UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): October 27, 2016

 

ASHFORD INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

MARYLAND

 

001-36400

 

46-5292553

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS employer
identification number)

 

14185 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas

 

75254

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 490-9600

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

Effective as of October 31, 2016, Ashford Inc. (the “ Company ”) changed its state of incorporation from Delaware to Maryland. The reincorporation was effected by merging the Company with and into a wholly owned Maryland subsidiary established for this purpose (the “ Reincorporation Merger ”) pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 28, 2018 (the “ Merger Agreement ”), following approval by the requisite vote of the Company’s shareholders at a Special Meeting of Stockholders held on October 27, 2016.  As a result of the Reincorporation Merger, Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (“ Ashford Maryland ”), is the successor issuer of Ashford Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Ashford Delaware ”) under Rule 12g-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A copy of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between Ashford Maryland and Ashford Delaware, dated October 28, 2016, is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.

 

Other than the change of corporate domicile, the reincorporation did not result in any change in the name, business, physical locations, management, assets, liabilities, net worth or number of authorized shares of the Company, nor will it result in any change in location of our current employees, including management.  In addition, the Company’s common stock will continue to be listed under the symbol “AINC” on the NYSE MKT. Each outstanding certificate representing shares of Ashford Delaware’s common stock automatically represents, without any action of Ashford Delaware’s stockholders, the same number of shares of Ashford Maryland’s common stock. Ashford Delaware’s shareholders did not need to exchange their stock certificates as a result of the Reincorporation Merger. Ashford Maryland expressly assumed the 2014 Incentive Plan of Ashford Delaware and outstanding awards granted thereunder, and will amend such plan so that all references to the Ashford Delaware are made references to Ashford Maryland.

 

As of October 31, 2016, the rights of the Company’s stockholders commenced to be governed by the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Ashford Inc. attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and the Bylaws of Ashford Inc. attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2. Additional information about the Reincorporation Merger and a comparison of the rights of shareholders of Ashford Delaware and Ashford Maryland can be found in Proposal 1 in the Company’s Proxy Statement (beginning on page 7), filed with the SEC on October 7, 2016.

 

Amendment to Rights Agreement

 

On October 31, 2016, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “ Rights Agreement Amendment ”) to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of August 12, 2015 (as amended from time to time, the “ Rights Agreement ”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as the Rights Agent. Pursuant to the Rights Plan Amendment, the Rights Agreement was amended to make such changes as were necessary to reflect the reincorporation of the Company to Maryland pursuant to the Reincorporation Merger and which do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the rights. A copy of the Rights Plan Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1.

 

Remington Merger Agreement Waiver

 

In connection with the Reincorporation Merger, on October 28, 2016, the Company entered into the Amendment, Waiver and Consent Agreement (the “ Remington Waiver ”), by and among the Company, Archie Bennett, Jr., Monty J. Bennett, Remington Holdings GP, LLC, MJB Investments, LP, Mark A. Sharkey, Remington Holdings, LP, Ashford Advisors, Inc., Remington Hospitality Management, Inc., Ashford GP Holdings I, LLC, and Remington GP Holdings, LLC.  Pursuant to the Remington Waiver, the parties thereto agreed to waive any breach, right of termination, default or event of default arising under the Acquisition Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2015 (as amended, the “ Acquisition Agreement ”), as a result of the Reincorporation Merger and to amend the Acquisition Agreement to accommodate the Reincorporation Merger.  A copy of the Remington Waiver is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2.

 

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Item 3.03. Material Modification To Rights Of Security Holders.

 

The disclosure set forth under Item 1.01 under the headings “Agreement and Plan of Merger” and “Amendment to Rights Agreement” is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

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

 

The disclosure set forth under Item 1.01 under the heading “Agreement and Plan of Merger” is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

On October 27, 2016, the Company held a Special Meeting of Stockholders. As of October 17, 2016, the record date for the special meeting, there were 2,015,599 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. At the special meeting, 1,655,483 shares, or approximately 82% of the eligible voting shares, were represented either in person or by proxy.

 

At the special meeting, the stockholders voted on the following item:

 

Proposal 1 : To approve the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which the Company will merge with and into Ashford Maryland for the purpose of changing the Company’s state of incorporation from Delaware to Maryland. This proposal was approved by the votes indicated below:

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

1,455,674

 

187,598

 

12,211

 

 

In connection with the special meeting, the Company also solicited proxies with respect to the adjournment or postponement of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of Proposal 1. As there were sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve Proposal 1, adjournment or postponement of the special meeting was not necessary or appropriate, and such proposal was not submitted to the Company’s stockholders for approval at the special meeting.

 

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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation, as filed with the Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland on October 28, 2016.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Bylaws of Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated October 31, 2016, between Ashford Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., which includes the Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 28, 2016, by and between Ashford Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Amendment, Waiver and Consent Agreement, dated October 28, 2016, by and among Ashford Inc., Archie Bennett, Jr., Monty J. Bennett, Remington Holdings GP, LLC, MJB Investments, LP, Mark A. Sharkey, Remington Holdings, LP, Ashford Advisors, Inc., Remington Hospitality Management, Inc., Ashford GP Holdings I, LLC, and Remington GP Holdings, LLC.

 

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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.

 

Dated: November 1, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASHFORD INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

 

David A. Brooks

 

 

Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

 

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EXHIBIT 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

 

(Effective as of October 31, 2016).

 

 

Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

 

FIRST: The Corporation desires to amend and restate its Articles of Incorporation as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

 

FORMATION

 

The Corporation is a corporation under the Maryland General Corporation Law (“ MGCL ”).

 

ARTICLE II

 

NAME AND LIFE

 

Section 2.1                                     Name .  The name of the Corporation is Ashford Inc.

 

Section 2.2                                     Life .  The Corporation shall have a perpetual existence.

 

ARTICLE III

 

PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT

 

The address of the principal office of the Corporation within the State of Maryland, is c/o CSC — Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1660, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The Corporation may have such other offices and places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) may from time to time determine. The name of the resident agent of the Corporation within the State of Maryland is CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, and the address of such agent is 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1660, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the MGCL.

 



 

ARTICLE V

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

Section 5.1                                     Authorized Capital Stock .  The aggregate number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is two hundred million (200,000,000) shares of capital stock (“ Capital Stock ”), consisting of (i) one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of common stock, par value one cent ($0.01) per share (“ Common Stock ”), (ii) fifty million (50,000,000) shares of blank check common stock, par value one cent ($0.01) per share (“ Blank Check Common Stock ”) and (iii) fifty million (50,000,000) shares of preferred stock, par value one cent ($0.01) per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), of which two million (2,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock have been designated as “Series A Preferred Stock,” the preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of which are set forth in Section 5.5 hereto.  Forty-eight million (48,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock remain undesignated.

 

Section 5.2                                     Common Stock .  The powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions, of the Common Stock are as follows:

 

(a)                                  Voting .  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or required by Law or the relevant Preferred Stock Designation (as defined in Section 5.4(a) ) of any series of Preferred Stock or the relevant Blank Check Common Stock Designation (as defined in Section 5.3(a) ) of any series of Blank Check Common Stock, each holder of record of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and shall be entitled to vote on all other matters requiring stockholder action, each share being entitled to one vote.

 

(b)                                  Dividends .  Subject to applicable Law and the preferential rights, if any, as to dividends of the holders of any shares of Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and to the rights, if any, as to dividends of any shares of Blank Check Common Stock at the time outstanding, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board, out of assets of the Corporation legally available therefor, such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board.

 

(c)                                   Liquidation .  In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “ Liquidation Event ”), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, subject to the preferential rights as to distributions upon such Liquidation Event of each of the creditors of the Corporation and the holders of any shares of Preferred Stock at the time outstanding and to the rights of any shares of Blank Check Common Stock at the time outstanding, their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets of the Corporation. A Liquidation Event shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any voluntary consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or entity or other corporations or entities or a sale, lease, or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets.

 

(d)                                  No Cumulative Voting Rights .  No holder of shares of Common Stock shall have cumulative voting rights.

 

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(e)                                   Other Rights .  No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or preemptive rights.

 

Section 5.3                                     Blank Check Common Stock .

 

(a)                                  The Board is hereby expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of all or any shares of the Blank Check Common Stock in one or more series, by filing articles supplementary pursuant to Section 2-208 of the MGCL (hereinafter referred to as a “ Blank Check Common Stock Designation ”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix for each such series, such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and, such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such restrictions, limitations and qualifications thereof, as shall be authorized by the Board and stated in the applicable Blank Check Common Stock Designation, providing for the issuance of such series, including, without limitation, the authority to provide that any such series may be (i) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices; (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, including without limitation a condition that relates to the performance of specified assets or a specified line or lines of business, and at such times, and payable in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series; (iii) entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of all or specified assets of, or a specified line of business of the Corporation; or (iv) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of stock, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments; all as may be stated in such Blank Check Common Stock Designation.

