UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 21, 2011
KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC.
(Exact name of registrant specified in its charter)
Maryland | 333-164703 | 27-1627896 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
IRS Employer Identification No. |
620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1300
Newport Beach, California 92660
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (949) 417-6500
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | 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)) |
ITEM 1.01 ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement
On January 21, 2011, KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc. (the Company) entered into an amended and restated advisory agreement (the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement) with KBS Capital Advisors LLC, the Companys external advisor (the Advisor). The Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement adjusts the calculation of the asset management fee payable to the Advisor by the Company. The asset management fee is calculated as a percentage of the cost of investments. Prior to the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, the cost of investments was generally equal to the amount paid or allocated to acquire investments, inclusive of acquisition and origination fees and expenses related thereto and the amount of any debt associated with or used to acquire such investments. The Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement excludes acquisition fees and origination fees paid or payable to the Advisor from the cost of investments used to calculate the asset management fee. The asset management fee is paid to the Advisor in connection with the real estate-related services, accounting services and administrative services the Advisor provides to the Company. Other than the change to the asset management fee, there were no material changes to the terms of the advisory agreement currently in effect.
The full text of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement is filed as an exhibit hereto.
ITEM 5.03 AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS
Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
Effective January 21, 2011, the Company amended and restated its charter to limit certain incentive fees that may be paid to the Advisor by providing that an interest in the gain from the sale of the Companys assets shall not be payable to the Advisor if it exceeds 15% of the balance of the net proceeds from the sale remaining after the Companys stockholders receive, in the aggregate, an amount equal to 100% of the original issue price of their common stock, plus an amount equal to 6% of the original issue price of their common stock per year cumulative.
The full text of the charter is filed as an exhibit hereto.
ITEM 5.07 SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
On January 21, 2011, the Company held its 2011 annual stockholders meeting by unanimous written consent. The Companys sole stockholder, the Advisor, approved the second amendment and restatement of the charter (which changes to the charter are described under Item 5.03 above and incorporated by reference herein) and elected the following individuals to the board of directors, each to hold office until the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies: Peter McMillan III, Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., Hank Adler, Barbara R. Cambon and Stuart
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(d) | Exhibits |
Ex. | Description |
3.1 | Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement |
10.1 | Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC. | ||||||
Dated: January 25, 2011 |
BY: |
/s/ Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. |
||||
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. | ||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 3.1
SECOND ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
OF
KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC.
FIRST : KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc., a Maryland corporation, desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.
SECOND : The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc. (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Except as provided below, the purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, qualifying as a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860, or any successor sections, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)), for which corporations may be organized under the MGCL and the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for so long as the Corporation is externally advised by the Advisor, it shall not be a proper purpose of the Corporation to make any significant investment unless the Advisor has recommended that the Corporation make such investment.
ARTICLE III
PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT
The name and address of the resident agent for service of process of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. The address of the Corporations principal office in the State of Maryland is c/o The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. The Corporation may have such other offices and places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the board may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE IV
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:
Acquisition Expenses . Expenses including but not limited to legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, cost of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on property not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance and miscellaneous expenses related to selecting and acquiring properties, or making or investing in loans, whether or not the acquisition or investment is made.
Acquisition Fees . The total of all fees and commissions, excluding Acquisition Expenses, paid by any party to any party in connection with making or investing in loans or the purchase, development or construction of property by the Corporation. Included in the computation of such fees or commissions shall be any real estate commission, selection fee, Development Fee, Construction Fee, nonrecurring management fee, origination fees, loan fees or points or any fee of a similar nature, however designated. Excluded shall be Development Fees and Construction Fees paid to any Person not affiliated with the Sponsor in connection with the actual development and construction of a project.
Advisor . The Person responsible for directing or performing the day-to-day business affairs of the Corporation, including a Person to which an Advisor subcontracts substantially all such functions.
Advisory Agreement . The agreement between the Corporation and the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor will direct or perform the day-to-day business affairs of the Corporation.
Affiliate . An Affiliate of another Person includes any of the following:
(a) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with power to vote, 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person;
(b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, with power to vote, by such other Person;
(c) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person;
(d) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such other Person; and
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(e) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.
Average Invested Assets . For a specified period, the average of the aggregate book value of the assets of the Corporation invested, directly or indirectly in equity interests in and loans secured by real estate, before deducting depreciation, bad debts or other non-cash reserves, computed by taking the average of such values at the end of each month during such period.
Business Day . Any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Capital Stock . All classes or series of stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.
Code . The term shall have the meaning as provided in Article II herein.
Common Stock . The term shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.
Common Stockholders . The registered holders of Common Stock.
Competitive Real Estate Commission . A real estate or brokerage commission paid for the purchase or sale of a property that is reasonable, customary and competitive in light of the size, type and location of the property.
Conflicts Committee . The term shall have the meaning as provided in Section 10.1 herein.
Construction Fee . A fee or other remuneration for acting as general contractor and/or construction manager to construct improvements, supervise and coordinate projects or to provide major repairs or rehabilitation on a property.
Contract Purchase Price . The amount actually paid or allocated in respect of the purchase, development, construction or improvement of an asset exclusive of Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses.
Corporation . The term shall have the meaning as provided in Article I herein.
Development Fee . A fee for the packaging of the Corporations property, including the negotiation and approval of plans and any assistance in obtaining zoning and necessary variances and financing for a specific property, either initially or at a later date.
Directors . The members of the board of directors, which manages the Corporation.
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Independent Directors . The directors of the Corporation who are not associated and have not been associated within the last two years, directly or indirectly, with the Sponsor or Advisor of the Corporation.
(a) A director shall be deemed to be associated with the Sponsor or Advisor if he or she:
(i) owns an interest in the Sponsor, Advisor or any of their Affiliates;
(ii) is employed by the Sponsor, Advisor or any of their Affiliates;
(iii) is an officer or director of the Sponsor, Advisor or any of their Affiliates;
(iv) performs services, other than as a director, for the Corporation;
(v) is a director for more than three REITs organized by the Sponsor or advised by the Advisor; or
(vi) has any material business or professional relationship with the Sponsor, Advisor or any of their Affiliates.
(b) For purposes of determining whether or not a business or professional relationship is material pursuant to (a)(vi) above, the annual gross revenue derived by the director from the Sponsor, Advisor and their Affiliates shall be deemed material per se if it exceeds 5% of the directors:
(i) annual gross revenue, derived from all sources, during either of the last two years; or
(ii) net worth, on a fair market value basis.
(c) An indirect relationship shall include circumstances in which a directors spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother- or father-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law or brother- or sister-in-law is or has been associated with the Sponsor, Advisor, any of their Affiliates or the Corporation.
Independent Expert . A Person (selected by the Conflicts Committee) with no material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor or a director who is engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets of the type held by the Corporation.
Initial Investment . An investment of $200,000 by the Advisor or an Affiliate thereof to acquire an equity interest in the Corporation.
Initial Public Offering . The initial public offering of Common Stock registered on Registration Statement No. 333-164703 on Form S-11.
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Leverage . The aggregate amount of indebtedness of the Corporation for money borrowed (including purchase money mortgage loans) outstanding at any time, both secured and unsecured.
Listed . Approved for trading on any securities exchange registered as a national securities exchange under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The term Listing shall have the correlative meaning.
MGCL . The Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.
NASAA REIT Guidelines . The Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts as revised and adopted by the North American Securities Administrators Association on May 7, 2007.
Net Assets . The total assets of the Corporation (other than intangibles) at cost, before deducting depreciation or other non-cash reserves, less total liabilities, calculated quarterly by the Corporation on a basis consistently applied.
Net Income . For any period, total revenues applicable to such period less the expenses applicable to such period other than additions to reserves for depreciation or bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves. If the Advisor receives an incentive fee, Net Income, for purposes of calculating Total Operating Expenses in Section 8.8, shall exclude the gain from the sale of the Corporations assets.
Organization and Offering Expenses . All expenses incurred by and to be paid from the assets of the Corporation in connection with or preparing the Corporation for registration of and subsequently offering and distributing its shares to the public, including, but not limited to, total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters attorneys); any expense allowance granted by the Corporation to the underwriter or any reimbursement of expenses of the underwriter by the Corporation; expenses for printing, engraving and mailing; salaries 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.
Person . An individual, corporation, association, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity.
Preferred Stock . The term shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.
Prospectus . The term shall have the meaning as defined in Section 2(10) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), including a preliminary prospectus, an offering circular as described in Rule 253 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act or, in the case of an intrastate offering, any document by whatever name known utilized for the purpose of offering and selling securities to the public.
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REIT . Real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.
Roll-Up Entity . A partnership, real estate investment trust, corporation, trust or similar entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of a proposed Roll-Up Transaction.
Roll-Up Transaction . A transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion or consolidation, either directly or indirectly, of the Corporation and the issuance of securities of a Roll-Up Entity to the Common Stockholders.
Such term does not include:
(a) a transaction involving securities of the Corporation that have been Listed for at least 12 months or traded through the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation National Market System; or
(b) a transaction involving the conversion to corporate, trust or association form of only the Corporation, if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no significant adverse change in any of the following:
(i) the voting rights of Common Stockholders;
(ii) the term of existence of the Corporation;
(iii) Sponsor or Advisor compensation; or
(iv) the Corporations investment objectives.
SDAT . The State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.
Sponsor . Any Person directly or indirectly instrumental in organizing, wholly or in part, the Corporation or any Person who will control, manage or participate in the management of the Corporation, and any Affiliate of such Person. Not included is any Person whose only relationship with the Corporation is as that of an independent property manager of the Corporations assets and whose only compensation is as such. Sponsor does not include wholly independent third parties such as attorneys, accountants and underwriters whose only compensation is for professional services. A Person may also be deemed a Sponsor of the Corporation (as to be determined by the Conflicts Committee) by:
(a) taking the initiative, directly or indirectly, in founding or organizing the business or enterprise of the Corporation, either alone or in conjunction with one or more other Persons;
(b) receiving a material participation in the Corporation in connection with the founding or organizing of the business of the Corporation, in consideration of services or property, or both services and property;
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(c) having a substantial number of relationships and contacts with the Corporation;
(d) possessing significant rights to control the Corporations properties;
(e) receiving fees for providing services to the Corporation which are paid on a basis that is not customary in the industry; or
(f) providing goods or services to the Corporation on a basis which was not negotiated at arms length with the Corporation.
Total Operating Expenses . All expenses paid or incurred by the Corporation, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles, that are in any way related to the operation of the Corporation or to Corporation business, including advisory fees, but excluding (a) the expenses of raising capital such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration and other fees, printing and other such expenses and taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and stock exchange listing of the Capital Stock; (b) interest payments; (c) taxes; (d) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad debt reserves; (e) incentive fees paid in compliance with Section 8.6, notwithstanding the next succeeding clause (f); and (f) Acquisition Fees, Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on the resale of real property and other expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (other than commissions on the sale of assets other than real property), including the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property.
Unimproved Real Property . The real property of the Corporation that has the following three characteristics:
(a) an equity interest in real property which was not acquired for the purpose of producing rental or other operating income;
(b) there is no development or construction in progress on such land; and
(c) no development or construction on such land is planned in good faith to commence on such land within one year.
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ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1. Authorized Shares . The Corporation has authority to issue 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (Common Stock), and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (Preferred Stock). The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of Capital Stock having par value is $10,100,000. If shares of Capital Stock of one class are classified or reclassified into shares of Capital Stock of another class pursuant to this Article V, the number of authorized shares of Capital Stock of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of Capital Stock of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares of Capital Stock so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of Capital Stock of all classes that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of Capital Stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. The board of directors, with the approval of a majority of the directors and without any action by the stockholders of the Corporation, may amend the charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of Capital Stock or the number of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series that the Corporation has the authority to issue.
Section 5.2. Common Stock . Subject to the provisions of Article VI, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. The board of directors may reclassify any unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series of Capital Stock.
Section 5.3. Preferred Stock . The board of directors may classify any unissued shares of Preferred Stock and reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of any series from time to time in one or more series of Capital Stock. A majority of our Independent Directors who do not have an interest in the transaction must approve any issuance of Preferred Stock.
Section 5.4. Classified or Reclassified Shares . Prior to the issuance of classified or reclassified shares of any class or series, the board of directors by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of Capital Stock of the Corporation; (b) specify the number of shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Article VI and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Capital Stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Corporation to file articles supplementary with the SDAT. Any of the terms of any class or series of Capital Stock set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 5.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the charter (including determinations by the board of directors or other facts or events within the control of the Corporation) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations
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shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of Capital Stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary filed with the SDAT.
Section 5.5. Charter and Bylaws . The rights of all stockholders and the terms of all shares of Capital Stock are subject to the provisions of the charter and the bylaws.
Section 5.6. No Preemptive Rights . Except as may be provided by the board of directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of Capital Stock pursuant to Section 5.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract approved by the board of directors, no holder of shares of Capital Stock of any class shall have any preemptive right to subscribe to or purchase any additional shares of any class or series, or any bonds or convertible securities of any nature.
Section 5.7. Issuance of Shares Without Certificates . Unless otherwise provided by the board of directors, the Corporation shall not issue stock certificates. The Corporation shall continue to treat the holder of uncertificated Capital Stock registered on its stock ledger as the owner of the shares noted therein until the new owner delivers a properly executed form provided by the Corporation for that purpose. With respect to any shares of Capital Stock that are issued without certificates, information regarding restrictions on the transferability of such shares that would otherwise be required by the MGCL to appear on the stock certificates will instead be furnished to stockholders upon request and without charge.
Section 5.8. Suitability and Minimum Investment of Stockholders . Until the Common Stock is Listed, the following provisions shall apply to purchases of shares of Common Stock:
(a) To purchase Common Stock, the purchaser must represent to the Corporation:
(i) that such purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the beneficiary, the fiduciary account or the grantor or donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) has a minimum annual gross income of $70,000 and a net worth (excluding home, home furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $70,000; or
(ii) that such purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the beneficiary, the fiduciary account or the grantor or donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) has a net worth (excluding home, home furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $250,000.
