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): July 19, 2018

 

American Finance Trust, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Maryland   001-38597   90-0929989

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

405 Park Avenue, 3rd 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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  ¨ 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 x

 

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. x

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P.

 

On July 19, 2018, effective at the listing of the Class A common stock of American Finance Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) on The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “AFIN” (the “Listing”), which will occur on July 19, 2018 (the “Listing Date”), the Company, as general partner of American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “OP”), its operating partnership, executed the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the OP (the “A&R LPA”) for itself and the limited partners thereto: (i) American Finance Advisors, LLC (the “ Advisor ”), the Company’s advisor, (ii) American Realty Capital Retail Advisor, LLC, an affiliate of the Advisor that served as the external advisor to American Realty Capital — Retail Centers of America, Inc. (“RCA”) prior to its merger with and into the Company in February 2017 (the “Merger”), (iii) American Finance Special Limited Partner, LLC (the “Special Limited Partner”), an affiliate of the Advisor and the special limited partner of the OP, and (iv) Lincoln Retail REIT Services, LLC, which provides, subject to the Advisor’s or its affiliates’ oversight, asset management, property management and leasing services for those multi-tenant properties acquired by the Company from RCA in the Merger.

 

The amendments to be effected to the OP’s currently effective agreement of limited partnership (the “Previous LPA”) pursuant to the A&R LPA generally reflect provisions more consistent with agreements of limited partnership of other operating partnerships controlled by real estate investment trusts whose securities are publicly traded and listed and make other changes in light of the transactions entered into by the Company in connection with the Listing.

 

As previously announced, to effect the Listing, and to address the potential for selling pressure that may exist at the outset of trading, only shares of Class A common stock (together with the Company’s Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common, the “common stock”) will be listed on Nasdaq. Shares of the Company’s two other classes of common stock, Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common stock, will not be listed on Nasdaq. Instead, the shares of Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock and thus become listed on Nasdaq no later than 90 days and 180 days, respectively, from the Listing Date. Each share of Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common stock is otherwise identical to each share of Class A common stock in all other respects, including the right to vote on matters presented to the Company’s stockholders, and shares of all classes of common stock are expected to receive the same distributions. As of July 19, 2018 and giving effect to the transactions described under Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock comprised of 53,563,378 shares of Class A common stock, 26,264,686.5 shares of Class B-1 common stock and 26,264,686.5 shares of Class B-2 common stock. The A&R LPA reflects amendments to designate the units of limited partnership previously designated as “OP Units” that correspond to each share of the Company’s common stock, with respect to distributions and otherwise, as “Class A Units” (the “Class A Units”). For purposes of the A&R LPA, as necessary, including, for example, the distribution and allocation provisions thereunder, until such time as the shares of Class B-1 common stock convert into shares of Class A common stock, a percentage of the Class A Units equal to the percentage of shares of the Company’s common stock that are shares of Class B-1 common stock will correspond with the shares of Class B-1 common stock and a percentage of the Class A Units equal to the percentage of shares of the Company’s common stock that are shares of Class B-2 common stock will correspond with the shares of Class B-2 common stock.

 

The A&R LPA also sets forth the terms of a new class of units of limited partnership designated as “LTIP Units” (“LTIP Units”), including the Master LTIP Unit (the “Master LTIP Unit”) issued to the Advisor on the Listing Date pursuant to an award agreement entered into with the Advisor on July 19, 2018, effective as of the Listing Date (the “OPP”). The terms of the LTIP Units, the Master LTIP and the OPP are summarized under the caption “Multi-Year Outperformance Award” in Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

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In addition, the A&R LPA describes the procedures pursuant to which holders of Class A Units may redeem all or a portion of their Class A Units for, at the Company’s election, either shares of Class A common stock or the cash equivalent thereof. The A&R LPA also requires the Company, upon the request of a holder of Class A Units but subject to certain conditions and limitations, to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) the issuance or resale of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon redemption of Class A Units in accordance with the A&R LPA (including the shares of Class A common stock issued pursuant to the transactions described under Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K).

 

The foregoing summary of the material terms of the A&R LPA does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the A&R LPA, which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Listing Note and Subordination Agreement

 

On July 19, 2018, effective at the Listing, the OP entered into a listing note agreement (the “Listing Note”) with the Special Limited Partner and entered into a related subordination agreement (the “Subordination Agreement”) with the administrative agent under the Company’s existing credit facility (the “Credit Facility”), BMO Harris Bank N.A. (“BMO Bank”). The Listing Note is required in connection with the Listing pursuant to the Previous LPA with respect to the special limited partnership interest in the OP held by the Special Limited Partner, but the Listing Note includes an adjustment to the measurement period used to calculate the market value of the Company’s common stock under the Prior LPA to account for the phased liquidity of the Company’s common stock whereby shares of Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock and thus become listed on Nasdaq no later than 90 days and 180 days, respectively, from the Listing Date. Specifically, the measurement period used to calculate the Market Value (as defined in the Listing Note) of the Company’s common stock will be the 30 consecutive trading days commencing on the 180 th day following the date on which shares of Class B-2 common stock convert into shares of Class A common stock instead of the 180 th day following the Listing.

 

The Listing Note evidences the OP’s obligation to distribute to the Special Limited Partner an aggregate amount (the “Listing Amount”) equal to 15.0% of the difference (to the extent the result is a positive number) between:

 

· the sum of  (i) the Market Value of the Company’s common stock plus (ii) the sum of all distributions or dividends (from any source) paid by the Company to its stockholders prior to the Listing; and
· the sum of  (i) the gross proceeds (“Gross Proceeds”) of all public and private offerings, including issuance of the Company’s common stock pursuant to a merger (including the Merger) or business combination (an “Offering”) as of the Listing Date, plus (ii) the total amount of cash that, if distributed to those stockholders who purchased shares of the Company’s common stock in an Offering prior to the Listing, would have provided those stockholders a 6.0% cumulative, non-compounded, pre-tax annual return (based on a 365-day year) on the Gross Proceeds.

 

The Market Value used to calculate the Listing Amount will not be determinable until the end of a measurement period, the period of 30 consecutive trading days, commencing on the 180 th day following the date on which shares of Class B-2 common stock convert into shares of Class A common stock, unless another liquidity event, such as a merger, occurs prior to the end of the measurement period. If another liquidity event occurs prior to the end of the measurement period, the Listing Note provides for appropriate adjustment to the calculation of the Listing Amount.

 

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The Special Limited Partner has the right to receive distributions of  Net Sales Proceeds (as defined in the Listing Note), until the Listing Note is paid in full; provided that, the Special Limited Partner has the right, but not the obligation, to convert its entire special limited partnership interest in the OP into Class A Units.

 

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Special Limited Partner was required, in connection with the Listing Note, to enter into the Subordination Agreement, whereby the Special Limited Partner will agree to subordinate its rights under the Listing Note to the obligations under the Credit Agreement.

 

BMO Capital Markets Corp., an affiliate of BMO Bank, has been engaged by the Company to, among other things, provide advice to the Company related to positioning the Company in the public markets in connection with the Listing.

 

The foregoing summary of the Listing Note and the Subordination Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Listing Note and the Subordination Agreement, which are attached as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Advisory Agreement Amendment

 

On July 19, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to its advisory agreement with the Advisor (the “Advisory Agreement”). As previously disclosed, the Amendment will lower the quarterly thresholds of Core Earnings Per Adjusted Share (as defined in the Advisory Agreement) the Company must reach on a quarterly basis for the Advisor to receive the Variable Management Fee (as defined in the Advisory Agreement) from $0.375 and $0.50 to $0.275 and $0.3125. The Amendment also revises the definition of Adjusted Outstanding Shares (as defined in the Advisory Agreement), which is used to calculate Core Earnings Per Adjusted Share, to be based on the Company’s reported diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.

 

In recommending the Amendment, the nominating and corporate governance committee (the “NCG Committee”) of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) reviewed the implementation of the Company’s current Board-approved business strategy of a diversified net lease portfolio with a retail focus, which differs substantially from the proposed hybrid mortgage and net lease focus at the time the Advisory Agreement was executed in 2015. In resetting the applicable thresholds, the NCG Committee aimed to further align the Advisor with the Company’s shareholders by incentivizing growth through the continued implementation of the Company’s current business strategy.

 

The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Amendment, which is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Multi-Year Outperformance Award

 

On July 19, 2018, effective at the Listing, the Company entered into the OPP pursuant to which it granted, based on the recommendation of the Company’s compensation consultant, FTI Consulting, Inc. (“FTI”) and the compensation committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”), a performance-based equity award to the Advisor in the form of LTIP Units.

 

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The following summary of the award of LTIP Units pursuant to the OPP does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the OPP and the A&R LPA, which are attached as Exhibits 10.4 and 4.1, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference and which supersede in all respects the general terms of the multi-year outperformance agreement and the amendment and restatement of the limited partnership agreement of the OP previously approved by the Board in April 2015 to be effective upon a listing of the Company’s common stock.

 

On the Listing Date, the OP will issue the Advisor the Master LTIP Unit pursuant to the OPP and the 2018 Advisor Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan of the Company (the “Advisor Plan”). The Master LTIP Unit will, in accordance with the A&R LPA, automatically convert on August 30, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), the 30 th trading day following the Listing Date, into a number of LTIP Units (the “Award LTIP Units”) equal to the quotient of $72,000,000 divided by the average closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on Nasdaq over the 10 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the Effective Date (the “Initial Share Price”).

 

The Award LTIP Units represent the maximum number of LTIP Units that could be earned by the Advisor during a performance period (the “Performance Period”) commencing on the Listing Date and ending on the earliest of (i) the third anniversary of the Listing Date, (ii) the effective date of any Change of Control (as defined in the OPP) and (iii) the effective date of any termination of the Advisor’s service as advisor of the Company.

 

Half of the Award LTIP Units (the “Absolute TSR LTIP Units”) will be eligible to be earned as of the last day of the Performance Period (the “Valuation Date”) if Company achieves an absolute total stockholder return (“TSR”) for the Performance Period as follows:

 

Performance Level Absolute TSR Percentage of Award LTIPs Earned
Below Threshold Less than 24.0% 0%
Threshold 24.0% 25%
Target 30.0% 50%
Maximum 36.0% or higher 100%

 

If the Company’s absolute TSR is more than 24% but less than 30%, or more than 30% but less than 36%, the percentage of the Absolute TSR Award LTIPs earned will be determined using linear interpolation as between those tiers, respectively.

 

Half of the Award LTIP Units (the “Relative TSR LTIP Units”) will be eligible to be earned as of the Valuation Date if the amount, expressed in terms of basis points (bps), whether positive or negative, by which the Company’s absolute TSR on the Valuation Date exceeds the average TSR of a peer group consisting of Colony Capital, Inc., Lexington Realty Trust, Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust, Select Income REIT and Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. as of the Valuation Date as follows:

 

Performance Level Relative TSR Excess Percentage of Relative TSR Award LTIPs Earned
Below Threshold Less than -600 bps 0%
Threshold -600 bps 25%
Target 0 bps 50%
Maximum +600 bps or more 100%

 

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If the relative TSR excess is more than -600 bps but less than 0 bps, or more than 0 bps but less than +600 bps, the percentage of the Relative TSR Award LTIPs earned will be determined using linear interpolation as between those tiers, respectively.

 

If the Valuation Date is the effective date of a Change of Control or a termination of the Advisor without Cause (as defined in the Advisory Agreement), then calculations relating to the number of LTIP Units earned pursuant to the OPP will be performed based on actual performance as of (and including) the effective date of the Change of Control or termination (as applicable) based on the performance through the last trading day prior to the effective date of the Change of Control or termination (as applicable), with the hurdles for calculating absolute TSR pro-rated to reflect that the Performance Period lasted less than three years but without pro-rating the number of Absolute TSR LTIP Units or Relative TSR LTIP Units the Advisor would be eligible to earn to reflect the shortened period.

 

If the Valuation Date is the effective date of a termination of the Advisor with Cause, then calculations relating to the number of LTIP Units earned pursuant to the OPP will also be performed based on actual performance as of (and including) the effective date of the termination based on the performance through the last trading day prior to the effective date of the termination, with the hurdles for calculating absolute TSR pro-rated to reflect that the Performance Period lasted less than three years and with the number of Absolute TSR LTIP Units or Relative TSR LTIP Units the Advisor would be eligible to earn also pro-rated to reflect the shortened period.

 

The award of LTIP Units under the OPP will be administered by the Compensation Committee, provided that any of the Compensation Committee’s powers can be exercised instead by the Board if the Board so elects. Following the Valuation Date, the Compensation Committee is responsible for determining the number of Absolute TSR Award LTIPs and Relative TSR Award LTIPs earned, as calculated by an independent consultant engaged by the Compensation Committee and as approved by the Compensation Committee in its reasonable and good faith discretion. The Compensation Committee also must approve the transfer of any Absolute TSR Award LTIPs and Relative TSR Award LTIPs (or Class A Units into which they may be converted in accordance with the terms of the A&R LPA).

 

LTIP Units earned as of the Valuation Date will also become vested as of the Valuation Date. Any LTIP Units that are not earned and vested after the Compensation Committee makes the required determination will automatically and without notice be forfeited without the payment of any consideration by the Company or the OP, effective as of the Valuation Date.

 

The rights of the Advisor as the holder of the Master LTIP Unit and LTIP Units will be governed by the terms of the Master LTIP Unit and LTIP Units contained in the A&R LPA. Until an LTIP Unit is earned in accordance with the provisions of the OPP, the holder of the LTIP Unit will be entitled to distributions on the LTIP Unit equal to 10% of the distributions (other than distributions of sale proceeds) made on a Class A Unit. Distributions paid with respect to an LTIP Unit will not be subject to forfeiture, even if the LTIP Unit is ultimately forfeited because it is not earned in accordance with the OPP. Moreover, the Master LTIP Unit will be entitled, on the Effective Date, to receive a distribution equal to the product of 10% of the distributions made per Class A Unit during the period from the Listing Date to the Effective Date multiplied by the number of Award LTIP Units.

 

After an LTIP Unit is earned, the holder will be entitled to a priority catch-up distribution per earned LTIP Unit equal to the accrued distributions on a Class A Unit during the Performance Period, less distributions already paid on the LTIP Unit during the Performance Period. As of the Valuation Date, the earned LTIP Units will become entitled to the same distributions as Class A Units. At the time the Advisor’s capital account with respect to an LTIP Unit is economically equivalent to the average capital account balance of a Class A Unit, the LTIP Unit has been earned and it has been vested for 30 days, the Advisor, in its sole discretion, will be entitled to convert the LTIP Unit into a Class A Unit in accordance with the A&R LPA. In accordance with, and subject to the terms of, the A&R LPA, Class A Units may be redeemed on a one-for-one basis for, at the Company’s election, shares of Class A common stock or the cash equivalent thereof.

 

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Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The Board has determined based on information and analysis provided by the Advisor that the Economic Hurdle (as defined in the Previous LPA) has been satisfied and that the Listing will be a Liquidity Event (as defined in the Previous LPA), and, therefore, all 1,052,420 units of limited partnership designated as “Class B Units” (“Class B Units”) that are currently issued and outstanding, all of which were owned by Advisor, will be converted into an equal number of Class A Units effective at the Listing. The Board has approved, effective following this conversion, the redemption of these Class A Units for an equal number of shares of newly issued Class A common stock consistent with the redemption provisions contained in the A&R LPA. This redemption was exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Equity Plans

 

The Board has adopted the Advisor Plan and the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan of the Company (the “Individual Plan” and, together with the Advisor Plan, the “Plans”), which will become effective at the Listing.

 

The Advisor Plan is substantially similar to the Individual Plan, except with respect to the eligible participants. Participation in the Individual Plan is open to the Company’s directors, officers and employees (if the Company ever has employees), employees of the Advisor and its affiliates, employees of entities that provide services to the Company, directors of the Advisor or of entities that provide services to the Company, certain consultants to the Company and the Advisor and its affiliates or to entities that provide services to the Company. By contrast, participation in the Advisor Plan is only open to the Advisor.

 

The Plans are intended to succeed and replace the existing Amended and Restated Incentive Restricted Share Plan of the Company (the “Prior Plan”). Following the effectiveness of the Plans at the Listing, no further awards will be issued under the Prior Plan; provided, however, that any outstanding awards under the Prior Plan, such as unvested restricted shares of the Company’s common stock (“restricted shares”) held by the Company’s independent directors, will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms and the terms of the Prior Plan until all those awards are forfeited, canceled, expired or otherwise terminated in accordance with their terms.

 

While the Prior Plan provided only for awards of restricted shares and restricted stock units, the Plans have been expanded to permit awards of options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, LTIP Units and other equity awards in addition to restricted shares and restricted stock units.

 

Each Plan has a term of 10 years, commencing on the Listing Date (by contrast, the Prior Plan would have expired in March 2023).

 

Identical to the Prior Plan, the number of shares of the Company’s capital stock available for awards under the Plans, in the aggregate, is 10.0% of the Company’s outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis at any time. Shares subject to awards under the Individual Plan will reduce the number of shares available for awards under the Advisor Plan on a one-for-one basis and vice versa.

 

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The foregoing summary of the Plans does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Plans, which are attached as Exhibits 10.5 and 10.6, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Director Compensation

 

The Board has adopted, based on the recommendation of FTI and the Compensation Committee, a new director compensation program, which will become effective at the Listing and will both replace the Company’s existing director compensation program and supersede in all respects the director compensation previously approved by the Board in April 2015 to be effective upon a listing of the Company’s common stock.

 

Pursuant to the new director compensation program, each of the Company’s directors (including Edward M. Weil, Jr., the sole director on the Board who is not independent) will receive a one-time retention grant of a number of restricted shares equal to the quotient of $340,000 divided by the Initial Share Price, vesting annually over a three-year period commencing on the Listing Date in equal installments. Pursuant to the new director compensation program, on a regular basis, each independent director will receive an annual cash retainer of  $60,000 and, in connection with each of Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, a grant of $85,000 in restricted shares, vesting on the one-year anniversary of the annual meeting. Because the independent directors did not receive an annual grant of restricted shares in connection with the Company’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to the Company’s existing director compensation program, the independent directors will receive a grant of restricted shares pursuant to the new director compensation program of a number of restricted shares equal to the quotient of $85,000 divided by the Initial Share price, vesting on the first anniversary of the Listing Date.

 

Pursuant to the new director compensation program, the lead independent director will receive an additional annual cash retainer of  $100,000, the chair of the audit committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $30,000, each other member of the Audit Committee will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000, the chair of each of the Compensation Committee and the NCG Committee will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000, and each other member of each of the Compensation Committee and the NCG Committee will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $10,000.

 

Pursuant to the new director compensation program and consistent with the existing director compensation program, the Company will continue to reimburse directors for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board and its committees and pay each independent director for each external seminar, conference, panel, forum or other industry-related event attended in person and in which the independent director actively participates, solely in his or her capacity as an independent director of the Company.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

On July 19, 2018, effective at the Listing, the Company entered into new indemnification agreements (the “Indemnification Agreements”) with its directors, executive officers, the Advisor and AR Global Investments, LLC (the successor business to AR Capital, LLC, “AR Global”), which wholly owns the Advisor (collectively, the “Indemnitees”). The Company also expects to enter into similar indemnification agreements with its future directors and officers.

 

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The Indemnification Agreements replace and supersede previous indemnification agreements between the Company and each of its directors, executive officers, the Advisor and AR Global, and were entered into in connection with the Listing. The new form of Indemnification Agreement permits the Company to indemnify the Indemnitees to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and removes certain limitations previously required by the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts promulgated by the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc., or the NASAA Guidelines, that are no longer applicable to the Company.

 

The foregoing summary description of the material terms of the Indemnification Agreements does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the form of Indemnification Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.7 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

The Board has adopted an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Bylaws (as amended and restated, the “Bylaws”), which will become effective at the Listing. The amendments clarify certain corporate procedures, make ministerial changes and eliminate redundancies.

 

The foregoing summary of the Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Bylaws, which are attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

 

The Board has adopted an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”), which will become effective at the Listing. The amendments to the Code reflect the Company’s current entity name and are otherwise generally ministerial.

 

The foregoing description of the Code is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Code, which is attached as Exhibit 14.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. The Code will also be posted on the Company’s website at www.americanfinancetrust.com under the “Corporate Governance” subsection of the “Investor Relations” tab.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

The Board has authorized, effective at the Listing, a share repurchase program of up to $200 million of Class A common stock that the Company may implement from time to time, following the Listing, through open market repurchases or in privately negotiated transaction based on the Board and management’s assessment of, among other things, market conditions prevailing at the particular time. The Company will have the ability to repurchase shares of Class A common stock up to this amount at its discretion, subject to authorization by the Board prior to any such repurchase.

 

Distribution Policy Changes

 

As previously announced, in connection with the Listing, the Board changed the rate at which the Company pays distributions on its common stock from an annualized rate equal to $1.30 per share to an annualized rate equal to $1.10 per share, effective as of July 1, 2018, and the Company is transitioning to declaring distributions based on monthly, rather than daily, record dates. 

 

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With respect to distributions to be declared for the months of July and August 2018:

 

· The Board authorized, and the Company has previously declared, a daily distribution equal to $0.0030136986 on each share of each class of the Company’s common stock per day (based on the annualized rate of $1.10 per share) with respect to the period from July 1, 2018 to July 18, 2018 (the day prior to the Listing Date), which will be payable on or before the close of business on August 3, 2018 to stockholders of record at the close of business on each day during the period from July 1, 2018 to July 18, 2018 (the “July Pre-Listing Distribution”).

 

· The Board has authorized, and the Company hereby declares, a prorated monthly distribution based on the annualized rate of $1.10 per share with respect to the period from the Listing Date to July 31, 2018 on each share of each class of the Company’s common stock payable on or before the close of business on August 15, 2018 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 10, 2018.

 

· The Board has authorized, and the Company hereby declares, a full monthly distribution equal to $0.0916667 (based on the annualized rate of $1.10 per share) with respect to August 2018 on each share of each class of the Company’s common stock payable on or before the close of business on September 17, 2018 to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 11, 2018.

 

Distribution Reinvestment Plan

 

The Board has approved an amended and restated the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan (the “A&R DRIP”), effective as of July 19, 2018 following the mailing of the notice attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 to participants in the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan prior to this amendment and restatement. These participants will continue to be participants in the A&R DRIP (“Participants”). Beginning with the July Pre-Listing Distribution, distributions payable with respect to all or a portion of the shares of the Company’s common stock (including Class A common stock, Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common stock) held by Participants may be reinvested in shares of Class A common stock.

 

Shares sold pursuant to the A&R DRIP may be acquired directly from the Company at a price based on the average of the high and low sales prices of Class A common stock on Nasdaq. Shares sold pursuant to the A&R DRIP may also be acquired through open market purchases by the plan administrator at a price that will be based on the weighted average of the actual prices paid for all of the shares of Class A common stock purchased by the plan administrator with all Participants’ reinvested distributions for the related quarter, less a per share processing fee. Purchases of shares of Class A common stock will be made on an investment date in each month, which will be no later than five business days following the record date for the distribution (unless that day is not a business day in which case it is the first business day immediately thereafter and except with respect to the July Pre-Listing Distribution for which the investment date will be a day within seven days of the payment date) with respect to shares acquired directly from the Company and relating to a distribution reinvestment, and no later than ten business days following the distribution payment date with respect to shares purchased in the open market.

 

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A Participant may withdraw from the A&R DRIP with respect to all or a portion of his, her or its participating shares at any time. If the request to withdraw is received prior to a distribution record date set by the Board for determining stockholders of record entitled to receive a distribution, the request will be processed on the day following receipt of the request by the plan administrator. The Company may suspend, terminate, or amend the A&R DRIP at any time, effective immediately. Notice will be mailed to Participants of any suspension or termination, or of any amendment that alters the A&R DRIP terms and conditions, as soon as practicable after action by the Company.

 

The sale of shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the A&R DRIP will be registered pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-210532), a copy of which is located on the SEC’s website and available here:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1568162/000114420416092092/0001144204-16-092092-index.htm.

 

The foregoing summary of the A&R DRIP does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the A&R DRIP, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including statements concerning the Company’s plans, objectives, goals, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, the Company’s results of operations, financial position and the Company’s business outlook, business trends and other information are forward-looking statements. When used in this Current Report on Form 8-K, the words “estimate”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “seek”, “approximately” or “plan”, or the negative of these words and phrases, or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Stockholders can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions of management.

 

Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon the Company’s current expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections are expressed in good faith and the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections will result or be achieved and actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K. The risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others, the risks and uncertainties described under the Risk Factors included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and as updated by any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in each case as filed with the SEC. The Company cautions stockholders not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If the Company updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

 

11

 

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
3.1   Amended and Restated Bylaws
4.1   Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., dated as of July 19, 2018
10.1   Listing Note Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2018, between American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. and American Finance Special Limited Partner, LLC
10.2   Subordination Agreement, dated as of dated as of July 19, 2018, among American Finance Special Limited Partner, LLC, BMO Harris Bank N.A. and American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P.
10.3   Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, dated July 19, 2018, among American Finance Trust, Inc., American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. and American Finance Advisors, LLC
10.4   Advisor Multi-Year Outperformance Agreement, dated as of July 19, 2018, between American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. and American Finance Advisors, LLC
10.5   2018 Advisor Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
10.6   2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan
10.7   Form of Indemnification Agreement
14.1   Amended and Restated Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
99.1   Amended and Restated Distribution Reinvestment Plan
99.2   Notice to Distribution Reinvestment Plan participants, dated as of July 19, 2018

 

12

 

 

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.

 

  American Finance Trust, Inc.  
       
       
Date: July 19, 2018 By: /s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.  
    Edward M. Weil, Jr.  
    Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President
 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE II

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

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

 

Section 2.              ANNUAL MEETING . An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.              SPECIAL MEETINGS .

 

(a)           General . Each of the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president and Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in subsection (b)(4) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors, whoever has called the meeting. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.

 

 

 

 

(b)           Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings .

 

(1)         Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the “ Record Date Request Notice ”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “ Request Record Date ”). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Exchange Act ”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which a Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary.

 

(2)         In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “ Special Meeting Request ”) signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “ Special Meeting Percentage ”) shall be delivered to the secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall (a) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the secretary), (b) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (d) be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.

 

(3)         The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 3(b), the secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.

 

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(4)         In the case of any special meeting called by the secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “ Stockholder-Requested Meeting ”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided , however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than ninety (90) days after the record date for such meeting (the “ Meeting Record Date ”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the “ Delivery Date ”), a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on the 90 th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90 th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within thirty (30) days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30 th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 3(b).

 

(5)         If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the secretary: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (A) the secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting from time to time without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

 

(6)         The chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after actual receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

 

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

 

Section 4.              NOTICE . Not less than ten (10) nor more than ninety (90) days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless such stockholder objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

 

Subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten (10) days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this Section 4.

 

  4  

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 7.              VOTING . A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share entitles the holder thereof to vote for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the holder is entitled to vote. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the Charter. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, entitles the holder thereof to cast one (1) vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

 

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

 

Section 9.              VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS . Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, managing member, manager, general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any trustee or fiduciary, in such capacity, may vote stock registered in such trustee’s or fiduciary’s name, either in person or by proxy.

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 10.            INSPECTORS . The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and (v) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one (1) inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one (1) inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

 

Section 11.            ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS.

 

(a)           Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

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

 

(2)         For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 11 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150 th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120 th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than thirty (30) days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

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

 

(i)          as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “ Proposed Nominee ”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act (including the Proposed Nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(C)         whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six (6) months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of (x) Company Securities or (y) any security of any entity that was listed in the Peer Group in the Stock Performance Graph in the most recent annual report to security holders of the Corporation (a “ Peer Group Company ”) for such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person or ( II ) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof (or, as applicable, in any Peer Group Company) disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities (or, as applicable, in any Peer Group Company) and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one (1) or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 11, is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120 th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90 th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

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(c)           General .

 

(1)         If information submitted pursuant to this Section 11 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two (2) Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five (5) Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11.

 

(2)         Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 11. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 11.

 

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

 

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

 

(5)         Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, if the stockholder giving notice as provided for in this Section 11 does not appear in person or by proxy at such annual or special meeting to present each nominee for election as a director or the proposed business, as applicable, such matter shall not be considered at the meeting.

 

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Section 12.            STOCKHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders.

 

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

 

ARTICLE III

 

DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.              GENERAL POWERS . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.              NUMBER, TENURE AND RESIGNATION . A majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than fifteen (15), and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 5.              NOTICE . Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three (3) days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two (2) days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 14.            RATIFICATION . The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter and, if so ratified, such action or inaction shall have the same force and effect as if originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders. Any action or inaction questioned in any proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and such ratification shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

 

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Section 15.            CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS . A director who is not also an officer of the Corporation shall have no responsibility to devote his or her full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.

 

Section 16.            EMERGENCY PROVISIONS . Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 16 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “ Emergency ”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (i) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

COMMITTEES

 

Section 1.              NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members committees, composed of one (1) or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to act in the place of such absent member.

 

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

 

Section 3.              MEETINGS . Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two (2) members of any committee (if there are at least two (2) members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE V

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 1.              GENERAL PROVISIONS . The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or appropriate. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the chief executive officer or president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two (2) or more offices, except president and vice president, may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

 

Section 2.              REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION . Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 9.              VICE PRESIDENTS . In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one (1) vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such vice president by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one (1) or more vice presidents as executive vice president, senior vice president or vice president for particular areas of responsibility.

 

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Section 10.            SECRETARY . The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one (1) or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE VI

 

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE VII

 

STOCK

 

Section 1.              CERTIFICATES . Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MGCL and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in any manner permitted by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no difference in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

 

Section 2.              TRANSFERS . All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4.              FIXING OF RECORD DATE . The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such record date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than ninety (90) days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten (10) days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 6.              FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS . The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue fractional shares of stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as it may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of units consisting of different securities of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

ACCOUNTING YEAR

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 st of each calendar year, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors by a duly adopted resolution.

 

  20  

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 1.              AUTHORIZATION . Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.

 

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

 

ARTICLE X

 

INVESTMENT POLICY

 

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

 

ARTICLE XI

 

SEAL

 

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

 

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

 

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ARTICLE XII

 

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

WAIVER OF NOTICE

 

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

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION

 

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

 

ARTICLE XV

 

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

 

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

 

  22  

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

OF

 

AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
(a Delaware limited partnership)

 

 

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS 3
   
ARTICLE II FORMATION OF PARTNERSHIP 22
2.01 Formation of the Partnership 22
2.02 Name 23
2.03 Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office 23
2.04 Term and Dissolution 23
2.05 Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership 24
2.06 Certificates Describing Partnership Units 24
     
ARTICLE III BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP 25
   
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS 26
4.01 Capital Contributions 26
4.02 Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Units 26
4.03 Additional Funding 30
4.04 Capital Accounts 31
4.05 Percentage Interests 31
4.06 No Interest on Contributions 31
4.07 Return of Capital Contributions 31
4.08 No Third-Party Beneficiary 31
     
ARTICLE V NET INCOME AND NET LOSS; DISTRIBUTIONS 32
5.01 Allocations 32
5.02 Distribution of Cash 38
5.03 REIT Distribution Requirements 41
5.04 No Right to Distributions in Kind 42
5.05 Limitations on Distributions 42
5.06 Distributions Upon Liquidation 42
5.07 Substantial Economic Effect  / Savings Clause 42
     
ARTICLE VI RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER 43
6.01 Management of the Partnership 43
6.02 Delegation of Authority 46
6.03 Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees 46
6.04 Liability of the General Partner 48
6.05 Partnership Obligations 49
6.06 Outside Activities 49
6.07 Employment or Retention of Affiliates 50
6.08 General Partner Activities 50
6.09 Title to Partnership Assets 50
6.10 Redemption of General Partner’s Partnership Units 51

 

i  

 

  

ARTICLE VII CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER 51
7.01 Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest 51
7.02 Merger of General Partner 51
7.03 Admission of a Substitute or Additional General Partner 53
7.04 Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of General Partner 53
7.05 Removal of General Partner 54
     
ARTICLE VIII RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS 55
8.01 Management of the Partnership 55
8.02 Power of Attorney 55
8.03 Limitation on Liability of Limited Partners 56
8.04 Class A Unit Redemption Right 56
8.05 Exchange of Special Limited Partner Interest 58
8.06 Registration 59
     
ARTICLE IX TRANSFERS OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS 64
9.01 Purchase for Investment 64
9.02 Restrictions on Transfer of Partnership Units 64
9.03 Admission of Substitute Limited Partner 66
9.04 Rights of Assignees of Partnership Units 67
9.05 Effect of Bankruptcy, Death, Incompetence or Termination of a Limited Partner 67
9.06 Joint Ownership of Partnership Units 67
     
ARTICLE X BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS 68
10.01 Books and Records 68
10.02 Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts 68
10.03 Fiscal and Taxable Year 68
10.04 Annual Tax Information and Report 68
10.05 Tax Matters Partner/Partnership Representative; Tax Elections; Special Basis Adjustments 69
10.06 Reports to Limited Partners 71
     
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT; MERGER 72
11.01 Amendment of Agreement 72
11.02 Merger of Partnership 72
     
ARTICLE XII CLASS B UNITS 73
12.01 Designation and Number 73
12.02 Special Provisions 73
12.03 Voting 74
12.04 Conversion of Class B Units 74
12.05 Profits Interests 76
     
ARTICLE XIII LTIP UNITS 78
13.01 LTIP Units 78

 

ii  

 

  

13.02 Conversion of LTIP Units 83
     
ARTICLE XIV GENERAL PROVISIONS 86
18.01 Notices 86
18.02 Survival of Rights 86
18.03 Additional Documents 86
18.04 Severability 86
18.05 Entire Agreement 86
18.06 Pronouns and Plurals 87
18.07 Headings 87
18.08 Counterparts 87
18.09 Governing Law 87

 

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

SCHEDULE A — Partners, Capital Contributions and Percentage Interests
EXHIBIT A — Notice of Exercise of Class A Unit Redemption Right
EXHIBIT B-1 — Certification of Non-Foreign Status (For Redeeming Limited Partners That Are Entities)
EXHIBIT B-2 — Certification of Non-Foreign Status (For Redeeming Limited Partners That Are Individuals)
EXHIBIT C — Notice of Election by Partner to Convert LTIP Units into Class A Units
EXHIBIT D — Notice of Election by Partnership to Force Conversion of LTIP Units into Class A Units

 

iii  

 

  

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

RECITALS

 

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (this “ Agreement ”) of AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”), is entered into by AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC., a Maryland corporation (in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership, together with its successors and permitted assigns that are admitted to the Partnership as a general partner of the Partnership in accordance with the terms hereof, the “ General Partner ”), for itself and the Limited Partners listed on Schedule A and any other limited partner or general partner that is admitted from time to time to the Partnership and listed on Schedule A attached hereto, on July 19, 2018.

 

WHEREAS, the General Partner formed the Partnership as a limited partnership on January 18, 2013 pursuant to the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act of the State of Delaware and filed a Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

WHEREAS, the parties entered into the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership on April 4, 2013, as amended by the First Amendment to Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of December 31, 2013, the Second Amendment to Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of April 15, 2015, and the Third Amendment to Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of April 29, 2015 (the “ Original Agreement ”).

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the merger of American Realty Capital – Retail Centers of America, Inc. with and into Genie Acquisition, LLC, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the General Partner, and the merger of American Realty Capital Retail Operating Partnership, L.P. with and into the Partnership, all pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 6, 2016, the parties amended and restated the Original Agreement by entering into the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of September 6, 2016, and effective as of February 16, 2017, as amended by the First Amendment to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of February 16, 2017 (the “ Amended and Restated Agreement ”).

 

WHEREAS, on July 3, 2018, in contemplation of the Listing, the General Partner took the following corporate actions: (1) amended the Charter to effect a 2-to-1 reverse stock split combining every two shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, into one share of common stock, par value $0.02 per share, and subsequently reducing the resulting par value of the shares of common stock outstanding after the reverse stock split from $0.02 per share back to $0.01 per share; (2) amended the Charter to change the designation of common stock, and thereby rename it, to “Class A Common Stock;” (3) filed articles supplementary reclassifying a number of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock equal to half of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then outstanding, into an equal number of shares of Class B-1 Common Stock and shares of Class B-2 Common Stock; and (4) declared and paid to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock a stock dividend equal to one-half share of Class B-1 Common Stock and one-half share of Class B-2 Common Stock for each share of Class A Common Stock outstanding.

 

 

 

  

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, and as a result of the corporate actions described in the foregoing recital, shares of Class A Common Stock represent 50% of the issued and outstanding REIT Shares, shares of Class B-1 Common Stock represent 25% of the issued and outstanding REIT Shares, and shares of Class B-2 Common Stock represent 25% of the issued and outstanding REIT Shares.

 

WHEREAS, on the date of this Agreement (which is also referred to as the “ Listing Date ”) the General Partner is listing its shares of Class A Common Stock for trading on Nasdaq and causing the Partnership to issue the Master LTIP Unit (which will automatically convert into a number of LTIP Units equal to the LTIP Award Number effective as of the Effective Date) to Advisors Limited Partner pursuant to the 2018 Advisor OPP Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the grant of the Master LTIP Unit allowed the Partnership to adjust the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership’s assets and allocate any Net Property Gain from the adjustment to Gross Asset Value to the Capital Accounts of the Partners in accordance with Exhibit B of the Amended and Restated Agreement, including the special allocation to the holders of Class B Units in Section 1(c)(ii) of Exhibit B of the Amended and Restated Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the adjustment to the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership’s assets established an initial Capital Account for the LTIP Unitholder with respect to the Master LTIP Unit of zero.

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Listing, the conditions for the Class B Units of the Partnership to become Unrestricted Class B Units were met, the Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to the Class B Units was adjusted so that it equaled the OP Unit Economic Balance (as such terms were defined in the Amended and Restated Agreement) and, effective at the Listing, all Class B Units that were previously issued and outstanding automatically converted into Class A Units which were then exchanged, at the election of the General Partner, for an equal number of shares of newly issued Class A Common Stock (the “ Class B Unit Shares ”).

 

WHEREAS, shares of Class B-1 Common Stock and shares of Class B-2 Common Stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock and thus become listed on the Nasdaq no later than 90 days and 180 days, respectively, from the Listing Date, but each share of Class B-1 Common Stock and each share of Class B-2 Common Stock is otherwise be identical to each share of Class A Common Stock in all other respects, including the right to vote on matters presented to the stockholders of the General Partner, and shares of all classes of REIT Shares are expected to receive the same distributions.

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the General Partner pursuant to Article 14 of the Amended and Restated Agreement, the General Partner desires to amend and restate the Amended and Restated Agreement in its entirety with this Agreement.

 

  2  

 

  

WHEREAS, in connection with amending and restating this Agreement the Partnership is re-designating its OP Units as Class A Units, and, until the shares of Class B-1 Common Stock and shares of Class B-2 Common Stock automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to their terms, each Class A Unit will correspond with one REIT Share without regard to whether such REIT Share is then designated as “Class A Common Stock,” “Class B-1 Common Stock” or “Class B-2 Common Stock;” provided however for purposes of this Agreement, as necessary, including, for example, the distribution and allocation provisions of Article 5, until such time as the shares of Class B-1 Common Stock convert into shares of Class A Common Stock, a percentage of the Class A Units that is equal to the percentage of REIT Shares that are shares of Class B-1 Common Stock shall correspond with the shares of Class B-1 Common Stock and a percentage of the Class A Units that is equal to the percentage of REIT Shares that are shares of Class B-2 Common Stock shall correspond with the REIT Shares that are shares of Class B-2 Common Stock.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of mutual covenants between the parties hereto, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Original Agreement is hereby amended, restated, superseded and replaced in its entirety and the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS

 

The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified below:

 

2018 Advisor OPP Agreement ” means the Advisor Multi-Year Outperformance Award Agreement, entered into as of July 19, 2018, by and among the General Partner, the Partnership and Advisors Limited Partner, as amended from time to time.

 

Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Additional Funds ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03.

 

Additional Securities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(a)(ii).

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means, with respect to any Partner, the negative balance, if any, in such Partner’s Capital Account as of the end of any relevant fiscal year, determined after giving effect to the following adjustments:

 

(a)          credit to such Capital Account any portion of such negative balance which such Partner (i) is treated as obligated to restore to the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) of the Regulations, or (ii) is deemed to be obligated to restore to the Partnership pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations; and

 

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(b)          debit to such Capital Account the items described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) of the Regulations.

 

“Adjustment Events ” means the following events: (a) the Partnership makes a distribution on all outstanding Class A Units in Partnership Units, (b) the Partnership subdivides the outstanding Class A Units into a greater number of units or combines the outstanding Class A Units into a smaller number of units, or (c) the Partnership issues any Partnership Units in exchange for its outstanding Class A Units by way of a reclassification or recapitalization of its Class A Units. For the avoidance of doubt, the following events shall not be Adjustment Events: (x) the issuance of Partnership Units in a financing, reorganization, acquisition or other similar business transaction, (y) the issuance of Partnership Units pursuant to any employee benefit or compensation plan or distribution reinvestment plan, or (z) the issuance of any Partnership Units to the General Partner in respect of a capital contribution to the Partnership of proceeds from the sale of securities by the General Partner.

 

Administrative Expenses ” means (a) all administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership, (b) administrative costs and expenses of the General Partner, including any salaries or other payments to directors, officers or employees of the General Partner, and any accounting and legal expenses of the General Partner, which expenses, the Partners have agreed, are the expenses of the Partnership and not the General Partner, and (c) to the extent not included in clauses (a) or (b) above, REIT Expenses; provided , however , that Administrative Expenses shall not include any administrative costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner that are attributable to Properties or interests in a Subsidiary that are owned by the General Partner other than through its ownership interest in the Partnership.

 

Advisors Limited Partner ” means American Finance Advisors, LLC, its successors and assigns.

 

Affected Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(f)(ii).

 

Affiliate ” means, (a) with respect to any individual Person, any member of the immediate family of such Person or a trust established for the benefit of such member, (b) any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, (c) any other Person that owns, beneficially, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding capital stock, shares or equity interests of such Person, or (d) any officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager or trustee of such Person or any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person (excluding trustees and Persons serving in similar capacities who are not otherwise an Affiliate of such Person). For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, through the ownership of voting securities or partnership interests or otherwise.

 

  4  

 

 

Aggregate Share Ownership Limit ” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

 

Agreed Value ” means the fair market value of a Partner’s non-cash Capital Contribution as of the date of contribution as agreed to by such Partner and the General Partner. The names and addresses of the Partners, number of Partnership Units issued to each Partner, and the Agreed Value of non-cash Capital Contributions as of the date of contribution are set forth on Schedule A , as it may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

Agreement ” means this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Amended and Restated Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Asset Sale ” has the meaning set forth in the Listing Note.

 

Available Cash ” means, with respect to the applicable period of measurement (i.e., any period (other than the first period in which this calculation of Available Cash is being made) beginning on the first day of the fiscal year, quarter or other period commencing immediately after the last day of the fiscal year, quarter or other applicable period for purposes of the prior calculation of Available Cash for or with respect to which a distribution has been made, and ending on the last day of the fiscal year, quarter or other applicable period immediately preceding the date of the calculation), the excess, if any, as of such date, of

 

(a)          the gross cash receipts of the Partnership for such period from all sources whatsoever, including the following:

 

(i)          all rents, revenues, income and proceeds derived by the Partnership from its operations, including distributions received by the Partnership from any Entity in which the Partnership has an interest;

 

(ii)         all proceeds and revenues received by the Partnership on account of any sales of any Property or as a refinancing of or payment of principal, interest, costs, fees, penalties or otherwise on account of any borrowings or loans made by the Partnership or financings or refinancings of any Property of the Partnership;

 

(iii)        the amount of any insurance proceeds and condemnation awards received by the Partnership;

 

(iv)        all Capital Contributions and loans received by the Partnership from its Partners;

 

(v)         all cash amounts previously reserved by the Partnership, to the extent such amounts are no longer needed for the specific purposes for which such amounts were reserved; and

 

(vi)        the proceeds of liquidation of the Property in accordance with this Agreement;

 

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over

 

(b)          the sum of the following:

 

(i)          all operating costs and expenses paid, including taxes and other expenses of the Properties and capital expenditures made during such period (without deduction, however, for any capital expenditures, charges for Depreciation or other expenses not paid in cash or expenditures from reserves described in clause (viii) below);

 

(ii)         all costs and expenses paid during such period in connection with the sale or other disposition, or financing or refinancing, of Property or the recovery of insurance or condemnation proceeds;

 

(iii)        all fees provided for under this Agreement;

 

(iv)        all debt service, including principal and interest, paid during such period on all indebtedness (including under any line of credit) of the Partnership;

 

(v)         all capital contributions, advances, reimbursements, loans or similar payments made to any Person in which the Partnership has an interest;

 

(vi)        all loans made by the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

(vii)       all reimbursements paid to the General Partner or its Affiliates during such period; and

 

(viii)      the amount of any new reserve or increase in reserves established during such period which the General Partner determines is necessary or appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Available Cash shall not include any cash received or reductions in reserves, or take into account any disbursements made or reserves established, after commencement of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership.

 

Average Class B Economic Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to a Limited Partner owning Class B Units, an amount equal to the quotient of (a) the Class B Economic Capital Account Balance of such Limited Partner, divided by (b) the number of Class B Units owned by such Limited Partner.

 

Average LTIP Economic Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to a Limited Partner owning LTIP Units, an amount equal to the quotient of (a) the LTIP Economic Capital Account Balance of such Limited Partner, divided by (b) the number of LTIP Units owned by such Limited Partner.

 

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

 

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Budget Act ” means the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 and any sections of the Code or Regulations promulgated thereunder and with respect thereto, each as amended from time to time.

 

Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in New York, New York are not required to be open.

 

Capital Account ” means with respect to any Partner, the Capital Account maintained for such Partner in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(a)          to each Partner’s Capital Account there shall be credited:

 

(i)          such Partner’s Capital Contributions;

 

(ii)         such Partner’s distributive share of Net Income, Net Property Gain and any items in the nature of income or gain which are specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d); and

 

(iii)        the amount of any Partnership liabilities assumed by such Partner or which are secured by any asset distributed to such Partner;

 

(b)          to each Partner’s Capital Account there shall be debited:

 

(i)          the amount of cash and the Gross Asset Value of any property distributed to such Partner pursuant to any provision of this Agreement;

 

(ii)         such Partner’s distributive share of Net Loss, Net Property Loss and any items in the nature of expenses or losses which are specially allocated to such Partner pursuant to Sections 5.01(c), 5.01(d), 12.04(c), 12.05(d), 13.01(e)(iv) and 13.02(e); and

 

(iii)        the amount of any liabilities of such Partner assumed by the Partnership or which are secured by any asset contributed by such Partner to the Partnership; and

 

(c)          if all or a portion of a Partnership Interest is transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred Partnership Interest.

 

The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Regulations, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. If the General Partner shall reasonably determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto (including debits or credits relating to liabilities which are secured by contributed or distributed assets or which are assumed by the Partnership, the General Partner or any Limited Partner) are computed in order to comply with such Regulations, the General Partner may make such modification; provided , however , that all allocations of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction continue to have “substantial economic effect” within the meaning of Section 704(b) of the Code and that no Limited Partner is materially adversely affected by any such modification.

 

  7  

 

 

Capital Account Limitation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.02(b).

 

Capital Contribution ” means the total amount of cash, cash equivalents, and the Agreed Value of any Property (less any liabilities assumed with respect to such Property) or other asset contributed or agreed to be contributed, as the context requires, to the Partnership by each Partner pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Any reference to the Capital Contribution of a Partner shall include the Capital Contribution made by a predecessor holder of the Partnership Interest of such Partner.

 

Cash Amount ” means an amount of cash per Class A Unit equal to the Value of the REIT Shares Amount on the date of receipt by the Partnership and the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption.

 

Cash Available for Distribution ” means the Available Cash other than Net Sales Proceeds.

 

Catch-Up Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02(a)(ii).

 

Certificate ” means any instrument or document that is required under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business, to be signed and sworn to by the Partners (either by themselves or pursuant to the power-of-attorney granted to the General Partner in Section 8.02 hereof) and filed for recording in the appropriate public offices within the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction to perfect or maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership, to effect the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Partner of the Partnership, or to protect the limited liability of the Limited Partners as limited partners under the laws of the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction.

 

Change of Control ” means, as to the General Partner, the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(a)          any “person” as such term is used in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof except that such term shall not include (A) the General Partner or any Subsidiaries of the General Partner, (B) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the General Partner or any Affiliate of the General Partner, (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (D) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the General Partner in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of common shares of the General Partner, or (E) any person or group as used in Rule 13d-1(b) under the Exchange Act, is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, directly or indirectly, of securities of the General Partner representing at least 35% of the combined voting power or common shares of the General Partner;

 

(b)          during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors or whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the General Partner’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors then still in office cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;

 

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(c)          there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the General Partner outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner, more than 50% of the combined voting power and common shares of the General Partner or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or

 

(d)          there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the General Partner of all or substantially all of the General Partner’s assets (or any transaction having a similar effect, including a liquidation) other than a sale or disposition by the General Partner of all or substantially all of the General Partner’s assets to an entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power and common shares of which is owned by stockholders of the General Partner in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the common shares of the General Partner immediately prior to such sale.