 

(b)                                  The rights, powers and privileges of the Blank Check Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Stock. Except as required by a Blank Check Common Stock Designation or applicable Law, holders of Blank Check Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 5.4                                     Preferred Stock .

 

(a)                                  The Board is hereby expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of all or any shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more series, by filing articles supplementary pursuant to Section 2-208 of the MGCL (hereinafter referred to as a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix for each such series such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such restrictions, limitations and qualifications thereof, as shall be authorized by the Board and stated in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation, providing for the issuance of such series, including, without limitation, the authority to provide that any such series may be (i) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices; (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series; (iii) entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation; or (iv) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class

 

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or classes of stock, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments; all as may be stated in such Preferred Stock Designation.

 

(b)                                  The rights, powers and privileges of the Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Stock. Except as required by a Preferred Stock Designation or applicable Law, holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided by a Preferred Stock Designation, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

Section 5.5                                     Series A Preferred Stock .

 

(a)                                  Designation and Amount .  The shares of this series shall be designated as Series A Preferred Stock (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”), and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be two million (2,000,000).  Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; provided , that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(b)                                  Dividends and Distributions .

 

(i)                     Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock (or any other stock of the Corporation) ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date a “ Quarterly Dividend Payment Date ”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount (if any) per share (rounded to the nearest cent), subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock

 

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(by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(ii)                  The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 5.5(b)(i)  immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

 

(iii)               Dividends due pursuant to Section 5.5(b)(i)  shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.  Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.  Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.  The Board may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

 

(c)                                   Voting Rights .  The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

 

(i)                     Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the

 

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denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(ii)                  Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, including any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other Capital Stock having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(iii)               Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise required by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

 

(d)                                  Certain Restrictions .

 

(i)                     Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 5.5(b)  are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

 

(A)                                declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;

 

(B)                                declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or

 

(C)                                redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(ii)                  The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 5.5(d) , purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

 

(e)                                   Reacquired Shares .  Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled

 

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promptly after the acquisition thereof.  All such shares shall automatically and without further Board action become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock that may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein or in the Charter, including any Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.

 

(f)                                    Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up .

 

(i)                     Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the holders of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “ Series A Liquidation Preference ”) equal to an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(ii)                  If there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

 

(iii)               Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with another entity nor the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 5.5(f).

 

(g)                                   Consolidation, Merger, Etc.   If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time

 

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declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(h)                                  Amendment .  At any time that any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Charter shall not be amended in any manner, including in a merger, consolidation or otherwise, which would alter, change or repeal the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately a single class.

 

(i)                                      Rank .  The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding-up, junior to all other series of Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.

 

Section 5.6                                     Preemptive Rights.   Except as my be provided by the Board in setting the terms of any stock  Preferred Stock or Blank Check Common Stock designated in accordance with this Article V or as may otherwise be provided by a contract approved by the Board, no holders of shares of Capital Stock shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of Capital Stock or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell.

 

Section 5.7                                     Approval of Extraordinary Actions .  Notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a greater proportion of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by a majority of the Board and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 6.1                                     Number .  The Board shall consist of not less than one or more than fifteen members, the exact number of which shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board.

 

Section 6.2                                     Classes .  The directors of the Board shall not be divided into classes. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders and each director

 

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shall be elected to serve for a term of one year and until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify or until his earlier resignation or removal.

 

Section 6.3                                     Removal . Except as otherwise required by applicable Law and subject to any Preferred Stock Designation or any Blank Check Common Stock Designation, any director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled to vote in the election of directors. The vacancy or vacancies in the Board caused by any such removal may be filled by the Board as provided in Section 6.5 .

 

Section 6.4                                     Term of Office .  A director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

 

Section 6.5                                     Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships .  Unless otherwise required by Law, and subject to any Preferred Stock Designation or any Blank Check Common Stock Designation, any vacancy on the Board that results from an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the Board then in office, provided that a quorum is present, and any other vacancy occurring on the Board may be filled by a majority of the Board then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected by the Board to fill any vacancy shall serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.

 

Section 6.6                                     Voting .  At all meetings of the Board or of any committee thereof at which a quorum is present, except as otherwise provided for by Law, these Articles or the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “ Bylaws ”), any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board shall be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then present; provided , however , that a majority of the disinterested directors shall be required to approve any transaction or agreement involving the Corporation, its wholly-owned subsidiaries or Ashford Hospitality Advisors LLC and a director or officer of the Corporation or an Affiliate of any director or officer of the Corporation or an entity in which a director or officer is a director or an officer or has a financial interest. The proviso in the preceding sentence, however, shall not apply to the fixing by the Board of reasonable compensation for a director.

 

Section 6.7                                     Powers .  In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the directors herein or by applicable Law, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation which are not reserved to the stockholders pursuant to applicable Law, these Articles or the Bylaws.

 

Section 6.8                                     Special Meetings of Stockholders .  Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes (i) may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the CEO and (ii) shall be called by the CEO or Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the members of the Board or upon the written request of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock, and may not be called by any other Person or Persons. Such request of the Board or the stockholders shall state the

 

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purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice.

 

Section 6.9                                     Agreements .  The Board may authorize the execution and performance by the Corporation of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other organization (including, without limitation, any one or more Affiliates of the Corporation and the Corporation’s directors) whereby, subject to the supervision and control of the Board, any such other person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other organization (including, without limitation, any one or more Affiliates of the Corporation and/the Corporation’s directors) shall render or make available to the Corporation managerial, operational, investment, either or both advisory and related services, office space and other services and facilities (including, if deemed advisable by the Board, the management or supervision of the operations of the Corporation and its subsidiaries) upon such terms and conditions as may be provided in such agreement or agreements (including, if deemed fair and equitable by the Board, the compensation payable thereunder by the Corporation).

 

Section 6.10                              Personal Liability of Directors .  To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 6.10 , nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of these Articles or the Bylaws inconsistent with this Section 6.10 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.

 

Section 6.11                              No Written Ballot Required for Director Elections Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by Maryland Law, as now or hereafter in effect, any person (a “ Covered Person ”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Such rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses (as provided for in this Article VII) shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of such Covered Person’s

 

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heirs, executors, and personal and legal representatives; provided , however , that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any Covered Person (or such Covered Person’s heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Covered Person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board.  In addition, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable Law, provide for the advancement of expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon receipt by the Corporation of a written affirmation by the Covered Person of such Covered Person’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification under this Article VII has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person requesting advancement to repay the amount advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under this Article VII.

 

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VII to the Covered Persons.

 

The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under the Certificate of Incorporation (as it may be amended and restated from time to time), the Bylaws (as they may be amended and restated from time to time), any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability.

 

Any repeal or modification of this Article VII shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a Covered Person existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING

 

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of all of the outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote on the matter.

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Maryland, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the MGCL) outside the State of Maryland at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board or in the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE X

 

BYLAWS

 

Section 10.1          The Bylaws may establish procedures regulating the submission by stockholders of nominations, proposals and other business for consideration at meetings of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

Section 10.2          The Bylaws of the Corporation may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws adopted in the manner provided for in the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.1          Definitions .  The following definitions are used herein:

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a given Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of Beneficial Ownership of, or the power to vote, ten percent (10%) or more of the securities having voting power for the election of directors (or other Persons acting in similar capacities) of such Person or the power otherwise to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Beneficial Ownership ” means ownership of shares of Common Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Common Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include (in addition to direct ownership and indirect ownership through a nominee or similar arrangement) interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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

 

Governmental Entity ” means any national, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign government, any court, arbitral tribunal, administrative agency or commission, or other

 

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governmental or regulatory authority, commission, or agency, or any non-governmental, self-regulatory authority, commission, or agency.

 

Law ” means any statute, law, code, ordinance, rule, or regulation of any Governmental Entity.

