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): February 4, 2017
New York
REIT, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Maryland | 001-36416 | 27-1065431 |
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
(Commission
File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
405 Park Avenue, 14
th
Floor
New York, New York 10022
(Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 415-6500
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Amendment to Settlement Agreement
On February 4, 2017, New York REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to a Settlement Agreement dated as of October 23, 2016 (as amended from time to time, the “Settlement Agreement”) with WW Investors LLC, Michael L. Ashner and Steven C. Witkoff (collectively, “WW Investors”). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, James Hoffmann and Gregory Hughes were elected to serve as independent directors on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), and to serve on the audit committee of the Board and the compensation committee of the Board, respectively. As described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) on October 24, 2016, the Settlement Agreement provides that, if either of Messrs. Hoffmann and Hughes resigns from the Board, WW Investors has certain rights until no earlier than December 31, 2017 to recommend replacement directors who are independent under the applicable standards in the Settlement Agreement. The election to the Board of any replacement director recommended by WW Investors pursuant to the Settlement Agreement is subject to such replacement director being first recommended by the nominating and corporate governance committee of the Board (the “NCG Committee”) and subsequently approved by the Board in their sole discretion.
On January 30, 2017, Mr. Hoffmann resigned from the Board.
Pursuant to the Amendment, the Settlement Agreement was modified to permit WW Investors to recommend Wendy Silverstein as a replacement director, notwithstanding the fact that she is not independent under the applicable standards in the Settlement Agreement, provided that the NCG Committee has previously advised WW Investors that it intends to waive the applicable standards in connection with her candidacy. In addition, if Ms. Silverstein is elected as a director, the Amendment provides that she may not be appointed to any of the current standing committees of the Board, all of which are comprised exclusively of independent directors.
As described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2016, Winthrop REIT Advisors, LLC (“Service Provider”), an affiliate of WW Investors, has entered into a Services Agreement dated as of December 19, 2016 (“Services Agreement”) with the Company, pursuant to which the Service Provider currently serves as exclusive advisor to the Company with respect to all matters primarily related to the Company’s previously announced plan of liquidation (and as a consultant to the Company on other matters), and, on the Transition Date, will replace the Company’s current advisor as the exclusive advisor to the Company with respect to all matters. The “Transition Date” will occur upon the earlier of (i) three business days after written notice from the independent directors of the Board to the Company’s current advisor, following the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 with the SEC, but not earlier than March 3, 2017, and (ii) April 1, 2017.
There are no material relationships between WW Investors and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, other than as described herein and in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2016.
The foregoing description of the terms of the Amendment is a summary of the material terms of the Amendment and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Amendment, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
Agreement with Ms. Silverstein
The information under the caption “Agreement with Ms. Silverstein” in Item 5.02 is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Appointment Wendy Silverstein as Director
On February 4, 2017, Ms. Silverstein was recommended as a replacement director by WW Investors pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement as modified by the Amendment, and she was thereafter elected to the Board to serve as a director until the Company’s 2017 annual meeting and until her successor is duly elected and qualifies.
A corporation in which Ms. Silverstein is the sole shareholder is a party to a consulting agreement with the Service Provider pursuant to which she receives a consulting fee for providing services in connection with the services provided by the Service Provider pursuant to the Services Agreement and is entitled to receive 50% of any Incentive Fee (as defined in the Services Agreement) that may be payable to the Service Provider pursuant to the Services Agreement. Pursuant to the Services Agreement, the Company has agreed to appoint Ms. Silverstein as the chief executive officer of the Company on the Transition Date. Ms. Silverstein does not own any shares of common stock of the Company or other securities of the Company and, as a non-independent director, will not receive any compensation for serving as a director. Except for the transactions contemplated by the Services Agreement, which are described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2016, there are no transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K in which the Company was or is to be a participant and in which Ms. Silverstein had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Agreement with Ms. Silverstein
On February 4, 2017, the Company entered into an indemnification agreement (the “Indemnification Agreement”) with Ms. Silverstein (in such capacity, the “Indemnitee”) in connection with her election as a director of the Company. The Indemnification Agreement provides that the Company will indemnify the Indemnitee, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the limitations set forth in the Indemnification Agreement, from and against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and expenses reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee that may result or arise in connection with the Indemnitee serving in her capacity as a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company. The Indemnification Agreement further provides that, subject to the limitations set forth in the Indemnification Agreement, the Company will, without requiring a preliminary determination of the Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement of indemnification under the Indemnification Agreement, advance all reasonable expenses to the Indemnitee incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any proceeding to which the Indemnitee is or is threatened to be made a party.
