recently filed with the SEC prior to the Escrow Date, except as a result of a transaction expressly permitted under Section 7.01.

 

SECTION 9.02. Remedies .  If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, Administrative Agent shall, upon request of the Required Banks, by notice to Borrower, (1) terminate the Loan Commitments and the obligation of the Fronting Banks to issue Letters of Credit, whereupon the Loan Commitments and such obligations to issue Letters of Credit shall terminate and the Banks and Fronting Banks shall have no further obligation to extend credit hereunder; and/or (2) declare the unpaid balance of the Loans, all interest thereon, and all other Obligations payable under this Agreement and the other Loans Documents, together with an amount equal to the amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit to be held by the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 2.16(i), to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon such balance, all such interest, all such Obligations due under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and such amount to be held in respect of the outstanding Letters of Credit shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower; and/or (3) exercise any remedies provided in any of the Loan Documents or by law; provided , however , that upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Section 9.01(5), the Loan Commitments and the obligation of the Fronting Banks to issue Letters of Credit shall automatically terminate (and the Banks and Fronting Banks shall have no further obligation to extend credit hereunder) and the unpaid balance of the Loans, all interest thereon, all other Obligations payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and an amount equal to the amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit to be held by the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 2.16(i) shall automatically be and become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower.  Not in limitation of the foregoing, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Required Banks may direct the Administrative Agent to, and the Administrative Agent if so directed shall, exercise any and all of its rights under any and all of the other Loan Documents and any and all other rights and remedies available under any applicable Law.

 

SECTION 9.03. Allocation of Proceeds .  If an Event of Default exists, all payments received by the Administrative Agent (or any Bank as a result of its exercise of remedies permitted under Section 12.07) under any of the Loan Documents in respect of any Obligations shall be applied in the following order and priority:

 

(a)                                  to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees then due and payable in accordance with the Loan Documents, payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such, each Fronting Bank in its capacity as such and the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such, ratably among the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and Swingline Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (a) payable to them;

 

(b)                                  to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) then due and payable to the Banks in accordance with the Loan Documents, including reasonable attorney fees, ratably among the Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (b) payable to them;

 

(c)                                   to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Swingline Loans;

 

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(d)                                  to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, ratably among the Banks and the Fronting Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (d) payable to them;

 

(e)                                   to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Swingline Loans;

 

(f)                                    to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and other Letter of Credit Liabilities, ratably among the Banks and the Fronting Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (f) payable to them; provided, however, to the extent that any amounts available for distribution pursuant to this clause are attributable to the issued but undrawn amount of an outstanding Letter of Credit, such amounts shall be paid to the Administrative Agent to be held as provided in Section 2.16(i); and

 

(g)                                   the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to Borrower or as otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

SECTION 9.04. Performance by Administrative Agent .  If Borrower or any other Loan Party shall fail to perform any covenant, duty or agreement contained in any of the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent may, after notice to Borrower, perform or attempt to perform such covenant, duty or agreement on behalf of Borrower or such other Loan Party after the expiration of any cure or grace periods set forth herein.  In such event, Borrower shall, at the request of the Administrative Agent, promptly pay any amount reasonably expended by the Administrative Agent in such performance or attempted performance to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon at the applicable Default Rate from the date of such expenditure until paid.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Bank shall have any liability or responsibility whatsoever for the performance of any obligation of Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

SECTION 9.05. Right Cumulative .

 

(a)                                  The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Banks under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which any of them may otherwise have under Applicable Law.  In exercising their respective rights and remedies the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Banks may be selective and no failure or delay by any such Person in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver of it, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any power or right preclude its other or further exercise or the exercise of any other power or right.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Borrower and the other Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Article X for the benefit of all the Banks and the Fronting Banks; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (i) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (ii) a Fronting Bank or the Swingline Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as a Fronting Bank or Swingline Lender, as the case may be) hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, (iii) any Bank from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 12.07 (subject to the terms of Section 10.15), or (iv) any Bank from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

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provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (x) the Required Banks shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Article X and (y) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 10.15, any Bank may, with the consent of the Required Banks, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Banks.

 

ARTICLE X.  ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT; RELATIONS AMONG BANKS

 

SECTION 10.01. Appointment, Powers and Immunities of Administrative Agent .  Each Bank hereby and each Fronting Bank irrevocably appoints and authorizes Administrative Agent to act as its contractual representative hereunder and under any other Loan Document with such powers as are specifically delegated to Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and any other Loan Document, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Administrative Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and any other Loan Document or required by law, and shall not by reason of this Agreement be a fiduciary or trustee for any Bank except to the extent that Administrative Agent acts as an agent with respect to the receipt or payment of funds (nor shall Administrative Agent have any fiduciary duty to Borrower nor shall any Bank have any fiduciary duty to Borrower or to any other Bank).  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of the terms “Agent”, “Administrative Agent”, “agent” and similar terms in the Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law.  Instead, use of such terms is merely a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.  Administrative Agent shall not be responsible to the Banks for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by Borrower or any officer, partner or official of Borrower or any other Person contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or in any certificate or other document or instrument referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the value, legality, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or therein, for the perfection or priority of any Lien securing the Obligations or for any failure by Borrower to perform any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder.  None of the Administrative Agent, its Affiliates or its or its Affiliates’ officers, directors, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors or representatives (collectively, the “Related Parties”): (a) makes any warranty or representation to any Bank, any Fronting Bank or any other Person, or shall be responsible to any Bank, any Fronting Bank or any other Person for any statement, warranty or representation made or deemed made by Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Person in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (b) shall have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent under this Agreement or any Loan Document on the part of Borrower or other Persons, or to inspect the property, books or records of Borrower or any other Person; and (c) shall incur any liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail) believed by it to be genuine and signed, sent or given by the proper party or parties.  Administrative Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be responsible, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized agents, for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. Neither Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable or responsible for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment. Borrower shall pay any fee agreed to by Borrower and Administrative Agent with respect to Administrative Agent’s services hereunder. Notwithstanding

 

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anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Administrative Agent agrees with the Banks that Administrative Agent shall perform its obligations under this Agreement in good faith according to the same standard of care as that customarily exercised by it in administering its own revolving credit loans.

 

SECTION 10.02. Reliance by Administrative Agent .  Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any certification, notice or other communication (including any thereof by telephone, telefax or cable) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by Administrative Agent. Administrative Agent may deem and treat each Bank as the holder of the Loan made by it for all purposes hereof and shall not be required to deal with any Person who has acquired a participation in any Loan or participation from a Bank.  As to any matters not expressly provided for by the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of any of the Obligations), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Banks (or all of the Banks if explicitly required under any other provision of this Agreement), and such instructions shall be binding upon all Banks and all holders of any of the Obligations; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or Applicable Law.  Without limiting the foregoing, no Bank shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of the Required Banks, or where applicable, all the Banks.