 

Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust, association, private foundation, joint stock company, limited liability company, or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

Section 11.2          Potential Business Opportunity .  If a director or officer of the Corporation who is also a director or officer of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. or their respective Affiliates or successors (such person, an “ Overlap Person ” and such entity, an “ Other Entity ”) is presented or offered, or otherwise acquires knowledge of, a potential transaction or matter that may constitute or present a business opportunity for the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, in which the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries could have an interest or expectancy (any such transaction or matter, and any such actual or potential business opportunity, a “ Potential Business Opportunity ”):

 

(i)       such director or officer will, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, have no duty or obligation to refrain from referring such Potential Business Opportunity to any Other Entity and, if such Overlap Person refers such Potential Business Opportunity to any Other Entity, such Overlap Person, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, shall have no duty or obligation to refer such Potential Business Opportunity to the Corporation or to any of its subsidiaries or to give any notice to the Corporation or to any of its subsidiaries regarding such Potential Business Opportunity (or any matter related thereto);

 

(ii)      if such Overlap Person refers such Potential Business Opportunity to any Other Entity, such Overlap Person, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, will not be liable to the Corporation or to any of its subsidiaries, as a director, officer, stockholder or otherwise, for any failure to refer such Potential Business Opportunity to the Corporation, or for referring such Potential Business Opportunity to any Other Entity, or for any failure to give any notice to the Corporation regarding such Potential Business Opportunity or any matter relating thereto;

 

(iii)     any Other Entity may participate, engage or invest in any such Potential Business Opportunity notwithstanding that such Potential Business Opportunity may have been referred to such entity by an Overlap Person; and

 

(iv)    if a director or officer who is an Overlap Person refers a Potential Business Opportunity to any Other Entity, then, as between the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and such Other Entity, on the other hand, the Corporation and its subsidiaries, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, shall be deemed to have renounced any interest, expectancy or right in or to such Potential Business Opportunity or to receive any income or proceeds derived therefrom solely as a result of such Overlap Person having been presented or offered, or otherwise acquiring knowledge of such Potential Business Opportunity;

 

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unless in each case referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the opportunity was offered to such Overlap Person exclusively in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (an opportunity meeting all of such conditions, a “ Restricted Potential Business Opportunity ”). To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Corporation shall be deemed to have renounced any interest or expectancy in any Potential Business Opportunity that is not a Restricted Potential Business Opportunity. In the event that the Board declines to pursue a Potential Business Opportunity, the Overlap Persons are free to refer such Potential Business Opportunity to any Other Entity.

 

Section 11.3          Ambiguity .  For the avoidance of doubt and in furtherance of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article XI amends or modifies, or will amend or modify, in any respect, any written contractual arrangement between Ashford Inc. or any of its Affiliates and each of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. and any of their respective Affiliates.

 

Section 11.4          Application of Provision .  This Article XI shall apply as set forth above except as otherwise provided by Law. It is the intention of this Article XI to take full advantage of statutory amendments, the effect of which may be to specifically authorize or approve provisions such as this Article XI. No alteration, amendment, termination, expiration or repeal of this Article XI nor the adoption of any provision of these Articles inconsistent with this Article XI shall eliminate, reduce, apply to or have any effect on the protections afforded hereby to any director, officer, employee or stockholder of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. or any of their respective Affiliates for or with respect to any investments, activities or opportunities of which such director, officer, employee or stockholder becomes aware prior to such alteration, amendment, termination, expiration, repeal or adoption, or any matters occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article XI, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, termination, expiration, repeal or adoption.

 

Section 11.5          Deemed Notice .  Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of the Capital Stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article XI.

 

Section 11.6          Severability .  If this Article XI or any portion hereof shall be invalidated or held to be unenforceable on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of which shall not have been reversed on appeal, this Article XI shall be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to avoid a violation of Law and, as so modified, this Article XI and the remaining provisions hereof shall remain valid and enforceable in accordance with their terms to the fullest extent permitted by Law.

 

Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article XI nor the adoption of any provision of these Articles inconsistent with this Article XI shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article XI in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article XI, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption. Following the expiration of this Article XI, any contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction involving a Potential Business Opportunity shall not by reason thereof result in any breach of any duty or standard of conduct of any director or officer of the Corporation or

 

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 derivation of any improper benefit or personal economic gain, but shall be governed by the other provisions of these Articles, the Bylaws, the MGCL and other applicable Law.

ARTICLE XII

 

AMENDMENTS AND REPEAL

 

The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in these Articles, including any amendment, alteration, change or repeal which alters the contract rights, as expressly set forth in the charter of the Corporation, and substantially and adversely affects the stockholders’ rights, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Maryland at the time in force may be added or inserted in the manner now or hereafter prescribed in these Articles, the Bylaws or the MGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other Person by and pursuant to these Articles in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to such reservation.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

FORUM

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum and to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction because the action asserts a federal claim, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought in the right of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a duty owed by any director, officer or employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders or any breach of a standard of conduct of directors, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, these Articles or the Bylaws or (iv) any other action asserting a claim against the Corporation, or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any Person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of Capital Stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this ARTICLE XIII.  In the event that any action or proceeding described in the preceding sentence is pending in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, any stockholder that is party to such action, proceeding or claim shall cooperate in seeking to have the action or proceeding assigned to the Business & Technology Case Management Program of that court.

 

THIRD: The foregoing amendment and restatement of the Articles was duly advised by the Board, and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law. The stockholders approved these Articles of Amendment and Restatement by the unanimous written consent of the stockholders.

 

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FOURTH:

 

(a)           Immediately prior to the amendment and restatement of these Articles, the Corporation had authorized 1,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

(b)           Immediately following the amendment and restatement of these Articles, the corporation had authorized 200,000,000 shares of Capital Stock (par value $0.01 per share), consisting of (i) 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 50,000,000 shares of Blank Check Common Stock, (iii) 48,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, and (iv) 2,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock

 

(c)           Prior to the amendment and restatement, the aggregate par value of all classes of Capital Stock was $10. Following the amendment, the aggregate par value of all classes of Capital Stock was $2,000,000.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, on this 28th day of October, 2016, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Operating Officer and attested to by its Secretary; and the Chief Operating Officer acknowledges that these Articles of Amendment and Restatement are the act of the Corporation, and the Chief Operating Officer further acknowledges that, as to all matters or facts set forth herein that are required to be verified under oath, such matters and facts are true in all material respects to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer and

 

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Deric S. Eubanks

 

Name: Deric S. Eubanks

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation]

 


EXHIBIT 3.2

 

ASHFORD INC.

 

BYLAWS

 

October 31, 2016

 

ARTICLE I

 

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.                                            Place .  All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of Ashford Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) or at such other place as shall be set by the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 2.                                            Annual Meeting .  An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business shall be held on the date and at the time set by the Board.

 

Section 3.                                            Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes (i) may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the CEO and (ii) shall be called by the CEO or Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the members of the Board or upon the written request of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation, and may not be called by any other Person or Persons. Such request of the Board or the stockholders shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice.

 

Section 4.                                            Notice .  Notice of all meetings of stockholders stating the hour, date and place of such annual meetings and, to the extent required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland (the “ MGCL ”), the purpose for which the meeting has been called shall be given by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or other person authorized by these Bylaws or by law) not less than 10 days nor more than 90 days before the meeting, unless any provisions of the MGCL prescribe a different period of notice, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder who, under the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended or restated from time to time (the “ Charter ”) or under these Bylaws, is entitled to such notice, by delivering such notice, by mailing it, postage prepaid, addressed to such stockholder at the address of such stockholder as it appears on the Corporation’s stock transfer books, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholders and directed to the address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder consented to receive such electronic transmission. The Corporation may

 



 

give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given.

 

The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel a meeting of stockholders previously scheduled.

 

Section 5.                                            Organization and Conduct .  Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted 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 Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Strategy Officer, the Executive Vice President of Asset Management, the Vice Presidents in their order of rank and seniority, the Secretary, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by a majority of the members of the Board in attendance at the meeting or if none, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy at the meeting. 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 or, in the absence of such appointment, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary of the meeting. In the event that the Secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an Assistant Secretary, or, in the absence of all Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board 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 stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation 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 stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (h) convening a meeting or (for any or no reason) recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (i) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. The chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairman should so determine, such chairman shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

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Section 6.                                            Quorum .  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Charter or these Bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at such meeting shall constitute a quorum. If such quorum is not established at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting or the stockholders so present by a majority of voting power thereof may adjourn the meeting until a quorum shall attend. A meeting of stockholders convened on the date for which it was called may be adjourned from time to time without further notice to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

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

 

Section 7.                                            Voting .  A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. Cumulative voting is not permitted. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by the Charter, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities. Except as otherwise provided by law, abstentions and broker non-votes shall not be counted as votes cast for purposes of determining the outcome of any vote. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power on the matter in question. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

 

Section 8.                                            Proxies .  A holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation may cast votes in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than 11 months after its date unless a longer period is otherwise provided in the proxy.

 

Section 9.                                            Voting of Stock by Certain Holders .  Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, general partner, trustee or managing member thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any director or fiduciary may vote

 

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stock registered in the name of such person in the capacity of such director or fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.

 

Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, unless such shares are held by the Corporation in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the presence of a quorum.

 

Section 10.                                     Inspectors .  The Corporation shall appoint, before any meeting of stockholders, one or more inspectors to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace an inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at the meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) tabulate all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certificate and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

Section 11.                                     Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominees for Director and Other Stockholder Proposals .