(b) The Sponsor, each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Corporation, and each broker or dealer or registered investment adviser recommending the purchase of shares to a customer shall make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of shares is a suitable and appropriate investment for each Common Stockholder. In making this determination, the Sponsor, each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Corporation, or each broker or dealer or registered
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investment adviser recommending the purchase of shares to a customer shall ascertain that the prospective Common Stockholder: (i) meets the minimum income and net worth standards set forth in Section 5.8; (ii) can reasonably benefit from the Corporation based on the prospective stockholders overall investment objectives and portfolio structure; (iii) is able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on the prospective stockholders overall financial situation; and (iv) has apparent understanding of (1) the fundamental risks of the investment; (2) the risk that the stockholder may lose the entire investment; (3) the lack of liquidity of the shares; (4) the restrictions on transferability of the shares; and (5) the tax consequences of the investment. The Sponsor, each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Corporation, or each broker or dealer or registered investment adviser recommending the purchase of shares to a customer shall make this determination on the basis of information it has obtained from a prospective stockholder, including information indirectly obtained from a prospective stockholder through such stockholders investment adviser, financial advisor or bank acting as a fiduciary. Relevant information for this purpose will include at least the age, investment objectives, investment experience, income, net worth, financial situation and other investments of the prospective stockholder, as well as any other pertinent factors. The Sponsor, each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Corporation, or each broker or dealer or registered investment adviser recommending the purchase of shares to a customer shall cause to be maintained for at least six years records of the information used to determine that an investment in shares is suitable and appropriate for a Common Stockholder.
The Sponsor and each Person selling shares on behalf of the Sponsor or the Corporation may each rely upon (i) the Person directly recommending the purchase of shares to a customer if that Person is a FINRA member broker or dealer that has entered into a selling agreement with the Sponsor or the Corporation or their Affiliates or (ii) a registered investment adviser that has entered into an agreement with the Sponsor or the Corporation or their Affiliates to make suitability determinations with respect to the customers of the registered investment adviser who may purchase shares.
(c) Each purchase of shares of Common Stock shall comply with the requirements regarding minimum initial and subsequent cash investment amounts set forth in any then effective registration statement of the Corporation as such registration statement has been amended or supplemented as of the date of such purchase or any higher or lower applicable state requirements with respect to minimum initial and subsequent cash investment amounts in effect as of the date of the issuance or transfer.
Section 5.9. Dividend Reinvestment Plans . The board may establish, from time to time, a dividend reinvestment plan or plans. Under any dividend reinvestment plan, (a) all material information regarding dividends to the Common Stockholders and the effect of reinvesting such dividends, including the tax consequences thereof, shall be provided to the Common Stockholders not less often than annually, and (b) each Common Stockholder participating in such plan shall have a reasonable opportunity to withdraw from the plan not less often than annually after receipt of the information required in clause (a) above.
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Section 5.10. Distributions . The board of directors may from time to time authorize the Corporation to declare and pay to stockholders such dividends or other distributions as the board of directors in its discretion shall determine. The board of directors shall endeavor to authorize the Corporation to declare and pay such dividends and other distributions as shall be necessary for the Corporation to qualify as a REIT under the Code; provided, however, that stockholders shall have no right to any dividend or other distribution unless and until authorized by the board and declared by the Corporation.
Distributions in kind shall not be permitted, except for distributions of readily marketable securities, distributions of beneficial interests in a liquidating trust established for the dissolution of the Corporation and the liquidation of its assets in accordance with the terms of the charter or distributions that meet all of the following conditions: (a) the board of directors advises each Common Stockholder of the risks associated with direct ownership of the property, (b) the board of directors offers each Common Stockholder the election of receiving such in-kind distributions and (c) in-kind distributions are made only to those Common Stockholders who accept such offer.
Section 5.11. Actions Required if Common Stock Not Listed . If by September 30, 2020 the shares of Common Stock are not Listed, then the board of directors must adopt a resolution that declares a proposed liquidation is advisable on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in the resolution and direct that the proposed liquidation be submitted for consideration at either an annual or special meeting of the stockholders; provided, however, that such board action may be postponed if the Conflicts Committee determines by a majority vote that a liquidation is not then in the best interest of the Corporations stockholders. If such board action is so postponed, the Conflicts Committee shall revisit the issue of liquidation at least annually and further postponement of such board action would only be permitted if the Conflicts Committee again determined by a majority vote that a liquidation would not then be in the best interest of the Corporations stockholders.
ARTICLE VI
RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES
Section 6.1. Definitions . As used in this Article VI, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit . 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock. The value of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock shall be determined by the board of directors in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.
Beneficial Ownership . Ownership of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the
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application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms Beneficial Owner, Beneficially Owns, Beneficially Owning and Beneficially Owned shall have the correlative meanings.
Charitable Beneficiary . One or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 6.3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
Common Stock Ownership Limit . 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation. The number and value of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be determined by the board of directors in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.
Constructive Ownership . Ownership of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms Constructive Owner, Constructively Owns, Constructively Owning and Constructively Owned shall have the correlative meanings.
Excepted Holder . A stockholder of the Corporation for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by this charter or by the board of directors pursuant to Section 6.2.7.
Excepted Holder Limit . The percentage limit established by the board of directors pursuant to Section 6.2.7 provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements, if any, established by the board of directors pursuant to Section 6.2.7, and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.2.8.
Initial Date . The earlier of the date upon which shares of Common Stock are first issued in the Initial Public Offering or the first date for which the Corporation elects to qualify as a REIT under the Code.
Market Price . With respect to any class or series of outstanding shares of Capital Stock, the Closing Price for such Capital Stock on such date. The Closing Price on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Capital Stock, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Capital Stock, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which such Capital Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if such Capital Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by FINRAs OTC Bulletin Board service or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Capital Stock is not
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quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Capital Stock selected by the board of directors or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Capital Stock, the fair market value of the Capital Stock, as determined in good faith by the board of directors.
Prohibited Owner . With respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who but for the provisions of Section 6.2.1 would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock and, if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.
Restriction Termination Date . The first day on which the Corporation determines pursuant to Section 7.7 of the charter that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of shares of Capital Stock set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Corporation to qualify as a REIT.
Transfer . Any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Capital Stock or the right to vote or receive distributions on Capital Stock, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock or any interest in Capital Stock or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms Transferring and Transferred shall have the correlative meanings.
Trust . Any trust provided for in Section 6.3.1.
Trustee . The Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and a Prohibited Owner that is appointed by the Corporation to serve as trustee of the Trust.
Section 6.2. Capital Stock .
Section 6.2.1. Ownership Limitations . During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(a) Basic Restrictions .
(i) (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock
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Ownership Limit and (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.
(ii) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock would result in the Corporation (1) being closely held within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or (2) otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Corporation owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Corporation from such tenant would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code); provided , however , that Section 6.2.1(a)(ii)(1) shall not apply to any period prior to the second year for which the Corporation has elected to be taxable as a REIT.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of any national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system) that, if effective, would result in the Capital Stock being Beneficially Owned by less than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock; provided , however , that (1) this Section 6.2.1(a)(iii) shall not apply to a Transfer of shares of Capital Stock occurring in any period prior to the second year for which the Corporation has elected to be taxable as a REIT and (2) the board of directors may waive this Section 6.2.1(a)(iii) if, in the opinion of the board of directors, such Transfer would not adversely affect the Corporations ability to qualify as a REIT.
(b) Transfer in Trust . If any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of any national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system) occurs that, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or Section 6.2.1(a)(ii),
(i) then that number of shares of Capital Stock the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or Section 6.2.1(a)(ii) (rounded to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 6.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer and such Person shall acquire no rights in such shares; provided, however,
(ii) if the transfer to the Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or Section 6.2.1(a)(ii), then the Transfer of that number of shares of Capital Stock that
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otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or Section 6.2.1(a)(ii) shall be void ab initio and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock.
Section 6.2.2. Remedies for Breach . If the board of directors shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 6.2.1(a) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 6.2.1(a) (whether or not such violation is intended), the board of directors or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Corporation to redeem shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided , however , that any Transfers or attempted Transfers or other events in violation of Section 6.2.1(a) shall automatically result in the transfer to the Trust described above and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the board of directors.
Section 6.2.3. Notice of Restricted Transfer . Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock that will or may violate Section 6.2.1(a) or any Person who would have owned shares of Capital Stock that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.2.1(b) shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Corporations status as a REIT.
Section 6.2.4. Owners Required to Provide Information . Prior to the Restriction Termination Date:
(a) every owner of 5% or more (or such higher percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Corporation stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of Capital Stock and other shares of the Capital Stock Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall provide to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporations status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit.
(b) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Capital Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Capital Stock for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information as the Corporation may request, in good faith, in order to determine the
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Corporations status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
Section 6.2.5. Remedies Not Limited . Subject to Section 7.7, nothing contained in this Section 6.2 shall limit the authority of the board of directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its stockholders in preserving the Corporations status as a REIT.
Section 6.2.6. Ambiguity . In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 6.2, Section 6.3 or any definition contained in Section 6.1, the board of directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 6.2 or Section 6.3 with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 6.2 or Section 6.3 requires an action by the board of directors and the charter fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the board of directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3.
Section 6.2.7. Exceptions .
(a) Subject to Section 6.2.1(a)(ii), the board of directors, in its sole discretion, may exempt a Person from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and the Common Stock Ownership Limit, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person. The board of directors may determine only to establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if:
(i) the board of directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no Persons Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of such shares of Capital Stock will violate Section 6.2.1(a)(ii);
(ii) such Person does not and represents that it will not own, actually or Constructively, an interest in a tenant of the Corporation (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Corporation) that would cause the Corporation to own, actually or Constructively, more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant and the board of directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (for this purpose, a tenant from whom the Corporation (or an entity owned or controlled by the Corporation) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue such that, in the opinion of the board of directors, rent from such tenant would not adversely affect the Corporations ability to qualify as a REIT shall not be treated as a tenant of the Corporation); and
(iii) such Person agrees that any violation or attempted violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Sections 6.2.1 through 6.2.6) will result in such shares of Capital Stock being automatically transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 6.2.1(b) and Section 6.3.
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(b) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 6.2.7(a), the board of directors may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel, in either case, in form and substance satisfactory to the board of directors in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporations status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the board of directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.
(c) Subject to Section 6.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter which participates in a public offering or a private placement of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, the Common Stock Ownership Limit or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.
(d) The board of directors may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (i) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time or (ii) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Common Stock Ownership Limit.
Section 6.2.8. Increase in Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and Common Stock Ownership Limit . The board of directors may from time to time increase the Common Stock Ownership Limit and the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit.
Section 6.2.9. Legend . Each certificate for shares of Capital Stock shall bear substantially the following legend:
The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose of the Corporations maintenance of its status as a real estate investment trust (a REIT) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Corporations charter: (a) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of the Corporations Common Stock in excess of 9.8% (in value or number of shares) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder shall be applicable); (b) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation in excess of 9.8% of the value of the total outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder shall be applicable); (c) no Person may Beneficially Own or
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Constructively Own Capital Stock that would result in the Corporation being closely held under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (d) other than as provided in the Corporations charter, no Person may Transfer shares of Capital Stock if such Transfer would result in the Capital Stock of the Corporation being owned by fewer than 100 Persons. Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock that causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice and provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Corporations status as a REIT. If any of the restrictions on Transfer or ownership are violated, the shares of Capital Stock represented hereby will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries or, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio . In addition, the Corporation may redeem shares of Capital Stock upon the terms and conditions specified by the board of directors in its sole discretion if the board of directors determines that ownership or a Transfer or any other event may violate the restrictions described.
Until the Common Stock is Listed, to purchase Common Stock, the purchaser must represent to the Corporation: (i) that such purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the beneficiary, fiduciary account or grantor or donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) has a minimum annual gross income of $70,000 and a net worth (excluding home, home furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $70,000; (ii) that such purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the beneficiary, fiduciary account or grantor or donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) has a net worth (excluding home, home furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $250,000; and/ or (iii) that the purchaser (or, in the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, that the beneficiary, fiduciary account or grantor or donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the grantor or donor is the fiduciary) meets the more stringent suitability standards of such persons jurisdiction as set forth in any then effective registration statement of the Corporation as such registration statement has been amended or supplemented as of the date of such purchase. Until the Common Stock is Listed, unless a stockholder is transferring all of his shares
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of Common Stock, each issuance or transfer of shares of Common Stock for value shall comply with the requirements regarding minimum initial and subsequent cash investment amounts set forth in any then effective registration statement of the Corporation as such registration statement has been amended or supplemented as of the date of such issuance or transfer for value or any higher or lower applicable state requirements with respect to minimum initial and subsequent cash investment amounts in effect as of the date of the issuance or transfer.
All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the charter of the Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on Transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Capital Stock of the Corporation on request and without charge.
Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate may state that the Corporation will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a stockholder on request and without charge. Such statement shall also be sent on request and without charge to stockholders who are issued shares without a certificate.
Section 6.3. Transfer of Capital Stock in Trust .
Section 6.3.1. Ownership in Trust . Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 6.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer of shares of Capital Stock to a Trust, such shares of Capital Stock shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 6.2.1(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Corporation and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Corporation as provided in Section 6.3.6.
Section 6.3.2. Status of Shares Held by the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee and shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions attributable to the shares held in the Trust.
Section 6.3.3. Distributions and Voting Rights . The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to distributions with respect to shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such distribution to the Trustee upon demand, and any distribution authorized but unpaid shall
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be paid when due to the Trustee. Any distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to shares held in the Trust, and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority with respect to the shares held in the Trust (at the Trustees sole discretion) (a) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee and (b) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Corporation has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VI, until the Corporation has received notification that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred into a Trust, the Corporation shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.
Section 6.3.4. Sale of Shares by Trustee . Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee of the Trust shall sell the shares held in the Trust to a Person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 6.2.1(a). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 6.3.4. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (a) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust ( e.g. , in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust or (b) the price per share received by the Trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Trust. Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 6.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.
Section 6.3.5. Purchase Right in Stock Transferred to the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (a) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) or (b) the Market Price on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 6.3.4. Upon such a sale to the Corporation, the interest of the
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Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.
Section 6.3.6. Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries . By written notice to the Trustee, the Corporation shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that (a) the shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 6.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary and (b) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.
Section 6.4. Settlement . Nothing in this Article VI shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of any national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction is so permitted shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VI and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VI.
Section 6.5. Enforcement . The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VI.
Section 6.6. Non-Waiver . No delay or failure on the part of the Corporation or the board of directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Corporation or the board of directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.
ARTICLE VII
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 7.1. Number of Directors . The number of directors of the Corporation shall be five, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to the bylaws but shall never be less than three. A majority of the seats on the board of directors will be for Independent Directors. The Conflicts Committee shall nominate all individuals for the Independent Director positions. No reduction in the number of directors shall cause the removal of any director from office prior to the expiration of his term, except as may otherwise be provided in the terms of any Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation. The names of the directors who shall serve on the board until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified are:
Peter McMillan III
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr.