 

SECTION 10.03. Defaults .  Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default unless Administrative Agent has received notice from a Bank or Borrower referring to this Agreement and specifying such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “ Notice of Default .” In the event that Administrative Agent receives such a “Notice of Default”, Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Banks. Administrative Agent, following consultation with the Banks, shall (subject to Section 10.07 and Section 12.02) take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default which is continuing as shall be directed by the Required Banks; provided that, unless and until Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, Administrative Agent may take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interest of the Banks; and provided further that Administrative Agent shall not send a notice of Default, Event of Default or acceleration to Borrower without the approval of the Required Banks. In no event shall Administrative Agent be required to take any such action which it determines to be contrary to law.  If any Bank (excluding the Bank which is also serving as the Administrative Agent) becomes aware of any Default or Event of Default, it shall promptly send to the Administrative Agent such a “ Notice of Default ”; provided, a Bank’s failure to provide such a “notice of default” to the Administrative Agent shall not result in any liability of such Bank to any other party to any of the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 10.04. Rights of Agent as a Bank .  With respect to its Loan Commitment and the Loan provided by it, each Person serving as an Agent in its capacity as a Bank hereunder shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Bank and may exercise the same as though it were not acting as such Agent, and the term any “Bank” or “Banks” shall include each Person serving as an Agent in its capacity as a Bank. Each Person serving as an Agent and its Affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any Bank) accept deposits from, lend money to (on a secured or unsecured basis), and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, Borrower (and any Affiliates of Borrower) as if it were not acting as such Agent.  The Fronting Banks and the Banks acknowledge that, pursuant to such business activities, an Agents or its Affiliates may receive information regarding

 

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Borrower and its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Person) and acknowledge that no Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to the Fronting Banks or the Banks.

 

SECTION 10.05. Indemnification of Agents .  Each Bank agrees to indemnify each Agent (to the extent not reimbursed under Section 12.03 or under the applicable provisions of any other Loan Document, but without limiting the obligations of Borrower under Section 12.03 or such provisions), for its Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other documents contemplated by or referred to herein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the costs and expenses which Borrower is obligated to pay under Section 12.03) or under the applicable provisions of any other Loan Document or the enforcement of any of the terms hereof or thereof or of any such other documents or instruments; provided that no Bank shall be liable for (1) any of the foregoing to the extent they arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party to be indemnified as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment; provided, further, that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Banks (or all of the Banks, if expressly required hereunder) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section, (2) any loss with respect to the Loan of any Bank serving as an Agent or (3) any loss suffered by such Agent in connection with a swap or other interest rate hedging arrangement entered into with Borrower.

 

SECTION 10.06. Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Banks .  Each of the Banks and the Fronting Banks expressly acknowledges and agrees that no Agent nor any of its respective Related Parties has made any representations or warranties to such Fronting Bank or such Bank and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of General Partner, Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Subsidiary or Affiliate, shall be deemed to constitute any such representation or warranty by any Agent to a Fronting Bank or any Bank.  Each of the Banks and the Fronting Banks acknowledges that it has made its own credit and legal analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any other Bank or counsel to the Administrative Agent, or any of their respective Related Parties, and based on the financial statements of General Partner, Borrower, the other Loan Parties, the other Subsidiaries and other Affiliates, and inquiries of such Persons, its independent due diligence of the business and affairs of General Partner, Borrower, the other Loan Parties, the other Subsidiaries and other Persons, its review of the Loan Documents, the legal opinions required to be delivered to it hereunder, the advice of its own counsel and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate.  Each of the Banks and the Fronting Banks also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent, any other Bank or counsel to the Administrative Agent or any of their respective Related Parties, and based on such review, advice, documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents.  No Agent shall be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by Borrower or any other Loan Party of the Loan Documents or any other document referred to or provided for therein or to inspect the properties or books of, or make any other investigation of, Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Subsidiary.  Except for notices, reports and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Banks and the Fronting Banks by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to provide any Bank or Fronting Bank with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of General Partner, Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Affiliate thereof which may come into possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties.  Each of the Banks and the Fronting Banks acknowledges that the Administrative Agent’s

 

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legal counsel in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is only acting as counsel to the Administrative Agent and is not acting as counsel to any Bank or Fronting Bank.

 

SECTION 10.07. Failure of Administrative Agent to Act .  Except for action expressly required of Administrative Agent hereunder, Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder unless it shall have received further assurances (which may include cash collateral) of the indemnification obligations of the Banks under Section 10.05 in respect of any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

 

SECTION 10.08. Resignation or Removal of Administrative Agent .  If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Banks may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Banks and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Banks) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.  The Administrative Agent may resign at any time as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents by giving written notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrower.  Upon any such resignation, the Required Banks shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent which appointment shall, provided no Default under Section 9.01(1) or Section 9.01(5) or Event of Default exists, be subject to the Borrower’s approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed (except that the Borrower shall, in all events, be deemed to have approved each Bank and any of its Affiliates as a successor Administrative Agent).  If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the current Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the current Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Banks and the Fronting Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a Bank, if any Bank shall be willing to serve, and otherwise shall be an Eligible Assignee; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Banks that no Bank has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice.  As of the Removal Effective Date or the effectiveness of such resignation, as applicable, (1) the Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made to each Bank and the Fronting Banks directly, until such time as a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed as provided for above in this Section; provided, further that such Banks and the Fronting Banks so acting directly shall be and be deemed to be protected by all indemnities and other provisions herein for the benefit and protection of the Administrative Agent as if each such Bank or Fronting Bank were itself the Administrative Agent.  Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the current Administrative Agent, and the current Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents.  Any resignation by or removal of an Administrative Agent shall also constitute the resignation or removal as a Fronting Bank and as the Swingline Bank by the Bank then acting as Administrative Agent (the “Resigning Bank”).  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder (i) the Resigning Bank shall be discharged from all duties and obligations of a Fronting Bank and the Swingline Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) the successor Fronting Bank shall issue letters of credit in substitution for all Letters of Credit issued by the Resigning Bank as Fronting Bank outstanding at the time of such succession (which letters of credit issued in substitutions shall be deemed to be Letters of Credit issued hereunder) or make other arrangements satisfactory to the Resigning Bank to effectively

 

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assume the obligations of the Resigning Bank with respect to such Letters of Credit.  After any Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article X shall continue to inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 10.09. Amendments Concerning Agency Function .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Agent shall be bound by any waiver, amendment, supplement or modification of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which affects its duties, rights, and/or function hereunder or thereunder unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.

 

SECTION 10.10. Liability of Administrative Agent .  Administrative Agent shall not have any liabilities or responsibilities to Borrower on account of the failure of any Bank or Fronting Bank to perform its obligations hereunder or to any Bank or Fronting Bank on account of the failure of Borrower or any other Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

 

SECTION 10.11. Transfer of Agency Function .  Without the consent of Borrower, any Fronting Bank or any Bank, Administrative Agent may at any time or from time to time transfer its functions as Administrative Agent hereunder to any of its offices wherever located in the United States, provided that Administrative Agent shall promptly notify in writing Borrower, the Fronting Banks and the Banks thereof.