 

(a)                                  Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(1)                                  Nominations of individuals for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 11(a).

 

(2)                                  For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required

 

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under this Section 11 and shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article I) for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. The postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting, or the public announcement thereof, shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)                                as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person:

 

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

 

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

 

(C)                                whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit from changes in the price of Company Securities for such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities, and

 

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

 

(iv)                               as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 11(a) and any Proposed Nominee:

 

(A)                                the name and address of such stockholder of record, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the name and address of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee and

 

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

 

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

 

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(vi)                               a representation whether the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination;

 

(vii)                            a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination;

 

(viii)                         any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

 

(ix)                               to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder’s notice.

 

(4)                                  Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a certificate executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) (a) certifying that such Proposed Nominee is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (b) consenting to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and serving as a director of the Corporation if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation, upon request, to the stockholder providing the notice and shall include all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, or would be required pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed or over-the-counter market on which any securities of the Corporation are traded). The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 11 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to

 

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furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.

 

(5)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at the annual meeting is increased after the time period for which nominations would otherwise by due under paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 11, and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article I) for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 11(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(6)                                  For purposes of this Section 11, “ Stockholder Associated Person ” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.

 

(b)                                  Special Meetings of Stockholders .  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3 of this Article I for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 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 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board, any such stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 11, is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made by the Corporation of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board 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 (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

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(c)                                   General .

 

(1)                                  If information submitted pursuant to this Section 11 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11. Any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal of other business at a meeting of stockholders shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change in such stockholder’s notice (within two Business Days (as defined below) of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change). Upon written request by the Secretary or the Board, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11. 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.

 

(2)                                  Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 11. Except as otherwise required by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 11 (including whether the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (a)(3)(vi) of this Section 11) and (b) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 11, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 11, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy

 

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at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(3)                 For purposes of this Section 11, “the date of the proxy statement” shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

 

(4)                 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 11 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

ARTICLE II

 

DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.                                            Powers .  All of the powers of the Corporation shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board except as otherwise provided by the Charter or required by law.

 

Section 2.                                            Terms .  The terms of the members of the Board shall be as set forth in Article VI of the Charter.

 

Section 3.                                            Director Independence .

 

(a)                                  Independence . The Board shall nominate candidates for election or re-election to the Board (or recommend the election or re-election of such candidates as nominated by others) such that, and shall take such other corporate actions as may be reasonably required to provide that, to the best knowledge of the Board, if such candidates are elected by the stockholders, at least a majority of the members of the Board shall be Independent Directors (as defined below). The Board shall only elect any person to fill a vacancy on the Board if, to the best knowledge of the Board, after such person’s election at least a majority of the members of the Board shall be Independent Directors. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not cause a director who, upon commencing such director’s service as a member of the Board was

 

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determined by the Board to be an Independent Director but did not in fact qualify as such, or who by reason of any change in circumstances ceases to qualify as an Independent Director, from serving the remainder of the term as a director for which such director was selected. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph and unless otherwise provided by law, no action of the Board shall be invalid by reason of the failure at any time of a majority of the members of the Board to be Independent Directors.

 

(b)                                  Independent Director .  The term “ Independent Director ” means a director who (i) qualifies as an “independent director” within the meaning of the corporate governance listing standards from time to time adopted by the NYSE MKT LLC (or, if at any time the Corporation’s common stock is not listed on the NYSE MKT LLC and is listed on a securities exchange other than the NYSE MKT LLC, the applicable corporate governance listing standards of such other securities exchange) with respect to the composition of the board of directors of a listed company (without regard to any independence criteria applicable under such standards only to the members of a committee of the board of directors) and (ii) also satisfies the minimum requirements of director independence of Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (as from time to time in effect), whether or not such director is a member of the Audit Committee of the Board.

 

Section 4.                                            Qualification .  No Director need be a stockholder of the Corporation. Unless waived by the Board, no individual may serve as a director of the Corporation if he or she has reached the age of 70 years at the time of election. Upon attaining the age of 70, a director shall tender a letter of resignation from the Board, effective upon the expiration of the calendar year in which such director attains the age of 70. Such director shall also tender a letter of resignation effective upon the expiration of each term served by the director after attaining the age of 70. Additionally, upon any change in employment of a director or a change in the duties of such director in connection with his or her employment, such director shall tender a letter of resignation effective upon the expiration of the calendar year in which such change occurs. Any such resignation shall be contingent upon acceptance by the Board, and the Board shall determine whether, in light of all the circumstances, it should accept such resignation.

 

Section 5.                                            Vacancies .  Any vacancy occurring on the Board, including any vacancy created by reason of an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled in the manner provided in Article VI, Section 6.5 of the Charter.

 

Section 6.                                            Resignation .  Any Director may resign at any time by giving notice to the Board. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.

 

Section 7.                                            Regular Meetings .  The regular annual meeting of the Board shall be held, without other notice than this Bylaw, on the same date and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders following the close of such meeting of stockholders. Other regular meetings of the Board may be held at such hour, date and place as the Board may by resolution from time to time determine without other notice than such resolution.

 

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Section 8.                                            Executive Sessions .  To ensure free and open discussion and communication among the non-management directors, the non-management directors shall meet in executive session at least twice a year with no members of management present.

 

Section 9.                                            Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board may be called by a majority of the members of the Board, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the Lead Director, if one is elected, or the Chief Executive Officer. The person calling any such special meeting of the Board may fix the hour, date and place thereof.

 

Section 10.                                     Notice of Meetings .  Notice of the hour, date and place of all special meetings of the Board shall be given to each director by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or in case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of such persons, by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the Chief Executive Officer or such other officer designated by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the Chief Executive Officer. Notice of any special meeting of the Board shall be given to each director in person or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission or by telegram sent to his or her business or home address at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, or by written notice mailed to his or her business or home address at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when hand delivered to such address, when read to such Director by telephone, when deposited in the mail so addressed with postage thereon prepaid, upon transmission of the message by electronic mail, upon completion of transmission of a facsimile message and receipt of a completed answer back indicating receipt or when delivered to the telegraph company if sent by telegram.

 

A waiver of notice executed before or after a meeting by a director and filed with the records of the meeting shall be deemed to be equivalent to an effective notice of the meeting. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting solely for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened and does not further participate in the meeting. Except as otherwise required by law, by the Charter or by these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

Section 11.                                     Quorum .  At any meeting of the Board, a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if less than a quorum is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time. Any business which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed may be transacted at such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present.

 

Section 12.                                     Action at Meeting .  At any meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present and subject to Section 6.6 of Article VI of the Charter, a majority of the directors present may take any action on behalf of the Board, unless otherwise required by law, by the Charter or these Bylaws.

 

Section 13.                                     Action by Consent .  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting if a consent or consents

 

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in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of all of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on the matter.

 

Section 14.                                     Manner of Participation .  Members of the Board or of any committee designated by the Board pursuant to Section 15 of this Article II may participate in meetings thereof by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all directors participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time, and participation in a meeting in accordance herewith shall constitute presence in person at such meeting for purposes of these Bylaws.

 

Section 15.                                     Committees .  The Board may designate one or more committees, including an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, to consist of one or more of the members of the Board. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Except as the Board may otherwise determine or as required by law, by the Charter or by these Bylaws, any such committee may make rules for conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the Board or in such rules, its business shall be conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided by the Charter and by these Bylaws for the Board. Any committee to which the Board delegates any of its powers or duties shall keep records of its meetings and shall report its action to the Board.

 

Section 16.                                     Compensation of Directors .  Directors shall receive compensation for their service as a director as shall be determined by a majority of the members of the Board, provided that directors who are serving the Corporation as officers or employees and who receive compensation for their services as such (“ Employee Directors ”) shall not receive any salary or other compensation for their services as directors of the Corporation; provided, however , that such Employee Directors may be paid their reasonable expenses incurred as a director.

 

ARTICLE III

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                                            Enumeration .  The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and such other officers, including without limitation a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Operating Officer, a General Counsel, a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Accounting Officer, one or more Vice Presidents (including Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries, as the Board may determine.

 

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Section 2.                                            Election and Appointment .  At the regular annual meeting of the Board following the annual meeting of stockholders, the Board shall elect the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary. Other officers may be appointed by the Board at such regular annual meeting of the Board or at any other regular or special meeting of the Board, or such other officers may be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 3.                                            Qualification .  No officer need be a stockholder or a director of the Corporation. Any person may occupy more than one office of the Corporation at any time except the offices of President and Vice President. Any officer may be required by the Board to give bond for the faithful performance of his or her duties in such amount and with such sureties as the Board may determine.

