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): March 15, 2018

 


 

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

QualityTech, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Maryland (QTS Realty Trust, Inc.)
Delaware (QualityTech, LP)

 

001-36109
333-201810

 

46-2809094
27-0707288

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

12851 Foster Street
Overland Park, KS

 

66213

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (913) 814-9988

 

Not Applicable

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

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01.  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On March 15, 2018, QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”), in its capacity as general partner of QualityTech, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of October 15, 2013 (the “Partnership Agreement”). The Amendment classified, designated and authorized the issuance of 4,600,000 Series A preferred units of limited partnership interest, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit (the “Series A Preferred Units”), to the Company. The Series A Preferred Units have economic terms that are substantially similar to the Company’s 7.125% Series A cumulative redeemable perpetual preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”), issued and described below.

 

A copy of the Amendment is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein. The summary of the Amendment set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 10.1.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities

 

In connection with the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock described below, on March 15, 2018 the Operating Partnership issued to the Company 4,280,000 Series A Preferred Units, which have economic terms that are substantially similar to the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock described below.  The Series A Preferred Units were issued in exchange for the Company’s contribution of the net offering proceeds of the offering of the Series A Preferred Stock to the Operating Partnership. If the Series A Preferred Stock are converted into shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, the Operating Partnership will convert an equal number of Series A Preferred Units into common limited partner interests in the Operating Partnership. If shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted into consideration other than Class A common stock of the Company, the Operating Partnership will retire an equal number of Series A Preferred Units. The terms of conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock are described in the Articles Supplementary to the Company’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the “Articles Supplementary”) filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2018 and incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02 as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The issuance of the Series A Preferred Units by the Operating Partnership to the Company is exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as a transaction not involving a public offering.

 

Item 3.03. Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders

 

On March 14, 2018, the Company filed, with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland, the Articles Supplementary pursuant to which the Company has classified and designated 4,600,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, as Series A Preferred Stock. The Articles Supplementary became effective on March 15, 2018. The Series A Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company’s Class A common stock as to the payment of distributions or amounts paid upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. Each holder of Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to receive a liquidation preference, which is equal to $25.00 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus any accrued and unpaid distributions to, but not including, the date of the payment, before the holders of shares of Common Stock, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary. Furthermore, subject to certain exceptions, including to the extent necessary to maintain the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company is restricted from declaring or paying any distributions, or setting aside any funds for the payment of distributions, on shares of Common Stock unless full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Stock have been declared and either paid or set aside for payment in full for all past distribution periods.  A summary of the material terms of the Series A Preferred Stock is set forth below under Item 5.03 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

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

 

On March, 14, 2018, the Company filed, with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland, the Articles Supplementary pursuant to which the Company has classified and designated 4,600,000 of

 

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the Company’s authorized shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, as Series A Preferred Stock. The Articles Supplementary became effective on March 15, 2018. A description of the material terms of the Series A Preferred Stock, as contained within the Articles Supplementary, is set forth below:

 

Issuer:

 

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

 

 

 

Security:

 

7.125% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock.

 

 

 

No Maturity:

 

Perpetual (unless repurchased or redeemed by the Issuer on or after March 15, 2023 or pursuant to its special optional redemption right, or converted by a holder in connection with a Change of Control (defined below)).

 

 

 

Liquidation Preference:

 

$25.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

 

 

 

Dividend Rate:

 

Holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock at the rate of 7.125% per annum of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference, which is equivalent to $1.78125 per annum per share.

 

 

 

Dividend Payment Dates:

 

Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will be payable quarterly in arrears on or about the 15th day of each January, April, July and October. The first dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock sold in this offering will be paid on April 15, 2018 and will be in the amount of $0.14844 per share.

 

 

 

Optional Redemption:

 

Except in instances relating to preservation of the Company’s qualification as a REIT or pursuant to the Company’s special optional redemption right discussed below, the Series A Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to March 15, 2023. On and after March 15, 2023, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole, at any time, or in part, from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) to, but not including, the date of redemption.

 

 

 

Special Optional Redemption:

 

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), the Company will have the option to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole, at any time, or in part, from time to time, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control has occurred for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) to, but not including, the redemption date. To the extent that the Company exercises its special optional redemption right relating to the Series A Preferred Stock, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not be permitted to exercise the conversion right described below in respect of their shares called for redemption.

 

 

 

Change of Control:

 

A “Change of Control” is when, after the original issuance of the Series A Preferred Shares, the following have occurred and are continuing:

 

 

·

the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of shares of the Company’s capital stock entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors (except that such person will be

 

3



 

 

 

 

deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

 

 

 

 

 

·

following the closing of any transaction referred to in the bullet point above, neither the Company nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or ADRs representing such common securities) listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the NYSE Amex Equities (the “NYSE AMEX”) or the NASDAQ Stock Market (the “NASDAQ”) or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or NASDAQ.