 

SECTION 10.12. Non-Receipt of Funds by Administrative Agent .  Unless Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Bank or Borrower (either one as appropriate being the “ Payor ”) prior to the date on which such Bank is to make payment hereunder to Administrative Agent of the proceeds of a Loan or Borrower is to make payment to Administrative Agent, as the case may be (either such payment being a “ Required Payment ”), which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that the Payor will not make the Required Payment in full to Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent may assume that the Required Payment has been made in full to Administrative Agent on such date, and Administrative Agent in its sole discretion may, but shall not be obligated to, in reliance upon such assumption, make the amount thereof available to the intended recipient on such date. If and to the extent the Payor shall not have in fact so made the Required Payment in full to Administrative Agent, the recipient of such payment shall repay to Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount made available to it together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount was so made available by Administrative Agent until the date Administrative Agent recovers such amount, at the customary rate set by Administrative Agent for the correction of errors among Banks for three (3) Banking Days and thereafter at the Base Rate.

 

SECTION 10.13. Withholding Taxes .

 

(a)                                  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the 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 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 10.13) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

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(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. The Borrower 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 to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 10.13, the 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 out-of-pocket 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 Recipient (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Recipient, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(e)                                   Indemnification by the Banks. Each Bank shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Bank (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Bank’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.04(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Bank, 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 Bank by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Bank under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to such Bank from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

(f)                                    Status of Banks. (i) Any Bank 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 Bank, 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 Bank 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 10.13(f)(ii)(A),(B) and (D) below) shall not be required if in the applicable Bank’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Bank to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Bank.

 

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(ii)                                   Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

(A)                                any Bank that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Bank becomes a Bank under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Bank is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax;

 

(B)                                any Foreign Bank 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 Bank becomes a Bank 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 Bank 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 copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W8BEN-E 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 or W-8BEN-E 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)                                  in the case of a Foreign Bank claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, executed copies of IRS Form W8ECI;

 

(3)                                  in the case of a Foreign Bank claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of EXHIBIT J-1 to the effect that such Foreign Bank is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or

 

(4)                                  to the extent a Foreign Bank is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of EXHIBIT J-2 or EXHIBIT J-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Bank is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Bank are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Bank may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of EXHIBIT J-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

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(C)                                any Foreign Bank 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 Bank becomes a Bank under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a 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 Bank under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Bank were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Bank 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 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 Bank has complied with such Bank’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 Bank 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 10.13 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 10.13), 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 10.13 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party 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 any indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place such indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such 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 available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to, or to apply for or seek a refund of any Taxes on behalf of, any indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

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(h)                                  Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 10.13 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Bank, the termination of the Loan Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

(i)                                      Defined Terms . For purposes of this Section 10.13, the term “Bank” (as used in this Section 10.13 and the defined terms used therein) includes any Fronting Bank or Designated Lender and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

SECTION 10.14. Pro Rata Treatment .  Except to the extent otherwise provided herein: (a) each borrowing of Ratable Loans from the Banks under Sections 2.01(b), 2.03(b)(3) and 2.16(h) shall be made from the Banks, each payment of the fees under Sections 2.08, 2.16(g)(i) and 2.17 shall be made for the account of the Banks, and each termination or reduction of the amount of the Loan Commitments under Section 2.15(a) shall be applied to the respective Loan Commitments of the Banks, pro rata according to the amounts of their respective Loan Commitments; (b) each payment or prepayment of principal of Ratable Loans shall be made for the account of the Banks pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amounts of the Ratable Loans held by them, provided that, subject to Section 12.19, if immediately prior to giving effect to any such payment in respect of any Ratable Loans the outstanding principal amount of the Ratable Loans shall not be held by the Banks in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares in effect at the time such Ratable Loans were made, then such payment shall be applied to the Ratable Loans in such manner as shall result, as nearly as is practicable, in the outstanding principal amount of the Ratable Loans being held by the Banks in accordance with such respective Pro Rata Shares; (c) each payment of interest on Ratable Loans shall be made for the account of the Banks pro rata in accordance with the amounts of interest on such Ratable Loans then due and payable to the respective Bank; (d) the Conversion and Continuation of Ratable Loans (other than Conversions provided for by Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 and 3.04) shall be made pro rata among the Banks according to the amounts of their respective Ratable Loans; (e) the Banks’ participation in, and payment obligations in respect of, Swingline Loans under Section 2.03(b)(4) shall be in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares; and (f) the Banks’ participation in, and payment obligations in respect of, Letters of Credit under Section 2.16(h) shall be in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

 

SECTION 10.15. Sharing of Payments Among Banks .  If a Bank shall obtain payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan made by it to Borrower under this Agreement or shall obtain payment on any other Obligation owing by Borrower or any other Loan Party through the exercise of any right of set-off, banker’s lien, counterclaim or similar right or otherwise or through voluntary prepayments directly to a Bank or other payments made by or on behalf of Borrower or any other Loan Party to a Bank not in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and such payment should be distributed to the Banks in accordance with Section 9.03 or Section 10.14, as applicable, such Bank shall promptly purchase from the other Banks participations in (or, if and to the extent specified by such Bank, direct interests in) the Loans made by the other Banks or other Obligations owed to such other Banks in such amounts, and make such other adjustments from time to time as shall be equitable, to the end that all the Banks shall share the benefit of such payment (net of any reasonable expenses which may actually be incurred by such Bank in obtaining or preserving such benefit) in accordance with the requirements of Section 9.03 or Section 10.14, as applicable.  To such end, all the Banks shall make appropriate adjustments among themselves (by the resale of participations sold or otherwise) if such payment is rescinded or must otherwise be restored.  Borrower agrees that any Bank so purchasing a participation (or direct interest) in the Loans or other Obligations owed to such other Banks may exercise all rights of set-off, banker’s lien, counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such Bank were a direct holder of Loans in the amount of such participation.  Nothing contained herein shall require any Bank to exercise any such right or shall affect the right of any Bank to exercise and retain the benefits of exercising, any such right with respect to any other indebtedness or obligations of Borrower.

 

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SECTION 10.16. Possession of Documents .  Each Bank shall keep possession of its own Ratable Loan Note. Administrative Agent shall hold all the other Loan Documents and related documents (which may be electronic copies) in its possession and maintain separate records and accounts with respect thereto, and shall permit the Banks and their representatives access at all reasonable times to inspect such Loan Documents, related documents, records and accounts.

 

SECTION 10.17. Syndication Agents and Documentation Agents .  The Banks serving as Syndication Agents or Documentation Agents shall have no duties or obligations in such capacities.

 

ARTICLE XI.  NATURE OF OBLIGATIONS

 

SECTION 11.01. Absolute and Unconditional Obligations .  Borrower acknowledges and agrees that its obligations and liabilities under this Agreement and under the other Loan Documents shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (1) any lack of validity or enforceability of any of the Obligations, any Loan Documents, or any agreement or instrument relating thereto; (2) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term in respect of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or consent to any departure from any Loan Documents or any other documents or instruments executed in connection with or related to the Obligations; (3) any exchange or release of any collateral, if any, or of any other Person from all or any of the Obligations; or (4) any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Borrower or any other Person in respect of the Obligations.