 

Charter ” means the General Partner’s charter, filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, or other organizational documents governing the General Partner, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as “Class A Common Stock.”

 

Class A Unit ” means a Partnership Unit which is designated by the General Partner as an Class A Unit of the Partnership.

 

Class A Unit Economic Balance ” means the quotient of (a) the aggregate Capital Account balance attributable to the Class A Units outstanding, plus the amount of any Partner Minimum Gain or Partnership Minimum Gain, in either case to the extent attributable to the ownership of Class A Units and computed on a hypothetical basis after taking into account all allocations through the date on which any allocation is made under Section 5.01(c), divided by (b) the number of Class A Units outstanding.

 

Class A Unit Redemption Amount ” means either (a) the Cash Amount pursuant to Section 8.04(a) or (b) the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares Amount as selected by the General Partner pursuant to Section 8.04(b).

 

Class A Unit Redemption Right ” has the meaning provided in Section 8.04(a) hereof.

 

Class A Unit Transaction ” shall mean a transaction to which the Partnership or the General Partner shall be a party, including, without limitation a merger, consolidation, unit exchange, self tender offer for all or substantially all Class A Units or other business combination or reorganization, or sale of all or substantially all the Partnership’s assets (but excluding any transaction which constitutes an Adjustment Event) in each case as a result of which Class A Units shall be exchanged for or converted into the right, or the holders of such Class A Units shall otherwise be entitled, to receive cash, securities or other property or any combination thereof.

 

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Class B Conversion Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.04(a).

 

Class B Economic Capital Account Balances ” mean the Capital Account balances of the Class B Units holders to the extent attributable to their ownership of Class B Units reduced by any forfeiture allocations in accordance with Section 15.05(d) due to the forfeiture of any Class B Units.

 

Class B-1 Common Stock ” means the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as “Class B-1 Common Stock.”

 

Class B-2 Common Stock ” means the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as “Class B-2 Common Stock.”

 

Class B Unit ” means a Partnership Unit which is designated as a Class B Unit of the Partnership.

 

Class B Unit Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and as hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Code shall mean that provision in the Code at the date hereof and any successor provision of the Code.

 

Commission ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Units ” means any class or series of Partnership Interest that does not have a priority or preference in the payment of distributions in the distribution of assets upon any Liquidation, including Class A Units, Class B Units and LTIP Units.

 

Concurrent LTIP Distribution ” has the meaning provided in Section 5.02(a)(i).

 

Constituent Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.04(d).

 

Contributed Property ” means each property, partnership interest, contract right or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Act, contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership by any Partner, including any interest in any successor partnership occurring as a result of a termination of the Partnership pursuant to Section 708 of Code.

 

Conversion Factor ” means 1.0, provided , however that in the event that the General Partner:

 

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(a)          (i) declares or pays a dividend on all of its outstanding REIT Shares wholly or partly in REIT Shares or makes a distribution to all holders of its outstanding REIT Shares wholly or partly in REIT Shares, (ii) splits or subdivides its outstanding REIT Shares or (iii) effects a reverse stock split or otherwise combines its outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor previously in effect by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Shares issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reverse split or combination (assuming for such purposes that such dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reverse split or combination has occurred as of such time), and the denominator of which shall be the actual number of REIT Shares (determined without the above assumption) issued and outstanding on such date;

 

(b)          merges, consolidates or combines with or into any entity other than an Affiliate of the General Partner (the “ Successor Entity ”), the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by the number of shares of the Successor Entity into which one REIT Share is converted pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination, determined as of the date of such merger, consolidation or combination; or

 

(c)          distributes, by dividend or otherwise, to all holders of REIT Shares evidences of its indebtedness or assets (including securities, but excluding any dividend or distribution referred to in clause (i) of paragraph (a) of this definition of Conversion Factor), which evidences of indebtedness or assets relate to assets not received by holders of Class A Units pursuant to a pro rata distribution by the Partnership, then the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed for determination of holders of REIT Shares entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the Value of a REIT Share on the date fixed for such determination and the denominator of which shall be the Value of a REIT Share on the date fixed for such determination less the then fair market value (as reasonably determined by the General Partner, which determination shall be conclusive) of the portion of the evidences of indebtedness or assets so distributed applicable to one REIT Share.

 

Any adjustment to the Conversion Factor pursuant to an event pursuant to paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this definition of Conversion Factor shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event; provided , however , that if the General Partner receives a Notice of Redemption after the record date, but prior to the effective date of any such event that is a dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reverse split or combination, the Conversion Factor shall be determined as if the General Partner had received the Notice of Redemption immediately prior to the record date for such dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reverse split or combination.

 

Defaulting Limited Partner ” means a Limited Partner or the Special Limited Partner, as applicable, that has failed to pay any amount owed to the Partnership under a Partnership Loan within 15 days after demand for payment thereof is made by the Partnership.

 

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Depreciation ” means, for each fiscal year or other period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such fiscal year or other period, except that (a) with respect to any asset the Gross Asset Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such fiscal year or other period and which difference is being eliminated by use of the “remedial method” as defined by Section 1.704-3(d) of the Regulations, Depreciation for such fiscal year or other period shall be the amount of book basis recovered for such fiscal year or other period under the rules prescribed by Section 1.704-3(d)(2) of the Regulations, and (b) with respect to any other asset the Gross Asset Value of which differs from its adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such fiscal year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such fiscal year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided , however , that in the case of clause (b) above, if the adjusted tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes of an asset at the beginning of such fiscal year or other period is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.

 

Determination Date ” has the meaning set forth in the 2018 Advisor OPP Agreement.

 

Determination Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02(a)(ii).

 

Determination Period LTIP Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02(a)(ii).

 

Distributable Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02(d).

 

Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in the 2018 Advisor OPP Agreement.

 

Entity ” means any general partnership, limited partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust, business trust, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, cooperative or association.

 

Equity Plans ” means that certain 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan of the General Partner adopted by the Board of Directors effective as of the Listing Date, as amended from time to time, that certain 2018 Advisor Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan of the General Partner adopted by the Board of Directors effective as of the Listing Date, and any other equity plan of the General Partner.

 

Event of Bankruptcy ” as to any Person means (a) the filing of a petition for relief as to such Person as debtor or bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, or similar provision of law of any jurisdiction (except if such petition is contested by such Person and has been dismissed within 90 days); (b) the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person as finally determined by a court proceeding; (c) the filing by such Person of a petition or application to accomplish the same or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee for such Person or a substantial part of his assets; or (d) the commencement of any proceedings relating to such Person as a debtor under any other reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, adjustment of debt or liquidation law of any jurisdiction, whether now in existence or hereinafter in effect, either by such Person or by another, provided , that if such proceeding is commenced by another, such Person indicates his approval of such proceeding, consents thereto or acquiesces therein, or such proceeding is contested by such Person and has not been finally dismissed within 90 days.

 

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Excepted Holder Limit ” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

 

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

 

Forced Conversion ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.02(c) hereof.

 

Forced Conversion Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.02(c) hereof.

 

General Partner ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble, and any successor as general partner of the Partnership.

 

General Partner Loan ” means a loan extended by the General Partner to a Defaulting Limited Partner in the form of a payment on a Partnership Loan by the General Partner to the Partnership on behalf of the Defaulting Limited Partner.

 

General Partner Interest ” means the Partnership Interests held by the General Partner in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, which Partnership Interest is an interest as a general partner under the Act. The General Partner Interest may be expressed as a number of Partnership Units. A number of Class A Units held by the General Partner equal to one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of all outstanding Partnership Units shall be deemed to be the General Partner Interest. All other Partnership Units owned by the General Partner and any Partnership Units owned by any Affiliate or Subsidiary of the General Partner shall be considered to constitute a Limited Partnership Interest.

 

Gross Asset Value ” means, with respect to any asset of the Partnership, such asset’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

(a)          the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, without reduction for liabilities, as determined by the contributing Partner and the Partnership on the date of contribution thereof;

 

(b)          if the General Partner determines that an adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners, the Gross Asset Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted in accordance with Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and (g) of the Regulations to equal their respective gross fair market values, without reduction for liabilities, as reasonably determined by the General Partner, as of the following times:

 

(i)          Capital Contribution (other than a de minimis Capital Contribution) to the Partnership by a new or existing Partner as consideration for a Partnership Interest;

 

(ii)         the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership assets as consideration for the repurchase or redemption of a Partnership Interest;

 

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(iii)        the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Regulations; and

 

(iv)        the grant of an interest in the Partnership (other than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership by an existing Partner acting in a partner capacity, or by a new Partner acting in a partner capacity or in anticipation of becoming a Partner by such Partner;

 

(c)          the Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets distributed to any Partner shall be the gross fair market values of such assets (taking Section 7701(g) of the Code into account) without reduction for liabilities, as determined by the General Partner as of the date of distribution; and

 

(d)          the Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Sections 734(b) or 743(b) of the Code, but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) of the Regulations (as set forth in Section 5.01(d)(vi)); provided , however , that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this paragraph (d) to the extent that the General Partner determines that an adjustment pursuant to paragraph (b) is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this paragraph (d).

 

At all times, Gross Asset Values shall be adjusted by any Depreciation taken into account with respect to the Partnership’s assets for purposes of computing Net Income and Net Loss.

 

Indemnified Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(f).

 

Indemnifying Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(f).

 

Indemnitee ” means (i) any Person made a party to a proceeding by reason of its status as (A) the General Partner or (B) a director, manager or member of the General Partner or an officer or employee of the Partnership or the General Partner, and (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Independent Director ” means a director of the General Partner who meets Nasdaq (or any other national securities exchange on which REIT Shares may in the future be listed) requirements for an independent director as set forth from time to time.

 

Initial Share Price ” has the meaning set forth in the 2018 Advisor OPP Agreement.

 

IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States (or any successor organization).

 

Liability Shortfall ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(f)(iv).

 

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Limited Partner ” means a Person identified on Schedule A as holding a Limited Partner Interest, as it may be amended or restated from time to time, and any Person who becomes a Substitute Limited Partner or any additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a limited partner in the Partnership.

 

Limited Partnership Interest ” means a Partnership Interest held by a Limited Partner at any particular time representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interest of all Limited Partners, and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Limited Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement and in the Act, together with the obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with all the provisions of this Agreement and of the Act. Limited Partnership Interests may be expressed as a number of Class A Units or other Partnership Units.

 

Liquidation ” means (a) a dissolution or winding up of the General Partner or the Partnership, whether voluntary or involuntary, (b) a consolidation or merger of the General Partner or the Partnership with and into one or more entities which are not affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership which results in a Change in Control, or (c) a sale, transfer or other disposition (other than a deemed disposition pursuant to Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder) of all or substantially all of the General Partner’s or the Partnership’s assets or a related series of transactions that, taken together, result in the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the General Partner’s or the Partnership’s assets other than to an affiliate of the General Partner or the Partnership.

 

Liquidity Event ” has the meaning set forth in the Listing Note.

 

Listing ” means the commencement of trading of the Class A Common Stock of the General Partner on the Nasdaq, which occurred on the date of this Agreement.

 

Listing Amount ” has the meaning set forth in the Listing Note.

 

Listing Date ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Listing Note ” means that certain Listing Note Agreement, entered into July 19, 2018, between the Partnership and the Special Limited Partner as evidence of the Special Limited Partner’s right to receive, as a result of the Listing, an aggregate amount of distributions of Net Sales Proceeds equal to the Listing Amount.

 

LTIP Award ” means each or any, as the context requires, award of LTIP Units pursuant to an OPP Agreement or otherwise having the economic rights and entitlements and such other rights and entitlements, and subject to the vesting, forfeiture and additional restrictions on transfer, as set forth in the applicable OPP Agreement, including any amendments thereto.

 

LTIP Award Number ” means the quotient, rounded down to the nearest whole number, of (a) 72,000,0000, divided by (b) the Initial Share Price.

 

LTIP Conversion Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.02(b).

 

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LTIP Conversion Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.02(b) hereof.

 

LTIP Conversion Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.02(a) hereof.

 

LTIP Economic Capital Account Balances ” mean the Capital Account balances of the LTIP Units holders to the extent attributable to their ownership of LTIP Units reduced by any forfeiture allocations in accordance with Sections 13.01(c)(ii) and 13.01(e)(iv) due to the forfeiture of any LTIP Units.

 

LTIP Unit ” means a Partnership Unit which is designated as an LTIP Unit (including, as the context requires, the Master LTIP Unit) and which has the rights, preferences and other privileges designated in Section 5.01(c)(iii) and Article XIII hereof and elsewhere in this Agreement in respect of holders of LTIP Units. The allocation of LTIP Units among the Partners shall be set forth on Schedule A , as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date ” means the date as of which an LTIP Unit is earned pursuant to the terms of an OPP Agreement.

 

LTIP Unitholder ” means a Partner that holds LTIP Units.

 

Master LTIP Unit ” means the “Master LTIP Unit,” granted as of the Listing Date pursuant to the 2018 Advisor OPP Agreement, which represents the Award granted pursuant to the 2018 Advisor OPP Agreement and shall convert automatically on the Effective Date into a number of LTIP Units equal to the LTIP Award Number pursuant to Section 13.01(c)(vi)(2).

 

Majority in Interest ” means the Limited Partners holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the Percentage Interests of the Limited Partners.

 

Market Value ” has the meaning set forth in the Listing Note.

 

Merger ” has the meaning set forth in the Listing Note.

 

Nasdaq ” means The Nasdaq Global Select Market.

 

Net Income ” or “ Net Loss ” means, for each fiscal year or other applicable period, an amount equal to the Partnership’s taxable income or loss for such year or period as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes by the General Partner, determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss), adjusted as follows:

 

(a)          by including as an item of gross income any tax-exempt income received by the Partnership and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss;

 

(b)          by treating as a deductible expense any expenditure of the Partnership described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code (or which is treated as a Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditure pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) of the Regulations) and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss, including amounts paid or incurred to organize the Partnership (unless an election is made pursuant to Section 709(b) of the Code) or to promote the sale of interests in the Partnership and by treating deductions for any losses incurred in connection with the sale or exchange of Partnership property disallowed pursuant to Section 267(a)(1) or 707(b) of the Code as expenditures described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code;

 

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(c)          by taking into account Depreciation in lieu of depreciation, depletion, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing taxable income or loss;

 

(d)          by computing gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Partnership property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes by reference to the Gross Asset Value of such property rather than its adjusted tax basis;

 

(e)          if an adjustment of the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset which requires that the Capital Accounts of the Partnership be adjusted pursuant to Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e), (f) and (g) of the Regulations, by taking into account the amount of such adjustment as if such adjustment represented additional Net Income or Net Loss pursuant to Section 5.01;

 

(f)          by excluding Net Property Gain and Net Property Loss; and

 

(g)          by not taking into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss items specially allocated to the Partners pursuant to Sections 5.01(c), 5.01(d), 15.05(d) and 13.01(e)(iv).

 

Net Property Gain ” or “ Net Property Loss ” means, for each fiscal year or other applicable period, an amount equal to the Partnership’s net taxable gain or loss for such year or period from the disposition of Property, including the net capital gain realized in connection with the actual or hypothetical sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, including but not limited to net capital gain realized in connection with an adjustment of the Gross Asset Value of any Property which requires that the Capital Accounts of the Partners be adjusted pursuant to Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e), (f) and (g) of the Regulations. For these purposes, the Gross Asset Value of the Property may reflect the market capitalization of the General Partner (increased by the amount of any Partnership liabilities).

 

Net Sales Proceeds ” means the net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of Property, as determined by the General Partner.

 

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Sections 1.704-2(b)(1) and 1.704-2(c) of the Regulations.

 

Nonrecourse Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the Regulations.

 

Notice of Redemption ” means the Notice of Exercise of Class A Unit Redemption Right substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.

 

Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(a) hereof.

 

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OPP Agreement ” means any outperformance award agreement adopted by and among the General Partner, the Partnership and any grantee thereunder, including without limitation the 2018 Advisor OPP Agreement.

 

Participant ” has the meaning set forth in the Equity Plans.

 

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

 

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

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). A Partner’s share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5).

 

Partner Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and (2) of the Regulations, and the amount of Partner Nonrecourse Deductions with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt for a Partnership taxable year shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Section 1.704-2(i)(2) of the Regulations.

 

Partnership ” means American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., a limited partnership formed under the Act and pursuant to this Agreement, and any successor thereto.

 

Partnership Interest ” means an ownership interest in the Partnership held by either a Limited Partner or the General Partner, and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement and in the Act, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and of the Act. A Partnership Interest may be expressed as a number of Class A Units, Class B Units, LTIP Units or other Partnership Units.

 

Partnership Loan ” means a loan from the Partnership to the Partner on the day the Partnership pays over the excess of the Withheld Amount over the Distributable Amount to a taxing authority.

 

Partnership Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(d). In accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(d), the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain is determined by first computing, for each Partnership nonrecourse liability, any gain the Partnership would realize if it disposed of the property subject to that liability for no consideration other than full satisfaction of the liability, and then aggregating the separately computed gains. A Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1).

 

Partnership Record Date ” means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of cash pursuant to Section 5.02, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution to its stockholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

 

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Partnership Representative ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(a).

 

Partnership Unit ” means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder, and includes Class A Units, Class B Units, LTIP Units (including the Master LTIP Unit) and any other class or series of Partnership Units that may be established after the date hereof. The number of Partnership Units outstanding and the Percentage Interests represented by such Partnership Units, if any, are set forth on Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended or restated from time to time. The ownership of Partnership Units may be evidenced by a certificate in a form approved by the General Partner.

 

Pass-Through Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(a).

 

Percentage Interest ” means the percentage determined by dividing the number of Partnership Units of a Partner by the sum of the number of Partnership Units of all Partners (other than the Preferred Units).

 

Person ” means any individual or Entity.

 

Precontribution Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(f)(iii).

 

Property ” means any property or other investment in which the Partnership, directly or indirectly, holds an ownership interest.

 

Redemption Shares ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06(a) hereof.

 

Redeeming Limited Partner ” has the meaning provided in Section 8.04(a).

 

Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06(a).

 

Regulations ” means the U.S. federal income tax regulations issued under the Code, as amended and as hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Regulations shall mean that provision of the Regulations on the date hereof and any successor provision of the Regulations.

 

REIT ” means a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

 

REIT Expenses ” means (a) costs and expenses relating to the formation and continuity of existence and operation of the General Partner and any Subsidiaries thereof (which Subsidiaries shall, for purposes hereof, be included within the definition of the General Partner), including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any director, officer or employee of the General Partner, and reasonable expenses incurred to maintain the General Partner’s qualification as a REIT, (b) costs and expenses relating to any public offering and registration, or private offering, of securities by the General Partner, and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, including, without limitation, underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to any such offering of securities, and any costs and expenses associated with any claims made by any holders of such securities or any underwriters or placement agents thereof, (c) costs and expenses associated with any repurchase of any securities by the General Partner, (d) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic or other reports and communications by the General Partner under federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with the Commission, (e) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the Commission and any securities exchange, (f) costs and expenses associated with compensation of the employees of the General Partner (including, without limitation, health, vision, dental, disability and life insurance benefits), (g) costs and expenses associated with any 401(k) plan, incentive plan, bonus plan or other plan providing for compensation for the employees of the General Partner, (h) costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner relating to any issuing or redemption of Partnership Interests and (i) all other operating or administrative costs of the General Partner incurred in the ordinary course of its business on behalf of or in connection with the Partnership.

 

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REIT Requirements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a)(xxiv).

 

REIT Share ” means one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the General Partner (or Successor Entity, as the case may be). REIT Shares may be issued in one or more classes or series in accordance with the terms of the Charter. In the event there are more than one class or series of REIT Shares, the term “REIT Shares” shall, as the context requires, be deemed to refer to the class or series of REIT Shares that correspond to the class or series of Partnership Units for which the reference to REIT Shares is made. As of the date of this Agreement the General Partner has three classes of common stock designated as: “Class A Common Stock,” “Class B-1 Common Stock” and “Class B-2 Common Stock.” When used with reference to Class A Units, the term “REIT Shares” refers to shares of Class A Common Stock unless the context requires otherwise as described in the recitals.

 

REIT Shares Amount ” means the number of REIT Shares equal to the product of (X) the number of Class A Units offered for redemption by a Redeeming Limited Partner, multiplied by (Y) the Conversion Factor as adjusted to and including the Specified Redemption Date; provided , that in the event the General Partner issues to all holders of REIT Shares rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the holders of REIT Shares to subscribe for or purchase additional REIT Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively, the “ Rights ”), and such Rights have not expired at the Specified Redemption Date, then the REIT Shares Amount shall also include such Rights issuable to a holder of the REIT Shares Amount on the record date fixed for purposes of determining the holders of REIT Shares entitled to Rights.

 

Restriction Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04(f).

 

Revised Partnership Audit Procedures ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(a).

 

Rights ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “REIT Shares Amount” contained herein.

 

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule that may be promulgated by the Commission.

 

S-3 Eligible Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06(a).

 

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Safe Harbor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(e).

 

Safe Harbor Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(e).

 

Safe Harbor Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05(e).

 

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

 

Separate Registration Rights Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06.

 

Service ” means the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Special Limited Partner ” means the Person identified on Schedule A as holding the Special Limited Partner Interest, which shall cause such Person to be a limited partner of the Partnership and recognized as such under applicable Delaware law, but not a “Limited Partner” within the meaning of this Agreement.

 

Special Limited Partner Interest ” means the interest of the Special Limited Partner in the Partnership representing its right as the holder of an interest in distributions described in Sections 5.02(b)(i)(A), 5.02(b)(i)(B)(3) and 5.02(e) (and any corresponding allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction under this Agreement).

 

Specified Redemption Date ” means the first business day of the month that is at least 60 calendar days after the receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (ii) the outstanding equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

Subsidiary Partnership ” means any partnership or limited liability company in which the General Partner, the Partnership or a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Partner or the Partnership owns a partnership or limited liability company interest.

 

Substitute Limited Partner ” means any Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.03 hereof.

 

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

 

Survivor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(b).

 

Tax Items ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(f)(i).

 

Tax Matters Partner ” means the “tax matters partner” as such terms is defined in Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code as in effect prior to the Budget Act.

 

Trading Day ” means a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which a security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

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Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(a).

 

Transfer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).

 

TRS ” means a taxable REIT subsidiary (as defined in Section 856(l) of the Code) of the General Partner.

 

Unvested LTIP Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.01(c)(i) hereof.

 

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

 

Vested LTIP Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.01(c)(i) hereof.

 

“Withheld Amount ” means any amount required to be withheld by the Partnership with respect to a Partner and paid over to any taxing authority as a result of any allocation or distribution of income to a Partner or any other transaction.

 

ARTICLE II
FORMATION OF PARTNERSHIP

 

2.01          Formation of the Partnership . The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act and the Original Agreement and continued upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, the rights and obligations of the Partners and administration and termination of the Partnership shall be governed by the Act. The Partnership Interest of each Partner shall be personal property for all purposes.

 

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2.02         Name . The Name of the Partnership shall be “American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P.” and the Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof. The words “Limited Partnership,” “LP,” “L.P.” or “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Partners of such change in the next regular communication by the Partnership to the Partners. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement and without the consent of any Limited Partner or other Person, the General Partner may amend this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership to reflect any change in the name of the Partnership.

 

2.03         Registered Office and Agent; Principal Office . The address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is located at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in the State of Delaware at such address is the Corporation Service Company, a Delaware corporation. The General Partner may, from time to time, designate a new registered agent and/or registered office for the Partnership and, notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, may amend this Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership to reflect such designation without the consent of the Limited Partners or any other Person. The principal office of the Partnership is located at: c/o American Finance Trust, Inc., 405 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10022 or such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places as the General Partner deems necessary or desirable.

 

2.04         Term and Dissolution .

 

(a)          The term of the Partnership shall continue in full force and effect until the Partnership is dissolved and its affairs are wound up upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

 

(i)          the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner or the dissolution, death, removal or withdrawal of a General Partner or any other event that results in the General Partner ceasing to be a general partner of the Partnership under the Act unless (A) the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.04(b) hereof, or (B) at the time of the occurrence of such event there is at least one remaining general partner of the Partnership who is hereby authorized to and does carry on the business of the Partnership;

 

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(ii)         the passage of 90 days after the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership ( provided , that if the Partnership receives an installment obligation as consideration for such sale or other disposition, the Partnership shall continue, unless sooner dissolved under the provisions of this Agreement, until such time as such installment obligations are paid in full);

 

(iii)        the redemption of all Limited Partnership Interests, unless the General Partner determines to continue the Partnership by the admission of one or more additional Limited Partners effective as of such redemption;

 

(iv)        the election in writing by the General Partner that the Partnership should be dissolved;

 

(v)         at any time there are no limited partners of the Partnership, unless the business of the Partnership is continued in accordance with the Act; or

 

(vi)        the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership under Section 17-802 of the Act.

 

(b)          Upon dissolution of the Partnership (unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.04(b) hereof), the General Partner (or, if dissolution of the Partnership should occur by reason of Section 2.04(a)(i) or the General Partner is unable to act as liquidator, a liquidating trustee of the Partnership or other representative designated by a Majority in Interest) shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Partnership, liquidate the Partnership’s assets and apply and distribute the proceeds thereof in accordance with Section 5.06 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner or the liquidating trustee, as the case may be, may, subject to the Act, either (i) defer liquidation of, or withhold from distribution for a reasonable time, any assets of the Partnership (including those necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and obligations), or (ii) distribute the assets to the Partners in kind.

 

(c)          The Partnership shall terminate when (i) all of the assets of the Partnership, after payment of or due provision for all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership shall have been distributed to the Partners in the manner provided for in this Agreement and (ii) the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership shall have been canceled in the manner required by the Act.

 

2.05        Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership . The General Partner shall execute, acknowledge, record and file at the expense of the Partnership any Certificate (including the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership) and any and all amendments thereto and all requisite fictitious name statements and notices in such places and jurisdictions as may be necessary to cause the Partnership to be treated as a limited partnership under, and otherwise to comply with, the laws of each state or other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business.

 

2.06        Certificates Describing Partnership Units . The Partnership Interests shall not be evidenced by certificates unless requested by a Partner. At the request of a Partner, the General Partner, at its option, may issue a certificate evidencing such Partner’s Partnership Interests, including the class or series and number of Partnership Units owned and the Percentage Interest represented by such Partnership Units as of the date of such certificate. Any such certificate (i) shall be in form and substance as determined by the General Partner, (ii) shall not be negotiable and (iii) shall bear a legend to the following effect:

 

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THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE. THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE GOVERNED BY AND TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF AMERICAN FINANCE Operating Partnership , L.P., AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME.

 

Each certificate evidencing Partnership Interests shall be executed by manual or facsimile signature of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership. The Partnership shall maintain books for the purpose of registering the transfer of Partnership Interests. In connection with a Partner’s transfer in accordance with this Agreement of any Partnership Interests, the certificate(s) evidencing the Partnership Interests, if any, shall be delivered to the Partnership for cancellation, and the Partnership shall thereupon issue a new certificate to the transferee evidencing the Partnership Interests that were transferred and, if applicable, the Partnership shall issue a new certificate to the transferor evidencing any Partnership Interests registered in the name of the transferor that were not transferred.

 

Each Partnership Interest shall constitute a “security” within the meaning of, and governed by, (i) Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (including Section 8-102(a)(15) thereof) as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware, and (ii) the corresponding provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction that now or hereafter substantially includes the 1994 revisions to Article 8 thereof as adopted by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved by the American Bar Association on February 14, 1995.

 

ARTICLE III
BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

 

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement for the purpose of engaging in any of the foregoing or the ownership and disposition of interests in any entity engaged in any of the foregoing and (iii) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing; provided , however , that any business to be conducted by the Partnership shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT, unless the General Partner otherwise ceases to, or the Board of Directors determines that the General Partner shall no longer, qualify as a REIT. In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the General Partner’s right in its sole and absolute discretion to cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the General Partner has elected REIT status and the General Partner’s continued qualification as a REIT and the avoidance of income and excise taxes on the General Partner inure to the benefit of all the Partners and not solely to the General Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partners agree that the General Partner may terminate or revoke its status as a REIT under the Code at any time. The General Partner shall also be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” taxable as a corporation for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code.

 

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ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

 

4.01        Capital Contributions . The General Partner and each Limited Partner has made (or shall be deemed to have made) a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in exchange for the Partnership Units set forth opposite such Partner’s name on Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended or restated from time to time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to reflect accurately sales, exchanges or other Transfers, redemptions, Capital Contributions, the issuance of additional Partnership Units or similar events having an effect on a Partner’s ownership of Partnership Units.

 

4.02        Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Units . Except as provided in this Section 4.02 or in Section 4.03 hereof, the Partners shall have no right or obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership. The General Partner may contribute additional capital to the Partnership, from time to time, and receive additional Partnership Interests, in the form of Partnership Units, in respect thereof, in the manner contemplated in this Section 4.02.

 

(a)           Issuances of Additional Partnership Units .

 

(i)           General . As of the effective date of this Agreement, the Partnership shall have three classes of Partnership Units, entitled “Class A Units,” “Class B Units” and “LTIP Units” respectively. The Class B Units and LTIP Units shall have the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Class A Units, except as set forth in Articles XII and XIII hereof. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership to issue such additional Partnership Interests, in the form of Partnership Units, for any Partnership purpose at any time or from time to time to the Partners (including the General Partner and/or the Limited Partner) or to other Persons, and admit such Persons as additional general partners of the Partnership pursuant to Section 7.03 or additional Limited Partners pursuant to this Section 4.02, for such consideration, or in connection with the performance of past, present or future services to the Partnership, and on such terms and conditions as shall be established by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partners or any other Person. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed admitted to the Partnership as an additional Limited Partner upon the written consent of the General Partner and the execution of a counterpart to this Agreement by such Person. The General Partner’s determination that consideration is adequate shall be conclusive insofar as the adequacy of consideration relates to whether the Partnership Units are validly issued and fully paid. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, any additional Partnership Units issued thereby may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers, preferences and duties, including rights, powers, preferences and duties senior and superior to the then-outstanding Partnership Units held by the Limited Partners, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of any Limited Partner or other Person, including, without limitation, (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Units; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Units to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Units upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; and (iv) the right, if any, of the holder of each such class or series of Partnership Units to vote on Partnership matters; provided , however , that no additional Partnership Units shall be issued to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) unless:

 

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(1)          (A) the additional Partnership Units are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Shares of or other interests in the General Partner, which shares or interests have designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Units issued to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.02 and (B) the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the consideration received by the General Partner from the issuance of such REIT Shares or other interests in the General Partner;

 

(2)          (A) the additional Partnership Units are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Shares of or other interests in the General Partner pursuant to a taxable share dividend declared by the General Partner, which shares or interests have designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Units issued to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.02, (B) if the General Partner allows the holders of its REIT Shares to elect whether to receive such dividend in REIT Shares, other interests of the General Partner or cash, the Partnership will give the Limited Partners (excluding the General Partner or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the General Partner) the same election to elect to receive (I) Partnership Units or cash or, (II) at the election of the General Partner, REIT Shares or cash, and (C) if the Partnership issues additional Partnership Units pursuant to this Section 4.02(a)(i)(2), then an amount of income equal to the value of the Partnership Units received will be allocated to those holders of Class A Units that elect to receive additional Partnership Units;

 

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(3)          the additional Partnership Units are issued in exchange for property owned by the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) with a fair market value, as determined by the General Partner, in good faith, equal to the value of the Partnership Units; or

 

(4)          the additional Partnership Units are issued to all Partners in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Units for less than fair market value, so long as the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership.

 

Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the General Partner may amend this Agreement in any manner in connection with the creation, authorization and/or issuance of any additional Partnership Interests, all without the approval of the Limited Partners or any other Person.

 

(ii)          Upon Issuance of Additional Securities . The General Partner shall not issue any additional REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares issued in connection with an exchange pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or a taxable share dividend as described in Section 4.02(a)(i)(2) hereof) or Rights (collectively, “ Additional Securities ”) other than to all holders of REIT Shares, unless (A) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) Partnership Units or Rights having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the Additional Securities, and (B) the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) contributes the proceeds from the issuance of such Additional Securities and from any exercise of Rights contained in such Additional Securities to the Partnership; provided , however , that the General Partner is allowed to issue Additional Securities in connection with an acquisition of Property to be held directly by the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner), but if and only if, such direct acquisition and issuance of Additional Securities have been approved by a majority of the Independent Directors. Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to issue Additional Securities for less than fair market value, and the General Partner is authorized to cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) corresponding Partnership Units, so long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the Partnership and (y) the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) contributes all proceeds from such issuance to the Partnership, including without limitation, the issuance of REIT Shares and corresponding Partnership Units pursuant to a share purchase plan providing for purchases of REIT Shares at a discount from fair market value or pursuant to share awards, including share options that have an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the REIT Shares, either at the time of issuance or at the time of exercise, and restricted or other share awards approved by the Board of Directors. For example, in the event the General Partner issues REIT Shares for a cash purchase price and the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) contributes all of the proceeds of such issuance to the Partnership as required hereunder, the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall be issued a number of additional Partnership Units equal to the product of (A) the number of such REIT Shares issued by the General Partner, the proceeds of which were so contributed, multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is 100%, and the denominator of which is the Conversion Factor in effect on the date of such contribution.

 

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(b)           Certain Contributions of Proceeds of Issuance of REIT Shares . In connection with any and all issuances of REIT Shares, the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall make Capital Contributions to the Partnership of the proceeds therefrom, provided , that if the proceeds actually received and contributed by the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any underwriter’s discount, commissions, placement fees or other expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership constituting the sum of (i) such net proceeds and (ii) an intangible asset in an amount equal to the capitalized costs of the General Partner relating to such issuance of REIT Shares or other interests in the General Partner. Upon any such Capital Contribution by the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner), the Capital Account of the General Partner (or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall be increased by the amount of its Capital Contribution as described in the previous sentence.

 

(c)           Redemptions or Repurchases of Shares . If the General Partner shall redeem or repurchase shares of any class of its shares of common stock, the purchase price thereof and all costs incurred in connection with such redemption or repurchase shall be reimbursed to the General Partner by the Partnership pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof and the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to redeem or repurchase an equivalent number of Partnership Units of the appropriate class or series held by the General Partner (which, in the case of REIT Shares, shall be a number equal to the quotient of the number of such REIT Shares divided by the Conversion Factor) in the manner provided in Section 6.10 hereof.

 

(d)           Equity Plans . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if at any time or from time to time:

 

(i)          restricted REIT Shares are issued in accordance with the terms of the Equity Plans, the General Partner shall: (A) be deemed to have contributed to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution an amount equal to the Value of a REIT Share multiplied by the number of restricted REIT Shares issued by the General Partner to the recipient of such restricted REIT Shares, and (B) cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner a number of Class A Units equal to the number of restricted REIT Shares delivered by the General Partner to such recipient of restricted REIT Shares divided by the Conversion Factor, which Class A Units shall be subject to the same or substantially similar restrictions and other conditions (including forfeiture) imposed on the restricted REIT Shares including restrictions as to the payment of distributions, if any.

 

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(ii)         Options (as such term is defined in the Equity Plans) granted in connection with the General Partner’s Equity Plans are exercised, the General Partner shall: (A) as soon as practicable after such exercise, contribute to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution an amount equal to the exercise price paid to the General Partner by such exercising party in connection with the exercise of the Options, (B) be deemed to have contributed to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution an amount equal to the excess of the Value of a REIT Share (as of the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which the purchase of the REIT Shares by such exercising party is consummated) over the amount per REIT Share contributed in respect of the exercise of such Options pursuant to clause (A) above multiplied by the number of REIT shares delivered by the General Partner to such exercising party, and (C) cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner a number of Class A Units equal to the number of REIT Shares delivered by the General Partner to such exercising party divided by the Conversion Factor.

 

(iii)        REIT Shares are issued to or acquired by a Participant in the General Partner’s Equity Plans in connection with Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Units or any Other Stock-Based Awards (as such terms are defined in the Equity Plans), the General Partner shall: (A) contribute to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution any amount paid to the General Partner by such Participant in connection with the receipt of such REIT Shares, (B) be deemed to have contributed to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution an amount equal to the excess of the Value of a REIT Share (as of the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which the REIT Shares are issued to or acquired by such Participant) over the amount per REIT Share contributed pursuant to clause (A) above multiplied by the number of REIT shares delivered by the General Partner to such Participant, and (C) cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner a number of Class A Units equal to the number of REIT Shares delivered by the General Partner to such Participant divided by the Conversion Factor.

 

4.03        Additional Funding . If the General Partner determines that it is in the best interests of the Partnership to provide for additional Partnership funds (“ Additional Funds ”) for any Partnership purpose, the General Partner may (a) cause the Partnership to obtain such funds from outside borrowings, or (b) elect to have the General Partner or any of its Affiliates provide such Additional Funds to the Partnership through loans or otherwise. The General Partner shall not issue any debt securities or notes or otherwise obtain funds from outside borrowings unless the General Partner lends to the Partnership (i) the proceeds of, or consideration received for, such debt securities, notes or outside borrowings on the same terms and conditions, including interest rate and repayment schedule, as shall be applicable with respect to or incurred in connection with the issuance of such debt securities or notes or in connection with otherwise obtaining funds from outside borrowings, and (ii) the proceeds of, or consideration received from, any subsequent exercise, exchange or conversion thereof (if applicable).

 

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4.04         Capital Accounts . A separate Capital Account shall be established and maintained for each Partner.

 

4.05         Percentage Interests . If the number of outstanding Class A Units, Class B Units, LTIP Units or other class or series of Partnership Units increases or decreases during a taxable year, each Partner’s Percentage Interest shall be adjusted by the General Partner effective as of the effective date of each such increase or decrease to a percentage equal to the number of Class A Units, Class B Units, LTIP Units or other class or series of Partnership Units held by such Partner divided by the aggregate number of Class A Units, Class B Units, LTIP Units or other class or series of Partnership Units, as applicable, outstanding after giving effect to such increase or decrease. If the Partners’ Percentage Interests are adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.05, the Net Income and Net Loss for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs shall be allocated between the part of the year ending on the effective date of such adjustment and the part of the year beginning on the following day either (i) as if the taxable year had ended on the date of the adjustment or (ii) based on the number of days in each part. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate Net Income and Net Loss for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs. The allocation of Net Income and Net Loss for the earlier part of the year shall be based on the Percentage Interests before adjustment, and the allocation of Net Income and Net Loss for the later part shall be based on the adjusted Percentage Interests.

 

4.06         No Interest on Contributions . No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution.

 

4.07         Return of Capital Contributions . No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of its Capital Contribution or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as specifically provided in this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no obligation to return to any Partner or withdrawn Partner any part of such Partner’s Capital Contribution for so long as the Partnership continues in existence.

 

4.08         No Third-Party Beneficiary . No creditor or other third party (other than an Indemnitee) having dealings with the Partnership shall have the right to enforce the right or obligation of any Partner to make Capital Contributions or loans or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity, it being understood and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and may be enforced solely by, the parties hereto, Indemnitees and their respective successors and assigns. To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the rights or obligations of the Partners herein set forth to make Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership shall be deemed an asset of the Partnership for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor may such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by the Partnership or pledged or encumbered by the Partnership to secure any debt or other obligation of the Partnership or of any of the Partners. In addition, it is the intent of the parties hereto that no distribution to any Limited Partner shall be deemed a return of money or other property in violation of the Act. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Limited Partner is obligated to return such money or property, such obligation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the obligation of such Limited Partner and not of the General Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a deficit Capital Account of a Partner shall not be deemed to be a liability of such Partner nor an asset or property of the Partnership.

 

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ARTICLE V
NET INCOME AND NET LOSS; DISTRIBUTIONS

 

5.01         Allocations .

 

(a)           Allocations of Net Income and Net Loss . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and subject to Sections 12.02(b) and 13.01(c)(iii), after giving effect to the special allocations in Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d), Net Income, Net Loss and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain, loss or deduction, of the Partnership, without duplication, shall be allocated among the Partners as follows:

 

(i)           first , to the Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units pro rata and pari passu to the extent of and in proportion to the distribution of Cash Available for Distribution to such Partners with respect to their Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units in accordance with Section 5.02(a)(i);

 

(ii)          second , to the Partners holding LTIP Units pro rata to the extent of and in proportion to the distribution of Cash Available for Distribution to such Partners with respect to their Vested LTIP Units in accordance with Section 5.02(a)(ii); and

 

(iii)         thereafter , to the Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units pro rata and pari passu in accordance with each such Partner’s respective Percentage Interest with respect to such Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units; provided , that for the avoidance of doubt, Net Loss, and to the extent necessary, individual items of loss or deductions shall be allocated (A) first to the Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units pro rata and pari passu in accordance with each such Partner’s respective Percentage Interest with respect to such Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units until such Partners have received cumulative allocations of Net Loss equal to the cumulative amount of Net Income allocated to them pursuant to this Section 5.01(a)(iii), (B) then to the Partners holding LTIP Units to the extent of and in a manner that has the effect of reversing the allocations of Net Income to such Partners pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(ii), (C) then to the Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units to the extent of and in a manner that has the effect of reversing the allocations of Net Income to such Partners pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(i), (D) then to the Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units pro rata and pari passu in accordance with each such Partner’s respective Percentage Interest with respect to such Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units until each such Partner’s Capital Account with respect to their Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units has been reduced to zero, but not below zero ( provided , further , that if the Capital Account of one or more such Partners, but not all such Partners, has been reduced to zero, any remaining Net Loss, and to the extent necessary, individual item of loss or deduction shall be allocated to the remaining Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units in the same manner as in this Section 5.01(a)(iii)(D) until the Capital Account of all such Partners with respect to such Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units has been reduced to zero), and (E) thereafter to the General Partner.

 

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(b)           Allocations of Net Property Gain and Net Property Loss . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, after giving effect to the special allocations in Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d), Net Property Gain, Net Property Loss and, to the extent necessary, individual items of gain or loss comprising Net Property Gain and Net Property Loss of the Partnership, without duplication, shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner such that the Capital Account of each Partner immediately after making such allocation, is, as nearly as possible, equal proportionately to (i) the distributions that would be made to such Partner pursuant to Section 5.02(b) if the Partnership were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Gross Asset Value, as determined in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner, all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Gross Asset Value of the assets securing such liability), and the net assets of the Partnership were distributed in accordance with Section 5.02(b) to the Partners immediately after making such allocation, minus (ii) such Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain and the amount, if any and without duplication, that the Partner would be obligated to contribute to the capital of the Partnership, all computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets.

 

(c)           Special Allocations

 

(i)           Special Allocations Regarding Class B Units . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Sections 5.01, after giving effect to the regulatory allocations in Section 5.01(d) but prior to any allocations under Section 5.01(b), Net Property Gain and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income and gain comprising Net Property Gain of the Partnership, shall be allocated to the Partners holding Class B Units until their Class B Economic Capital Account Balances are equal to (A) the Class A Unit Economic Balance, multiplied by (B) the number of their Class B Units; provided , that no such Net Property Gain and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income and gain comprising Net Property Gain of the Partnership, will be allocated with respect to any particular Class B Unit unless and to the extent that the Class A Unit Economic Balance exceeds the Class A Unit Economic Balance in existence at the time such Class B Unit was issued. Any allocations made pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 5.01(c)(i) shall be made among the holders of Class B Units in proportion to the amounts required to be allocated to each under this Section 5.01(c)(i). The parties agree that the intent of this Section 5.01(c)(i) is to make the Capital Account balance associated with each Class B Unit to be economically equivalent to the Capital Account balance associated with the Class A Units outstanding (on a per-unit basis), but only if and to the extent that the Capital Account balance associated with the Class A Units outstanding, without regard to the allocations under this Section 5.01(c)(i), has increased on a per-unit basis since the issuance of the relevant Class B Unit. To the extent Net Property Loss is allocated to Partners holding Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.01(b), such Net Property Loss shall be allocated among the Partners holding Class B Units in a manner that reverses the allocation of Net Property Gain to such Partner pursuant to this Section 5.01(c)(i).

 

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(ii)          Special Allocations Regarding the Special Limited Partner Interest . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Sections 5.01, after giving effect to the regulatory allocations in Section 5.01(d), and to the extent not previously allocated pursuant to Section 5.01(d)(ii), and the special allocations in Section 5.01(c)(i), but prior to any allocations under Section 5.01(b), Net Property Gain and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income and gain comprising Net Property Gain of the Partnership shall be allocated to the Special Limited Partner until the Special Limited Partner has received aggregate allocations of income for all fiscal years equal to the Listing Amount.

 

(iii)         Special Allocations Regarding LTIP Units . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Sections 5.01, after giving effect to the regulatory allocations in Section 5.01(d) and the special allocations in Sections 5.01(c)(i) and 5.01(c)(ii), but prior to any allocations under Section 5.01(b), Net Property Gain and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income and gain comprising Net Property Gain of the Partnership, shall be allocated to the LTIP Unitholders until their LTIP Economic Capital Account Balances are equal to (i) the Class A Unit Economic Balance, multiplied by (ii) the number of their LTIP Units; provided that no such Net Property Gain and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income and gain comprising Net Property Gain of the Partnership, will be allocated with respect to any particular LTIP Unit unless and to the extent that the Class A Unit Economic Balance exceeds the Class A Unit Economic Balance in existence at the time such LTIP Unit was issued. Any allocations made pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 5.01(c)(v) shall be made among the LTIP Unitholders in proportion to the amounts required to be allocated to each under this Section 5.01(c)(v). The parties agree that the intent of this Section 5.01(c)(v) is to make the Capital Account balance associated with each LTIP Unit to be economically equivalent to the Capital Account balance associated with the Class A Units outstanding (on a per-unit basis), but only if and to the extent that the Capital Account balance associated with the Class A Units outstanding, without regard to the allocations under this Section 5.01(c)(v), has increased on a per-unit basis since the issuance of the relevant LTIP Unit. To the extent Net Property Loss is allocated to LTIP Unitholders pursuant to Section 5.01(b), such Net Property Loss shall be allocated among the LTIP Unitholders in a manner that reverses the allocation of Net Property Gain to the LTIP Unitholders pursuant to this Section 5.01(c)(v).

 

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(d)           Regulatory Allocations .

 

(i)           Minimum Gain Chargeback (Nonrecourse Liabilities) . Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.704-2(f) of the Regulations, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain for any Partnership fiscal year, each Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain to the extent required by Section 1.704-2(f) of the Regulations. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Sections 1.704-2(f) and (i) of the Regulations. This Section 5.01(d)(i) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in said section of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.01(d)(i) shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant hereto.

 

(ii)          Partner Minimum Gain Chargeback . Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations, if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain during any fiscal year, each Partner who has a share of the Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Section 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations, shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to that Partner’s share of the net decrease in the Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain to the extent and in the manner required by Section 1.704-2(i) of the Regulations. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and (j)(2) of the Regulations. This Section 5.01(d)(ii) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement with respect to Partner Nonrecourse Debt contained in said section of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith. Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.01(d)(ii) shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant hereto.

 

(iii)         Qualified Income Offset . If a Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations or distributions described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6) of the Regulations, and such Partner has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, items of Partnership income (including gross income) and gain shall be specially allocated to such Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as quickly as possible as required by the Regulations. This Section 5.01(d)(iii) is intended to constitute a “qualified income offset” under Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(iv)         Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions for any fiscal year or other applicable period shall be allocated to the Partners in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

(v)          Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any fiscal year or other applicable period with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt shall be specially allocated to the Partner that bears the economic risk of loss for such Partner Nonrecourse Debt (as determined under Sections 1.704-2(b)(4) and 1.704-2(i)(1) of the Regulations)

 

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(vi)         Section 754 Adjustment . To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset of the Partnership pursuant to Section 734(b) of the Code or Section 743(b) of the Code is required, pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) of the Regulations, to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated among the Partners in a manner consistent with the manner in which each of their respective Capital Accounts are required to be adjusted pursuant to such section of the Regulations.

 

(vii)        Capital Account Deficits . If any Partner has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any fiscal year or other applicable period which is in excess of the amount such Partner is obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided , that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.01(d)(vii) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in excess of such amount after all other allocations provided for under this Agreement have been made as if Section 5.01(d)(iii) and this Section 5.01(d)(vii) were not in this Agreement.