Barbara R. Cambon
Hank Adler
Stuart A. Gabriel, Ph.D.
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Section 7.2. Term of Directors . Each director shall hold office for one year, until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Directors may be elected to an unlimited number of successive terms.
Section 7.3. Experience . Each director who is not an Independent Director shall have at least three years of relevant experience demonstrating the knowledge and experience required to successfully acquire and manage the type of assets being acquired by the Corporation. At least one of the Independent Directors shall have three years of relevant real estate experience.
Section 7.4. Committees . The board may establish such committees as it deems appropriate, provided that the majority of the members of each committee are Independent Directors.
Section 7.5. Fiduciary Obligations . The directors are fiduciaries of the Corporation and its stockholders. The directors have a fiduciary duty to the stockholders to supervise the relationship between the Corporation and the Advisor.
Section 7.6. Ratification of Charter . At or before the first meeting of the board of directors following the date of this amendment and restatement of the charter, the board of directors and the Conflicts Committee shall each review and ratify the charter by majority vote.
Section 7.7. REIT Qualification . If the Corporation elects to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT, the board of directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Corporation as a REIT; however, if the board of directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the board of directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the Corporations REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The board of directors also may determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on ownership and transfers of Capital Stock set forth in Article VI is no longer required for REIT qualification.
Section 7.8. Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance . The board of directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the board of directors may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the charter or the bylaws.
Section 7.9. Determinations by the Board . The determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the board of directors or the Conflicts Committee consistent with the charter, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its Capital Stock: (a) the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption
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of its Capital Stock or the payment of other distributions on its Capital Stock; (b) the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; (c) the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); (d) the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation; (e) the application of any provision of this charter in the case of any ambiguity, including, without limitation: (i) any provision of the definitions of any of the following: Affiliate, Independent Director and Sponsor, (ii) which amounts paid to the Advisor or its Affiliates are property-level expenses connected with the ownership of real estate interests, loans or other property, which expenses are excluded from the definition of Total Operating Expenses, and (iii) whether expenses qualify as Organization and Offering Expenses; (f) whether substantial justification exists to invest in or make a mortgage loan contemplated by Section 9.11(b) because of the presence of other underwriting criteria; and (g) any matters relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation.
Section 7.10. Compensation of Directors . The Conflicts Committee shall determine the compensation of the Independent Directors.
Section 7.11. Tax on Disqualified Organizations . To the extent that the Corporation incurs any tax pursuant to Section 860E(e)(6) of the Code as the result of any excess inclusion income (within the meaning of Section 860E of the Code) of the Corporation that is allocable to a stockholder that is a disqualified organization (as defined in Section 860E(e)(5) of the Code), the board of directors may, in its sole discretion, cause the Corporation to allocate such tax solely to the stock held by such disqualified organization in the manner described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.860E-2(b)(4), by reducing from one or more distributions paid to such stockholder the tax incurred by the Corporation pursuant to Section 860E(e)(6) as a result of such stockholders stock ownership.
ARTICLE VIII
ADVISOR
Section 8.1. Appointment and Initial Investment of Advisor . The board of directors may appoint an Advisor to direct and/or perform the day-to-day business affairs of the Corporation. The board of directors may exercise broad discretion in allowing the Advisor to administer and regulate the operations of the Corporation, to act as agent for the Corporation, to execute documents on behalf of the Corporation and to make executive decisions that conform to general policies and principles established by the board of directors. The term of retention of any Advisor shall not exceed one year, although there is no limit to the number of times that a particular Advisor may be
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retained. Before the Initial Public Offering of the Corporation, the Advisor or an affiliate of the Advisor shall have made the Initial Investment. The Advisor or any such Affiliate may not sell the equity interest acquired with its Initial Investment while the Advisor remains an Advisor but may transfer the interest in the Corporation acquired with its Initial Investment to its Affiliates.
Section 8.2. Supervision of Advisor . The board of directors shall evaluate the performance of the Advisor before entering into or renewing an Advisory Agreement, and the criteria used in such evaluation shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors. The Conflicts Committee shall determine at least annually whether the total fees and expenses incurred by the Corporation are reasonable in light of the investment performance of the Corporation, its Net Assets, its Net Income and the fees and expenses of other comparable unaffiliated REITs. The Conflicts Committee shall determine from time to time and at least annually that the compensation to be paid to the Advisor and its Affiliates is reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and that such compensation is within the limits prescribed by the charter. Each such determination shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the board. The Conflicts Committee shall also supervise the performance of the Advisor and its Affiliates and the compensation paid to them by the Corporation to determine that the provisions of the Advisory Agreement are being met. Each such determination shall be based on factors such as (a) the amount of the fees and any other compensation, including stock based compensation, paid to the Advisor and its Affiliates in relation to the size, composition and performance of the Corporations portfolio; (b) the success of the Advisor in generating opportunities that meet the investment objectives of the Corporation; (c) rates charged to other REITs and to investors other than REITs by advisors performing the same or similar services; (d) additional revenues realized by the Advisor and its Affiliates through their relationship with the Corporation, including loan administration, underwriting or broker commissions, servicing, engineering, inspection and other fees, whether paid by the Corporation or by others with whom the Corporation does business; (e) the quality and extent of service and advice furnished by the Advisor and its Affiliates; (f) the performance of the Corporations portfolio, including income, conservation or appreciation of capital, frequency of problem investments and competence in dealing with distress situations; and (g) the quality of the Corporations portfolio relative to the investments generated by the Advisor and its Affiliates for their own account. The Conflicts Committee may also consider all other factors that it deems relevant, and its findings on each of the factors considered shall be recorded in the minutes of the board of directors. The Corporation may not enter into, renew or amend the Advisory Agreement without the approval (by majority vote) of the Conflicts Committee. The board shall determine whether any successor Advisor possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the advisory function for the Corporation and whether the compensation provided for in its contract with the Corporation is justified.
Section 8.3. Fiduciary Obligations . The Advisor is a fiduciary of the Corporation and its stockholders.
Section 8.4. Termination . Either the Conflicts Committee (by majority vote) or the Advisor may terminate the Advisory Agreement on 60 days written notice without
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cause or penalty, and, in such event, the Advisor will cooperate with the Corporation and the board of directors in making an orderly transition of the advisory function.
Section 8.5. Disposition Fee on Sale of Property . If the Advisor or a director or Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof provides a substantial amount of the services in the effort to sell the property of the Corporation, that Person may receive: (i) if a brokerage commission is paid to a Person other than an Affiliate of the Sponsor, an amount up to one-half of the total brokerage commissions paid but in no event an amount that exceeds 3% of the sales price of such property or properties or (ii) if no brokerage commission is paid to a Person other than an Affiliate of the Sponsor, an amount up to 3% of the sales price of such property or properties. In either case, however, the amount paid when added to all other commissions paid to unaffiliated parties in connection with such sale shall not exceed the lesser of the Competitive Real Estate Commission or an amount equal to 6% of the sales price of such property or properties.
Section 8.6. Incentive Fees . An interest in the gain from the sale of assets of the Corporation (as opposed to disposition fees, which are the subject of Section 8.5) may be paid to the Advisor or an entity affiliated with the Advisor provided that (a) the interest in the gain must be reasonable, and (b) if multiple Advisors are involved, incentive fees must be distributed by a proportional method reasonably designed to reflect the value added to the Corporations assets by each respective Advisor and its Affiliates. Such an interest in gain from the sale of assets of the Corporation shall be considered presumptively reasonable if it does not exceed 15% of the balance of such net proceeds remaining after payment to Common Stockholders, in the aggregate, of an amount equal to 100% of the original issue price of the Common Stock, plus an amount equal to 6% of the original issue price of the Common Stock per annum cumulative. An interest in the gain from the sale of assets of the Corporation shall not be permitted to the extent such interest exceeds what is considered presumptively reasonable as described above. Distribution of incentive fees to the Advisor or an entity affiliated with the Advisor in proportion to the length of time served as Advisor while such property was held by the Corporation or in proportion to the fair market value of the asset at the time of the Advisors termination and the fair market value of the asset upon its disposition by the Corporation shall be considered reasonable methods by which to apportion incentive fees. For purposes of this Section, the original issue price of the Common Stock shall be reduced by prior cash distributions to Common Stockholders of net proceeds from the sale of assets of the Corporation.
Section 8.7. Acquisition Fees . The Corporation shall not purchase a property or invest in or make a mortgage loan if the combined Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses incurred in connection therewith are not reasonable or exceed 6% of the Contract Purchase Price or, in the case of a mortgage loan, 6% of the funds advanced unless a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses and determines the transaction to be commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to the Corporation.
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Section 8.8. Reimbursement for Total Operating Expenses . Commencing upon the earlier to occur of four fiscal quarters after (i) the Corporations acquisition of its first asset or (ii) six months after commencement of the Initial Public Offering, the Conflicts Committee shall have the fiduciary responsibility of limiting Total Operating Expenses to amounts that do not exceed the greater of 2% of Average Invested Assets or 25% of Net Income (the 2%/25% Guidelines) for the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended unless it has made a finding that, based on unusual and non-recurring factors that it deems sufficient, a higher level of expenses (an Excess Amount) is justified. Any such finding and the reasons in support thereof shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings. After the end of any fiscal quarter of the Corporation for which there is an Excess Amount for the 12 months then ended, such fact shall be disclosed in writing and sent to the Common Stockholders within 60 days of such quarter-end (or shall be disclosed to the Common Stockholders in the next quarterly report of the Corporation or by filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 60 days of such quarter end), together with an explanation of the factors the Conflicts Committee considered in determining that such Excess Amount was justified. In the event that the Conflicts Committee does not determine that excess expenses are justified, the Advisor shall reimburse the Corporation at the end of the 12-month period the amount by which the aggregate annual expenses paid or incurred by the Corporation exceeded the 2%/25% Guidelines.
ARTICLE IX
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND LIMITATIONS
Section 9.1. Investment Objectives . The board of directors shall establish written policies on investments and borrowing and shall monitor the administrative procedures, investment operations and performance of the Corporation and the Advisor to assure that such policies are carried out. The Conflicts Committee shall review the investment policies of the Corporation with sufficient frequency (not less often than annually) to determine that the policies being followed by the Corporation are in the best interests of the Common Stockholders. Each such determination and the basis therefor shall be set forth in the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors.
Section 9.2. Limitations on Acquisitions . The consideration paid for any real property acquired by the Corporation will ordinarily be based on the fair market value of such property as determined by a majority of the members of the board of directors, or the approval of a majority of a committee of the board, provided that the members of the committee approving the transaction would also constitute a majority of the board. In all cases in which a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee (by majority vote) so determine, and in all cases in which real property is acquired from the Advisor, a Sponsor, a director or an Affiliate thereof, such fair market value shall be as determined by an Independent Expert.
The Corporation may not purchase or lease properties in which the Advisor, a Sponsor, a director or an Affiliate thereof has an interest without a determination by a
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majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction that such transaction is fair and reasonable to the Corporation and at a price to the Corporation no greater than the cost of the property to the Affiliated seller or lessor unless there is substantial justification for the excess amount. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in no event may the Corporation acquire any such property at an amount in excess of its current appraised value. An appraisal is current for purposes of the preceding sentence if obtained within the 12-month period preceding the transaction. If a property with a current appraisal is acquired indirectly from an Affiliated seller through the acquisition of securities in an entity that directly or indirectly owns the property, a second appraisal on the value of the securities of the entity shall not be required if (i) a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction determines that such transaction is fair and reasonable to the Corporation, (ii) the transaction is at a price to the Corporation no greater than the cost of the securities to the Affiliated seller, (iii) the entity has conducted no business other than the financing, acquisition and ownership of the property and (iv) the price paid by the entity to acquire the property did not exceed the current appraised value as determined by an Independent Expert.
Section 9.3. Limitations on Sales to, and Joint Ventures with, Affiliates . The Corporation shall not transfer or lease assets to a Sponsor, the Advisor, a director or an Affiliate thereof unless approved by a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction as being fair and reasonable to the Corporation. The Corporation may invest in a joint venture with a Sponsor, the Advisor, a director or an Affiliate thereof; provided, however, that the Corporation may only so invest if a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves such investment as being fair and reasonable to the Corporation and on substantially the same terms and conditions as those received by the other joint venturers.
Section 9.4. Limitations on Other Transactions Involving Affiliates . A majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction must conclude that all other transactions between the Corporation and a Sponsor, the Advisor, a director or an Affiliate thereof are fair and reasonable to the Corporation and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Corporation than those available from unaffiliated third parties.
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Section 9.5. Limitations on the Issuance of Options and Warrants . Until the Common Stock of the Corporation is Listed, the Corporation shall not issue options or warrants to purchase Common Stock to the Advisor, a director, the Sponsors or any Affiliate thereof, except on the same terms as such options or warrants are sold to the general public. The Corporation may issue options or warrants to persons other than the Advisor, a director, the Sponsors or any Affiliate thereof prior to Listing the Common Stock, but not at exercise prices less than the fair market value of the underlying securities on the date of grant and not for consideration (which may include services) that in the judgment of the Conflicts Committee has a market value less than the value of such option or warrant on the date of grant. Options or warrants issuable to the Advisor, a director, the Sponsors or any Affiliate thereof shall not exceed an amount equal to 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date of grant.
Section 9.6. Limitations on the Repurchase of Common Stock . The Corporation may voluntarily repurchase shares of Common Stock from its stockholders; provided, however, that such repurchase does not impair the capital or operations of the Corporation. The Corporation may not pay a fee to the Advisor, a Sponsor, a director or an Affiliate thereof in connection with the Corporations repurchase of shares of Common Stock.
Section 9.7. Limitations on Loans . The Corporation will not make any loans to a Sponsor, the Advisor, a director or an Affiliate thereof except as provided in Section 9.11 or to wholly owned subsidiaries (directly or indirectly) of the Corporation. The Corporation will not borrow from such parties unless a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves the transaction as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable and no less favorable to the Corporation than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties. These restrictions on loans apply to advances of cash that are commonly viewed as loans, as determined by the board of directors. By way of example only, the prohibition on loans would not restrict advances of cash for legal expenses or other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought nor would the prohibition limit the Corporations ability to advance reimbursable expenses incurred by directors or officers or the Advisor or its Affiliates.