 

The obligations and liabilities of Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by Administrative Agent, any Bank or any other Person at any time of any right or remedy against Borrower, any other Loan Party, General Partner or any other Person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the Obligations or against any collateral or security or guarantee therefor or right of setoff with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 11.02. Non-Recourse to Principals and the General Partner .  This Agreement and the obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are fully recourse to Borrower and the other Loan Parties.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in any of the other Loan Documents, or in any other instruments, certificates, documents or agreements executed in connection with the Loans (all of the foregoing, for purposes of this Section, hereinafter referred to, individually and collectively, as the “ Relevant Documents ”), and notwithstanding any applicable law that would make the General Partner liable for the debts or obligations of the Borrower, including as a general partner, no recourse under or upon any Obligation, representation, warranty, promise or other matter whatsoever shall be had against any of the Principals or the General Partner, and each Bank expressly waives and releases, on behalf of itself and its successors and assigns, all right to assert any liability whatsoever under or with respect to the Relevant Documents against, or to satisfy any claim or obligation arising thereunder against, any of the Principals or the General Partner or out of any assets of the Principals or the General Partner, provided , however , that nothing in this Section shall be deemed to (1) release Borrower from any liability pursuant to, or from any of its obligations under, the Relevant Documents, or from liability for its fraudulent actions or fraudulent omissions; (2) release any Principals or the General Partner from personal liability arising outside of the terms of this Agreement for its, his or her own fraudulent actions, fraudulent omissions, misappropriation of funds, rents or insurance proceeds, gross negligence or willful misconduct; (3) constitute a waiver of any obligation evidenced or secured by, or contained in, the Relevant Documents or affect in any way the validity or enforceability of the Relevant Documents; or (4) limit the right of Administrative Agent and/or the Banks to proceed against or realize upon any collateral hereafter given for the Loans and Letters of Credit or any and all of the assets of Borrower (notwithstanding the fact that the Principals and the General Partner have an ownership interest in Borrower and, thereby, an interest in the assets of Borrower) or to name Borrower (or, to the

 

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extent that the same are required by applicable law or are determined by a court to be necessary parties in connection with an action or suit against Borrower or any collateral hereafter given for the Loans, the General Partner) as a party defendant in, and to enforce against any collateral hereafter given for the Loans and/or assets of Borrower any judgment obtained by Administrative Agent and/or the Banks with respect to, any action or suit under the Relevant Documents so long as no judgment shall be taken (except to the extent taking a judgment is required by applicable law or determined by a court to be necessary to preserve Administrative Agent’s and/or Banks’ rights against any collateral hereafter given for the Loans or Borrower, but not otherwise) or shall be enforced against any of the Principals or the General Partner or their assets.

 

ARTICLE XII.  MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 12.01. Binding Effect of Request for Advance .  Borrower agrees that, by its acceptance of any advance of proceeds of the Loans under this Agreement or the issuance of any Letter of Credit, it shall be bound in all respects by the request for advance or Letter of Credit submitted on its behalf in connection therewith with the same force and effect as if Borrower had itself executed and submitted the request for advance or Letter of Credit and whether or not the request for advance is executed and/or submitted by an authorized person.

 

SECTION 12.02. Amendments and Waivers .  No amendment, forbearance or material waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document nor consent to any material departure by Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Banks and, solely for purposes of its acknowledgment thereof, Administrative Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given, provided , however , that no amendment, waiver, consent or forbearance shall: (1) forgive or reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Loans or any fees due hereunder or any other amount due hereunder or under any other Loan Document, in each case, payable to a Bank, without the written consent of such Bank; provided that only the written consent of the Required Banks shall be required for the waiver of interest payable at the Default Rate, retraction of the imposition of interest at the Default Rate and amendment of the definition of “Default Rate”; (2) postpone or extend any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Loans or any fees or other amounts due hereunder or under any other Loan Document, in each case, payable to a Bank, without the written consent of such Bank; (3) change the definition of “Pro Rata Share” or “Required Banks” without the written consent of all of the Banks; (4) amend the first proviso of this Section 12.02 or any other provision requiring the consent of all the Banks without the written consent of all of the Banks; (5) waive any default in payment under paragraph (1) of Section 9.01 without the written consent of all Banks (or, solely with respect to clause (iii) of such paragraph (1), without the written consent the each Bank entitled to receive the payment in respect of which such default has occurred), or any default under paragraph (5) of Section 9.01 with respect to Borrower, any other Loan Party or General Partner without the written consent of all of the Banks; (6) increase, decrease, extend or reinstate any Loan Commitment of any Bank (except changes in Loan Commitments pursuant to Section 2.15) without the written consent of such Bank; (7) release any guaranty (other than a guaranty given pursuant to Section 12.20 or Section 12.21 or in the case of the Guaranty, as provided in Section 6.12) without the written consent of all of the Banks; (8) permit the expiration date of any Letter of Credit to be later than the first anniversary of the Maturity Date without the written consent of all of the Banks; (9) permit the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights or obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document (except in a transaction permitted pursuant to Section 7.01) without the written consent of all of the Banks or (10) modify Section 9.03 or Section 10.14 without the written consent of each of the Banks affected thereby; and provided further , that (A) an amendment, waiver or consent relating to the time specified for payment of principal, interest and fees with respect to Bid Rate Loans shall only be binding if in writing and signed by the affected Bank or Designated Lender, (B) no amendment, waiver or consent unless in writing and signed

 

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by the Administrative Agent, in addition to the Banks required hereinabove to take such action, shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, (C) any amendment, waiver or consent relating to Section 2.03 or the obligations of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall, in addition to the Banks required hereinabove to take such action, require the written consent of the Swingline Lender and (D) any amendment, waiver or consent relating to Section 2.16 or the obligations of a Fronting Bank under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall, in addition to the Banks required hereinabove to take such action, require the written consent of such Fronting Bank.  Any advance of proceeds of the Loans made prior to or without the fulfillment by Borrower of all of the conditions precedent thereto, whether or not known to Administrative Agent and the Banks, shall not constitute a waiver of the requirement that all conditions, including the non-performed conditions, shall be required with respect to all future advances. No failure on the part of Administrative Agent or any Bank to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof or preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Banks or each affected Bank may be effected with the consent of the applicable Banks other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Loan Commitment of a Defaulting Lender may not be increased, reinstated or extended without the written consent of such Defaulting Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Banks or each affected Bank that by its terms affects a Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Banks shall require the written consent of such Defaulting Lender.  No course of dealing or delay or omission on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Bank in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise be prejudicial thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, if the Administrative Agent and Borrower have jointly identified an ambiguity, omission, mistake or defect in any provision of this Agreement or an inconsistency between provisions of this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and Borrower shall be permitted to amend such provision or provisions to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency so long as to do so would not adversely affect the interests of the Banks and the Fronting Banks.  Any such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any of other party to this Agreement.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Banks and the Fronting Banks of any such amendment.

 

All communications from Administrative Agent to the Banks requesting the Banks’ determination, consent, approval or disapproval (i) shall be given in the form of a written notice to each Bank and (ii) shall be accompanied by a description of the matter or thing as to which such determination, approval, consent or disapproval is requested.  Each Bank shall reply promptly, but in any event within fifteen (15) Banking Days (or five (5) Banking Days with respect to any decision to accelerate or stop acceleration of the Loan) after receipt of the request therefor by Administrative Agent (the “ Bank Reply Period ”). Unless a Bank shall give written notice to Administrative Agent that it objects to the requested determination, approval, consent or disapproval within the Bank Reply Period, such Bank shall be deemed to have approved or consented to such requested determination, approval, consent or disapproval; provided that this sentence shall not apply to any determination, consent, approval or disapproval regarding any matter requiring the consent of all Banks or all affected Banks under the first proviso of this Section.