 

(e)           Allocations Between Transferor and Transferee . If a Partner transfers any part or all of its Partnership Interest, the distributive shares of the various items of Net Income and Net Loss allocable among the Partners during such fiscal year of the Partnership shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee Partner either (i) as if the Partnership’s fiscal year had ended on the date of the transfer or (ii) based on the number of days of such fiscal year that each was a Partner without regard to the results of Partnership activities in the respective portions of such fiscal year in which the transferor and the transferee were Partners. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate the distributive shares of the various items of Net Income and Net Loss between the transferor and the transferee Partner.

 

(f)           Tax Allocations .

 

(i)           Items of Income or Loss . Except as is otherwise provided in this Section 5.01, an allocation of Net Income, Net Loss, Net Property Gain or Net Property Loss to a Partner shall be treated as an allocation to such Partner of the same share of each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and item of tax-exempt income or Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditure (or item treated as such expenditure pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) of the Regulations) (“ Tax Items ”) that is taken into account in computing Net Income, Net Loss, Net Property Gain or Net Property Loss.

 

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(ii)          Section 1245/1250 Recapture . Subject to Section 5.01(f)(iii) below, if any portion of gain from the sale of Partnership assets is treated as gain which is ordinary income by virtue of the application of Sections 1245 or 1250 of the Code (“ Affected Gain ”), then such Affected Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the same proportion that the depreciation and amortization deductions giving rise to the Affected Gain were allocated. This Section 5.01(f)(ii) shall not alter the amount of Net Income or Net Property Gain (or items thereof) allocated among the Partners, but merely the character of such Net Income or Net Property Gain (or items thereof). For purposes hereof, in order to determine the proportionate allocations of depreciation and amortization deductions for each fiscal year or other applicable period, such deductions shall be deemed allocated on the same basis as Net Income, Net Loss, Net Property Gain and Net Property Loss for such respective period.

 

(iii)         Precontribution Gain, Revaluations . With respect to any Contributed Property, the Partnership shall use any permissible method contained in the Regulations promulgated under Section 704(c) of the Code selected by the General Partner, in its sole discretion, to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset and the fair market value of such asset as of the time of the contribution (“ Precontribution Gain ”). Each Partner hereby agrees to report income, gain, loss and deduction on such Partner’s U.S. federal income tax return in a manner consistent with the method used by the Partnership. If any asset has a Gross Asset Value which is different from the Partnership’s adjusted basis for such asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes because the Partnership has revalued such asset pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) of the Regulations, the allocations of Tax Items shall be made in accordance with the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations and the methods of allocation promulgated thereunder. The intent of this Section 5.01(f)(iii) is that each Partner who contributed to the capital of the Partnership a Contributed Property will bear, through reduced allocations of depreciation, increased allocations of gain or other items, the tax detriments associated with any Precontribution Gain. This Section 5.01(f)(iii) is to be interpreted consistently with such intent.

 

(iv)         Excess Nonrecourse Liability Safe Harbor . Pursuant to Section 1.752-3(a)(3) of the Regulations, solely for purposes of determining each Partner’s proportionate share of the “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the Partnership (as defined in Section 1.752-3(a)(3) of the Regulations), the Partners’ respective interests in Partnership profits shall be determined under any permissible method reasonably determined by the General Partner; provided , however , that each Partner who has contributed an asset to the Partnership shall be allocated, to the extent possible, a share of “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the Partnership which results in such Partner being allocated nonrecourse liabilities in an amount which is at least equal to the amount of income required to be allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Liability Shortfall ”). If there is an insufficient amount of nonrecourse liabilities to be able to allocate to each Partner nonrecourse liabilities equal to the Liability Shortfall, nonrecourse liabilities shall be allocated to each Partner in pro rata in accordance with each such Partner’s Liability Shortfall.

 

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5.02         Distribution of Cash .

 

(a)           Cash Available for Distribution . Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute Cash Available for Distribution, at such times and in such amounts as are, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, to the Partners who are Partners on the Partnership Record Date with respect to such quarter (or other distribution period), as follows:

 

(i)           first , subject to Section 13.01(c)(iv), if such Partnership Record Date is prior to the LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date, 100% to the Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units, pro rata and pari passu in proportion to each such Partner’s respective Percentage Interest with respect to such Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units; provided , however , that distributions to the LTIP Unitholders with respect to an LTIP Units shall be in an amount equal to the product to (A) the distributions per Class A Unit to be paid to the holders of Class A Units pursuant to this Section 5.02(a)(i) multiplied by (B) ten (10%) percent (the “ Concurrent LTIP Distribution” );

 

(ii)          second , if such Partnership Record Date is on or following the LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date, 100% to the LTIP Unitholders pro rata until such time as the LTIP Unitholders have received distributions per Vested LTIP Unit pursuant to this Section 5.02(a)(ii) equal to the difference of (A) the cumulative distributions paid on an Class A Unit, that was issued and outstanding as of the Listing Date, with a Partnership Record Date after the Listing Date and before the LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date, and adjusted as necessary to reflect any Adjustment Events that occurred during that period prior to the Distribution Participation Date, minus (B) the aggregate Concurrent LTIP Distributions paid with respect to the Vested LTIP Unit (such distributions, the “ Catch-Up Distributions ”); provided that, because the number of Vested LTIP Units outstanding as of the LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date will not be determinable until the Determination Date, the Partnership will, promptly after the Determination Date, distribute the Catch-Up Distributions, and the amount distributable with respect to Vested LTIP Units pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(iii) for distributions with a Partnership Record Date during the period from the LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date up to and including the Determination Date (the “ Determination Period, ” and such distributions, the “ Determination Period LTIP Distributions ”)) ; provided further , that an LTIP Unitholder’s right to Catch-Up Distributions and Determination Period LTIP Distributions shall not prohibit the Partnership from making distributions pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(iii) with respect to Class A Units or Class B Units prior to the time the Partnership makes any Catch-Up Distributions or Determination Period LTIP Distributions so long as any such distributions to holders of Class A Units or Class B Units pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(iii) do not prevent the Partnership from making Catch-Up Distributions and Determination Period LTIP Distributions in full promptly after the Determination Date; and

 

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(iii)         thereafter , subject to Section 5.02(a)(ii), 100% to the Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units pro rata and pari passu in proportion to each such Partner’s respective Percentage Interest with respect to such Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units.

 

(b)           Net Sales Proceeds . Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute Net Sales Proceeds, at such times and in such amounts as are, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, to the Partners who are Partners on the Partnership Record Date with respect to such quarter (or other distribution period)

 

(i)          (A) 15% to the Special Limited Partner, and (B) 85% to the Partners holding Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units pro rata and pari passu in proportion to each such Partner’s respective Percentage Interest with respect to such Class A Units, Class B Units or LTIP Units; provided , that:

 

(1)          to the extent the Average Class B Economic Capital Account Balance of a holder of Class B Units is less than the Class A Unit Economic Balance, the Percentage Interest of such Partner holding Class B Units with respect to such Class B Units shall be reduced for purposes of determining its proportionate share of distributions pursuant to this Section 5.02(b) to equal such Partner’s Percentage Interest with respect to its Class B Units multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is such Partner’s Average Class B Economic Capital Account Balance, and the denominator of which is the Class A Unit Economic Balance;

 

(2)          to the extent the Average LTIP Economic Capital Account Balance of a holder of LTIP Units is less than the Class A Unit Economic Balance, the Percentage Interest of such Partner holding LTIP Units with respect to such LTIP Units shall be reduced for purposes of determining its proportionate share of distributions pursuant to this Section 5.02(b) to equal such Partner’s Percentage Interest with respect to its LTIP Units multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is such Partner’s Average LTIP Economic Capital Account Balance, and the denominator of which is the Class A Unit Economic Balance; and

 

(3)          the aggregate amount of distributions of Net Sales Proceeds to the Special Limited Partner pursuant to clause (A) shall not exceed the Listing Amount.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, any decrease in the Percentage Interest of a Partner with respect to its Class B Units or LTIP Units shall result in a corresponding increase in the Percentage Interests of Partners with respect to their Class A Units (and LTIP Units to the extent such LTIP Units are eligible for conversion pursuant to Section 13.02(b) but have not been converted).

 

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(c)          If a new or existing Partner acquires additional Partnership Units in exchange for a Capital Contribution on any date other than a Partnership Record Date, the cash distribution attributable to such additional Partnership Units relating to the Partnership Record Date next following the issuance of such additional Partnership Units shall be reduced in the proportion to (i) the number of days that such additional Partnership Units are held by such Partner bears to (ii) the number of days between such Partnership Record Date and the immediately preceding Partnership Record Date.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446, 1471 or 1472 of the Code and any taxes arising under the Revised Partnership Audit Procedures, including any “imputed underpayment” within the meaning of Section 6225 of the Code paid (or payable) by the Partnership as a result of an adjustment with respect to any Partnership item, including and interest or penalties with respect to any such adjustment (or any corresponding amounts for state or local tax purposes, without duplication of Section 10.05(a). To the extent that the Partnership is required to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount with respect to a Partner or the Special Limited Partner, either (i) if the actual amount to be distributed to the Partner or the Special Limited Partner (the “ Distributable Amount ”) equals or exceeds the Withheld Amount, the entire Distributable Amount shall be treated as a distribution of cash to such Partner or the Special Limited Partner, or (ii) if the Distributable Amount is less than the Withheld Amount, the Distributable Amount shall be treated as a distribution of cash to such Partner or the Special Limited Partner and the excess of the Withheld Amount over the Distributable Amount shall be treated as a Partnership Loan from the Partnership to the Partner or the Special Limited Partner on the day the Partnership pays over such amount to a taxing authority; provided , that with respect to assessments under the Revised Partnership Audit Procedures, such amounts shall (x) be treated as expenditures of the Partnership described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code, (y) be specially allocated to the Partners to whom such amounts are attributable, as reasonably determined in good faith by the General Partner, and (z) reduce the amounts otherwise distributable to such Partners under this Agreement, as if such amounts were distributed to them, as reasonably determined in good faith by the General Partner. A Partner and the Special Limited Partner shall repay a Partnership Loan upon the demand of the Partnership or, alternatively, through withholding by the Partnership with respect to subsequent distributions to the applicable Partner, the Special Limited Partner, or assignee of such Partner or the Special Limited Partner. In the event that a Limited Partner or the Special Limited Partner fails to pay any amount owed to the Partnership with respect to the Partnership Loan within 15 days after demand for payment thereof is made by the Partnership on the Limited Partner or the Special Limited Partner, as applicable, the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to make the payment to the Partnership on behalf of such Defaulting Limited Partner. In such event, on the date of payment, the General Partner shall be deemed to have extended a General Partner Loan to the Defaulting Limited Partner in the amount of the payment made by the General Partner and the General Partner shall succeed to all rights and remedies of the Partnership against the Defaulting Limited Partner as to that amount. Without limitation, the General Partner shall have the right to receive any distributions that otherwise would be made by the Partnership to the Defaulting Limited Partner until such time as the General Partner Loan has been paid in full, and any such distributions so received by the General Partner shall be treated as having been received by the Defaulting Limited Partner and immediately paid to the General Partner. In addition to all other remedies that the Partnership may be entitled to pursue, in the event that a Limited Partner fails to pay any amount when due pursuant to this Section 5.02(d), the Partnership may thereafter, at any time prior to the Limited Partner’s payment in full of such amount (plus any accrued interest), elect to redeem Partnership Units held by such Limited Partner, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 8.04 with the valuation date being the date the Partnership elects to redeem such Partnership Units, in an amount sufficient to pay any or all of such amount. In the event that proceeds to the Partnership are reduced on account of taxes withheld at the source or the Partnership incurs a liability and such taxes (or a portion thereof) are imposed on or with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Partners or if the rate of tax varies depending on the attributes of specific Partners or to whom the corresponding income is allocated, the amount of the reduction in the Partnership’s net proceeds shall be borne by and apportioned among the relevant Partners and treated as if it were paid by the Partnership as a withholding obligation with respect to such Partners in accordance with such apportionment.

 

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Any amounts treated as a Partnership Loan or a General Partner Loan pursuant to this Section 5.02(d) shall bear interest at the lesser of (i) 300 basis points above the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal , or (ii) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date the Partnership or the General Partner, as applicable, is deemed to extend the loan until such loan is repaid in full.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in accordance with Section 736 of the Code, so long as the Special Limited Partner is entitled to distributions pursuant to the Listing Note and has not contributed its Special Limited Partner Interest in accordance with Section 8.05, the Special Limited Partner shall continue to be treated as a partner of the Partnership in respect of its Special Limited Partner Interest until the Partnership has satisfied its obligations with respect to the Listing Note.

 

(f)          In no event may a Partner receive a distribution of cash with respect to a Partnership Unit if such Partner is entitled to receive a cash dividend as the holder of record of a REIT Share for which all or part of such Partnership Unit has been or is being redeemed.

 

5.03         REIT Distribution Requirements . The General Partner shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Partnership to distribute amounts sufficient to enable the General Partner to pay distributions to its stockholders that will allow the General Partner to (i) meet its distribution requirement for qualification as a REIT as set forth in Section 857 of the Code and (ii) avoid any U.S. federal income or excise tax liability imposed by the Code, other than to the extent the General Partner elects to retain and pay income tax on its net capital gain; ; provided , however , the General Partner shall not be bound to comply with this covenant to the extent any distributions required to be made in order to satisfy the REIT Requirements would violate the Act or other applicable law or contravene the terms of any notes, mortgages or other types of debt obligations to which the Partnership may be subject in conjunction with borrowed funds.

 

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5.04        No Right to Distributions in Kind . No Partner shall be entitled to demand property other than cash in connection with any distributions by the Partnership.

 

5.05        Limitations on Distributions . Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, no Partner shall have the right to receive, and the Partnership and the General Partner shall not have the right to make, a distribution that violates the Act or other applicable law.

 

5.06        Distributions Upon Liquidation .

 

(a)          Upon liquidation of the Partnership, after the satisfaction of all the debts and obligations of the Partnership, to the extent permitted by law, whether by payment or the making of reasonable provision for payment thereof, any remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed, subject to Section 5.07(b), to all Partners (including the Special Limited Partner) with positive Capital Accounts in accordance with their respective positive Capital Accounts.

 

(b)          For purposes of Section 5.06(a), the Capital Account of each Partner (including the Special Limited Partner) shall be determined after making all adjustments in accordance with Sections 5.01, 5.02 and 5.07(b) resulting from Partnership operations and from all sales and dispositions of all or any part of the Partnership’s assets.

 

(c)          Any distributions pursuant to this Section 5.06 shall be made within a reasonable time as determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion. To the extent deemed advisable by the General Partner, appropriate arrangements (including the use of a liquidating trust) may be made to assure that adequate funds are available to satisfy any contingent debts or obligations of the Partnership.

 

(d)          If any Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), such Partner shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Partnership with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever. This deficit restoration obligation is intended to comply with Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3) of the Regulations and shall be satisfied before the later to occur of (x) the end of the taxable year in which the Partnership is liquidated, or (y) ninety (90) days after the date of the liquidation of the Partnership, which amount shall be paid to creditors of the Partnership or, if the amount contributed exceeds the amount due creditors, shall be distributed to the Partners with positive Capital Account balances.

 

5.07         Substantial Economic Effect / Savings Clause .

 

(a)          It is the intent of the Partners (including the Special Limited Partner) that the allocations of Net Income, Net Loss, Net Property Gain and Net Property Loss under the Agreement have “substantial economic effect” (or be consistent with the Partners’ and the Special Limited Partner’s interests in the Partnership in the case of the allocation of losses attributable to nonrecourse debt) within the meaning of Section 704(b) of the Code as interpreted by the Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Article V and other relevant provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

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(b)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, it is the intent of the Partners (including the Special Limited Partner) that the allocation provisions of Section 5.01 produce final Capital Account balances of the Partners (including the Special Limited Partner) equal to the amount such Partners would receive with respect to their Class A Units, Class B Units, LTIP Units or the Special Limited Partner Interest pursuant to Section 5.02(b). To the extent the allocation provisions of Section 5.01 would fail to produce such final Capital Account balances, (y) such provisions shall be amended by the General Partner if and to the extent necessary to produce such result and (z) Net Income, Net Loss, Net Property Gain, Net Property Loss and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain, loss and deduction, of the Partnership for prior open years shall be reallocated by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, among the Partners (including the Special Limited Partner) to the extent it is not possible to achieve such result with allocations of Net Income, Net Loss, Net Property Gain, Net Property Loss and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain, loss and deduction, of the Partnership for the current year and future years. This Section 5.07(b) shall control notwithstanding any reallocation or adjustment of taxable Net Income, Net Loss, Net Property Gain, Net Property Loss and, to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain, loss and deduction, of the Partnership by the Service or any other taxing authority. The General Partner shall have the authority to amend this Agreement without the consent of the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner, as it reasonably considers advisable, to make the allocations and adjustments described in this Section 5.07(b).

 

ARTICLE VI
RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER

 

6.01         Management of the Partnership .

 

(a)          Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the General Partner shall have full, complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control the business of the Partnership for the purposes herein stated, and shall make all decisions affecting the business and assets of the Partnership. Subject to the restrictions specifically contained in this Agreement, the powers of the General Partner shall include, without limitation, the authority to take the following actions on behalf of the Partnership:

 

(i)          to acquire, purchase, own, operate, lease and dispose of any real property and any other property or assets including, but not limited to, notes and mortgages that the General Partner determines are necessary or appropriate in the business of the Partnership;

 

(ii)         to construct buildings and make other improvements on the properties owned or leased by the Partnership;

 

(iii)        to authorize, issue, sell, redeem or otherwise purchase any Partnership Units or any securities (including secured and unsecured debt obligations of the Partnership, debt obligations of the Partnership convertible into any class or series of Partnership Units, or Rights relating to any class or series of Partnership Units) of the Partnership;

 

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(iv)        to borrow or lend money for the Partnership, issue or receive evidences of indebtedness in connection therewith, refinance, increase the amount of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for the payment of, any such indebtedness, and secure indebtedness by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s assets;

 

(v)         to pay, either directly or by reimbursement, for all operating costs and general administrative expenses of the Partnership to third parties or to the General Partner or its Affiliates as set forth in this Agreement;

 

(vi)        to guarantee or become a co-maker of indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the General Partner or the Partnership, refinance, increase the amount of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for the payment of, any such guarantee or indebtedness, and secure such guarantee or indebtedness by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s assets;

 

(vii)       to use assets of the Partnership (including, without limitation, cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with this Agreement, including, without limitation, payment, either directly or by reimbursement, of all operating costs and general and administrative expenses of the General Partner, the Partnership or any Subsidiary of either, to third parties or to the General Partner as set forth in this Agreement;

 

(viii)      to lease all or any portion of any of the Partnership’s assets, whether or not the terms of such leases extend beyond the termination date of the Partnership and whether or not any portion of the Partnership’s assets so leased are to be occupied by the lessee, or, in turn, subleased in whole or in part to others, for such consideration and on such terms as the General Partner may determine;

 

(ix)         to prosecute, defend, arbitrate or compromise any and all claims or liabilities in favor of or against the Partnership, on such terms and in such manner as the General Partner may reasonably determine, and similarly to prosecute, settle or defend litigation with respect to the Partners, the Partnership or the Partnership’s assets;

 

(x)          to file applications, communicate and otherwise deal with any and all governmental agencies having jurisdiction over, or in any way affecting, the Partnership’s assets or any other aspect of the Partnership’s business;

 

(xi)         to make or revoke any election permitted or required of the Partnership by any taxing authority;

 

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(xii)        to maintain such insurance coverage for public liability, fire and casualty, and any and all other insurance for the protection of the Partnership, for the conservation of Partnership assets, or for any other purpose convenient or beneficial to the Partnership, in such amounts and such types, as it shall determine from time to time;

 

(xiii)       to determine whether or not to apply any insurance proceeds for any property to the restoration of such property or to distribute the same;

 

(xiv)      to establish one or more divisions of the Partnership, to hire and dismiss employees of the Partnership or any division of the Partnership, and to retain legal counsel, accountants, consultants, real estate brokers and such other persons as the General Partner may deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the Partnership business and to pay therefor such reasonable remuneration as the General Partner may deem reasonable and proper;

 

(xv)       to retain other services of any kind or nature in connection with the Partnership business, and to pay therefor such remuneration as the General Partner may deem reasonable and proper;

 

(xvi)      to negotiate and conclude agreements on behalf of the Partnership with respect to any of the rights, powers and authority conferred upon the General Partner;

 

(xvii)     to maintain accurate accounting records and to file promptly all U.S. federal, state and local income tax returns on behalf of the Partnership;

 

(xviii)    to distribute Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;

 

(xix)       to form or acquire an interest in, and contribute property to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures or other relationships that it deems desirable (including, without limitation, the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity interest from time to time);

 

(xx)        to establish Partnership reserves for working capital, capital expenditures, contingent liabilities or any other valid Partnership purpose;

 

(xxi)       subject to Section 11.02, to merge, consolidate or combine the Partnership with or into another Person;

 

(xxii)      to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” taxable as a corporation under Section 7704 of the Code;

 

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(xxiii)     to take such other action, execute, acknowledge, swear to or deliver such other documents and instruments, and perform any and all other acts that the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation and conduct of the business and affairs of the Partnership and to possess and enjoy all of the rights and powers of a general partner as provided by the Act; and

 

(xxiv)    to take such other action, execute, acknowledge, swear to or deliver such other documents and instruments, and perform any and all other acts that the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate such that the General Partner shall continue to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code and Regulations (“ REIT Requirements ”) and avoid any U.S. federal income or excise tax liability; provided , however , the General Partner shall not be bound to comply with this covenant to the extent any distributions required to be made in order to satisfy the REIT Requirements would violate the Act or other applicable law or contravene the terms of any notes, mortgages or other types of debt obligations to which the Partnership may be subject in conjunction with borrowed funds.

 

(b)          Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Act, to the extent the duties of the General Partner require expenditures of funds to be paid to third parties, the General Partner shall not have any obligations hereunder except to the extent that Partnership funds are reasonably available to it for the performance of such duties, and nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or require the General Partner, in its capacity as such, to expend its individual funds for payment to third parties or to undertake any individual liability or obligation on behalf of the Partnership.

 

6.02         Delegation of Authority . The General Partner may delegate any or all of its powers, rights and obligations hereunder, and may appoint, employ, contract or otherwise deal with any Person for the transaction of the business of the Partnership, which Person may, under supervision of the General Partner, perform any acts or services for the Partnership as the General Partner may approve.

 

6.03         Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees .

 

(a)          To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify an Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership as set forth in this Agreement in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that: (i) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. The parties hereto agree, that the termination of any proceeding by judgment, order or settlement does not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct set forth in this Section 6.03(a). The parties hereto agree, that the termination of any proceeding by conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified in this Section 6.03(a). Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership.

 

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(b)          The Partnership shall reimburse an Indemnitee for reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a proceeding in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Partnership as authorized in this Section 6.03 has been met, and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.

 

(c)          The indemnification provided by this Section 6.03 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.

 

(d)          The Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance, as an expense of the Partnership, on behalf of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(e)          For purposes of this Section 6.03, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 6.03; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

 

(f)           In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(g)          An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 6.03 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(h)          The provisions of this Section 6.03 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

 

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(i)           Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.03 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the indemnification of an Indemnitee by the Partnership under this Section 6.03 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when claims relating to such matters may arise or be asserted.

 

6.04        Liability of the General Partner .

 

(a)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership or any Partners for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or of any act or omission if any such party acted in good faith. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, the General Partner shall not be in breach of any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) that the General Partner may owe to the Limited Partners or the Partnership or any other Persons bound by this Agreement provided the General Partner, acting in good faith, abides by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or otherwise applicable provision of law or equity, the Limited Partners and the Special Limited Partner expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting for the benefit of the Partnership, the Limited Partners and the General Partner’s stockholders collectively, and that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner has no duty (fiduciary or otherwise) and is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner or the tax consequences of some, but not all, of the Limited Partners) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions. In the event of a conflict between the interests of the stockholders of the General Partner on the one hand and the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner on the other, the General Partner shall endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either the stockholders of the General Partner, the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner; provided , however , that for so long as the General Partner owns a controlling interest in the Partnership, any such conflict that the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either the stockholders of the General Partner, the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner shall be resolved in favor of the stockholders of the General Partner. The General Partner shall not be liable to the Limited Partners, the Special Limited Partner or the Partnership for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by the Limited Partners, the Special Limited Partner or the Partnership in connection with such decisions.

 

(c)          Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 6.01 hereof, the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it under this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents. The General Partner shall not be responsible or liable to the Limited Partners, the Special Limited Partner or the Partnership for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by it in good faith.

 

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(d)          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act, any action of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or any decision of the General Partner to refrain from acting on behalf of the Partnership, undertaken in the good faith belief that such action or omission is necessary or advisable in order (i) to protect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT or (ii) to prevent the General Partner from incurring any taxes under Section 857, Section 4981 or any other provision of the Code, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners and the Special Limited Partner.

 

(e)          Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.04 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the General Partner’s or any of its officer’s, director’s, agent’s or employee’s liability to the Partnership, the Special Limited Partner and the Limited Partners under this Section 6.04 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when claims relating to such matters may arise or be asserted.

 

6.05        Partnership Obligations .

 

(a)          Except as provided in this Section 6.05 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles V and VI hereof regarding distributions, payments and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.

 

(b)          All Administrative Expenses shall be obligations of the Partnership, and the General Partner shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Partnership for any expenditure (including Administrative Expenses) incurred on behalf of the Partnership that shall be made other than out of the funds of the Partnership.

 

6.06        Outside Activities . Subject to Section 6.08 hereof, the Charter and any agreements entered into by the General Partner or its Affiliates with the Partnership or a Subsidiary, any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or stockholders of the General Partner and the General Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities substantially similar or identical to those of the Partnership, and the doctrine of corporate opportunity or any analogous doctrine shall not apply to such business interest or activities. Neither the Partnership nor any of the Limited Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business ventures, interest or activities. None of the Limited Partners nor any other Person bound by this Agreement shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any such business ventures, interests or activities, and the General Partner, (i) shall have no duty or obligation (fiduciary or otherwise) pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures, interests and activities to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, could be taken by such Person, and (ii) shall not be liable to the Partnership or to the Limited Partners for breach of any fiduciary or other duty existing at law, in equity or otherwise by reason of the fact that the General Partner pursues or acquires for, or directs such business ventures, interests or activities to another Person or does not communicate such opportunity or information to the Partnership.

 

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6.07        Employment or Retention of Affiliates .

 

(a)          Any Affiliate of the General Partner may be employed or retained by the Partnership and may otherwise deal with the Partnership (whether as a buyer, lessor, lessee, manager, furnisher of goods or services, broker, agent, lender or otherwise) and may receive from the Partnership any compensation, price or other payment therefor that the General Partner determines to be fair and reasonable.

 

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

 

(c)          The Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the General Partner deems are consistent with this Agreement and applicable law.

 

6.08        General Partner Activities . The General Partner agrees that, generally, all business activities of the General Partner, including activities pertaining to the acquisition, development, ownership of or investment in single tenant freestanding commercial real estate and related assets, shall be conducted through the Partnership or one or more Subsidiary Partnerships; provided , however , that, subject to Section 4.02(a)(ii), the General Partner may make direct acquisitions or undertake business activities if such acquisitions or activities are made in connection with the issuance of Additional Securities by the General Partner or the business activity has been approved by a majority of the Independent Directors.

 

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

 

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6.10        Redemption of General Partner’s Partnership Units . In the event the General Partner redeems or repurchases any REIT Shares, then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to purchase from the General Partner a number of Partnership Units as determined based on the application of the Conversion Factor on the same terms that the General Partner redeemed such REIT Shares. Moreover, if the General Partner makes a cash tender offer or other offer to acquire REIT Shares, then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to make a corresponding offer to the General Partner to acquire an equal number of Partnership Units held by the General Partner. In the event any REIT Shares are redeemed or repurchased by the General Partner pursuant to such offer, the Partnership shall redeem or repurchase an equivalent number of the General Partner’s Partnership Units for an equivalent purchase price based on the application of the Conversion Factor.

 

ARTICLE VII

CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER

 

7.01        Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest .

 

(a)          The General Partner shall not transfer all or any portion of its General Partner Interests, and the General Partner shall not withdraw as General Partner, except as provided in or in connection with a transaction contemplated by Section 7.01(c) hereof.

 

(b)          The General Partner agrees that its General Partner Interest will at all times be in the aggregate at least 0.1% of the Partnership Interests.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.01, the General Partner may transfer all or any portion of its General Partner Interest to any wholly owned Subsidiary of the General Partner that is (i) a state law corporation or is eligible to make, and has validly made, an election pursuant to Treas. Regs. Sec. 301.7701-3 to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (ii) a TRS, or (iii) an entity that is wholly owned by the General Partner and treated as disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and following a transfer of all of its General Partner Interest, may withdraw as General Partner. In the event that the General Partner transfers its entire General Partner Interest and the transferee is admitted to the Partnership as a substitute General Partner in accordance with this Agreement, such transferee shall be deemed admitted to the Partnership as a General Partner immediately prior to the transfer and such transferee shall continue the business of the Partnership without dissolution.

 

7.02        Merger of General Partner .

 

(a)          Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.02(b) or (c) hereof, the General Partner shall not engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination with or into another Person or sale of all or substantially all of its assets (other than in connection with a change in the General Partner’s state of incorporation or organizational form), in each case which results in a Change of Control of the General Partner (a “ Transaction ”), unless at least one of the following conditions is met:

 

(i)          the consent of a Majority in Interest (other than the Percentage Interest held by the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner) is obtained;

 

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(ii)         as a result of such Transaction, all Limited Partners will receive, or have the right to receive, for each Partnership Unit held by such Limited Partners an amount of cash, securities or other property equal in value to the product of the Conversion Factor and the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid in the Transaction to a holder of one REIT Share in consideration of one REIT Share, provided , that if, in connection with such Transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer (“ Offer ”) shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding REIT Shares, each holder of Partnership Units (other than the General Partner and any Subsidiary of the General Partner) shall be given the option to exchange its Partnership Units for the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property that such Limited Partner would have received had it (A) exercised its Class A Unit Redemption Right pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof and (B) sold, tendered or exchanged pursuant to the Offer the REIT Shares received upon exercise of the Class A Unit Redemption Right immediately prior to the expiration of the Offer; or

 

(iii)        the General Partner is the surviving entity in the Transaction and either (A) the holders of REIT Shares do not receive cash, securities or other property in the Transaction or (B) all Limited Partners receive for each Partnership Unit held by such Limited Partners an amount of cash, securities or other property (expressed as an amount per REIT Share) that is no less in value than the product of the Conversion Factor and the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property (expressed as an amount per REIT Share) received in the Transaction by any holder of REIT Shares.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding Section 7.02(a) hereof, the General Partner may merge with or into or consolidate with another entity if immediately after such merger or consolidation (i) substantially all of the assets of the successor or surviving entity (the “ Survivor ”), other than Partnership Units held by the General Partner, are contributed, directly or indirectly, to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution in exchange for Partnership Units with a fair market value equal to the value of the assets so contributed as determined by the Survivor in good faith and (ii) the Survivor expressly agrees to assume all obligations of the General Partner hereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement and without the consent of any other person, upon such contribution and assumption, (i) for all purposes of this Agreement, if the General Partner is not the Survivor, the Survivor, shall be deemed to be the “General Partner” hereunder and shall be deemed to be admitted as the general partner of the Partnership, upon its execution of a counterpart to this Agreement, effective simultaneously with the merger or consolidation, (ii) the Survivor shall continue the business of the Partnership without dissolution, and (iii) the Survivor shall have the right and duty to amend this Agreement as set forth in this Section 7.02(b) or in any other manner, if applicable, to reflect the change in the general partner of the Partnership. The Survivor shall in good faith arrive at a new method for the calculation of the Cash Amount, the REIT Shares Amount and Conversion Factor for a Partnership Unit after any such merger or consolidation so as to approximate the existing method for such calculation as closely as reasonably possible. Such calculation shall take into account, among other things, the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property that was receivable upon such merger or consolidation by a holder of REIT Shares or options, warrants or other rights relating thereto, and which a holder of Partnership Units could have acquired had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately prior to such merger or consolidation. Such amendment to this Agreement shall provide for adjustment to such method of calculation, which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for with respect to the Conversion Factor. The Survivor also shall in good faith modify the definition of REIT Shares and make such amendments to Section 8.04 hereof so as to approximate the existing rights and obligations set forth in Section 8.04 hereof as closely as reasonably possible. The above provisions of this Section 7.02(b) shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations permitted hereunder.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.02, the General Partner may engage in a transaction required by law or by the rules of any national securities exchange or over-the-counter interdealer quotation system on which the REIT Shares are listed or traded.

 

7.03        Admission of a Substitute or Additional General Partner . A Person shall be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner of the Partnership only if the following terms and conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)          the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart hereof, and an amendment to the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership evidencing the admission of such Person as a General Partner shall have been filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

 

(b)          if the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner is a corporation or a partnership, it shall have provided the Partnership with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership of such Person’s authority to become a General Partner and to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and

 

(c)          counsel for the Partnership shall have rendered an opinion (relying on such opinions from other counsel as may be necessary) that the admission of the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner is in conformity with the Act, that none of the actions taken in connection with the admission of such Person as a substitute or additional General Partner will cause (i) the Partnership to be classified other than as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or (ii) the loss of any Limited Partner’s limited liability.

 

7.04        Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of General Partner .

 

(a)          Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to the General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.05(a) hereof) or the withdrawal, removal or dissolution of the General Partner or any other event that results in the General Partner ceasing to be a general partner of the Partnership under the Act, the Partnership shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.04(b) hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any successor to the General Partner by merger or consolidation in compliance with Section 7.02(b) shall, without further act of any Person, be the General Partner hereunder, and such merger or consolidation shall not constitute a transfer for purposes of this Agreement and the Partnership shall continue without dissolution.

 

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(b)          Following the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to the General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.05(a) hereof) or the withdrawal, removal or dissolution of the General Partner or any other event that resulting the General Partner ceasing to be a general partner of the Partnership under the Act, the Partnership shall not be dissolved or wound up if the Limited Partners, within 90 days after such occurrence, elect to continue the business of the Partnership for the balance of the term specified in Section 2.04 hereof by selecting effective as of such occurrence, subject to Section 7.03 hereof in writing or vote, a substitute General Partner by consent of a Majority in Interest. Any substitute General Partner selected by the Limited Partners in accordance with this Section 7.05(b) and admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 7.03, shall be deemed admitted to the Partnership effective simultaneously with the occurrence of the event that caused the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership. If the Limited Partners elect to continue the business of the Partnership and admit a substitute General Partner, the relationship with the Partners and of any Person who has acquired an interest of a Partner in the Partnership shall be governed by this Agreement.

 

7.05        Removal of General Partner .

 

(a)          Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to, or the dissolution of, the General Partner, the General Partner shall be deemed to be removed automatically. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Limited Partners may not remove the General Partner, with or without cause.

 

(b)          If the General Partner has been removed pursuant to this Section 7.05 and the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.04 hereof, the General Partner shall promptly transfer and assign its General Partner Interest in the Partnership to the substitute General Partner approved by a Majority in Interest in accordance with Section 7.04(b) hereof and otherwise be admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 7.03 hereof. At the time of assignment, the removed General Partner shall be entitled to receive from the substitute General Partner the fair market value of the General Partner Interest of such removed General Partner as reduced by any damages caused to the Partnership by such General Partner. Such fair market value shall be determined by an appraiser mutually agreed upon by the General Partner and a Majority in Interest within ten days following the removal of the General Partner. In the event that the parties are unable to agree upon an appraiser, the removed General Partner and a Majority in Interest each shall select an appraiser. Each such appraiser shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partner Interest within 30 days of the General Partner’s removal, and the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partner Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals; provided , however , that if the higher appraisal exceeds the lower appraisal by more than 20% of the amount of the lower appraisal, the two appraisers, no later than 40 days after the removal of the General Partner, shall select a third appraiser who shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partner Interest no later than 60 days after the removal of the General Partner. In such case, the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partner Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals closest in value.

 

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(c)          The General Partner Interest of a removed General Partner, during the time after default until transfer under Section 7.05(b) hereof, shall be converted to that of a special Limited Partner; provided , however , such removed General Partner shall not have any rights to participate in the management and affairs of the Partnership, and shall not be entitled to any portion of the income, expense, profit, gain or loss allocations or cash distributions allocable or payable, as the case may be, to the Limited Partners. Instead, such removed General Partner shall receive and be entitled only to retain distributions or allocations of such items that it would have been entitled to receive in its capacity as General Partner, until the transfer is effective pursuant to Section 7.05(b) hereof.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, for so long as the General Partner is treated as a REIT, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner shall not be removed unless (a) the General Partner’s economic interest in the Partnership shall be simultaneously transferred to another entity that is either (i) not an Affiliate of the General Partner or (ii) a TRS or (b) such removal would not otherwise result in the Partnership having only one partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

(e)          All Partners shall have given and hereby do give such consents, shall take such actions and shall execute such documents as shall be legally necessary and sufficient to effect all the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.05.

 

ARTICLE VIII
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS

 

8.01        Management of the Partnership . The Limited Partners (other than the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or related parties or any officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of the General Partner, the Partnership of anyof their Affiliates or related parties, in their capacity as such) shall not participate in the management or control (within the meaning of the Act) of Partnership business nor shall they transact any business for the Partnership, nor shall they have the power to sign for or bind the Partnership, such powers being vested solely and exclusively in the General Partner. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, none of the actions taken by any of the Limited Partners hereunder shall constitute participation in the control of the business of the Partnership within the meaning of the Act.

 

8.02        Power of Attorney . Each Limited Partner and the Special Limited Partner hereby irrevocably appoints the General Partner its true and lawful attorney-in-fact, who may act for each Limited Partner and in its name, place and stead, and for its use and benefit, to sign, acknowledge, swear to, deliver, file or record, at the appropriate public offices, any and all documents, certificates and instruments as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the General Partner to carry out fully the provisions of this Agreement and the Act in accordance with their terms, including duly adapted amendments hereto, which power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall survive and not be affected by the subsequent death, dissolution or legal incapacity of the Limited Partner, or the transfer by the Limited Partner of any part or all of its Partnership Interest. This power of attorney may be exercised by such attorney-in-fact for all Limited Partners (or any of them) by a single signature of the General Partner acting as attorney-in-fact with or without listing all of the Limited Partners executing an instrument.

 

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8.03        Limitation on Liability of Limited Partners . No Limited Partner, in its capacity as such, shall be liable for any debts, liabilities, contracts or obligations of the Partnership. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or under the Act, a Limited Partner shall be liable to the Partnership only to make payments of its Capital Contribution, if any, as and when due hereunder. After its Capital Contribution is fully paid, no Limited Partner shall, except as otherwise required by the Act or as otherwise provided for herein, be required to make any further Capital Contributions or other payments or lend any funds to the Partnership.

 

8.04        Class A Unit Redemption Right .

 

(a)          Subject to Sections 8.04(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) hereof, the penultimate sentence of this Section 8.04(a), and the provisions of any agreements between the Partnership and one or more Limited Partners with respect to Class A Units held by them, each Limited Partner shall have the right (the “ Class A Unit Redemption Right ”) to require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Redemption Date all or a portion of the Class A Units held by such Limited Partner at a redemption price equal to and in the form of the Cash Amount to be paid by the Partnership, provided , that, subject to Section 13.02(a), such Class A Units (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class A Units issued to such Limited Partners as a result of any merger, consolidation or other business combination or reorganization to which the Partnership and/or the General Partner is a party) shall have been outstanding for at least one year (or such lesser time as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion), which period shall include the period that Partnership Units (including, for the avoidance of doubt, LTIP Units and the Master LTIP Unit) that were converted into such Class A Units were held, and subject to any restriction agreed to in writing between the Redeeming Limited Partner and the General Partner. The Class A Unit Redemption Right shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Exercise of Redemption Right in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A delivered to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) by the Limited Partner who is exercising the Class A Unit Redemption Right (the “ Redeeming Limited Partner ”); provided , however , that the Partnership shall not be obligated to satisfy such Class A Unit Redemption Right if the General Partner elects to purchase the Class A Units subject to the Notice of Redemption; and provided , further , that no Limited Partner may deliver more than two Notices of Redemption during each calendar year. A Limited Partner may not exercise the Class A Unit Redemption Right for less than one thousand (1,000) Class A Units or, if such Limited Partner holds less than one thousand (1,000) Class A Units, all of the Class A Units held by such Limited Partner. The Redeeming Limited Partner shall have no right, with respect to any Class A Units so redeemed, to receive any distribution paid with respect to Class A Units if the record date for such distribution is on or after the Specified Redemption Date.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.04(a) hereof, a Limited Partner that exercises the Class A Unit Redemption Right shall be deemed to have offered to sell the Class A Units described in the Notice of Redemption to the General Partner, and the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to purchase directly and acquire such Class A Units by paying to the Redeeming Limited Partner either the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares Amount, as elected by the General Partner (in its sole and absolute discretion), on the Specified Redemption Date, whereupon the General Partner shall acquire the Class A Units offered for redemption by the Redeeming Limited Partner and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Class A Units. If the General Partner shall elect to exercise its right to purchase Class A Units under this Section 8.04(b) with respect to a Notice of Redemption, it shall so notify the Redeeming Limited Partner within five business days after the receipt by the General Partner of such Notice of Redemption.

 

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In the event the General Partner shall exercise its right to purchase Class A Units with respect to the exercise of a Class A Unit Redemption Right, the Partnership shall have no obligation to pay any amount to the Redeeming Limited Partner with respect to such Redeeming Limited Partner’s exercise of such Class A Unit Redemption Right, and each of the Redeeming Limited Partner, the Partnership and the General Partner shall treat the transaction between the General Partner and the Redeeming Limited Partner for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a sale of the Redeeming Limited Partner’s Class A Units to the General Partner. Each Redeeming Limited Partner agrees to execute such documents as the General Partner may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of REIT Shares upon exercise of the Class A Unit Redemption Right.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.04(a) and 8.04(b) hereof, a Limited Partner shall not be entitled to exercise the Class A Unit Redemption Right if the delivery of REIT Shares to such Limited Partner on the Specified Redemption Date by the General Partner pursuant to Section 8.04(b) hereof (regardless of whether or not the General Partner would in fact exercise its rights under Section 8.04(b) hereof) would (i) result in such Limited Partner or any other Person owning, directly or indirectly, REIT Shares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or any Excepted Holder Limit (each as defined in Charter) and calculated in accordance therewith, except as provided in the Charter, (ii) result in REIT Shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), (iii) result in the General Partner being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, (iv) cause the General Partner to own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant (other than a TRS) of the General Partner’s, the Partnership’s or a Subsidiary Partnership’s real property, within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code, (v) otherwise cause the General Partner to fail to qualify as a REIT, or (vi) cause the acquisition of REIT Shares by such Limited Partner to be “integrated” with any other distribution of REIT Shares or Class A Units for purposes of complying with the registration provisions of the Securities Act. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any other Partner or Person, may waive the restriction on redemption set forth in this Section 8.04(c).

 

(d)          Any Cash Amount to be paid to a Redeeming Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 8.04 shall be paid on the Specified Redemption Date; provided , however , that the General Partner may elect to cause the Specified Redemption Date to be delayed for up to an additional 90 days to the extent required for the General Partner to cause additional REIT Shares to be issued to provide financing to be used to make such payment of the Cash Amount. Any REIT Share Amount to be paid to a Redeeming Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 8.04 shall be paid on the Specified Redemption Date; provided , however , that the General Partner may elect to cause the Specified Redemption Date to be delayed for up to an additional 60 days to the extent required for the General Partner to cause additional REIT Shares to be issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the closing of the acquisition of redeemed Class A Units hereunder to occur as quickly as reasonably possible.

 

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(e)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law that apply upon a Redeeming Limited Partner’s exercise of the Class A Unit Redemption Right. If a Redeeming Limited Partner believes that it is exempt from such withholding upon the exercise of the Class A Unit Redemption Right, such Partner must furnish the General Partner with a FIRPTA Certificate in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 and any other documentation reasonably requested by the General Partner. If the Partnership or the General Partner is required to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount upon a Redeeming Limited Partner’s exercise of the Class A Unit Redemption Right and if the Class A Unit Redemption Amount equals or exceeds the Withheld Amount, the Withheld Amount shall be treated as an amount received by such Partner in redemption of its Class A Units. If, however, the Class A Unit Redemption Amount is less than the Withheld Amount, the Redeeming Limited Partner shall not receive any portion of the Class A Unit Redemption Amount, the Class A Unit Redemption Amount shall be treated as an amount received by such Partner in redemption of its Class A Units, and the Partner shall contribute the excess of the Withheld Amount over the Class A Unit Redemption Amount to the Partnership before the Partnership is required to pay over such excess to a taxing authority.

 

(f)          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall place appropriate restrictions on the ability of the Limited Partners to exercise their Class A Unit Redemption Rights as and if deemed necessary to ensure that the Partnership does not constitute a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code. If and when the General Partner determines that imposing such restrictions is necessary, the General Partner shall give prompt written notice thereof (a “ Restriction Notice ”) to each of the Limited Partners, which notice shall be accompanied by a copy of an opinion of counsel to the Partnership that states that, in the opinion of such counsel, restrictions are desirable in order to avoid the Partnership being treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

8.05        Exchange of Special Limited Partner Interest .

 

(a)          On and after such time as the Listing Amount is determined, the Special Limited Partner shall have the right, but not the obligation, to contribute the entire Special Limited Partner Interest to the Partnership in exchange for Class A Units in a transaction intended to qualify as a contribution of property pursuant to Section 721 of the Code. The Special Limited Partner shall provide written notice to the General Partner of its intention to contribute the Special Limited Partner Interest at least ten (10) days prior to the date on which the contribution is to occur. The maximum number of Class A Units issuable upon a contribution of the entire Special Limited Partner Interest shall be equal to the quotient of (i) the Listing Amount divided by (ii) the product of (A) in the case of a Listing or an Asset Sale that is a Liquidity Event, the Value of one REIT Share on the date of the contribution, or in the case of a Merger, the Market Value of one REIT Share pursuant to the terms of the applicable transaction document, multiplied by (B) the Conversion Factor. Only a whole number of Class A Units will be issuable upon a contribution of the entire Special Limited Partner Interest. The Special Limited Partner covenants and agrees with the Partnership that the Special Limited Partner Interest shall be free and clear of all liens at the time of contribution pursuant to this Section 8.05. The contribution of all or a portion of the Special Limited Partner Interest shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable date of contribution, as of which time the Special Limited Partner shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Class A Units issuable upon such contribution.

 

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(b)          Class A Units issuable upon a contribution of the Special Limited Partner Interest as set forth in this Section 8.05 shall be redeemable for cash or, at the option of the General Partner, for REIT Shares pursuant to Section 8.04; provided, that such Class A Units (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Class A Units issued to the Special Limited Partner as a result of any merger, consolidation or other business combination or reorganization to which the Partnership or the General Partner is a party) shall have been outstanding for at least three years (or such lesser time as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion), which period shall include the period that the Special Limited Partner held the Special Limited Partner Interest prior to its conversion to Class A Units pursuant to Section 8.05(a) and for the avoidance of doubt shall be in lieu of any holding period required by Section 8.04(a).

 

8.06        Registration . Subject to the terms of any agreement between the General Partner and a Limited Partner with respect to Class A Units held by such Limited Partner that includes provisions relating to registration rights (each a “ Separate Registration Rights Agreement ”):

 

(a)           Shelf Registration of REIT Shares . Following the Listing Date, or, if the General Partner is not eligible to use a registration statement on Form S-3 for the registration of securities under the Securities Act on the Listing Date, the date on which the General Partner becomes so eligible (the “ S-3 Eligible Date ”), the General Partner shall, upon written request of any Limited Partner and within a reasonable period of time thereafter, file with the Commission a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 of the Securities Act (or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission) or a prospectus supplement to an existing shelf registration statement (a “ Registration Statement ”), covering (i) the issuance of REIT Shares issuable upon redemption of the Class A Units held by such Limited Partner (including the Class B Unit Shares, “ Redemption Shares ”) and/or (ii) the resale of Redemption Shares by the holder thereof; provided , however , that the General Partner shall be required to file only two Registration Statements in any 12-month period and any Limited Partner that requests to have Redemption Shares covered by a Registration Statement shall also provide to the General Partner, on a timely basis, all information regarding the proposed distribution by any holder of Redemption shares required by the rules and regulations of the Commission and all other information reasonably requested by the Company. In connection therewith, the General Partner will:

 

(1)          use its reasonable best efforts to have any Registration Statement declared effective and cause the Registration Statement to be continuously effective until all Redemption Shares covered thereby (i) have been sold or transferred by the holders thereof to another Person pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) have been sold by holders thereof to another Person pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144, (iii) may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, or (iv) have been otherwise transferred in a transaction that would constitute a sale under the Securities Act and, in each case, the Redemption Shares may be resold without volume, manner of sale or other restrictions or conditions without subsequent registration under the Securities Act;

 

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(2)          furnish to each holder of Redemption Shares such number of copies of prospectuses, and supplements or amendments thereto, and such other documents as such holder reasonably requests;

 

(3)          register or qualify the Redemption Shares covered by the Registration Statement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any holder of Redemption Shares shall reasonably request, and do such other reasonable acts and things as may be required of it to enable such holders to consummate the sale or other disposition in such jurisdictions of the Redemption Shares; provided , however , that the General Partner shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or consent to a general or unlimited service or process in any jurisdictions in which it would not otherwise be required to be qualified or so consent or (ii) qualify as a dealer in securities; and

 

(4)          otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

The General Partner further agrees to supplement or make amendments to each Registration Statement, if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form utilized by the General Partner or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder for such Registration Statement. Each Limited Partner agrees to furnish to the General Partner, upon request, such information with respect to the Limited Partner as may be required to complete and file the Registration Statement.