The Indemnification Agreement provides that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that her conduct was unlawful. The Indemnification Agreement further limits the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification in cases where (a) the proceeding was one by or in the right of the Company and the Indemnitee was adjudged to be liable to the Company, (b) the Indemnitee was adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received in any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to such Indemnitee or (c) the proceeding was brought by the Indemnitee, except in certain circumstances.
The Indemnification Agreement also provides that, except for a proceeding brought by the Indemnitee, the Company has the right to defend the Indemnitee in any proceeding which may give rise to indemnification under the Indemnification Agreement. The Indemnification Agreement grants the Indemnitee the right to separate counsel in certain proceedings involving separate defenses, counterclaims or other conflicts of interest and in proceedings in which the Company fails to assume the defense of the Indemnitee in a timely manner. The Indemnification Agreement further provides that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire directors and officers liability insurance covering the Indemnitee or any claim made against the Indemnitee by reason of her service to the Company.
The foregoing description of the terms of the Indemnification Agreement is a summary of the material terms of the Indemnification Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Indemnification Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On February 6, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing the election of Ms. Silverstein to the Board, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. | Description | |
10.1 | Amendment No. 2, dated as of February 4, 2017, to the Settlement Agreement by and among New York REIT, Inc., WW Investors LLC, Michael L. Ashner and Steven C. Witkoff | |
10.2 | Indemnification Agreement, dated February 4, 2017, between New York REIT, Inc. and Wendy Silverstein | |
99.1 | Press Release dated February 6, 2017 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: February 6, 2017 | NEW YORK REIT, INC. | |
By: | /s/ Michael A. Happel | |
Michael A. Happel | ||
Chief Executive Officer and President |
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Reference is made to the Settlement Agreement, dated as of October 23, 2016 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of November 22, 2016, the “ Agreement ”), by and among WW Investors LLC, Michael L. Ashner and Steven Witkoff (collectively, the “ WW Investors ”) and New York REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”). Unless otherwise defined in this Amendment No. 2, capitalized terms have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2017, Hoffmann resigned from the Board;
WHEREAS, the Agreement contemplates, among other things, that Hoffmann will serve on the Board and that WW Investors will have certain rights to recommend a Replacement Director if Hoffman resigns;
WHEREAS, in light of Hoffmann’s resignation, the Company and the WW Investors desire to amend the Agreement to provide for the possibility of including Wendy Silverstein as a potential Replacement Director;
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 14 of the Agreement, the Company and WW Investors agree as follows:
Section 1 Section 1(a)(ii) . Section 1(a)(ii) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
“The Company agrees that immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Board and all applicable committees of the Board shall take all necessary actions to (A) increase the size of the Board from six (6) members to nine (9) members, (B) appoint to the Board each of James Hoffmann (“ Hoffmann ”), Gregory Hughes (“ Hughes ” and together with Hoffman, the “New WW Appointees”) and Craig T. Bouchard, and (C) opt out of Section 3-803 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended (“ Section 3-803 ”); provided that the Company may thereafter elect to be subject to Section 3-803 conditioned upon the approval thereof by stockholders of the Company by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. So long as WW Investors is not in breach of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 1(c)(vii) hereof (the “ Requirements ”), (x) each New WW Appointee shall stand for election to the Board at the 2016 Annual Meeting, together with the Company’s other nominees (as determined by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “ Governance Committee ”), but subject to the approval of the Board, at least eight (8) of whom will be independent (unless Wendy Silverstein is elected to the Board, in which event at least seven (7) of whom shall be independent), as defined in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual (the “ NYSE Company Manual ”) and (y) if any New WW Appointee should resign from the Board or be rendered unable to serve on the Board by reason of death or disability prior to the end of the Standstill Period (as defined below), then WW Investors shall be entitled to recommend a replacement nominee to the Governance Committee to fill the resulting vacancy, who shall meet the Governance Committee’s qualification and membership requirements and applicable independence standards (the “ Governance Committee Standards ”), including, without limitation, independence from WW Investors and its Affiliates and Associates, and other requirements of the Exchange Act (as defined below), the rules and regulations of the SEC (as defined below) and the listing standards for the New York Stock Exchange (or such other securities exchange on which the Common Stock shall be principally listed or traded), and shall not serve on the board of directors or similar governing body of any entity that is an Affiliate of or managed by WW Investors or any of its Affiliates or in which WW Investors or any of its Affiliates is not a passive investor (any such replacement nominee appointed to the Board in accordance with this Section 1(a)(ii) shall be referred to as a “ Replacement Director ”); provided, however, that WW Investors may recommend Wendy Silverstein as a Replacement Director, notwithstanding the fact that she does not meet the independence standards included in the Governance Committee Standards, provided that the Governance Committee has previously advised WW Investors that it intends to waive applicable provisions of the Governance Committee Standards in connection with her candidacy. The appointment of a Replacement Director to the Board shall be subject to the recommendation of the Governance Committee and approval of the Board in their sole discretion, after exercising their duties in good faith. In the event that the Governance Committee or the Board does not accept a person recommended by WW Investors as a Replacement Director, WW Investors shall have the right to recommend additional replacements to fill the resulting vacancy, whose appointment shall be subject to the recommendation of the Governance Committee and approval of the Board in accordance with the procedures described above. Any such Replacement Director shall be deemed to be a New WW Appointee for all purposes under this Agreement. The Company agrees that the number of directors on the Board shall not exceed nine (9) prior to the end of the Standstill Period, except in the event that the Board is expanded or subject to expansion in connection with the consummation of an equity financing that is approved by the Board.”