Section 9.8. Limitations on Leverage . The aggregate borrowings of the Corporation, secured and unsecured, shall be reviewed by the board of directors at least quarterly. The maximum amount of such borrowings in relation to the Net Assets shall not exceed 300% in the absence of a satisfactory showing that a higher level of borrowings is appropriate. Any excess in borrowings over such 300% level shall be approved by the Conflicts Committee (by majority vote) and disclosed to the Common Stockholders in the next quarterly report of the Corporation, along with justification for such excess.
Section 9.9. Limitations on Investments in Equity Securities . The Corporation may not invest in equity securities unless a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction approves such investment as being fair, competitive and commercially reasonable; provided, that an investment in equity securities of a publicly traded entity
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that is otherwise approved by a majority of the board of directors (including a majority of the members of the Conflicts Committee) not otherwise interested in the transaction shall be deemed fair, competitive and commercially reasonable if such investment is made through a trade effected on a recognized securities market. This provision is not intended to limit (i) acquisitions effected through the purchase of all of the equity securities of an existing entity, (ii) the investment in wholly owned subsidiaries of the Corporation or (iii) investments in asset-backed securities. For the purpose of this section, a publicly traded entity shall mean any entity having securities listed on a national securities exchange or included for quotation on an inter-dealer quotation system.
Section 9.10. Limitations on Investments in Commodities Contracts . The Corporation may not invest in commodities or commodity futures contracts, except for futures contracts used solely for the purpose of hedging in connection with the ordinary business of investing in real estate assets and mortgages.
Section 9.11. Limitations Regarding Mortgage Loans . The Corporation may not make or invest in mortgage loans unless an appraisal is obtained concerning the underlying property, except for those mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency. In cases in which the Conflicts Committee (by majority vote) so determines, and in all cases in which the transaction is with the Advisor, a director, a Sponsor or an Affiliate thereof, such an appraisal must be obtained from an Independent Expert concerning the underlying property. The Corporation shall keep the appraisal for at least five years and make it available for inspection and duplication by any Common Stockholder. In addition, a mortgagees or owners title insurance policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or the condition of the title must be obtained. Further, the Advisor and the board of directors shall observe the following policies in connection with investing in or making mortgage loans:
(a) | The Corporation shall not invest in real estate contracts of sale, otherwise known as land sale contracts, unless such contracts of sale are in recordable form and appropriately recorded in the chain of title. |
(b) | The Corporation shall not make or invest in mortgage loans, including construction loans, on any one property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Corporation, would exceed an amount equal to 85% of the appraised value of the property as determined by appraisal unless the board determines that a substantial justification exists because of the presence of other underwriting criteria. For purposes of this subsection, the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Corporation, shall include all interest (excluding contingent participation in income and/or appreciation in value of the mortgaged property), the current payment of which may be deferred pursuant to the terms of such loans, to the extent that deferred interest on each loan exceeds 5% per annum of the principal balance of the loan. |
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(c) | The Corporation may not make or invest in any mortgage loans that are subordinate to any mortgage or equity interest of the Advisor, a Sponsor, a director or an Affiliate of the Corporation. |
Section 9.12. Limitations on Investments in Unimproved Real Property . The Corporation may not make investments in Unimproved Real Property or mortgage loans on Unimproved Real Property in excess of 10% of the Corporations total assets.
Section 9.13. Limitations on Issuances of Securities . The Corporation may not (a) issue equity securities on a deferred payment basis or other similar arrangement; (b) issue debt securities in the absence of adequate cash flow to cover debt service unless the historical debt service coverage (in the most recently completed fiscal year) as adjusted for known changes is sufficient to service that higher level of debt as determined by the board of directors or a duly authorized executive officer of the Corporation; (c) issue equity securities that are assessable after receipt by the Corporation of the consideration for which the board of directors authorized their issuance; or (d) issue equity securities redeemable solely at the option of the holder, which restriction has no affect on the Corporations ability to implement a share repurchase program. The Corporation may issue shares of Preferred Stock with voting rights; provided that, when a privately issued share of Preferred Stock is entitled to vote on a matter with the holders of shares of Common Stock, the relationship between the number of votes per such share of Preferred Stock and the consideration paid to the Corporation for such share shall not exceed the relationship between the number of votes per any publicly offered share of Common Stock and the book value per outstanding share of Common Stock. Nothing in this Section 9.13 is intended to prevent the Corporation from issuing equity securities pursuant to a plan whereby the commissions on the sales of such securities are in whole or in part deferred and paid by the purchaser thereof out of future distributions on such securities or otherwise.
Section 9.14. Limitations on Roll-Up Transactions . In connection with any proposed Roll-Up Transaction, an appraisal of all of the Corporations assets shall be obtained from a competent Independent Expert. If the appraisal will be included in a Prospectus used to offer the securities of a Roll-Up Entity, the appraisal shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, if applicable, the states in which registration of such securities is sought, as an exhibit to the registration statement for the offering. The Corporations assets shall be appraised on a consistent basis. The appraisal shall be based on the evaluation of all relevant information and shall indicate the value of the assets as of a date immediately prior to the announcement of the proposed Roll-Up Transaction. The appraisal shall assume an orderly liquidation of the assets over a 12-month period. The terms of the engagement of the Independent Expert shall clearly state that the engagement is for the benefit of the Corporation and its stockholders. A summary of the appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the appraisal, shall be included in a report to stockholders in connection with a proposed Roll-Up Transaction. In connection with a proposed Roll-Up Transaction, the Person sponsoring the Roll-Up Transaction shall offer to each Common Stockholder who votes against the proposed Roll-Up Transaction the choice of:
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(a) accepting the securities of the Roll-Up Entity offered in the proposed Roll-Up Transaction; or
(b) one of the following:
(i) remaining as a Common Stockholder of the Corporation and preserving its interests therein on the same terms and conditions as existed previously; or
(ii) receiving cash in an amount equal to the stockholders pro rata share of the appraised value of the Net Assets of the Corporation.
The Corporation is prohibited from participating in any proposed Roll-Up Transaction:
(a) that would result in the Common Stockholders having democracy rights in a Roll-Up Entity that are less than the rights set forth in Sections 11.1, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6 and 11.7 hereof;
(b) that includes provisions that would operate as a material impediment to, or frustration of, the accumulation of shares by any purchaser of the securities of the Roll-Up Entity (except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of the Roll-Up Entity), or that would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities of the Roll-Up Entity on the basis of the number of shares of Common Stock held by that investor;
(c) in which investors rights of access to the records of the Roll-Up Entity will be less than those described in Section 11.7 hereof; or
(d) in which any of the costs of the Roll-Up Transaction would be borne by the Corporation if the Roll-Up Transaction is not approved by the Common Stockholders.
Section 9.15. Limitations on Underwriting . The Corporation may not engage in underwriting or the agency distribution of securities issued by others.
ARTICLE X
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Section 10.1. Conflicts Committee .
(a) During any time that the Corporation is advised by the Advisor, there shall be a committee (the Conflicts Committee) of the board of directors composed of all of the Independent Directors. The Conflicts Committee is authorized to select and retain its own legal and financial advisors. In addition to those other powers delegated to
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the Conflicts Committee by this charter or by the board of directors, the Conflicts Committee may act on any matter that may be delegated to a committee under the MGCL. If a matter cannot be delegated to a committee under the MGCL but the Conflicts Committee has determined that the matter at issue is such that the exercise of independent judgment by the directors who are not Independent Directors could reasonably be compromised, both the board of directors and the Conflicts Committee must approve the matter. Any board action regarding Organization and Offering Expenses or the selection of an Independent Expert or the matters covered in any of Sections 5.9, 7.6, 8.1, 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 9.1, 9.8, 10.1, 11.1, 12.2 or 12.3 shall require the approval of a majority of the Conflicts Committee.
(b) The Conflicts Committee may create a subcommittee of the Conflicts Committee and delegate to the subcommittee any of the powers of the Conflicts Committee. The members of any such subcommittee shall serve at the pleasure of the Conflicts Committee.
Section 10.2. Voting by Conflicts Committee . For an action to be taken by the Conflicts Committee or a subcommittee thereof, the matter must be approved by a majority of the Independent Directors present for the purposes of determining a quorum at a meeting at which a quorum is present or such higher threshold as required by the charter. If any such Independent Director has an interest in the matter at issue other than in his or her role as a director, the matter must also be approved by a majority of those Independent Directors present at the meeting who have no other interest in the matter.
ARTICLE XI
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 11.1. Meetings of Stockholders . There shall be an annual meeting of the stockholders, to be held at such time and place as shall be determined by or in the manner prescribed in the bylaws, at which the directors shall be elected and any other proper business may be conducted. The annual meeting will be held on a date that is a reasonable period of time following the distribution of the Corporations annual report to Common Stockholders but not less than 30 days after delivery of such report; the board of directors and the Conflicts Committee shall take reasonable efforts to ensure that this requirement is met. The holders of a majority of the shares of Capital Stock entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at an annual meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present may, without the necessity for concurrence by the board, vote to elect the directors. The presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast 50% of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting on any matter constitutes a quorum. Special meetings of stockholders may be called in the manner provided in the bylaws, including by the president or by a majority of the directors or a majority of the Independent Directors, and shall be called by the secretary of the Corporation upon written request of Common Stockholders holding in the aggregate not less than 10% of the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at any such special
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meeting. Upon receipt of a written request stating the purpose of such special meeting, our Secretary shall provide all stockholders within 10 days of receipt of said request notice, whether in person or by mail, of a special meeting and the purpose of such special meeting to be held on a date not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days after the delivery of such notice. If the meeting is called by written request of stockholders as described in this Section 11.1, the special meeting shall be held at the time and place specified in the stockholder request; provided, however, that if none is so specified, at such time and place convenient to the stockholders.
Section 11.2. Extraordinary Actions . Notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Section 11.3. Unsolicited Takeover Statute . Until the Common Stock of the Corporation is Listed, the Corporation may not take advantage of any of the permissive provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL, as amended from time to time or any successor statute thereto.
Section 11.4. Voting Rights of Stockholders . The concurrence of the board shall not be required in order for the Common Stockholders to remove directors or to amend the charter or dissolve the corporation. Without the approval of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on the matter, the board of directors may not (a) amend the charter to adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Common Stockholders; (b) amend charter provisions relating to director qualifications, fiduciary duties, liability and indemnification, conflicts of interest, investment policies or investment restrictions; (c) liquidate or dissolve the Corporation other than before the initial investment in property; (d) sell all or substantially all of the Corporations assets other than in the ordinary course of the Corporations business; or (e) cause the merger or other reorganization of the Corporation.
Section 11.5. Voting Limitations on Shares Held by the Advisor, Directors and Affiliates . No shares of Common Stock may be transferred or issued to the Advisor, a director, or any Affiliate thereof unless such prospective stockholder agrees that it will not vote or consent on matters submitted to the Common Stockholders regarding (a) the removal of such Advisor, director or any of its Affiliates or (b) any transaction between the Corporation and any such Advisor, director or any of its Affiliates. To the extent permitted by the MGCL, in determining the requisite percentage in interest of shares of Common Stock necessary to approve a matter on which the Advisor, a director and any of their Affiliates may not vote or consent, any shares owned by any of them shall not be included.
Section 11.6. Right of Inspection . Any Common Stockholder and any designated representative thereof shall be permitted access to the records of the Corporation to which it is entitled under applicable law at all reasonable times and may inspect and copy any such records for a reasonable charge. Inspection of the Corporations books and records
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by the office or agency administering the securities laws of a jurisdiction shall be permitted upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours.
Section 11.7. Access to Stockholder List . An alphabetical list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the Common Stockholders of the Corporation, along with the number of shares of Common Stock held by each of them (the Stockholder List), shall be maintained as part of the books and records of the Corporation and shall be available for inspection by any Common Stockholder or the stockholders designated agent at the home office of the Corporation upon the request of the Common Stockholder. The Stockholder List shall be updated at least quarterly to reflect changes in the information contained therein. A copy of such list shall be mailed to any Common Stockholder so requesting within 10 days of receipt by the Corporation of the request. The copy of the Stockholder List shall be printed in alphabetical order, on white paper and in a readily readable type size (in no event smaller than 10-point type). The Corporation may impose a reasonable charge for expenses incurred in reproduction pursuant to the stockholder request. A Common Stockholder may request a copy of the Stockholder List in connection with matters relating to stockholders voting rights and the exercise of stockholder rights under federal proxy laws.
If the Advisor or the board neglects or refuses to exhibit, produce or mail a copy of the Stockholder List as requested, the Advisor and/ or the board, as the case may be, shall be liable to any Common Stockholder requesting the list for the costs, including reasonable attorneys fees, incurred by that stockholder for compelling the production of the Stockholder List and for actual damages suffered by any Common Stockholder by reason of such refusal or neglect. It shall be a defense that the actual purpose and reason for the requests for inspection or for a copy of the Stockholder List is not for a proper purpose but is instead for the purpose of securing such list of stockholders or other information for the purpose of selling such list or copies thereof, or using the same for a commercial purpose other than in the interest of the applicant as a stockholder relative to the affairs of the Corporation. The Corporation may require the stockholder requesting the Stockholder List to represent that the list is not requested for a commercial purpose unrelated to the stockholders interest in the Corporation. The remedies provided hereunder to stockholders requesting copies of the Stockholder List are in addition to, and shall not in any way limit, other remedies available to stockholders under federal law or the laws of any state.
Section 11.8. Reports . The Corporation shall cause to be prepared and mailed or delivered to each Common Stockholder as of a record date after the end of the fiscal year and each holder of other publicly held securities of the Corporation within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which it relates an annual report for each fiscal year ending after the Initial Public Offering of its securities that shall include: (a) financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that are audited and reported on by independent certified public accountants; (b) the ratio of the costs of raising capital during the period to the capital raised; (c) the aggregate amount of advisory fees and the aggregate amount of other fees paid to the Advisor and any Affiliate of the Advisor by the Corporation, including fees or charges paid to the Advisor and any Affiliate of the Advisor by third parties doing business with the Corporation; (d)
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the Total Operating Expenses of the Corporation, stated as a percentage of Average Invested Assets and as a percentage of its Net Income; (e) a report from the Conflicts Committee that the policies being followed by the Corporation are in the best interests of its Common Stockholders and the basis for such determination; and (f) separately stated, full disclosure of all material terms, factors and circumstances surrounding any and all transactions involving the Corporation and the Advisor, Sponsor, a director or any Affiliate thereof occurring in the year for which the annual report is made, and the Conflicts Committee shall be specifically charged with a duty to examine and comment in the report on the fairness of such transactions. Alternatively, such information may be provided in a proxy statement delivered with the annual report. The board of directors, including the Independent Directors, shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the requirements of this Section 11.8 are met. The annual report may be delivered by any reasonable means, including through an electronic medium. Electronic delivery of the annual report or proxy statement shall comply with any then-applicable rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 11.9. Rights of Objecting Stockholders . Holders of shares of Capital Stock shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL unless the board, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire board, shall determine that such rights shall apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of Capital Stock, to a particular transaction or all transactions occurring after the date of such approval in connection with which holders of such shares of Capital Stock would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.