 

Section 4.                                            Tenure .  Except as otherwise provided by the Charter or by these Bylaws, each of the officers of the Corporation shall hold office until the regular annual meeting of the Board following the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights. The Board may, however, authorize the Corporation to enter into an employment contract with any officer in accordance with law, but no such contract right shall prohibit the right of the Board to remove any officer at any time in accordance with Section 6 of this Article III.

 

Section 5.                                            Resignation .  Any officer may resign at any time by delivering his or her written resignation to the Corporation addressed to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.

 

Section 6.                                            Removal .  The Board may remove any officer with or without cause at any time.

 

Section 7.                                            Absence or Disability .  In the event of the absence or disability of any officer, the Board may designate another officer to act temporarily in place of such absent or disabled officer.

 

Section 8.                                            Vacancies .  Any vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board.

 

Section 9.                                            Chief Executive Officer .  The President may be the Chief Executive Officer or the Board may elect another person to be the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside, when present, at all meetings of the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the direction of the Board, have general supervision and control of the Corporation’s business.

 

Section 10.                                     Chairman of the Board .  The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board and at all meetings of stockholders. The Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time designate.

 

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Section 11.                                     President .  If the President is not the Chief Executive Officer, he or she shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

 

Section 12.                                     Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer .  Any Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

 

Section 13.                                     Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents .  Any Vice President (including any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President) and Assistant Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

 

Section 14.                                     Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers .  The Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer, unless the Board shall elect another officer to be the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, subject to the direction of the Board and except as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may otherwise provide, have general charge of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall cause to be kept accurate books of account. He or she shall have custody of all funds, securities and valuable documents of the Corporation. He or she shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of a Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation and whenever the signature of the Chief Financial Officer is required on any document or instrument, by the laws of the United States or any state, or elsewhere in the Bylaws, to the extent permitted by law, the Treasurer shall have authority to affix his or her signature in such capacity.

 

The Chief Accounting Officer shall be an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation and whenever the signature of an Assistant Treasurer is required on any document or instrument, by the laws of the United States or any state, or elsewhere in these Bylaws, to the extent permitted by law, the Chief Accounting Officer shall have authority to affix his or her signature in such capacity. Any Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

 

Section 15.                                     Secretary and Assistant Secretaries .  The Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and the Board (including committees of the Board) in books kept for that purpose. In the absence of the Secretary from any such meeting, a temporary secretary chosen at the meeting shall record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall have charge of the stock ledger (which may, however, be kept by any transfer or other agent of the Corporation). The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation, and the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix it to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed, the seal may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary may perform the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary.

 

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Any Assistant Secretary shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

 

Section 16.                                     Other Powers and Duties .  Subject to these Bylaws and to such limitations as the Board may from time to time prescribe, the officers of the Corporation shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

STOCK

 

Section 1.                                            Certificates of Stock .  The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Each holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to a certificate of the stock of the Corporation in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board. Such certificate shall bear the seal of the Corporation, if one has been adopted, and shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board or the Vice Chairman of the Board, or the President or a Vice President, and countersigned by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Any and all signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile, including those of any transfer agent or registrar. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the time of its issue. Every certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer and every certificate issued when the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class or series of stock shall contain such legend with respect thereto as is required by law.

 

Section 2.                                            Transfers .  Subject to any restrictions on transfer and unless otherwise provided by the Board, shares of stock may be transferred only on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate therefor properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, with transfer stamps (if necessary) affixed, and with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require.

 

Section 3.                                            Dividends .  Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the MGCL and the provisions of the Charter, if any, may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with Section 13 of Article II hereof), and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants,

 

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rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board may modify or abolish any such reserve.

 

Section 4.                                            Record Holders .  Except as may otherwise be required by law, by the Charter or by these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect thereto, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock, until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of applicable law and these Bylaws.

 

It shall be the duty of each stockholder to notify the Corporation or its transfer agent of his or her post office address and any changes thereto.

 

Section 5.                                            Record Date .  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournments thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board and which shall not be more than 90 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 90 days prior to any other action. In such case, only stockholders of record on such record date shall be so entitled, notwithstanding any transfer of stock on the stock transfer books of the Corporation after the record date.

 

If no record date is fixed:

 

(a)                                  the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders is the later of (i) the close of business on the day on which notice of the meeting is mailed, or (ii) the thirtieth day before the meeting; and

 

(b)                                  the record date for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any rights is the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the Board declaring the dividend or allotment of rights is adopted, but the payment or allotment may not be made more than 60 days after the date on which the resolution is adopted.

 

Section 6.                                            Replacement of Certificates .  The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

Section 7.                                            Transfer Agents and Registrars .  The Corporation may serve as the transfer agent and registrar of the shares of stock of the Corporation, or the Board may, in its discretion, appoint one or more responsible bank, trust company or other entity as the Board may deem advisable, from time to time, to act as transfer agent and registrar of shares of stock.

 

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Section 8.                                            Stockholders’ Addresses .  Every stockholder or transferee shall furnish the Secretary or a transfer agent with the address to which notice of meetings and all other notices may be served upon or mailed to such stockholder or transferee.

 

Section 9.                                            Repurchase of Shares of Stock .  Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Corporation may purchase shares of its own stock and invest its assets in its own shares of stock, provided that in each case the consent of the Board shall have been obtained.

 

ARTICLE V

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1.                                            Right to Indemnification .  The Corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted by the MGCL in effect from time to time, indemnify, and, without a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding (upon receipt by the Corporation of an affirmation by the person of the person’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation has been met and an undertaking by or on behalf of the person requesting advancement to repay the amount advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation) to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee and, in each case, shall indemnify such person from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his or her status as a present or former director or officer of the Corporation or director, officer, partner or trustee of such other entity (each, an “ Indemnitee ”). The Corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted by the MGCL in effect from time to time, provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described above (any such person shall also be deemed to be an “ Indemnitee ”).

 

Section 2.                                            Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation .  With the approval of the Board, the Corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted by the MGCL in effect from time to time, and to such further extent as it shall deem appropriate under the circumstances, provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses as described in Section 1 above, to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation (each such person shall also be deemed to be an “ Indemnitee ”).

 

Section 3.                                            Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit .  If a claim under this Article V is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If the Indemnitee is successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be

 

18



 

entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by an Indemnitee who is a present or former director to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses), it shall be a defense that such Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the MGCL. In addition, in any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Indemnitee who is a present or former director has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the MGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the MGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel or stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article V or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                                            Non-Exclusivity of Rights .  The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses conferred in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right that any person may have or hereafter acquire under these Bylaws, the Charter or any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 5.                                            Insurance .  The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the MGCL.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 1.                                            Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year or on such other date as may be fixed by the Board.

 

Section 2.                                            Seal .  The seal of the Corporation shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the year of its organization. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced.

 

Section 3.                                            Execution of Instruments .  All deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes and other obligations to be entered into by the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business without action by the Board may be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the

 

19



 

Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Treasurer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Corporation as the Board may authorize.

 

Section 4.                                            Voting of Securities .  Unless the Board otherwise provides by resolution, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Treasurer may from time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation or other entity, any of whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation or other entity, or to consent in writing, in the name of the corporation as such holder, to any action by such other corporation or other entity, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consents, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he or she may deem necessary or proper. Any of the rights set forth in this Section 4 of Article VI which may be delegated to an attorney or agent may also be exercised directly by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Treasurer.

 

Section 5.                                            Registered Agent .  The Corporation shall have and maintain a registered agent in the State of Maryland upon whom legal process may be served in any action or proceeding against the Corporation.

 

Section 6.                                            Corporate Records .  The original or attested copies of the Charter, Bylaws and records of all meetings of the incorporators, stockholders and the Board and the stock transfer books, which shall contain the names of all stockholders, their record addresses and the amount of stock held by each, may be kept outside the State of Maryland and shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, at the office of its counsel or at an office of its transfer agent.

 

Section 7.                                            Amendments .  These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws adopted, by (a) the vote of a majority of the entire Board, or (b) the vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 8.                                            Offices .  The registered office of the Corporation within the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board may designate. The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such place or places both within and without the State of Maryland as the Board may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Section 9.                                            Control Share Acquisitions .  Tile 3, Subtitle 7 of the MGCL shall not apply to any control share acquisitions, as defined in Subtitle 7, by (i) Archie Bennett, (ii) Monty Bennett, (iii) any present or future affiliate or associate of Archie Bennett or Monty Bennett, (iv) Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc., (v) Ashford Hospitably Prime, Inc., or (vi) any other entity that is advised by the Corporation or its controlled affiliates through an advisory agreement.

 

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EXHIBIT 4.1

 

 

 

ASHFORD INC.

