UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 2, 2012 (July 27, 2012)

 

 

CYS Investments, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   001-33740   20-4072657

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

890 Winter Street, Suite 200

Waltham, Massachusetts 02451

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code): (617) 639-0440

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed from 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 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders

On July 31, 2012, CYS Investments, Inc. (the “Company”) filed Articles Supplementary (the “Articles Supplementary”) with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation to designate 3,450,000 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, as shares of Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, with the powers, designations, preferences and other rights as set forth therein (the “Series A Preferred Stock). The Articles Supplementary became effective upon filing on July 31, 2012.

The Articles Supplementary provide that the Company will pay, when and if authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company, cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 7.75% of the $25.00 liquidation preference (equivalent to $1.9375 per annum per share) on the Series A Preferred Stock, in arrears, on the 15 th day of January, April, July and October of each year (provided that if any dividend payment date is not a business day, then the dividend which would otherwise have been payable on that dividend payment date may be paid on the next succeeding business day) from and including August 3, 2012, the date expected of original issuance.

The Series A Preferred Stock is not redeemable by the Company prior to August 3, 2017, except under circumstances intended to preserve the Company’s qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and except upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Articles Supplementary). On and after August 3, 2017, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption.

In addition, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption.

The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity, is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless repurchased or redeemed by the Company or converted into the Company’s common stock in connection with a Change of Control by the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will have the right (unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock in whole or in part, as described above, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date (as defined in the Articles Supplementary)) to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of shares of the Company’s common stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock determined by a formula, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions described in the Articles Supplementary, including provisions for the receipt, under specified circumstances, of alternative consideration.

There are restrictions on ownership of the Series A Preferred Stock intended to preserve the Company’s qualification as a REIT. Except under limited circumstances, holders of the Series A Preferred Stock generally have no voting rights.

A copy of the Articles Supplementary and form of Series A Preferred Stock Certificate are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 4.1, respectively, to this Report, and the information in the Articles Supplementary is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference. The description of the terms of the Articles Supplementary in this Item 3.03 is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 3.1.

 

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

The information set forth above under Item 3.01 of this report is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

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Item 8.01. Other Events.

On July 27, 2012, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., and UBS Securities LLC, as the representatives of the several underwriters named on Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), relating to the issuance and sale of 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, at a public offering price of $25.00 per share, equal to the liquidation preference. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company granted the Underwriters an option for 30 days to purchase up to 450,000 additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock on the same terms and conditions. The closing of the offering, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to occur on August 3, 2012.

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be issued pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-174163), which became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2011.

The Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the description of the material terms of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit. For a more detailed description of the Underwriting Agreement, see the disclosure under the caption “Underwriting” contained in the Company’s Prospectus Supplement, dated July 27, 2012, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

In connection with the filing of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company is filing as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1 hereto opinions of its counsel, Venable LLP and Hunton & Williams LLP.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits .

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated July 27, 2012, by and among CYS Investments, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Securities LLC
  3.1    Articles Supplementary of 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
  4.1    Specimen 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Certificate
  5.1    Opinion of Venable LLP with respect to the legality of the shares
  8.1    Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP with respect to tax matters
23.1    Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2    Consent of Hunton & Williams LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)

 

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SIGNATURE

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

 

    CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.
Date: August 2, 2012     By:  

/s/ Thomas A. Rosenbloom

      Thomas A. Rosenbloom
      Executive Vice President of Business Development,
      General Counsel and Secretary

 

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INDEX TO EHXIBITS

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated July 27, 2012, by and among CYS Investments, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Securities LLC
  3.1    Articles Supplementary of 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
  4.1    Specimen 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Certificate
  5.1    Opinion of Venable LLP with respect to the legality of the shares
  8.1    Opinion of Hunton & Williams LLP with respect to tax matters
23.1    Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2    Consent of Hunton & Williams LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)

 

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Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

3,000,000 Shares of 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

(Liquidation Preference $25.00 Per Share)

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

July 27, 2012

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

UBS Securities LLC

As Representatives of the several

Underwriters referred to below

c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Ladies/Gentlemen:

CYS Investments, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Maryland (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares (the “Firm Shares”) of its 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25.00 per share (the “Series A Stock”), a series of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). At the option of the Underwriters, the Company also proposes to issue and sell to the Underwriters up to an additional 450,000 shares of Series A Stock (the “Additional Shares” and together with the Firm Shares, the “Shares”). Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Securities LLC are acting as the joint bookrunners in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares contemplated herein (the “Offering”).

1. Representations and Warranties Regarding the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(a) A registration statement on Form S-3ASR (No. 333-174163) relating to the Preferred Stock (including the Shares) has (i) been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the


“Commission”) thereunder; (ii) been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act; and (iii) become effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendments thereto have been delivered by the Company to you as the representatives (the “Representatives”) of the Underwriters. As used in this Agreement:

(i) “Applicable Time” means 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on July 27, 2012;

(ii) “Effective Date” means any date as of which any part of the Registration Statement became, or is deemed to have become, effective under the Securities Act in accordance with the Rules and Regulations;

(iii) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares;

(iv) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Shares included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, including any preliminary prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Shares;

(v) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information included in the Pricing Term Sheet (as hereinafter defined) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Company on or before the Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations;

(vi) “Prospectus” means the final prospectus relating to the Shares, including any prospectus supplement thereto relating to the Shares, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

(vii) “Registration Statement” means, collectively, the various parts of such registration statement on Form S-3ASR (No. 333-174643) as amended as of the Effective Date for such part, including any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and all exhibits to such registration statement; and

(viii) “Renewal Deadline” means the third anniversary of the initial effective time of the Registration Statement.

(b) Any reference to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus related to the Shares that is included in the Registration Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) prior to or on the date hereof (including, for purposes hereof, any documents incorporated by reference therein prior to or on the date hereof). Any

 

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reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include any annual report of the Company on Form 10-K filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the Effective Date that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission. At the time of (i) the initial filing of the Registration Statement, (ii) the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, the Company was a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405.

(c) The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, that initially became effective within three years of the date of this Agreement. If immediately prior to the Renewal Deadline, any of the Shares remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives. If the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in an expired registration statement relating to the Shares. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, if any, as the case may be.

(d) The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form. If at any time when Shares remain unsold by the Underwriters the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable, and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

 

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(e) The Company has paid or shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Shares within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(f) The Company was not at the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement and at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) of the Shares, is not on the date hereof and will not be on the applicable Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405). The Company has been since the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement and continues to be eligible to use Form S-3 for the offering of the Shares.

(g) The Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the applicable Closing Date, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the applicable Closing Date to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus as of the respective dates of such prospectuses and each applicable Closing Date conformed, and any further documents so incorporated as of each such date will conform, when filed with the Commission, in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(h) The Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided , however , that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 17.

(i) The Prospectus will not, as of its date and on the applicable Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 17.

(j) The documents incorporated by reference in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein as of the respective dates of such prospectuses and each applicable Closing Date will not, when filed

 

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with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(k) The Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 17.