Section 2 Section 1(b) . Section 1(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
“ Committee Representation . Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Board will take all action necessary in furtherance of (i) the appointment of Hoffman to the Audit Committee of the Board, and (ii) the appointment of Hughes to the Compensation Committee of the Board. Such Committee appointments of Hoffman and Hughes shall continue so long as each of Hoffman and Hughes is a member of the Board or as such appointment is otherwise consented to by Hoffman and/or Hughes, respectively; and, if Hoffman and/or Hughes should resign from the Board or be rendered unable to serve on the Board by reason of death or disability prior to the end of the Standstill Period while serving on either the Audit Committee of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board, as applicable, then WW Investors shall be entitled to designate a Replacement Director to such Committee(s); provided, however, if Wendy Silverstein becomes a Replacement Director approved by the Board, she shall not be appointed to any of the Audit Committee of the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board, the Governance Committee or the Conflicts Committee of the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board and applicable committees of the Board may, but shall not be required to, consider either or both of the New WW Appointees for membership on any other committees of the Board (including any committees of the Board formed after the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that in no event shall either of the New WW Appointees serve on the Conflicts Committee of the Board or any other committee of the Board formed for the purpose of evaluating proposals made by any person or entity to serve as the Company’s external advisor or manager pursuant to the Company’s publicly announced request for proposals (the “ RFP ”). Until the expiration of the Standstill Period (as defined below), if at least one (1) of the New WW Appointees remains on the Board, the Company shall not establish an executive committee of the Board without the approval of such New WW Appointee or New WW Appointees if more than one (1) of the New WW Appointees remains on the Board.”
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Section 3 Effect on the Agreement . Except as modified by this Amendment No. 2, all of the terms of the Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain in full force and effect. Nothing in this Amendment No. 2 shall be construed to modify any provision of the Agreement other than those specifically amended as set forth above. This Amendment No. 2 shall be construed as one with the Agreement, and the Agreement shall, where the context requires, be read and construed so as to incorporate this Amendment No. 2.
Section 4 General Provisions . The terms and provisions of Sections 8 through 11 (inclusive) and Section 14 of the Agreement hereby are incorporated by reference as if set forth herein in their entirety and shall apply mutatis mutandis to this Amendment No. 2.
[ Signature Page Follows ]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Amendment as of February 4, 2017.
NEW YORK REIT, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Randolph C. Read | |
Name: Randolph C. Read | ||
Title: Chairman of the Board | ||
WW INVESTORS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Michael L. Ashner | |
Name: Michael L. Ashner | ||
Title: Member | ||
/s/ Michael L. Ashner | ||
Michael L. Ashner | ||
/s/ Steven Witkoff | ||
Steven Witkoff |
[Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to Settlement Agreement]
Exhibit 10.2
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of the February 4, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between New York REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and Wendy Silverstein (the “ Indemnitee ”).
WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves or has previously served as a director, officer or service provider of the Company and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result of his or her service; and
WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to indemnify and to advance expenses and costs incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings, to the maximum extent permitted by law; and
WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and advance of expenses.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “ Bylaws ” means the Bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time.