Section 11.10. Liability of Stockholders . The shares of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be non-assessable by the Corporation upon receipt by the Corporation of the consideration for which the board of directors authorized their issuance.
Section 11.11. Tender Offers . If any stockholder of the Corporation makes a tender offer, including, without limitation, a mini-tender offer, such stockholder must comply with all of the provisions set forth in Regulation 14D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, disclosure and notice requirements, which would be applicable if the tender offer was for more than 5% of the outstanding securities of the Corporation, provided, however, that such documents are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any such stockholder must provide notice to the Corporation at least 10 Business Days prior to initiating any such tender offer. If any stockholder initiates a tender offer without complying with the provisions set forth above (a Non-Compliant Tender Offer), the Corporation, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to redeem such non-compliant stockholders shares of Capital Stock and any shares of Capital Stock acquired in such tender offer (collectively, the Tendered Shares) at the lesser of (i) with respect to Common Stock, the price then being paid per share of Common Stock purchased in the Corporations latest offering of Common Stock at full purchase price (not discounted for commission reductions nor for reductions in sale price permitted pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan), (ii) the fair market value of the shares as determined by an independent valuation obtained by the Corporation or (iii) the lowest tender offer price offered in such Non-Compliant Tender Offer. The Corporation may purchase such
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Tendered Shares upon delivery of the purchase price to the stockholder initiating such Non-Compliant Tender Offer, and, upon such delivery, the Corporation may instruct any transfer agent to transfer such purchased shares to the Corporation. In addition, any stockholder who makes a Non-Compliant Tender Offer shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Corporation in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Section 11.11, including, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with the review of all documents related to such tender offer and expenses incurred in connection with any purchase of Tendered Shares by the Corporation. The Corporation maintains the right to offset any such expenses against the dollar amount to be paid by the Corporation for the purchase of Tendered Shares pursuant to this Section 11.11. In addition to the remedies provided herein, the Corporation may seek injunctive relief, including, without limitation, a temporary or permanent restraining order, in connection with any Non-Compliant Tender Offer.
ARTICLE XII
LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS, ADVISORS AND OTHER AGENTS
Section 12.1. Limitation of Director and Officer Liability . Except as prohibited by Maryland law or the restrictions provided in Section 12.3, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 12.1, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the charter or bylaws inconsistent with this Section 12.1, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act that occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
Section 12.2. Indemnification .
(a) Except as prohibited by Maryland law or the restrictions provided in Section 12.2(b), Section 12.3 and Section 12.4, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding to: (i) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation; (ii) any individual who, while a director 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, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise; or (iii) the Advisor or any of its Affiliates acting as an agent of the Corporation, from and against any claim or liability to which such indemnitee may become subject or which such indemnitee may incur by reason of the indemnitees service in such capacity. Except as provided in Section 12.2(b), Section 12.3 and Section 12.4, the Corporation shall have the power with the approval of the board of directors to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to any Person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described above or to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a
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predecessor of the Corporation or any employee of the Advisor or any of the Advisors Affiliates acting as an agent of the Corporation.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not indemnify the directors or the Advisors or its Affiliates or any Person acting as a broker-dealer for any loss, liability or expense arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by such party unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged material securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Corporation were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.
(c) The rights of a director or officer to indemnification and advance of expenses provided hereby shall vest immediately upon election of such director or officer. No amendment of the charter or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the right of indemnification or advancement of expenses provided hereunder with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 12.3. Limitation on Exculpation and Indemnification . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not provide for indemnification of the directors or the Advisor or its Affiliates for any liability or loss suffered by any of them, nor shall any of them be held harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Corporation, unless all of the following conditions are met:
(1) | The directors or the Advisor or its Affiliates have determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Corporation. |
(2) | The directors or the Advisor or its Affiliates were acting on behalf of or performing services for the Corporation. |
(3) | Such liability or loss was not the result of: |
(x) negligence or misconduct by the directors (excluding the Independent Directors) or the Advisor or its Affiliates; or
(y) gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Independent Directors.
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(4) | Such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the Corporations Net Assets and not from its Common Stockholders. |
Section 12.4. Limitation on Payment of Expenses . The Corporation shall pay or reimburse reasonable legal expenses and other costs incurred by the directors or the Advisors or its Affiliates in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding only if (in addition to the procedures required by the MGCL) all of the following are satisfied: (a) the proceeding relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Corporation, (b) the legal proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not a Common Stockholder or, if by a Common Stockholder acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction approves such advancement and (c) the directors or the Advisor or its Affiliates undertake to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Corporation, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it is ultimately determined that the particular indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT
Subject to Section 11.4, the Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the charter, of any shares of outstanding Capital Stock.
ARTICLE XIV
GOVERNING LAW
The rights of all parties and the validity, construction and effect of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to conflicts of laws provisions thereof; provided that the foregoing choice of law shall not restrict the application of any states securities laws to the sale of securities to its residents or within such state.
THIRD : The amendment and restatement of the charter of the Corporation as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the board of directors and approved by the stockholder of the Corporation as required by law.
FOURTH : The current address of the principal office of the Corporation is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
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FIFTH : The name and address of the Corporations current resident agent are as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
SIXTH : The number of directors of the Corporation and the names of those currently in office are as set forth in Section 7.1 of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.
SEVENTH : The undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters and facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc., has caused the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary on this 21 day of January, 2011.
KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. (SEAL) | |
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. | ||
Chief Executive Officer | ||
ATTEST | ||
By: |
/s/ Peter McMillan III | |
Peter McMillan III | ||
Secretary |
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Exhibit 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT
between
KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC.
and
KBS CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC
January 21, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
ARTICLE 2 - APPOINTMENT |
9 | |||
ARTICLE 3 - DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR |
9 | |||
3.01 Organizational and Offering Services |
10 | |||
3.02 Acquisition Services |
10 | |||
3.03 Asset Management Services |
10 | |||
3.04 Stockholder Services |
13 | |||
3.05 Other Services |
13 | |||
ARTICLE 4 - AUTHORITY OF ADVISOR |
14 | |||
4.01 General |
14 | |||
4.02 Powers of the Advisor |
14 | |||
4.03 Approval by the Board |
14 | |||
4.04 Modification or Revocation of Authority of Advisor |
14 | |||
ARTICLE 5 - BANK ACCOUNTS |
14 | |||
ARTICLE 6 - RECORDS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
15 | |||
ARTICLE 7 - LIMITATION ON ACTIVITIES |
15 | |||
ARTICLE 8 - FEES |
16 | |||
8.02 Origination Fees |
16 | |||
8.03 Asset Management Fees |
17 | |||
8.04 Disposition Fees |
17 | |||
8.05 Subscription Processing Fee |
18 | |||
8.06 Subordinated Share of Cash Flows |
18 | |||
8.07 Subordinated Incentive Fee |
19 | |||
8.08 Changes to Fee Structure |
20 | |||
ARTICLE 9 - EXPENSES |
20 | |||
9.01 General |
20 | |||
9.02 Timing of and Limitations on Reimbursements |
21 | |||
ARTICLE 10 VOTING AGREEMENT |
22 | |||
ARTICLE 11 - RELATIONSHIP OF ADVISOR AND COMPANY; OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISOR |
23 | |||
11.01 Relationship |
23 | |||
11.02 Time Commitment |
23 | |||
11.03 Investment Opportunities and Allocation |
23 | |||
ARTICLE 12 - THE KBS NAME |
23 | |||
ARTICLE 13 - TERM AND TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT |
24 | |||
13.01 Term |
24 | |||
13.02 Termination by Either Party |
24 | |||
13.03 Payments on Termination and Survival of Certain Rights and Obligations |
24 | |||
ARTICLE 14 - ASSIGNMENT |
25 | |||
ARTICLE 15 - INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
25 | |||
15.01 Indemnification |
25 |
i
15.02 Limitation on Indemnification |
26 | |||
15.03 Limitation on Payment of Expenses |
26 | |||
ARTICLE 16 - MISCELLANEOUS |
26 | |||
16.01 Notices |
26 | |||
16.02 Modification |
27 | |||
16.03 Severability |
27 | |||
16.04 Construction |
27 | |||
16.05 Entire Agreement |
27 | |||
16.06 Waiver |
27 | |||
16.07 Gender |
28 | |||
16.08 Titles Not to Affect Interpretation |
28 | |||
16.09 Counterparts |
28 |
ii
AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2011 (the Agreement), is between KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Company), and KBS Capital Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Advisor).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company desires to avail itself of the knowledge, experience, sources of information, advice, assistance and certain facilities available to the Advisor and to have the Advisor undertake the duties and responsibilities hereinafter set forth, on behalf of, and subject to the supervision of, the board of directors of the Company (the Board), all as provided herein; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor is willing to undertake to render such services, subject to the supervision of the Board, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified below:
Acquisition Expenses means any and all expenses, excluding the fee payable to the Advisor pursuant to Section 8.01, incurred by the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of either in connection with the selection, acquisition or development of any property, loan or other potential investment, whether or not acquired or originated, as applicable, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, costs of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on properties or other investments not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance premiums and miscellaneous expenses related to the selection, acquisition or development of any property, loan or other potential investment.
Acquisition Fees means the fee payable to the Advisor pursuant to Section 8.01 plus all other fees and commissions, excluding Acquisition Expenses, paid by any Person to any Person in connection with making or investing in any Property or other Permitted Investment or the purchase, development or construction of any Property by the Company. Included in the computation of such fees or commissions shall be any real estate commission, selection fee, Development Fee, Construction Fee, nonrecurring management fee, loan fees or points or any fee of a similar nature, however designated. Excluded shall be Development Fees and Construction Fees paid to Persons not
1
Affiliated with the Advisor in connection with the actual development and construction of a Property.
Advisor means (i) KBS Capital Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or (ii) any successor advisor to the Company.
Affiliate or Affiliated. An Affiliate of another Person includes any of the following: (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other Person; (ii) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling, or holding with the power to vote 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person; (iii) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee, or general partner; (iv) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held, with power to vote, by such other Person; and (v) any executive officer, director, trustee, or general partner of such other Person. An entity shall not be deemed to control or be under common control with an Advisor-sponsored program unless (i) the entity owns 10% or more of the voting equity interests of such program or (ii) a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such program is composed of Affiliates of the entity.
Appraised Value means the value according to an appraisal made by an Independent Appraiser.
Articles of Incorporation means the Articles of Incorporation of the Company under Title 2 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
Asset Management Fee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.
Average Invested Assets means, for a specified period, the average of the aggregate book value of the assets of the Company invested, directly or indirectly, in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments secured by real estate before reserves for depreciation or bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves, computed by taking the average of such values at the end of each month during such period.
Board of Directors or Board means the persons holding such office, as of any particular time, under the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, whether they be the Directors named therein or additional or successor Directors.
Bylaws means the bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time.
Cash from Financings means the net cash proceeds realized by the Company from the financing of Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments or from the refinancing of any Company indebtedness (after deduction of all expenses incurred in connection therewith).
Cash from Sales and Settlements means the net cash proceeds realized by the Company (i) from the sale, exchange or other disposition of any of its assets or any
2
portion thereof after deduction of all expenses incurred in connection therewith including, without limitation, Disposition Fees and (ii) from the prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement of any Loan or Permitted Investment or portion thereof after deduction of all expenses incurred in connection therewith. In the case of a transaction described in clause (i) (C) of the definition of Sale and (i)(B) of the definition of Settlement, Cash from Sales and Settlements means the proceeds of any such transaction actually distributed to the Company from the Joint Venture or partnership. Cash from Sales and Settlements shall not include Cash from Financings.
Cash from Sales, Settlements and Financings means the total sum of Cash from Sales and Settlements and Cash from Financings.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto. Reference to any provision of the Code shall mean such provision as in effect from time to time, as the same may be amended, and any successor provision thereto, as interpreted by any applicable regulations as in effect from time to time.
Company means KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland.
Competitive Real Estate Commission means a real estate or brokerage commission for the purchase or sale of property that is reasonable, customary, and competitive in light of the size, type, and location of the property.
Conflicts Committee shall have the meaning set forth in the Companys Articles of Incorporation.
Construction Fee means a fee or other remuneration for acting as general contractor and/or construction manager to construct improvements, supervise and coordinate projects or to provide major repairs or rehabilitation on a Property.
Contract Sales Price means the total consideration received by the Company for the sale of a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment.
Cost of Loans and other Permitted Investments means the sum of the cost of all Loans and Permitted Investments held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or the Partnership, calculated each month on an ongoing basis, and calculated as follows for each investment: the lesser of (i) the amount actually paid or allocated to acquire or fund the Loan or Permitted Investment, inclusive of fees and expenses related thereto (but exclusive of any Acquisition Fees or Origination Fees paid or payable to the Advisor or its affiliates under this Agreement), and the amount of any debt associated with or used to acquire or fund such investment) and (ii) the outstanding principal amount of such Loan or Permitted Investment, plus the fees and expenses related to the acquisition or funding of such investment (but exclusive of any Acquisition Fees or Origination Fees paid or payable to the Advisor or its affiliates under this Agreement), as of the time of calculation. With respect to any Loan or Permitted Investment held by the Company or the Partnership through a Joint Venture or partnership of which it is, directly or
3
indirectly, a co-venturer or partner, such amount shall be the Companys proportionate share thereof.
Cost of Real Estate Investments means the sum of (i) with respect to Properties wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, the amount actually paid or allocated to the purchase, development, construction or improvement of Properties, inclusive of fees and expenses related thereto (but exclusive of any Acquisition Fees paid or payable to the Advisor or its affiliates under this Agreement), plus the amount of any outstanding debt attributable to such Properties and (ii) in the case of Properties owned by any Joint Venture or partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner, the portion of the amount actually paid or allocated to the purchase, development, construction or improvement of Properties, inclusive of fees and expenses related thereto (but exclusive of any Acquisition Fees paid or payable to the Advisor or its affiliates under this Agreement), plus the amount of any outstanding debt associated with such Properties that is attributable to the Companys investment in the Joint Venture or partnership.