(l) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433), when considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(m) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives, except as set forth on Annex IV-II hereto. The Company has retained in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations.

(n) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified the financial statements and supporting schedules and information of the Company and its subsidiaries that are included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

(o) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as disclosed therein, (i) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends, or made any other distribution of any kind, on or in respect of its capital stock, (ii) there has not been any change in the capital stock or any material change in the debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, each of which are listed in Exhibit A hereto (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), (iii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has sustained any material loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, explosion, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, and (iv) there has not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or stockholders’ equity of the Company and the Subsidiaries, individually or taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Change”). Since the date of the latest

 

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balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred or undertaken any liabilities or obligations, whether direct or indirect, liquidated or contingent, matured or unmatured, or entered into any transactions, including any acquisition or disposition of any business or asset, which are material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, individually or taken as a whole, except for liabilities, obligations and transactions which are disclosed therein.

(p) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are fully paid and non-assessable and have been duly and validly authorized and issued in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and not in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that entitles any person to acquire from the Company or any Subsidiary any Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) or other equity security of the Company or any security convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Common Stock or any other such security (any “Relevant Security”), except for such rights as may have been fully satisfied or waived prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. All of the issued shares of capital stock of or other ownership interests in each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company free and clear of any lien, charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, equity, trust or other encumbrance, preferential arrangement, defect or restriction of any kind whatsoever (any “Lien”).

(q) The Shares to be delivered on the Initial Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), if any, have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will have been issued in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that entitles any person to acquire any Relevant Security from the Company. The shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable upon conversion of the Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the articles supplementary setting forth the rights and preferences of the Series A Stock (the “Articles Supplementary”), will be fully paid and non-assessable, issued in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that entitles any person to acquire any Relevant Security from the Company. The Shares and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Shares conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company has reserved for future issuance a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Shares. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has no outstanding warrants, options to purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any Relevant Security. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holder of any Relevant Security has any rights to require registration under the Securities Act of any Relevant Security in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares contemplated hereby, and any such rights so disclosed have either been fully complied with by the Company or effectively waived by the holders thereof.

 

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(r) The Subsidiaries are the only “subsidiaries” of the Company (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act). The Company and each Subsidiary have been duly organized and validly exist as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdiction of organization. The Company and each Subsidiary are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of their respective properties (owned, leased or licensed) or the nature or conduct of their respective business makes such qualification necessary, except for those failures to be so qualified or in good standing which (individually or in the aggregate) could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (i) the business, general affairs, management, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (ii) the ability of the Company to consummate the Offering or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (in each case, a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(s) The Company and each Subsidiary have all requisite power and authority, and all necessary consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, qualifications, licenses, filings and permits of, with and from all judicial, regulatory and other legal or governmental agencies and bodies and all third parties, foreign and domestic (collectively, the “Consents”), to own, lease and operate their respective properties and conduct their respective businesses as they are now being conducted and as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and each such Consent is valid and in full force and effect, except in each case as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of any investigation or proceedings which, if decided adversely to the Company or any such Subsidiary, as applicable, could reasonably be expected to result in the revocation of, or imposition of a materially burdensome restriction on, any such Consent.

(t) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(u) The issue and sale of the Shares, the issuance of the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Shares, the compliance by the Company with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement, instrument, franchise, license or permit to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective properties, operations or assets may be bound, or (ii) violate or conflict with any provision of the certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iii) violate or conflict with any statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(v) The form of certificates used to evidence the Shares complies in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”), the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and the Company’s charter, by-laws or other organizational documents, and has been duly authorized and approved by the directors of the Company.

(w) No Consent of, with or from any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body or any third party, foreign or domestic, is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the registration under the Securities Act of the Shares and such consents as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws or the by-laws and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters, each of which has been obtained and is in full force and effect.

(x) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no judicial, regulatory, arbitral or other legal or governmental proceeding or other litigation or arbitration, domestic or foreign, pending to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or of which any property, operations or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is the subject which, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the knowledge of the Company, no such proceeding, litigation or arbitration is threatened or contemplated; and the defense of all such proceedings, litigation and arbitration against or involving the Company or any Subsidiary could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) The financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position as of the dates indicated and the cash flows and results of operations for the periods specified of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries; except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be stated therein. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. The other financial and statistical information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information included therein and have been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements that are included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the books and records of the respective entities presented therein. All “non-GAAP financial measures” (as defined in Regulation G under the Rules and Regulations) included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation G and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Rules and Regulations. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the

 

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Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(z) The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

(aa) The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. The shares of Common Stock have been approved for listing on the NYSE, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or de-listing the Common Stock from the NYSE, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the NYSE is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.

(bb) The Company has applied to have the Shares listed for trading on the NYSE.

(cc) The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (iv) the recorded accounting for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences, and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(dd) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(ee) The Company employs disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

(ff) The Company is in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of its directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

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(gg) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) has taken, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes or is designed to cause or result in, or which could reasonably be expected to constitute, cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(hh) The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Series A Preferred Stock,” “Description of Common Stock,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws,” “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Additional U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Underwriting,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects.

(ii) Commencing with its initial taxable year ended December 31, 2006, the Company has been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Company’s current and proposed method of operation as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. All statements regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and descriptions of the Company’s organization and current and proposed method of operation set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are true, complete and correct in all material respects. The Company has made a timely election to be subject to tax as a REIT pursuant to Sections 856 through 860 of the Code upon filing its federal income tax return for its taxable year ended December 31, 2006.

(jj) The Company is not and, at all times up to and including consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and after giving effect to application of the net proceeds of the Offering as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and is not and will not be an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of such act.

(kk) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or, to the knowledge of the Company, any arrangements, agreements, understandings or payments with respect to the Company or any of its officers, directors, shareholders, partners, employees, Subsidiaries or affiliates that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation as determined by FINRA.

 

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(ll) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or leases under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its business as presently operated and as proposed to be operated as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries owns any real property. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them free and clear of any and all Liens except such as are described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or such as do not (individually or in the aggregate) materially affect the value of such property or materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of any claim adverse to its ownership of any property or of any claim against the continued possession of any property, whether owned or held under lease or sublease by the Company or any Subsidiary.

(mm) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) owns or possesses the right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, domain names, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, formulae, customer lists, and know-how and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of its businesses as presently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) has no reason to believe that the conduct of its businesses does or will conflict with, and has not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such right of others. To the knowledge of the Company, all material technical information developed by and belonging to the Company or any Subsidiary which has not been patented has been kept confidential. To the knowledge of the Company, there is no (i) infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (ii) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is not aware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; or (iii) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any Subsidiary infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is not aware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim.