(b) “ Charter ” means the charter of the Company, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
(c) “ Change in Control ” means a change in control of the Company occurring after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of the combined voting power of all of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board of Directors ”) in office immediately prior to such person’s attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of liquidation or other reorganization not approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) at any time, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are not individuals (A) who were directors as of the Effective Date or (B) whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors then in office who were directors as of the Effective Date or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved.
(d) “ Corporate Status ” means the status of a person as a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company. As a clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be serving at the request of the Company, service by Indemnitee shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company if Indemnitee serves or served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (i) of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (ii) the management of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company.
(e) “ Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification and/or advance of Expenses is sought by Indemnitee.
(f) “ Effective Date ” means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
(g) “ Expenses ” means any and all reasonable and out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, excise taxes and penalties and any other disbursements or expenses incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in or otherwise participating in a Proceeding. Expenses shall also include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding including, without limitation, the premium, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent.
(h) “ Independent Counsel ” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to or participant or witness in the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
(i) “ Proceeding ” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, except one pending or completed on or before the Effective Date, unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. If Indemnitee reasonably believes that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, such situation shall also be considered a Proceeding.
Section 2. Services by Indemnitee . Indemnitee serves or has previously served as a director, officer or service provider of the Company. However, this Agreement shall not impose any independent obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any other entity) and Indemnitee.
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Section 3. General . The Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this Agreement and (b) otherwise to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect on the Effective Date and as amended from time to time; provided, however, that no change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the Effective Date. The rights of Indemnitee provided in this Section 3 shall include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement, including any additional indemnification permitted by Section 2-418(g) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “ MGCL ”).
Section 4. Standard for Indemnification . If, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any such Proceeding unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 5. Certain Limits on Indemnification . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6), Indemnitee shall not be entitled to:
(a) indemnification hereunder if the Proceeding was one by or in the right of the Company and Indemnitee is adjudged to be liable to the Company;
(b) indemnification hereunder if Indemnitee is adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received in any Proceeding charging improper personal benefit to Indemnitee, whether or not involving action in the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status; or
(c) indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder if the Proceeding was brought by Indemnitee, unless: (i) the Proceeding was brought to enforce indemnification under this Agreement, and then only to the extent in accordance with and as authorized by Section 12 of this Agreement, or (ii) the Charter or Bylaws, a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors or an agreement approved by the Board of Directors to which the Company is a party expressly provide otherwise.
Section 6. Court-Ordered Indemnification . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of Indemnitee and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification of Indemnitee by the Company in the following circumstances:
(a) if such court determines that Indemnitee is entitled to reimbursement under Section 2-418(d)(1) of the MGCL, the court shall order indemnification, in which case Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover the Expenses of securing such reimbursement; or
(b) if such court determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not Indemnitee (i) has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper. However, indemnification with respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company or in which liability shall have been adjudged in the circumstances described in Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL shall be limited to Expenses.
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Section 7. Indemnification for Expenses of an Indemnitee Who Is Wholly or Partially Successful . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, made a party to (or otherwise becomes a participant in) any Proceeding and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of such Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee under this Section 7 for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each such claim, issue or matter, allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis. For purposes of this Section 7 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
Section 8. Advance of Expenses for Indemnitee . If, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall, without requiring a preliminary determination of Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification hereunder, advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written affirmation by Indemnitee of Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by law and by this Agreement has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or in such form as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time of the execution thereof, to reimburse the portion of any Expenses advanced to Indemnitee relating to claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which it shall ultimately be established that the standard of conduct has not been met by Indemnitee and which have not been successfully resolved as described in Section 7 of this Agreement. To the extent that Expenses advanced to Indemnitee do not relate to a specific claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, such Expenses shall be allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis. The undertaking required by this Section 8 shall be an unlimited general obligation by or on behalf of Indemnitee and shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s financial ability to repay such advanced Expenses and without any requirement to post security therefor.
Section 9. Indemnification and Advance of Expenses as a Witness or Other Participant . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is or may be, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, made a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding, whether instituted by the Company or any other party, and to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be advanced all reasonable Expenses and indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting any such advance or indemnification from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee.
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Section 10. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification .
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. Indemnitee may submit one or more such requests from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitee’s sole discretion. The officer of the Company receiving any such request from Indemnitee shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) above, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall promptly be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, which Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors or, if such a quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors consisting solely of one or more Disinterested Directors, (B) if Independent Counsel has been selected by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL and approved by the Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination in the discretion of the Board of Directors or Independent Counsel if retained pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of this Section 10(b). Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(c) The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel, if one is appointed.
Section 11. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .
(a) In making any determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making of any determination contrary to that presumption.