 

 

 

Conversion Rights:

 

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined above), holders will have the right (unless the Company has elected to exercise its special optional redemption right to redeem their Series A Preferred Stock) to convert some or all of such holder’s Series A Preferred Stock into a number of shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the $25.00 liquidation preference plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) to, but not including, the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a record date for a Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment and prior to the corresponding Series A Preferred Stock dividend payment date, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividend will be included in this sum) by (ii) the Common Stock Price; and (B) 1.46229 (i.e., the Share Cap), subject, in each case, to certain adjustments and provisions for the receipt of alternative consideration of equivalent value as described in the prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

 

If the Company has provided a redemption notice with respect to some or all of the Series A Preferred Stock, holders of any Series A Preferred Stock that the Company has called for redemption will not be permitted to exercise their Change of Control Conversion Right in respect of any of their shares of Series A Preferred Stock that have been called for redemption, and any Series A Preferred Stock subsequently called for redemption that has been tendered for conversion will be redeemed on the applicable date of redemption instead of converted on the Change of Control Conversion Date.

 

The summary set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the Articles Supplementary included as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2018 and incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03 as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits .

 

(d) Exhibits .

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Articles Supplementary designating QTS Realty Trust, Inc.’s 7.125% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, $0.01 par value per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed on March 15, 2018)

 

 

 

10.1

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement of QualityTech, LP

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Date: March 20, 2018

 

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Shirley E. Goza

 

 

 

Shirley E. Goza

 

 

 

Secretary, Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

 

Date: March 20, 2018

 

QualityTech, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

 

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Shirley E. Goza

 

 

 

Shirley E. Goza

 

 

 

Secretary, Vice President and General Counsel

 

5


Exhibit  10.1

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

QUALITYTECH, LP

 

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (this “ Amendment ”), dated as of March 15, 2018, is entered into by QTS Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, as the general partner (the “ Company ”) of QualityTech, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), pursuant to the authority granted to the Company in the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of QualityTech, LP, dated as of October 15, 2013 (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), for the purpose of classifying, designating, establishing and issuing additional Partnership Units in the form of Series A Preferred Partnership Units (as defined below). Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, a Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of the Company, acting pursuant to authorization from the Board, adopted resolutions by unanimous written consent on March 8, 2018 classifying and designating 4,600,000 shares of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company (the “ Charter ”)) as Series A Preferred Stock (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the classification by the Pricing Committee, the Company filed the Series A Articles Supplementary (as defined below) to the Charter with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland, effective on March 14, 2018, establishing the Series A Preferred Stock, with such preferences, rights, powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as described in the Series A Articles Supplementary;

 

WHEREAS, on March 15, 2018, the Company issued 4,280,000 shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, and as of the date hereof, the Company is authorized to issue an additional 320,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that, in connection with the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, it is necessary and desirable to amend the Partnership Agreement to create additional Partnership Units in the form of Series A Preferred Partnership Units (as defined below) having such preferences, rights, powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption which are substantially the same as the economic rights of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the Company hereby amends the Partnership Agreement as follows:

 

Section 1.   Article 1 of the Partnership Agreement is hereby amended to add the following definitions:

 

Series A Articles Supplementary ” shall mean the Articles Supplementary Establishing

 



 

and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of a Series of Preferred Stock, designating the rights and preferences of the 7.125% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, filed as part of the Company’s Charter with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland, effective on March 14, 2018.

 

Series A Preferred Partnership Interests ” shall mean an ownership interest in the Partnership evidenced by the Series A Preferred Partnership Units, having a preference in payment of distributions or on liquidation as set forth in this Amendment.

 

Series A Preferred Partnership Units ” shall mean the series of Preferred Partnership Units established pursuant to this Amendment, representing a fractional, undivided share of the Series A Preferred Partnership Interests of all Partners issued under the Partnership Agreement.

 

Series A Preferred Stock ” shall mean the 7.125% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock of the Company, with such preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption as described in the Series A Articles Supplementary.

 

Section 2 . In accordance with Section 4.2 of the Partnership Agreement, set forth in Exhibit J hereto are the terms and conditions of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units hereby classified, designated, established and issued to the Company in consideration of its contribution to the Partnership of the proceeds of the issuance and sale of the Series A Preferred Stock by the Company. The Partnership Agreement hereby is amended to incorporate such Exhibit as Exhibit J thereto to reflect the issuance of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units.

 

Section 3 . Except as modified herein, all terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, which terms and conditions the Company hereby ratifies and confirms.

 

Section 4 . This Amendment shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of law.