(nn) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as the Company, as applicable, reasonably considers adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries, all of which insurance is in full force and effect, except where the failure to maintain such insurance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no material claims by the Company or any Subsidiary under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause. The Company reasonably believes that it will be able to renew its existing insurance as and when such coverage expires or will be able to obtain replacement insurance adequate for the conduct of the business and the value of its properties at a cost that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(oo) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has accurately prepared and timely filed all federal, state, foreign and other tax returns that are required to be filed by it and has paid or made provision for the payment of all taxes, assessments, governmental or other similar charges, including, without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes that the Company or any Subsidiary is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, with respect to the periods covered by such tax returns (whether or not such amounts are shown as due on any tax return). No deficiency assessment with respect to a proposed adjustment of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s federal, state, local or foreign taxes is pending or, to the best of the knowledge of the Company, threatened. The accruals and reserves on the books and records of the Company and the Subsidiaries in respect of tax liabilities for any taxable period not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments and related liabilities for any such period and, since the date of the most recent audited financial statements, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any liability for taxes other than in the ordinary course of its business. There is no tax lien, whether imposed by any federal, state, foreign or other taxing authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(pp) No “prohibited transaction” (as defined in either Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), or Section 4975 of the Code) and no “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA) or other event of the kind described in Section 4043(b) of ERISA (other than events with respect to which the 30-day notice requirement under Section 4043 of ERISA has been waived) has occurred with respect to any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary (or to any other employee benefit plan to which the Company or any Subsidiary has an obligation to contribute) that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary or other employee benefit plan to which the Company or any Subsidiary has an obligation to contribute is in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including, without limitation, ERISA and the Code. The Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of or withdrawal from any “pension plan.” Each employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, that could cause the loss of such qualification. Assuming the accuracy of the representations that investors made regarding their “benefit plan investor” and “controlling person” status and compliance with the insignificant benefit plan investor participation exception of Department of Labor Regulation section 2510.3-101(f), neither the assets of the Company nor any Subsidiary constitute or will constitute “plan assets” under ERISA.

(qq) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its employees or agents, has at any time during the last five years (i) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for foreign office or failed to disclose fully any such contribution in violation of law or (ii) made any payment to any federal or state governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof. Each of the Company and any Subsidiary is conducting and has conducted at all times operations in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all

 

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applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”). The Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(rr) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in violation of its certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents, (ii) is in default under, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject, or (iii) is in violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, except (in the case clauses (ii) and (iii) above) for violations or defaults that could not (individually or in the aggregate) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ss) The Company has complied with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act with respect to each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, including, without limitation, all prospectus delivery, filing, record retention and legending requirements applicable to any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company has not (i) distributed any offering material in connection with the Offering other than the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus set forth on Annex IV-II hereto, or (ii) filed, referred to, approved, used or authorized the use of any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act with respect to the Offering or the Shares, except for any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus set forth in Annex IV-II hereto and any electronic road show previously approved by the Representatives.

(tt) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has commenced any legal proceedings, nor have any legal proceedings been threatened, to the knowledge of the Company, against the Company or any Subsidiary for the winding up, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(uu) With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and the Subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Option designated by the Company or the relevant Subsidiary at the time of grant as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock

 

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Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company or the relevant Subsidiary (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof), any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents and due execution and delivery of any award agreement governing such grant by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules and requirements, (iv) the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was equal to or greater than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined under Section 409A of the Code on the applicable Grant Date and (v) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowingly granted, or has or had a policy or practice of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or the Subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Shares .

(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per share of $24.2125, an aggregate of 3,000,000 Firm Shares together with any additional number of Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

(b) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates representing, the Firm Shares shall be made at the office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Four Times Square, New York, NY 10036 (“Underwriters’ Counsel”), or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern) on August 3, 2012, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing (such time and date of payment and delivery, the “Initial Closing Date”). Payment of the purchase price for the Firm Shares shall be made by wire transfer in same day funds to or as directed in writing by the Company upon delivery of certificates for the Firm Shares to the Representatives through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters. Certificates for the Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and shall be in such denominations as the Representatives may request. The Company will permit the Representatives to examine and package such certificates for delivery at least one full business day prior to the Initial Closing Date.

(c) In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, the option to purchase up to 450,000 Additional Shares at the same purchase price per share to be paid by the

 

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Underwriters to the Company for the Firm Shares as set forth in this Section 2 above. This option may be exercised at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, on one or two occasions, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time, as reasonably determined by the Representatives, when the Additional Shares are to be delivered (any such date and time, the “Additional Closing Date,” and the Initial Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date, the “Closing Date”); provided, however, that no Additional Closing Date shall occur earlier than the Initial Closing Date or earlier than the second full business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the eighth full business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. Upon any exercise of the option as to all or any portion of the Additional Shares, each Underwriter, acting severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the number of Additional Shares that bears the same proportion of the total number of Additional Shares then being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) bears to the total number of Firm Shares that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make.

(d) Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Shares to be sold by the Company shall be made by wire transfer in same day funds to or as directed by the Company upon delivery of certificates for the Additional Shares to the Representatives through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters. Certificates for the Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names and shall be in such denominations as the Representatives may request at least one business day before the Additional Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representatives to examine and package such certificates for delivery at least one full business day prior to the Additional Closing Date.

(e) The Company agrees that (i) the terms of this Agreement and the Offering (including the price of the Shares) were negotiated at arm’s length between sophisticated parties represented by counsel, (ii) no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Underwriters has been created as a result of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the process leading to such transactions, irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is advising any such party on other matters, (iii) the Underwriters’ obligations to the Company in respect of the Offering are set forth in this Agreement in their entirety and (iv) the Company has obtained such legal, tax, accounting and other advice as it deems appropriate with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and any other activities undertaken in connection therewith, and it is not relying on the Underwriters with respect to any such matters. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.

 

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3. Offering . Upon authorization of the release of the Firm Shares by the Representatives, the Underwriters propose to offer the Shares for sale to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

4. Covenants of the Company .

(a) In addition to the other covenants and agreements of the Company contained herein, the Company hereby covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

(i) The Company shall prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and file such Prospectus pursuant to, and within the time period specified in, Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. Prior to the last date on which an Additional Closing Date, if any, may occur, the Company shall file no further amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to which you shall object in writing after being furnished in advance a copy thereof and given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon. The Company shall notify you promptly (and, if requested by the Representatives, confirm such notice in writing) (A) when any amendments to the Registration Statement become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for any amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for any additional information, (C) of the Company’s intention to file, or prepare (i) any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, or (ii) any supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (D) of the mailing or the delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, including but not limited to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, (E) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or suspending the use of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or, in each case, of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings therefore, (F) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, and (G) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose. If the Commission shall propose or enter a stop order at any time, the Company will make every effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain the lifting of such order as soon as possible. The Company shall file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares.

(ii) If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package (prior to the availability of the Prospectus) or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would, in the judgment of the Underwriters or the Company, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time of delivery of such Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) to the purchaser, not misleading, or if to comply with the Securities Act or the Rules

 

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and Regulations it shall be necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, the Company will notify you promptly and prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives) that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance and will use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as possible.