Dealer Manager means (i) KBS Capital Markets Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or (ii) any successor dealer manager to the Company.
Development Fee means a fee for the packaging of a Property, including negotiating and approving plans, and undertaking to assist in obtaining zoning and necessary variances and necessary financing for the Property, either initially or at a later date.
Director means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Disposition Fee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.
Distributions means any distributions of money or other property by the Company to owners of Shares, including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes.
GAAP means accounting principals generally accepted in the United States.
Gross Proceeds means the aggregate purchase price of all Shares sold for the account of the Company through an Offering, without deduction for Organization and Offering Expenses.
Independent Appraiser means a person or entity with no material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor or the Directors, who is engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets of the type held by the Company, and who is a qualified appraiser of real estate as determined by the Board. Membership in a nationally recognized appraisal society such as the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers (M.A.I.) or the Society of Real Estate Appraisers (S.R.E.A.) shall be conclusive evidence of such qualification.
4
Initial Public Offering means the initial public offering of Shares registered on Registration Statement No. 333-164703 on Form S-11.
Invested Capital means the amount calculated by multiplying the total number of Shares purchased by Stockholders by the issue price, reduced by any amounts paid by the Company to repurchase Shares pursuant to the Companys plan for redemption of Shares.
Joint Venture means any joint venture, limited liability company or other Affiliate of the Company that owns, in whole or in part, on behalf of the Company any Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments.
Listed or Listing shall have the meaning set forth in the Companys Articles of Incorporation.
Loans means mortgage loans and other types of debt financing investments made by the Company or the Partnership, either directly or indirectly, including through ownership interests in a Joint Venture or partnership, and including, without limitation, mezzanine loans, B-notes, bridge loans, convertible mortgages, wraparound mortgage loans, construction mortgage loans, loans on leasehold interests, and participations in such loans.
Market Value shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.07.
NASAA Guidelines means the NASAA Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts as in effect on the date hereof.
Net Income means, for any period, the total revenues applicable to such period, less the total expenses applicable to such period excluding additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves; provided, however, Net Income for purposes of calculating total allowable Operating Expenses (as defined herein) shall exclude the gain from the sale of the Companys assets.
Offering means any offering of Shares that is registered with the SEC, excluding Shares offered under any employee benefit plan.
Operating Cash Flow means Operating Revenue Cash Flows minus the sum of (i) Operating Expenses, (ii) all principal and interest payments on indebtedness and other sums paid to lenders, (iii) the expenses of raising capital such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration, and other fees, printing and other such expenses and tax incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and Listing of the Shares, (iv) taxes, (v) incentive fees paid in compliance with Section IV.F. of the NASAA Guidelines and (vi) Acquisition Fees, Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on the resale of real property, and other expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (other than commissions on the sale of assets other than real property), such as the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property.
5
Operating Expenses means all costs and expenses incurred by the Company, as determined under GAAP, that in any way are related to the operation of the Company or to Company business, including fees paid to the Advisor, but excluding (i) the expenses of raising capital such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration, and other fees, printing and other such expenses and tax incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and Listing of the Shares, (ii) interest payments, (iii) taxes, (iv) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad loan reserves, (v) incentive fees paid in compliance with Section IV.F. of the NASAA Guidelines and (vi) Acquisition Fees, Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on the resale of real property, and other expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, and ownership of real estate interests, mortgage loans or other property (other than commissions on the sale of assets other than real property), such as the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property.
Operating Revenue Cash Flows means the Companys cash flow from ownership and/or operation of (i) Properties, (ii) Loans, (iii) Permitted Investments, (iv) short-term investments, and (v) interests in Properties, Loans and Permitted Investments owned by any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner.
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 to the public, whether incurred before or after the date of this Agreement, which may include but are not limited to, total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters attorneys); any expense allowance granted by the Company to the underwriter or any reimbursement of expenses of the underwriter by the Company; 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.
Origination Fees means the fee payable to the Advisor pursuant to Section 8.02 plus all other fees and commissions, excluding Acquisition Expenses, paid by any Person to any Person in connection with making or investing in any Loan by the Company.
Partnership means KBS Limited Partnership III, a Delaware limited partnership formed to own and operate Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on behalf of the Company.
Permitted Investments means all investments (other than Properties, Loans and short-term investments acquired for purposes of cash management) in which the Company may acquire an interest, either directly or indirectly, including through ownership interests in a Joint Venture or partnership, pursuant to its Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and the investment objectives and policies adopted by the Board from time to time.
6
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c) (17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity, or any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Property or Properties means any real property or properties transferred or conveyed to the Company or the Partnership, either directly or indirectly, and/or any real property or properties transferred or conveyed to a Joint Venture or partnership in which the Company is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner.
Property Manager means an entity that has been retained to perform and carry out at one or more of the Properties property-management services, excluding persons, entities or independent contractors retained or hired to perform facility management or other services or tasks at a particular Property, the costs for which are passed through to and ultimately paid by the tenant at such Property.
Registration Statement means the registration statement filed by the Company with the SEC on Form S-11 (Reg. No. 333-164703), as amended from time to time, in connection with the Initial Public Offering.
REIT means a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.
Sale or Sales means (i) any transaction or series of transactions whereby: (A) the Company or the Partnership sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof, including the transfer of any Property that is the subject of a ground lease, and including any event with respect to any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment that gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards, and including the issuance by one of the Companys subsidiaries of any asset-backed securities as part of a securitization transaction; (B) the Company or the Partnership sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of all or substantially all of the interest of the Company or the Partnership in any Joint Venture or partnership in which it is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner; or (C) any Joint Venture or partnership (in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner) sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment that gives rise to insurance claims or condemnation awards, and including the issuance by such Joint Venture or partnership or one of its subsidiaries of any asset-backed securities as part of a securitization transaction, but (ii) not including any transaction or series of transactions specified in clause (i) (A), (i) (B), or (i) (C) above in which the proceeds of such transaction or series of transactions are reinvested in one or more Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments within 180 days thereafter.
7
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Settlement means (i) the prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement of any Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof owned, directly or indirectly, by (A) the Company or the Partnership or (B) any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner, but (ii) not including any transaction or series of transactions specified in clause (i) (A) or (i) (B) above in which the proceeds of such prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement are reinvested in one or more Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments within 180 days thereafter.
Shares means the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.
Stockholders means the registered holders of the Shares.
Stockholders 8% Return means, as of any date, an aggregate amount equal to an 8% cumulative, non-compounded, annual return on Invested Capital (calculated like simple interest on a daily basis based on a three hundred sixty-five day year). For purposes of calculating the Stockholders 8% Return, Invested Capital shall be determined for each day during the period for which the Stockholders 8% Return is being calculated and shall be calculated net of (1) Distributions of Operating Cash Flow to the extent such Distributions of Operating Cash Flow provide a cumulative, non-compounded, annual return in excess of 8%, as such amounts are computed on a daily basis based on a three hundred sixty-five day year and (2) Distributions of Cash from Sales, Settlements and Financings, except to the extent such Distributions would be required to supplement Distributions of Operating Cash Flow in order to achieve a cumulative, non-compounded, annual return of 8%, as such amounts are computed on a daily basis based on a three hundred sixty-five day year.
Subordinated Incentive Fee means the fee payable to the Advisor under certain circumstances if the Shares are Listed, as calculated in Section 8.07.
Subordinated Performance Fee Due Upon Termination means a fee payable in the form of an interest bearing promissory note (the Performance Fee Note) in a principal amount equal to (1) 15% of the amount, if any, by which (a) the Appraised Value of the Companys Properties at the Termination Date, less amounts of all indebtedness secured by the Companys Properties, plus the fair market value of all other Loans and Permitted Investments of the Company at the Termination Date, less amounts of indebtedness related to such Loans and Permitted Investments, plus total Distributions (excluding any stock dividend) through the Termination Date exceeds (b) the sum of Invested Capital plus total Distributions required to be made to the stockholders in order to pay the Stockholders 8% Return from inception through the Termination Date less (2) any prior payment to the Advisor of a Subordinated Share of Cash Flows. Interest on the Performance Fee Note will accrue beginning on the Termination Date at a rate deemed fair and reasonable by the Conflicts Committee. The Company shall repay the Performance Fee Note at such time as the Company completes the first Sale or Settlement
8
after the Termination Date using Cash from Sales and Settlements. If the Cash from Sales and Settlements from the first Sale or Settlement after the Termination Date is insufficient to pay the Performance Fee Note in full, including accrued interest, then the Performance Fee Note shall be paid in part from the Cash from Sales and Settlements from the first Sale or Settlement, and in part from the Cash from Sales and Settlements from each successive Sale or Settlement until the Performance Fee Note is repaid in full, with interest. If the Performance Fee Note has not been paid in full within five years from the Termination Date, then the Advisor, its successors or assigns, may elect to convert the balance of the fee, including accrued but unpaid interest, into Shares at a price per Share equal to the average closing price of the Shares over the ten trading days immediately preceding the date of such election if the Shares are Listed at such time. If the Shares are not Listed at such time, the Advisor, its successors or assigns, may elect to convert the balance of the fee, including accrued but unpaid interest, into Shares at a price per Share equal to the fair market value for the Shares as determined by the Board of Directors based upon the Appraised Value of Companys Properties on the date of election plus the fair market value of all other Loans and Permitted Investments of the Company on the date of election.
Subordinated Share of Cash Flows has the meaning set forth in Section 8.06.
Subscription Processing Fee has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05.
Termination Date means the date of termination of the Agreement determined in accordance with Article 13 hereof.
2%/25% Guidelines means the requirement pursuant to the NASAA Guidelines that, in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, total Operating Expenses not exceed the greater of 2% of the Companys Average Invested Assets during such 12-month period or 25% of the Companys Net Income over the same 12-month period.
ARTICLE 2
APPOINTMENT
The Company hereby appoints the Advisor to serve as its advisor and asset manager on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Advisor hereby accepts such appointment.
ARTICLE 3
DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR
The Advisor is responsible for managing, operating, directing and supervising the operations and administration of the Company and its assets. The Advisor undertakes to use its best efforts to present to the Company potential investment opportunities and to provide the Company with a continuing and suitable investment program consistent with
9
the investment objectives and policies of the Company as determined and adopted from time to time by the Board. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, including Article 4 hereof, and the continuing and exclusive authority of the Board over the management of the Company, the Advisor shall, either directly or by engaging an Affiliate or third party, perform the following duties:
3.01 Organizational and Offering Services. The Advisor shall perform all services related to the organization of the Company or any Offering or private sale of the Companys securities, other than services that (i) are to be performed by the Dealer Manager, (ii) the Company elects to perform directly or (iii) would require the Advisor to register as a broker-dealer with the SEC or any state.
3.02 Acquisition Services.
(i) Serve as the Companys investment and financial advisor and provide relevant market research and economic and statistical data in connection with the Companys assets and investment objectives and policies;
(ii) Subject to Section 4 hereof and the investment objectives and policies of the Company: (a) locate, analyze and select potential investments; (b) structure and negotiate the terms and conditions of transactions pursuant to which investments in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments will be made; (c) acquire, originate and dispose of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on behalf of the Company; (d) arrange for financing and refinancing and make other changes in the asset or capital structure of investments in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments; and (e) enter into leases, service contracts and other agreements for Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments;
(iii) Perform due diligence on prospective investments and create due diligence reports summarizing the results of such work;
(iv) Prepare reports regarding prospective investments that include recommendations and supporting documentation necessary for the Directors to evaluate the proposed investments;
(v) Obtain reports (which may be prepared by the Advisor or its Affiliates), where appropriate, concerning the value of contemplated investments of the Company;
(vi) Deliver to or maintain on behalf of the Company copies of all appraisals obtained in connection with the Companys investments; and
(vii) Negotiate and execute approved investments and other transactions, including prepayments, maturities, workouts and other settlements of Loans and other Permitted Investments.
3.03 Asset Management Services.
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(i) Real Estate and Related Services:
(a) Investigate, select and, on behalf of the Company, engage and conduct business with (including enter contracts with) such Persons as the Advisor deems necessary to the proper performance of its obligations as set forth in this Agreement, including but not limited to consultants, accountants, lenders, technical advisors, attorneys, brokers, underwriters, corporate fiduciaries, escrow agents, depositaries, custodians, agents for collection, insurers, insurance agents, developers, construction companies, Property Managers and any and all Persons acting in any other capacity deemed by the Advisor necessary or desirable for the performance of any of the foregoing services;
(b) Negotiate and service the Companys debt facilities and other financings;
(c) Monitor applicable markets and obtain reports (which may be prepared by the Advisor or its Affiliates) where appropriate, concerning the value of investments of the Company;
(d) Monitor and evaluate the performance of each asset of the Company and the Companys overall portfolio of assets, provide daily management services to the Company and perform and supervise the various management and operational functions related to the Companys investments;
(e) Formulate and oversee the implementation of strategies for the administration, promotion, management, operation, maintenance, improvement, financing and refinancing, marketing, leasing and disposition of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on an overall portfolio basis;
(f) Consult with the Companys officers and the Board and assist the Board in the formulation and implementation of the Companys financial policies, and, as necessary, furnish the Board with advice and recommendations with respect to the making of investments consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company and in connection with any borrowings proposed to be undertaken by the Company;
(g) Oversee the performance by the Property Managers of their duties, including collection and proper deposits of rental payments and payment of Property expenses and maintenance;
(h) Conduct periodic on-site property visits to some or all (as the Advisor deems reasonably necessary) of the Properties to inspect the physical condition of the Properties and to evaluate the performance of the Property Managers;
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(i) Review, analyze and comment upon the operating budgets, capital budgets and leasing plans prepared and submitted by each Property Manager and aggregate these property budgets into the Companys overall budget;
(j) Coordinate and manage relationships between the Company and any co-venturers or partners; and
(k) Consult with the Companys officers and the Board and provide assistance with the evaluation and approval of potential asset dispositions, sales and refinancings.