(b) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.
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(c) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining any other right to indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 12. Remedies of Indemnitee .
(a) If (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advance of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 7 or 9 of this Agreement within ten days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to any other section of this Agreement or the Charter or Bylaws is not made within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court located in the State of Maryland, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advance of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence a proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply to a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 7 of this Agreement. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Maryland law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed). The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee is successful in seeking, pursuant to this Section 12, a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company for, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration. If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advance of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately prorated.
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(e) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the maximum rate allowed to be charged for judgments under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for amounts which the Company pays or is obligated to pay for the period (i) commencing with either the tenth day after the date on which the Company was requested to advance Expenses in accordance with Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement or the 60 th day after the date on which the Company was requested to make the determination of entitlement to indemnification under Section 10(b) of this Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) ending on the date such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.
Section 13. Defense of the Underlying Proceeding .
(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company promptly in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, request or other document relating to any Proceeding which may result in the right to indemnification or the advance of Expenses hereunder and shall include with such notice a description of the nature of the Proceeding and a summary of the facts underlying the Proceeding. The failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect in any manner any right of Indemnitee, to indemnification or the advance of Expenses under this Agreement unless the Company’s ability to defend in such Proceeding or to obtain proceeds under any insurance policy is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby, and then only to the extent the Company is thereby actually so prejudiced.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 13(b) and of Section 13(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding which may give rise to indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within 15 calendar days following receipt of notice of any such Proceeding under Section 13(a) above. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee or (iii) would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee. This Section 13(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 12 of this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13(b) above, if in a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, (i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that Indemnitee may have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with other defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that an actual or apparent conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between Indemnitee and the Company, or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the defense of such Proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate legal counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company. In addition, if the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any Proceeding to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company (subject to Section 12(d) of this Agreement), to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter.
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Section 14. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Subrogation .
(a) The rights of indemnification and advance of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter or Bylaws, any agreement or a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors, or otherwise. Unless consented to in writing by Indemnitee, no amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, regardless of whether a claim with respect to such action or inaction is raised prior or subsequent to such amendment, alteration or repeal. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prohibit the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
Section 15. Insurance . The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire directors and officers liability insurance, on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, with the advice of counsel, covering Indemnitee or any claim made against Indemnitee by reason of his or her Corporate Status and covering the Company for any indemnification or advance of Expenses made by the Company to Indemnitee for any claims made against Indemnitee by reason of his or her Corporate Status. Without in any way limiting any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any payment by Indemnitee arising out of the amount of any deductible or retention and the amount of any excess of the aggregate of all judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding over the coverage of any insurance referred to in the previous sentence. The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such insurance shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company or Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company under any such insurance policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.
Section 16. Coordination of Payments . The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable or payable or reimbursable as Expenses hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
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Section 17. Reports to Stockholders . To the extent required by the MGCL, the Company shall report in writing to its stockholders the payment of any amounts for indemnification of, or advance of Expenses to, Indemnitee under this Agreement arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company with the notice of the meeting of stockholders of the Company next following the date of the payment of any such indemnification or advance of Expenses or prior to such meeting.
Section 18. Duration of Agreement; Binding Effect .
(a) This Agreement shall continue until and terminate on the later of (i) the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company and (ii) the date that Indemnitee is no longer subject to any actual or possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement).
(b) The indemnification and advance of Expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
(c) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(d) The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled. Indemnitee shall further be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertakings in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that, in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking.
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Section 19. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
Section 20. Identical Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. One such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
Section 21. Headings . The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
Section 22. Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 23. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on the day of such delivery, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) | If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto. |
(b) | If to the Company, to: |
New York REIT, Inc.
405 Park Avenue, 14
th
Floor
New York, New York 10022
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
Proskauer Rose LLP
Eleven Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Peter M. Fass, Esq.
Michael J. Choate, Esq.
or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
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Section 24. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
COMPANY: | ||
NEW YORK REIT, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Randolph C. Read | |
Name: | Randolph C. Read | |
Title: |
Non-Executive Chairman | |
INDEMNITEE | ||
By: | /s/ Wendy Silverstein | |
Name: | Wendy Silverstein |
EXHIBIT A
AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED
To: The Board of Directors of New York REIT, Inc.
Re: Affirmation and Undertaking
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Affirmation and Undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement dated February 4, 2017 by and between New York REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and the undersigned Indemnitee (the “Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which I am entitled to advance of Expenses in connection with [Description of Proceeding] (the “ Proceeding ”).
Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement.
I am subject to the Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in such capacity. I hereby affirm my good faith belief that at all times, insofar as I was involved as [a director] [an officer] [and] [service provider] of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving rise to the Proceeding, I (1) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate dishonesty, (2) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or omission by me was unlawful.
In consideration of the advance of Expenses by the Company for reasonable attorneys’ fees and related Expenses incurred by me in connection with the Proceeding (the “ Advanced Expenses ”), I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Proceeding, it is established that (1) an act or omission by me was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (2) I actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, I had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful, then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses relating to the claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which the foregoing findings have been established.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this __ day of _________________, 20 __ .
Name: |
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK REIT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF
WENDY A. SILVERSTEIN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NEW YORK, NY, February 6, 2017 – New York REIT, Inc. (“NYRT” or the “Company”) (NYSE: NYRT) today announced the appointment of Wendy A. Silverstein to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).
Ms. Silverstein is currently providing consulting services to Winthrop REIT Advisors, the Company’s current exclusive advisor with respect to all matters primarily related to the plan of liquidation and consultant on other matters. As previously disclosed, the Company plans to appoint Wendy Silverstein as the Company's Chief Executive Officer when Winthrop becomes the external manager to the Company. Previously Ms. Silverstein served as Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Acquisitions and Capital Markets for Vornado Realty, a position she held from 1998 until April 2015. At Vornado, she was responsible for a diverse range of capital market activities including all equity, debt, and derivative transactions of Vornado, as well as a variety of real estate and corporate acquisitions. The Board believes that Ms. Silverstein’s extensive real estate, finance and board experience position her well to assist NYRT as it executes the plan of liquidation.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and management team, I would like to welcome Wendy to the NYRT Board,” said Randolph C. Read, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NYRT. “Wendy is an accomplished executive with a track record of success and value creation in the real estate industry and we look forward to benefitting from her extensive financial, capital markets and transaction experience as we execute the plan of liquidation.”
“NYRT has an outstanding portfolio of assets and I have gotten to know my fellow Board members very well over the past few months,” said Ms. Silverstein. “I look forward to working with them and leveraging my real estate transaction experience as we execute the plan of liquidation as expeditiously as possible and work to maximize value for all NYRT stockholders.”
About Wendy Silverstein
In addition to her prior role as executive Vice President and Co-Head of Acquisitions and Capital Markets for Vornado Realty, Ms. Silverstein previously served as a member of the Investment Committee for Vornado’s private equity fund, Vornado Capital Partners, LP. Prior to joining Vornado in 1998, Ms. Silverstein spent eight years as a Vice President and Senior Credit Officer of Citicorp Real Estate and Citibank, N.A., where she was responsible for several billion dollars of real estate debt restructurings. From 1986 to 1990, she was an Assistant Vice President in the Leveraged Capital Group at Citibank, N.A. providing sponsor financing for leveraged buyouts. Ms. Silverstein currently serves on the Board of Directors of Toys R Us, Inc., Wayne Real Estate Company, LLC and Alexander’s Inc. She was previously a member of the Board of Directors of LNR Property, LLC, the nation’s largest loan special servicer. Ms. Silverstein earned her Bachelor of Science in Economics, Magna Cum Laude, and a Master of Business Administration with Distinction from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania. She is also a Certified Public Accountant. She also serves on the Board of Directors and as the Treasurer of WIN, the largest provider of shelter housing for women and children in New York City, and on the Board of Beit Ruth, an educational and therapeutic village for at risk girls in Israel.
About NYRT
NYRT is a publicly traded real estate investment trust listed on the NYSE that owns income-producing commercial real estate, including office and retail properties, located in New York City. Additional information about NYRT can be found on its website at www.nyrt.com. NYRT may disseminate important information regarding it and its operations, including financial information, through social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements NYRT makes. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding stockholder liquidity and investment value and returns. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of current and future regulation; the impact of credit rating changes; the effects of competition; the ability to attract, develop and retain executives and other qualified employees; changes in general economic or market conditions; the Company’s ability to complete asset sales and realize the results of its plan of liquidation; the timing of and the amount of proceeds of asset sales; and other factors, many of which are beyond NYRT’s control, including other factors included in NYRT’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), particularly in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of NYRT’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 filed with the SEC on November 9, 2016, and the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A with respect to the plan of liquidation filed with the SEC on December 21, 2016, as such Risk Factors may be updated from time to time in subsequent reports. NYRT does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.