 

Section 5 . If any provision of this Amendment is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank, signature page follows.]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement of QualityTech, LP as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

 

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

 

QTS Realty Trust, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Shirley E. Goza

 

 

Shirley E. Goza

 

 

Secretary and General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement

of Limited Partnership of QualityTech LP]

 



 

EXHIBIT J

DESIGNATION OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF

SERIES A PREFERRED PARTNERSHIP UNITS

 

A. Designation and Number . A series of Preferred Partnership Units, designated as Series A Preferred Partnership Units, is hereby established. The number of Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall be 4,600,000.

 

B. Rank . The Series A Preferred Partnership Units will, with respect to rights to receive distributions and to participate in distributions or payments upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, rank (a) senior to the Common Partnership Units and any other Partnership Units of the Partnership, now or hereafter issued and outstanding, the terms of which provide that such Partnership Units rank, as to distributions and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, junior to such Series A Preferred Partnership Units (“ Junior Units ”), (b) on a parity with any other Partnership Units of the Partnership, that the Company may authorize or issue in the future that, pursuant to the terms thereof, rank on parity with the Series A Preferred Partnership Units with respect to the payment of dividends and the distributions of assets in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership (“ Parity Units ”); and (c) junior to all Partnership Units of the Partnership  that the Company may authorize or issue in the future, that pursuant to the terms thereof, rank senior to the Series A Preferred Partnership Units with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership (“ Senior Units ”).

 

C. Distributions .

 

(i) Subject to the rights of holders of any Preferred Partnership Units ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Partnership Units as to the payment of distributions, the Company, in its capacity as the holder of the then outstanding Series A Preferred Partnership Units, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by the Company, out of funds legally available for payment of distributions, cumulative cash distributions at the rate of 7.125% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference of each Series A Preferred Partnership Unit (equivalent to $1.78125 per annum per Series A Preferred Partnership Unit).

 

(ii) Distributions on each outstanding Series A Preferred Partnership Unit shall be cumulative from and including March 15, 2018 (the “ Original Issuance Date ”)  and shall be payable (i) for the period from the Original Issuance Date to April 14, 2018, on April 15, 2018, and (ii) for each quarterly distribution period thereafter, quarterly in equal amounts in arrears on the 15th of each January, April, July and October, (each such day being hereinafter called a “ Series A Distribution Payment Date ”) at the then applicable annual rate; provided, however, that if any Series A Distribution Payment Date falls on any day other than a Business Day (as defined in the Series A Articles Supplementary), the distribution which would otherwise have been payable on such Series A Distribution Payment Date may be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if paid on such Series A Distribution Payment Date, and no interest or other sums shall accrue on the amount so payable from such Series A Distribution Payment Date to such next succeeding Business Day. The period from and including the Original Issue Date but excluding April 15, 2018, and each subsequent period from and including April 15, 2018 or a Series A distribution Payment Date, is hereafter called a “ Dividend Period .” Each distribution is payable to holders of record as they appear on the Partnership Unit records of the Partnership at the close of business on the record date, not exceeding 30 days preceding the

 



 

applicable Series A Distribution Payment Date, as shall be fixed by the Company. Distributions shall accumulate from the Original Issue Date or the most recent Series A Distribution Payment Date to which distribution have been paid, whether or not there shall be funds legally available for the payment of such distributions, whether the Partnership has earnings or whether such distributions are authorized. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any distribution payment or payments on the Series A Preferred Partnership Units that may be in arrears. Holders of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall not be entitled to any distributions, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full cumulative distributions, as herein provided, on the Series A Preferred Partnership Units. Distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Partnership Units for any period greater or less than a full distribution period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Partnership Units for each full distribution period will be computed by dividing the applicable annual distribution rate by four. After full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Partnership Units have been paid or declared and funds therefor set aside for payment with respect to a distribution period, the holders of Series A Preferred Partnership Units will not be entitled to any further distributions with respect to that distribution period.

 

(iii) So long as any Series A Preferred Partnership Units are outstanding, no distributions, except as described in the immediately following sentence, shall be authorized and declared or paid or set apart for payment on any series or class or classes of Parity Units for any period unless full cumulative distributions have been declared and paid or are contemporaneously declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such payment on the Series A Preferred Partnership Units for all prior distribution periods. When distributions are not paid in full or a sum sufficient for such payment is not set apart, as aforesaid, all distributions authorized and declared upon the Series A Preferred Partnership Units and all distributions authorized and declared upon any other series or class or classes of Parity Units shall be authorized and declared ratably in proportion to the respective amounts of distributions accumulated and unpaid on the Series A Preferred Partnership Units and such Parity Units.