(ii) Accounting and Other Administrative Services:
(a) Provide the day-to-day management of the Company and perform and supervise the various administrative functions reasonably necessary for the management of the Company;
(b) From time to time, or at any time reasonably requested by the Board, make reports to the Board on the Advisors performance of services to the Company under this Agreement;
(c) Make reports to the Conflicts Committee each quarter of the investments that have been made by other programs sponsored by the Advisor or any of its Affiliates, including KBS Realty Advisors LLC, as well as any investments that have been made by the Advisor or any of its Affiliates directly;
(d) Provide or arrange for any administrative services and items, legal and other services, office space, office furnishings, personnel and other overhead items necessary and incidental to the Companys business and operations;
(e) Provide financial and operational planning services;
(f) Maintain accounting and other record-keeping functions at the Company level and the investment levels, including information concerning the activities of the Company as shall be required to prepare and to file all periodic financial reports, tax returns and any other information required to be filed with the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service and any other regulatory agency;
(g) Maintain and preserve all appropriate books and records of the Company;
(h) Provide tax and compliance services and coordinate with appropriate third parties, including the Companys independent auditors and other consultants, on related tax matters;
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(i) Provide the Company with all necessary cash management services;
(j) Manage and coordinate with the transfer agent the dividend process and payments to Stockholders;
(k) Consult with the Companys officers and the Board and assist the Board in evaluating and obtaining adequate insurance coverage based upon risk management determinations;
(l) Provide the Companys officers and the Board with timely updates related to the overall regulatory environment affecting the Company, as well as managing compliance with such matters, including but not limited to compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
(m) Consult with the Companys officers and the Board relating to the corporate governance structure and appropriate policies and procedures related thereto;
(n) Perform all reporting, record keeping, internal controls and similar matters in a manner to allow the Company to comply with applicable law, including federal and state securities laws and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
(o) Notify the Board of all proposed material transactions before they are completed; and
(p) Do all things necessary to assure its ability to render the services described in this Agreement.
3.04 Stockholder Services.
(i) Manage services for and communications with Stockholders, including answering phone calls, preparing and sending written and electronic reports and other communications;
(ii) Oversee the performance of the transfer agent and registrar;
(iii) Establish technology infrastructure to assist in providing Stockholder support and service; and
(iv) Consistent with Section 3.01, the Advisor shall perform the various subscription processing services reasonably necessary for the admission of new Stockholders.
3.05 Other Services. Except as provided in Article 7, the Advisor shall perform any other services reasonably requested by the Company (acting through the Conflicts Committee).
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ARTICLE 4
AUTHORITY OF ADVISOR
4.01 General. All rights and powers to manage and control the day-to-day business and affairs of the Company shall be vested in the Advisor. The Advisor shall have the power to delegate all or any part of its rights and powers to manage and control the business and affairs of the Company to such officers, employees, Affiliates, agents and representatives of the Advisor or the Company as it may deem appropriate. Any authority delegated by the Advisor to any other Person shall be subject to the limitations on the rights and powers of the Advisor specifically set forth in this Agreement or the Articles of Incorporation.
4.02 Powers of the Advisor. Subject to the express limitations set forth in this Agreement and the continuing and exclusive authority of the Board over the management of the Company, the power to direct the management, operation and policies of the Company shall be vested in the Advisor, which shall have the power by itself and shall be authorized and empowered on behalf and in the name of the Company to carry out any and all of the objectives and purposes of the Company and to perform all acts and enter into and perform all contracts and other undertakings that it may in its sole discretion deem necessary, advisable or incidental thereto to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
4.03 Approval by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Advisor may not take any action on behalf of the Company without the prior approval of the Board or duly authorized committees thereof if the Articles of Incorporation or Maryland General Corporation Law require the prior approval of the Board. The Advisor will deliver to the Board all documents required by it to evaluate a proposed investment (and any related financing).
4.04 Modification or Revocation of Authority of Advisor. The Board may, at any time upon the giving of notice to the Advisor, modify or revoke the authority or approvals set forth in Article 3 and this Article 4 hereof; provided, however, that such modification or revocation shall be effective upon receipt by the Advisor and shall not be applicable to investment transactions to which the Advisor has committed the Company prior to the date of receipt by the Advisor of such notification.
ARTICLE 5
BANK ACCOUNTS
The Advisor may establish and maintain one or more bank accounts in the name of the Company and may collect and deposit into any such account or accounts, and disburse from any such account or accounts, any money on behalf of the Company, under such terms and conditions as the Board may approve, provided that no funds shall be commingled with the funds of the Advisor. The Advisor shall from time to time render
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appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Board and the independent auditors of the Company.
ARTICLE 6
RECORDS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Advisor, in the conduct of its responsibilities to the Company, shall maintain adequate and separate books and records for the Companys operations in accordance with GAAP, which shall be supported by sufficient documentation to ascertain that such books and records are properly and accurately recorded. Such books and records shall be the property of the Company and shall be available for inspection by the Board and by counsel, auditors and other authorized agents of the Company, at any time or from time to time during normal business hours. Such books and records shall include all information necessary to calculate and audit the fees or reimbursements paid under this Agreement. The Advisor shall utilize procedures to attempt to ensure such control over accounting and financial transactions as is reasonably required to protect the Companys assets from theft, error or fraudulent activity. All financial statements that the Advisor delivers to the Company shall be prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, except for special financial reports that by their nature require a deviation from GAAP. The Advisor shall liaise with the Companys officers and independent auditors and shall provide such officers and auditors with the reports and other information that the Company so requests.
ARTICLE 7
LIMITATION ON ACTIVITIES
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Advisor shall not take any action that, in its sole judgment made in good faith, would (i) adversely affect the ability of the Company to qualify or continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code, (ii) subject the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (iii) violate any law, rule, regulation or statement of policy of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, its Shares or its other securities, (iv) require the Advisor to register as a broker-dealer with the SEC or any state, or (v) violate the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws. In the event an action that would violate (i) through (v) of the preceding sentence but such action has been ordered by the Board, the Advisor shall notify the Board of the Advisors judgment of the potential impact of such action and shall refrain from taking such action until it receives further clarification or instructions from the Board. In such event, the Advisor shall have no liability for acting in accordance with the specific instructions of the Board so given.
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ARTICLE 8
FEES
8.01 Acquisition Fees. As compensation for the investigation, selection and acquisition (by purchase, investment or exchange) of Properties and other Permitted Investments, the Company shall pay an Acquisition Fee to the Advisor for each such investment. With respect to the acquisition of a Property to be wholly owned by the Company, the Acquisition Fee payable to the Advisor shall equal 1.00% of the sum of the amount actually paid or allocated to the purchase, development, construction or improvement of such Property, inclusive of the Acquisition Expenses associated with such Property, and the amount of any debt attributable to such Property. With respect to other wholly owned Permitted Investments, the Acquisition Fee payable to the Advisor shall equal 1.00% of the cost of such investment, inclusive of Acquisition Expenses associated with such investment, and the amount of any debt attributable to such Permitted Investment. With respect to the acquisition of a Property or other Permitted Investment through any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner, the Acquisition Fee payable to the Advisor shall equal 1.00% of the portion of the amount actually paid or allocated to the purchase, development, construction or improvement of the Property or other Permitted Investment, inclusive of the Acquisition Expenses associated with such Property or Permitted Investment, plus the amount of any outstanding debt associated with such Property or Permitted Investment that is attributable to the Companys investment in the Joint Venture or partnership. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment of Acquisition Fees by the Company shall be subject to the limitations contained in the Companys Articles of Incorporation. The Advisor shall submit an invoice to the Company on or about the closing or closings of each acquisition, accompanied by a computation of the Acquisition Fee. The Acquisition Fee payable to the Advisor shall be paid at the closing of the acquisition upon receipt of the invoice by the Company. The Company will not pay an Acquisition Fee to the Advisor with respect to any transaction in which the Company is required to pay an Origination Fee to the Advisor pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.02 below. The Acquisition Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any period in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Acquisition Fee not taken as to any period shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other period as the Advisor shall determine.
8.02 Origination Fees. As compensation for the investigation, selection, sourcing and acquisition or origination of Loans, the Company shall pay an Origination Fee to the Advisor for each such acquisition or origination. With respect to the acquisition or origination of a Loan to be wholly owned by the Company, the Origination Fee payable to the Advisor shall equal 1% of the amount funded by the Company to acquire or originate the Loan, including any Acquisition Expenses related to such investment and any debt used to fund the acquisition or origination of the Loan. With respect to the acquisition of a Loan through any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company is, directly or indirectly, a co-venturer or partner, the Origination Fee payable to the Advisor shall equal 1% of the portion of the amount actually paid or allocated to acquire or originate the Loan, inclusive of the Acquisition Expenses associated with such
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Loan, plus the amount of any outstanding debt associated with such Loan that is attributable to the Companys investment in the Joint Venture or partnership. The Company will not pay an Origination Fee to the Advisor with respect to any transaction pursuant to which the Company is required to pay the Advisor an Acquisition Fee. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment of Origination Fees by the Company shall be subject to the limitations on Acquisition Fees contained in (and defined in) the Companys Articles of Incorporation. The Advisor shall submit an invoice to the Company following the closing or closings of each Loan, accompanied by a computation of the Origination Fee. The Origination Fee payable to the Advisor shall be paid at the closing of the transaction upon receipt of the invoice by the Company. The Origination Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any period in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Origination Fee not taken as to any period shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other period as the Advisor shall determine.
8.03 Asset Management Fees.
(i) Except as provided in Section 8.03(ii) hereof, the Company shall pay the Advisor as compensation for the services described in Section 3.03 hereof a monthly fee (the Asset Management Fee) in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 0.75% of the sum of the Cost of Real Estate Investments and the Cost of Loans and other Permitted Investments. The Advisor shall submit a monthly invoice to the Company, accompanied by a computation of the Asset Management Fee for the applicable period. The Asset Management Fee shall be payable on the last day of such month, or the first business day following the last day of such month. The Asset Management Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any period in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Asset Management Fees not taken as to any period shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other fiscal period as the Advisor shall determine.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 8.03(i) to the contrary, a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment that has suffered an impairment in value, reduction in cash flow or other negative circumstances may either be excluded from the calculation of the Cost of Real Estate Investments or the Cost of Loans and other Permitted Investments or included in such calculation at a reduced value that is recommended by the Advisor and the Companys management and then approved by a majority of the Companys independent directors, and the resulting change in the Asset Management Fee with respect to such investment will be applicable upon the earlier to occur of the date on which (i) such investment is sold, (ii) such investment is surrendered to a Person other than the Company, its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary or a Joint Venture or partnership in which the Company has an interest, (iii) the Advisor determines that it will no longer pursue collection or other remedies related to such investment, or (iv) the Advisor recommends a revised fee arrangement with respect to such investment.
8.04 Disposition Fees. If the Advisor or any of its Affiliates provide a substantial amount of services (as determined by the Conflicts Committee) in connection with a Sale,
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the Advisor or such Affiliate shall receive a fee at the closing (the Disposition Fee) equal to 1.0% of the Contract Sales Price; provided, however, that if in connection with such Sale commissions are paid to third parties other than the Advisor or its Affiliates, the fee paid to the Advisor or any of its Affiliates may not exceed the commissions paid to such unaffiliated third parties; and provided further that no Disposition Fee shall be payable to the Advisor for any Sale if such Sale involves the Company selling all or substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions designed to effectuate a business combination transaction (as opposed to a Company liquidation, in which case the Disposition Fee would be payable if the Advisor or an Affiliate provides a substantial amount of services as provided above). The payment of any Disposition Fees by the Company shall be subject to the limitations contained in the Companys Articles of Incorporation. Any Disposition Fee payable under this Section 8.04 may be paid in addition to commissions paid to non-Affiliates, provided that the total commissions (including such Disposition Fee) paid to all Persons by the Company for each Sale shall not exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 6.0% of the aggregate Contract Sales Price of each Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or (ii) the Competitive Real Estate Commission for each Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment. Substantial assistance in connection with the Sale of a Property includes the Advisors preparation of an investment package for the Property (including a new investment analysis, rent rolls, tenant information regarding credit, a property title report, an environmental report, a structural report and exhibits) or such other substantial services performed by the Advisor in connection with a Sale. The Advisor shall submit an invoice to the Company on or about the closing or closings of each disposition, accompanied by a computation of the Disposition Fee. Generally, the Disposition Fee payable to the Advisor shall be paid at the closing of the transaction upon receipt of the invoice by the Company. However, the Disposition Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any period in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Disposition Fee not taken as to any period shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other period as the Advisor shall determine.
8.05 Subscription Processing Fee. The Company shall pay the Advisor as compensation for the services described in Section 3.04(iv) hereof a monthly fee (the Subscription Processing Fee) in an amount equal to $35 per subscription agreement for Shares received and processed by the Advisor. The Advisor shall submit a monthly invoice to the Company, accompanied by a computation of the total amount of the Subscription Processing Fee for the applicable period. Generally, the Subscription Processing Fee payable to the Advisor shall be paid on the last day of such month, or the first business day following the last day of such month. However, the Subscription Processing Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any period in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Subscription Processing Fees not taken as to any period shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other period as the Advisor shall determine. The Subscription Processing Fee is an Organization and Offering Expense of the Company and is subject to the limitations on Organization and Offering Expenses in Article 9 hereof.
8.06 Subordinated Share of Cash Flows. The Subordinated Share of Cash Flows shall be payable to the Advisor in an amount equal to 15% of Operating Cash Flow and
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Cash from Sales, Settlements and Financings remaining after the Stockholders have received Distributions of Operating Cash Flow and of Cash from Sales, Settlements and Financings such that the owners of all outstanding Shares have received Distributions in an aggregate amount equal to the sum of:
a. | the Stockholders 8% Return and |
b. | Invested Capital. |
When determining whether the above threshold has been met:
(A) | Any stock dividend shall not be included as a Distribution; and |
(B) | Distributions paid on Shares redeemed by the Company (and thus no longer included in the determination of Invested Capital), shall not be included as a Distribution. |
Following Listing, no Subordinated Share of Cash Flows will be paid to the Advisor.
If the Subordinated Share of Cash Flows is payable to the Advisor, the Advisor shall submit a monthly invoice to the Company, accompanied by a computation of the total amount of the Subordinated Share of Cash Flows for the applicable period. Generally, the Subordinated Share of Cash Flows payable to the Advisor shall be paid on the last day of such month, or the first business day following the last day of such month. However, the Subordinated Share of Cash Flows may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any period in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Subordinated Share of Cash Flows not taken as to any period shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other period as the Advisor shall determine.