 

AND

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Rights Agent

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement

 

Dated as of October 31, 2016

 

 

 



 

AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (this “ Amendment ”), dated as of October 31, 2016, between Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), as successor to Ashford Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Ashford Delaware ”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (the “ Rights Agent ”). All capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (as defined below).

 

W   I   T   N   E   S   S   E   T   H :

 

WHEREAS, Ashford Delaware and the Rights Agent are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2015 (the “ Amended and Restated Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, in order to change Ashford Delaware’s state of incorporation from Delaware to Maryland, Ashford Delaware is merging with and into the Company effective as of the date hereof, with the Company surviving the merger (the “ Reincorporation Merger ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to amend the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement in order to make certain changes and provisions that are necessary or desirable to reflect the Reincorporation Merger and which do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights; and

 

WHEREAS, in compliance with the terms of Section 27 of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, the Company may from time to time, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement to make any change to or delete any provision hereof or to adopt any other provisions with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem necessary or desirable.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.          Definitions .

 

(a)  The definition of “Company” contained in the preamble of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”),”

 

(b)           The definition of “Preferred Shares” contained in Section 1.22 of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

““ Preferred Shares ” means shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company having such rights and preferences as are

 

1



 

set forth in Exhibit A hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time.”

 

Section 2.          Notices .  That portion of Section 26 of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement that pertains to the address of the Company is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

“Ashford Inc.

14185 Dallas Parkway Suite 1100

Dallas, Texas 75254

Attention: General Counsel

 

Copy to:

 

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

One World Financial Center

New York, New York 10281

Attention: Richard M. Brand”

 

Section 3.          Governing Law .  Section 31 of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“31.        Governing Law .  This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Maryland and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state, except that the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state.”

 

Section 4.          Exhibit A . Exhibit A to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit A to this Amendment.

 

Section 5.          Exhibit B . Exhibit B to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit B to this Amendment.

 

Section 6.          Exhibit C . Exhibit C to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit C to this Amendment.

 

Section 7.          Governing Law .  This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Maryland and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state, except that the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state.

 

2



 

Section 8.          Counterparts .  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.  A signature to this Amendment executed and/or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.

 

Section 9.          Descriptive Headings .  Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Amendment are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

 

Section 10.        Ratification of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement .  Except as expressly amended hereby, the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect.

 

[Signatures follow on the next page.]

 

3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the day and the year first above written.

 

 

 

ASHFORD INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer and
General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Fred Papenmeier

 

Name:

Fred Papenmeier

 

Title:

Vice President & Manager

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Rights Agreement]

 



 

EXHIBIT A
(Terms of Series A Preferred Stock)

 

Series A Preferred Stock .

 

(a)           Designation and Amount .  The shares of this series shall be designated as Series A Preferred Stock (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”), and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be two million (2,000,000).  Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board; provided , that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(b)           Dividends and Distributions .

 

(i)       Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any class or series of Preferred Stock (or any other stock of the Corporation) ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date a “ Quarterly Dividend Payment Date ”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount (if any) per share (rounded to the nearest cent), subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

A- 1



 

(ii)      The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section (b)(i)  immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

 

(iii)     Dividends due pursuant to Section (b)(i)  shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.  Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.  Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.  The Board may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

 

(c)           Voting Rights .  The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

 

(i)       Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(ii)      Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, including any other Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other Capital Stock having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

A- 2



 

(iii)     Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise required by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

 

(d)           Certain Restrictions .

 

(i)       Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section (b)  are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

 

(A)          declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;

 

(B)          declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; or

 

(C)          redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

(ii)      The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section (d) , purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

 

(e)           Reacquired Shares .  Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.  All such shares shall automatically and without further Board action become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock that may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein or in the Charter, including any Articles Supplementary creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.

 

A- 3



 

(f)            Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up .

 

(i)       Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the holders of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “ Series A Liquidation Preference ”) equal to an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(ii)      If there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.

 

(iii)     Neither the merger nor consolidation of the Corporation into or with another entity nor the merger or consolidation of any other entity into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section (f) .

 

(g)           Consolidation, Merger, Etc.   If the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the

 

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number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(h)           Amendment .  At any time that any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Charter shall not be amended in any manner, including in a merger, consolidation or otherwise, which would alter, change or repeal the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately a single class.

 

(i)            Rank .  The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding-up, junior to all other series of Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.

 

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EXHIBIT B
(Form of Right Certificate)

 

Certificate No. R-                   Rights

 

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER FEBRUARY 25, 2018 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS THAT ARE OR WERE ACQUIRED OR BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY ASSOCIATES OR AFFILIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

 

Right Certificate
ASHFORD INC.

 

This certifies that                                          , or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of August 12, 2015, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of October 31, 2016 (as may be further amended from time to time, the “ Rights Agreement ”), between Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (the “ Rights Agent ”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on November 27, 2014, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office or offices of its successor as Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Shares ”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $275 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the “ Purchase Price ”), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of August 12, 2015, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or other securities or property) which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

 

From and after the occurrence of a Stock Acquisition Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) of the Rights Agreement, if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are or were at any time on or after the earlier of (x) the date of such event or (y) the Distribution Date acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person,

 

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such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.

 

This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are incorporated herein by this reference and made a part hereof, and to which Rights Agreement reference is made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. The Company will mail to the holders of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.

 

This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, at the Company’s option, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, or Preferred Shares.

 

No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise or exchange hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.

 

[Signatures follow on the next page.]

 

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WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.

 

Dated as of                ,      .

 

Attest:

Ashford Inc.

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Title:

 

Countersigned:

 

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

 

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[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED                               hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

 

(Please print name and address of transferee)

 

Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                              , Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.

 

DATED:                 ,

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (bank, stock broker or savings and loan association with membership in an approved signature medallion program).

 

Certificate

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by and were not acquired by the undersigned from, and are not being assigned to, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof and are not issued with respect to notional Common Shares related to a Derivative Interest described in Section 1.4.4 of the definition of Beneficial Owner (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

Dated:                   ,

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

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[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate continued]

 

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

 

(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by the Right Certificate)

 

To ASHFORD INC.:

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise           Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares (or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares (or other securities or property) be issued in the name of:

 

Please insert Social Security or other identifying number:

 

(Please print name and address)

 

If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

 

Please insert Social Security or other identifying number

 

(Please print name and address)

 

Dated:                        ,

 

Signature

 

(Signature must conform to the holder specified on the Right Certificate)

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (bank, stock broker or savings and loan association with membership in an approved signature medallion program).

 

B- 5



 

[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate continued]

 

Certificate

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by the undersigned from and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof and are not issued with respect to notional Common Shares related to a Derivative Interest described in Section 1.4.4 of the definition of Beneficial Owner (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

Dated:                   ,

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

NOTICE

 

The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election to Purchase must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

 

In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, such assignment or election to purchase will not be honored.

 

B- 6



 

EXHIBIT C

 

UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

 

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE

 

PREFERRED SHARES

 

On November 16, 2014, the Board of Directors of Ashford Inc. (the “ Company ”) declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “ Right ”) for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Shares ”) outstanding on November 27, 2014 (the “ Record Date ”) to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Shares ”), of the Company, at a price of $275 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right (the “ Purchase Price ”), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the “ Amended and Restated Rights Agreement ”) dated as of August 12, 2015, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated October 31, 2016 (the “ Amendment No. 1 ”), as the same may be further amended from time to time between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement as amended by Amendment No. 1 and as further amended, the “ Rights Agreement ”).

 

Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (with certain exceptions as described below, an “ Acquiring Person ”) (or, in the event an exchange is effected in accordance with Section 24 of the Rights Agreement and the Board determines that a later date is advisable, then such later date that is not more than 20 days after such public announcement) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates, the “ Distribution Date ”), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.