 

In connection with and as a condition to the General Partner’s obligations with respect to the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 8.06, each Limited Partner agrees with the General Partner that:

 

(x)           it will not offer or sell its Redemption Shares until (A) such Redemption Shares have been included in a Registration Statement and (B) it has received copies of a prospectus, and any supplement or amendment thereto, as contemplated by Section 8.06(a) hereof, and receives notice that the Registration Statement covering such Redemption Shares, or any post-effective amendment thereto, has been declared effective by the Commission;

 

(y)          if the General Partner determines in its good faith judgment, after consultation with counsel, that the use of the Registration Statement, including any post effective amendment thereto, or the use of any prospectus contained in such Registration Statement would require the disclosure of important information that the General Partner has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or the disclosure of which would impede the General Partner’s ability to consummate a significant transaction, or if the General Partner has otherwise imposed a black-out for the release of earnings or otherwise, upon written notice of such determination by the General Partner, the rights of each Limited Partner to offer, sell or distribute its Redemption Shares pursuant to such Registration Statement or prospectus or to require the General Partner to take action with respect to the registration or sale of any Redemption Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement (including any action contemplated by this Section 8.06) will be suspended until the date upon which the General Partner notifies such Limited Partner in writing (which notice shall be deemed sufficient if given through the issuance of a press release) that suspension of such rights for the grounds set forth in this paragraph is no longer necessary; provided , however , that the General Partner may not suspend such rights for an aggregate period of more than 90 days in any 12-month period; and

 

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(z)           in the case of the registration of any underwritten equity offering proposed by the General Partner (other than any registration by the General Partner on Form S-8, or a successor or substantially similar form, of (A) an employee share option, share purchase or compensation plan or of securities issued or issuable pursuant to any such plan or (B) a dividend reinvestment plan), each Limited Partner will agree, if requested in writing by the managing underwriter or underwriters administering such offering, not to effect any offer, sale or distribution of any REIT Shares or Redemption Shares (or any option or right to acquire REIT Shares or Redemption Shares) during the period commencing on the tenth day prior to the expected effective date (which date shall be stated in such notice) of the registration statement covering such underwritten primary equity offering or, if such offering shall be a “take-down” from an effective shelf registration statement, the tenth day prior to the expected commencement date (which date shall be stated in such notice) of such offering, and ending on the date specified by such managing underwriter in such written request to the Limited Partners; provided , however , that no Limited Partner shall be required to agree not to effect any offer, sale or distribution of its Redemption Shares for a period of time that is longer than the greater of 90 days or the period of time for which any senior executive of the General Partner is required so to agree in connection with such offering. Nothing in this paragraph shall be read to limit the ability of any Limited Partner to redeem its Class A Units in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Listing on Securities Exchange . If the General Partner lists or maintains the listing of REIT Shares on any securities exchange or national market system, it shall, at its expense and as necessary to permit the registration and sale of the Redemption Shares hereunder, list thereon, maintain and, when necessary, increase such listing to include such Redemption Shares.

 

(c)           Registration Not Required . Notwithstanding Section 8.06(a), the General Partner shall not be required to file or maintain the effectiveness of a Registration Statement relating to Redemption Shares after the first date upon which, in the opinion of counsel to the General Partner, all of the Redemption Shares covered thereby could be sold by the holders thereof pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule thereto.

 

(d)           Allocation of Expenses . The Partnership shall pay all expenses in connection with the Registration Statement, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to filings with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., (ii) registration fees, (iii) printing expenses, (iv) accounting and legal fees and expenses, except to the extent holders of Redemption Shares elect to engage accountants or attorneys in addition to the accountants and attorneys engaged by the General Partner or the Partnership, which fees and expenses for such accountants or attorneys shall be for the account of the holders of the Redemption Shares, (v) accounting expenses incident to or required by any such registration or qualification and (vi) expenses of complying with the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdictions in connection with such registration or qualification; provided , however , neither the Partnership nor the General Partner shall be liable for (A) any discounts or commissions to any underwriter or broker attributable to the sale of Redemption Shares, or (B) any fees or expenses incurred by holders of Redemption Shares in connection with such registration that, according to the written instructions of any regulatory authority, the Partnership or the General Partner is not permitted to pay.

 

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(e)           Indemnification .

 

(i)          In connection with the Registration Statement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the General Partner and the Partnership agree to indemnify holders of Redemption Shares within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable costs of investigation) caused by any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus or prospectus contained therein (as amended or supplemented if the General Partner shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission, to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are caused by any untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission, or alleged omission based upon information furnished to the General Partner by the Limited Partner or the holder of Redemption Shares for use therein. The General Partner and each officer, director and controlling Person of the General Partner and the Partnership shall be indemnified by each Limited Partner or holder of Redemption Shares covered by the Registration Statement for all such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable costs of investigation) caused by any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or any omission, or alleged omission, based upon information furnished to the General Partner or the Partnership by the Limited Partner or the holder of Redemption Shares for use therein.

 

(ii)         Promptly upon receipt by a party indemnified under this Section 8.06(e) of notice of the commencement of any action against such indemnified party in respect of which indemnity or reimbursement may be sought against any indemnifying party under this Section 8.06(e), such indemnified party shall notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action, but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8.06(e) unless such failure shall materially adversely affect the defense of such action. In case notice of commencement of any such action shall be given to the indemnifying party as above provided, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of such action at its own expense, with counsel chosen by it and reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party. The indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation) shall be paid by the indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party agrees to pay the same, (ii) the indemnifying party fails to assume the defense of such action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) have been advised by such counsel that representation of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct (in which case the indemnified party shall have the right to separate counsel and the indemnifying party shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel, provided , that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for more than one separate counsel). No indemnifying party shall be liable to any indemnified party for any settlement entered into without its consent.

 

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(f)            Contribution .

 

(i)          If for any reason the indemnification provisions contemplated by Section 8.06(e) hereof are either unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the party that would otherwise be required to provide indemnification or the indemnifying party (in either case, for purposes of this Section 8.06(f), the “ Indemnifying Party ”) in respect of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the party that would otherwise be entitled to indemnification or the indemnified party (in either case, for purposes of this Section 8.06(f), the “ Indemnified Party ”) as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expense, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact related to information supplied by the Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party.

 

(ii)         The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8.06(f) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. No Person determined to have committed a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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(iii)        The contribution provided for in this Section 8.06(f) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

 

(g)           Conflict . With respect to any Limited Partner, in the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Section 8.06 and any Separate Registration Rights Agreement, the provisions of the Separate Registration Rights Agreement shall control.

 

ARTICLE IX
TRANSFERS OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

9.01        Purchase for Investment .

 

(a)          Each Limited Partner, by its signature below or by its subsequent admission to the Partnership, hereby represents and warrants to the General Partner and to the Partnership that the acquisition of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units is made for investment purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution of such Partnership Units.

 

(b)          Subject to the provisions of Section 9.02 hereof, each Limited Partner agrees that such Limited Partner will not Transfer such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units or any fraction thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise, to any Person who does not make the representations and warranties to the General Partner set forth in Section 9.01(a) hereof.

 

9.02        Restrictions on Transfer of Partnership Units .

 

(a)          Subject to the provisions of Sections 9.02(b), (c) and (d) hereof, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Limited Partner may offer, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise transfer all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units, or any of such Limited Partner’s economic rights as a Limited Partner, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise (collectively, a “ Transfer ”) without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion. The General Partner may require, as a condition of any Transfer to which it consents, that the transferor assume all costs incurred by the Partnership in connection therewith.

 

(b)          No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted Transfer ( i.e. , a Transfer consented to as contemplated by clause (a) above or clause (c) below or a Transfer pursuant to Section 9.05 hereof) of all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units pursuant to this Article IX or pursuant to a redemption of all of such Limited Partner’s Class A Units pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof. Upon the permitted Transfer or redemption of all of a Limited Partner’s Class A Units, such Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner.

 

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(c)          Subject to Sections 9.02(d), (e) and (f) hereof, a Limited Partner may Transfer, with the consent of the General Partner, all or a portion of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units to (i) such Limited Partner’s parent or parent’s spouse, (ii) such Limited Partner’s spouse, (iii) such Limited Partner’s natural or adopted descendant or descendants, (iv) such Limited Partner’s spouse of such Limited Partner’s descendant, (v) such Limited Partner’s brother or sister, (vi) a trust created by such Limited Partner for the primary benefit of such Limited Partner and/or any such Person(s) described in (i) through (v) above, of which trust such Limited Partner or any such Person(s) or bank or other commercial entity in the business of acting as a fiduciary in its ordinary course of business and having an equity capitalization of at least $100,000,000 is a trustee, (vii) a corporation, partnership or limited liability company controlled by a Person or Persons named in (i) through (v) above, or (viii) if the Limited Partner is an entity, its beneficial owners.

 

(d)          No Limited Partner may effect a Transfer of its Partnership Units, in whole or in part, if, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, such proposed Transfer would require the registration of the Partnership Units under the Securities Act or would otherwise violate any applicable federal or state securities or blue sky law (including investment suitability standards).

 

(e)          No Transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Units, in whole or in part, may be made to any Person if the General Partner determines, in its commercially reasonable discretion, that (i) such Transfer would result in the Partnership being treated as an association taxable as a corporation (other than a qualified REIT subsidiary within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the Code), (ii) it would adversely affect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT or subject the General Partner to any additional taxes under Section 857, Section 4981 or any other provision of the Code or (iii) such Transfer is effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code; provided , that if the General Partner secures an opinion of qualified United States tax counsel that the Partnership would, if such Transfer were completed, satisfy one or more provisions under Section 7704 of the Code and the Regulations promulgated thereunder such that the Partnership would not be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then such Transfer shall not be prohibited by this Section 9.02(e).

 

(f)           To the fullest extent permitted by law, any purported Transfer in contravention of any of the provisions of this Article IX shall be void ab initio and ineffectual and shall not be binding upon, or recognized by, the General Partner or the Partnership.

 

(g)          Prior to the consummation of any Transfer under this Article IX, the transferor and/or the transferee shall deliver to the General Partner such opinions, certificates and other documents as the General Partner shall request in connection with such Transfer.

 

(h)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.02, the Advisors Limited Partner and the Special Limited Partner, respectively, may Transfer any of its Class A Units to its direct and indirect Members (as defined, respectively, in the limited liability company agreement of the Advisors Limited Partner, dated January 18, 2013, by and among the signatories thereto, as amended from time to time or the limited liability company agreement of the Special Limited Partner, dated January 18, 2013, by and among the signatories thereto, as amended from time to time), without the consent of the General Partner.

 

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(i)          The Partners hereby acknowledge and agree that a Partner who holds Class B Units or LTIP Units shall not Transfer such Class B Units or LTIP Units other than, and subject to any restriction on the transfer of Class B Units contained in Article XII or any restriction on the transfer of LTIP Units contained in Article XIII or the terms of an applicable OPP Agreement, (i) pursuant to Section 9.02(c) hereof, (ii) by operation of law to the estate of a Partner who held such LTIP Units immediately prior to his or her death or (iii) to the Partnership or the General Partner.

 

9.03        Admission of Substitute Limited Partner .

 

(a)          Subject to the other provisions of this Article IX, an assignee of the Partnership Units of a Limited Partner (which shall be understood to include any purchaser, transferee, donee or other recipient of any disposition of such Partnership Units) shall be deemed admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership only with the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, and upon the satisfactory completion of the following:

 

(i)          The assignee shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart or an amendment thereof, including a revised Schedule A , and such other documents or instruments as the General Partner may require in order to effect the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner.

 

(ii)         The assignee shall have delivered a letter containing the representation set forth in Section 9.01(a) hereof and the representations and warranties set forth in Section 9.01(b) hereof.

 

(iii)        If the assignee is a corporation, partnership or trust, the assignee shall have provided the General Partner with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership of the assignee’s authority to become a Limited Partner under the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

(iv)        The assignee shall have executed a power of attorney containing the terms and provisions set forth in Section 8.02 hereof.

 

(v)         The assignee shall have paid or reimbursed, and shall hold harmless the General Partner and the Partnership for, all legal fees and other expenses of the Partnership and the General Partner and filing and publication costs in connection with its substitution as a Limited Partner, including any applicable transfer taxes or withholding taxes.

 

(vi)        The assignee shall have obtained the prior written consent of the General Partner to its admission as a Substitute Limited Partner, which consent may be given or denied in the exercise of the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion.

 

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(b)          For the purpose of allocating Net Income and Net Loss and distributing cash received by the Partnership, a Substitute Limited Partner shall be treated as having become, and appearing in the records of the Partnership as, a Limited Partner on the later of the date specified in the transfer documents or the date on which the General Partner has received all necessary instruments of transfer and substitution.

 

(c)          The General Partner and the Substitute Limited Partner shall cooperate with each other by preparing the documentation required by this Section 9.03 and making all official filings and publications. The Partnership shall take all such action as promptly as practicable after the satisfaction of the conditions in this Article IX to the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner of the Partnership.

 

9.04        Rights of Assignees of Partnership Units .

 

(a)          Subject to the provisions of Sections 9.01 and 9.02 hereof, except as required by operation of law, the Partnership shall not be obligated for any purposes whatsoever to recognize the assignment by any Limited Partner of its Partnership Units until the Partnership has received notice thereof.

 

(b)          Any Person who is the assignee of all or any portion of a Limited Partner’s Partnership Units, but does not become a Substitute Limited Partner and desires to make a further assignment of such Partnership Units, shall be subject to all the provisions of this Article IX to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of its Partnership Units.

 

9.05        Effect of Bankruptcy, Death, Incompetence or Termination of a Limited Partner . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a Limited Partner, the death of a Limited Partner or a final adjudication that a Limited Partner is incompetent (which term shall include, but not be limited to, insanity) shall not, in and of itself, cause the termination or dissolution of the Partnership, and the business of the Partnership shall continue, and such Limited Partner’s personal representative (as defined in the Act) shall have the rights of such Limited Partner for the purpose of settling or managing such Limited Partner’s estate property and such power as the bankrupt, deceased or incompetent Limited Partner possessed to assign all or any part of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units and to join with the assignee in satisfying conditions precedent to the admission of the assignee as a Substitute Limited Partner.

 

9.06        Joint Ownership of Partnership Units . A Partnership Unit may be acquired by two individuals as joint tenants with right of survivorship, provided , that such individuals either are married or are related and share the same home as tenants in common. The written consent or vote of both owners of any such jointly held Partnership Unit shall be required to constitute the action of the owners of such Partnership Unit; provided , however , that the written consent of only one joint owner will be required if the Partnership has been provided with evidence satisfactory to the counsel for the Partnership that the actions of a single joint owner can bind both owners under the applicable laws of the state of residence of such joint owners. Upon the death of one owner of a Partnership Unit held in a joint tenancy with a right of survivorship, the Partnership Unit shall become owned solely by the survivor as a Limited Partner and not as an assignee. The Partnership need not recognize the death of one of the owners of a jointly-held Partnership Unit until it shall have received notice of such death. Upon notice to the General Partner from either owner, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership Unit to be divided into two equal Partnership Units, which shall thereafter be owned separately by each of the former owners.

 

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ARTICLE X

BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS

 

10.01      Books and Records . At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the Partnership’s specified office true and complete books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including: (a) a current list of the full name and last known business address of each Partner, (b) a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and all certificates of amendment thereto, (c) copies of the Partnership’s U.S. federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, (d) copies of this Agreement and any financial statements of the Partnership for the three most recent years and (e) all documents and information required under the Act. Any Limited Partner or its duly authorized representative, for any purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon paying the costs of collection, duplication and mailing, shall be entitled to inspect or copy such records during ordinary business hours.

 

10.02      Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts .

 

(a)          All funds of the Partnership not otherwise invested shall be deposited in one or more accounts maintained in such banking or brokerage institutions as the General Partner shall determine, and withdrawals shall be made only on such signature or signatures as the General Partner may, from time to time, determine.

 

(b)          All deposits and other funds not needed in the operation of the business of the Partnership may be invested by the General Partner. The funds of the Partnership shall not be commingled with the funds of any other Person except for such commingling as may necessarily result from an investment in those investment companies permitted by this Section 10.02(b).

 

10.03      Fiscal and Taxable Year . The fiscal and taxable year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year unless otherwise required by the Code.

 

10.04      Annual Tax Information and Report . Within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership, the General Partner shall furnish to each Person who was a Limited Partner at any time during such year and the Special Limited Partner the tax information necessary to file such Limited Partner’s or the Special Limited Partner’s, as applicable, tax returns as shall be reasonably required by law.

 

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10.05      Tax Matters Partner/Partnership Representative; Tax Elections; Special Basis Adjustments .

 

(a)          The General Partner shall be the Tax Matters Partner of the Partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to taxable periods ending on or before December 31, 2017. With respect to all subsequent taxable periods, the General Partner shall be the partnership representative (the “ Partnership Representative ”) for purposes of Section 6223 of the Code, shall select a “designated individual” on behalf of the Partnership (as contemplated by the proposed Regulations under Section 6223 of the Code), as applicable, and shall represent the Partnership in any disputes, controversies, or proceedings with the IRS or with any state, local or non-U.S. taxing authority. The Tax Matters Partner or the Partnership Representative, as applicable, shall have the right to retain professional assistance in respect of any audit of the Partnership by the Service and all out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the Tax Matters Partner or the Partnership Representative, as applicable, on behalf of the Partnership in performing its duties as such shall constitute Partnership expenses. The Tax Matters Partner or the Partnership Representative, as applicable, shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, respectively, by the Code for the Tax Matters Partner or the Partnership Representative, as applicable. Subject to the revised partnership audit procedures and any Regulations or other administrative guidance promulgated in connection therewith (the “ Revised Partnership Audit Procedures ”):

 

(i)          In the event the Tax Matters Partner or the Partnership Representative, as applicable, receives notice of a final Partnership adjustment under Section 6223(a)(2) of the Code (as in effect prior to the Budget Act), the Tax Matters Partner or the Partnership Representative, as applicable, shall either (i) file a court petition for judicial review of such final adjustment within the period provided under Section 6226(a) of the Code (as in effect prior to the Budget Act), a copy of which petition shall be mailed to all Limited Partners and the Special Limited Partner on the date such petition is filed, or (ii) mail a written notice to all Limited Partners and the Special Limited Partner, within such period, that describes the Tax Matters Partner’s or the Partnership Representative’s, as applicable, reasons for determining not to file such a petition.

 

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(ii)         The Partnership Representative shall, subject to the provisions in this Section 10.05(a)(ii), be entitled to take such actions on behalf of the Partnership in any and all proceedings with the IRS and any other such taxing authority as it reasonably determines to be appropriate and any decision made by the Partnership Representative shall be binding on all Partners. The Partners agree to take such actions as may be required to effect the General Partner’s designation as the Partnership Representative (and its selection of any designated individual, as applicable), cooperate in good faith to timely provide information reasonably requested by the Partnership Representative as needed to comply with the Revised Partnership Audit Procedures, including, without limitation, to make (and take full advantage of) any elections available to the Partnership or to determine whether any imputed underpayment amount may be modified pursuant to Section 6225(c) of the Code, in each case under the Revised Partnership Audit Procedures. The Partnership shall make any payments of assessed amounts under Section 6221 of the Code and shall allocate any such assessment among the current or former Partners of the Partnership for the “reviewed year” to which the assessment relates in a manner that reflects the current or former Partners’ respective interests in the Partnership for that reviewed year based on such Partner’s share of such assessment as would have occurred if the Partner had amended the tax returns for such reviewed year and such Partner incurred the assessment directly (using the tax rates applicable to the Partnership under Section 6225(b) of the Code). To the extent that the Partnership is assessed amounts under Section 6221(a) of the Code, the current or former Partner(s) to which this assessment relates shall pay to the Partnership such Partner’s share of the assessed amounts, including such Partner’s share of any additional accrued interest assessed against the Partnership relating to such Partner’s share of the assessment, upon twenty (20) days of written notice from the Partnership Representative requesting the payment in accordance with Section 5.02(d); provided , that if a former Partner fails to pay to the Partnership such former Partner’s shares of the assessed amounts (and any additional interest) then the current Partner who is the direct or indirect transferee of such former Partner’s Partnership Interest shall be liable for, and shall pay to the Partnership, such former Partner’s share. The Partnership Representative shall have no liability arising out of its performance of its duties as the Partnership Representative hereunder, and the Partnership shall indemnify, defend and hold the Partnership Representative harmless from and against any loss, liability, damage, cost or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs) sustained or incurred as a result of its acting as Partnership Representative hereunder, provided that the foregoing shall not insulate the Partnership Representative from liability for any action constituting fraud, gross negligence, misappropriate of funds or an intentional breach of this Agreement. The provisions contained in this Section 10.05(a)(ii) shall survive the liquidation, termination and dissolution of the Partnership and the withdrawal of any Partner or the transfer of any Partner’s interest in the Partnership. With respect to all taxable years to which the Revised Partnership Audit Procedures apply to the Partnership, the Partnership Representative may, to the extent permitted by law, make an election (a “ Pass-Through Election ”) under Code Section 6226 with respect to any imputed underpayment of the Partnership, and furnish any adjustment statements to the Partners and to the IRS as required under the Revised Partnership Audit Procedures. In addition to all other remedies that the Partnership may be entitled to pursue, in the event that a Limited Partner fails to pay any amount when due pursuant to this Section 10.05(a), the Partnership may thereafter, at any time prior to the Partner’s payment in full of such amount (plus any accrued interest), elect, if applicable, to redeem Partnership Units held by such Partner, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 8.04 with the valuation date being the date the Partnership elects to redeem such Partnership Units, in an amount sufficient to pay any or all of such amount. In the event that proceeds to the Partnership are reduced on account of taxes withheld at the source or the Partnership incurs a liability and such taxes (or a portion thereof) are imposed on or with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Partners or if the rate of tax varies depending on the attributes of specific Partners or to whom the corresponding income is allocated, the amount of the reduction in the Partnership’s net proceeds shall be borne by and apportioned among the relevant Partners and treated as if it were paid by the Partnership as a withholding obligation with respect to such Partners in accordance with such apportionment.

 

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(b)          All elections and determinations required or permitted to be made by the Partnership under the Code or any applicable state or local tax law shall be made by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(c)          In the event of a transfer of all or any part of the Partnership Interest of any Partner, the Partnership, at the option of the General Partner, may elect pursuant to Section 754 of the Code to adjust the basis of the Properties. Notwithstanding anything contained in Article V of this Agreement, any adjustments made pursuant to Section 754 shall affect only the successor in interest to the transferring Partner and in no event shall be taken into account in establishing, maintaining or computing Capital Accounts for the other Partners for any purpose under this Agreement unless an adjustment to Capital Accounts is permitted under the Regulations promulgated under Section 704 of the Code. Each Partner will furnish the Partnership with all information necessary to give effect to such election.

 

(d)          In the event that the General Partner shall be removed or replaced pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, the successor to the General Partner shall assume the obligations of this Section 10.05.

 

(e)          The Partners, intending to be legally bound, hereby authorize the Partnership to make an election (the “ Safe Harbor Election ”) to have the “liquidation value” safe harbor provided in Proposed Treasury Regulation § 1.83-3(1) and the Proposed Revenue Procedure set forth in Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-43, as such safe harbor may be modified when such proposed guidance is issued in final form or as amended by subsequently issued guidance (the “ Safe Harbor ”), apply to any interest in the Partnership transferred to a service provider while the Safe Harbor Election remains effective, to the extent such interest meets the Safe Harbor requirements (collectively, such interests are referred to as “ Safe Harbor Interests ”). The Tax Matters Partner is authorized and directed to execute and file the Safe Harbor Election on behalf of the Partnership and the Partners. The Partnership and the Partners (including any Person to whom an interest in the Partnership is transferred in connection with the performance of services) hereby agree to comply with all requirements of the Safe Harbor (including forfeiture allocations) with respect to all Safe Harbor Interests and to prepare and file all U.S. federal income tax returns reporting the tax consequences of the issuance and vesting of Safe Harbor Interests consistent with such final Safe Harbor guidance. The Partnership is also authorized to take such actions as are necessary to achieve, under the Safe Harbor, the effect that the election and compliance with all requirements of the Safe Harbor referred to above would be intended to achieve under Proposed Treasury Regulation § 1.83-3, including amending this Agreement.

 

10.06      Reports to Limited Partners .

 

(a)          If the General Partner is required to furnish an annual report to its stockholders containing financial statements of the General Partner, the General Partner will, at the same time and in the same manner, furnish such annual report to each Limited Partner and the Special Limited Partner.

 

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(b)          Any Partner and the Special Limited Partner shall further have the right to a private audit of the books and records of the Partnership, provided , that such audit is made for Partnership purposes, at the sole expense of the Partner or the Special Limited Partner desiring it and is made during normal business hours.

 

ARTICLE XI

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT; MERGER

 

11.01      Amendment of Agreement .

 

(a)          Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner’s written consent shall be required for any amendment to this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, the General Partner, without the consent of the Limited Partners, the Special Limited Partner or any other Person, may amend this Agreement in any respect; provided , however , that the following amendments shall require the written consent of a Majority in Interest:

 

(i)          any amendment affecting the operation of the Conversion Factor or the Class A Unit Redemption Right (except as otherwise provided herein) in a manner that adversely affects the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner in any material respect;

 

(ii)         any amendment that would adversely affect the rights of the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner in any material respect to receive the distributions payable to them hereunder, other than with respect to the issuance of additional Partnership Units pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof;

 

(iii)        any amendment that would alter the Partnership’s allocations of Net Income and Net Loss to the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner, other than with respect to the issuance of additional Partnership Units pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof;

         

(iv)        any amendment that would impose on the Limited Partners or the Special Limited Partner any obligation to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership;

 

(v)         any amendment that would modify the limited liability of a Limited Partner or the Special Limited Partner in a manner that adversely affects the Limited Partner or the Special Limited Partner; or

 

(iv)        any amendment to this Article XI.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding Section 11.01(a) hereof, this Agreement shall not be amended without the consent of the Special Limited Partner if such amendment would adversely affect the Special Limited Partner.

 

11.02      Merger of Partnership .

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, without the consent of the Limited Partners, the Special Limited Partner or any other Person, may (i) merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into any other domestic or foreign partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other Person or (ii) sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership in a transaction pursuant to Section 7.02(a) or (b) hereof and may amend this Agreement in any manner or adopt a new limited partnership agreement for the Partnership in connection with any such transaction consistent with the provisions of this Article XI.

 

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ARTICLE XII

CLASS B UNITS

 

12.01      Designation and Number .

 

(a)          A series of Partnership Units in the Partnership, designated as the “Class B Units,” is hereby established. Except as set forth in this Article XII, Class B Units shall have the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Class A Units. Subject to the provisions of this Article XII and the special provisions of Section 5.01(c)(i), Class B Units shall be treated as Partnership Units, with all of the rights, privileges and obligations attendant thereto.

 

(b)          It is intended that the Partnership shall maintain at all times a one-to-one correspondence between Class B Units and Class A Units for conversion and other purposes. If an Adjustment Event occurs, then the General Partner shall make a corresponding adjustment to the Class B Units to maintain a one-for-one conversion and economic equivalence ratio between Class A Units and Class B Units. If more than one Adjustment Event occurs, the adjustment to the Class B Units need be made only once using a single formula that takes into account each and every Adjustment Event as if all Adjustment Events occurred simultaneously. If the Partnership takes an action affecting the Class A Units other than actions specifically described in the definition of Adjustment Events and, in the opinion of the General Partner such action would require an adjustment to the Class B Units to maintain the one-to-one correspondence described above, the General Partner shall have the right to make such adjustment to the Class B Units, to the extent permitted by law, in such manner and at such time as the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances. If an adjustment is made to the Class B Units as herein provided, the Partnership shall promptly file in the books and records of the Partnership an officer’s certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment, which certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such adjustment absent manifest error. Promptly after the filing of such certificate, the Partnership shall mail a notice to each holder of Class B Units setting forth the adjustment to his, her or its Class B Units and the effective date of such adjustment.

 

12.02      Special Provisions . Class B Units shall be subject to the following special provisions:

 

(a)           Distributions . The holders of Class B Units shall be entitled to (i) current distributions of Cash Available for Distribution pursuant to Section 5.02(a), (ii) distributions, if any, of Net Sales Proceeds pursuant to Section 5.02(b), and (iii) distributions in liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.06.

 

(b)           Allocations . Holders of Class B Units shall be entitled to certain special allocations of Net Property Gain under Section 5.01(c)(i). Except in connection with Net Property Gain, holders of Class B Units shall be allocated Net Income no greater than the amount of distributions made pursuant to Section 5.02(a).

 

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(c)           Redemption . The Class A Unit Redemption Right provided to Limited Partners under Section 8.04 hereof shall not apply with respect to Class B Units unless and until the Class B Units are converted to Class A Units as provided in Section 12.04.

 

12.03      Voting .

 

(a)          Holders of Class B Units shall (x) have the same voting rights as the Limited Partners, with the Class B Units voting as a single class with the Class A Units and having one vote per Class B Unit; and (y) have the additional voting rights that are expressly set forth below. So long as any Class B Units remain outstanding, the Partnership shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Class B Units outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting separately as a class), amend, alter or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, the provisions of this Agreement applicable to Class B Units so as to materially and adversely affect any right, privilege or voting power of the Class B Units or the holders of Class B Units as such, unless such amendment, alteration, or repeal affects equally, ratably and proportionately the rights, privileges and voting powers of the Limited Partners; but subject, in any event, to the following provisions:

 

(i)          With respect to any Class A Unit Transaction, so long as the Class B Units are treated in accordance with Section 12.04(d) hereof, the consummation of such Class A Unit Transaction shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Class B Units or the holders of Class B Units as such; and

 

(ii)         Any creation or issuance of any Partnership Units or of any class or series of Partnership Interest including additional Class A Units or Class B Units whether ranking senior to, junior to, or on a parity with the Class B Units with respect to distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Class B Units or the holders of Class B Units as such.

 

(b)          The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required, all outstanding Class B Units shall have been converted into Class A Units.

 

12.04      Conversion of Class B Units .

 

(a)           Conversion . At such time as the Class B Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to a Class B Unit is equal to the Class A Unit Economic Balance, each such balance determined on a per unit basis as of the effective date of conversion (the “ Class B Conversion Date ”), such Class B Unit shall automatically convert into one fully paid and non-assessable Class A Unit, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof; provided , that a Class B Unit shall not be convertible into Class A Units if the Class B Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to such Class B Unit is negative. Each holder of Class B Units covenants and agrees with the Partnership that all Class B Units to be converted pursuant to this Section 12.04 shall be free and clear of all liens. The conversion of Class B Units shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable Conversion Date without any action on the part of such holder of Class B Units, as of which time such holder of Class B Units shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Class A Units issuable upon such conversion. For purposes of determining the Class B Economic Capital Account Balance attributable to a Class B Unit, allocations pursuant to Section 5.01(c)(i) shall be made in such a manner so as to allow the greatest number of Class B Units to convert pursuant to this Section 12.04 at any time.

 

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(b)           Adjustment to Gross Asset Value .

 

(i)          The General Partner shall provide the holders of Class B Units the opportunity but not the obligation to make Capital Contributions to the Partnership in exchange for Class A Units in order to cause an adjustment to the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership’s assets within the meaning of paragraph (b)(i) of the definition of Gross Asset Value up to two (2) times each fiscal year including if the Partnership or the General Partner shall be a party to any Class A Unit Transaction; provided , that the General Partner shall give each holder of Class B Units written notice of such Class A Unit Transaction at least thirty (30) days prior to entering into any definitive agreement pursuant to which the Class A Unit Transaction would be consummated;

 

(ii)         For purposes of clause (i) of this Section 12.04(b), the value of each Class A Unit issued in order to cause an adjustment to the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership’s assets shall be an amount equal to the product of (y) the Value of one REIT Share as of the date the holder of Class B Units makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership multiplied by (z) the Conversion Factor.

 

(iii)        For the avoidance of doubt, the issuance of Class B Units shall be treated as an event allowing for an adjustment to the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership’s assets within the meaning of paragraph (b)(iv) of the definition of Gross Asset Value.

 

(c)           Impact of Conversion for Purposes of Section 5.01(c)(i) . For purposes of making future allocations under Section 5.01(c)(i), the portion of the Class B Economic Capital Account Balance of the applicable holder of Class B Units that is treated as attributable to his, her or its Class B Units shall be reduced, as of the date of conversion, by the product of the number of Class B Units converted and the Class A Unit Economic Balance.

 

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(d)           Class A Unit Transactions . Immediately prior to or concurrent with an Class A Unit Transaction the maximum number of Class B Units then eligible for conversion (in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04(a)) shall automatically be converted into an equal number of Class A Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof, taking into account any allocations that occur in connection with the Class A Unit Transaction or that would occur in connection with the Class A Unit Transaction if the assets of the Partnership were sold at the Class A Unit Transaction price or, if applicable, at a value determined by the General Partner in good faith using the value attributed to the Partnership Units in the context of the Class A Unit Transaction (in which case the Conversion Date shall be the effective date of the Class A Unit Transaction). In anticipation of such Class A Unit Transaction, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Class B Units to be afforded the right to receive in connection with such Class A Unit Transaction in consideration for the Class A Units into which his, her or its Class B Units will be converted the same kind and amount of cash, securities and other property (or any combination thereof) receivable upon the consummation of such Class A Unit Transaction by a holder of the same number of Class A Units, assuming such holder of Class A Units is not a Person with which the Partnership consolidated or into which the Partnership merged or which merged into the Partnership or to which such sale or transfer was made, as the case may be (a “ Constituent Person ”), or an affiliate of a Constituent Person. In the event that holders of Class A Units have the opportunity to elect the form or type of consideration to be received upon consummation of the Class A Unit Transaction, prior to such Class A Unit Transaction the General Partner shall give prompt written notice to each holder of Class B Units of such election, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to afford the holders of Class B Units the right to elect, by written notice to the General Partner, the form or type of consideration to be received upon conversion of each Class B Unit held by such holder into Class A Units in connection with such Class A Unit Transaction. If a holder of Class B Units fails to make such an election, such holder (and any of its transferees) shall receive upon conversion of each Class B Unit held by him, her or it (or by any of his, her or its transferees) the same kind and amount of consideration that a holder of an Class A Unit would receive if such Class A Unit holder failed to make such an election. The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable effort to cause the terms of any Class A Unit Transaction to be consistent with the provisions of this Section 12.04(d) and to enter into an agreement with the successor or purchasing entity, as the case may be, for the benefit of any holders of Class B Units whose Class B Units will not be converted into Class A Units in connection with the Class A Unit Transaction that will (i) contain provisions enabling the holders of Class B Units that remain outstanding after such Class A Unit Transaction to convert their Class B Units into securities as comparable as reasonably possible under the circumstances to the Class A Units and (ii) preserve as far as reasonably possible under the circumstances the distribution, special allocation, conversion, and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the holders of Class B Units.

 

12.05      Profits Interests .

 

(a)          Class B Units are intended to qualify as a “profits interest” in the Partnership issued to a new or existing Partner in a partner capacity for services performed or to be performed to or for the benefit of the Partnership within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 93-27, 1993-2 C.B. 343, and Rev. Proc. 2001-43, 2001-2 C.B. 191, the Code, the Regulations, and other future guidance provided by the IRS with respect thereto, and the allocations under Section 5.01(c)(i) shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent therewith.

 

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(b)          The Partners agree that the General Partner shall make a Safe Harbor Election (as provided in Section 10.05(e)), on behalf of itself and of all Partners, to have the Safe Harbor apply irrevocably with respect to Class B Units transferred in connection with the performance of services by a Partner in a partner capacity. The Safe Harbor Election shall be effective as of the date of issuance of such Class B Units. If such election is made, (i) the Partnership and each Partner agree to comply with all requirements of the Safe Harbor with respect to all interests in the Partnership transferred in connection with the performance of services by a Partner in a partner capacity, whether such Partner was admitted as a Partner or as the transferee of a previous Partner, and (ii) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to comply with all record-keeping requirements and other administrative requirements with respect to the Safe Harbor as shall be required by proposed or final regulations relating thereto.

 

(c)          The Partners agree that if a Safe Harbor Election is made by the General Partner, (A) each Class B Unit issued hereunder is a Safe Harbor Interest, (B) each Class B Unit represents a profits interest received for services rendered or to be rendered to or for the benefit of the Partnership by such holder of Class B Units in his, her or its capacity as a Partner or in anticipation of becoming a Partner, and (C) the fair market value of each Class B Unit issued by the Partnership upon receipt by such holder of Class B Units as of the date of issuance is zero (plus the amount, if any, of any Capital Contributions made to the Partnership by such holder of Class B Units in connection with the issuance of such Class B Unit), representing the liquidation value of such interest upon receipt (with such valuation being consented to and hereby approved by all Partners).

 

(d)          Each Partner, by signing this Agreement or by accepting such transfer, hereby agrees (A) to comply with all requirements of any Safe Harbor Election made by the General Partner with respect to each holder of Class B Units’ Safe Harbor Interest, (B) that each holder of Class B Units shall take into account of all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit associated with its Class B Units as if they were fully vested in computing its U.S. federal income tax liability for the entire period during which it holds the Class B Units, (C) that neither the Partnership nor any Partner shall claim a deduction (as wages, compensation or otherwise) for the fair market value of such Class B Units issued to a holder of such Class B Units, either at the time of grant of the Class B Units or at the time the Class B Units becomes substantially vested, and (D) that to the extent that such profits interest is forfeited after the date hereof, the Partnership shall make special forfeiture allocations of gross items of income, deduction or loss (including, as may be permitted by or under Regulations (or other rules promulgated) to be adopted, notional items of income, deduction or loss) in accordance with the Regulations to be adopted under Sections 704(b) and 83 of the Code.

 

(e)          The General Partner shall file or cause the Partnership to file all returns, reports and other documentation as may be required, as reasonably determined by the General Partner, to perfect and maintain any Safe Harbor Election made by the General Partner with respect to granting of each holder of Class B Units’ Safe Harbor Interest.

 

(f)           The General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, without further vote or action of the Partners, to amend this Agreement to the extent necessary or helpful in accordance with the advice of Partnership tax counsel or accountants to sustain the Partnership’s position that (A) it has complied with the Safe Harbor requirements in order to provide for a Safe Harbor Election and it has ability to maintain the same, or (B) the issuance of the Class B Units is not a taxable event with respect to the holders of Class B Units, and the General Partner shall have the authority to execute any such amendment by and on behalf of each Partner pursuant to the power of attorney granted by this Agreement. Any undertaking by any Partner necessary or desirable to (A) enable or preserve a Safe Harbor Election or (B) otherwise to prevent the issuance of Class B Units from being a taxable event with respect to the holders of Class B Units may be reflected in such amendments and, to the extent so reflected, shall be binding on each Partner.

 

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(g)          Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner to perfect and maintain any Safe Harbor Election, and to timely execute and deliver any documentation with respect thereto reasonably requested by the General Partner, at the expense of the Partnership.

 

(h)          No Transfer of any interest in the Partnership by a Partner shall be effective unless prior to such Transfer, the assignee or intended recipient of such interest shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of Section 10.05(e) and this Section 12.05, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner.

 

(i)           The provisions of this Section 12.05 shall apply regardless of whether or not a holder of Class B Units files an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code.

 

(j)           The General Partner may amend this Section 12.05 as it deems necessary or appropriate to maximize the tax benefit of the issuance of Class B Units to any holder of Class B Units if there are changes in the law or Regulations concerning the issuance of partnership interests for services.

 

ARTICLE XIII

LTIP UNITS

 

13.01      LTIP Units .

 

(a)           Issuance of LTIP Units . Pursuant to an OPP Agreement or otherwise, the General Partner may, from time to time, issue LTIP Units to Persons who have provided, or will provide, services to the Partnership or the General Partner for such consideration (if any) as the General Partner may determine to be appropriate, and admit such Persons as Limited Partners. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 13.01 and the special provisions of Sections 13.02 and 5.01(c)(iii) hereof, LTIP Units shall be treated as Partnership Units, with all of the rights, privileges and obligations attendant thereto. For purposes of computing the Partners’ Percentage Interests, other than with respect to the Master LTIP Unit, LTIP Unitholders shall be treated as holders of Class A Units and LTIP Units shall be treated as Class A Units. It is intended that the Partnership shall maintain at all times a one-to-one correspondence between LTIP Units, other than the Master LTIP Unit, and Class A Units for conversion, distribution and other purposes, including without limitation complying with the following procedures:

 

(i)          If an Adjustment Event occurs, then the General Partner shall make a corresponding adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain a one-for-one conversion and economic equivalence ratio between Class A Units and LTIP Units. If more than one Adjustment Event occurs, the adjustment to the LTIP Units need be made only once using a single formula that takes into account each and every Adjustment Event as if all Adjustment Events occurred simultaneously.

 

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(ii)         If the Partnership takes an action affecting the Class A Units other than actions specifically described in the definition of Adjustment Events and, in the opinion of the General Partner such action would require an adjustment to the LTIP Units to maintain the one-to-one correspondence described above, the General Partner shall have the right to make such adjustment to the LTIP Units, to the extent permitted by law and by any OPP Agreement, in such manner and at such time as the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances.

 

(iii)        If an adjustment is made to the LTIP Units as herein provided, the Partnership shall promptly file in the books and records of the Partnership an officer’s certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment, which certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such adjustment absent manifest error. Promptly after the filing of such certificate, the Partnership shall mail a notice to each LTIP Unitholder setting forth the adjustment to his or her LTIP Units and the effective date of such adjustment.

 

(b)           Priority . Subject to the provisions of this Section 13.01 and the special provisions of Sections 13.02 and 5.01(c)(iii), the LTIP Units shall rank pari passu with the Class A Units as to the payment of regular and special periodic or other distributions and, subject to Section 5.06 hereof, distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. As to the payment of distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, any class or series of Class A Units or Partnership Interests which by its terms specifies that it shall rank junior to, on a parity with, or senior to the Class A Units shall also rank junior to, or pari passu with, or senior to, respectively, the LTIP Units.

 

(c)           Special Provisions . LTIP Units shall be subject to the following special provisions:

 

(i)           LTIP Awards . LTIP Units may, in the sole discretion of the General Partner, be issued subject to vesting, forfeiture and additional restrictions on transfers pursuant to the terms of an OPP Agreement. The terms of any OPP Agreement may be modified by the General Partner from time to time in its sole discretion, subject to any restrictions on amendment imposed by the relevant OPP Agreement pursuant to which such LTIP Award was issued. LTIP Units that have vested under the terms of an OPP Agreement are referred to as “ Vested LTIP Units ”; all other LTIP Units shall be treated as “ Unvested LTIP Units .”

 

(ii)          Forfeiture . Unless otherwise specified in the OPP Agreement, upon the occurrence of any event specified in a OPP Agreement as resulting in either the right of the Partnership or the General Partner to repurchase LTIP Units at a specified purchase price or some other forfeiture of any LTIP Units, if the Partnership or the General Partner exercises such right of repurchase or forfeiture in accordance with the applicable OPP Agreement, the relevant LTIP Units shall immediately, and without any further action, be treated as cancelled and no longer outstanding for any purpose. Unless otherwise specified in the OPP Agreement, no consideration or other payment shall be due with respect to any LTIP Units that have been forfeited, other than any distributions declared with respect to a Partnership Record Date prior to the effective date of the forfeiture. In connection with any repurchase or forfeiture of LTIP Units, the LTIP Economic Capital Account Balance of the LTIP Unitholder with respect to remaining LTIP Units, if any, shall be reduced by the amount, if any, by which it exceeds the target balance contemplated by Section 5.01(c)(iii), with respect to such remaining LTIP Units.

 

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(iii)         Allocations . LTIP Unitholders shall be entitled to certain special allocations of Net Property Gain under Sections 5.01(c)(iii). Except in connection with Net Property Gain, LTIP Unitholders shall be allocated Net Income no greater than the amount of distributions made pursuant to Section 5.02(a).

 

(iv)         Distributions . The LTIP Unitholders shall be entitled to (A) current distributions of Cash Available for Distribution pursuant to Section 5.02(a), (B) distributions, if any, of Net Sales Proceeds pursuant to Section 5.02(b), and (C) distributions in liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to Section 5.06. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, because, in order to facilitate the award granted under the 2018 Advisor OPP Agreement, the Master LTIP Unit will convert into a number of LTIP Units equal to the LTIP Award Number on the Effective Date based on information that cannot be known until the day prior to the Effective Date, and, therefore, the LTIP Award Number and the amount of Cash Available for Distribution otherwise distributable pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(i) prior to the Effective Date with respect to such LTIP Units cannot be determined until the Effective Date, the Partnership shall make distributions pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(i) only to the holders of Class A Units or Class B Units with a Partnership Record Date during the period between the Listing Date and the Effective Date, and, promptly following the Effective Date, the Partnership shall distribute to the LTIP Unitholders the Concurrent Distribution that would have been distributed to the LTIP Unitholders during the period between the Listing Date and the Effective Date if a number of LTIP Units equal to the LTIP Award Number had been held by such LTIP Unitholders at all times during such period.

 

(v)          Redemption . The Class A Unit Redemption Right provided to Limited Partners under Section 8.04 hereof shall not apply with respect to LTIP Units unless and until the LTIP Units are converted to Class A Units as provided in clause (v) below and Section 13.02.

 

(vi)         Conversion .

 

(1)          Vested LTIP Units are eligible to be converted into Class A Units in accordance with Section 13.02.

 

(2)          The Master LTIP Unit shall convert on the Effective Date into a number of LTIP Units equal to the LTIP Award Number. This conversion shall occur automatically prior to the opening of business on the Effective Date without any action on the part of the LTIP Unitholder, as of which time the LTIP Unitholder shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the Effective Date of the number of LTIP Units issuable upon such conversion.

 

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(vii)        Legend . Any certificate evidencing an LTIP Unit shall bear an appropriate legend indicating that additional terms, conditions and restrictions on transfer, including without limitation any LTIP Award, apply to the LTIP Unit.

 

(d)           Voting . LTIP Unitholders shall (a) have the same voting rights as the Limited Partners, with the LTIP Units voting as a single class with the Class A Units and having one vote per LTIP Unit; and (b) have the additional voting rights that are expressly set forth below. So long as any LTIP Units remain outstanding, the Partnership shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the LTIP Units outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting separately as a class), amend, alter or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, the provisions of this Agreement applicable to LTIP Units so as to materially and adversely affect any right, privilege or voting power of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such, unless such amendment, alteration, or repeal affects equally, ratably and proportionately the rights, privileges and voting powers of the Limited Partners; but subject, in any event, to the following provisions:

 

(i)          With respect to any Class A Unit Transaction, so long as the LTIP Units are treated in accordance with Section 13.02(f), the consummation of such Class A Unit Transaction shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such; and

 

(ii)         Any creation or issuance of any Partnership Units or of any class or series of Partnership Interest including without limitation additional Class A Units or LTIP Units whether ranking senior to, junior to, or on a parity with the LTIP Units with respect to distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the LTIP Units or the LTIP Unitholders as such.

 

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required, all outstanding LTIP Units shall have been converted into Class A Units.

 

(e)           Liquidation Value of LTIP Units upon Issuance, and Safe Harbor Election .

 

(i)          LTIP Units are intended to qualify as a “profits interest” in the Partnership issued to a new or existing Partner in a partner capacity for services performed or to be performed to or for the benefit of the Partnership within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 93-27, 1993-2 C.B. 343, and Rev. Proc. 2001-43, 2001-2 C.B. 191, the Code, the Regulations, and other future guidance provided by the IRS with respect thereto, and the allocations under Section 5.01(c)(iv) shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent therewith.