 

SECTION 12.03. Expenses; Indemnification .  Borrower agrees to reimburse Administrative Agent on demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs, expenses, and charges (including, without limitation, all reasonable fees and charges of engineers, appraisers and external legal counsel) incurred by Administrative Agent in connection with the Loans and to reimburse each of the Banks for reasonable out-of-pocket legal costs, expenses and charges incurred by each of the Banks in connection with the performance or enforcement of this Agreement, the Notes, or any other Loan Documents; provided ,

 

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however , that (i) Borrower is not responsible for costs, expenses and charges incurred by the Bank Parties in connection with the administration or syndication of the Loans (other than any administration fee payable to Administrative Agent) and (ii) any such legal costs, expenses and charges shall be limited to (A) one external counsel for Administrative Agent, (B) one external counsel for all other Banks (and, solely in the case of a conflict of interest, additional conflicts counsel), (C) and such local or foreign counsel of Administrative Agent as may be necessary under the circumstances.  Borrower agrees to indemnify Administrative Agent, Lead Arrangers, each Fronting Bank, each Bank, each of their respective Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees and agents of the foregoing (each an “Indemnified Party”) from, and hold each of them harmless against, any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by any of them arising out of or by reason of (w) any claims by brokers due to acts or omissions by Borrower, (x) any investigation or litigation or other proceedings (including any threatened investigation or litigation or other proceedings) relating to any actual or proposed use by Borrower of the proceeds of the Loans or the use of Letters of Credit, including without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel incurred in connection with any such investigation or litigation or other proceedings, (y) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Environmental Claim related in any way to Borrower or any Subsidiary or (z) third party claims or actions against any Indemnified Party relating to or arising from this Agreement or any other Loan Document and the transactions contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or and the Loan Documents, in the case of each of clauses (w) through (z), regardless of whether an Indemnified Party is only a third party thereto; provided , however , that such indemnification shall exclude any such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by reason of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the person to be indemnified as determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.  The obligations of Borrower under this Section shall survive the repayment of all amounts due under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents and the termination of the Loan Commitments.  No Indemnified Party 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.

 

SECTION 12.04. Assignment; Participation .

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, provided that the Borrower may not, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Bank, and no Bank may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of the immediately following subsection (b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of the immediately following subsection (d) or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of the immediately following subsection (e) (and, subject to the last sentence of the immediately following subsection (b), any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Except as otherwise provided under Section 12.03, 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, Participants to the extent provided in the immediately following subsection (d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of each of the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Banks) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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(b)                                  Assignments by Banks .  Any Bank may at any time 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 Loan Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      Minimum Amounts .

 

(A)                                in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of an assigning Bank’s Loan Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it, or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in the immediately following clause (B) in the aggregate, or in the case of an assignment to a Bank, an Affiliate of a Bank or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B)                                in any case not described in the immediately preceding subsection (A), the aggregate amount of the Loan Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Loan Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Ratable Loans of the assigning Bank subject to each such assignment (in each case, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default shall exist, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that if, after giving effect to such assignment, the amount of the Loan Commitment held by such assigning Bank or the outstanding principal balance of the Ratable Loans of such assigning Bank, as applicable, would be less than $5,000,000, then such assigning Bank shall assign the entire amount of its Loan Commitment and the Ratable Loans at the time owing to it.

 

(ii)                                   Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Bank’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Loan Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to rights in respect of a Bid Rate Loan.

 

(iii)                                Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by clause (i)(B) of this subsection (b) and, in addition:

 

(A)                                the consent of Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default shall exist at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to (1) a Bank or (2) an Affiliate of a Bank or an Approved Fund which Affiliate or Approved Fund is a Qualified Institution; provided that (I) the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 5 Banking Days after having received notice thereof and (II) Borrower can withhold such consent if such assignment shall subject Borrower to any greater obligations under Sections 3.01 or 3.06;

 

(B)                                the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of a Loan Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not already a Bank with a Loan

 

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Commitment, an Affiliate of such a Bank or an Approved Fund with respect to such a Bank; and

 

(C)                                the consent of each Fronting Bank and the Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of a Loan Commitment.

 

(iv)                               Assignment and Acceptance; Notes .  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $4,500 for each assignment (which fee the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive), and the assignee, if it is not a Bank, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.  If requested by the transferor Bank or the assignee, upon the consummation of any assignment, the transferor Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate arrangements so that new Notes are issued to the assignee and such transferor Bank, as appropriate.

 

(v)                                  No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or to any Person who, upon becoming a Bank hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B).

 

(vi)                               No Assignment to Natural Persons .  No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

 

(vii)                            Certain Additional Payments .  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks, the Swingline Bank and each other Bank hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the immediately following subsection (c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, have the rights and obligations of a Bank under this Agreement, and the assigning Bank thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement covering all of the assigning Bank’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Bank shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.05 and 12.03 and the other provisions of this Agreement and the

 

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other Loan Documents with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Bank having been a Defaulting Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Bank of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Bank of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with the immediately following subsection (d).

 

(c)                                   Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Principal Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption Agreement delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Banks, and the Loan Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Bank pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Banks shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Bank hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Bank, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Participations .  Any Bank may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Bank’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Loan Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Bank’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Bank shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Banks shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank in connection with such Bank’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Bank sells such a participation shall provide that such Bank shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Bank will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to (w) increase such Bank’s Loan Commitment, (x) extend the date fixed for the payment of principal on the Loans or portions thereof owing to such Bank, (y) reduce the rate at which interest is payable thereon or (z) release any Guarantor from its Obligations under the Guaranty except as contemplated by Section 6.12, in each case, as applicable to that portion of such Bank’s rights and/or obligations that are subject to the participation.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 and 3.06 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein) to the same extent as if it were a Bank and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 3.07 as if it were an assignee under subsection (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.06, with respect to any participation, than its participating Bank would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Regulatory Change that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Bank that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.07 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.07 as though it were a Bank; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 10.15 as though it were a Bank.  Each Bank 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 Bank shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the

 

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identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any 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 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 in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Bank 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.

 

(e)                                   Certain Pledges .  Any Bank may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Bank, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank having jurisdiction over such Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Bank from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Bank as a party hereto.

 

(f)                                    No Registration .  Each Bank agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, it will not make any assignment hereunder in any manner or under any circumstances that would require registration or qualification of, or filings in respect of, any Loan or Note under the Securities Act of 1933 or any other securities laws of the United States of America or of any other jurisdiction.

 

(g)                                   USA Patriot Act Notice; Compliance .  In order for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering laws, rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act, prior to any Bank that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America becoming a party hereto, the Administrative Agent may request, and such Bank shall provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other identification information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with such laws, rules and regulations.

 

SECTION 12.05. Documentation Satisfactory .  All documentation required from or to be submitted on behalf of Borrower in connection with this Agreement and the documents relating hereto shall be subject to the prior approval of, and be satisfactory in form and substance to, Administrative Agent, its counsel and, where specifically provided herein, the Banks. In addition, the persons or parties responsible for the execution and delivery of, and signatories to, all of such documentation, shall be acceptable to, and subject to the approval of, Administrative Agent and its counsel and the Banks.