 

A Person shall not be deemed to be an “ Acquiring Person ” if (i) such Person, on the date of the first public announcement of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, is a Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, (a

 

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Grandfathered Stockholder ”);  provided however, that Monty J. Bennett and his Affiliates and Associates shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for so long as they collectively, in the aggregate, are the Beneficial Owners of, directly or indirectly, 20% or less (the “ Bennett Threshold ”)   of the then outstanding Common Shares of the Company ( provided  that (a) Common Shares held any of by (i) Archie Bennett Jr., (ii) Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc. (“ AHT ”) or (iii) any directors or officers of AHT, Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. or the Company and (b) Common Shares issuable or reserved for issuance to, or held in trust on behalf of or for the benefit of, Monty J. Bennett or any of his beneficiaries pursuant to any nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall, in all cases, not be aggregated for purposes of determining whether Monty J. Bennett is the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares in excess of the Bennett Threshold);  provided, further , that if a Grandfathered Stockholder becomes, after the Record Date, the Beneficial Owner of additional Common Shares (other than Common Shares acquired solely as a result of corporate action of the Company not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person) at any time such that the Grandfathered Stockholder is or thereby becomes the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (or such other percentage as would otherwise result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person), then such Grandfathered Stockholder shall be deemed an Acquiring Person;  provided, however , that upon the first decrease of a Grandfathered Stockholder’s Beneficial Ownership below 10%, such Grandfathered Stockholder shall no longer be considered a Grandfathered Stockholder. “ Beneficial Ownership ” shall include any securities such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates (i) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, (ii) has the right to acquire, (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such other Person) with which such first Person or any of such first Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such other Person) with whom such first Person (or any Affiliates or Associates of such first Person) is Acting in Concert has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (subject to certain limited exceptions) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company, and (iv) which are the subject of, or the reference securities for, or that underlie, any derivative securities (as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates that increase in value as the value of the underlying equity increases, with the number of Common Shares deemed Beneficially Owned being the notional or other number of Common Shares specified in the documentation evidencing the derivative interest as being subject to be acquired upon the exercise or settlement of the derivative interest or as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such derivative interest is to be calculated in whole or in part or, if no such number of Common Shares is specified in such documentation, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to be the number of Common Shares to which the derivative interest relates.

 

The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date or upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any

 

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certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“ Right Certificates ”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

 

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on February 25, 2018 (the “ Final Expiration Date ”), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below, or upon the occurrence of certain transactions.

 

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Shares; (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares; or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 

The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

 

Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a quarterly dividend payment of 1,000 multiplied by the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a payment per share equal to 1,000 multiplied by the aggregate payment made per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are converted or exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 1,000 multiplied by the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.

 

Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of the Preferred Shares, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share.

 

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From and after the time any person becomes an Acquiring Person, if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are or were at any time on or after the earlier of (i) the date of such event or (ii) the Distribution Date acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.

 

If, at any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or Earning Power (as defined in the Rights Agreement) are sold, proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. If any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates (which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. If the Board of Directors so elects, the Company shall deliver upon payment of the exercise price of a Right an amount of cash or securities equivalent in value to the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a Right;  provided  that, if the Company fails to meet such obligation within 30 days following the date a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company must deliver, upon exercise of a Right but without requiring payment of the exercise price then in effect, Common Shares (to the extent available) and cash equal in value to the difference between the value of the Common Shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise of a Right and the exercise price then in effect. The Board of Directors may extend the 30-day period described above for up to an additional 60 days to permit the taking of action that may be necessary to authorize sufficient additional Common Shares to permit the issuance of Common Shares upon the exercise in full of the Rights.

 

At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by any Person or group of a majority of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).

 

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

 

At any time prior to the time any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “ Redemption Price ”). The redemption of the Rights may be made

 

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effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

 

The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights provided that no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may at any time prior to such time as any Person being an Acquiring Person amend the Rights Agreement to lower the threshold at which a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but may not lower the threshold below 5% of the outstanding Common Shares. In addition, the Board may not cause a person or group to become an Acquiring Person by lowering this threshold below the percentage interest that such person or group already owns from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates).

 

Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

 

A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

 

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EXHIBIT 10.1

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 28, 2016 (this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and between Ashford Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Ashford (DE) ”), and Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation (“ Ashford (MD) ”).  Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD) are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “ Constituent Corporations .”

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (DE) is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (MD) is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ashford (DE);

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (DE) has authority to issue (i) 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Ashford (DE) Common Stock ”), of which 2,015,599 shares are issued and outstanding, (ii) 50,000,000 shares of blank check common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated as “Series A Preferred Stock” and are reserved for issuance under Ashford (DE)’s stockholder rights plan, and the remaining 48,000,000 shares remain undesignated;

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (MD) has authority to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Ashford (MD) Common Stock ”), of which 1,000 shares are issued and outstanding and owned by Ashford (DE);

 

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD) have determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of such corporations and their stockholders that Ashford (DE) merge with and into Ashford (MD) with Ashford (MD) surviving upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Merger (as defined below) is, among other things, to change the state of incorporation of the parent company to enable it to avail itself of the advantages that the corporate laws of the State of Maryland afford to companies incorporated in Maryland and to align the jurisdiction of organization of the parent company with the jurisdiction of the real estate investment trusts that it manages;

 

WHEREAS, Ashford (MD) is a newly formed corporation organized to effect the Merger (as defined below) and, prior to such transaction, shall hold no assets other than those incident to its formation;

 

WHEREAS, for United States federal income tax purposes, the parties hereto intend the Merger (as defined below) to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of

 



 

Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Ashford (DE) has approved this Agreement in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”); and

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Ashford (MD) and Ashford (DE), in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Ashford (MD), have approved this Agreement by execution of a written consent in accordance with Section 2-505 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “ MGCL ”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements and covenants herein contained, Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD) hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Merger; Effective Time .  Ashford (DE) shall be merged with and into Ashford (MD) (the “ Merger ”) in accordance with Section 253 of the DGCL and Section 3-102 of the MGCL such that Ashford (MD) shall be the surviving corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “ Surviving Corporation ”).  The Merger shall become effective on the date and at the time (the “ Effective Time ”) specified in Articles of Merger complying with Section 3-109 of the MGCL and in a Certificate of Ownership and Merger complying with the Section 253 of the DGCL, or in a single document meeting the applicable requirements of the MGCL and the DGCL, executed and acknowledged on behalf of Ashford (MD) and Ashford (DE) in accordance with the requirements of the MGCL and the DGCL, respectively, each as filed with the Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland and the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, respectively.

 

2.                                       Governing Documents . The charter of Ashford (MD) shall be amended and restated in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and as so amended and restated shall be the charter of the Surviving Corporation without change or amendment until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable law. The Bylaws in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B shall be adopted as the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation without change or amendment until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable law.

 

3.                                       Directors .  The persons who are directors of Ashford (DE) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, without change until their successors have been duly elected and qualified in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

 

4.                                       Officers .  The persons who are officers of Ashford (DE) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, without change until their successors have been duly elected and qualified in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

 

5.                                       Succession .  At the Effective Time, in accordance with DGCL, the separate corporate existence of Ashford (DE) shall cease and (i) all the rights, privileges, powers and franchises of a public and private nature of each of the Constituent Corporations, subject to all the restrictions, disabilities and duties of each of the Constituent Corporations; (ii) all assets,

 

2



 

property, real, personal and mixed, belonging to each of the Constituent Corporations; and (iii) all debts due to each of the Constituent Corporations on whatever account, including stock subscriptions and all other things in action, in each case, shall succeed to, be vested in and become the property of the Surviving Corporation without any further act or deed as they were of the respective Constituent Corporations.  The title to any real estate vested by deed or otherwise and any other asset, in either of such Constituent Corporations, shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the Merger, but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of Ashford (DE) shall be preserved unimpaired.  To the extent permitted by law, any claim existing or action or proceeding pending by or against either of the Constituent Corporations may be prosecuted as if the Merger had not taken place.  All debts, liabilities and duties of the respective Constituent Corporations shall thenceforth attach to the Surviving Corporation and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if such debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.  All corporate acts, plans, policies, agreements, arrangements, approvals and authorizations of Ashford (DE), its stockholders, board of directors and committees thereof, officers and agents that were valid and effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be taken for all purposes as the acts, plans, policies, agreements, arrangements, approvals and authorizations of the Surviving Corporation and shall be as effective and binding thereon as the same were with respect to Ashford (DE).  The employees and agents of Ashford (DE) shall become the employees and agents of the Surviving Corporation and continue to be entitled to the same rights and benefits that they enjoyed as employees and agents of Ashford (DE).

 

6.                                       Further Assurances .  From time to time, as and when required by the Surviving Corporation or by its successors or assigns, there shall be executed and delivered on behalf of Ashford (DE) such deeds and other instruments, and there shall be taken or caused to be taken by it all such further and other action, as shall be appropriate, advisable or necessary in order to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise, in the Surviving Corporation the title to and possession of all property, interests, assets, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises and authority of Ashford (DE), and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.  The officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation are fully authorized in the name and on behalf of Ashford (DE) or otherwise, to take any and all such action and to execute and deliver any and all such deeds and other instruments.

 

7.                                       Conversion of Shares .  At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof:

 

(i)                                      each share of Ashford (DE) Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be changed and converted into one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Ashford (MD) Common Stock;

 

(ii)                                   each option to purchase or other right to acquire shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time under Ashford (DE)’s 2014 Incentive Plan (the “ 2014 Incentive Plan ”), whether or not then vested or exercisable, shall be converted into an option to purchase or other right to acquire, upon the same terms and conditions (including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting terms and settlement schedule, as applicable, of the option or right), the number of shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock that is equal to the number of shares

 

3



 

of Ashford (DE) Common Stock underlying such option or other right immediately prior to the Effective Time; and

 

(iii)                                each share of Ashford (MD) Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by Ashford (DE) shall be cancelled, without any consideration being issued or paid therefor, and shall resume the status of authorized and unissued shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock, and no shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock or other securities of the Surviving Corporation shall be issued in respect thereof.