(iii) The Company will not, without the prior consent of the Representatives, (A) make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, except for any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus set forth Annex IV-II hereto and any electronic road show previously approved by the Representatives, or (B) file, refer to, approve, use or authorize the use of any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act with respect to the Offering or the Shares. If at any time any event shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would, in the judgment of the Underwriters or the Company, conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented or would, in the judgment of the Underwriters or the Company, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time of delivery to the purchaser, not misleading, or if to comply with the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations it shall be necessary at any time to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company will notify the Representatives promptly and, if requested by the Representatives, prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an appropriate amendment or supplement (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives) that will correct such statement, omission or conflict or effect such compliance.

(iv) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 with respect to each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus including, without limitation, all prospectus delivery, filing, record retention and legending requirements applicable to each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

(v) The Company will promptly deliver to each of you and Underwriters’ Counsel a signed copy of the Registration Statement, as initially filed and all amendments thereto, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith, and will maintain in the Company’s files manually signed copies of such documents for at least five years after the date of filing. The Company will promptly deliver to each of the Underwriters such number of copies of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and all amendments of and supplements to such documents, if any, as you may reasonably request. Prior to 6 p.m. (Eastern) on the second business day after the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter, the Company will furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(vi) Promptly from time to time, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Representatives, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws relating to the offering or sale of the Shares of such jurisdictions, domestic or foreign, as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualification in effect for so long as required for the distribution thereof; except that in no event shall the Company be obligated in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process.

 

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(vii) As soon as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event not later than 16 months after the date hereof, to make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to deliver to the Representatives an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

(viii) During the period of 30 days from the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, the Company will not (A) directly or indirectly, issue, offer, sell, agree to issue, offer or sell, solicit offers to purchase, grant any call option, warrant or other right to purchase, purchase any put option or other right to sell, pledge, borrow or otherwise dispose of any shares of Series A Stock or similar securities (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Common Stock) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Series A Stock or similar securities (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Common Stock), or file any registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to Series A Stock or similar securities (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Common Stock), or publicly announce the intention to do any of the foregoing, or (B) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the shares of Series A Stock, whether any such swap or other transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares of Series A Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that the Company may issue the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to the Shares to be sold hereunder.

(ix) During the period of five years from the date of this Agreement, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Transaction Management Dept., the following: (A) as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (B) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission, FINRA or any securities exchange; and (C) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital stock; provided, however, that documents required to be furnished pursuant to this paragraph (ix) shall be deemed furnished when made available via the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) or any successor system.

(x) The Company will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the Shares on the NYSE within the time period specified in the Prospectus.

(xi) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares as set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(xii) The Company has met the requirements to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code for each of its six taxable years ended December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2011 and continues to meet the requirements to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code.

(xiii) The Company will not take, or will cause its affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to take, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes or is designed to cause or result in, or which could reasonably be expected to constitute, cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(xiv) The Company will prepare a pricing term sheet (the “Pricing Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the Shares, in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex IV-I and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and shall file such Pricing Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 prior to the close of business on the business day following the date hereof provided that the Company shall furnish the Representatives with copies of any such Pricing Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file any such document to which the Representatives or counsel to the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

(xv) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will reserve a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to satisfy the conversion of the Shares and the Additional Shares into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Articles Supplementary and, for so long as any shares of Series A Stock are outstanding, the Company will continue to hold in reserve a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to satisfy the conversion of such number of shares of Series A Stock into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Articles Supplementary.

(xvi) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will (i) file the Articles Supplementary with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, which Articles Supplementary will comply with all applicable requirements of the MGCL and will be in full force and effect, and (ii) register the Series A Stock with the Commission under the Exchange Act.

5. Covenant of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, covenants and agrees with the Company that such Underwriter will not use or refer to any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without the prior written consent of the Company if such Underwriter’s use of or reference to such “free writing prospectus” would require the Company to file with the Commission any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act); provided, that no such written consent shall be required prior to the Underwriters’ use of or reference to the Pricing Term Sheet agreed to among the Company and the Underwriters or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus set forth on Annex IV-II hereto

6. Payment of Expenses . Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company hereby agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including the following: (a) all expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary

 

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Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any document incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and any and all amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (b) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and the Offering; (c) the cost of producing this Agreement and any agreement among Underwriters, blue sky survey, closing documents and other instruments, agreements or documents (including any compilations thereof) in connection with the Offering; (d) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state or foreign securities or blue sky laws as provided in Section 4(a)(vi), including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification or offering and in connection with any blue sky survey; (e) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, securing any required review by FINRA of the terms of the Offering; (f) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the NYSE and for clearance, settlement and book-entry transfer through The Depository Trust Company; (g) all travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expense of the Company incurred in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Shares; (h) any stock transfer taxes or other taxes incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Offering; and (i) the preparation, printing and distribution of one or more versions of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus for distribution in Canada, often in the form of a Canadian “wrapper” (including reasonable fees and expenses of Canadian counsel to the Underwriters). The Company also will pay or cause to be paid: (a) the cost of preparing stock certificates, if any, representing the Shares; (b) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares; and (c) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 6. It is understood, however, that except as provided in Sections 8, 9 and 12 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel and stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them.

7. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares and the Additional Shares, as provided herein, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time and as of each Closing Date, and to the performance by each of the Company of all of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in a timely fashion in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, and no stop order suspending or preventing the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, shall have been issued by the Commission and no proceedings therefore shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction; if the Company has elected to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 9 a.m. (Eastern) on the date of this Agreement; and all necessary regulatory or stock exchange approvals shall have been received.

 

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(b) At the Initial Closing Date and each Additional Closing Date, you shall have received the written opinions of Hunton & Williams LLP, special counsel for the Company, dated such Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth in Annex I-A , Annex I-B and Annex I-C hereto.

(c) At the Initial Closing Date and each Additional Closing Date, you shall have received the written opinion of Venable LLP, Maryland counsel for the Company, dated such Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth in Annex II hereto.

(d) At the Initial Closing Date and each Additional Closing Date, you shall have received the written opinion of Underwriters’ Counsel, dated such Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to you, and the Company shall have furnished to Underwriters’ Counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) At the Initial Closing Date and each Additional Closing Date, you shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated such Closing Date, substantially in form set forth in Annex III hereto, as to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of such Closing Date, (ii) the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Closing Date, (iii) the matters set forth in subsections (g) and (h) of this Section 7, and (iv) such other matters as you may reasonably request.

(f) At the time this Agreement is executed, at the Initial Closing Date and at each Additional Closing Date, you shall have received a comfort letter, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants for the Company, dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of such Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters and Underwriters’ Counsel.

(g) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries shall have sustained, since the date of the Pricing Disclosure Package, any material loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, explosion, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, other than as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(h) Subsequent to the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereto subsequent to the date hereof) and the Pricing Disclosure Package (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change in the capital stock or long-term or short-term debt of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (ii) any change or any development involving a prospective change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in the business, general affairs, management, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or stockholders’ equity of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case, individually or taken as a whole, the effect of which, in any such case described above, is, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the Offering on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package (exclusive of any such supplement).

 

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(i) As of the Initial Closing Date and each Additional Closing Date, FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements for the Offering.