 

SECTION 12.06. Notices .  (a) Unless otherwise provided herein, communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, telecopied, or delivered as follows:

 

If to the Borrower:

 

Urban Edge Properties LP

210 Route 4 East

Paramus, New Jersey 07652

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopier: (201) 587-0600

Telephone: (201) 587-1000

 

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with a copy to

 

Urban Edge Properties, LP

888 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attention:  General Counsel

Telecopier: (212) 894-7996

Telephone: (212) 894-7000

 

If to the Administrative Agent:

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

550 South Tryon Street, 6th Floor

Charlotte, NC 28202

Attention: Bryan Gregory

Telecopier: (704) 410-0329

Telephone: (704) 410-1776

 

with a copy to

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Minneapolis Loan Center

MAC N9303-110

608 Second Avenue South, 11th Floor

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-1916

Attention: Kimberly Perreault

Telecopier: (866) 494-8802

Telephone: (612) 316-3738

 

If to a Fronting Bank (as applicable):

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

550 South Tryon Street, 6th Floor

Charlotte, NC 28202

Attention: Bryan Gregory

Telecopier: (704) 410-0329

Telephone: (704) 410-1776

 

PNC Bank, National Association

500 First Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Attention:  Monika Todd

Telephone #: 412-762-7675

Telecopier #:  412-705-2124

 

with a copy to:

 

PNC Bank, National Association

340 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10173

Attn: Denise Smyth

 

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If to any other Bank:

 

To such Bank’s address or telecopy number as set forth in the applicable Administrative Questionnaire

 

All such notices and other communications shall be effective (i) if mailed, upon the first to occur of receipt or the expiration of 3 days after the deposit in the United States Postal Service mail, postage prepaid and addressed to the address of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and Banks at the addresses specified; (ii) if telecopied, when transmitted; or (iii) if hand delivered or sent by overnight courier, when delivered; provided, however, that, non-receipt of any communication as of the result of any change of address of which the sending party was not notified or as the result of a refusal to accept delivery shall be deemed receipt of such communication.  Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, all notices or communications to the Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or any Bank under Article II shall be effective only when actually received.  Notices delivered through Electronic Systems, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph.  Failure of a Person designated to get a copy of a notice to receive such copy shall not affect the validity of notice properly given to another Person.

 

(b)                                  Notices and other communications to the Banks and the Fronting Banks 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 unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Bank.  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.

 

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)                                   Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto in accordance with this Section 12.06, except that a Bank or a Fronting Bank must only give such notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

(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 Fronting Banks and the other Banks by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks®, Syndtrak, ClearPar® or a substantially similar Electronic System.  All information made available to the Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or a Bank on Debt Domain, Intralinks®, Syndtrak,

 

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ClearPar® or a substantially similar Electronic System shall be deemed to have been disclosed to Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or a Bank, as applicable.

 

(ii)                                   Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided “as is” and “as available.”  None of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates and such Affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors (the “ Communications Parties ”) warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and each expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions in the Communications.  No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including 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 Communications Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System.  In no event shall any Communications Party have any liability to the other parties hereto or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including 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 Bank or any Fronting Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.

 

SECTION 12.07. Setoff .  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, to the extent permitted or not expressly prohibited by applicable Law, Borrower agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of setoff, bankers’ lien or counterclaim a Bank may otherwise have, each Bank shall be entitled, at its option, but subject to receipt of the prior written consent of the Required Banks exercised in their sole discretion, to offset balances (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) held by it for the account of Borrower at any of such Bank’s offices, in Dollars or in any other currency, against any amount payable by Borrower to such Bank under this Agreement or such Bank’s Note, or any other Loan Document, which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances are then due to Borrower or General Partner), in which case it shall promptly notify Borrower and Administrative Agent thereof; provided that such Bank’s failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof. Payments by Borrower hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall be made without setoff or counterclaim.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, if any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.19 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Banks and (y) such Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.

 

SECTION 12.08. Table of Contents; Headings .  Any table of contents and the headings and captions of Articles, Sections, subsections and clauses hereunder are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 12.09. Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. If for any reason any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any jurisdiction.

 

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SECTION 12.10. Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.  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.

 

SECTION 12.11. Integration .  The Loan Documents set forth the entire agreement among the parties hereto relating to the transactions contemplated thereby (except with respect to agreements relating solely to compensation, consideration and the coordinated syndication of the Loans) and supersede any prior oral or written statements or agreements with respect to such transactions.

 

SECTION 12.12. Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 12.13. Waivers .  To the extent permitted or not expressly prohibited by applicable law, in connection with the obligations and liabilities as aforesaid, Borrower hereby waives (1) notice of any actions taken by any Bank Party under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating hereto or thereto except to the extent otherwise provided herein; (2) all other notices, demands and protests, and all other formalities of every kind in connection with the enforcement of the Obligations, the omission of or delay in which, but for the provisions of this Section 12.13, might constitute grounds for relieving Borrower of its obligations hereunder; (3) any requirement that any Bank Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien on any collateral or exhaust any right or take any action against Borrower or any other Person or any collateral; (4) any right or claim of right to cause a marshalling of the assets of Borrower; and (5) all rights of subrogation or contribution, whether arising by contract or operation of law (including, without limitation, any such right arising under the Bankruptcy Code) or otherwise by reason of payment by Borrower, pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

SECTION 12.14. Jurisdiction; Immunities .  Borrower, Administrative Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Bank hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in New York City, Borough of Manhattan over any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document. Borrower, Administrative Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Bank irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or United States Federal court.  Borrower, Administrative Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Bank irrevocably consent to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies of such process to Borrower, Administrative Agent, each Fronting Bank or each Bank, as the case may be, at the addresses specified herein. Borrower, Administrative Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Bank agree 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. Borrower, Administrative Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Bank further waive any objection to venue in the State of New York and any objection to an action or proceeding in the State of New York on the basis of forum non conveniens. Borrower, Administrative Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Bank agree that any action or proceeding brought against Borrower, Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or any Bank, as the case may be, shall be brought only in a New York State court sitting in New York City, Borough of Manhattan, or a United States Federal court sitting in New York City, Borough of Manhattan to the extent permitted or not expressly prohibited by applicable law.

 

Nothing in this Section shall affect the right of Borrower, Administrative Agent or any Bank to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

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To the extent that Borrower, Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank or any Bank have or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether from service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, Borrower, Administrative Agent, each Fronting Banks and each Bank hereby irrevocably waive such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes and any other Loan Document.

 

BORROWER, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EACH FRONTING BANK AND EACH BANK WAIVE ANY RIGHT EACH SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO JURY TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR THE LOAN.  IN ADDITION, BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE BANKS WITH RESPECT TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, ANY RIGHT BORROWER MAY HAVE (1) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED OR NOT EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO INTERPOSE ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN (OTHER THAN A COUNTERCLAIM THAT IF NOT BROUGHT IN THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE BANKS COULD NOT BE BROUGHT IN A SEPARATE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING OR WOULD BE SUBJECT TO DISMISSAL OR SIMILAR DISPOSITION FOR FAILURE TO HAVE BEEN ASSERTED IN SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE BANKS) OR (2) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED OR NOT EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO HAVE THE SAME CONSOLIDATED WITH ANY OTHER OR SEPARATE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.  NOTHING HEREIN CONTAINED SHALL PREVENT OR PROHIBIT BORROWER FROM INSTITUTING OR MAINTAINING A SEPARATE ACTION AGAINST ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE FRONTING BANKS OR THE BANKS WITH RESPECT TO ANY ASSERTED CLAIM.