 

Prior to the Effective Time, Ashford (DE) or its board of directors or a committee thereof, as applicable, shall pass resolutions and take any actions as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of Section 7(ii)  and Section 8 .  After the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall reflect in its stock ledger the number of shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock to which each stockholder of Ashford (DE) is entitled pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

8.                                       Conversion of Plans .  The 2014 Incentive Plan shall remain in full force and effect as in effect at the Effective Time; provided, however, that the 2014 Incentive Plan shall be amended effective immediately following the Effective Time such that all references to shares of Ashford (DE) shall be made references to Ashford (MD).

 

9.                                       Fractional Shares .  No fractional shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock shall be issued upon the conversion of any shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock.

 

10.                                Certain Common Stock Rights . All shares of Ashford (MD) Common Stock into which shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock shall have been converted pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such converted shares.  At the Effective Time, the holders shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such stock, and their sole rights shall be with respect to Ashford (MD) Common Stock into which their shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock have been converted as provided in this Agreement.  At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of Ashford (DE) shall be closed, and no transfer of shares of Ashford (DE) Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall thereafter be made or consummated.

 

11.                                Conditions .  Consummation of the Merger and related transactions is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions prior to the Effective Time:

 

(i)                                      The Merger must have been approved by the requisite vote of stockholders of Ashford (DE) and all other necessary action must have taken place to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD).

 

(ii)                                   All regulatory approvals necessary in connection with the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby must have been obtained.

 

12.                                Section 16 .  The boards of directors of Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD), or a committee of non-employee directors thereof (as such term is defined for purposes of

 

4



 

Rule 16b-3(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ Exchange Act ”)), shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any dispositions of or other transactions in Ashford (DE) Common Stock and any acquisitions of or other transactions in Ashford (MD) Common Stock pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by any person who is an officer or director of Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD), respectively, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD), respectively, to be exempt from liability pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

13.                                Termination; Amendment .  This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned or deferred by either Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD) by appropriate resolution of the board of directors of either Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD) at any time prior to the Effective Time notwithstanding approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD), or both, if circumstances arise which, in the opinion of the board of directors of Ashford (DE) or Ashford (MD) make the Merger inadvisable or such deferral of the time of consummation of the Merger advisable. Subject to applicable law and subject to the rights of the stockholders to approve any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the stockholders, this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented by written agreement of the parties hereto at any time prior to the Effective Time with respect to any of the terms contained herein.

 

14.                                Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and each such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

 

15.                                Descriptive Headings .  The descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

16.                                Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without giving effect to the choice or conflict of law provisions contained therein to the extent that the application of the laws of another jurisdiction will be required thereby.

 

17.                                Plan of Reorganization .  This Agreement is hereby adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g).  Each party hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify, and will not knowingly take any actions or cause any actions to be taken which could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

[Signature follow on the next page]

 

5



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ashford (DE) and Ashford (MD) have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

 

Ashford Inc., a Delaware Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer and

 

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

 

Ashford Inc., a Maryland corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer and

 

 

 

General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 


EXHIBIT 10.2

 

AMENDMENT, WAIVER AND CONSENT AGREEMENT

 

This  AMENDMENT, WAIVER AND CONSENT AGREEMENT  (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of October 28, 2016, is entered into by and among Archie Bennett, Jr. and Monty J. Bennett (collectively, the “ LP Transferors ”); Remington Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Target (the “ General Partner ”) (each of the LP Transferors and the General Partner individually, a “ Remington Holder ” and collectively, the “ Remington Holders ”); MJB Investments, LP (“ MJB Investments ”); Mark A. Sharkey (“ Sharkey ”); Remington Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Target ”); Ashford, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”); Ashford Advisors, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“ Newco ”); Remington Hospitality Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Newco (“ Newco Sub ”); Ashford GP Holdings I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Newco (“ GP Holdings I ”); and Remington GP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Newco Sub (“ GP Holdings ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into an Acquisition Agreement, dated as of September 17, 2015 (as amended, the “ Acquisition Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, Ashford Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Ashford Inc. ”), desires to become domiciled in the State of Maryland (whether through reincorporation, merger or conversion, the “ Reincorporation ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to consent to the Reincorporation, to waive any breach, right of termination, default or event of default arising under the Acquisition Agreement as a result of the Reincorporation and to amend the Acquisition Agreement to accommodate the Reincorporation; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to  Section 11.08  of the Acquisition Agreement, (i) the Acquisition Agreement may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each Party and (ii) any waiver by any Party must be explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the Party so waiving in order to be effective.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1.               Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Acquisition Agreement.

 

2.               Consent .  The Parties other than the Company hereby consent to the Reincorporation and, pursuant to Section 11.06 of the Acquisition Agreement, the assignment by operation of law of the Company’s rights and obligations under the Acquisition Agreement to its successor domiciled in the State of Maryland.

 

3.               Waiver . As of the date first written above (the “ Effective Date ”), the Parties other than the Company hereby irrevocably and forever waive any breach, right of termination, default or event of default arising under the Acquisition Agreement as a result of the Reincorporation to the extent such breach, termination right, default or event of default arises or would arise as a result of the Reincorporation.

 

4.               Amendment .  Pursuant to  Section 11.08  of the Acquisition Agreement, in connection with and to accommodate the Reincorporation, the Acquisition Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

a.               The following definition is hereby added to the Acquisition Agreement:

 

“‘ MGCL ’ means the Maryland General Corporation Law.”

 



 

b.               Section 4.01 of the Acquisition Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows (words that are struck through are deleted and words that are double underlined are added):

 

“The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the state of Delaware State of Maryland and has full corporate power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry out its business as it is currently conducted.  The Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, to carry out its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to consummate the Transactions.  The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business as currently conducted makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which the Company is a party, the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company, except for approval of the stockholders of the Company as required under the DGCL MGCL and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).  When the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is or will be a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Company (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties thereto), such Transaction Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).”

 

c.                Section 4.06 of the Acquisition Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows (words that are struck through are deleted and words that are double underlined are added):

 

“Since the date of the Company Balance Sheet, except in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement , and the consummation of the Transactions and the domiciliation of the Company in the State of Maryland from the State of Delaware , the business of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course of business and there has not been or occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect or any event, condition, change or effect that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.”

 



 

5.               Effect on Agreement .  Upon execution of this Agreement, each reference in the Acquisition Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein” or words of similar import, and each similar reference in any document related thereto, or executed in connection therewith, shall mean and be a reference to the Acquisition Agreement as amended by this Agreement, and the Acquisition Agreement and this Agreement shall be read together and construed as one single instrument.

 

6.               Miscellaneous . Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, all of the terms and provisions of the Acquisition Agreement are and will remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and confirmed by the Parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the waiver contained herein will not be construed as a waiver of any other provision of the Acquisition Agreement or as a waiver of or consent to any further or future action on the part of any Party that would require the waiver or consent of any other Party. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule or any other principle that could require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which is deemed an original, but all of which constitutes one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement electronically or by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

[ SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW ]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed to be effective as of the date first written above.

 

 

/s/ Archie Bennett, Jr.

 

Archie Bennett, Jr.

 

 

 

/s/ Monty J. Bennett

 

Monty J. Bennett

 

 

 

 

 

REMINGTON HOLDINGS, LP

 

 

 

By: REMINGTON HOLDINGS GP, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Archie Bennett, Jr.

 

Name:

Archie Bennett, Jr.

 

Title:

Member

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Monty J. Bennett

 

Name:

Monty J. Bennett

 

Title:

Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMINGTON HOLDINGS GP, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Archie Bennett, Jr.

 

Name:

Archie Bennett, Jr.

 

Title:

Member

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Monty J. Bennett

 

Name:

Monty J. Bennett

 

Title:

Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASHFORD, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASHFORD ADVISORS, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer

 

Signature Page to Amendment, Waiver and Consent

 



 

 

REMINGTON HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MJB INVESTMENTS, LP

 

 

 

By: MJB Investments GP, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Monty J. Bennett

 

Name:

Monty J. Bennett

 

Title:

Sole Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mark A. Sharkey

 

Mark A. Sharkey

 

 

 

 

 

ASHFORD GP HOLDINGS I, LLC

 

 

 

By: Ashford Advisors, Inc., its sole member

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMINGTON GP HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

By: Remington Hospitality Management, Inc., its sole member

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Brooks

 

Name:

David A. Brooks

 

Title:

Chief Operating Officer

 

Signature Page to Amendment, Waiver and Consent