(j) At the Initial Closing Date and each Additional Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished the Underwriters and Underwriters’ Counsel with such other certificates, opinions or other documents as they may have reasonably requested.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be cancelled by the Representatives at, or at any time prior to, the Initial Closing Date and the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Additional Shares may be cancelled by the Representatives at, or at any time prior to, each Additional Closing Date. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone. Any such telephone notice shall be confirmed promptly thereafter in writing.

8. Indemnification .

(a) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any prospectus wrapper material distributed in Canada in connection with foreign sales or in any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433) not constituting an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (a “Non-Prospectus Road Show”) or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state (A) in the Registration Statement, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (B) in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any prospectus wrapper material distributed in Canada in connection with foreign sales or in any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or a Non-Prospectus Road Show, a material fact required to be stated therein or

 

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necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent but only to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. The parties agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives consists solely of the material referred to in Section 17 hereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have, including but not limited to other liability under this Agreement.

(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers and employees, and each other person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein. The parties agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives consists solely of the material referred to in Section 17 hereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters may otherwise have, including but not limited to other liability under this Agreement.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; provided, however, that the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is

 

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brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (other than local counsel), reasonably approved by the indemnifying party (or by the Representatives in the case of Section 9), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(d) The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably; provided, however, that if any proceeding is settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

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9. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Shares as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. Any party entitled to contribution in accordance with this Section 9 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties, notify each party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have under this Section 9 or otherwise.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the

 

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Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule I . For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

10. Underwriter Default.

(a) If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligation to purchase Firm Shares or Additional Shares hereunder, and if the Firm Shares or Additional Shares with respect to which such default relates (the “Default Shares”) do not (after giving effect to arrangements, if any, made by the Representatives pursuant to subsection (b) below) exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares, each non-defaulting Underwriter, acting severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company that number of Default Shares that bears the same proportion of the total number of Default Shares then being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of the non-defaulting Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make.

(b) In the event that the aggregate number of Default Shares exceeds 10% of the number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for itself or for another party or parties (including any non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters who so agree) to purchase the Default Shares on the terms contained herein. In the event that within five calendar days after such a default the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of the Default Shares as provided in this Section 10, this Agreement or, in the case of a default with respect to the Additional Shares, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Additional Shares shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of the Company with respect thereto (except in each case as provided in Sections 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12) or the Underwriters, but nothing in this Agreement shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters of its or their liability, if any, to the other Underwriters and the Company for damages occasioned by its or their default hereunder.

(c) In the event that any Default Shares are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Initial Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be for a period, not exceeding five business days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which, in the opinion of Underwriters’ counsel, may thereby be made necessary or advisable. The term

 

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“Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 10 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Firm Shares and Additional Shares.

11. Survival of Representations and Agreements . All representations and warranties, covenants and agreements of the Underwriters and the Company contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any Subsidiary submitted pursuant hereto, including the agreements contained in Section 4 and 5, the indemnity agreements contained in Section 8 and the contribution agreements contained in Section 9, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person thereof or by or on behalf of the Company, any of their officers and directors or any controlling person thereof, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares to and by the Underwriters. The representations contained in Section 1, and the agreements contained in Sections 6, 8, 9 and 12 through 15 hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement, including termination pursuant to Section 10 or 12 hereof.

12. Effective Date of Agreement; Termination .

(a) This Agreement shall become effective when the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement.

(b) The Representatives shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Initial Closing Date or to terminate the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Additional Shares at any time prior to the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, if, at or after the Applicable Time, (i) any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Representatives will in the immediate future materially disrupt, the market for the Company’s securities or securities in general, (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the NYSE or Nasdaq shall have occurred, (iii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the NYSE has occurred, (iv) a banking moratorium has been declared by New York or federal authorities or any material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services has occurred or (v) as a result of (A) an outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United States or a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (B) any other calamity or crisis or any change in political, financial or economic conditions, in the judgment of the Representatives, it is impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale and delivery of the Firm Shares or the Additional Shares, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus.

(c) Any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 12 shall be in writing.

(d) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to any of the provisions hereof (other than pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof or the Underwriters’ failure to perform their obligations hereunder), or if the sale of the Shares provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth herein is not satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, the Company will, subject to demand by the Representatives, reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel), incurred by the Underwriters in connection herewith.

 

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13. Notices . All communications hereunder, except as may be otherwise specifically provided herein, shall be in writing, and:

(a) if sent to any Underwriter, shall be mailed, delivered, or faxed and confirmed in writing, to such Underwriter c/o (i) Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Transaction Management Dept.; (ii) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 288 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: Equity Capital Markets; and (iii) UBS Securities LLC, 677 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, Connecticut 06901 (facsimile: (203) 719-0495), Attention: Fixed Income Syndicate; and a copy to Underwriters’ counsel at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Four Times Square, New York, New York, 10036, Attention: David J. Goldschmidt;

(b) if sent to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered, or faxed and confirmed in writing to the Company at 890 Winter Street, Suite 200, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451 and its counsel at the address set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Kevin E. Grant, Chief Executive Officer with a copy to the Company’s counsel at Hunton & Williams LLP, Riverfront Plaza, East Tower, 951 East Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, Attention: S. Gregory Cope;

provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8 shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its acceptance facsimile to the Representatives, which address will be supplied to any other party hereto by the Representatives upon request. Any such notices and other communications shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.

14. Parties . This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents referred to in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, and their respective successors and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and said controlling persons and their respective successors, officers, directors, heirs and legal representatives, and it is not for the benefit of any other person, firm or corporation. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of Shares from any of the Underwriters.

15. Research Analyst Independence . The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that

 

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the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The Company irrevocably (a) submits to the jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of the State of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement, or any of the agreements or transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (each, a “Proceeding”), (b) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (d) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.

17. Underwriter Information . The parties acknowledge and agree that, for purposes of paragraphs (d), (e) and (g) of Section 1 and Section 8 hereof, the information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter to the Company for use in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) consists solely of the following material included under the caption “Underwriting” in such documents: (a) the first through third sentences of the third paragraph; and (b) the ninth paragraph.

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

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

20. Time is of the Essence . Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

[ Signature page follows ]

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth your understanding, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among us.

 

Very truly yours,
CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Kevin E. Grant

Name:   Kevin E. Grant
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

[ Signature page to the Underwriting Agreement ]


Accepted as of the date first above written

For itself and as a Representative

of the several Underwriters named

in Schedule I hereto

 

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

/s/ Yurij Slyz

Name:   Yurij Slyz
Title:   Executive Director
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:  

/s/ Chandru Harjani

Name:   Chandru Harjani
Title:   Director
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By:  

/s/ Bill Yialamas

Name:   Bill Yialamas
Title:   Executive Director
By:  

/s/ Scott Yeager

Name:   Scott Yeager
Title:   Managing Director

[ Signature page to the Underwriting Agreement ]

 

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SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

   Total Number of Firm
Shares to be Purchased
     Number of Additional
Shares to be Purchased if
Option is  Fully Exercised
 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     750,000         112,500   

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     750,000         112,500   

UBS Securities LLC

     750,000         112,500   

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     240,000         36,000   

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

     240,000         36,000   

Barclays Capital Inc.