 

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(ii)         The Partners agree that the General Partner shall make a Safe Harbor Election (as provided in Section 10.05(e)), on behalf of itself and of all Partners, to have the Safe Harbor apply irrevocably with respect to LTIP Units transferred in connection with the performance of services by a Partner in a partner capacity. The Safe Harbor Election shall be effective as of the date of issuance of such LTIP Units. If such election is made, (A) the Partnership and each Partner agree to comply with all requirements of the Safe Harbor with respect to all interests in the Partnership transferred in connection with the performance of services by a Partner in a partner capacity, whether such Partner was admitted as a Partner or as the transferee of a previous Partner, and (B) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to comply with all record-keeping requirements and other administrative requirements with respect to the Safe Harbor as shall be required by proposed or final regulations relating thereto.

 

(iii)        The Partners agree that if a Safe Harbor Election is made by the General Partner, (A) each LTIP Unit issued hereunder is a Safe Harbor Interest, (B) each LTIP Unit represents a profits interest received for services rendered or to be rendered to or for the benefit of the Partnership by the LTIP Unitholder in his or her capacity as a Partner or in anticipation of becoming a Partner, and (C) the fair market value of each LTIP Unit issued by the Partnership upon receipt by the LTIP Unitholder as of the date of issuance is zero (plus the amount, if any, of any Capital Contributions made to the Partnership by such LTIP Unitholder in connection with the issuance of such LTIP Unit), representing the liquidation value of such interest upon receipt (with such valuation being consented to and hereby approved by all Partners).

 

(iv)        Each Partner, by signing this Agreement or by accepting such transfer, hereby agrees (A) to comply with all requirements of any Safe Harbor Election made by the General Partner with respect to each LTIP Unitholder’s Safe Harbor Interest, (B) that each LTIP Unitholder shall take into account of all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit associated with its LTIP Units as if they were fully vested in computing its U.S. federal income tax liability for the entire period during which it holds the LTIP Units, (C) that neither the Partnership nor any Partner shall claim a deduction (as wages, compensation or otherwise) for the fair market value of such LTIP Units issued to a holder of such LTIP Units, either at the time of grant of the LTIP Units or at the time the LTIP Units become substantially vested, and (D) that to the extent that such profits interest is forfeited after the date hereof, the Partnership shall make special forfeiture allocations of gross items of income, deduction or loss (including, as may be permitted by or under Regulations (or other rules promulgated) to be adopted, notional items of income, deduction or loss) in accordance with the Regulations to be adopted under Sections 704(b) and 83 of the Code.

 

(v)         The General Partner shall file or cause the Partnership to file all returns, reports and other documentation as may be required, as reasonably determined by the General Partner, to perfect and maintain any Safe Harbor Election made by the General Partner with respect to granting of each LTIP Unitholder’s Safe Harbor Interest.

 

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(vi)        The General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, without further vote or action of the Partners, to amend this Agreement to the extent necessary or helpful in accordance with the advice of Partnership tax counsel or accountants to sustain the Partnership’s position that (A) it has complied with the Safe Harbor requirements in order to provide for a Safe Harbor Election and it has ability to maintain the same, or (B) the issuance of the LTIP Units is not a taxable event with respect to the LTIP Unitholders, and the General Partner shall have the authority to execute any such amendment by and on behalf of each Partner pursuant to the power of attorney granted by this Agreement. Any undertaking by any Partner necessary or desirable to (A) enable or preserve a Safe Harbor Election or (B) otherwise to prevent the issuance of LTIP Units to LTIP Unitholders from being a taxable event may be reflected in such amendments and, to the extent so reflected, shall be binding on each Partner.

 

(vii)       Each Partner agrees to cooperate with the General Partner to perfect and maintain any Safe Harbor Election, and to timely execute and deliver any documentation with respect thereto reasonably requested by the General Partner, at the expense of the Partnership.

 

(viii)      No Transfer of any interest in the Partnership by a Partner shall be effective unless prior to such Transfer, the assignee or intended recipient of such interest shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Section 13.01(e), in a form reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner.

 

(ix)         The provisions of this Section 13.01(e) shall apply regardless of whether or not an LTIP Unitholder files an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code.

 

(x)          The General Partner may amend this Section 13.01(e) as it deems necessary or appropriate to maximize the tax benefit of the issuance of LTIP Units to any LTIP Unitholder if there are changes in the law or Regulations concerning the issuance of partnership interests for services.

 

13.02      Conversion of LTIP Units .

 

(a)           Conversion Right . Subject to Section 13.02(b), an LTIP Unitholder shall have the right (the “ LTIP Conversion Right ”), at his or her option, at any time to convert all or a portion of his or her Vested LTIP Units into Class A Units; provided , however , that a holder may not exercise the LTIP Conversion Right for less than one thousand (1,000) Vested LTIP Units or, if such holder holds less than one thousand Vested LTIP Units, all of the Vested LTIP Units held by such holder. LTIP Unitholders shall not have the right to convert Unvested LTIP Units into Class A Units until they become Vested LTIP Units; provided , however , that when an LTIP Unitholder is notified of the expected occurrence of an event that will cause his or her Unvested LTIP Units to become Vested LTIP Units, such LTIP Unitholder may give the Partnership an LTIP Conversion Notice conditioned upon and effective as of the time of vesting and such LTIP Conversion Notice, unless subsequently revoked by the LTIP Unitholder, shall be accepted by the Partnership subject to such condition. The General Partner shall have the right at any time to cause a conversion of Vested LTIP Units into Class A Units. If the Vested LTIP Units became vested in connection with a termination of Advisors Limited Partner’s service as advisor to the General Partner, the holding period referred to in Section 8.04(a) shall not apply with respect to such Vested LTIP Units or the Partnership Units into which they are convertible. In all cases, the conversion of any LTIP Units into Class A Units shall be subject to the conditions and procedures set forth in this Section 13.02.

 

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(b)           Exercise by an LTIP Unitholder . A holder of Vested LTIP Units may convert such LTIP Units into an equal number of fully paid and non-assessable Class A Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 13.01 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may a holder of Vested LTIP Units convert a number of Vested LTIP Units that exceeds (x) the LTIP Economic Capital Account Balance of such Limited Partner, divided by (y) the Class A Unit Economic Balance, in each case as determined as of the effective date of conversion (the “ Capital Account Limitation ”). In order to exercise his or her LTIP Conversion Right, an LTIP Unitholder shall deliver a notice (an “ LTIP Conversion Notice ”) in the form attached as Exhibit C to the Agreement (with a copy to the General Partner) not less than ten nor more than 60 days prior to a date (the “ LTIP Conversion Date ”) specified in such LTIP Conversion Notice; provided , however , that if the General Partner has not given to the LTIP Unitholders notice of a proposed or upcoming Class A Unit Transaction at least 30 days prior to the effective date of such Class A Unit Transaction, then LTIP Unitholders shall have the right to deliver an LTIP Conversion Notice until the earlier of (x) the tenth day after such notice from the General Partner of a Class A Unit Transaction or (y) the third business day immediately preceding the effective date of such Class A Unit Transaction. An LTIP Conversion Notice shall be provided in the manner provided in Section 14.01 hereof. Each LTIP Unitholder covenants and agrees with the Partnership that all Vested LTIP Units to be converted pursuant to this Section 13.02(b) shall be free and clear of all liens. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a holder of LTIP Units may deliver a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 8.04(a) hereof relating to those Class A Units that will be issued to such holder upon conversion of such LTIP Units into Class A Units in advance of the LTIP Conversion Date; provided , however , that the redemption of such Class A Units by the Partnership shall in no event take place until after the LTIP Conversion Date. For clarity, it is noted that the objective of this paragraph is to put an LTIP Unitholder in a position where, if he or she so wishes, the Class A Units into which his or her Vested LTIP Units will be converted can be redeemed by the Partnership simultaneously with such conversion, with the further consequence that, if the General Partner elects to assume the Partnership’s redemption obligation with respect to such Class A Units under Section 8.04(b) hereof by delivering to such holder REIT Shares rather than cash, then such holder can have such REIT Shares issued to him or her simultaneously with the conversion of his or her Vested LTIP Units into Class A Units. The General Partner and LTIP Unitholder shall reasonably cooperate with each other to coordinate the timing of the events described in the foregoing sentence.

 

(c)           Forced Conversion . The Partnership, at any time at the election of the General Partner, may cause any number of Vested LTIP Units held by an LTIP Unitholder to be converted (a “ Forced Conversion ”) into an equal number of Class A Units, giving effect to all adjustments (if any) made pursuant to Section 13.01 hereof; provided , however , that the Partnership may not cause Forced Conversion of any LTIP Units that would not at the time be eligible for conversion at the option of such LTIP Unitholder pursuant to Section 13.02(b) hereof. In order to exercise its right of Forced Conversion, the Partnership shall deliver a notice (a “ Forced Conversion Notice ”) in the form attached as Exhibit D to the applicable LTIP Unitholder not less than ten nor more than 60 days prior to the LTIP Conversion Date specified in such Forced Conversion Notice. A Forced Conversion Notice shall be provided in the manner provided in Section 14.01 hereof.

 

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(d)           Completion of Conversion . A conversion of Vested LTIP Units for which the holder thereof has given an LTIP Conversion Notice or the Partnership has given a Forced Conversion Notice shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable LTIP Conversion Date without any action on the part of such LTIP Unitholder, as of which time such LTIP Unitholder shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Class A Units issuable upon such conversion.

 

(e)           Impact of Conversion for Purposes of Section 5.01(c)(iii) . For purposes of making future allocations under Section 5.01(c)(iii) hereof and applying the Capital Account Limitation, the portion of the LTIP Economic Capital Account Balance of the applicable LTIP Unitholder shall be reduced, as of the date of conversion, by the product of the number of LTIP Units converted and the Class A Unit Economic Balance.

 

(f)            Class A Unit Transactions . If the Partnership or the General Partner shall be a party to any Class A Unit Transaction, then the General Partner shall, immediately prior to the Class A Unit Transaction, exercise its right to cause a Forced Conversion with respect to the maximum number of LTIP Units then eligible for conversion, taking into account any allocations that occur in connection with the Class A Unit Transaction or that would occur in connection with the Class A Unit Transaction if the assets of the Partnership were sold at the Class A Unit Transaction price or, if applicable, at a value determined by the General Partner in good faith using the value attributed to the Partnership Units in the context of the Class A Unit Transaction (in which case the LTIP Conversion Date shall be the effective date of the Class A Unit Transaction). In anticipation of such Forced Conversion and the consummation of the Class A Unit Transaction, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each LTIP Unitholder to be afforded the right to receive in connection with such Class A Unit Transaction in consideration for the Class A Units into which his or her LTIP Units will be converted the same kind and amount of cash, securities and other property (or any combination thereof) receivable upon the consummation of such Class A Unit Transaction by a holder of the same number of Class A Units, assuming such holder of Class A Units is not a Constituent Person, or an affiliate of a Constituent Person. In the event that holders of Class A Units have the opportunity to elect the form or type of consideration to be received upon consummation of the Class A Unit Transaction, prior to such Class A Unit Transaction the General Partner shall give prompt written notice to each LTIP Unitholder of such election, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to afford the LTIP Unitholders the right to elect, by written notice to the General Partner, the form or type of consideration to be received upon conversion of each LTIP Unit held by such holder into Class A Units in connection with such Class A Unit Transaction. If an LTIP Unitholder fails to make such an election, such holder (and any of its transferees) shall receive upon conversion of each LTIP Unit held him or her (or by any of his or her transferees) the same kind and amount of consideration that a holder of a Class A Unit would receive if such Class A Unit holder failed to make such an election. Subject to the rights of the Partnership and the General Partner under any OPP Agreement, the Partnership shall use commercially reasonable effort to cause the terms of any Class A Unit Transaction to be consistent with the provisions of this Section 13.02(f) and to enter into an agreement with the successor or purchasing entity, as the case may be, for the benefit of any LTIP Unitholders whose LTIP Units will not be converted into Class A Units in connection with the Class A Unit Transaction that will (i) contain provisions enabling the holders of LTIP Units that remain outstanding after such Class A Unit Transaction to convert their LTIP Units into securities as comparable as reasonably possible under the circumstances to the Class A Units and (ii) preserve as far as reasonably possible under the circumstances the distribution, special allocation, conversion, and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the LTIP Unitholders.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

14.01      Notices . All communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally or upon deposit in the United States mail, registered, postage prepaid return receipt requested, to the Partners and the Special Limited Partner at the addresses set forth in Schedule A attached hereto, as it may be amended or restated from time to time; provided , however , that any Partner and the Special Limited Partner may specify a different address by notifying the General Partner in writing of such different address. Notices to the General Partner and the Partnership shall be delivered at or mailed to the Partnership’s office address set forth in Section 2.03 hereof. The General Partner and the Partnership may specify a different address by notifying the Limited Partners and the Special Limited Partner in writing of such different address.

 

14.02      Survival of Rights . Subject to the provisions hereof limiting transfers, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partners, the Special Limited Partner and the Partnership and their respective legal representatives, successors, transferees and assigns.

 

14.03      Additional Documents . Each Partner and the Special Limited Partner agree to perform all further acts and execute, swear to, acknowledge and deliver all further documents that may be reasonable, necessary, appropriate or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement or the Act.

 

14.04      Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder hereof.

 

14.05      Entire Agreement . This Agreement and exhibits attached hereto constitute the entire Agreement of the Partners and supersede all prior written agreements and prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Partners and the Special Limited Partner acknowledge that the Original Agreement is hereby superseded in its entirety and this Agreement amends and restates any prior agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership.

 

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14.06      Pronouns and Plurals . When the context in which words are used in the Agreement indicates that such is the intent, words in the singular number shall include the plural and the masculine gender shall include the neuter or female gender as the context may require.

 

14.07      Headings . The Article headings or sections in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing the scope of this Agreement or any particular Article.

 

14.08      Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that all parties shall not have signed the same counterpart.

 

14.09      Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

[ SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has affixed its signature to this Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, as of the 19th day of July, 2018.

 

  GENERAL PARTNER :
   
  AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.
     
By: /s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.
    Name: Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership]

 

     

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

(As of July 19, 2018)

 

Partner   Type of Interest   Type of Units   Number of
Partnership Units
  Percentage
Interest

American Finance Trust, Inc.

405 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022

  General Partner Interest   Class A Units   8,888.000   0.008%
  Limited Partner Interest   Class A Units   67,873,665.000   63.853%

American Finance Advisors, LLC
405 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022

  Limited Partner Interest   LTIP Units   1 1   N/A

Genie Acquisition, LLC
405 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022

  Limited Partner Interest   Class A Units   38,210,198.000   35.947%

American Realty Capital Retail Advisor, LLC
405 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022

  Limited Partner Interest   Class A Units   30,600.504   0.029%

Lincoln Retail REIT Services, LLC
2000 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1000
Dallas, Texas 75201

  Limited Partner Interest   Class A Units   172,921.192   0.163%

American Finance Special Limited Partner, LLC
405 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022

  Special Limited Partner Interest   N/A   N/A   N/A
  Limited Partner Interest   Class A Units   90.000   < 0.001%
TOTALS           106,296,273.696   100%

 

 

1

Represents the Master LTIP Unit. This Schedule A will be amended and restated upon the automatic conversion of the Master LTIP Unit into LTIP Units pursuant to Section 13.01(c)(vi)(2), as of the Effective Date, to reflect the LTIP Units then issued and outstanding.

 

  Schedule A  

 

 

EXHIBIT A

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF CLASS A UNIT REDEMPTION RIGHT

 

In accordance with Section 8.04 of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (as amended, the “Agreement”) of American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Partnership”), the undersigned hereby irrevocably (i) presents for redemption ___________ Class A Units in the Partnership in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and the Class A Unit Redemption Right referred to in Section 8.04 thereof, (ii) surrenders such Class A Units and all right, title and interest therein and (iii) directs that the Cash Amount or REIT Shares Amount (as defined in the Agreement) as determined by the Partnership, or the General Partner (if the General Partner assumes the Partnership’s obligation pursuant to Section 8.04(b) of the Agreement), deliverable upon exercise of the Class A Unit Redemption Right be delivered to the address specified below, and if REIT Shares (as defined in the Agreement) are to be delivered, such REIT Shares be registered or placed in the name(s) and at the address(es) specified below.

 

Dated: __________ ___, ___

Name of Limited Partner:

 

  (Signature of Limited Partner)
   
  (Mailing Address)
   
  (City) (State) (Zip Code)
   
  Signature Guaranteed by:

 

If REIT Shares are to be issued, issue to:

Please insert social security or identifying number:

Name:

 

  Exhibit A- 1  

 

 

EXHIBIT B-1

CERTIFICATION OF NON-FOREIGN STATUS

(FOR REDEEMING LIMITED PARTNERS THAT ARE ENTITIES)

 

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), in the event of a disposition by a non-U.S. person of a partnership interest in a partnership in which (i) 50% or more of the value of the gross assets consists of United States real property interests (“ USRPIs ”), as defined in Section 897(c) of the Code, and (ii) 90% or more of the value of the gross assets consists of USRPIs, cash, and cash equivalents, the transferee will be required to withhold 10% of the amount realized by the non-U.S. person upon the disposition. To inform American Finance Trust, Inc. (the “ General Partner ”) and American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) that no withholding is required with respect to the redemption by ___________ (“ Partner ”) of its Class A Units in the Partnership, the undersigned hereby certifies the following on behalf of Partner:

 

1. Partner is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust, or foreign estate, as those terms are defined in the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder.

 

2. Partner is not a disregarded entity as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2)(iii).

 

3. The U.S. employer identification number of Partner is ____________.

 

4. The principal business address of Partner is: ___________________, ____________ and Partner’s place of incorporation is ___________.

 

5. Partner agrees to inform the General Partner if it becomes a foreign person at any time during the three-year period immediately following the date of this notice.

 

6. Partner understands that this certification may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the General Partner and that any false statement contained herein could be punished by fine, imprisonment, or both.

 

  PARTNER:
   
   

 

  By:

  Name:  

  Title:  

 

  Exhibit B-1- 1  

 

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete, and I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of Partner.

 

Date:

 

  Name:
   
  Title:

 

  Exhibit B-1- 2  

 

 

EXHIBIT B-2

CERTIFICATION OF NON-FOREIGN STATUS

(FOR REDEEMING LIMITED PARTNERS THAT ARE INDIVIDUALS)

 

Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), in the event of a disposition by a non-U.S. person of a partnership interest in a partnership in which (i) 50% or more of the value of the gross assets consists of United States real property interests (“ USRPIs ”), as defined in Section 897(c) of the Code, and (ii) 90% or more of the value of the gross assets consists of USRPIs, cash, and cash equivalents, the transferee will be required to withhold 10% of the amount realized by the non-U.S. person upon the disposition. To inform American Finance Trust, Inc. (the “ General Partner ”) and American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) that no withholding is required with respect to my redemption of my Class A Units in the Partnership, I, ____________, hereby certify the following:

 

7. I am not a nonresident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.

 

8. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (social security number) is _____________.

 

9. My home address is: _______________________________________.

 

10. I agree to inform the General Partner promptly if I become a nonresident alien at any time during the three-year period immediately following the date of this notice.

 

11. I understand that this certification may be disclosed to the Internal Revenue Service by the General Partner and that any false statement contained herein could be punished by fine, imprisonment, or both.

 

  Name:

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete.

 

Date:

 

  Name:
   
  Title:

 

  Exhibit B-2- 1  

 

 

EXHIBIT C

NOTICE OF ELECTION BY PARTNER TO CONVERT

LTIP UNITS INTO CLASS A UNITS

 

The undersigned holder of LTIP Units hereby irrevocably (i) elects to convert the number of LTIP Units in American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) set forth below into Class A Units in accordance with the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended; and (ii) directs that any cash in lieu of Class A Units that may be deliverable upon such conversion be delivered to the address specified below. The undersigned hereby represents, warrants, and certifies that the undersigned (a) has title to such LTIP Units, free and clear of the rights or interests of any other person or entity other than the Partnership; (b) has the full right, power, and authority to cause the conversion of such LTIP Units as provided herein; and (c) has obtained the consent to or approval of all persons or entities, if any, having the right to consent or approve such conversion.

 

Name of Holder:  
  (Please Print: Exact Name as Registered with Partnership)

 

Number of LTIP Units to be Converted: __________________

 

Date of this Notice: __________________

 

   
  (Signature of Holder: Sign Exact Name as Registered with Partnership)
   
   
  (Street Address)

 

       
  (City) (State) (Zip Code)

 

  Signature Guaranteed by:  

 

  Exhibit C- 1  

 

 

EXHIBIT D

NOTICE OF ELECTION BY PARTNERSHIP TO FORCE CONVERSION OF
LTIP UNITS INTO CLASS A UNITS

 

American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) hereby irrevocably elects to cause the number of LTIP Units held by the holder of LTIP Units set forth below to be converted into Class A Units in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended.

 

Name of Holder:  
  (Please Print: Exact Name as Registered with Partnership)

 

Number of LTIP Units to be Converted: __________________

 

Date of this Notice: __________________

 

  Exhibit D- 1  

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

LISTING NOTE AGREEMENT

 

This Listing Note Agreement (the “ Listing Note ”) is hereby entered into on July 19, 2018, effective at the Listing (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”) and American Finance Special Limited Partner, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ SLP ”). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to the applicable term in the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of July 19, 2018 (the “ OP Agreement ”).

 

WHEREAS, the SLP is a special limited partner of the Partnership which is governed by the OP Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, American Finance Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), is the general partner of the Partnership; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.1(c) of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of September 6, 2016 (the “ Prior OP Agreement ”), the Company, as General Partner of the OP, was required to cause the Partnership to make certain distributions to the SLP with respect to its Special Limited Partner Interest upon a Listing.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties do hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Recitals .

 

The recitals to this Listing Note are incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof.

 

2. Redemption .

 

The Partnership hereby agrees to distribute to the SLP, with respect to its Special Limited Partner Interest, an aggregate amount (referred to herein as the “ Listing Amount ”) equal to (a) 15% of an amount equal to the difference (to the extent the result is a positive number) of (i) the sum of (A) the Market Value plus (B) the sum of all distributions or dividends (from any source) paid by the Company to its stockholders prior to the Effective Date, exceeds (ii) the sum of (X) the total Gross Proceeds plus (Y) the total amount of cash that, if distributed to the stockholders who purchased shares of Common Stock prior to the Effective Date in any Offering or Offerings, would have provided such stockholders a Priority Return on the weighted average of the total Gross Proceeds through the Effective Date minus (b) any distributions received by the SLP pursuant to Section 5.02(b) of the OP Agreement prior to the Effective Date or Section 3 hereof; provided , that for purposes of computing the Priority Return, the total Gross Proceeds shall be determined on a daily basis. The parties hereto understand that the Listing Amount is not determinable until Market Value is determined. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in accordance with Section 736 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “ Code ”), this Listing Note shall be disregarded for applicable income tax purposes and the SLP shall continue to be treated as a partner of the Partnership in respect of its Special Limited Partner Interest for such purposes until the Partnership has satisfied all of its obligations under this Listing Note. Without limiting the foregoing, there shall be no other obligations to pay or accrue any other amounts (including interest) with respect to the Listing Note, other than the Listing Amount; provided , that any cash or property paid to the Special Limited Partner with respect to such interest shall be reported to the Special Limited Partner on Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1 to Form 1065 (or such successor schedule or form).

 

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3. Distributions in respect of the Listing Amount .

 

Upon closing any Asset Sale that is not a Liquidity Event, after the date of this Listing Note but before the Market Value is determined, the Partnership shall make the distributions required by Section 5.02(b) of the OP Agreement, in accordance therewith.

 

4. Conversion and Exchange of Special Limited Partner Interest .

 

(a) Conversion . In accordance with Section 8.05 of the OP Agreement, on and after such time as the Listing Amount is determined, the SLP shall have the right, but not the obligation, to contribute the entire Special Limited Partner Interest to the Partnership in exchange for Class A Units in a transaction intended to qualify as a contribution of property pursuant to Section 721 of the Code. The SLP shall provide written notice to the General Partner of its intention to contribute the Special Limited Partner Interest at least ten (10) days prior to the date on which the contribution is to occur. The maximum number of Class A Units issuable upon a contribution of the entire Special Limited Partner Interest shall be equal to the quotient of (i) the difference of (A) the Listing Amount minus (B) the amount of any distributions made by the Partnership to the SLP with respect to the Listing Note prior to the date of the contribution divided by (ii) the product of (X) the Value of one share of Class A Common Stock on the date of the contribution multiplied by (Y) the Conversion Factor. Only a whole number of Class A Units will be issuable upon a contribution of the entire Special Limited Partner Interest. The SLP covenants and agrees with the Partnership that the Special Limited Partner Interest shall be free and clear of all liens at the time of contribution. The contribution of the entire Special Limited Partner Interest shall occur automatically after the close of business on the applicable date of contribution, as of which time the SLP shall be credited on the books and records of the Partnership with the issuance as of the opening of business on the next day of the number of Class A Units issuable upon such contribution.

 

(b) Exchange . Class A Units issuable upon a contribution of the Special Limited Partner Interest in Section 4(a) above shall be exchangeable for cash or, at the option of the Partnership, for shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company pursuant to Section 8.04 of the OP Agreement.

 

(c) OP Agreement . Except as otherwise set forth herein, this Listing Note, and the SLP’s rights in respect thereof shall be governed by, and subject to, the terms and conditions of the OP Agreement.

 

5. Subordination . This Listing Note and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby are subordinated in the manner and to the extent set forth in that certain Subordination Agreement (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, the “ Subordination Agreement ”), dated as of July 19, 2018, by and among the SLP and BMO Harris Bank N.A., as agent, and acknowledged by the Partnership, to the “Obligations” (as defined therein), and the SLP, and any successor holder of this Listing Note, irrevocably agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Subordination Agreement, including, without limitation, any restrictions contained in the Subordination Agreement with respect to payments made under the Listing Note.

 

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6. Lost or Mutilated Note . If this Listing Note shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Partnership shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of this Listing Note (if mutilated), or in lieu of or in substitution for this Listing Note (if lost, stolen or destroyed), a new listing note but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of the Listing Note.

 

7. Cancellation . This Listing Note shall be of no further force or effect immediately and the SLP shall surrender this Listing Note to the Partnership for cancellation upon: (i) the SLP receiving a distribution of Net Sales Proceeds that when combined with all prior distributions, if any, of Net Sales Proceeds with respect to the Listing Note equals the Listing Amount and results in the complete redemption of the Special Limited Partnership Interest; (ii) the SLP converting the Special Limited Partner Interest into Class A Units in accordance with Section 4(a) above; or (iii) the satisfaction of the Partnership’s obligations to the SLP hereunder in connection with a Merger in which the consideration consists of cash, an Asset Sale that is a Liquidity Event, or otherwise.

 

8. Costs of Enforcement . In the event of the breach by the Partnership or the Company of any provision of this Listing Note or the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined below), the SLP shall, be entitled to proceed to protect and enforce its rights hereunder by appropriate judicial proceedings and the SLP shall be entitled to exercise all other rights and remedies available at law or in equity. The Partnership and the Company shall be obligated, jointly and severally, to reimburse the SLP for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the protection and enforcement of its rights hereunder and collection of all amounts owing hereunder plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

9. Events of Default . For purposes of this Listing Note, an “ Event of Default ” will be deemed to have occurred if:

 

(a) the Partnership fails to pay any distributions in respect of the Listing Note or take any other actions in respect thereof, all as set forth herein or in the OP Agreement;

 

(b) a Change of Control occurs with respect to the Partnership; or

 

(c) an Event of Bankruptcy occurs with respect to the Partnership.

 

10. Remedies Upon an Event of Default . The Partnership shall, within five (5) Business Days after becoming aware thereof, notify the SLP of the occurrence of any Event of Default. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the SLP shall be entitled to declare all amounts under this Listing Note due and payable.

 

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11. Definitions .

 

(a) Asset Sale ” means any transaction or series of transactions whereby: (i) the Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its direct or indirect ownership of any real estate asset, real estate related loan or other investment or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any real estate asset that gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards; (ii) the Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of all or substantially all the direct or indirect interest of the Partnership in any joint venture in which it is a co-venturer, member or partner; (iii) any joint venture directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) in which the Partnership as a co-venturer, member or partner sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its direct or indirect ownership of any real estate asset or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any real estate asset which gives rise to insurance claims or condemnation awards; or (iv) the Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, conveys or relinquishes its direct or indirect interest in any real estate related loan or portion thereof (including with respect to any real estate related loan, all payments thereunder or in satisfaction thereof other than regularly scheduled interest payments) and any event which gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or similar awards in connection therewith; or (v) the Partnership directly or indirectly (except as described in other subsections of this definition) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its direct or indirect ownership of any other investment asset not previously described in this definition or any portion thereof.

 

(b) Change of Control ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the OP Agreement, provided that it shall not include a Merger in which the consideration consists of cash or an Asset Sale that is a Liquidity Event.

 

(c) Class A Common Stock ” means the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as Class A Common Stock.

 

(d) Class B-1 Common Stock ” means the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as Class B-1 Common Stock.

 

(e) Class B-2 Common Stock ” means the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as Class B-2 Common Stock.

 

(f) Common Stock ” means (i) prior to July 3, 2018, the common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share and (ii) on or after July 3, 2018, collectively the Class A Common Stock, Class B-1 Common Stock and Class B-2 Common Stock.

 

(g) General Partner ” means the Company.

 

(h) Gross Proceeds ” means the aggregate purchase price of all shares of Common Stock sold for the account of the Company through an Offering prior to the Effective Date, without deduction for Organization and Offering Expenses. For the purpose of computing Gross Proceeds, the purchase price of any share of Common Stock for which reduced selling commissions were paid to (i) Realty Capital Securities, LLC or any successor dealer manager or (ii) any other broker-dealer (where net proceeds to the Company were not reduced) shall be deemed to be the full amount of the offering price per share of Common Stock pursuant to the Registration Statement for such Offering without reduction. For the purpose of computing Gross Proceeds of Common Stock issued in a merger or other business combination, the purchase price shall equal the number of shares of Common Stock issued in such transaction multiplied by the Company’s published estimated NAV per share on the date of the closing of such transaction (but without giving effect to such closing).

 

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(i) Liquidity Event ” means: (i) an Asset Sale involving all or substantially all of the Assets owned directly or indirectly by the Company and distribution of the Net Sales Proceeds to the holders of the Company’s Common Stock; (ii) a Listing; or (iii) a Merger.

 

(j) Listing ” means the commencement of trading of the shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or any other national securities exchange under the symbol “AFIN” or any other symbol selected by the Company.

 

(k) Market Value ” means (i) in the case of a Listing, the average closing price of the shares of Class A Common Stock over the Measurement Period multiplied by the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding on the day trading first commences or commenced upon a Listing; (ii) in the case of a Merger, the aggregate of the per share value accorded to the shares of each class of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding in the applicable transaction documents governing the Merger multiplied by the number of shares of the applicable class of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger; and (iii) in the case of an Asset Sale that is a Liquidity Event, the Net Sales Proceeds distributable to the holders of the Company’s Common Stock. Notwithstanding clause (i) above, if a definitive agreement relating to a Merger or an Asset Sale that is a Liquidity Event shall be entered into after the shares of Class A Common Stock become Listed, but before the Measurement Period shall be completed, then Market Value shall be determined in accordance with clause (ii) above in the case of a Merger or in accordance with clause (iii) above in the case of an Asset Sale that is a Liquidity Event.

 

(l) Measurement Period ” means the period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days during which the shares of Class A Common Stock are eligible for trading beginning on the hundred and eightieth (180 th ) day after the date on which the shares of Class B-2 Common Stock convert into shares of Class A Common Stock and commence trading on a national securities exchange.

 

(m) Merger ” means the consummation of any merger, reorganization, business combination, share exchange or acquisition by any Person or related group of Persons of beneficial ownership of all or substantially all of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock in one or more related transactions, or another similar transaction involving the Company, pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s Common Stock receive, as full or partial consideration for their shares of Common Stock, cash or the securities of another issuer that are listed and trading on a national securities exchange prior to, or that become listed on a national securities exchange concurrent with consummation of the Merger, as applicable.

 

(n) NAV ” means the Company’s net asset value, calculated pursuant to the valuation guidelines adopted by the Company’s board of directors.

 

(o) Net Sales Proceeds ” means the aggregate proceeds paid in cash received by the Company or the Partnership in connection with an Asset Sale, net of (i) direct costs (including legal and accounting fees, disposition fees, sales commissions and underwriting discounts and all title and recording expenses), (ii) all federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be accrued as a liability as a consequence thereof, (iii) all payments made by the Company or the Partnership on any indebtedness that is secured by the assets subject to such Asset Sale in accordance with the terms of any lien upon or with respect to such assets or that must, by the terms of such lien or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Sale and (iv) a reasonable reserve for the after-tax costs of any indemnification payments (fixed or contingent) attributable to seller’s indemnities to the purchaser undertaken by the Company or the Company or the Partnership in connection with the Asset Sale. Upon release from reserve or escrow or payment of any amounts referred to in clause (iv) above that are released or paid to the Company or the Partnership or any reduction in the amount of taxes required to be accrued pursuant to clause (ii) above resulting in a payment to the Partnership, such amounts shall then be deemed to be “Net Sales Proceeds.”

 

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(p) Offerings ” means the public offering of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the Effective Date.

 

(q) Organization and Offering Expenses ” means all expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company in connection with or in preparing the Company for registration of and subsequently offering and distributing its shares of Common Stock in an Offering or Offerings, which may include total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commission expenses; expenses for printing, engraving and mailing; compensation of employees while engaged in sales activity; charges of transfer agents, registrars, trustees, escrow holders, depositaries and experts; and expenses of qualification of the sale of the securities under federal and state laws, including taxes and fees, accountants’ and attorneys’ fees.

 

(r) Priority Return ” means a 6% cumulative, non-compounded, pre-tax annual return (based on a 365-day year).

 

(s) Registration Statement ” means a registration statement on Form S-11, Form S-4 or Form S-3, including shares to be issued pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan or “DRP,” filed by the General Partner with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any amendments thereof at any time made, relating to the Common Stock.

 

12. Miscellaneous .

 

(a) Notices . All notices, requests, demands, waivers and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Listing Note shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given only if delivered (i) personally against written receipt, (ii) by facsimile transmission against facsimile confirmation, (iii) mailed by prepaid first class certified mail, return receipt requested, or (iv) mailed by prepaid overnight courier to the addresses set forth on the signature pages hereof. All such notices, requests, demands, waivers and other communications shall be deemed to have been given, (x) in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, on the date of such delivery and (y) in the case of clauses (iii) and (iv) above, when received.

 

(b) Amendments; Waivers .

 

(i) This Listing Note may be altered, amended or waived only by prior written agreement signed by the party or parties against whom enforcement of any alteration, amendment or waiver is sought.

 

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(ii) No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Listing Note shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. Except as otherwise provided herein, no action taken pursuant to this Listing Note shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any agreements contained in this Listing Note. The waiver by any party of a breach of any provision hereunder shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach of the same or any other provision hereunder.

 

(c) Successors and Assigns . Neither party may assign or transfer this Listing Note or any of its obligations or benefits under this Listing Note (other than by operation of law) in any manner whatsoever without the prior written consent of the other party. The provisions hereof shall be binding upon the legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns of the Partnership and the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of the SLP and its successors by operation of law.

 

(d) Governing Law . This Listing Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof that would require the application of any other law.

 

(e) Entire Agreement . This Listing Note and the other agreements and instruments referred to herein embody the final, entire agreement among the parties hereto and supersede any and all prior commitments, agreements (including the Prior OP Agreement), representations, and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and may not be contradicted or varied evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements or discussions of the parties hereto. There are no oral agreements among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(f) Severability . Any provision of this Listing Note that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Listing Note or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. The application of such invalid or unenforceable provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. To the extent any provision of this Listing Note is determined to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the Partnership and the SLP agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to substitute one or more valid, legal and enforceable provisions that, insofar as practicable, implement the purposes and intent of the prohibited or unenforceable provision.

 

 

[Signature page follows]

  7  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Listing Note as of the day and year first above written.

 

  THE PARTNERSHIP :  
     
  AMERICAN FINANCE Operating Partnership, L.P.
     
  By:   American Finance Trust, Inc.
    its General Partner
       
  By:   /s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.  
    Name: Edward M. Weil, Jr.  
    Title: Chief Executive Officer  
       
  Address for Notices:  
       
  American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P.
405 Park Avenue, 3 rd Floor
New York, New York 10022
Facsimile No.: (646) 861-7743
Attention: Edward M. Weil, Jr.

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:  
       
SLP :    
       
AMERICAN FINANCE SPECIAL LIMITED PARTNER, LLC  
       
By:   AR Global Investments, LLC, its Member  
       
By:   /s/ Michael Anderson    
  Name: Michael Anderson    
  Title: Authorized Signatory    
       
Address for Notices:    
       
American Finance Special Limited Partner, LLC
405 Park Avenue, 3 rd Floor
New York, New York 10022
Facsimile No.: (646) 861-7743
Attention: Michael Anderson

 

  8  

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT (together with all amendments and supplements hereto, this “ Agreement ”), is made as of this Nineteenth day of July, 2018, by and among AMERICAN FINANCE SPECIAL LIMITED PARTNER, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (solely in its capacity as a lender under the Incentive Listing Note, the “ Special Limited Partner ”), and BMO HARRIS BANK N.A. , in its capacity as the agent for the Lenders defined below (“ Agent ”), and acknowledged by AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Borrower ”).

 

 

R E C I T A L S

 

A.       A. The Borrower, Agent and certain lenders (together with their respective successors and assigns, the “ Lenders ”) are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of April 26, 2018 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; and except as otherwise herein expressly provided, each initially capitalized term used herein has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement).

 

B.       Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Borrower has issued the Incentive Listing Note and has incurred obligations thereunder to make payments or other distributions pursuant thereto to the Special Limited Partner (all such obligations arising under or pursuant to the Incentive Listing Note, the “ Subordinated Obligations ”).

 

C.       To induce Agent and the Lenders to continue to make extensions of credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Special Limited Partner desires to subordinate the Subordinated Obligations to the Obligations, and to make certain agreements in favor of Agent and the Lenders.

 

A G R E E M E N T

 

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

 

1.        Approval of Credit Facility . Special Limited Partner acknowledges that it has received, and Special Limited Partner hereby consents to, the Loan Documents.

 

2.        Payment Subordination .

 

(a)       Special Limited Partner agrees that the payment of the Subordinated Obligations is and shall be subject, subordinate and rendered junior, in right of payment, to the prior payment in full of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations with respect to which no claim has been asserted and any Obligations under Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or otherwise backstopped (including by “grandfathering” into future credit facilities) in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable L/C Issuer), including, without limitation, all payment obligations of the Guarantors under the Guaranties.

 

 

 

 

(b)       Special Limited Partner agrees not to ask, demand, sue for, take or receive from Borrower or any other Loan Party, directly or indirectly, in cash, securities or other property or by set-off or in any other manner (including without limitation from or by way of collateral), payment of all or any amounts owing with respect to the Subordinated Obligations; nor to accept any such payment or to accelerate the payment of the Subordinated Obligations or accept prepayment thereof, unless and until the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations with respect to which no claim has been asserted and any Obligations under Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or otherwise backstopped (including by “grandfathering” into future credit facilities) in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable L/C Issuer) shall have been paid in full and the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated.

 

3.        In Furtherance of Subordination .

 

(a)       Upon any distribution of all or any of the assets of the Borrower (i) in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, Insolvency Proceeding (as defined below) or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to the Borrower or to any of its creditors, as such, or to its assets, (ii) in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Borrower, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (iii) in the event of any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Borrower, then and in any such event each holder of the Obligations shall receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due (whether or not an Event of Default has occurred or the maturity of the Obligations has been accelerated) to the extent constituting Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations with respect to which no claim has been asserted and any Obligations under Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or otherwise backstopped (including by “grandfathering” into future credit facilities) in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable L/C Issuer), including any post-petition interest thereon and post-petition fees and expenses with respect thereto (in each case, whether allowed in such proceeding or not), before the Special Limited Partner is entitled to receive any payment on account of principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Subordinated Obligations, and any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, securities or other property that would otherwise (but for this Agreement) be payable or deliverable to the Special Limited Partner in respect of any Subordinated Obligations shall be paid or delivered by the person making such distribution or payment, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidating trustee or agent, or otherwise, directly to the Agent for application in payment of the Obligations in accordance with the priorities then existing among the Lenders under the Credit Agreement to the extent necessary to satisfy in full all Obligations including any post-petition interest thereon and post-petition fees and expenses with respect thereto (in each case, whether allowed in such proceeding or not) then remaining unpaid.

 

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(b)       All payments or distributions with respect to the Subordinated Obligations or payments or distributions received by the Special Limited Partner contrary to the provisions of this Agreement shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Lenders, shall be segregated from other funds and property held by Special Limited Partner, and shall be forthwith paid over to Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement) to be applied (in the case of cash) to, or held as collateral (in the case of non-cash property or securities) for, the payment or prepayment of the Obligations.

 

(c)       If the Special Limited Partner is deemed to be a creditor of the Borrower or any Guarantor in any Insolvency Proceeding (as defined below), (i) the Special Limited Partner hereby agrees that it shall not make any election, give any consent, commence any action or file any motion, claim, obligation, notice or application or take any other action in any Insolvency Proceeding by or against the Borrower or any Guarantor that would be contrary to the provisions of this Agreement without the prior consent of Agent which consent may be granted or withheld in Agent’s sole and absolute discretion, and (ii) the Special Limited Partner shall not challenge the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the validity, enforceability or amount of any claim of Agent or any Lender, the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of any lien of Agent or any Lender on any collateral securing such claim, or any valuations of any Real Property or any other collateral submitted by Agent or any Lender in such Insolvency Proceeding, or take any other action in such Insolvency Proceeding which the Agent believes, in its sole and absolute discretion, is adverse to Agent’s or any Lender’s enforcement of its claim or lien or receipt of adequate protection (as that term is defined in the Bankruptcy Code of the United States). As used in this Agreement, “ Insolvency Proceeding ” means (x) any case, action or proceeding before any court or other Governmental Authority relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or (y) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshalling of assets for creditors or other, similar arrangement in respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors; in each case as undertaken under U.S. Federal, State or non-U.S. law.

 

4.        No Commencement of Any Proceedings . The Special Limited Partner agrees that, so long as the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations with respect to which no claim has been asserted and any Obligations under Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or otherwise backstopped (including by “grandfathering” into future credit facilities) in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable L/C Issuer) shall remain unpaid, the Special Limited Partner will not commence, or join with any creditor in commencing, or cause the Borrower to commence, any Insolvency Proceeding referred to in Section 3(a) .

 

5.        No Disposition or Amendment of or Exercise of Remedies With Respect to the Subordinated Obligations . The Special Limited Partner agrees that it will not:

 

(a)       other than, in connection with estate planning, any sale, assignment, transfer, endorsement, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of the Incentive Listing Note, or any portion thereof, by the Special Limited Partner to the holders of its Equity Interests or their respective successors, heirs or estates (provided, such Person takes any such Subordinated Obligations subject to this Agreement), sell, assign, transfer, endorse, pledge, encumber or otherwise enter into any disposition of the Subordinated Obligations or any interest therein; or

 

  3  

 

 

(b)       (i) enter into any (x) amendment, modification or waiver of the Subordinated Obligations to the extent prohibited by Section 8.14 of the Credit Agreement or (y) extension, renewal or replacement of the Subordinated Obligations, or (ii)  accept any collateral or guaranty for the Subordinated Obligations; or

 

(c)       take, or permit to be taken, any action to assert or collect any payment in respect of the Subordinated Obligations or any part thereof, or to exercise any of the Special Limited Partner’s remedies with respect to any of the Subordinated Obligations, or contest, oppose, interfere with or object to any action to assert or collect any payment in respect of the Obligations or any part thereof, or the exercise any of Agent’s or any Lender’s rights or remedies with respect to any of the Obligations.

 

6.        Permitted Payments of the Subordinated Obligations . Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Sections 2 through 5 above, the parties hereto agree that (a) the Special Limited Partner, the holders of its Equity Interests or their respective designees may accept (i) if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, prepayments, redemptions, repurchases or other acquisitions of the Subordinated Obligations to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement and (ii) at any time, payments of principal of, prepayments, redemptions, repurchases or other acquisitions or conversions or exchanges of the Subordinated Obligations, in each case, solely in exchange for or in the form of Equity Interests and to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement and (b) the Special Limited Partner may enforce any provision of the Incentive Listing Note to the extent the remedies sought in respect thereof are limited to payment in the form of the issuance of Equity Interests (and reimbursement of any expenses in connection with such enforcement provided such expenses shall be deemed part of the Subordinated Obligations and subject to Section 2 above).

 

7.        Rights and Obligations Hereunder Not Affected . All rights and interests of Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders, and all agreements and obligations of the Special Limited Partner, under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:

 

(a)       any lack of validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents or any other documents evidencing or securing the Obligations;

 

(b)       any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from the Loan Documents;

 

(c)       any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral for or of any Person liable for all or any of the Obligations; or

 

(d)       the rescission or return of any payment on account of the Obligations by any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any of the Guarantors, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

 

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8.        Representations and Warranties . The Special Limited Partner represents and warrants to Agent and the Lenders that:

 

(a)       Special Limited Partner is a Delaware limited liability company and:

 

(i)       is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; and

 

(ii)       has the power and authority and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)       The execution, delivery and performance by the Special Limited Partner of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company or other organizational action, and do not and will not:

 

(i)       contravene the terms of the Special Limited Partner’s organizational documents;

 

(ii)       conflict with, or result in any breach or contravention of, any document evidencing any contractual obligation to which the Special Limited Partner is a party or any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which the Special Limited Partner or its properties are subject; or

 

(iii)       violate any Legal Requirement.

 

(c)       No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, the Special Limited Partner of this Agreement.

 

(d)       This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Special Limited Partner, enforceable against the Special Limited Partner in accordance with its respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

 

9.        Waivers . No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Agent (with any consent from the Lenders required by the Credit Agreement), and then only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. Any waiver, forbearance, failure or delay by Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power of remedy, shall not preclude the further, simultaneous or later exercise thereof, and every right, power or remedy of Agent or any Lender shall continue in full force and effect until such right, power or remedy is specifically waived in a writing executed by Agent (with any consent from the Lenders required by the Credit Agreement).

 

  5  

 

 

10.        Certain Waivers .

 

(a)       Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by any Person hereunder or as a result of the operation of this Agreement or any set-off or application of funds of the Special Limited Partner by Agent or any Lender (or any cure made by the Special Limited Partner), the Special Limited Partner shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of Agent or any Lender against any Person, nor shall the Special Limited Partner seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from any Loan Party or any other Person in respect of such payments made by the Special Limited Partner, in each case unless and until repayment of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations with respect to which no claim has been asserted and any Obligations under Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or otherwise backstopped (including by “grandfathering” into future credit facilities) in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable L/C Issuer) has occurred and the Commitments have expired or been terminated.

 

(b)       Notwithstanding the existence of the Subordinated Obligations or any provisions of the Loan Documents to the contrary, Agent and the Lenders shall be free to grant or withhold consents and approvals, make or withhold advances, provide notices, and otherwise deal with the Loan Documents in the same manner and to the same extent as if the Subordinated Obligations do not exist. Without limiting the foregoing, neither Agent, nor any Lender shall have any obligation to (i) obtain any consent or approval of the Special Limited Partner with respect to any action taken or not taken by Agent or any Lender with regard to the Obligations or Loan Documents (or any amendment thereto or waiver or forbearance thereunder), including with respect to the exercise or non-exercise of any rights or remedy thereunder or (ii) deliver to the Special Limited Partner any notices, reports, draw requests, appraisals, calculations, or other reports or information of any kind whatsoever relating to the Obligations or the Loan Documents, whether or not such information is required to be delivered to the Special Limited Partner pursuant to the Incentive Listing Note or is otherwise requested by the Special Limited Partner.

 

(c)       Neither Agent nor any Lender shall be required to marshal any present or future collateral security for, or other assurances of payment of, all or any portion of the Obligations or any assets of the Loan Parties or to resort to such collateral security, other assurances of payment or assets in any particular order, and all of the rights and remedies of Agent and the Lenders in respect of such collateral security, other assurances of payment and assets shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights and remedies, however existing or arising.

 

(d)       The Special Limited Partner agrees that neither Agent, nor any Lender, nor any of their predecessors in interest or past, present and future officers, directors, employees, agents, servicers, attorneys, representatives, participants, heirs, successors and/or assigns owes any fiduciary or other duty to the Special Limited Partner to act or refrain from acting in any manner in connection with the funding, administration, collection, or enforcement of the terms of the Obligations or the exercise by Agent or any Lender of any rights and remedies contained in or granted by any the Loan Documents, and the Special Limited Partner agrees not to assert the existence of any such duty. Without limiting the foregoing, the Special Limited Partner assumes all responsibility for keeping itself informed as to the condition (financial or otherwise), business, assets and/or operations (including compliance with the Loan Documents and the Incentive Listing Note, as applicable) of the Loan Parties, and neither Agent, nor any Lender shall have any duty whatsoever to obtain, advise or deliver information or documents to the Special Limited Partner relative to such condition, business, assets and/or operations.