 

To the extent not prohibited by applicable law, Borrower shall not assert, and Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Bank, any Fronting Bank or any Agent, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or other extension of credit hereunder or the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 12.15. Designated Lender .  Any Bank (other than an Affected Bank or a Bank which is such solely because it is a Designated Lender) (each, a “ Designating Lender ”) may at any time designate one (1) Designated Lender to fund Bid Rate Loans on behalf of such Designating Lender subject to the terms of this Section and the provisions in Section 12.04 shall not apply to such designation. No Bank may designate more than one (1) Designated Lender. The parties to each such designation shall execute and deliver to 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 Lender, Administrative Agent will accept such Designation Agreement and give prompt notice thereof to Borrower, whereupon, (i) from and after the “ Effective Date ” specified in the Designation Agreement, the Designated Lender shall become a party to this Agreement with a right to make Bid Rate Loans on behalf of its Designating Lender pursuant to Section 2.02 after Borrower has accepted the Bid Rate Quote of the Designating Lender and (ii) the Designated Lender 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 Lender which is not otherwise required to repay obligations of such Designated Lender which are then due and payable; provided , however , that regardless of such designation and assumption by the Designated Lender, the Designating Lender shall be and remain obligated to Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Banks for each and

 

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every of the obligations of the Designating Lender and its related Designated Lender with respect to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any indemnification obligations under Section 10.05. Each Designating Lender shall serve as the administrative agent of its Designated Lender and shall on behalf of, and to the exclusion of, the Designated Lender (i) receive any and all payments made for the benefit of the Designated Lender and (ii) give and receive all communications and notices and take all actions hereunder, including, without limitation, votes, approvals, waivers and consents under or relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Any such notice, communication, vote, approval, waiver or consent shall be signed by the Designating Lender as administrative agent for the Designated Lender and shall not be signed by the Designated Lender on its own behalf, but shall be binding on the Designated Lender to the same extent as if actually signed by the Designated Lender. Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Banks may rely thereon without any requirement that the Designated Lender sign or acknowledge the same. No Designated Lender 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 Lender.

 

SECTION 12.16. No Bankruptcy Proceedings .  Each of Borrower, the Banks and Administrative Agent hereby agrees that it will not institute against any Designated Lender or join any other Person in instituting against any Designated Lender any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceeding under any federal or state bankruptcy or similar law, for 366 days after the payment in full of the latest maturing commercial paper note issued by such Designated Lender.

 

SECTION 12.17. Intentionally Omitted .

 

SECTION 12.18. USA Patriot Act .  Each Bank hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and the General Partner, which information includes the name and address of such Persons and other information that will allow such Bank to identify such Persons in accordance with the Act.  The Borrower shall provide such information and take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Bank in order to assist the Administrative Agent and the Banks in maintaining compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act.

 

SECTION 12.19. Defaulting Lenders .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Bank becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Bank is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:

 

(a)                                  Waivers and Amendments .  Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of “Required Banks” and in Section 12.02.

 

(b)                                  Defaulting Lender Waterfall .  Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 12.07 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Fronting Banks or the Swingline Lender hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize the Fronting Banks’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with subsection (e) below; fourth , as Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists other than a Default or Event of Default that will be cured by the application of such funds in accordance with this paragraph), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting

 

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Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Fronting Banks’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with subsection (e) below; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Banks, the Fronting Banks or the Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Bank, a Fronting Bank or the Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender under Section 2.16 in respect of Letters of Credit (such amounts “ L/C Disbursements ”), in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Disbursements owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letter of Credit Liabilities and Swingline Loans are held by the Banks in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (determined without giving effect to the immediately following subsection (d)).  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Bank irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(c)                                   Certain Fees .

 

(i)                                      No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.08 for any period during which that Bank is a Defaulting Lender (and Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

 

(ii)                                   Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive the fee payable under Section 2.16(g)(i)  for any period during which that Bank is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Pro Rata Share of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to the immediately following subsection (e) .

 

(iii)                                With respect to any fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (ii), Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letter of Credit Liabilities that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to the immediately following subsection (d), (y) pay to the applicable Fronting Bank the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Fronting Bank’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

(d)                                  Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure .  All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letter of Credit Liabilities and Swingline Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (determined without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Loan Commitment) but only to the extent that such

 

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reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Loan Commitment.  No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Bank having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

(e)                                   Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swingline Loans .

 

(i)                                      If the reallocation described in the immediately preceding subsection (d) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, prepay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the Fronting Banks’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in this subsection.

 

(ii)                                   At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within 1 Banking Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or a Fronting Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Fronting Banks’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to the immediately preceding subsection (d) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the aggregate Fronting Exposure of the Fronting Banks with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time.

 

(iii)                                Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Fronting Banks, and agree to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lenders’ obligation to fund participations in respect of Letter of Credit Liabilities, to be applied pursuant to the immediately following clause (iv).  If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent and the Fronting Banks as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the aggregate Fronting Exposure of the Fronting Banks with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

(iv)                               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under this Section in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of Letter of Credit Liabilities (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

 

(v)                                  Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce the Fronting Banks’ Fronting Exposure shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this subsection following (x) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Bank), or (y) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the Fronting Banks that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided that, subject to the immediately preceding subsection (b), the Person providing Cash Collateral and the Fronting Banks may (but shall not be obligated to) agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations and provided further that to the extent that such Cash Collateral was provided by Borrower, such

 

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Cash Collateral shall remain subject to the security interest granted pursuant to the Loan Documents.

 

(f)                                    Defaulting Lender Cure .  If Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Fronting Banks agree in writing that a Bank is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Bank will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Ratable Loans of the other Banks or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Ratable Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held by the Banks in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (determined without giving effect to the immediately preceding subsection (d)), whereupon such Bank will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of Borrower while that Bank was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Bank’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

(g)                                   New Swingline Loans/Letters of Credit .  So long as any Bank is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swingline Loan and (ii) a Fronting Bank shall not be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

 

(h)                                  Purchase of Defaulting Lender’s Commitment .  During any period that a Bank is a Defaulting Lender, Borrower may, by Borrower giving written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent, such Defaulting Lender and the other Banks, demand that such Defaulting Lender assign its Loan Commitment and Loans to an Eligible Assignee subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04.  No party hereto shall have any obligation whatsoever to initiate any such replacement or to assist in finding an Eligible Assignee.  In addition, any Bank which is not a Defaulting Lender may, but shall not be obligated to, in its sole discretion, acquire the face amount of all or a portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Loan Commitment and Loans via an assignment subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04.  In connection with any such assignment, such Defaulting Lender shall promptly execute all documents reasonably requested to effect such assignment, including an appropriate Assignment and Assumption Agreement and, notwithstanding Section 12.04, shall pay to the Administrative Agent an assignment fee in the amount of $7,500.  The exercise by Borrower of its rights under this Section shall be at Borrower’s sole cost and expense and at no cost or expense to the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks or the Banks provided that the foregoing shall not constitute a waiver or release of any claim of Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Bank against any Defaulting Lender.