     90,000         13,500   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     90,000         13,500   

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

     90,000         13,500   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,000,000         450,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


EXHIBIT A

Subsidiaries

None.

Exhibit 3.1

CYS INVESTMENTS, INC.

ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

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

FIRST : Under a power contained in Article VI of the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”), the Board of Directors (the “Board”) by duly adopted resolutions classified and designated 3,450,000 shares of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock (as defined in the Charter) as shares of 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), with the following preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, which, upon any restatement of the Charter, shall become part of Article VI of the Charter, with any necessary or appropriate renumbering or relettering of the sections or subsections hereof.

1. Designation and Number . A series of Preferred Stock, classified as the “7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock” is hereby established. The number of authorized shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be 3,450,000.

2. Maturity . The Series A Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption, and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless (i) the Corporation decides to redeem or otherwise repurchase the Series A Preferred Stock or (ii) the Series A Preferred Stock becomes convertible and is actually converted pursuant to Section 7 hereof. The Corporation is not required to set aside funds to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock.

3. Ranking . The Series A Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, (i) senior to all classes or series of the common stock of the Corporation, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and to all other equity securities issued by the Corporation other than equity securities referred to in clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 3; (ii) on a parity with all equity securities issued by the Corporation with terms specifically providing that those equity securities rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation; and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by the Corporation with terms specifically providing that those equity securities rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. The term “equity securities” shall not include convertible debt securities.

4. Dividends .

(a) Holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by the Board and declared by the Corporation, out of funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 7.75% of the $25.00 per share liquidation preference per annum (equivalent to $1.9375 per annum per share). Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock issued in connection with the Corporation’s initial public offerings of Series A Preferred Stock on August 3, 2012 (including any shares of Series A Preferred Stock that may be issued in connection with the over-allotment option related to such initial public offerings) shall accumulate daily and shall be cumulative from, and including, August 3, 2012 (the “Original Issue Date”) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of each January, April, July and October (each, a “Dividend Payment Date”); provided , that if any Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day (as defined below), then the dividend which would otherwise have been payable on that Dividend Payment Date may be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if paid on such Dividend Payment Date and no interest, additional dividends or other sums will accumulate on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Dividend Payment Date to such next succeeding Business Day. Any dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Stock, including dividends payable for any partial dividend period, will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months (it being understood that the dividend payable on October 15, 2012 will be for less than the full quarterly period). Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in the stock records of the


Corporation for the Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month, whether or not a Business Day, in which the applicable Dividend Payment Date falls (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). The dividends payable on any Dividend Payment Date shall include dividends accumulated to, but not including, such Dividend Payment Date.

(b) No dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be authorized by the Board or paid or set apart for payment by the Corporation at any time when the terms and provisions of any agreement of the Corporation, including any agreement relating to any indebtedness of the Corporation, prohibit the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment thereof or provide that the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment thereof would constitute a breach of the agreement or a default under the agreement, or if the authorization, payment or setting apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock will accumulate whether or not the Corporation has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of those dividends and whether or not those dividends are declared. No interest, or sum in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A Preferred Stock which may be in arrears, and holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any dividends in excess of full cumulative dividends described in Section 4(a) hereof. Any dividend payment made on the Series A Preferred Stock shall first be credited against the earliest accumulated but unpaid dividend due with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock.

(d) Except as provided in Section 4(e) hereof, unless full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, (i) no dividends (other than in shares of Common Stock or in shares of any series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation) shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment upon shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, (ii) no other distribution shall be declared or made upon shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, and (iii) any shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation shall not be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for other capital stock of the Corporation that it may issue ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation and for transfers made pursuant to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter); provided, however , that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition by the Corporation of shares of any class or series of stock pursuant to the provisions of Article VII of the Charter to preserve its status as a REIT (as defined in the Charter) for federal income tax purposes or pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation.

(e) When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of any other series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series A Preferred Stock, all dividends declared upon the Series A Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series A Preferred Stock shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series A Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated dividends per share on the Series A Preferred Stock and accumulated or accrued dividends per share on such other series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such Preferred Stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Series A Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.

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

 

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(g) “Set apart for payment” shall be deemed to include, without any action other than the following: the recording by the Corporation in its accounting ledgers of any accounting or bookkeeping entry which indicates, pursuant to an authorization by the Board and a declaration of dividends or other distribution by the Corporation, the allocation of funds to be so paid on any series or class of shares of stock of the Corporation; provided, however, that if any funds for any class or series of stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends are placed in a separate account of the Corporation or delivered to a disbursing, paying or other similar agent, then “set apart for payment” with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock shall mean placing such funds in a separate account or delivering such funds to a disbursing, paying or other similar agent.

5. Liquidation Preference .

(a) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of the assets the Corporation has legally available for distribution to its stockholders, subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation it may issue ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, a liquidation preference of Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) per share, plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) to, but not including, the date of payment, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock or any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation that it may issue that ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.

(b) In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the available assets of the Corporation are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation that it may issue ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and all other such classes or series of capital stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

(c) Holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to written notice of any such liquidation no fewer than 30 days and no more than 60 days prior to the payment date. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation. The consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, trust or entity or of any other entity with or into the Corporation, or the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property or business the Corporation, shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

(d) In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation), by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of stock of the Corporation or otherwise, is permitted under the Maryland General Corporation Law, amounts that would be needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be added to the Corporation’s total liabilities.

6. Redemption .

(a) The Series A Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to August 3, 2017 except as described in this Section 6 and except that, as provided in Article VII of the Charter, the Corporation may purchase or redeem shares of the Series A Preferred Stock prior to that date in order to preserve its qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.

(b) Optional Redemption Right . On and after August 3, 2017, the Corporation may, at its option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption.

 

3


(c) Special Optional Redemption Right . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6(a), upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), the Corporation may, at its option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, for cash at a redemption price of Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption. If, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date (as hereinafter defined), the Corporation provided notice of its election to redeem some or all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 6, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not have the Change of Control Conversion Right (as hereinafter defined) with respect to the shares called for redemption.

(d) A “Change of Control” is deemed to occur when, after the Original Issue Date, the following have occurred and are continuing: (i) the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of capital stock of the Corporation entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and (ii) following the closing of any transaction referred to in clause (i), neither the Corporation nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or American Depositary Receipts representing such securities) listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), the NYSE Amex Equities (the “NYSE Amex”) or the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”), or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE Amex or Nasdaq.