 

(iv) So long as any Series A Preferred Partnership Units are outstanding, no distributions (other than distributions paid solely in Junior Units of, or in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase, Junior Units) shall be authorized and declared or paid or set apart for payment or other distribution authorized and declared or made upon Junior Units, nor shall any Junior Units be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired (other than a redemption, purchase or other acquisition of Partnership Units made for purposes of and in compliance with requirements of an employee incentive or benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary, or a conversion into or exchange for Junior Units or redemptions for the purpose of preserving the Company’s qualification as a REIT (as defined in the Charter), or redemptions of Partnership Units pursuant to Article 8 of the Partnership Agreement), for any consideration (or any monies to be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such units) by the Partnership, directly or indirectly (except by conversion into or exchange for Junior Units), unless in each case full cumulative distributions on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Partnership Units and any Parity Units at the time such distributions are payable shall have been paid or set apart for payment for all past distribution periods with respect to the Series A Preferred Partnership Units and all past distribution periods with respect to such Parity Units.

 

(v) Any distribution payment made on the Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid distribution due with respect to such Units which remains payable.

 



 

(vi) Except as provided herein, the Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall not be entitled to participate in the earnings or assets of the Partnership.

 

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

 

(viii) As used herein, the term “distribution” does not include distributions payable solely in Junior Units on Junior Units, or in options, warrants or rights to holders of Junior Units to subscribe for or purchase any Junior Units.

 

D. Liquidation Preference .

 

(i) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, whether voluntary or involuntary, before any payment or distribution of the assets of the Partnership shall be made to or set apart for the holders of Junior Units, the holders of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall be entitled to receive $25 per Unit (the “ Liquidation Preference ”) plus an amount per Unit equal to all distributions (whether or not earned or declared) accumulated and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the date of final distribution to such holders; but such holders of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall not be entitled to any further payment. If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, the assets of the Partnership, or proceeds thereof, distributable among the holders of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount aforesaid and liquidating payments on any other Parity Units, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the holders of such Series A Preferred Partnership Units and any such other Parity Units ratably in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such Series A Preferred Partnership Units and any such other Parity Units if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. For the purposes of this Section D , none of (i) a consolidation or merger of the Partnership with one or more entities, (ii) a statutory Unit exchange or (iii) a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, of the Partnership.

 

(ii) Until payment shall have been made in full to the holders of Series A Preferred Partnership Units, as provided in this Section D, and to the holders of Parity Units, subject to any terms and provisions applying thereto, no payment will be made to any holder of Junior Units, upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership.  Subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Units, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units, as provided in this Section D , any series or class or classes of Junior Units shall be entitled to receive, subject to any respective terms and provisions applying thereto, any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall not be entitled to share therein.

 

E. Redemption . In connection with the redemption by the Company of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with the provisions of the Series A Articles Supplementary, the Partnership shall provide cash to the Company for such purpose which shall be equal to the redemption price (as set forth in the Series A Articles Supplementary), plus all plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock (whether or not declared), to, but not including, the redemption date, and one Series A Preferred Partnership Unit shall be concurrently redeemed with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock so redeemed by the Company. From and after the

 



 

applicable redemption date, the Series A Preferred Partnership Units so redeemed shall no longer be outstanding and all rights hereunder, to distributions or otherwise, with respect to such Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall cease. Any Series A Preferred Partnership Units so redeemed may be reissued to the Company at such time as the Company issues or reissues a corresponding number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in exchange for the contribution by the Company to the Partnership of the proceeds from such reissuance.

 

F. Voting Rights . Except as required by applicable law or the Partnership Agreement, the holder of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units, as such, shall have no voting rights.

 

G. Conversion . The Series A Preferred Partnership Units are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Partnership, except as provided herein.

 

(i) In the event of a conversion of any Series A Preferred Stock into Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”), in accordance with the Series A Articles Supplementary, upon conversion of such Series A Preferred Stock, the Partnership shall convert an equal whole number of the Series A Preferred Partnership Units into Common Partnership Units as such shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted into shares of Common Stock. In the event of a conversion of any Series A Preferred Stock into consideration other than Common Stock in accordance with the Series A Articles Supplementary, the Partnership shall retire a number of Series A Preferred Partnership Units equal to the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock converted into such other form of consideration. In the event of a conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock into Common Stock, to the extent the Company is required to pay cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Series A Articles Supplementary in connection with such conversion, the Partnership shall distribute an equal amount of cash to the Company.

 

(ii) Following any such conversion retirement by the Partnership pursuant to this Section G , the Company shall make such revisions to the Partnership Agreement as it determines are necessary to reflect such conversion.

 

H. Restriction on Ownership . The Series A Preferred Partnership Units shall be owned and held solely by the Company.

 

I. Allocations . Allocations of the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall be allocated pro rata among holders of Series A Preferred Partnership Units in accordance with Article VI of the Partnership Agreement.

 

* * *

 

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