 

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11.        Legend. The Special Limited Partner shall cause each instrument or document which now or hereafter evidences all or any portion of the Subordinated Obligations to be conspicuously marked with the following legend (or to include a provision to a similar effect):

 

THIS INSTRUMENT IS EXPRESSLY SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THAT CERTAIN SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JULY 19, 2018, BY AND BETWEEN BMO HARRIS BANK N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE LENDERS DESCRIBED THEREIN, AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., AND AMERICAN FINANCE SPECIAL LIMITED PARTNER, LLC. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONTRADICTION OR INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THIS INSTRUMENT AND SAID SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, THE TERMS OF THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT SHALL CONTROL.

 

12.        No Liens for Subordinated Obligations . If the Special Limited Partner or any holder of Subordinated Obligations shall acquire or hold any lien on any assets or property of any Loan Party securing any Subordinated Obligations, then the Special Limited Partner shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Incentive Listing Note or any agreement related thereto, (i) be deemed to hold and have held such lien for the benefit of the Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) and (ii) immediately release such lien. The Special Limited Partner hereby irrevocably authorizes the Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) to prepare and record or otherwise execute and deliver any releases and terminations of such liens held by (or for the benefit of) the Special Limited Partner or any holder of Subordinated Obligations at any time, and to the extent, that this Agreement requires such liens be released or terminated hereby and empowers and appoints the Agent as the Special Limited Partner’s agent and attorney-in-fact to file such releases and terminations.

 

13.        Revival . This Agreement or any provision hereof shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is avoided, rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by Agent or the Lenders upon or as a result of the application of any creditor’s rights laws or any other applicable laws or any order of any Governmental Authority, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a sequestrator, intervenor or conservator of, or receiver, trustee or similar officer for, any applicable Person or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made. In the event that the Special Limited Partner receives any payment or distribution of any kind or character with respect to the Subordinated Obligations, whether in cash, property or securities, after any payment of any of the Obligations that is subsequently avoided, rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by Agent or the Lenders as described in the preceding sentence, the Special Limited Partner shall promptly pay over such payment or distribution to, and for the account of, Agent (for the benefit of the Lenders).

 

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14.        Equitable Relief . The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that monetary damages are not an adequate remedy to redress a breach or default hereunder by the Special Limited Partner and that a breach or default by the Special Limited Partner would cause irreparable harm to Agent and the Lenders. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that upon a breach or default of this Agreement, Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to obtain, without notice to the Special Limited Partner, equitable relief, including the remedies of injunction, declaratory judgment and specific performance, in addition to any and all other remedies at law or in equity.

 

15.        Termination . This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the indefeasible payment of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations with respect to which no claim has been asserted and any Obligations under Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or otherwise backstopped (including by “grandfathering” into future credit facilities) in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each applicable L/C Issuer) in full and termination or expiration of the Commitments. Agent shall execute and deliver any documents reasonably requested by the Special Limited Partner to evidence such release.

 

16.        Agent and Lender Consents . Unless otherwise expressly set forth herein or in the Credit Agreement, any approval, consent, determination or other decision required or permitted to be made by Agent under this Agreement may be granted, withheld or otherwise made by Agent in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

17.        Cumulative Rights . The rights, powers and remedies of Agent under this Agreement shall be in addition to all rights, powers and remedies given to Agent by virtue of any statute or rule of law, the Credit Agreement, or any other agreement, all of which rights, powers and remedies shall be cumulative and may be exercised successively or concurrently.

 

18. Assignment; Successors and Assigns . The Special Limited Partner hereby represents to Agent that it has not assigned or sold any interest in the Subordinated Obligations. This Agreement shall bind Agent, on behalf of the Lenders and the Special Limited Partner, and their successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

19.        Counterpart Originals . This Agreement may be executed in counterpart originals, each of which shall constitute the same agreement.

 

20.        Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New York.

 

21.        Severability . Every provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable. In the event any term, provision, section or subsection of this Agreement is declared to be illegal or invalid, for any reason whatsoever, by a court of competent jurisdiction, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the other terms, provisions, sections or subsections of this Agreement, which shall remain binding and enforceable.

 

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22.        Integration; Modifications . This Agreement and the Loan Documents (a) integrate all the terms and conditions mentioned in or incidental to this Agreement and the Loan Documents, (b) supersede all oral negotiations and prior writings with respect to their subject matter, and (c) are intended by the parties as the final expression of the agreement with respect to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Loan Documents. No representation, understanding, promise or condition shall be enforceable against any party unless it is contained in the Loan Documents. This Agreement may not be modified except in a writing signed by Agent (with any consent of the Lenders required pursuant to the Credit Agreement) and the Special Limited Partner and acknowledged by Borrower.

 

23.        Further Assurances . The Special Limited Partner agrees to execute and deliver such additional instruments and agreements, and to undertake such further acts as may be deemed reasonably necessary or appropriate by Agent in order to effectuate the provisions of this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of page left intentionally blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first set forth above.

 

  SPECIAL LIMITED PARTNER :  
     
  AMERICAN FINANCE SPECIAL LIMITED PARTNER, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
     
  By:  AR Global Investments, LLC, its member
       
  By: /s/ Michael Anderson  
    Name: Michael Anderson  
    Title: Authorized Signatory  
       

 

[Signature Page to American Finance Incentive Listing Note Subordination Agreement]

 

 

  AGENT :  
     
  BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.
     
  By: /s/ Lloyd Baron  
    Name: Lloyd Baron  
    Title: Director  
       

 

[Signature Page to American Finance Incentive Listing Note Subordination Agreement]

 

 

Acknowledged and consented to:  
       
BORROWER :    
       
AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership  
       
By: American Finance Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, its general partner  
       
By: /s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.    
  Name: Edward M. Weil, Jr.    
  Title: Chief Executive Officer    
       

 

[Signature Page to American Finance Incentive Listing Note Subordination Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

This FIRST AMENDMENT TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT is entered into as of July 19, 2018, by and among American Finance Trust, Inc. (f/k/a American Realty Capital Trust V, Inc.) (the “ Company ”), American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (f/k/a American Realty Capital Operating Partnership V, L.P.) (the “ Operating Partnership ”) and American Finance Advisors, LLC (f/k/a American Realty Capital Advisors V, LLC) (the “ Advisor ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Advisor entered into that certain Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2016 (as may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “ Advisory Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “ NGC ”) of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of the Company reviewed the the implementation of the Company’s current Board-approved business strategy of a diversified net lease portfolio with a retail focus (the “ Current Strategy ”), which differs substantially from the proposed hybrid mortgage and net lease focus at the time the Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement was executed in 2015;

 

WHEREAS, upon completion of its review of the implementation Current Strategy, the NGC recommended to the Board that the Company amend certain provisions of the Advisory agreement in order to further align the Advisor with the Company’s shareholders by incentiviging growth through the continued implementation of the Current Strategy; and

 

WHEREAS , based on the recommendation of the NGC and the approval of the Board, the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Advisor desire to make certain amendments to the Advisory Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises made hereunder, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Amendment to Section 1 of the Advisory Agreement . The definition of “Adjusted Outstanding Shares” set forth in Section 1 of the Advisory Agreement is hereby replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

““ Adjusted Outstanding Shares ” means, for the applicable period, the diluted weighted-average shares of Common Stock outstanding computed in accordance with GAAP during such period, excluding any equity based awards that are subject to performance metrics that are not currently achieved.”

 

2. Amendment to Section 10(f) of the Advisory Agreement . Section 10(f) of the Advisory Agreement is hereby replaced in its entirety with the following:

 

“(f) Variable Management Fee . The Company shall pay the Advisor a Variable Management Fee, payable quarterly in arrears, in an amount equal to (i) the product of (A) the Adjusted Outstanding Shares for the calendar quarter multiplied by (B) 15% multiplied by (C) the excess of Core Earnings Per Adjusted Share for the previous 3-month period over $0.275, plus (ii) the product of (X) the Adjusted Outstanding Shares for the calendar quarter multiplied by (Y) 10% multiplied by (Z) the excess of Core Earnings Per Adjusted Share for the previous 3-month period over $0.3125.”

 

 

 

 

3. Miscellaneous . Except as expressly modified by this Amendment, the terms, covenants and conditions of the Advisory Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Advisory Agreement. Signatures on this Amendment which are transmitted electronically shall be valid for all purposes, however any party shall deliver an original signature of this Amendment to the other party upon request.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, have duly executed this agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

  AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.  
     
  By:  /s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.  
    Name: Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
       
       
  AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
       
  By: American Finance Trust, Inc.,  
    its General Partner  
       
  By: /s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.  
    Name: Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
       
       
  AMERICAN FINANCE ADVISORS, LLC
       
  By: American Finance Special Limited Partner, LLC,
    its sole member  
       
  By: AR Global Investments, LLC,
    its managing member  
       
  By: /s/ Michael Anderson  
    Name: Michael Anderson
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.

2018 ADVISOR OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

FORM OF ADVISOR MULTI-YEAR OUTPERFORMANCE AWARD AGREEMENT

 

This ADVISOR MULTI-YEAR OUTPERFORMANCE AWARD AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) made as of July 19, 2018, effective at the Listing, under the 2018 ADVISOR OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN (the “ Advisor Plan ”) of AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), by and between the Company, its subsidiary AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and the entity through which the Company conducts substantially all of its operations (the “ Partnership ”), and AMERICAN FINANCE ADVISORS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the Company’s manager (the “ Advisor ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Advisor provides services to the Company pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement by and among the Company, the Partnership and the Advisor, dated as of September 6, 2016, as amended from time to time (the “ Advisory Agreement ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Advisor Plan to provide additional incentive for the Advisor to promote the progress and success of the business of the Company and its Affiliates, including the Partnership, and pursuant to which the Advisor and its Affiliates can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company or the Partnership, or be paid incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

 

WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”), in its capacity as the “Committee” (as defined in the Advisor Plan) appointed by the Board to administer the Advisor Plan, approved this Agreement and the award under the Advisor Plan described in this Agreement (the “ Award ”), which is subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Partnership Agreement (as defined herein) and the Advisor Plan.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Partnership and the Advisor agree as follows:

 

1.        Administration . The Award granted under this Agreement shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other committee as may be delegated the power to administer the Award by the Board from time to time (as applicable, the “ Committee ”); provided that all powers of the Committee hereunder can be exercised by the full Board if the Board so elects. The Board may also elect to administer this Agreement, in which case all the functions of the Committee shall be exercised by the Board, and the Board shall be considered the “Committee” hereunder. The Committee shall have the discretionary authority to make all determinations regarding the Award, including, without limitation, the interpretation and construction of the Award and the determination of relevant facts; provided such determinations are made in good faith and are consistent with the purpose and intent of the Award. Except as expressly provided herein, no such action by the Committee shall adversely affect the rights of the Advisor to any earned and outstanding Award LTIP Units (as defined below). Subject to the terms hereof, all decisions made by the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, the Partnership, the Advisor and any Transferee. No member of the Committee, nor any other member of the Board or any officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the Committee, shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Award, and all members of the Committee and each other member of the Board and any officer or employee of the Company acting on their behalf shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and held harmless by the Company in respect of any such action, determination or interpretation.

 

 

 

 

2.        Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined are set forth in Exhibit A . Unless the context requires otherwise, capitalized terms used herein without definitions shall have the meanings given to those terms in the Advisor Plan.

 

3.        Outperformance Award .

 

a.        Grant; Performance Period; Valuation Date . On the date of this Agreement (the “ Grant Date ”), the Advisor was granted the Award, consisting of the issuance to the Advisor on the Listing Date of the Master LTIP Unit, which will, in accordance the terms of the Partnership Agreement, automatically convert into a number of LTIP Units equal to the LTIP Award Number effective on the Effective Date (such LTIP Units as so converted, together with the Master LTIP Unit to the extent applicable, the “ Award LTIP Units ”), with such Award LTIP Units being subject to vesting and forfeiture as provided in this Section 3 based on performance during the period (the “ Performance Period ”) commencing on the Listing Date and ending on the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the Listing Date, (ii) the effective date of any Change of Control and (iii) the effective date of any termination of the Advisor’s service as advisor of the Company (such end date, as applicable, the “ Valuation Date ”). The Absolute TSR Award LTIPs may be earned based on Absolute TSR during the Performance Period and the Relative TSR Award LTIPs may be earned based on Relative TSR during the Performance Period.

 

b.        Determination Date; Outperformance Amounts .

 

(i)        Determination Date . On a date as soon as practicable following the Valuation Date (the “ Determination Date ”), but as of the Valuation Date, the Committee shall determine the number of Award LTIP Units that have been earned as of the Valuation Date based on the Absolute TSR Amount, the Relative TSR Amount and the Total Outperformance Amount, in each case, as calculated in accordance with this Section 3(b) by an independent consultant engaged by the Committee and as approved by the Committee in its reasonable and good faith discretion.

 

(ii)        Absolute TSR Amount . Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(c) and 3(d) below and the paragraph immediately below the following table, the following table sets forth the percentages that shall be used to calculate the number of Absolute TSR Award LTIPs that shall be earned based on the Absolute TSR as of the Valuation Date (such number of earned Absolute TSR Award LTIPs, the “ Absolute TSR Amount ”):

 

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Performance Level Absolute TSR Absolute TSR Amount (% of Absolute TSR Award LTIPs Earned)
Below Threshold Less than 24.0% 0
Threshold 24.0% 25%
Target 30.0% 50%
Maximum 36.0% or higher 100%

 

No Absolute TSR Award LTIPs will be earned if the Absolute TSR is less than 24 percent. If the Absolute TSR is more than 24 percent but less than 30 percent, or more than 30 percent but less than 36 percent, the percentage of the Absolute TSR Award LTIPs earned will be determined using linear interpolation as between those tiers, respectively.

 

(iii)        Relative TSR Amount . Subject to the provisions of Section 3(c) and 3(d) below and the paragraph immediately below the following table, the following table sets forth the percentages that shall be used to calculate the number of Relative TSR Award LTIPs that shall be earned based on Relative TSR as of the Valuation Date (such number of earned Relative TSR Award LTIPs, the “ Relative TSR Amount ”):

 

Performance Level Relative TSR Excess Relative TSR Amount (% of Relative TSR Award LTIPs Earned)
Below Threshold Less than -600 bps 0
Threshold -600 bps 25%
Target 0 bps 50%
Maximum +600 bps or more 100%

 

No Relative TSR Award LTIPs will be earned if the Relative TSR Excess is below -600 bps. If the Relative TSR Excess is more than -600 bps but less than 0 bps, or more than 0 bps but less than +600 bps, the percentage of the Relative TSR Award LTIPs earned will be determined using linear interpolation as between those tiers, respectively.

 

(iv)        Total Outperformance Amount . The “ Total Outperformance Amount ” as of the Valuation Date shall be the algebraic sum of: (A) the Absolute TSR Amount and (B) the Relative TSR Amount.

 

c.        Change of Control . If the Valuation Date is the effective date of a Change of Control, then the calculations contemplated by Section 3(b) shall be made based on actual performance as of (and including) the Change of Control; provided , however , that (i) the Absolute TSR Amount shall be determined (without pro-ration) based on performance as of (and including) the last Trading Day prior to such date, as measured against the Absolute TSR hurdles set forth in Section 3(b)(ii) above, and as such Absolute TSR hurdles are reduced on a pro-rata basis based on the number of full days elapsed in the Performance Period through such effective date of a Change of Control, and (ii) the Relative TSR Amount shall be determined (without pro-ration) based on the performance as of (and including) the last Trading Day prior to such date.

 

  3  

 

 

d.        Termination of Advisor .

 

(i)        Termination of Advisor for Cause . If the Valuation Date is the effective date of any termination of the Advisor’s service as advisor of the Company for Cause pursuant to and in accordance with the Advisory Agreement, then the calculations contemplated by Section 3(b) shall be made based on actual performance as of (and including) such date of termination; provided , however , that (A) the Absolute TSR Amount shall be (1) determined based on performance as of (and including) the last Trading Day prior to such date, as measured against the Absolute TSR hurdles set forth in Section 3(b)(ii) above reduced on a pro-rata basis based on the number of full days elapsed in the Performance Period through the effective date of such termination without Cause, and (2) pro-rated based on the number of full days elapsed in the Performance Period through the effective date of such termination for Cause; and (B) the Relative TSR Amount shall be (1) determined based on the performance as of (and including) the last Trading Day prior to such date, and (2) pro-rated based on the number of full days elapsed in the Performance Period through the effective date of such termination for Cause.

 

(ii)        Termination of Advisor other than for Cause . If the Valuation Date is the effective date of the termination of the Advisor’s service as advisor of the Company for any reason other than for Cause pursuant to and in accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the calculations contemplated by Section 3(b) shall be made based on actual performance as of (and including) such date; provided , however , that (A) the Absolute TSR Amount shall be determined (without pro-ration) based on performance as of (and including) the last Trading Day prior to such date, as measured against the Absolute TSR hurdles set forth in Section 3(b)(ii) above, and as such Absolute TSR hurdles are reduced on a pro-rata basis based on the number of full days elapsed in the Performance Period through the effective date of such termination without Cause, and (B) the Relative TSR Amount shall be determined (without pro-ration) based on the performance as of (and including) the last Trading Day prior to such date.

 

e.        Vesting . Any Award LTIP Units that are earned pursuant to Section 3(b) shall be deemed to be fully vested as of the Valuation Date. Thereafter, subject to and in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement, the Advisor, in its sole discretion, shall be entitled to convert any earned and vested Award LTIP Units into Class A Units (as so converted, the “ Award Class A Units ”).

 

f.        Forfeiture . Any Award LTIP Units that do not become earned and vested pursuant to, and in accordance with, this Section 3 shall automatically and without notice be forfeited on the Determination Date, effective as of the Valuation Date, without payment of any consideration by the Partnership or the Company, and neither the Advisor nor any of its successors, heirs, assigns, members or their respective assigns or personal representatives will thereafter have any further rights or interests in such forfeited Award LTIP Units.

 

4.        Rights of Advisor . The Advisor shall have no rights with respect to this Agreement (and the Award evidenced hereby) unless the Advisor shall have accepted this Agreement prior to the close of business on the Grant Date by signing and delivering to the Partnership a copy of this Agreement. Upon acceptance of this Agreement by the Advisor, the Partnership Agreement shall be amended to reflect the issuance to the Advisor of the Award LTIP Units so accepted. Thereupon, the Advisor shall have all the rights of a Limited Partner of the Partnership with respect to the Award LTIP Units, as set forth in the Partnership Agreement, subject, however, to the restrictions and conditions specified herein. Award LTIP Units constitute and shall be treated for all purposes as the property of the Advisor, subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Partnership Agreement.

 

  4  

 

 

5. Distributions . The holder of Award LTIP Units shall be entitled to receive distributions with respect to the Award LTIP Units as described below and in accordance with the Partnership Agreement. For purposes of the Partnership Agreement, the LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date with respect to the Award LTIP Units shall be the Valuation Date. Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and subject in all respects to the terms and conditions set forth therein, a holder of the Award LTIP Units shall be entitled to distributions per Award LTIP Unit as follows: (i) during the Performance Period, as and when distributions are made with respect to Class A Units, distributions in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the amount distributable with respect to an OP Unit; (ii) following the Valuation Date, only with respect to each Award LTIP Unit that has been earned in accordance with Section 3 , distributions in the same amount and at the same time as distributions on an OP Unit; and (iii) promptly after the Determination Date, only with respect to each Award LTIP Unit earned in accordance with Section 3 , a priority catch-up distribution in an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount of cash distributed with respect to an OP Unit during the Performance Period less the aggregate amount distributed with respect to such Award LTIP Unit during the Performance Period. All distributions paid with respect to Award LTIP Units, both before and after the LTIP Unit Distribution Participation Date, shall be fully vested and non-forfeitable when paid, whether or not the underlying Award LTIP Units have been earned in accordance with Section 3 .

 

6.        Restrictions on Transfer . Except as otherwise approved by the Committee in its sole discretion, none of the Award LTIP Units granted hereunder nor any of the Award Class A Units shall be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, given away or in any other manner disposed of, encumbered, whether voluntarily or by operation of law (each such action a “ Transfer ”). Any Transferee approved by the Committee must agree in writing with the Company and the Partnership to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and that subsequent transfers shall be prohibited except those in accordance with this Section 6 . Additionally, all Transfers of Award LTIP Units or Award Class A Units must be in compliance with all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act), and the applicable terms and conditions of the Partnership Agreement. In connection with any Transfer of Award LTIP Units or Award Class A Units, the Partnership may require the Advisor to provide an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Partnership, that such Transfer is in compliance with all federal and state securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities Act). Any attempted Transfer of Award LTIP Units or Award Class A Units not approved by the Committee or otherwise in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 6 shall be null and void, and the Partnership shall not reflect on its records any change in record ownership of any Award LTIP Units or Award Class A Units as a result of any such Transfer, shall otherwise refuse to recognize any such Transfer and shall not in any way give effect to any such Transfer of any Award LTIP Units or Award Class A Units. Except as provided in this Section 6 , this Agreement is personal to the Advisor, is non-assignable and is not transferable in any manner, by operation of law or otherwise.

 

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7.        Changes in Capital Structure . If (i) the Company shall at any time be involved in a merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, reorganization, exchange of shares, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the Company or other transaction similar thereto, (ii) any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, significant repurchases of stock, or other similar change in the capital stock of the Company or the Partnership, (iii) any cash dividend or other distribution to holders of shares of Common Stock or Partnership Units shall be declared and paid other than in the ordinary course, or (iv) any other extraordinary corporate event shall occur that in each case in the good faith judgment of the Committee necessitates action by way of equitable or proportionate adjustment in the terms of this Agreement or the Award LTIP Units to avoid distortion in the value of this Award, the Committee shall, taking into account, among other factors, the operation of the Conversion Factor and other provisions of the Partnership Agreement, make equitable or proportionate adjustment and take such other action as it deems necessary to maintain the Advisor’s rights hereunder so that they are substantially proportionate to the rights existing under this Award and the terms of the Award LTIP Units prior to such event, including, without limitation: (A) interpretations of or modifications to any defined term in this Agreement; (B) adjustments in any calculations provided for in this Agreement, and (C) substitution of other awards; provided , however any such adjustment shall be subject in all respects to, and shall not conflict with, the Partnership Agreement, as the Partnership Agreement may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms, solely in connection with any adjustment or action by the Committee pursuant to this Section 7 . All adjustments pursuant to this Section 7 made by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

8.        Miscellaneous .

 

a.        Amendments . This Agreement may be amended or modified only with the consent of the Company and the Partnership acting through the Committee; provided that any such amendment or modification that adversely affects the rights of the Advisor hereunder must be consented to by the Advisor to be effective as against it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended in writing signed only by the Company and the Partnership to correct any errors or ambiguities in this Agreement or to make such changes that do not adversely affect the Advisor’s rights hereunder.

 

b.        Legend . The records of the Partnership evidencing the Award LTIP Units and Award Class A Units shall bear an appropriate legend, as determined by the Partnership in its sole discretion, to the effect that such Award LTIP Units and Award Class A Units are subject to restrictions as set forth herein and in the Partnership Agreement.

 

c.        Compliance with Law . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Award LTIP Units will become vested, earned or payable, and no dividends or distributions will be paid, at a time that any such vesting, earning or payment would result in a violation of any applicable securities law.

 

d.        Advisor Representations; Registration .

 

(i)       The Advisor hereby represents and warrants that (A) it understands that it is responsible for consulting its own tax advisor with respect to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws, and the tax laws of any state, local or other taxing jurisdiction to which the Advisor is or by reason of this Award may become subject, to its particular situation; (B) the Advisor has not received or relied upon business or tax advice from the Company, the Partnership or any of their respective Affiliates, employees, agents, consultants or advisors, in their capacity as such; (C) the Advisor provides services to the Partnership on a regular basis and in such capacity has access to such information, and has such experience of and involvement in the business and operations of the Partnership, as the Advisor believes to be necessary and appropriate to make an informed decision to accept this Award; (D) Award LTIP Units are subject to substantial risks; (E) the Advisor has been furnished with, and has reviewed and understands, information relating to this Award; (F) the Advisor has been afforded the opportunity to obtain such additional information as it deemed necessary before accepting this Award; and (G) the Advisor has had an opportunity to ask questions of representatives of the Partnership and the Company, or persons acting on their behalf, concerning this Award.

 

  6  

 

 

(ii)       The Advisor hereby acknowledges that: (A) there is no public market for Award LTIP Units or Award Class A Units and neither the Partnership nor the Company has any obligation or intention to create such a market; (B) sales and other Transfers of Award LTIP Units and Award Class A Units are subject to restrictions under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; and (C) because of the restrictions on Transfer of Award LTIP Units and Award Class A Units set forth in the Partnership Agreement and in this Agreement, the Advisor may have to bear the economic risk of its ownership of the Award LTIP Units covered by this Award for an indefinite period of time.

 

e.        Incorporation of Plan . This Agreement is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and definitions contained in the Advisor Plan, to the extent not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this Agreement and the Advisor Plan, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

 

f.        Interpretation by Committee . The Committee may make such rules and regulations and establish such procedures for the administration of this Agreement, which are consistent with the terms of this Agreement and Advisor Plan, as it deems appropriate.

 

g.        Section 83(b) Election . In connection with the issuance of LTIP Units pursuant to this Agreement, the Advisor may elect to include in gross income for the year in which the Grant Date occurs the applicable Award LTIP Units pursuant to an election under Section 83(b) of the Code in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B . The Advisor agrees to file such election (or to permit the Partnership to file such election on the Advisor’s behalf) within thirty (30) days after the Grant Date with the IRS Service Center where the Advisor files its personal income tax returns, provide a copy of such election to the Partnership and the Company.

 

h.        Severability . If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement not so held invalid, and each such other provision shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way affect the rest of such provision not held so invalid, and the rest of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Agreement, shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

 

  7  

 

 

i.        Governing Law . This Agreement is made under, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such state.

 

j.        No Obligation to Continue Service as a Consultant or Advisor . Neither the Company nor any Affiliate is obligated solely by, or solely as a result of, this Agreement to continue to have the Advisor as a consultant, advisor or other service provider and this Agreement shall not interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the Advisor’s service relationship in accordance with the Advisory Agreement.

 

k.        Notices . Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company at 405 Park Avenue, 3 rd Floor, New York, New York, 10022, and any notice to be given the Advisor shall be addressed to the Advisor at the Advisor’s address as it appears on the records of the Company, or at such other address as the Company or the Advisor may hereafter designate in writing to the other.

 

l.        Withholding and Taxes . The Advisor shall be solely responsible for all federal, state, local, foreign, or other taxes or any taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act with respect to this Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Company or Partnership are required to withhold any such taxes, the Advisor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding the payment of any United States federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement will be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company and its affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to the Advisor with respect to this Award (including, with respect to distributions in respect of the Award LTIP Units). So long as the Advisor holds any Award LTIP Units, the Advisor shall disclose to the Partnership in writing such information as may be reasonably requested with respect to ownership of LTIP Units as the Partnership may deem reasonably necessary to ascertain and to establish compliance with provisions of the Code applicable to the Partnership or to comply with requirements of any other appropriate taxing authority.

 

m.        Headings . The headings of paragraphs hereof are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

n.        Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts with the same effect as if each of the signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument.

 

o.        Successors and Transferees . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and any successors to or Transferees the Company and the Partnership, on the one hand, and any successors to or Transferees of the Advisor, on the other hand, by will or the laws of descent and distribution, but this Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable or otherwise subject to Transfer by the Advisor.

 

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p.        Section 409A . This Agreement shall be construed, administered and interpreted in accordance with a good faith interpretation of Section 409A of the Code. The Award and all Award LTIP Units under this Agreement are intended to be exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code and shall be interpreted in accordance with such intent. Any provision of this Agreement that is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code, or that may result in penalties under Section 409A of the Code, shall be amended, with the reasonable cooperation of the Advisor and the Company and the Partnership, to the extent necessary to exempt it from, or bring it into compliance with, Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Company and the Partnership make no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A and in no event shall the Company or the Partnership be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by or imposed upon the Advisor or any transferee thereof for failure to comply with, or satisfy and exemption from, Section 409A of the Code.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

  9  

 

 

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

 

  AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.  
     
  By:  /s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.  
    Name: Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Title: Chief Executive Officer
       
       
  AMERICAN FINANCE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
       
  By: American Finance Trust, Inc., its general partner
       
       
  By: /s/ Edward M. Weil, Jr.  
    Name: Edward M. Weil, Jr.
Title: Chief Executive Officer
       
       
  AMERICAN FINANCE ADVISORS, LLC
       
  By: AMERICAN FINANCE SPECIAL LIMITED PARTNER, LLC, its member
       
  By: AR GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LLC, its member
       
       
  By: /s/ Michael Anderson  
    Name: Michael Anderson
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to 2018 Advisor Multi-Year Outperformance Award Agreement]

 

 

EXHIBIT A

DEFINITIONS

 

Absolute TSR ” means the Company’s Total Shareholder Return.

 

Absolute TSR Award LTIPs ” means a number of LTIP Units equal to the quotient, rounded down to the nearest whole number, of (a) the LTIP Award Number, divided by (b) two.

 

Affiliate ” means (A) with respect to any individual Person, any member of the immediate family of such Person or a trust established for the benefit of such member, (B) any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, (C) any other Person that owns, beneficially, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding capital stock, shares or equity interests of such Person, or (D) any officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager or trustee of such Person or any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person (excluding trustees and Persons serving in similar capacities who are not otherwise an Affiliate of such Person).  For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, through the ownership of voting securities or partnership interests or otherwise.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

Cause ” has the meaning set forth in the Advisory Agreement.

 

Change of Control ” means and includes any of the following events:

 

(i)       any Person is or becomes Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company, excluding (A) any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (x) of subsection (ii) below and (B) any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner through the issuance of such securities with respect to purchases made directly from the Company; or

 

(ii)       the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other Person or the issuance of voting securities of the Company in connection with a merger or consolidation of the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company) pursuant to applicable stock exchange requirements, other than (x) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) seventy percent (70%) or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (y) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or

 

  Exhibit 1  

 

 

(iii)       the consummation of a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

 

(iv)       persons who, as of the Listing Date, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason, including, without limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar transaction, to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided that any person becoming a director of the Company subsequent to such date shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election was approved by, or such person was nominated for election by, a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any payment in respect of an Award LTIP Units that is triggered or accelerated upon a Change of Control, then to the extent that the payment is subject to Code Section 409A, then such payment shall not occur until the earliest of (i) the Change of Control if such Change of Control constitutes a “change in the ownership of the corporation,” a “change in the effective control of the corporation” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation,” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(2)(A)(v), (ii) the date such payment would otherwise be made pursuant to the terms of the Award, and (iii) the Advisor’s “separation of service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.

 

Class A Units ” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

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

 

Common Stock ” means the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as “Class A Common Stock,” individually, or, to the extent applicable, collectively with the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as “Class B-1 Common Stock” and the class of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, designated as “Class B-2 Common Stock.”

 

Common Stock Price ” means as of any date, the average of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock (or, as applicable, one share of common stock of a Peer Group Company) over the fifteen (15) consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, such date (or, if such date is not a Trading Day, the most recent Trading Day immediately preceding such date); provided , however , that if such date is the date upon which a Transactional Change of Control occurs, the Common Stock Price as of such date shall be equal to the fair value, as determined by the Committee, of the total consideration paid or payable in the transaction resulting in the Transactional Change of Control for one share of Common Stock.

 

Conversion Factor ” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Effective Date ” means August 30, 2018, the thirtieth (30 th ) Trading Day following the Listing Date.

 

Entity ” means any general partnership, limited partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust, business trust, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, cooperative or association.

 

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

 

  Exhibit 2  

 

 

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any security, the average of the daily market price of such security for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date of such valuation.  The market price for each such Trading Day shall be: (A) if the security is listed or admitted to trading on Nasdaq or any national securities exchange, the last reported sale price, regular way, on such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, on such day, (B) if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on Nasdaq or any national securities exchange, the last reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the Company, or (C) if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on Nasdaq or any national securities exchange and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the Company, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than ten days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided , that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten days prior to the date in question, the value of the security shall be determined by the Company acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.  In the event the security includes any additional rights, then the value of such rights shall be determined by the Company acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

 

Initial Share Price ” means the average of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock over the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to the Effective Date.

 

Listing ” means the listing of shares of Common Stock on Nasdaq.

 

Listing Date ” means July 19, 2018, the date of the Listing.

 

LTIP Award Number ” means the quotient, rounded down to the nearest whole number, of (a) 72,000,000, divided by (b) the Initial Share Price.

 

LTIP Units ” means LTIP Units, as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Nasdaq ” means The Nasdaq Global Select Market.

 

Master LTIP Unit ” means Master LTIP Unit, as such term is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Partnership Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of July 19, 2018, among the Company, as general partner, the Advisor, as a limited partner, and any limited partners that are admitted from time to time to the Partnership and listed on Schedule A thereto, as amended, restated or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Partnership Record Date ” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Partnership Units ” has the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

  Exhibit 3  

 

 

Peer Group Companies ” means Colony Capital, Inc., Lexington Realty Trust, Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust, Select Income REIT and Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.

 

Peer Group TSR ” means the average unweighted cumulative Total Shareholder Return of the Peer Group Companies for the Performance Period.

 

Person ” means an individual, Entity, corporation, unincorporated organization, or other entity or “group” (as defined in the Exchange Act).

 

Relative TSR ” means the Company’s Total Shareholder Return relative to the average unweighted cumulative Total Shareholder Return of the Peer Group Companies.

 

Relative TSR Award LTIPs ” means a number of LTIP Units equal to the quotient, rounded down to the nearest whole number, of (a) the LTIP Award Number, divided by (b) two.

 

Relative TSR Excess ” means an amount, expressed in terms of basis points (bps), whether positive or negative, by which the Company’s Absolute TSR as of the Valuation Date exceeds the Peer Group TSR as of the Valuation Date.

 

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

 

Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has more than a fifty percent (50%) interest, either directly or indirectly.

 

Total Shareholder Return ” means, for each of the Company and the Peer Group Companies, with respect to the Performance Period, the total return (expressed as a percentage) that would have been realized by a holder who (a) bought one share of common stock of such company at the Initial Share Price (or the closing price, with respect to any Peer Group Company) on the Effective Date, (b) reinvested each dividend and other distribution declared during the Performance Period with respect to such share (and any other shares, or fractions thereof, previously received upon reinvestment of dividends or other distributions or on account of stock dividends), without deduction for any taxes with respect to such dividends or other distributions or any charges in connection with such reinvestment, in additional shares of common stock at a price per share equal to (i) the Fair Market Value on the Trading Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such dividend or other distribution less (ii) the amount of such dividend or other distribution, and (c) sold such shares on the Valuation Date at the Common Stock Price on the Valuation Date, without deduction for any taxes with respect to any gain on such sale or any charges in connection with such sale.

 

Trading Day ” means a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which a security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

  Exhibit 4  

 

 

Transactional Change of Control ” means (A) a Change of Control described in clause (i) of the definition thereof where the Person makes a tender offer for Common Stock, (B) a Change of Control described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof where the Company is not the surviving entity, or (C) a Change of Control described in clause (iii) of the definition thereof.

 

Transferee ” shall mean the transferee in any Transfers of Award LTIP Units or Award Class A Units approved by the Committee pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

 

  Exhibit 5  

 

 

EXHIBIT B

ELECTION TO INCLUDE IN GROSS INCOME IN YEAR OF TRANSFER OF
PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 83(b) OF THE INTERN REVENUE CODE

 

The undersigned Taxpayer hereby makes an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the property described below and supplies the following information in accordance with the regulations promulgated thereunder:

 

1. The name, address and taxpayer identification number of the undersigned are:

 

Name: American Finance Advisors, LLC (the “ Taxpayer ”)

 

Address:

 

___________________

 

Taxpayer Identification No.: ____-____-____

 

2. Description of property with respect to which the election is being made: 1 Master LTIP Unit in American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”), that will , pursuant to its terms and the terms contained in the Partnership’s Agreement of Limited Partnership, convert into a number of LTIP Units in the Partnership (such LTIP Units as so converted, together with the Master LTIP Unit to the extent applicable, the “Award LTIP Units”) based on the average closing price of the common stock of American Finance Trust, Inc. on the Nasdaq over the 10 consecutive trading days immediately prior to the 30 th trading day following the first trading day on which shares of such stock were so listed or admitted to trading.

 

3. The date on which the property was transferred is [__], 2018. The taxable year to which this election relates is calendar year 2018.

 

4. Nature of restrictions to which the property is subject: With limited exceptions, until the Award LTIP Units vest, the Taxpayer may not transfer in any manner any portion of the Award LTIP Units without the consent of the Partnership. The Award LTIP Units are subject to performance-based vesting conditions related to the performance of American Finance Trust, Inc. (including the distributions made by it to its stockholders). The unvested Award LTIP Units are subject to forfeiture if such conditions are not met.

 

5. The fair market value at time of transfer (determined without regard to any restrictions other than restrictions which by their terms w never lapse) of the property with respect to which this election is being made was $0 per Award LTIP Unit.

 

6. The amount paid by the Taxpayer for the property was $0 per Award LTIP Unit.

 

7. A copy of this statement has been furnished to the Partnership and American Finance Trust, Inc.

 

  Exhibit 6  

 

 

      AMERICAN FINANCE ADVISORS, LLC  
         
               
Dated:     Signed:       
           
      By:    
           
      Name:    
           
      Title:    

 

  Exhibit 7  

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

2018 ADVISOR OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

OF

 

AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.

 

SECTION 1.         PURPOSES OF THE PLAN AND DEFINITIONS

 

1.1            Purposes . The purposes of the 2018 Advisor Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (this “ Plan ”) of American Finance Trust, Inc. (the “ Company ”) are to:

 

(a)           provide incentives to the Advisor and its Affiliates to promote the progress and success of the business of the Company and its Affiliates (including the Partnership); and

 

(b)           provide a means through which the Advisor and its Affiliates can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company or the Partnership, or be paid incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of Common Stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.

 

To accomplish these purposes, this Plan provides a means whereby the Advisor and its Affiliates may receive Awards.

 

1.2            Definitions . For purposes of this Plan, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

Advisor ” means the Person or Persons, if any, appointed, employed or contracted with by the Company to be responsible for directing or performing the day-to-day business affairs of the Company, including any Person to whom the Advisor subcontracts substantially all such functions. The Advisor as of the Effective Date is American Finance Trust Advisors, LLC.

 

Advisory Agreement ” means the applicable advisory agreement by and among the Company and the Advisor, through which the Advisor provides advisory services to the Company, as in effect from time to time. The Advisory Agreement as of the Effective Date is that certain Third Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement by and among the Company, the Partnership and the Advisor, dated as of September 6, 2016, as amended from time to time.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. The determination of whether a Person is an Affiliate shall be made by the Committee acting in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Applicable Laws ” means the requirements relating to the administration of Awards under state corporation laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under this Plan.

 

     

 

 

Articles of Incorporation ” means the articles of incorporation of the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

Award ” means any award of Restricted Shares, RSUs, Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Awards, LTIP Units or Other Equity Awards under this Plan.

 

Award Agreement ” means, with respect to each Award, the written agreement executed by the Company and the Participant or other written document approved by the Board or the Committee setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Change of Control ” means: (a) any “person” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the Company), 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 50.1% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; (b) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity or approve the issuance of voting securities in connection with a merger or consolidation of the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof) pursuant to applicable exchange requirements, other than (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving or parent entity) at least 50.1% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving or parent entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no “person” (as defined above) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of either of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or (c) the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or any transaction or series of transactions within a period of twelve (12) months ending on the date of the last sale or disposition having a similar effect).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction or other event described above or in an Award Agreement may constitute a “Change of Control” for purposes of any Award which is subject to Section 409A of the Code for purposes of earning and vesting, but no payment shall be made thereunder until the earliest of (i) the Change of Control, if such transaction constitutes a “change in the ownership of the corporation,” a “change in the effective control of the corporation” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation,” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(2)(A)(v), (ii) the date such Award would otherwise be settled pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement, and (iii) the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.

 

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

 

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Committee ” means the Board or a duly appointed committee of the Board to which the Board has delegated its powers and functions hereunder. Any authority granted to the Committee may also be exercised by the Board.

 

Company ” means means American Finance Trust, Inc.

 

Director ” means a person elected or appointed and serving as a member of the Board in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and the Maryland General Corporation Law.

 

Effective Date ” has the meaning given it in Section 22 .

 

Eligible Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2 .

 

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

 

Fair Market Value ” means with respect to Shares:

 

(i)          If the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, their Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for the Shares, or the mean between the high bid and low asked prices if no sales were reported, as quoted on such system or exchange (or, if the Shares are listed on more than one exchange, then on the largest such exchange) for the date the value is to be determined (or if there are no sales or bids for such date, then for the last preceding business day on which there were sales or bids), as reported in The Wall Street Journal .

 

(ii)         If the Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, or if there is no secondary trading market for the Shares, their Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.

 

Grant Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a) .

 

Individual Plan ” means the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan of American Finance Trust, Inc.

 

LTIP Unit ” means an LTIP unit as defined in the Partnership Agreement. An LTIP Unit granted under this Plan represents the right to receive the benefits, payments or other rights set forth in the Partnership Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement and the Partnership Agreement.

 

Option ” means an option to purchase Shares granted under Section 8 . Options granted under the Plan are not intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

Other Equity Awards ” means an Award granted under Section 12 .

 

Participant ” means an Eligible Person who is granted an Award.

 

  3  

 

 

Partnership ” shall mean American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Partnership Agreement ” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P, dated as of July 19, 2018, as amended and restated from time to time.

 

Partnership Unit shall have the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Person ” means an individual, a corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any other entity.

 

Plan ” means this 2018 Advisor Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan of American Finance Trust, Inc.

 

Restricted Shares ” means an Award of restricted shares granted under Section 6 .

 

Restricted Stock Unit ” or “ RSU ” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 7 representing notional unit interests equal in value to a Share to be paid or distributed at such times, and subject to such conditions, as set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 adopted under Section 16(b) or any successor rule, as it may be amended from time to time, and references to paragraphs or clauses of Rule 16b-3 refer to the corresponding paragraphs or clauses of Rule 16b-3 as it exists at the Effective Date or the comparable paragraph or clause of Rule 16b-3 or successor rule, as that paragraph or clause may thereafter be amended.

 

Section 16(b) ” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

Section 409A of the Code ” means the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code and any applicable Treasury regulation or other official guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Shares ” means shares of stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, including shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B-1 Common Stock, Class B-2 Common Stock and any other class of Common Stock subsequently designated and classified from time to time.

 

Stock Appreciation Right ” means the right to receive any excess in the Fair Market Value of a fixed number of Shares over a specified exercise price, granted under Section 9 .

 

Stock Right ” means an Award in the form of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right.

 

Stock Award ” means an Award of Shares that is not subject to restrictions or other forfeiture conditions.

 

  4  

 

 

Termination ” means the termination of the Advisor’s services to the Company under the Advisory Agreements.

 

SECTION 2.         ELIGIBLE PERSONS

 

2.1           “ Eligible Person ” means the Advisor or any of its Affiliates.

 

SECTION 3.         SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS PLAN

 

3.1            Total Number of Shares . The total number of Shares that may be issued or subject to Awards under this Plan shall not exceed 10.0% of the Company’s outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis at any time minus any Shares then issued or subject to outstanding awards under the Individual Plan (the “ Share Limitation ”). The Share Limitation shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions for adjustment in Section 5 . If any Awards granted awarded under this Plan are forfeited for any reason, the number of forfeited Shares (including Shares associated with forfeited LTIP Units) shall again be available for purposes of granting Awards under this Plan. Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares held by the Company in its treasury.

 

3.2            Share Counting . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, for purposes of applying the Share Limitation, the following rules shall apply with respect to Awards under this Plan:

 

(a)           Any Award of an LTIP Unit shall count against the Share Limitation (and accordingly, shall reduce the remaining Shares available for grant) on a one-for-one basis (or such other Conversion Factor as determined in accordance with the Partnership Agreement at the time of grant). To the extent that LTIP Units are, following earning, vesting or satisfaction of any other conditions contained in the Award granting the LTIP Units, ultimately converted into, or exchanged or redeemed for, Shares pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement, only the initial number of LTIP Units granted (subject to adjustment under Section 5 ) shall count against the Share Limitation, and any subsequent conversions, exchanges or redemptions shall not count against the Share Limitation or otherwise reduce the Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(b)           Any Award under the Plan to the extent settled in cash shall not count against the Share Limitation (and accordingly, shall not reduce the remaining Shares available for grant);

 

(c)           If any Option or Share-settled Stock Appreciation Right expires, terminates, or is cancelled for any reason without having been exercised in full, or if any other Award is forfeited by the recipient, then the Shares underlying such Awards which expire or are terminated or forfeited by the recipient shall again be available for Awards to be granted under the Plan;

 

(d)           if any Option is exercised by delivering previously owned Shares in payment of the exercise price therefor, only the net number of Shares, that is, the number of Shares issued minus the number received by the Company in payment of the exercise price, shall be considered to have been issued pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan; and

 

  5  

 

 

(e)           any Shares either tendered or withheld in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations of the Company or an Affiliate shall again be available for issuance under the Plan.

 

SECTION 4.         ADMINISTRATION

 

4.1            Administration . This Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

 

4.2            Committee’s Powers . Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion:

 

(a)           to adopt, amend and rescind administrative and interpretive rules and regulations relating to this Plan;

 

(b)           to determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted;

 

(c)           to determine the number of Shares that shall be the subject of each Award;

 

(d)           to determine the terms and provisions of each Award (which need not be identical) and any amendments thereto, including provisions defining or otherwise relating to:

 

(i)          the extent to which the transferability of Shares issued or transferred pursuant to any Award is restricted;

 

(ii)         the effect of Termination on an Award;

 

(iii)        the exercise price of a Stock Right;

 

(iv)        to construe the respective Award Agreements and this Plan;

 

(v)         to make determinations of the Fair Market Value of Shares;

 

(vi)        to waive any provision, condition or limitation set forth in an Award Agreement;

 

(vii)       to delegate its duties under this Plan to such agents as it may appoint from time to time; and

 

(viii)      to make all other determinations, perform all other acts and exercise all other powers and authority necessary or advisable for administering this Plan, including the delegation of those ministerial acts and responsibilities as the Committee deems appropriate.

 

The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, in any Award or in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary or desirable to implement this Plan, and the Committee shall be the sole and final judge of that necessity or desirability. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Section 4.2 shall be final and conclusive.

 

  6  

 

 

4.3            Term of Plan . No Awards shall be granted under this Plan after ten (10) years from the Effective Date of this Plan; provided that Awards granted prior to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date.

 

SECTION 5.         CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS

 

5.1            All Awards . All Awards shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement and subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)            Grant Date . Each Award Agreement shall specify the date as of which it shall be effective (the “ Grant Date ”).

 

(b)            Vesting . Each Award shall vest, and any restrictions thereunder shall lapse, as the case may be, at such times and in such amounts as may be specified by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(c)            Nonassignability of Rights . Awards shall not be transferable other than with the consent of the Committee or the Board or by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(d)            Termination . The Committee shall establish, in respect of each Award when granted, the effect of a Termination on the rights and benefits thereunder and in so doing may, but need not, make distinctions based upon the cause of termination or which party effected the termination (the Company or the Advisor).

 

(e)            Minimum Purchase Price . Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if authorized but previously unissued Shares are issued under this Plan, such Shares shall not be issued for a consideration which is less than as permitted under Applicable Law, and in no event, shall such consideration be less than the par value per Share multiplied by the number of Shares to be issued.

 

(f)             Other Provisions . Each Award Agreement may contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee.

 

5.2            Adjustment for Corporate Actions . All of the share numbers set forth in the Plan reflect the capital structure of the Company and the Partnership as of the Effective Date. If subsequent to the Effective Date the outstanding Shares or Partnership Units (or any other securities covered by the Plan by reason of the prior application of this Section) are increased, decreased, or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities, or if additional shares or new or different shares or other securities are distributed with respect to Shares or Partnership Units, as a result of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other similar distribution with respect to such Shares or Partnership Units, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment will be made in (i) the maximum numbers and kinds of Shares provided in Section 3 , (ii) the numbers and kinds of Shares, units or other securities subject to the then outstanding Awards, and (iii) the exercise price for each Share or other unit of any other securities subject to then outstanding Stock Rights (without change in the aggregate exercise price as to which such Stock Rights remain exercisable).