(e) In the event the Corporation elects to redeem Series A Preferred Stock, the notice of redemption will be mailed by the Corporation, postage prepaid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, to each holder of record of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption at such holder’s address as it appears on the stock transfer records of the Corporation and shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where certificates (if any) for the Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on the redemption date; (vi) whether such redemption is being made pursuant to Section 6(b) or Section 6(c) hereof; (vii) if applicable, that such redemption is being made in connection with a Change of Control and, in that case, a brief description of the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control; and (viii) if such redemption is being made in connection with a Change of Control, that the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock being so called for redemption will not be able to tender such shares of Series A Preferred Stock for conversion in connection with the Change of Control and that each share of Series A Preferred Stock tendered for conversion that is called, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, for redemption will be redeemed on the related date of redemption instead of converted on the Change of Control Conversion Date. If less than all of the Series A Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to such holder shall also specify the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder to be redeemed. No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice of redemption will be required where the Corporation elects to redeem Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof to preserve its REIT status for federal income tax purposes.

(f) Holders of shares Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the Series A Preferred Stock at the place designated in the notice of redemption and shall be entitled to the redemption price and any accumulated and unpaid dividends payable upon the redemption following the surrender.

(g) If notice of redemption of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock has been given and if the Corporation irrevocably sets apart for payment the funds necessary for redemption in trust for the benefit of the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date

 

4


(unless the Corporation shall default in providing for the payment of the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any), dividends will cease to accumulate on those shares of Series A Preferred Stock, those shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of those shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption.

(h) If any redemption date is not a Business Day, then the redemption price and accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption may be paid on the next Business Day and no interest, additional dividends or other sums will accumulate on the amount payable for the period from and after that redemption date to that next Business Day.

(i) If less than all of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock is to be redeemed, the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by any other equitable method the Corporation shall determine that will not result in the automatic transfer of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a trust pursuant to Article VII of the Charter (as to restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares of the Corporation’s capital stock).

(j) Immediately prior to any redemption of Series A Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption, unless a redemption date falls after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case each holder of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before such Dividend Payment Date. Except as provided in this Section 6(j), the Corporation will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed.

(k) Unless full cumulative dividends on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been or contemporaneously is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock are simultaneously redeemed, and the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of Series A Preferred Stock (except by exchanging them for its capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation); provided, however , that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition by the Corporation of shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Article VII of the Charter to preserve its REIT status for federal income tax purposes or pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

(l) Subject to applicable law, the Corporation may purchase shares of Series A Preferred Stock in the open market, by tender or by private agreement. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock that the Corporation acquires may be retired and re-classified as authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to class or series, and may thereafter be reissued as any class or series of Preferred Stock.

7. Conversion Rights . Shares of Series A Preferred Stock are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation, except as provided in this Section 7.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will have the right (unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided notice of its election to redeem some or all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder pursuant to Section 6, in which case such holder will have the right only with respect to shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are not called for redemption) to convert some or all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder (the “Change of Control Conversion Right”) on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of shares of Common Stock per share of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Common Stock Conversion Consideration”) equal to the lesser of: (i) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the sum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per share of Series A Preferred Stock plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not earned or declared) thereon to, but not including, the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date for the Series A Preferred Stock, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividends will be included in this sum) by (y) the Common Stock Price (as defined below) (such quotient, the “Conversion Rate”); and (ii) 3.5211 (the “Share Cap”), subject to adjustments provided in Section 7(b) below.

 

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(b) The Share Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any share splits (including those effected pursuant to a distribution of Common Stock to existing holders of Common Stock), subdivisions or combinations (in each case, a “Share Split”) with respect to Common Stock as follows: the adjusted Share Cap as the result of a Share Split will be the number of shares of Common Stock that is equivalent to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Share Cap in effect immediately prior to such Share Split by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such Share Split and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Share Split. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration (as defined below), as applicable) issuable or deliverable, as applicable, in connection with the exercise of the Change of Control Conversion Right will not exceed the product of the Share Cap times the aggregate number of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding at the Change of Control Conversion Date (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration, as applicable) (the “Exchange Cap”). The Exchange Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any Share Splits on the same basis as the corresponding adjustment to the Share Cap.

(c) The “Change of Control Conversion Date” is the date the Series A Preferred Stock is to be converted, which will be a Business Day selected by the Corporation that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which it provides the notice described in Section 7(h) to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

(d) The “Common Stock Price” is (i) if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by the holders of Common Stock is solely cash, the amount of cash consideration per share of Common Stock or (ii) if the consideration to be received in the Change of Control by holders of Common Stock is other than solely cash (x) the average of the closing sale prices per share of Common Stock (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices per share or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices per share) for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the date on which such Change of Control occurred as reported on the principal U.S. securities exchange on which Common Stock is then traded, or (y) the average of the last quoted bid prices for Common Stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by Pink OTC Markets Inc. or similar organization for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the date on which such Change of Control occurred, if Common Stock is not then listed for trading on a U.S. securities exchange.

(e) In the case of a Change of Control pursuant to which Common Stock is or will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) (the “Alternative Form Consideration”), a holder of Series A Preferred Stock will receive upon conversion of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock the kind and amount of Alternative Form Consideration which such holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the Change of Control had such holder held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Common Stock Conversion Consideration immediately prior to the effective time of the Change of Control (the “Alternative Conversion Consideration”; the Common Stock Conversion Consideration or the Alternative Conversion Consideration, whichever shall be applicable to a Change of Control, is referred to as the “Conversion Consideration”).

(f) If the holders of Common Stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in the Change of Control, the Conversion Consideration in respect of such Change of Control will be deemed to be the kind and amount of consideration actually received by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock that made or voted for such an election (if electing between two types of consideration) or holders of a plurality of the outstanding shares of Common Stock that made or voted for such an election (if electing between more than two types of consideration), as the case may be, and will be subject to any limitations to which all holders of Common Stock are subject, including, without limitation, pro rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in such Change of Control.

(g) No fractional shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock in connection with a Change of Control will be issued. Instead, the Corporation will make a cash payment equal to the value of such fractional shares based upon the Common Stock Price used in determining the Common Stock Conversion Consideration for such Change of Control.

 

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(h) Within 15 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, provided that the Corporation has not exercised its right to redeem all shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6 hereof, the Corporation will provide to holders of Series A Preferred Stock a notice of occurrence of the Change of Control that describes the resulting Change of Control Conversion Right, which notice shall be delivered to the holders of record of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock in their addresses as they appear on the stock transfer records of the Corporation and shall state: (i) the events constituting the Change of Control; (ii) the date of the Change of Control; (iii) the last date on which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock may exercise their Change of Control Conversion Right; (iv) the method and period for calculating the Common Stock Price; (v) the Change of Control Conversion Date; (vi) that if, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided notice of its election to redeem all or any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, holders will not be able to convert the shares of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption and such shares will be redeemed on the related redemption date, even if such shares have already been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Change of Control Conversion Right; (vii) if applicable, the type and amount of Alternative Conversion Consideration entitled to be received per share of Series A Preferred Stock; (viii) the name and address of the paying agent, transfer agent and conversion agent for the Series A Preferred Stock; (ix) the procedures that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock must follow to exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right (including procedures for surrendering shares for conversion through the facilities of a Depositary (as defined below)), including the form of conversion notice to be delivered by such holders as described below; and (x) the last date on which holders of Series A Preferred Stock may withdraw shares surrendered for conversion and the procedures that such holders must follow to effect such a withdrawal.