 

SECTION 12.20. Use for Mortgages .  From time to time, on not less than five (5) Banking Days’ notice, the Borrower may request proceeds of the Loans be used to refinance or acquire properties secured by certain secured mortgage Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries, in which event, a portion of the Loans equal to the amount of the advances made hereunder in connection with such refinancing or acquisition, at the Borrower’s election, may be secured by an amended and restated mortgage (in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Banks) on the property securing the mortgage Indebtedness to be so refinanced or acquired (a “ Refinancing Mortgage ”) and evidenced by a mortgage note executed by Borrower and/or one or more Subsidiaries (provided that if Borrower shall not execute such mortgage note, the Borrower shall execute a guaranty of such mortgage note), as more particularly set forth in Section 2.09. Any such Refinancing Mortgage and any other agreement,

 

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certifications, opinions and other documents will be (i) in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and its counsel, (ii) consistent in all respects with the terms of this Agreement, (iii) subject to such customary due diligence as is reasonably required by the Administrative Agent and the Banks, and (iv) released or assigned by the Administrative Agent (a) at the request of the Borrower or (b) in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, or at the direction of the Required Banks, if (x) the Administrative Agent believes in good faith that holding such mortgage is a violation of applicable Law or could expose the Administrative Agent or any of the Banks to liability for failure to comply with applicable Law (regardless of whether the Borrower or any other Person is obligated to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the Banks for such liability) or (y) as a matter of policy generally applicable to the customers of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent is no longer allowing advances under an otherwise unsecured credit facility to be secured by mortgages assigned to the Administrative Agent (it being understood and agreed that the Administrative Agent and the Banks shall not be required to give any representations or warranties with respect to any such release or assignment, including with respect to any aspects of the Indebtedness secured thereby, except that it is the holder thereof and authorized to execute and deliver the same). In addition, in connection with each Refinancing Mortgage, the Administrative Agent, at the request and expense of Borrower, will provide subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreements and intercreditor and/or subordination agreements with respect to any other Indebtedness secured by the related mortgaged property, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise directed by Borrower, any prepayments made by the Borrower shall be applied first to any and all Loans outstanding that are not secured by a Refinancing Mortgage, and only to Loans secured by Refinancing Mortgages if there shall be no other Loans outstanding at the time.

 

SECTION 12.21. Bottom-Up Guaranties .  At Borrower’s request from time to time, Administrative Agent shall accept “bottom-up” guaranties of the Loans from limited partners in Borrower in such amounts and on such terms as Borrower shall request, provided that Administrative Agent shall have reasonably satisfied itself with respect to OFAC and similar restrictions in respect of any such proposed guarantor.  A Person shall not be considered to be a “Guarantor” or a “Loan Party” as a result of providing such a “bottom-up” guaranty.

 

SECTION 12.22. Confidentiality .  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks and the Banks agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (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), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under any Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section actually known by the Administrative Agent, such Fronting Bank or such Bank to be a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Bank on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower, or (i) to the Administrative Agent’s, such Fronting Bank’s or such Bank’s independent auditors and other professional advisors (provided they shall be notified of the confidential nature of the information).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative

 

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Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Bank may disclose any such confidential information, without notice to Borrower or any other Loan Party, to Governmental Authorities in connection with any regulatory examination of the Administrative Agent, such Fronting Bank or such Bank or in accordance with the regulatory compliance policy of the Administrative Agent, such Fronting Bank or such Bank.  For the purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that was available to the Administrative Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Bank on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower.  In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Banks may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Banks in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Loan Commitments. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

SECTION 12.23. Construction .  The Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks, the Borrower and each Bank acknowledge that each of them has had the benefit of legal counsel of its own choice and has been afforded an opportunity to review this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with its legal counsel and that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed as if jointly drafted by the Administrative Agent, the Fronting Banks, the Borrower and each Bank.

 

SECTION 12.24. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, and the Banks are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, and the Banks, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, each Lead Arranger and each Bank is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger nor any Bank 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; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Banks and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger, nor any Bank has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. The Borrower hereby agrees that it will not assert any claims against the Administrative Agent, any Lead Arranger or any Bank based on an alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Revolving Credit Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES LP,

 

a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

By:

Urban Edge Properties,

 

 

a Maryland real estate investment trust, general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen Theriot

 

 

 

Name: Stephen Theriot

 

 

 

Title: Treasurer

 

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WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, a Fronting Bank, the Swingline Lender and a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ D. Bryan Gregory

 

 

Name: D. Bryan Gregory

 

 

Title: Director

 

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PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Fronting Bank and a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Denise Smyth

 

 

Name: Denise Smyth

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

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BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Christine Aharonian

 

 

Name: Christine Aharonian

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

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CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Frederick H. Denecke

 

 

Name: Frederick H. Denecke

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

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CITIBANK N.A., as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John C. Rowland

 

 

Name: John C. Rowland

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brendan M. Poe

 

 

Name: Brendan M. Poe

 

 

Title: Executive Director

 

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MUFG UNION BANK, N.A., as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John T. Feeney

 

 

Name: John T. Feeney

 

 

Title: Director

 

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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gordon Clough

 

 

Name: Gordon Clough

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

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DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J.T. Johnston Coe

 

 

Name: J.T. Johnston Coe

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James Rolison

 

 

Name: James Rolison

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

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GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Rebecca Kratz

 

 

Name: Rebecca Kratz

 

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

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MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as a Bank

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael King

 

 

Name: Michael King

 

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 


Exhibit 10.11

 

January 14, 2015

 

Jeffrey Olson

 

Dear Jeff:

 

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated November 18, 2014 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), by and between Vornado Realty Trust (the “ Company ”) and you.  This letter agreement sets forth the terms of an amendment to your Employment Agreement in accordance with Section 16(a) of your Employment Agreement.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this letter agreement have the respective meanings given to such terms in your Employment Agreement.  Your Employment Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

Notwithstanding the terms of Section 5(d)(i) and 5(d)(ii) of the Employment Agreement, in the event of a Separation Event, your Initial Option Award and Make-Whole Units will be granted to you on the 21st trading day after a Separation Event and the exercise price and number of options (in the case of the Initial Option Award) and the number of units (in the case of the Make-Whole Units) will be based on the volume-weighted average trading price of a common share, $0.01 par value per share, of Urban Edge Properties on the New York Stock Exchange for the 20 trading days following (but not including) the date of the Separation Event.

 

All other terms and conditions of the Initial Option Award and Make-Whole Units will be in accordance with the terms of Section 5(d)(i) and 5(d)(ii) of the Employment Agreement.

 

Except as set forth herein, the Employment Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

 

[ Signature page follows ]

 



 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth your understanding, please execute a counterpart of this letter agreement in the place provided below.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

VORNADO REALTY TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen W. Theriot

 

Name: Stephen W. Theriot

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Accepted and Agreed:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey Olson

 

 

Jeffrey Olson

 

 

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