 

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5.3            Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events . In the event of any corporate action not specifically covered by the preceding Section, including but not limited to an extraordinary cash distribution on Shares, a corporate separation or other reorganization or liquidation, the Committee shall make such adjustment of outstanding Awards and their terms, if any, as it, in its sole discretion, may deem equitable and appropriate in the circumstances in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. The Committee shall make adjustments in the terms and conditions of and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in this Section) affecting the Company or the Partnership or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are equitable and appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

 

5.4            Related Matters . Any adjustment in Awards made pursuant to Section 5 shall be determined and made, if at all, by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, and shall include any correlative modification of terms, including of Stock Right exercise prices, rates of vesting or exercisability, and business objectives which the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate so as to ensure the rights of the Participants in their respective Awards are not substantially diminished nor enlarged as a result of the adjustment and corporate action other than as expressly contemplated in this Section 5 . The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that no fraction of a Share or Partnership Unit shall be purchasable or deliverable upon exercise, and in that event if any adjustment hereunder of the number of Shares covered by an Award would cause such number to include a fraction of a Share or Partnership Unit, such number of Shares shall be adjusted to the nearest smaller whole number of shares. No adjustment of a Stock Right exercise price per share pursuant to Sections 5 shall result in an exercise price which is less than the par value of the Share.

 

5.5            Change of Control . Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Committee may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Awards; provided , however , that none of the following shall apply, (A) in the case of any Award pursuant to an Award Agreement requiring other or additional terms upon a Change of Control (or similar event), or (B) if specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national securities exchanges:

 

(a)           provide that any and all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not already exercisable in full shall accelerate with respect to all or a portion of the Shares for which such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are not then exercisable; and

 

(b)           provide for immediate vesting of all or a portion of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and other Awards which are not fully vested immediately prior to the Change of Control;

 

(c)           take one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Stock Rights:

 

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(i)          provide that such Stock Rights shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent rights shall be provided in substitution therefore, by the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof).

 

(ii)         upon written notice to the holders, provide that the holders’ unexercised Stock Rights will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control unless, in the case of Stock Rights then exercisable, such Stock Rights are exercised within a specified period following the date of such notice.

 

(iii)        provide that outstanding Stock Rights shall become exercisable in whole or in part prior to or upon the Change of Control.

 

(iv)        provide for cash payments, net of applicable tax withholdings, to be made to holders equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the acquisition price times the number of Shares subject to the Stock Right (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the acquisition price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price for all such Shares subject to the Stock Right, in exchange for the termination of such Stock Right; provided, that if the acquisition price does not exceed the exercise price of any such Stock Right, the Committee may cancel that Stock Right without the payment of any consideration therefor prior to or upon the Change of Control. For this purpose, “ acquisition price ” means the amount of cash, and market value of any other consideration, received in payment for a Share surrendered in a Change of Control.

 

(v)         provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Stock Rights shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds net of the exercise price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings.

 

(vi)        any combination of the foregoing.

 

In taking any of the actions permitted under Section 5.6(c) , the Committee shall not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically. Any determinations required to carry out the foregoing provisions of Section 5.6(c) , including but not limited to the market value of other consideration received by holders of Shares or Partnership Units in a Change of Control and whether substantially equivalent rights have been substituted, shall be made by the Committee acting in its sole discretion. In connection with any action or actions taken by the Committee in respect of Awards and in connection with a Change of Control, the Committee may require such acknowledgements of satisfaction and releases from Participants as it may determine.

 

SECTION 6.         RESTRICTED SHARES

 

6.1            Grant . The Committee may grant one or more Awards of Restricted Shares to any Participant. Each Award of Restricted Shares shall specify the number of Shares to be issued to the Participant, the date of issuance and the restrictions imposed on the Shares including the conditions of release or lapse of such restrictions. Upon the issuance of Restricted Shares, the Participant may be required to furnish such additional documentation or other assurances as the Committee may require to enforce restrictions applicable thereto.

 

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6.2            Restrictions . Except as specifically provided elsewhere in this Plan or the Award Agreement regarding Restricted Shares, Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, either voluntarily or involuntarily, until the restrictions have lapsed and the rights to the Shares have vested. The Committee may in its sole discretion provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions, in whole or in part, based on service, performance or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine.

 

6.3            Dividends . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, cash dividends with respect to Restricted Shares shall be paid to the recipient of the Award of Restricted Shares on the normal dividend payment dates, and dividends payable in Shares shall be paid in the form of Restricted Shares having the same terms as the Restricted Shares upon which such dividend is paid. Each Award Agreement for Awards of Restricted Shares shall specify whether and, if so, the extent to which the Participant shall be obligated to return to the Company any cash dividends paid with respect to any Restricted Shares which are subsequently forfeited.

 

6.4            Forfeiture of Restricted Shares . Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, when a Participant’s Termination occurs, the Participant shall automatically forfeit all Restricted Shares still subject to restriction.

 

SECTION 7.         RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

7.1            Grant . The Committee may grant one or more Awards of RSUs to any Participant. Each Award of RSUs shall specify the number of RSUs granted to the Participant, the Grant Date and the restrictions imposed on the RSUs including the conditions of vesting or lapse of such restrictions. The value of each RSU is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the applicable date or time period of determination, as specified by the Committee.

 

7.2            Restrictions . Except as specifically provided elsewhere in this Plan or the Award Agreement regarding RSUs, RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The Committee may in its sole discretion provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions, in whole or in part, based on service, performance or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine.

 

7.3            Payment of Restricted Stock Units . RSUs shall become payable to a Participant at the time or times determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Award Agreement, which may be upon or following the vesting of the Award. Payment of a RSU may be made, as approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in cash or in Shares or in a combination thereof, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements. Any cash payment of a RSU shall be made based upon the Fair Market Value of the Shares, determined on such date or over such time period as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

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7.4            Dividend Equivalent Rights . RSUs may be granted together with a dividend equivalent right with respect to the Shares subject to the Award, which may be accumulated and may be deemed reinvested in additional RSUs or may be accumulated in cash, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, will be paid at the time the underlying RSU is payable. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, dividend equivalent rights shall be subject to forfeiture under the same conditions as apply to the underlying RSU.

 

7.5            Forfeiture of Restricted Shares . Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, when a Participant’s Termination occurs, the Participant shall automatically forfeit all RSUs still subject to restriction.

 

7.6            No Rights as Stockholder . The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to a RSU until such time as Shares are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.         OPTIONS

 

8.1            Grant . Options may be granted to eligible Participants in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine. The granting of an Option shall take place at the time specified in the Award Agreement. Only if expressly so provided in the applicable Award Agreement shall the Grant Date be the date on which the Award Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Participant. All Options granted under the Plan shall be “nonqualified stock options” (that is, not intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code).

 

8.2            Exercise Price . The price at which Shares may be acquired under each Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. Without approval of the Company’s stockholders, no Option may be repriced, replaced, regranted through cancellation, repurchased for cash or other consideration, or modified (except in connection with an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 ), in each case if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price for the Shares underlying the Option.

 

8.3            Option Period . No Option may be exercised on or after the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.

 

8.4            Exercisability . An Option may be immediately exercisable or become exercisable in such installments, cumulative or non-cumulative, as the Committee may determine. In the case of an Option not otherwise immediately exercisable in full, the Committee may accelerate such Option in whole or in part at any time.

 

8.5            Method of Exercise . An Option may be exercised by a Participant giving written notice, in the manner provided in Section 20 , specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised. The notice shall be accompanied by payment in the form of cash or check payable to the order of the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of the Shares to be purchased or by one or more of the following methods, subject in each instance to the Committee’s approval, acting in its sole discretion, and to such conditions, if any, as the Committee may deem necessary to avoid adverse accounting effects to the Company:

 

(a)           by delivery to the Company of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price of the Shares to be purchased,

 

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(b)           by surrender of the Option as to all or part of the Shares for which the Option is then exercisable in exchange for Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the difference between (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value of the surrendered portion of the Option, and (2) the aggregate exercise price under the Option for the surrendered portion of the Option, or

 

(c)           by delivery of any other lawful means of consideration which the Committee may approve.

 

If the Shares are traded on an established market, payment of any exercise price may also be made through and under the terms and conditions of any formal cashless exercise program authorized by the Company entailing the sale of Shares subject to an Option in a brokered transaction (other than to the Company). Receipt by the Company of such notice and payment in any authorized or combination of authorized means shall constitute the exercise of the Option. Within thirty (30) days thereafter but subject to the remaining provisions of the Plan, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Participant or his agent a certificate or certificates for the number of Shares then being purchased. Such Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

8.6            Forfeiture of Options . Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, when a Participant’s Termination occurs, the Participant shall automatically forfeit all unvested Options.

 

8.7            No Rights as Stockholder . The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until such time as Shares are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.         STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

9.1            Grant . Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to eligible Participants in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option (at or, in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option, after, the award of the Option), or alone and unrelated to an Option. Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with an Option shall terminate to the extent that the related Option is exercised, and the related Option shall terminate to the extent that the tandem Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised.

 

9.2            Exercise Price . Stock Appreciation Rights shall have an exercise price of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of award, or in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with Options, the exercise price of the related Option. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to receive Shares or the cash equivalent thereof (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement), with an aggregate Fair Market Value determined by multiplying (i) the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right over the price determined by the Committee on the Grant Date times (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. Without approval of the Company’s stockholders, no Stock Appreciation Right may be repriced, replaced, re-granted through cancellation, repurchased for cash or other consideration, or modified (except in connection with an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 ), in each case if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price for the Shares underlying the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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9.3            Other Terms . Except as the Committee may deem inappropriate or inapplicable in the circumstances, Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to terms and conditions substantially similar to those applicable to a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

9.4            No Rights as Stockholder . The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right until such time as Shares are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.       STOCK AWARDS

 

Shares may be granted to eligible Participants pursuant to Stock Awards (including awards of fully vested Shares or Shares granted in lieu of other compensation) in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine. Any such Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Participant and the Company which shall specify the number of Shares subject to the Stock Award, any consideration therefor, any vesting or performance conditions or other restrictions (if any), and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

SECTION 11.       LTIP UNITS

 

An LTIP Unit is an Award of a Partnership Unit under the Plan pursuant to and in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, and which may be granted as freestanding awards or in tandem with other Awards under the Plan.  LTIP Units shall be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may determine, including, but not limited to, continued service by the Participant, computation of financial metrics and/or the achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.

 

SECTION 12.       OTHER EQUITY AWARDS

 

The Committee may grant Other Equity Awards, which are Awards (other than those described in Sections 6 through 11 of the Plan) that are based on, measured by or payable in Shares to Participant, on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Equity Awards may be granted subject to the achievement of performance goals or other conditions. Other Equity Awards may be denominated in cash, Shares or other securities, in stock-equivalent units, in stock appreciation units, in securities or debentures convertible into Common Stock (including LTIP Units and other Partnership Units), or in any combination of the foregoing, and may be paid in cash, Shares or other securities, or in a combination of cash, Shares and other securities, all as determined by the Committee in the Award Agreement; provided, however , that the grant of LTIP Units must satisfy the requirements of the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the date of grant.

 

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SECTION 13.       SECURITIES LAWS

 

Nothing in this Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall require the Company to issue any Shares with respect to any Award if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, that issuance could constitute a violation of any Applicable Laws. As a condition to the grant of any Award, the Company may require the Participant to provide written representations concerning the Participant’s intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the Shares covered by the Award and written covenants as to the manner of disposal of such Shares as may be necessary or useful to ensure that the grant or disposition thereof will not violate the Securities Act, any other law or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association then in effect. The Company shall not be required to register any Shares under the Securities Act or register or qualify any Shares under any state or other securities laws.

 

SECTION 14.       SERVICE RELATIONSHIP

 

Nothing in this Plan or any Award shall in any way interfere with or limit the right of the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company to terminate any Participant’s service therewith at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the service of the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company.

 

SECTION 15.       AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF THIS PLAN

 

The Board or the Committee may at any time amend, suspend or discontinue this Plan, provided that such amendment, suspension or discontinuance meets the requirements of Applicable Laws, including without limitation, any applicable requirements for stockholder approval. Notwithstanding the above, an amendment, suspension or discontinuation shall not be made if it would impair the rights of any Participant under any Award previously granted, without the Participant’s consent, except to conform this Plan and Awards granted to the requirements of Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Board or the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Board or the Committee may adopt such amendment to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions that the Board or the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate, without the consent of the Participant, to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Without approval of the Company’s stockholders, no Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be repriced, replaced, regranted through cancellation, repurchased for cash or other consideration, or modified (except in connection with an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 ), in each case if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price for the Shares underlying the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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SECTION 16.       LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF THE BOARD AND THE COMMITTEE

 

No person constituting, or member of the group constituting, the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any act or omission on such person’s part, including but not limited to the exercise of any power or discretion given to such member under this Plan, except for those acts or omissions resulting from such member’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company shall indemnify each present and future person constituting, or member of the group constituting, the Board or the Committee against, and each person or member of the group constituting the Board or the Committee shall be entitled without further act on his or her part to indemnity from the Company for, all expenses (including the amount of judgments and the amount of approved settlements made with a view to the curtailment of costs of litigation) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by law and by the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company.

 

SECTION 17.       SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision of this Plan is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, that illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this Plan, but such provision shall be fully severable and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included in this Plan. Such an illegal or invalid provision shall be replaced by a revised provision that most nearly comports to the substance of the illegal or invalid provision. If any of the terms or provisions of this Plan or any Award Agreement conflict with the requirements of Applicable Laws, those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they conflict with Applicable Law.

 

SECTION 18.       SECTION 409A OF THE CODE

 

Although the Company does not guarantee to a Participant the particular tax treatment of an Award granted under the Plan, Awards granted under the Plan are intended to be exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award granted under the Plan constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” pursuant to Section 409A of the Code (a “ Section 409A Covered Award ”), it shall be paid in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in an Award to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to Section 409A Covered Awards:

 

(a)          A termination of service shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of a Section 409A Covered Award providing for payment upon or following a termination of the Participant’s service unless such termination is also a “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of Section 409A Covered Award, references to a “termination” or like terms shall mean “Separation from Service.” Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or an Award, if the Participant is deemed on the date of the Participant’s termination of service to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B) and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time, or if none, the default methodology set forth in Code Section 409A, then with regard to any such payment under a Section 409A Covered Award, to the extent required to be delayed in compliance with Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), such payment shall not be made prior to the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service (the “ Delay Period ”). All payments delayed pursuant to this Section 18(a) shall be paid to the Participant on the first day of the seventh month following the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or, if earlier, on the date of the Participant’s death.

 

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(b)          Whenever a payment under a Section 409A Covered Award specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days, the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

 

(c)          If under the Section 409A Covered Award an amount is to be paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Code Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.

 

SECTION 19.       WITHHOLDING

 

The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made to a Participant, or to otherwise require, prior to the issuance or delivery of any Shares or the payment of any cash hereunder, payment by the Participant of, any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld. Upon the vesting of any applicable Award, or upon making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, a Participant shall pay all required withholding to the Company. The Board may permit any such statutory withholding obligation with regard to any Participant to be satisfied by, to the extent applicable, reducing the number of Shares otherwise deliverable or by delivering Shares already owned.

 

SECTION 20.       NOTICES AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

 

Any notice, demand, request or other communication hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or duly sent by first class registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, or telecopied with a confirmation copy by regular, certified or overnight mail, addressed or telecopied, as the case may be, (a) if to the recipient of an Award, at his or her residence address last filed with the Company and (b) if to the Company, at its principal place of business, addressed to the attention of its Treasurer, or to such other address or telecopier number, as the case may be, as the addressee may have designated by notice to the addressor. All such notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been received: (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery; (ii) in the case of mailing, when received by the addressee; and (iii) in the case of facsimile transmission, when confirmed by facsimile machine report.

 

SECTION 21.       GOVERNING LAW

 

This Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflict of laws).

 

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SECTION 22.       EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Plan was approved and adopted by the Board in the form set forth herein, effective at the listing of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on The Nasdaq on July 19, 2018 (the “ Effective Date ”).

 

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Exhibit 10.6

 

2018 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

OF

 

AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.

 

SECTION 1.        PURPOSES OF THE PLAN AND DEFINITIONS

 

1.1           Purposes . The purposes of the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (this “ Plan ”) of American Finance Trust, Inc. (the “ Company ”) are to:

 

(1)         provide incentives to individuals chosen to receive Share-based awards because of their ability to improve operations and increase profits;

 

(2)         encourage selected persons to accept positions with or continue to provide services to the Company, the Advisor and Affiliates of the Company; and

 

(3)         increase the interest of Directors in the Company’s welfare through their participation in the growth in value of the Company’s Shares.

 

To accomplish these purposes, this Plan provides a means whereby employees of the Advisor and Affiliates of the Company, officers of the Company, the Advisor and Affiliates of the Company, Directors and other enumerated persons may receive Awards.

 

1.2           Definitions . For purposes of this Plan, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

Advisor ” means the Person or Persons, if any, appointed, employed or contracted with by the Company to be responsible for directing or performing the day-to-day business affairs of the Company, including any Person to whom the Advisor subcontracts substantially all such functions. The Advisor as of the Effective Date is American Finance Trust Advisors, LLC.

 

Advisor Plan ” means the 2018 Advisor Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (this “ Plan ”) of American Finance Trust, Inc.

 

Affiliate ” means any Person (other than an Advisor), whose employees, directors or officers are eligible to receive Awards under this Plan. The determination of whether a Person is an Affiliate shall be made by the Board acting in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Applicable Laws ” means the requirements relating to the administration of Awards under state corporation laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under this Plan.

 

Articles of Incorporation ” means the articles of incorporation of the Company, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

 

 

 

Award ” means any award of Restricted Shares, RSUs, Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock Awards, LTIP Units or Other Equity Awards under this Plan.

 

Award Agreement ” means, with respect to each Award, the written agreement executed by the Company and the Participant or other written document approved by the Board or the Committee setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Change of Control ” means: (a) any “person” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the Company), 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 50.1% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; (b) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity or approve the issuance of voting securities in connection with a merger or consolidation of the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof) pursuant to applicable exchange requirements, other than (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving or parent entity) at least 50.1% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving or parent entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no “person” (as defined above) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of either of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or (c) the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or any transaction or series of transactions within a period of twelve (12) months ending on the date of the last sale or disposition having a similar effect).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction or other event described above or in an Award Agreement may constitute a “Change of Control” for purposes of any Award which is subject to Section 409A of the Code for purposes of earning and vesting, but no payment shall be made thereunder until the earliest of (i) the Change of Control, if such transaction constitutes a “change in the ownership of the corporation,” a “change in the effective control of the corporation” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation,” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(2)(A)(v), (ii) the date such Award would otherwise be settled pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement, and (iii) the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.

 

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

 

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Committee ” means the Board or a duly appointed committee of the Board to which the Board has delegated its powers and functions hereunder. Any authority granted to the Committee may also be exercised by the Board.

 

Company ” means means American Finance Trust, Inc.

 

Director ” means a person elected or appointed and serving as a member of the Board in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and the Maryland General Corporation Law.

 

Effective Date ” has the meaning given it in Section 22 .

 

Eligible Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2 .

 

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

 

Fair Market Value ” means with respect to Shares:

 

(i)          If the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, their Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for the Shares, or the mean between the high bid and low asked prices if no sales were reported, as quoted on such system or exchange (or, if the Shares are listed on more than one exchange, then on the largest such exchange) for the date the value is to be determined (or if there are no sales or bids for such date, then for the last preceding business day on which there were sales or bids), as reported in The Wall Street Journal .

 

(ii)         If the Shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, or if there is no secondary trading market for the Shares, their Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.

 

Grant Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a) .

 

Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option intended to meet the requirements of an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (or any statutory provision that may hereafter replace such section).

 

LTIP Unit ” means an LTIP unit as defined in the Partnership Agreement. An LTIP Unit granted under this Plan represents the right to receive the benefits, payments or other rights set forth in the Partnership Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement and the Partnership Agreement.

 

Nonqualified Stock Option ” means an Option which is not intended to, or which fails to, meet the requirements of an Incentive Stock Option.

 

Option ” means an option to purchase Shares granted under Section 8 .

 

Other Equity Awards ” means an Award granted under Section 12 .

 

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Participant ” means an Eligible Person who is granted an Award.

 

Partnership ” shall mean American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Partnership Agreement ” shall mean the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P, dated as of July 19, 2018, as amended and restated from time to time.

 

Partnership Unit shall have the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

 

Person ” means an individual, a corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any other entity.

 

Plan ” means this 2018 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan of American Finance Trust, Inc.

 

Restricted Shares ” means an Award of restricted shares granted under Section 6 .

 

Restricted Stock Unit ” or “ RSU ” means a contractual right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 7 representing notional unit interests equal in value to a Share to be paid or distributed at such times, and subject to such conditions, as set forth in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 adopted under Section 16(b) or any successor rule, as it may be amended from time to time, and references to paragraphs or clauses of Rule 16b-3 refer to the corresponding paragraphs or clauses of Rule 16b-3 as it exists at the Effective Date or the comparable paragraph or clause of Rule 16b-3 or successor rule, as that paragraph or clause may thereafter be amended.

 

Section 16(b) ” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

Section 409A of the Code ” means the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code and any applicable Treasury regulation or other official guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Shares ” means shares of stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share, including shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B-1 Common Stock, Class B-2 Common Stock and any other class of Common Stock subsequently designated and classified from time to time.

 

Stock Appreciation Right ” means the right to receive any excess in the Fair Market Value of a fixed number of Shares over a specified exercise price, granted under Section 9 .

 

Stock Right ” means an Award in the form of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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Stock Award ” means an Award of Shares that is not subject to restrictions or other forfeiture conditions.

 

Ten Percent Owner ” means a person who owns, or is deemed within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code to own, stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent or subsidiary corporations of the Company, as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code). Whether a person is a Ten Percent Owner shall be determined with respect to an Option based on the facts existing immediately prior to the Grant Date of the Option.

 

Termination ” means that a Participant has ceased, for any reason and with or without cause, to be an employee or Director of, or a consultant to, the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company. However, the term “Termination” shall not include (a) a transfer of a Participant from the Company to the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company or the Advisor or vice versa , or a transfer from any such Affiliate to another, (b) an employee ceasing to be an employee to the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company, but instead serving as a consultant to the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company or vice versa , or any such service conversion from any such Affiliate to another or (c) a leave of absence duly authorized by the Company unless the Board has provided otherwise.

 

SECTION 2.          ELIGIBLE PERSONS

 

Eligible Person ” means each natural person who, at or as of the Grant Date, is

 

(a)           a full-time employee of the Advisor, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company;

 

(b)           an officer of the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company;

 

(c)           a Director of the Company;

 

(d)           a director of the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company; or

 

(e)           someone whom the Board designates as eligible for an Award because the person:

 

(i)          performs bona fide consulting or advisory services for the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company pursuant to a written agreement (other than services in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction), and

 

(ii)         has a direct and significant effect on the financial development of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company,

 

shall be eligible to receive Awards hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only employees of the Company, and of any parent or subsidiary corporations of the Company, as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code, shall be eligible for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option.

 

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SECTION 3.          SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS PLAN

 

3.1             Total Number of Shares . The total number of Shares that may be issued or subject to Awards under this Plan shall not exceed 10.0% of the Company’s outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis at any time minus any Shares then issued or subject to outstanding awards under the Advisor Plan (the “ Share Limitation ”). The Share Limitation shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions for adjustment in Section 5 . If any Awards granted awarded under this Plan are forfeited for any reason, the number of forfeited Shares (including Shares associated with forfeited LTIP Units) shall again be available for purposes of granting Awards under this Plan. Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares held by the Company in its treasury.

 

3.2             Share Counting . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, for purposes of applying the Share Limitation, the following rules shall apply with respect to Awards under this Plan:

 

(a)            Any Award of an LTIP Unit shall count against the Share Limitation (and accordingly, shall reduce the remaining Shares available for grant) on a one-for-one basis (or such other Conversion Factor as determined in accordance with the Partnership Agreement at the time of grant). To the extent that LTIP Units are, following earning, vesting or satisfaction of any other conditions contained in the Award granting the LTIP Units, ultimately converted into, or exchanged or redeemed for, Shares pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement, only the initial number of LTIP Units granted (subject to adjustment under Section 5 ) shall count against the Share Limitation, and any subsequent conversions, exchanges or redemptions shall not count against the Share Limitation or otherwise reduce the Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(b)            Any Award under the Plan to the extent settled in cash shall not count against the Share Limitation (and accordingly, shall not reduce the remaining Shares available for grant);

 

(c)            If any Option or Share-settled Stock Appreciation Right expires, terminates, or is cancelled for any reason without having been exercised in full, or if any other Award is forfeited by the recipient, then the Shares underlying such Awards which expire or are terminated or forfeited by the recipient shall again be available for Awards to be granted under the Plan;

 

(d)            if any Option is exercised by delivering previously owned Shares in payment of the exercise price therefor, only the net number of Shares, that is, the number of Shares issued minus the number received by the Company in payment of the exercise price, shall be considered to have been issued pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan; and

 

(e)            any Shares either tendered or withheld in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations of the Company or an Affiliate shall again be available for issuance under the Plan.

 

None of the foregoing provisions of this Section 3 , nor the adjustment provisions of Section 5 , shall apply in determining the maximum number of Shares issued pursuant to or subject to outstanding Incentive Stock Options unless consistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, however.

 

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SECTION 4.          ADMINISTRATION

 

4.1             Administration . This Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

 

4.2             Committee’s Powers . Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion:

 

(a)           to adopt, amend and rescind administrative and interpretive rules and regulations relating to this Plan;

 

(b)           to determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted;

 

(c)           to determine the number of Shares that shall be the subject of each Award;

 

(d)           to determine the terms and provisions of each Award (which need not be identical) and any amendments thereto, including provisions defining or otherwise relating to:

 

(i)          the extent to which the transferability of Shares issued or transferred pursuant to any Award is restricted;

 

(ii)         the effect of Termination on an Award;

 

(iii)        the exercise price of a Stock Right;

 

(iv)        the effect of approved leaves of absence;

 

(v)         to construe the respective Award Agreements and this Plan;

 

(vi)        to make determinations of the Fair Market Value of Shares;

 

(vii)       to waive any provision, condition or limitation set forth in an Award Agreement;

 

(viii)      to delegate its duties under this Plan to such agents as it may appoint from time to time; and

 

(ix)         to make all other determinations, perform all other acts and exercise all other powers and authority necessary or advisable for administering this Plan, including the delegation of those ministerial acts and responsibilities as the Committee deems appropriate.

 

The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, in any Award or in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary or desirable to implement this Plan, and the Committee shall be the sole and final judge of that necessity or desirability. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Section 4.2 shall be final and conclusive.

 

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4.3           Term of Plan . No Awards shall be granted under this Plan after ten (10) years from the Effective Date of this Plan; provided that Awards granted prior to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date.

 

SECTION 5.         CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS

 

5.1           All Awards . All Awards shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement and subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a)            Grant Date . Each Award Agreement shall specify the date as of which it shall be effective (the “ Grant Date ”).

 

(b)           Vesting . Each Award shall vest, and any restrictions thereunder shall lapse, as the case may be, at such times and in such amounts as may be specified by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(c)            Nonassignability of Rights . Awards shall not be transferable other than with the consent of the Committee or the Board or by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(d)            Termination from the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company . The Committee shall establish, in respect of each Award when granted, the effect of a Termination on the rights and benefits thereunder and in so doing may, but need not, make distinctions based upon the cause of termination (such as retirement, death, disability or other factors) or which party effected the termination (the employer or the employee).

 

(e)            Minimum Purchase Price . Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if authorized but previously unissued Shares are issued under this Plan, such Shares shall not be issued for a consideration which is less than as permitted under Applicable Law, and in no event, shall such consideration be less than the par value per Share multiplied by the number of Shares to be issued.

 

(f)            Other Provisions . Each Award Agreement may contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with this Plan, as may be determined by the Committee.

 

5.2           Adjustment for Corporate Actions . All of the share numbers set forth in the Plan reflect the capital structure of the Company and the Partnership as of the Effective Date. If subsequent to the Effective Date the outstanding Shares or Partnership Units (or any other securities covered by the Plan by reason of the prior application of this Section) are increased, decreased, or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities, or if additional shares or new or different shares or other securities are distributed with respect to Shares or Partnership Units, as a result of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other similar distribution with respect to such Shares or Partnership Units, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment will be made in (i) the maximum numbers and kinds of Shares provided in Section 3 , (ii) the numbers and kinds of Shares, units or other securities subject to the then outstanding Awards, and (iii) the exercise price for each Share or other unit of any other securities subject to then outstanding Stock Rights (without change in the aggregate exercise price as to which such Stock Rights remain exercisable).

 

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5.3            Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events . In the event of any corporate action not specifically covered by the preceding Section, including but not limited to an extraordinary cash distribution on Shares, a corporate separation or other reorganization or liquidation, the Committee shall make such adjustment of outstanding Awards and their terms, if any, as it, in its sole discretion, may deem equitable and appropriate in the circumstances in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. The Committee shall make adjustments in the terms and conditions of and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in this Section) affecting the Company or the Partnership or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are equitable and appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

 

5.4            Related Matters . Any adjustment in Awards made pursuant to Section 5 shall be determined and made, if at all, by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, and shall include any correlative modification of terms, including of Stock Right exercise prices, rates of vesting or exercisability, and business objectives which the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate so as to ensure the rights of the Participants in their respective Awards are not substantially diminished nor enlarged as a result of the adjustment and corporate action other than as expressly contemplated in this Section 5 . The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that no fraction of a Share or Partnership Unit shall be purchasable or deliverable upon exercise, and in that event if any adjustment hereunder of the number of Shares covered by an Award would cause such number to include a fraction of a Share or Partnership Unit, such number of Shares shall be adjusted to the nearest smaller whole number of shares. No adjustment of a Stock Right exercise price per share pursuant to Sections 5 shall result in an exercise price which is less than the par value of the Share.

 

5.5            Change of Control . Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Committee may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Awards; provided , however , that none of the following shall apply, (A) in the case of any Award pursuant to an Award Agreement requiring other or additional terms upon a Change of Control (or similar event), or (B) if specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national securities exchanges:

 

(a)           provide that any and all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not already exercisable in full shall accelerate with respect to all or a portion of the Shares for which such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are not then exercisable; and

 

(b)           provide for immediate vesting of all or a portion of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and other Awards which are not fully vested immediately prior to the Change of Control;

 

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(c)           take one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Stock Rights:

 

(i)          provide that such Stock Rights shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent rights shall be provided in substitution therefore, by the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof).

 

(ii)         upon written notice to the holders, provide that the holders’ unexercised Stock Rights will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control unless, in the case of Stock Rights then exercisable, such Stock Rights are exercised within a specified period following the date of such notice.

 

(iii)        provide that outstanding Stock Rights shall become exercisable in whole or in part prior to or upon the Change of Control.

 

(iv)        provide for cash payments, net of applicable tax withholdings, to be made to holders equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the acquisition price times the number of Shares subject to the Stock Right (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the acquisition price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price for all such Shares subject to the Stock Right, in exchange for the termination of such Stock Right; provided, that if the acquisition price does not exceed the exercise price of any such Stock Right, the Committee may cancel that Stock Right without the payment of any consideration therefor prior to or upon the Change of Control. For this purpose, “ acquisition price ” means the amount of cash, and market value of any other consideration, received in payment for a Share surrendered in a Change of Control.

 

(v)         provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Stock Rights shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds net of the exercise price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings.

 

(vi)        any combination of the foregoing.

 

In taking any of the actions permitted under Section 5.6(c) , the Committee shall not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically. Any determinations required to carry out the foregoing provisions of Section 5.6(c) , including but not limited to the market value of other consideration received by holders of Shares or Partnership Units in a Change of Control and whether substantially equivalent rights have been substituted, shall be made by the Committee acting in its sole discretion. In connection with any action or actions taken by the Committee in respect of Awards and in connection with a Change of Control, the Committee may require such acknowledgements of satisfaction and releases from Participants as it may determine.

 

SECTION 6.         RESTRICTED SHARES

 

6.1             Grant . The Committee may grant one or more Awards of Restricted Shares to any Participant. Each Award of Restricted Shares shall specify the number of Shares to be issued to the Participant, the date of issuance and the restrictions imposed on the Shares including the conditions of release or lapse of such restrictions. Upon the issuance of Restricted Shares, the Participant may be required to furnish such additional documentation or other assurances as the Committee may require to enforce restrictions applicable thereto.

 

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6.2             Restrictions . Except as specifically provided elsewhere in this Plan or the Award Agreement regarding Restricted Shares, Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, either voluntarily or involuntarily, until the restrictions have lapsed and the rights to the Shares have vested. The Committee may in its sole discretion provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions, in whole or in part, based on service, performance or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine.

 

6.3             Dividends . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, cash dividends with respect to Restricted Shares shall be paid to the recipient of the Award of Restricted Shares on the normal dividend payment dates, and dividends payable in Shares shall be paid in the form of Restricted Shares having the same terms as the Restricted Shares upon which such dividend is paid. Each Award Agreement for Awards of Restricted Shares shall specify whether and, if so, the extent to which the Participant shall be obligated to return to the Company any cash dividends paid with respect to any Restricted Shares which are subsequently forfeited.

 

6.4             Forfeiture of Restricted Shares . Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, when a Participant’s Termination occurs, the Participant shall automatically forfeit all Restricted Shares still subject to restriction.

 

SECTION 7.         RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

7.1             Grant . The Committee may grant one or more Awards of RSUs to any Participant. Each Award of RSUs shall specify the number of RSUs granted to the Participant, the Grant Date and the restrictions imposed on the RSUs including the conditions of vesting or lapse of such restrictions. The value of each RSU is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the applicable date or time period of determination, as specified by the Committee.

 

7.2             Restrictions . Except as specifically provided elsewhere in this Plan or the Award Agreement regarding RSUs, RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The Committee may in its sole discretion provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions, in whole or in part, based on service, performance or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine.

 

7.3             Payment of Restricted Stock Units . RSUs shall become payable to a Participant at the time or times determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Award Agreement, which may be upon or following the vesting of the Award. Payment of a RSU may be made, as approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in cash or in Shares or in a combination thereof, subject to applicable tax withholding requirements. Any cash payment of a RSU shall be made based upon the Fair Market Value of the Shares, determined on such date or over such time period as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

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7.4             Dividend Equivalent Rights . RSUs may be granted together with a dividend equivalent right with respect to the Shares subject to the Award, which may be accumulated and may be deemed reinvested in additional RSUs or may be accumulated in cash, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, will be paid at the time the underlying RSU is payable. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, dividend equivalent rights shall be subject to forfeiture under the same conditions as apply to the underlying RSU.

 

7.5             Forfeiture of Restricted Shares . Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, when a Participant’s Termination occurs, the Participant shall automatically forfeit all RSUs still subject to restriction.

 

7.6             No Rights as Stockholder . The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to a RSU until such time as Shares are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.         OPTIONS

 

8.1             Grant . Options may be granted to eligible Participants in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine. The granting of an Option shall take place at the time specified in the Award Agreement. Only if expressly so provided in the applicable Award Agreement shall the Grant Date be the date on which the Award Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Participant. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

 

8.2             Exercise Price . The price at which Shares may be acquired under each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date, or not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date if the Participant is a Ten Percent Owner. The price at which Shares may be acquired under each Nonqualified Stock Option shall be equal to at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. Without approval of the Company’s stockholders, no Option may be repriced, replaced, regranted through cancellation, repurchased for cash or other consideration, or modified (except in connection with an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 ), in each case if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price for the Shares underlying the Option.

 

8.3             Option Period . No Incentive Stock Option may be exercised on or after the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date, or on or after the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date if the Participant is a Ten Percent Owner. The Option period under each Nonqualified Stock Option shall not exceed ten years from the Grant Date.

 

8.4             Exercisability . An Option may be immediately exercisable or become exercisable in such installments, cumulative or non-cumulative, as the Committee may determine. In the case of an Option not otherwise immediately exercisable in full, the Committee may accelerate such Option in whole or in part at any time; provided , however , that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, any such acceleration of the Option would not cause the Option to fail to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or the Participant consents to the acceleration.

 

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8.5             Method of Exercise . An Option may be exercised by a Participant giving written notice, in the manner provided in Section 20 , specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised. The notice shall be accompanied by payment in the form of cash or check payable to the order of the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of the Shares to be purchased or by one or more of the following methods, subject in each instance to the Committee’s approval, acting in its sole discretion, and to such conditions, if any, as the Committee may deem necessary to avoid adverse accounting effects to the Company:

 

(a)           by delivery to the Company of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price of the Shares to be purchased,

 

(b)           by surrender of the Option as to all or part of the Shares for which the Option is then exercisable in exchange for Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the difference between (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value of the surrendered portion of the Option, and (2) the aggregate exercise price under the Option for the surrendered portion of the Option, or

 

(c)           by delivery of any other lawful means of consideration which the Committee may approve.

 

If the Shares are traded on an established market, payment of any exercise price may also be made through and under the terms and conditions of any formal cashless exercise program authorized by the Company entailing the sale of Shares subject to an Option in a brokered transaction (other than to the Company). Receipt by the Company of such notice and payment in any authorized or combination of authorized means shall constitute the exercise of the Option. Within thirty (30) days thereafter but subject to the remaining provisions of the Plan, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Participant or his agent a certificate or certificates for the number of Shares then being purchased. Such Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

8.6             Limit on Incentive Stock Option Characterization . An Option shall be considered to be an Incentive Stock Option only to the extent that the number of Shares for which the Option first becomes exercisable in a calendar year do not have an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date of the grant of the Option) in excess of the “current limit”. The current limit for any Participant for any calendar year shall be $100,000 minus the aggregate Fair Market Value at the Grant Date of the number of Shares available for purchase for the first time in the same year under each other Incentive Stock Option previously granted to the Participant under the Plan, and under each other incentive stock option previously granted to the Participant under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company and its Affiliates. Any Shares which would cause the foregoing limit to be violated shall be deemed to have been granted under a separate Nonqualified Stock Option, otherwise identical in its terms to those of the Incentive Stock Option.

 

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8.7             Notification of Disposition . Each person exercising any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to have covenanted with the Company to report to the Company any disposition of the Shares issued upon such exercise prior to the expiration of the holding periods specified by Section 422(a)(l) of the Code and, if and to the extent that the realization of income in such a disposition imposes upon the Company federal, state, local or other withholding tax requirements, or any such withholding is required to secure for the Company an otherwise available tax deduction, to remit to the Company an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy those requirements.

 

8.8             Forfeiture of Options . Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, when a Participant’s Termination occurs, the Participant shall automatically forfeit all unvested Options.

 

8.9             No Rights as Stockholder . The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until such time as Shares are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.          STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

9.1             Grant . Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to eligible Participants in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option (at or, in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option, after, the award of the Option), or alone and unrelated to an Option. Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with an Option shall terminate to the extent that the related Option is exercised, and the related Option shall terminate to the extent that the tandem Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised.

 

9.2             Exercise Price . Stock Appreciation Rights shall have an exercise price of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of award, or in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with Options, the exercise price of the related Option. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to receive Shares or the cash equivalent thereof (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement), with an aggregate Fair Market Value determined by multiplying (i) the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right over the price determined by the Committee on the Grant Date times (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. Without approval of the Company’s stockholders, no Stock Appreciation Right may be repriced, replaced, re-granted through cancellation, repurchased for cash or other consideration, or modified (except in connection with an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 ), in each case if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price for the Shares underlying the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

9.3             Other Terms . Except as the Committee may deem inappropriate or inapplicable in the circumstances, Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to terms and conditions substantially similar to those applicable to a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

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9.4             No Rights as Stockholder . The Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right until such time as Shares are delivered to the Participant pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.        STOCK AWARDS

 

Shares may be granted to eligible Participants pursuant to Stock Awards (including awards of fully vested Shares or Shares granted in lieu of other compensation) in such number, and at such times during the term of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine. Any such Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Participant and the Company which shall specify the number of Shares subject to the Stock Award, any consideration therefor, any vesting or performance conditions or other restrictions (if any), and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

SECTION 11.        LTIP UNITS

 

An LTIP Unit is an Award of a Partnership Unit under the Plan pursuant to and in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, and which may be granted as freestanding awards or in tandem with other Awards under the Plan.  LTIP Units shall be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may determine, including, but not limited to, continued employment or service by the Participant, computation of financial metrics and/or the achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.

 

SECTION 12.        OTHER EQUITY AWARDS

 

The Committee may grant Other Equity Awards, which are Awards (other than those described in Sections 6 through 11 of the Plan) that are based on, measured by or payable in Shares to Participant, on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Equity Awards may be granted subject to the achievement of performance goals or other conditions. Other Equity Awards may be denominated in cash, Shares or other securities, in stock-equivalent units, in stock appreciation units, in securities or debentures convertible into Common Stock (including LTIP Units and other Partnership Units), or in any combination of the foregoing, and may be paid in cash, Shares or other securities, or in a combination of cash, Shares and other securities, all as determined by the Committee in the Award Agreement; provided, however , that the grant of LTIP Units must satisfy the requirements of the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the date of grant.

 

SECTION 13.       SECURITIES LAWS

 

Nothing in this Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall require the Company to issue any Shares with respect to any Award if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, that issuance could constitute a violation of any Applicable Laws. As a condition to the grant of any Award, the Company may require the Participant (or, in the event of the Participant’s death, the Participant’s legal representatives, heirs, legatees or distributees) to provide written representations concerning the Participant’s (or such other person’s) intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the Shares covered by the Award and written covenants as to the manner of disposal of such Shares as may be necessary or useful to ensure that the grant or disposition thereof will not violate the Securities Act, any other law or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association then in effect. The Company shall not be required to register any Shares under the Securities Act or register or qualify any Shares under any state or other securities laws.

 

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SECTION 14.       EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP

 

Nothing in this Plan or any Award shall in any way interfere with or limit the right of the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company to terminate any Participant’s employment or status as a consultant or Director at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or as a Director or consultant of, the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Company.

 

SECTION 15.       AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF THIS PLAN

 

The Board or the Committee may at any time amend, suspend or discontinue this Plan, provided that such amendment, suspension or discontinuance meets the requirements of Applicable Laws, including without limitation, any applicable requirements for stockholder approval. Notwithstanding the above, an amendment, suspension or discontinuation shall not be made if it would impair the rights of any Participant under any Award previously granted, without the Participant’s consent, except to conform this Plan and Awards granted to the requirements of Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Board or the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Board or the Committee may adopt such amendment to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions that the Board or the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate, without the consent of the Participant, to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Without approval of the Company’s stockholders, no Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be repriced, replaced, regranted through cancellation, repurchased for cash or other consideration, or modified (except in connection with an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 ), in each case if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price for the Shares underlying the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

SECTION 16.        LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF THE BOARD AND THE COMMITTEE

 

No person constituting, or member of the group constituting, the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any act or omission on such person’s part, including but not limited to the exercise of any power or discretion given to such member under this Plan, except for those acts or omissions resulting from such member’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company shall indemnify each present and future person constituting, or member of the group constituting, the Board or the Committee against, and each person or member of the group constituting the Board or the Committee shall be entitled without further act on his or her part to indemnity from the Company for, all expenses (including the amount of judgments and the amount of approved settlements made with a view to the curtailment of costs of litigation) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by law and by the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company.

 

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SECTION 17.        SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision of this Plan is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, that illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this Plan, but such provision shall be fully severable and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included in this Plan. Such an illegal or invalid provision shall be replaced by a revised provision that most nearly comports to the substance of the illegal or invalid provision. If any of the terms or provisions of this Plan or any Award Agreement conflict with the requirements of Applicable Laws, those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they conflict with Applicable Law.

 

SECTION 18.        SECTION 409A OF THE CODE

 

Although the Company does not guarantee to a Participant the particular tax treatment of an Award granted under the Plan, Awards granted under the Plan are intended to be exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award granted under the Plan constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” pursuant to Section 409A of the Code (a “ Section 409A Covered Award ”), it shall be paid in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on a Participant by Section 409A of the Code or any damages for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in an Award to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to Section 409A Covered Awards:

 

(a)          A termination of service shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of a Section 409A Covered Award providing for payment upon or following a termination of the Participant’s service unless such termination is also a “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of Section 409A Covered Award, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or an Award, if the Participant is deemed on the date of the Participant’s termination of service to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B) and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time, or if none, the default methodology set forth in Code Section 409A, then with regard to any such payment under a Section 409A Covered Award, to the extent required to be delayed in compliance with Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), such payment shall not be made prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service, and (ii) the date of the Participant’s death (the “ Delay Period ”). All payments delayed pursuant to this Section 18(a) shall be paid to the Participant on the first day of the seventh month following the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service or, if earlier, on the date of the Participant’s death.

 

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(b)          Whenever a payment under a Section 409A Covered Award specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days, the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

 

(c)          If under the Section 409A Covered Award an amount is to be paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Code Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.

 

SECTION 19.       WITHHOLDING

 

The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made to a Participant, or to otherwise require, prior to the issuance or delivery of any Shares or the payment of any cash hereunder, payment by the Participant of, any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld. Upon the vesting of any applicable Award, or upon making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, a Participant shall pay all required withholding to the Company. The Board may permit any such statutory withholding obligation with regard to any Participant to be satisfied by, to the extent applicable, reducing the number of Shares otherwise deliverable or by delivering Shares already owned.

 

SECTION 20.       NOTICES AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

 

Any notice, demand, request or other communication hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or duly sent by first class registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, or telecopied with a confirmation copy by regular, certified or overnight mail, addressed or telecopied, as the case may be, (a) if to the recipient of an Award, at his or her residence address last filed with the Company and (b) if to the Company, at its principal place of business, addressed to the attention of its Treasurer, or to such other address or telecopier number, as the case may be, as the addressee may have designated by notice to the addressor. All such notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been received: (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery; (ii) in the case of mailing, when received by the addressee; and (iii) in the case of facsimile transmission, when confirmed by facsimile machine report.

 

SECTION 21.       GOVERNING LAW

 

This Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflict of laws).

 

SECTION 22.       EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Plan was approved and adopted by the Board in the form set forth herein, effective at the listing of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on The Nasdaq on July 19, 2018 (the “ Effective Date ”).

 

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Exhibit 10.7

 

FORM OF

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the _____ day of _________, 2018, by and between American Finance Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and __________ (“Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves 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 such service either now or in the future; and

 

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity, the Company has agreed to indemnify Indemnitee 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, Indemnitee has certain rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses pursuant to an existing indemnification agreement, dated as of [___], by and between the Company and the Indemnitee (the “Prior Agreement”); and]

 

WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to [supersede and replace the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnification and advancement of expenses pursuant to the Prior Agreement in its entirety as of the Effective Date and] set forth the entirety of their agreement regarding indemnification and advance of expenses in this Agreement;

 

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) “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 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 directors then in office who were directors as of the Effective Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved.

  

(b) “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: (i) 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 (1) of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is or was owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (2) the management of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company and (ii) if, as a result of Indemnitee’s service to the Company or any of its affiliated entities, Indemnitee is subject to duties by, or required to perform services for, an employee benefit plan or its participants or beneficiaries, including as deemed fiduciary thereof.

 

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(c) “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.

 

(d) “Effective Date” means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

 

(e) “Expenses” means any and all reasonable and out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, arbitration and mediation 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, ERISA 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 for, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

 

(f) “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.

 

(g) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing, claim, demand or discovery request or any other actual, threatened or completed 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 [or if it would have been covered by the Prior Agreement] . 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 will serve in the capacity or capacities set forth in the first WHEREAS clause above. 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.

 

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. 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 the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), including, without limitation, Section 2-418 of the MGCL. However, should Maryland law as it exists on the Effective Date or as it may change in the future be deemed to provide less rights than those set forth in this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control the scope of the Indemnitee’s rights to advancement and indemnification, and nothing under Maryland law shall reduce the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder. 

 

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Section 4. Standard for Indemnification . Once Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, 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 by clear and convincing evidence 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 Indemnitee’s 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, in a final adjudication of the Proceeding not subject to further appeal, to be liable to the Company;

 

(b) indemnification hereunder if Indemnitee is adjudged, in a final adjudication of the Proceeding not subject to further appeal, 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 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 Company’s 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 without regard to any limitation on such court-ordered indemnification contemplated by Section 2-418(d)(2)(ii) of the MGCL.

 

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 Indemnitee’s 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, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee 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.

 

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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 Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding. In connection with any particular amount of advancement requested, Indemnitee (or a third party acting on Indemnitee’s behalf in providing services that are the subject of the specific advancement demand) shall provide a statement or statements requesting such advance, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding, including in the form of an invoice for services so long as the statement reasonably evidences the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall also provide with his or her first request for advancement a written affirmation by Indemnitee 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. Within 10 days of receiving the statement or statements requesting advancement, the Company shall, at Indemnitee’s reasonable discretion (but without duplication), make payment of such Expenses either directly to (a) third parties on behalf of Indemnitee or (b) Indemnitee, including in those instances where Indemnitee has made prior payment of such Expenses. 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 person, and to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be advanced 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. In connection with any such advance of Expenses, the Company may require Indemnitee to provide an affirmation and undertaking substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

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 or appropriate 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 has 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 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 has not occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors or by the majority vote of a group of Disinterested Directors designated by the Disinterested Directors to make the determination, (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 Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, 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 the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company, other than directors or officers who are parties to the Proceeding. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall make payment to Indemnitee 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 or appropriate 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.