8.07 Subordinated Incentive Fee. Upon Listing, the Advisor shall be entitled to the Subordinated Incentive Fee in an amount equal to 15.0% of the amount by which (i) the market value of the outstanding Shares of the Company, measured by taking the average closing price or the average of the bid and asked price, as the case may be, over a period of 30 days during which the Shares are traded, with such period beginning 180 days after Listing (the Market Value), plus the total of all Distributions paid to Stockholders (excluding any stock dividends) from the Companys inception until the date that Market Value is determined, exceeds (ii) the sum of (A) 100% of Invested Capital and (B) the total Distributions required to be paid to the Stockholders in order to pay the Stockholders 8% Return from inception through the date Market Value is determined. The Company shall have the option to pay such fee in the form of cash, Shares, a promissory note or any combination of the foregoing. The Subordinated Incentive Fee will be reduced by the amount of any prior payment to the Advisor of a Subordinated Share of Cash Flows. In the event the Subordinated Incentive Fee is paid to the Advisor following Listing, no other performance fee will be paid to the Advisor. In addition, the Subordinated Incentive Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any period in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Subordinated Incentive Fee not taken as to any period shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other period as the Advisor shall determine.
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8.08 Changes to Fee Structure. In the event of Listing, the Company and the Advisor shall negotiate in good faith to establish a fee structure appropriate for a perpetual-life entity.
ARTICLE 9
EXPENSES
9.01 General. In addition to the compensation paid to the Advisor pursuant to Article 8 hereof, the Company shall pay directly or reimburse the Advisor for all of the expenses paid or incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates on behalf of the Company or in connection with the services provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement, including, but not limited to:
(i) All Organization and Offering Expenses; provided, however, that the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor to the extent such reimbursement would cause the total amount spent by the Company on Organization and Offering Expenses to exceed 15% of the Gross Proceeds raised as of the date of the reimbursement and provided further that within 60 days after the end of the month in which an Offering terminates, the Advisor shall reimburse the Company to the extent the Company incurred Organization and Offering Expenses exceeding 15% of the Gross Proceeds raised in the completed Offering; the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor for any Organization and Offering Expenses that are not fair and commercially reasonable to the Company, and the Advisor shall reimburse the Company for any Organization and Offering Expenses that are not fair and commercially reasonable to the Company;
(ii) Acquisition Fees, Origination Fees and Acquisition Expenses incurred in connection with the selection and acquisition of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments, including such expenses incurred related to assets pursued or considered but not ultimately acquired by the Company, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment of Acquisition Fees, Origination Fees and Acquisition Expenses by the Company shall be subject to the limitations contained in the Companys Articles of Incorporation;
(iii) The actual out-of-pocket cost of goods and services used by the Company and obtained from entities not Affiliated with the Advisor;
(iv) Interest and other costs for borrowed money, including discounts, points and other similar fees;
(v) Taxes and assessments on income or Properties, taxes as an expense of doing business and any other taxes otherwise imposed on the Company and its business, assets or income;
(vi) Out-of-pocket costs associated with insurance required in connection with the business of the Company or by its officers and Directors;
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(vii) Expenses of managing, improving, developing, operating and selling Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, as well as expenses of other transactions relating to such Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments, including but not limited to prepayments, maturities, workouts and other settlements of Loans and other Permitted Investments;
(viii) All out-of-pocket expenses in connection with payments to the Board and meetings of the Board and Stockholders;
(ix) Personnel and related employment costs incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in performing the services described in Article 3 hereof, including but not limited to reasonable salaries and wages, benefits and overhead of all employees directly involved in the performance of such services, provided that, other than reimbursement of travel and communications expenses, no reimbursement shall be made for the compensation of such employees of the Advisor or its Affiliates to the extent that such employees perform services for which the Advisor receives Acquisition Fees, Origination Fees or Disposition Fees;
(x) Out-of-pocket expenses of providing services for and maintaining communications with Stockholders, including the cost of preparation, printing, and mailing annual reports and other Stockholder reports, proxy statements and other reports required by governmental entities;
(xi) Audit, accounting and legal fees, and other fees for professional services relating to the operations of the Company and all such fees incurred at the request, or on behalf of, the Board, the Conflicts Committee or any other committee of the Board;
(xii) Out-of-pocket costs for the Company to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances;
(xiii) Expenses connected with payments of Distributions made or caused to be made by the Company to the Stockholders;
(xiv) Expenses of organizing, redomesticating, merging, liquidating or dissolving the Company or of amending the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws; and
(xv) All other out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Advisor in performing its duties hereunder.
9.02 Timing of and Additional Limitations on Reimbursements.
(i) Expenses incurred by the Advisor on behalf of the Company and reimbursable pursuant to this Article 9 shall be reimbursed no less than monthly to the Advisor. The Advisor shall prepare a statement documenting the expenses
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of the Company during each quarter and shall deliver such statement to the Company within 45 days after the end of each quarter.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything else in this Article 9 to the contrary, the expenses enumerated in this Article 9 shall not become reimbursable to the Advisor unless and until the Company has raised $2.5 million in the Initial Public Offering.
(iii) Commencing upon the earlier to occur of four fiscal quarters after (i) the Company makes its first real estate or real estate-related investment or (ii) six months after commencement of the Initial Public Offering, the following limitation on Operating Expenses shall apply: The Company shall not reimburse the Advisor at the end of any fiscal quarter for Operating Expenses that in the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended (the Expense Year) exceed (the Excess Amount) the greater of 2% of Average Invested Assets or 25% of Net Income (the 2%/25% Guidelines) for such year unless the Conflicts Committee determines that such excess was justified, based on unusual and nonrecurring factors that the Conflicts Committee deems sufficient. If the Conflicts Committee does not approve such excess as being so justified, any Excess Amount paid to the Advisor during a fiscal quarter shall be repaid to the Company. If the Conflicts Committee determines such excess was justified, then, within 60 days after the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company for which total reimbursed Operating Expenses for the Expense Year exceed the 2%/25% Guidelines, the Advisor, at the direction of the Conflicts Committee, shall cause such fact to be disclosed to the Stockholders in writing (or the Company shall disclose such fact to the Stockholders in the next quarterly report of the Company or by filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC within 60 days of such quarter end), together with an explanation of the factors the Conflicts Committee considered in determining that such excess expenses were justified. The Company will ensure that such determination will be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board. All figures used in the foregoing computation shall be determined in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.
ARTICLE 10
VOTING AGREEMENT
The Advisor agrees that, with respect to any Shares now or hereinafter owned by it, the Advisor will not vote or consent on matters submitted to the stockholders of the Company regarding (i) the removal of the Advisor, a director or any of their Affiliates or (ii) any transaction between the Company and the Advisor, a director or any of their Affiliates. This voting restriction shall survive until such time that the Advisor is both no longer serving as such and is no longer an Affiliate of the Company.
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ARTICLE 11
RELATIONSHIP OF ADVISOR AND COMPANY;
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISOR
11.01 Relationship. The Company and the Advisor are not partners or joint venturers with each other, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to make them such partners or joint venturers. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Advisor from engaging in other activities, including, without limitation, the rendering of advice to other Persons (including other REITs) and the management of other programs advised, sponsored or organized by the Advisor or its Affiliates. Nor shall this Agreement limit or restrict the right of any manager, director, officer, employee or equityholder of the Advisor or its Affiliates to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other Person. The Advisor may, with respect to any investment in which the Company is a participant, also render advice and service to each and every other participant therein. The Advisor shall promptly disclose to the Board the existence of any condition or circumstance, existing or anticipated, of which it has knowledge, that creates or could create a conflict of interest between the Advisors obligations to the Company and its obligations to or its interest in any other Person.
11.02 Time Commitment. The Advisor shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and their respective employees, officers and agents to, devote to the Company such time as shall be reasonably necessary to conduct the business and affairs of the Company in an appropriate manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement. The Company acknowledges that the Advisor and its Affiliates and their respective employees, officers and agents may also engage in activities unrelated to the Company and may provide services to Persons other than the Company or any of its Affiliates.
11.03 Investment Opportunities and Allocation. The Advisor shall be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to present a continuing and suitable investment program to the Company that is consistent with the investment policies and objectives of the Company, but neither the Advisor nor any Affiliate of the Advisor shall be obligated generally to present any particular investment opportunity to the Company even if the opportunity is of character that, if presented to the Company, could be taken by the Company. In the event an investment opportunity is located, the allocation procedure set forth under the caption Conflicts of Interest Certain Conflict Resolution Measures Allocation of Investment Opportunities in the Registration Statement shall govern the allocation of the opportunity among the Company and Affiliates of the Advisor.
ARTICLE 12
THE KBS NAME
The Advisor and its Affiliates have a proprietary interest in the name KBS. The Advisor hereby grants to the Company a non-transferable, non-assignable, non-exclusive royalty-free right and license to use the name KBS during the term of this Agreement. Accordingly, and in recognition of this right, if at any time the Company ceases to retain
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the Advisor or one of its Affiliates to perform advisory services for the Company, the Company will, promptly after receipt of written request from the Advisor, cease to conduct business under or use the name KBS or any derivative thereof and the Company shall change its name and the names of any of its subsidiaries to a name that does not contain the name KBS or any other word or words that might, in the reasonable discretion of the Advisor, be susceptible of indication of some form of relationship between the Company and the Advisor or any its Affiliates. At such time, the Company will also make any changes to any trademarks, servicemarks or other marks necessary to remove any references to the word KBS. Consistent with the foregoing, it is specifically recognized that the Advisor or one or more of its Affiliates has in the past and may in the future organize, sponsor or otherwise permit to exist other investment vehicles (including vehicles for investment in real estate) and financial and service organizations having KBS as a part of their name, all without the need for any consent (and without the right to object thereto) by the Company.
ARTICLE 13
TERM AND TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT
13.01 Term. This Agreement shall have an initial term of one year from the date hereof and may be renewed for an unlimited number of successive one-year terms upon mutual consent of the parties. The Company (acting through the Conflicts Committee) will evaluate the performance of the Advisor annually before renewing this Agreement, and each such renewal shall be for a term of no more than one year. Any such renewal must be approved by the Conflicts Committee.
13.02 Termination by Either Party. This Agreement may be terminated upon 60 days written notice without cause or penalty by either the Company (acting through the Conflicts Committee) or the Advisor. The provisions of Articles 1, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 16 shall survive termination of this Agreement.
13.03 Payments on Termination and Survival of Certain Rights and Obligations. Payments to the Advisor pursuant to this Section 13.03 shall be subject to the 2%/25% Guidelines to the extent applicable.
(i) After the Termination Date, the Advisor shall not be entitled to compensation for further services hereunder except it shall be entitled to receive from the Company within 30 days after the effective date of such termination (A) all unpaid reimbursements of expenses and all earned but unpaid fees payable to the Advisor prior to termination of this Agreement and (B) the Subordinated Performance Fee Due Upon Termination, provided that no Subordinated Performance Fee Due Upon Termination will be paid if the Company has paid or is obligated to pay the Subordinated Incentive Fee.
(ii) The Advisor shall promptly upon termination:
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(a) pay over to the Company all money collected pursuant to this Agreement, if any, after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses to which it is then entitled;
(b) deliver to the Board a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board;
(c) deliver to the Board all assets and documents of the Company then in the custody of the Advisor; and
(d) cooperate with the Company to provide an orderly transition of advisory functions.
ARTICLE 14
ASSIGNMENT
This Agreement may be assigned by the Advisor to an Affiliate with the consent of the Conflicts Committee. The Advisor may assign any rights to receive fees or other payments under this Agreement without obtaining the approval of the Board or the Conflicts Committee. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company without the consent of the Advisor, except in the case of an assignment by the Company to a corporation or other organization that is a successor to all of the assets, rights and obligations of the Company, in which case such successor organization shall be bound hereunder and by the terms of said assignment in the same manner as the Company is bound by this Agreement.
ARTICLE 15
INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
15.01 Indemnification. Except as prohibited by the restrictions provided in this Section 15.01, Section 15.02 and Section 15.03, the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, equity holders, partners and employees, from all liability, claims, damages or losses arising in the performance of their duties hereunder, and related expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees, to the extent such liability, claims, damages or losses and related expenses are not fully reimbursed by insurance. Any indemnification of the Advisor may be made only out of the net assets of the Company and not from Stockholders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not indemnify the Advisor or its Affiliates for any loss, liability or expense arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by such party unless one or more of the following
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conditions are met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged material securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the SEC and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.
15.02 Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not provide for indemnification of the Advisor or its Affiliates for any liability or loss suffered by any of them, nor shall any of them be held harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Company, unless all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The Advisor or its Affiliates have determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company.
(ii) The Advisor or its Affiliates were acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company.
(iii) Such liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the Advisor or its Affiliates.
15.03 Limitation on Payment of Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse reasonable legal expenses and other costs incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding only if (in addition to the procedures required by the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time) all of the following are satisfied: (a) the proceeding relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company, (b) the legal proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not a stockholder or, if by a stockholder acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction approves such advancement and (c) the Advisor or its Affiliates undertake to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it is ultimately determined that the particular indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification.
ARTICLE 16
MISCELLANEOUS
16.01 Notices. Any notice, report or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing unless some other method of giving such notice, report or other communication is required by the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws or is accepted by the party to whom it is given, and shall be given by being delivered by
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hand or by overnight mail or other overnight delivery service to the addresses set forth herein:
To the Company or the Board:
KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III, Inc.
620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1300
Newport Beach, California 92660
To the Advisor:
KBS Capital Advisors LLC
620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1300
Newport Beach, California 92660
Either party may at any time give notice in writing to the other party of a change in its address for the purposes of this Section 16.01.
16.02 Modification. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified, terminated or discharged, in whole or in part, except by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto, or their respective successors or permitted assigns.
16.03 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are independent of and severable from each other, and no provision shall be affected or rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact that for any reason any other or others of them may be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part.
16.04 Construction. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
16.05 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof. This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than by an agreement in writing.
16.06 Waiver. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.
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16.07 Gender. Words used herein regardless of the number and gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter, as the context requires.
16.08 Titles Not to Affect Interpretation. The titles of Articles and Sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they neither form a part of this Agreement nor are they to be used in the construction or interpretation hereof.
16.09 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.
Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
KBS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST III, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. | |||||
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
KBS CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC | ||||||
By: | PBren Investments, L.P., a Manager | |||||
By: | PBren Investments, LLC, as general partner | |||||
By: | /s/ Peter M. Bren | |||||
Peter M. Bren, Manager | ||||||
By: | Schreiber Real Estate Investments, L.P., a Manager | |||||
By: | Schreiber Investments, LLC, as general partner | |||||
By: | /s/ Charles J. Schreiber, Jr. | |||||
Charles J. Schreiber, Jr., Manager |
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