 

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(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 overcoming 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.

 

(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 Section 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 Section 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 of the Company 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, or in an arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification or advance of Expenses. 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 Indemnitee’s 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.

 

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(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 that was not disclosed in connection with the determination.

 

(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 Indemnitee 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.

 

(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 Section 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) and 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 or delayed, 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 or delayed, 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 or delayed, 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 or delayed, 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 of the Company, 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 [; provided, however, that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses of the Indemnitee set forth in the Prior Agreement] . Unless consented to in writing by Indemnitee, no amendment, alteration or repeal of the charter or Bylaws of the Company, 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 Indemnitee’s 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 . (a) 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 Indemnitee’s 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 Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. In the event of a Change in Control, the Company shall maintain in force any and all directors and officers liability insurance policies that were maintained by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control for a period of six years with the insurance carrier or carriers and through the insurance broker in place at the time of the Change in Control; provided, however, (i) if the carriers will not offer the same policy and an expiring policy needs to be replaced, a policy substantially comparable in scope and amount shall be obtained and (ii) if any replacement insurance carrier is necessary to obtain a policy substantially comparable in scope and amount, such insurance carrier shall have an AM Best rating that is the same or better than the AM Best rating of the existing insurance carrier; provided, further, however, in no event shall the Company be required to expend in the aggregate in excess of 250% of the annual premium or premiums paid by the Company for directors and officers liability insurance in effect on the date of the Change in Control. In the event that 250% of the annual premium paid by the Company for such existing directors and officers liability insurance is insufficient for such coverage, the Company shall spend up to that amount to purchase such lesser coverage as may be obtained with such amount.

 

(b) Without in any way limiting any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any payment by Indemnitee which would otherwise be indemnifiable hereunder 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 Section 15(a). 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 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.

 

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(c) The Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Company or any insurance carrier of the Company with respect to any Proceeding.

 

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.

 

Section 17. Contribution . If the indemnification provided in this Agreement is unavailable in whole or in part and may not be paid to Indemnitee for any reason, other than for failure to satisfy the standard of conduct set forth in Section 4 or due to the provisions of Section 5, then, with respect to any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying and holding harmless Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, penalties, and/or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.

 

Section 18. 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 19. 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.

 

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(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.

 

Section 20. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, void, illegal or otherwise 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 21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, (delivery of which may be by facsimile, or via e-mail as a portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic format), each of which will be deemed to be an original, and it will not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement or the terms of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. One such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 22. 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 23. 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, unless otherwise expressly stated, shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 24. 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:

 

American Finance Trust, Inc.

405 Park Avenue, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: General Counsel

 

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.

 

Section 25. 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.

 

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[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.

  

  AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.

 

  By:  

  Name:
  Title:

 

  INDEMNITEE
   
   
  Name:
  Address:

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED

 

To: The Board of Directors of American Finance Trust, Inc.

 

Re: Affirmation and Undertaking

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This Affirmation and Undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement, dated the _____ day of __________, 2018, by and between American Finance Trust, 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, officer or 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 by the Company for 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 by clear and convincing evidence 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 or (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:

 

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Exhibit 14.1

 

AMERICAN FINANCE TRUST, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

 

As Adopted, effective on July 19, 2018

 

OVERVIEW

 

This Amended and Restated Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (this “ Code ”) of American Finance Trust, Inc. and its subsidiaries (referred to in this Code as the “ Company ”) sets forth the guiding principles by which we operate our company and conduct our daily business with our stockholders, customers, vendors and with each other. These principles apply to all of the directors, officers and employees, if any, of the Company (collectively, “ Covered Parties ”).

 

The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted this Code in order to promote:

 

· honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
· full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in the periodic reports required to be filed by the Company;
· compliance with applicable governmental rules and regulations; and
· accountability for adherence to this Code.

 

PRINCIPLES

 

Complying with Laws, Regulations, Policies and Procedures

 

All Covered Parties are expected to understand, respect and comply with all of the laws, regulations, policies and procedures that apply to them in their positions with the Company. Covered Parties are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the laws, regulations and Company policies applicable to them.

 

Directors, officers and employees are directed to specific policies and procedures available to them and to persons they supervise.

 

Insider Trading

 

No Covered Party who has access to confidential information may use or share that information for stock trading purposes or for any other purpose except the conduct of our business. All non-public information about the Company should be considered confidential information. To use non-public information for personal financial benefit or to “tip” others who might make an investment decision on the basis of this information is not only unethical but also illegal. You must always have any sales or acquisitions of the Company’s securities pre-approved by the Company’s general counsel. If you have any questions, please consult the Company’s general counsel.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

All Covered Parties should be scrupulous in avoiding any action or interest that conflicts with, or gives the appearance of a conflict with, the Company’s interests. A “conflict of interest” exists whenever an individual’s private interests interfere or conflict in any way (or even appear to interfere or conflict) with the interests of the Company. A conflict situation can arise when a Covered Party takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work for the Company objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise when a Covered Party or a member of his or her family receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position with the Company, whether from a third party or from the Company.

 

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Sometimes, conflicts of interest will develop accidentally or unexpectedly, and the appearance of a conflict of interest can also easily arise. If a Covered Party has, or becomes aware of, a conflict, actual or potential, the Covered Party should report such conflict to higher levels of management, the general counsel, the board of directors or the Company’s chief executive officer. Conflicts of interest may not always be clear-cut, so if a question arises, Covered Parties should consult with higher levels of management, the general counsel, the board of directors or the Company’s chief executive officer. Such communications will be kept confidential to the extent feasible.

 

Corporate Opportunity

 

Covered Parties are prohibited from (a) taking for themselves corporate opportunities that properly belong to the Company or are discovered through the use of corporate property, information or position; (b) using corporate property, information or position for personal gain; and (c) competing with the Company. Covered Parties owe a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises.

 

Confidentiality

 

Covered Parties must maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company, its service providers, its business partners and prospective business partners, except when disclosure is either expressly authorized by the Company or required by law. Confidential information includes all non-public information, including information that might be of use to competitors, or harmful to the Company or its business partners and prospective business partners, if disclosed, and information that the Company’s service providers, business partners and prospective business partners have entrusted to us. The Company expects that each Covered Party will preserve all such confidential information even after his or her employment or relationship with the Company ends. In some cases, disclosure of any such confidential information, even after termination of employment or relationship with the Company, may result in civil liability to the individual. All Covered Parties must, upon termination of employment or relationship with the Company, return all confidential information to the Company, including originals and copies, whether in electronic or hard copy.

 

Fair Dealing

 

The Company seeks to outperform its competition fairly and honestly. The Company seeks competitive advantages through superior performance, never through unethical or illegal business practices. Stealing proprietary information, possessing or utilizing trade secret information that was obtained without the owner’s consent or inducing such disclosures by past or present employees of other companies is prohibited.

 

Each Covered Party is expected to deal fairly with the Company’s tenants, brokers, competitors, officers and employees, if any. No one should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair dealing.

 

The purpose of business entertainment and gifts in a commercial setting is to create goodwill and sound working relationships, not to gain unfair advantage with customers. No gift or entertainment should ever be offered, given, provided or accepted by any Covered Party unless: (1) it is not a cash gift, (2) it is consistent with customary business practices, (3) there was a prior social relationship between the parties, (4) it is nominal in value, (5) the gift cannot be construed as a bribe or payoff and (6) it does not violate any laws or regulations. No tickets to events should be offered, given, provided or accepted by any Covered Party unless the party providing the tickets is present at such event or the tickets have been pre-approved by the Company’s chief executive officer. Any gifts that are substantial in nature (i.e., with a value of $250 or more, or of relative scarcity, including but limited to, gifts of tickets to major sporting or cultural events) must be pre-approved by the Company’s chief executive officer. Please discuss with the Company’s chief executive officer any gifts or proposed gifts which you are not certain are appropriate.

 

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Protection and Proper Use of the Company Assets

 

All Covered Parties should endeavor to protect the Company’s assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness, and waste have a direct impact on the Company’s profitability. Any suspected incident of fraud or theft should be immediately reported for investigation. Company equipment should not be used for non-Company business, though incidental personal use may be permitted.

 

The obligation of Covered Parties to protect the Company’s assets includes its proprietary information. Proprietary information includes intellectual property such as trademarks and copyrights, as well as business, marketing and service plans, databases, records, salary information and any unpublished financial data and reports. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information would violate Company policy and could also be illegal and result in civil or even criminal penalties.

 

Payments to Government Personnel

 

The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits giving anything of value, directly or indirectly, to officials of foreign governments or foreign political candidates in order to obtain or retain business. It is strictly prohibited to make illegal payments to government officials of any country.

 

In addition, the U.S. government has a number of laws and regulations regarding business gratuities which may be accepted by U.S. government personnel. The promise, offer or delivery to an official or employee of the U.S. government of a gift, favor or other gratuity in violation of these rules would not only violate Company policy but could also be a criminal offense. State and local governments, as well as foreign governments, may have similar rules. The Company’s general counsel can provide guidance to you in this area.

 

Public Company Reporting

 

As a public company, it is of critical importance that the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) be accurate, timely and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. A Covered Party may be called upon to provide necessary information to assure that the Company’s public reports are complete, fair and understandable. The Company expects Covered Parties to take this responsibility very seriously and to provide prompt accurate answers to inquiries related to the Company’s public disclosure requirements. However, no Covered Party should respond to inquiries regarding, or otherwise communicate to any outside party, results, forecasts or trends without the prior approval of the Company’s chief executive officer.

 

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Financial Statements and Other Records

 

All of the Company’s books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Company’s transactions and must both conform to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls. Unrecorded or “off the books” funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted by applicable law or regulation.

 

Records should always be retained or destroyed according to the Company’s record retention policies. In accordance with those policies, in the event of litigation or governmental investigation, please consult the board of directors.

 

Discrimination and Harassment

 

The diversity of the Company’s employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any discrimination or harassment of any kind.

 

Health and Safety

 

The Company strives to provide each Covered Party with a safe and healthful work environment. Each Covered Party has responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace by following safety and health rules and practices and reporting accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions.

 

Violence and threatening behavior are not permitted. Each Covered Party should report to work in condition to perform their duties, free from the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. The use of illegal drugs or alcohol in the workplace will not be tolerated.

 

REPORTING ILLEGAL OR UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR

 

Asking Questions and Voicing Concerns

 

This Code provides an overview of the legal and ethical responsibilities applicable to Covered Parties. Each Covered Party is responsible for upholding these responsibilities.

 

The standards and expectations outlined here are intended to guide such individuals in making the right choices. If any aspect of the Code is unclear, or if any individual has any questions or faces a situation that is not addressed herein, they should bring them to the Company’s attention. The Company recognizes that in some situations it is difficult to know right from wrong. Since this Code cannot anticipate every situation that will arise, it is important that the Company have a way to approach a new question or problem. Each Covered Party should keep the following steps and questions to keep in mind:

 

· Make sure you have all the facts . To reach the right solutions, we must be as fully informed as possible.

 

· Ask yourself : What specifically am I being asked to do? Does it seem unethical or improper? This will enable you to focus on the specific question you are faced with, and the alternatives you have. Use your judgment and common sense; if something seems unethical or improper, it probably is.

 

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· Clarify your responsibility and role . In most situations, there is shared responsibility. Are your colleagues informed? It may help to get others involved and discuss the problem.

 

· Discuss the problem with your supervisor . This is the basic guidance for all situations. In many cases, your supervisor will be more knowledgeable about the question, and will appreciate being brought into the decision-making process. Remember that it is your supervisor’s responsibility to help solve problems.

 

· Seek help from Company resources . In the rare case where it may not be appropriate to discuss an issue with your supervisor, or where you do not feel comfortable approaching your supervisor with your question, discuss it:

 

o First , by reporting to the Company’s general counsel at 1 (844) 400-9477. All submissions will be reviewed by the Company’s general counsel and chairman of the audit committee.

 

o Second , with any applicable chief risk officer.

 

o Third , if your conversation with such chief risk officer is not satisfactory, with the chairman of the audit committee.

 

· Seek help from the Company resources online . The Company has established a secure website using openboard.info, which is available http:// ir.americanfinancetrust.com/governance/documents-and-charters. The website is hosted by a third-party vendor on secure servers. You may make a report by following the link on that website; that report will be monitored by the Company’s general counsel and brought to the attention of the chairman of the audit committee.

 

· Always ask first, act later . If you are unsure of what to do in any situation, seek guidance before you act.

 

Duty to Report

 

Any Covered Party who suspects or knows of violations of this Code or illegal or unethical business or workplace conduct by a Covered Party has a duty to report it immediately. Each person is encouraged to report such conduct to a supervisor or superior, but if the individuals to whom such information is conveyed are not responsive, or if there is reason to believe that reporting to such individuals is inappropriate in particular cases, then the Covered Party may contact the chief risk officer or general counsel of the Company. Such communications will be kept in confidence to the extent appropriate or permitted by law. If the Covered Party is still not satisfied with the response, he or she may contact the chairman of the audit committee or any of the other members of the audit committee. While Covered Parties are encouraged to use the Company’s internal reporting system outlined, above, in all cases, they may directly report such violations outside the Company to appropriate authorities in accordance with law.

 

The Company’s policy is to comply with all applicable financial reporting and accounting regulations. If any Covered Party has unresolved concerns or complaints regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters of the Company, then he or she is encouraged to submit those concerns or complaints (anonymously, confidentially or otherwise) to the Company’s general counsel at 1 (844) 400-9477. Subject to its legal duties, the Company’s general counsel and chairman of the audit committee will treat such submissions confidentially. Such submissions may be directed to the attention of the Company’s audit committee, any director who is a member of the Company’s audit committee or the general counsel.

 

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Each Covered Party who is involved in the Company’s periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC, including all financial statements and other financial information, must comply with applicable federal securities laws and SEC regulations. Each Covered Party who is involved in the Company’s public disclosure process must: (a) be familiar with and comply with the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting; and (b) take all necessary steps to ensure that all filings with the SEC and all other public communications about the financial and business condition of the Company provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure.

 

As noted above, the Company has made a telephone hotline available for reporting illegal or unethical behavior as well as questionable accounting or auditing matters and other accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters on a confidential, anonymous basis. Please call the general counsel of the Company at 1 (844) 400-9477 to report such matters anonymously. Any concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters reported to this hotline will be reviewed by the Company’s general counsel and communicated directly to the chairman of the audit committee.

 

When reporting a concern, an individual should supply sufficient information so that the matter may be investigated properly. As the ultimate objective of any investigation is to uncover the truth, any Covered Party who is found to have lied during an internal investigation will be subject to appropriate discipline, which could include immediate termination without compensation for that act of dishonesty. Full cooperation is expected both from anyone who is suspected or accused of improper conduct and from anyone who makes accusations against somebody else. Any information provided by a Covered Party will be handled in a confidential manner to the greatest extent possible. Moreover, as described below, the Company prohibits retaliation for reporting illegal or unethical behavior.

 

Any person involved in any investigation in any capacity of a possible misconduct must not discuss or disclose any information to anyone outside of the investigation unless required or permitted by law or when seeking his or her own legal advice, and is expected to cooperate fully in any investigation.

 

Any use of these reporting procedures in bad faith or in a false or frivolous manner will be considered a violation of this Code. Further, these reporting methods should not be used for personal grievances not involving this Code.

 

Non-Retaliation

 

The Company prohibits retaliation of any kind against individuals who have made good faith reports or complaints of violations of this Code or other known or suspected illegal or unethical conduct. Specifically, the Company will not discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against an individual for lawfully reporting internally or to appropriate authorities, or providing information or assistance in an investigation regarding misconduct. Any Covered Party who retaliates against another Covered Party for reporting known or suspected violations of legal or ethical obligations will be in violation of this Code and subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. Such retaliation may also be a violation of the law, and as such, could subject both the individual offender and the Company to legal liability.

 

AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

 

This Code may be amended or modified by the board of directors of the Company, after receiving appropriate recommendation from any relevant committee, as appropriate. Only the board of directors (or a committee of the board of directors with specific delegated authority) may grant waivers of this Code. Any waivers will be promptly disclosed as required by law or stock exchange regulation.

 

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VIOLATIONS

 

Violation of this Code is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Such action is in addition to any civil or criminal liability which might be imposed by any court or regulatory agency.

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

THE PLAN

 

This Amended and Restated Distribution Reinvestment Plan of American Finance Trust, Inc. (the “Plan”) has been adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, effective as of July 19, 2018. In the Plan, the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to American Finance Trust, Inc., a Maryland real estate investment trust, and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including American Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., its operating partnership. In the Plan, the term “Common Shares” refers, collectively, to all three classes of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per shares: Class A common stock, Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common stock. In the Plan, the term “Class A Common Shares” refers to shares of Class A common stock, which is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “AFIN.” The shares of Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common stock will not be listed on Nasdaq. Shares of Class B-1 common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock to be listed on Nasdaq no later than October 17, 2018, 90 days following the date our Class A common stock is listed on Nasdaq, and Class B-2 common stock, which will automatically convert into Class A common stock to be listed on Nasdaq no later than January 15, 2019, 180 days following the date our Class A common stock is listed on Nasdaq. Each share of Class B-1 common stock and Class B-2 common stock will otherwise be identical to each share of Class A common stock in all other respects, including the right to vote on matters presented to the Company’s stockholders, and shares of all classes of common stock are expected to receive the same distributions. In the Plan, the term “distributions” refers to ordinary distributions or dividends, as authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors and declared by the Company on a regular, monthly or quarterly, basis, and payable to all holders of our Class A, Class B-1 or Class B-2 common stock.

 

The following questions and answers explain and constitute the Plan. Stockholders who do not participate in the Plan will receive cash distributions, as declared, and paid in the usual manner.

 

PURPOSE

 

1. What is the purpose of the Plan?

 

The primary purpose of the Plan is to provide eligible holders of Common Shares (“Participants”) with a convenient and simple method of increasing their investment in the Company by investing cash distributions in additional shares of Class A Common Stock (“Class A Common Shares”) without paying any fees, to the extent Class A Common Shares are purchased directly from the Company. See Question 5 for a description of the holders who are eligible to participate in the Plan. Class A Common Shares purchased under the Plan may, at the option of the Company, be directly issued by the Company or purchased by the Company’s transfer agent in the open market using Participants’ funds. To the extent Class A Common Shares are purchased from the Company under the Plan, it will receive additional funds for general corporate and working capital purposes. The Company reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation in the Plan by otherwise eligible holders of Class A Common Shares in order to eliminate practices which are, in the sole discretion of the Company, not consistent with the purposes or operation of the Plan or which adversely affect the price of the Class A Common Shares.

 

OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPANTS

 

2. What options are available to enrolled Participants?

 

Commencing with the distribution payable on or before the close of business on August 3, 2018 to stockholders of record at the close of business on each day during the period from July 1, 2018 to July 18, 2018 (the “July Pre-Listing Distribution”), Participants may elect to have cash distributions paid on all or a portion of their Common Shares automatically reinvested in additional Class A Common Shares. Cash distributions are paid on the Common Shares when, if and as authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors and declared by the Company. Subject to the availability of Class A Common Shares registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for issuance under the Plan, there is no minimum limitation on the amount of distributions a Participant may reinvest under the distribution reinvestment feature of the Plan.

 

 

 

 

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

 

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Plan?

 

Advantages:

 

A.    The Plan provides Participants with the opportunity to reinvest cash distributions paid on all or a portion of their Common Shares in additional Class A Common Shares without paying any fees to the extent Class A Common Shares are purchased directly from the Company.

 

B.    Subject to the availability of Class A Common Shares registered for issuance under the Plan, all cash distributions paid on Participants’ Common Shares can be fully invested in additional Class A Common Shares. The Plan permits fractional shares to be credited to Plan accounts. Distributions on fractional shares, as well as on whole shares, will also be reinvested in additional shares which will be credited to Plan accounts.

 

C.      The plan administrator, DST Systems Inc. (the “Plan Administrator”), at no charge to Participants, provides for the safekeeping of the Class A Common Shares credited to each Plan account.

 

D.      Periodic statements reflecting all current activity, including share purchases and the latest Plan account balance, simplify record-keeping for each Participant. See Question 17 for information concerning reports to Participants.

 

Disadvantages:

 

E.     No interest will be paid by the Company or the Plan Administrator on distributions held pending reinvestment. See Question 11.

 

F.     Resales of Class A Common Shares credited to a Participant’s account under the Plan will involve a nominal fee per transaction paid to the Plan Administrator (if resale is made by the Plan Administrator at the request of a Participant), a per share processing fee and any applicable share transfer taxes on the resales. See Questions 16 and 21.

 

G.      Prospective investors in Class A Common Shares should carefully consider the matters described under “Risk Factors” in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) incorporated by reference, and other similar statements contained in the Plan and the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference herein and therein prior to making an investment in the Class A Common Shares.

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

4. Who administers the Plan?

 

DST Systems Inc., which we refer to as the Plan Administrator, administers the Plan. As agent for the Participants, the Plan Administrator keeps records, sends statements of account to Participants and performs other duties relating to the Plan. See Question 17 for information concerning reports to Participants. The Company pays all costs of administering the Plan. Class A Common Shares purchased under the Plan are issued in the name of the Plan Administrator or its nominee, as agent for the Participants. As record holder of the shares held in Participants’ accounts under the Plan, the Plan Administrator will receive distributions on all shares held by it on the applicable record date, will credit distributions to each Participant’s account on the basis of whole and fractional shares held in these accounts, and will reinvest certain distributions in Class A Common Shares as directed by each Participant. The Plan Administrator makes all purchases of Class A Common Shares under the Plan.

 

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The Plan Administrator also acts as distribution disbursing agent, transfer agent and registrar for the Common Shares. The Plan Administrator may be reached at the following address and telephone number to obtain information about the Plan:

 

DST Systems Inc.
Attention: Distribution Reinvestment Plan of American Finance Trust, Inc.

430 W. 7 th St.
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407
(844) 411-4272

 

Participants should include their account number(s) and include a reference to the Company in any correspondence.

 

You can obtain information about your account over the Internet through “Investor Center Access” on the Company’s website, http://ir.americanfinancetrust.com/resources/contact-ir . The information on or linked to the Company’s website is not a part of and is not incorporated by reference into this Plan.

 

In the event that the Plan Administrator resigns or otherwise ceases to act as plan administrator, the Company will appoint a new plan administrator to administer the Plan and will promptly provide notice as described in Question 29.

 

PARTICIPATION

 

For purposes of this section, responses will generally be based upon the method by which the holder holds his or her Common Shares. Generally, holders are either Record Owners or Beneficial Owners. A “Record Owner” is a holder who owns Common Shares in his or her own name. A “Beneficial Owner” is a holder who beneficially owns Common Shares that are registered in a name other than his or her own name (for example, the shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee). A Record Owner may participate directly in the Plan, whereas a Beneficial Owner will have to either become a Record Owner by having one or more shares transferred into his or her own name or coordinate his or her participation in the Plan through the broker, bank or other nominee in whose name the Beneficial Owner’s shares are held. If a Beneficial Owner who desires to become a Participant encounters any difficulties in coordinating his or her participation in the Plan with his or her broker, bank or other nominee, he or she should call the Company’s Investor Relations Department at (866) 902-0063.

 

5. Who is eligible to participate?

 

All Record Owners or Beneficial Owners of at least one Common Share are eligible to participate in the Plan. A Record Owner may participate directly in the Plan. A Beneficial Owner must either become a Record Owner by having one or more shares transferred into his or her own name or arrange with the broker, bank or other nominee who is the record holder to participate on his or her behalf. See Question 7.

 

To facilitate participation by Beneficial Owners, the Company has made arrangements with the Plan Administrator to reinvest distributions, on a per distribution basis, under the Plan by record holders such as brokers, banks and other nominees, on behalf of beneficial owners. See Question 7.

 

The Company may terminate, by written notice, at any time any Participant’s individual participation in the Plan if its participation would be in violation of the restrictions contained in the Company’s charter or bylaws. These restrictions generally prohibit any person or group of persons from acquiring or holding, directly or indirectly, ownership of a number of shares of stock of any class or series of shares of stock of the Company if the purchase would violate the provisions of the Company’s charter that no person or entity may own, or be deemed to own, by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of our outstanding shares of stock or more than 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of our shares of stock, or violate any of the other share ownership and transfer restrictions imposed by the Company’s charter.

 

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6. How does an eligible stockholder or interested new investor participate?

 

Record Owners may join the Plan by completing and signing the enrollment form that may be obtained from the Plan Administrator (the “Enrollment Form”) and returning it to the Plan Administrator. Enrollment Forms may be obtained at any time by written request to DST Systems Inc., Attention: Distribution Reinvestment Plan of American Finance Trust, Inc., 430 W. 7 th St., Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 or by telephoning the Plan Administrator at (844) 411-4272. Record Owners may also join the Plan by going to the Company’s web site, www.americanfinancetrust.com , and downloading the Enrollment Form.

 

Beneficial Owners who wish to join the Plan must instruct their broker, bank or other nominee to complete and sign the Enrollment Form included with the Plan. The broker, bank or other nominee will forward the completed Enrollment Form to its securities depository and the securities depository will provide the Plan Administrator with the information necessary to allow the Beneficial Owner to participate in the Plan.

 

If a Record Owner or the broker, bank or other nominee on behalf of a Beneficial Owner submits a properly executed Enrollment Form without electing an investment option, the Enrollment Form will be deemed to indicate the intention of the Record Owner or Beneficial Owner, as the case may be, to apply all cash distributions toward the purchase of additional Class A Common Shares. See Question 8 for investment options.

 

7.        Do Participants in the Plan prior to July 19, 2018, when the Company listed Class A Common Shares on Nasdaq and this Plan became effective, need to do anything to continue to be Participants?

 

No. If you were a participant in the Plan prior to July 19, 2018, when the Company listed Class A Common Shares on Nasdaq and this Plan became effective, you will remain a Participant in the Plan without submitting an Enrollment Form unless and until you terminate your participation in accordance with Questions 20 and 21.

 

8. What does the Enrollment Form provide?

 

The Enrollment Form appoints the Plan Administrator as agent for the Participant and directs the Company to pay to the Plan Administrator each Participant’s cash distributions on all or a specified percentage of Common Shares owned by the Participant on the applicable record date (“Participating Shares”), as well as on all whole and fractional Class A Common Shares credited to a Participant’s Plan account (“Plan Shares”). The Enrollment Form directs the Plan Administrator to purchase on the Investment Date (as defined in Question 11) additional Class A Common Shares with distributions paid on Participating Shares. Distributions will continue to be reinvested on the percentage of Participating Shares and on all Plan Shares until the Participant specifies otherwise by contacting the Plan Administrator, withdraws from the Plan (see Questions 20 and 21), or the Plan is terminated. See Question 7 for additional information about the Enrollment Form.

 

The Enrollment Form provides for the purchase of additional Class A Common Shares through the following investment options:

 

A.       If the “Full Distribution Reinvestment” option is elected, the Plan Administrator will apply all cash distributions on all Common Shares then or subsequently registered in the Participant’s name, and all cash distributions on all Plan Shares, toward the purchase of additional Class A Common Shares.

 

B.       If the “Partial Distribution Reinvestment” option is elected, the Plan Administrator will apply the cash distributions on a specified percentage of the Participant’s Common Shares to purchase additional Class A Common Shares. The Plan Administrator will pay the Participant cash distributions on the remaining Common Shares, when and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

Each Participant may select either one of these options. If a Participant returns a properly executed Enrollment Form to the Administrator without electing an investment option, the Participant will be enrolled as having selected Full Distribution Reinvestment.

 

Participants may change their investment options at any time by contacting the Plan Administrator by telephone or in writing as indicated in Question 32. See Question 11 for the effective date for any change in investment options.

 

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9. Is partial participation possible under the Plan?

 

Yes. Record Owners or the broker, bank or other nominee for Beneficial Owners may designate on the Enrollment Form a percentage of Common Shares for which distributions are to be reinvested. Distributions will thereafter be reinvested only on the percent of Common Shares specified, and the Record Owner or Beneficial Owner, as the case may be, will continue to receive cash distributions on the remainder of the shares. See Question 8.

 

10. When may an eligible stockholder or interested new investor join the Plan?

 

A Record Owner or Beneficial Owner may join the Plan at any time. Once in the Plan, a Participant remains in the Plan until he or she withdraws from the Plan, the Company terminates his or her participation in the Plan or the Company terminates the Plan. See Question 21 regarding withdrawal from the Plan.

 

11. When will distributions be reinvested?

 

Purchases of Class A Common Shares under the Plan will be made on the “Investment Date” in each month. The Investment Date with respect to Class A Common Shares acquired directly from the Company and relating to a distribution reinvestment will be no later than five business days following the record date for the distribution (unless that day is not a business day in which case it is the first business day immediately thereafter). The Investment Date with respect to Class A Common Shares purchased in the open market will be no later than ten business days following the distribution payment date.

 

At the time the Plan Administrator makes open market purchases, the purchases may be made on any securities exchange where the shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or by negotiated transactions, and may be subject to terms with respect to price, delivery and other matters as agreed to by the Plan Administrator. Neither the Company nor any Participant will have any authorization or power to direct the time or price at which Class A Common Shares will be purchased or the selection of the broker or dealer through or from whom purchases are to be made by the Plan Administrator. However, at the time the Plan Administrator makes open market purchases, the Plan Administrator will use its reasonable best efforts to purchase the Class A Common Shares at the lowest possible price.

 

If the Enrollment Form is received prior to the record date for a distribution payment, the election to reinvest distributions will begin with that distribution payment. If the Enrollment Form is received on or after any record date, reinvestment of distributions will begin following the next record date if the Participant is still a stockholder of record. Record dates for payment of distributions normally precede payment dates by approximately one to two weeks.

 

Class A Common Shares will be allocated and credited to Participants’ accounts as follows: (1) Class A Common Shares purchased from the Company will be allocated and credited as of the appropriate Investment Date; and (2) Class A Common Shares purchased in market transactions will be allocated and credited as of the date on which the Plan Administrator completes the purchases of the aggregate number of Class A Common Shares to be purchased on behalf of all Participants with distributions to be reinvested during the month.

 

NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON CASH DISTRIBUTIONS PENDING REINVESTMENT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PLAN.

 

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PURCHASES AND PRICES OF SHARES

 

12. What will be the price to Participants of Class A Common Shares purchased under the Plan?

 

The price per Class A Common Share acquired directly from the Company will be 100% (subject to change) of the average of the high and low sales prices, computed to three decimal places, of the Class A Common Shares on Nasdaq on the Investment Date (as defined in Question 11), or if no trading occurs in the Class A Common Shares on the Investment Date, the average of the high and low sales prices for the first trading day immediately preceding the Investment Date for which trades are reported.

 

The price per Class A Common Share acquired through open market purchases with reinvested distributions will be the weighted average of the actual prices paid, computed to three decimal places, for all of the Class A Common Shares purchased by the Plan Administrator with all Participants’ reinvested distributions for the related quarter. Additionally, each Participant will be charged a per share processing fee (currently $0.03 per share) paid by the Plan Administrator in connection with these open market purchases. Per share processing fees include any brokerage commissions the Plan Administrator is required to pay. (If a Participant desires to opt out of the distribution reinvestment feature of the Plan when the Class A Common Shares relating to distribution reinvestments will be purchased in the open market, a Participant must notify the Plan Administrator no later than the record date for the related distribution payment date. For information as to the source of the Class A Common Shares to be purchased under the Plan see Question 15).

 

Neither the Company nor any Participant will have any authorization or power to direct the time or price at which Class A Common Shares will be purchased or the selection of the broker or dealer through or from whom purchases are to be made by the Plan Administrator. However, at the time the Plan Administrator makes open market purchases, the Plan Administrator will use its best efforts to purchase the Class A Common Shares at the lowest possible price.

 

All references in the Plan to the “Market Price” when it relates to distribution reinvestments which will be reinvested in Class A Common Shares acquired directly from the Company means the average of the high and low sales prices, computed to three decimal places, of the Class A Common Shares on Nasdaq on the Investment Date, or if no trading occurs in the Common Shares on the Investment Date, the average of the high and low sales prices for the first Trading Day immediately preceding the Investment Date for which trades are reported. With respect to distribution reinvestments which will be reinvested in Class A Common Shares purchased in the open market, “Market Price” means the weighted average of the actual prices paid, net of commissions, computed to three decimal places, for all of the Class A Common Shares purchased by the Plan Administrator with all Participants’ reinvested distributions for the related quarter.

 

13. What are the Record Dates and Investment Dates for distribution reinvestment?

 

For the reinvestment of distributions, the “Record Date” is the record date declared by the Company for the distribution. The Investment Date with respect to Class A Common Shares acquired directly from the Company will be no later than five business days following the record date (unless that day is not a business day in which case it is the first business day immediately thereafter and except with respect to the July Pre-Listing Distribution for which the Investment Date will be a day within seven days of the payment date). The Investment Date with respect to Class A Common Shares purchased in open market transactions will be no later than ten business days following the distribution payment date. Distributions will be reinvested on the Investment Date using the applicable Market Price (as defined in Question 12). Generally, record dates for monthly distributions on the Class A Common Shares will precede the distribution payment dates by approximately one to two weeks.

 

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14. How will the number of shares purchased for a Participant be determined?

 

A Participant’s account in the Plan will be credited with the number of Class A Common Shares, including fractions computed to three decimal places, equal to the total amount to be invested on behalf of the Participant divided by the purchase price per share as calculated pursuant to the methods described in Question 12, as applicable. The total amount to be invested will depend on the amount of any distributions paid on the number of Participating Shares and Plan Shares in the Participant’s Plan account and available for investment on the related Investment Date. Subject to the availability of Class A Common Shares registered for issuance under the Plan, there is no total maximum number of shares available for issuance pursuant to the reinvestment of distributions.

 

15. What is the source of Class A Common Shares purchased under the Plan?

 

Plan Shares will be purchased either directly from the Company, in which event these shares will be authorized but unissued shares, or on the open market, or by a combination of the foregoing, at the option of the Company, after a review of current market conditions and the Company’s current and projected capital needs. Except with respect to the July Pre-Listing Distribution, the Company will determine the source of the Class A Common Shares to be purchased under the Plan at least three business days prior to the relevant Record Date and will notify the Plan Administrator of this determination. Neither the Company nor the Plan Administrator will be required to provide any written notice to Participants as to the source of the Class A Common Shares to be purchased under the Plan, but current information regarding the source of the Class A Common Shares may be obtained by contacting the Company’s Investor Relations Department at (866) 902-0063.

 

16. Are there any expenses to Participants in connection with their participation under the Plan?

 

Participants will have to pay a service charge and processing fees to sell Plan shares. See Question 21 for more information. Participants will incur no fees in connection with the reinvestment of distributions when Class A Common Shares are acquired directly from the Company. Each Participant will be charged a per share processing fee (currently $0.03 per share) paid by the Plan Administrator for Class A Common Shares acquired through open market purchases. The Company will pay all other costs of administration of the Plan. All per share processing fees include any brokerage commissions the Plan Administrator is required to pay.

 

REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS

 

17. What kind of reports will be sent to Participants in the Plan?

 

Each Participant in the Plan will receive a statement of his, her or its account following each purchase of additional Class A Common Shares. These statements are Participants’ continuing record of the cost of their purchases and should be retained for income tax purposes. Specific cost basis information will be included in each Participant’s statement in accordance with applicable law. In addition, Participants will receive copies of other communications sent to holders of Common Shares, including the Company’s annual report to its stockholders, notice of annual meeting and proxy statement in connection with the Company’s annual meetings of stockholders and Internal Revenue Service information for reporting distributions paid.

 

DISTRIBUTIONS ON FRACTIONS

 

18. Will Participants be credited with distributions on fractions of shares?

 

Yes.

 

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CERTIFICATES FOR CLASS A COMMON SHARES

 

19. Will certificates be issued for Class A Common Shares purchased?

 

Unless your shares are held by a broker, bank or other nominee, we will register Class A Common Shares that we purchase for your account under the Plan in your name. We will credit these shares to your Plan account in “book-entry” form. This service protects against the loss, theft or destruction of certificates representing Class A Common Shares.

 

WITHDRAWALS AND TERMINATION

 

20. When may Participants withdraw from the Plan?

 

A Participant may withdraw from the Plan with respect to all or a portion of the Common Shares held in his or her account in the Plan at any time. If the request to withdraw is received prior to a distribution record date set by the Company’s Board of Directors for determining stockholders of record entitled to receive a distribution, the request will be processed on the day following receipt of the request by the Plan Administrator.

 

If the request to withdraw is received by the Plan Administrator near a distribution record date, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may either pay the distribution in cash or reinvest it in shares for the Participant’s account. The request for withdrawal will then be processed as promptly as possible following the distribution payment date, less any applicable fees. All distributions subsequent to the Investment Date will be paid in cash unless a stockholder re-enrolls in the Plan, which may be done at any time.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator must receive written notice of your withdrawal from the Plan by July 27, 2018 for the withdrawal to be effective prior to paying the July 2018 Distributions.

 

21. How does a Participant withdraw from the Plan or sell shares in his or her Plan account?

 

A Participant may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving telephone or written instructions to the Plan Administrator. Upon closing a Plan account, the Participant will receive a check for the cash value of any fractional Common Share. The value of that check for fractional Common Shares will be based on the then current trading price of the Class A Common Shares, less any service and processing fees.

 

Upon withdrawal from the Plan, a Participant may also request that the Plan Administrator sell all or part of the Class A Common Shares credited to his or her account in the Plan by a market order. A market order is a request to sell Class A Common Shares at the market price. Market order sales are only available by calling the Plan Administrator directly at (844) 411-4272. Market order sale requests received by telephone will be placed within one market day after receipt. Depending on the number of Class A Common Shares being sold and current trading volume in the Class A Common Shares, a market order may only be partially filled or not filled at all on the trading day in which it is placed, in which case the order, or remainder of the order, as applicable, will be cancelled at the end of the day. To determine if Class A Common Shares were sold, a Participant should check his or her account online through “Investor Center Access” on the Company’s website, http://ir.americanfinancetrust.com/resources/contact-ir , or call the Plan Administrator directly at (844) 411-4272. If a Participant’s market order sale was not filled and he or she still wants the Class A Common Shares to be sold, the Participant will need to re-enter the sale request. The price will be the market price of the sale obtained by the Plan Administrator’s broker, less a service fee of $20 per order and a processing fee of $0.03 per Class A Common Share sold. Fees are deducted from the proceeds derived from the sale.

 

Sale proceeds are normally paid by check and distributed within one business day after settlement of the sale transaction. All per share processing fees include any brokerage commissions the Plan Administrator is required to pay.

 

The Plan Administrator may, under certain circumstances, require a transaction request to be submitted in writing. Participants should contact the Plan Administrator to determine if there are any limitations applicable to a particular sale request. The Plan Administrator also reserves the right to decline to process a sale if it determines, in its sole discretion, that supporting legal documentation is required. In addition, no one will have any authority or power to direct the time or price at which Class A Common Shares for the Plan are sold, and no one, other than Plan Administrator will select the broker(s) or dealer(s) through or from whom sales are to be made.

 

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22. Are there any automatic termination provisions?

 

THE COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, SUSPEND OR TERMINATE PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN BY OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE PRACTICES WHICH ARE, IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY, NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES OR OPERATION OF THE PLAN OR WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE CLASS A COMMON SHARES.

 

CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO PLAN PARTICIPANTS

 

23. What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of participation in the Plan?

 

The following summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations to current stockholders who participate in the Plan. Stockholders should read the discussion under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the prospectus related to the Plan for a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations related to the ownership of Class A Common Shares.

 

The following summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. This discussion is based on an interpretation of the Code, Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code (the “Treasury Regulations”) and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as in effect as of the date of the Plan, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to Participants subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws and does not discuss any state, local or foreign tax consequences associated with participation in the Plan.

 

EACH PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE PLAN IS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HIM OR HER, IN LIGHT OF HIS OR HER SPECIFIC OR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES, OF PARTICIPATING IN THE PLAN, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PARTICIPATION AND OF POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS.

 

In the case of Class A Common Shares purchased by the Plan Administrator pursuant to the Plan, whether purchased from the Company or in the open market, Participants will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having received, on the distribution payment date, a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of the cash distribution that was reinvested.

 

That distribution will be taxable as a dividend to the extent of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. To the extent the distribution is in excess of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated first as a tax-deferred return of capital, reducing the tax basis in a Participant’s shares, and to the extent it exceeds a Participant’s tax basis will be treated as gain realized from the sale of the Participant’s shares.

 

A Participant’s holding period for Class A Common Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan will begin on the day following the Investment Date. A Participant will have a tax basis in the Class A Common Shares equal to the amount of cash used to purchase the Class A Common Shares.

 

A Participant will not realize any taxable income upon receipt of certificates for whole Class A Common Shares credited to the Participant’s account, either upon the Participant’s request for certain of those Class A Common Shares or upon termination of participation in the Plan. A Participant will recognize gain or loss upon the sale or exchange of Class A Common Shares acquired under the Plan. A Participant will also recognize gain or loss upon receipt, following termination of participation in the Plan, of a cash payment for any fractional share equivalent credited to the Participant’s account. The amount of any gain or loss will be the difference between the amount that the Participant received for the Class A Common Shares or fractional share equivalent and the tax basis thereof.

 

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24. How are income tax withholding provisions applied to Participants in the Plan?

 

If a Participant fails to provide certain U.S. federal income tax certifications in the manner required by law, distributions on Class A Common Shares or, proceeds from the sale of fractional shares and proceeds from the sale of Class A Common Shares held for a Participant’s account may be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at the “backup withholding” rate (currently 24% for 2018). If withholding is required for any reason, the appropriate amount of tax will be withheld. Certain stockholders (including most corporations) are, however, exempt from the above withholding requirements.

 

If a Participant is a Non-U.S. Stockholder (as defined in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) whose distributions are subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at the 30% rate (or a lower treaty rate), the appropriate amount will be withheld and the remaining balance in Class A will be credited to the Participant’s account. A Non-U.S. Stockholder will not be subject to withholding under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) with respect to certain Company capital gain distributions on its Class A Common Shares so long as the Non-U.S. owns 10% or less of the Company’s Common Shares at all times during the one year period ending on the date of the distribution and those shares remain regularly traded on an established United States securities market, but will instead remain subject with respect to distributions to the 30% (or lower treaty rate) withholding tax described in the preceding sentence.

 

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) imposes a 30% withholding tax on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non-U.S. entities unless certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligation requirements are satisfied. As a general matter, FATCA imposes a 30% withholding tax on dividends on, and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our shares if paid to a foreign entity unless (i) the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution,” that undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, (ii) the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution,” the foreign entity identifies certain of its U.S. investors, or (iii) the foreign entity is otherwise excepted under FATCA. Applicable Treasury Regulations provide generally that withholding is required (i) with respect to dividends on our shares, and (ii) with respect to gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our shares that occurs on or after December 31, 2018. If withholding is required under FATCA on a payment related to our shares, stockholders that otherwise would not be subject to withholding (or that otherwise would be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding) on a payment generally will be required to seek a refund or credit from the Internal Revenue Service to obtain the benefit of exemption or reduction (provided that the benefit is available). An intergovernmental agreement governing FATCA between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the requirements described in this paragraph. Participants that are Non-U.S. Stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our shares.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

25. What happens if a Participant sells or transfers all of the Common Shares registered in the Participant’s name?

 

If a Participant disposes of all Common Shares registered in his or her name, and is not shown as a Record Owner on a distribution record date, the Participant will be terminated from the Plan as of this date and the Participant will be deemed to have submitted a withdrawal notice that was received prior to the applicable record date.

 

26. What happens if the Company declares a distribution payable in shares or declares a share split?

 

Any distribution payable in shares and any additional shares distributed by the Company in connection with a share split in respect of shares credited to a Participant’s Plan account will be credited to the Participant’s Plan account. Distributions that are not paid in cash may not be reinvested pursuant to the Plan.

 

27. How will Class A Common Shares held by the Plan Administrator be voted at meetings of stockholders?

 

If the Participant is a Record Owner, the Participant will receive a proxy card covering both directly held Common Shares and Common Shares held in the Plan. If the Participant is a Beneficial Owner, the Participant will receive a proxy covering Common Shares held in the Plan through his or her broker, bank or other nominee.

 

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If a proxy is returned properly signed and marked for voting, all the Common Shares covered by the proxy will be voted as marked. If a proxy is returned properly signed but no voting instructions are given, all of the Participant’s Common Shares will be voted in accordance with recommendations of the Company’s Board of Directors, unless applicable laws require otherwise. If the proxy is not returned, or if it is returned unexecuted or improperly executed, Common Shares registered in a Participant’s name may be voted only by the Participant in person.

 

28. What are the responsibilities of the Company and the Plan Administrator under the Plan?

 

The Company and the Plan Administrator will not be liable in administering the Plan for any act done in good faith or required by applicable law or for any good faith omission to act including, without limitation, any claim of liability arising out of failure to terminate a Participant’s account upon his or her death, with respect to the prices at which Class A Common Shares are purchased and/or the times when those purchases are made or with respect to any fluctuation in the market value before or after purchase or sale of shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in the Plan limits the Company’s liability with respect to alleged violations of federal securities laws.

 

The Company and the Plan Administrator will be entitled to rely on completed forms and the proof of due authority to participate in the Plan, without further responsibility of investigation or inquiry.

 

29. May the Plan be changed or discontinued?

 

Yes. The Company may suspend, terminate, or amend the Plan at any time, effective immediately. Notice will be mailed to Participants of any suspension or termination, or of any amendment that alters the Plan terms and conditions, as soon as practicable after action by the Company.

 

The Company may substitute another administrator or agent in place of the Plan Administrator at any time. Participants will be promptly notified of any substitution, and this notice will also include any information about the effect of the change in administration of this Plan on Participants.

 

Any questions of interpretation arising under the Plan will be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, and any determination will be final.

 

30. Who bears the risk of market fluctuations in the trading price of Class A Common Shares?

 

A Participant’s investment in Class A Common Shares held in the Plan account is no different from his or her investment in directly held Class A Common Shares. The Participant bears the risk of any loss and enjoys the benefits of any gain from market price changes with respect to its Class A Common Shares.

 

31. Who should be contacted with questions about the Plan?

 

All correspondence regarding the Plan should be directed to:

 

DST Systems Inc.
Attention: Distribution Reinvestment Plan of American Finance Trust, Inc.

430 W. 7 th St.

Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

(844) 411-4272

 

Please mention American Finance Trust, Inc. and the Plan in all correspondence.

 

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32. How is the Plan interpreted?

 

Any question of interpretation arising under the Plan will be determined by the Company and any determination will be final. The Company may adopt terms and conditions of the Plan and its operation will be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

33. What are some of the Participant responsibilities under the Plan?

 

Participants should notify the Plan Administrator promptly of any change of address. Account statements and other communications to Participants will be addressed to them at the last address of record provided by Participants to the Plan Administrator.

 

Participants will have no right to draw checks or drafts against their Plan accounts or to instruct the Plan Administrator with respect to any Class A Common Shares or cash held by the Plan Administrator except as expressly provided herein.

 

34. What transactions can I conduct through the Internet?

 

Through “Investor Center Access” on the Company’s website, http://ir.americanfinancetrust.com/resources/contact-ir , Participants can perform the following functions:

 

· review their Plan account;

 

· arrange to receive American Finance Trust, Inc. proxy material and other material sent to Record Owners over the Internet;

 

· download forms; and

 

· request a change of address in their Plan account.

 

Participation in the Plan through the Company’s website is entirely voluntary. You may contact DST Systems Inc. by any of the methods outlined below:

 

Toll-free number: (844) 411-4272

 

Mailing Address: DST Systems Inc.
Attention: Distribution Reinvestment Plan of American Finance Trust, Inc.

430 W. 7 th St.
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

 

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Exhibit 99.2

 

Notice to Participants:

American Finance Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby notifies you, as a participant in the Company’s previously suspended distribution reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”), that the Company has reinstated and amended and restated the DRIP (the “A&R DRIP”), effective July 19, 2018. You will continue to be a participant in the A&R DRIP. Beginning with the distributions payable on or about August 3, 2018, distributions payable with respect to all or a portion of your shares of the Company’s common stock may be reinvested in shares of the Company’s Class A common stock.

Enclosed for your reference is a copy of the A&R DRIP.

Please feel free to contact AFIN’s investor relations group at 866-902-0063 to discuss any questions about this notice.