(i) The Corporation shall also issue a press release containing such notice provided for in Section 7(h) hereof for publication on Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Business Wire, PR Newswire or Bloomberg Business News (or, if these organizations are not in existence at the time of issuance of the press release, such other news or press organization as is reasonably calculated to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public), and post a notice on its website, in any event prior to the opening of business on the first business day following any date on which it provides the notice provided for in Section 7(h) hereof to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock.

(j) To exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be required to deliver, on or before the close of business on the Change of Control Conversion Date, the certificates (if any) representing the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, duly endorsed for transfer (or, in the case of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock held in book-entry form through a Depositary, to deliver, on or before the close of business on the Change of Control Conversion Date, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted through the facilities of such Depositary), together with a written conversion notice in the form provided by the Corporation, duly completed, to its transfer agent. The conversion notice must state: (i) the relevant Change of Control Conversion Date; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted; and (iii) that the shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be converted pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock.

(k) Holders of Series A Preferred Stock may withdraw any notice of exercise of a Change of Control Conversion Right (in whole or in part) by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the transfer agent of the Corporation prior to the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date. The notice of withdrawal delivered by any holder must state: (i) the number of withdrawn shares of Series A Preferred Stock; (ii) if certificated Series A Preferred Stock has been surrendered for conversion, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn shares of Series A Preferred Stock; and (iii) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, if any, which remain subject to the holder’s conversion notice.

(l) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 7(j) and (k) hereof, if any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are held in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or a similar depositary (each, a “Depositary”), the conversion notice and/or the notice of withdrawal, as applicable, must comply with applicable procedures, if any, of the applicable Depositary.

(m) Series A Preferred Stock as to which the Change of Control Conversion Right has been properly exercised and for which the conversion notice has not been properly withdrawn will be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration in accordance with the Change of Control Conversion Right on the Change of

 

7


Control Conversion Date, unless prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date the Corporation has provided notice of its election to redeem some or all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 6, in which case only the shares of Series A Preferred Stock properly surrendered for conversion and not properly withdrawn that are not called for redemption will be converted as aforesaid. If the Corporation elects to redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock that would otherwise be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration on a Change of Control Conversion Date, such shares of Series A Preferred Stock will not be so converted and the holders of such shares will be entitled to receive on the applicable redemption date the redemption price as provided in Section 6 hereof.

(n) The Corporation shall deliver all securities, cash and any other property owing upon conversion no later than the third business day following the Change of Control Conversion Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the persons entitled to receive any shares of Common Stock or other securities delivered on conversion will be deemed to have become the holders of record thereof as of the Change of Control Conversion Date.

(o) In connection with the exercise of any Change of Control Conversion Right, the Corporation shall comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws and stock exchange rules in connection with any conversion of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock or other property. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Series A Preferred Stock, no holder of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to convert such shares of Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock to the extent that receipt of such shares of Common Stock would cause such holder (or any other person) to exceed the applicable share transfer and ownership limitations contained in Article VII of the Charter, unless the Corporation provides an exemption from this limitation to such holder pursuant to Article VII of the Charter.

(p) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein and except as otherwise required by law, the persons who are the holders of record of shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion of those shares after such Dividend Record Date and on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date and, in such case, the full amount of such dividend shall be paid on such Dividend Payment Date to the persons who were the holders of record at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date. Except as provided in this Section 7(p), the Corporation will make no allowance for unpaid dividends that are not in arrears on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted.

8. Voting Rights .

(a) Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, except as set forth in this Section 8. On each matter on which holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote, except that when shares of any other class or series of the Preferred Stock have the right to vote with the Series A Preferred Stock as a single class on any matter, the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of each such other class or series will have one vote for each $25.00 of liquidation preference (excluding accumulated dividends).

(b) Whenever dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the number of directors constituting the Board will be automatically increased by two (if not already increased by two by reason of the election of directors by the holders of any other class or series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and with which the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to vote as a class with respect to the election of those two directors) and the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class with all other classes or series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of those two directors, will be entitled to vote for the election of those two additional directors at a special meeting called by the Corporation at the request of the holders of record of at least 25% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock or by the holders of any other class or series of Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of those two directors (unless the request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, in which case, such vote will be held at the earlier of the next annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation), and at each subsequent annual meeting until all dividends accumulated on the Series A Preferred Stock for all past dividend

 

8


periods and the then current dividend period shall have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment. In that case, the right of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to elect any directors will cease and, unless there are other classes or series of Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of any directors elected by holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall immediately terminate and the number of directors constituting the Board shall be reduced accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the total number of directors elected by holders of the Series A Preferred Stock (voting as a single class with all other classes or series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of such directors) pursuant to the voting rights under this Section 8 exceed two.

(c) If a special meeting at a place within the United States designated by the Corporation is not called by the Corporation within 30 days after request from the holders of Series A Preferred Stock as described in Section 8(b) hereof, then the holders of record of at least 25% of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock may designate a holder to call the meeting at the expense of the Corporation and such meeting may be called by the holder so designated upon notice similar to that required for annual meetings of stockholders and shall be held at the place within the United States designated by the holder calling such meeting. The Corporation shall pay all costs and expenses of calling and holding any meeting and of electing directors pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, including, without limitation, the cost of preparing, reproducing and mailing the notice of such meeting, the cost of renting a room for such meeting to be held, and the cost of collecting and tabulating votes.

(d) If, at any time when the voting rights conferred upon the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof are exercisable, any vacancy in the office of a director elected pursuant to Section 8(b) shall occur, then such vacancy may be filled only by the remaining such director or by vote of the holders of record of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any other classes or series of Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of directors pursuant to Section 8(b). Any director elected or appointed pursuant to Section 8(b) may be removed only by the affirmative vote of holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any other classes or series of Preferred Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable and which classes or series of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a class with the Series A Preferred Stock in the election of directors pursuant to Section 8(b), such removal to be effected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and any such other classes or series of Preferred Stock, and may not be removed by the holders of the Common Stock.

(e) So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class with all series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting, (i) authorize or create, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or reclassify any of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation into such shares, or create or authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares; or (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Charter, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock (each, an “Event”); provided, however, with respect to the occurrence of any Event set forth in clause (ii), so long as the Series A Preferred Stock remains outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that, upon an occurrence of an Event, the Corporation may not be the surviving entity, the occurrence of any such Event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and, provided further, that any increase in the amount of the authorized Common Stock or Preferred Stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock, or the creation or issuance of any additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock or other series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such series, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.

 

9


(f) The voting rights provided for in this Section 8 will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which voting by holders of the Series A Preferred Stock would otherwise be required pursuant to this Section 8 shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

(g) Except as expressly stated in this Section 8, the Series A Preferred Stock will not have any relative, participating, optional or other special voting rights or powers and the consent of the holders thereof shall not be required for the taking of any corporate action. The holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have exclusive voting rights on any Charter amendment that would alter only the contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of the Series A Preferred Stock.

(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, holders of any series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock that the Corporation may issue shall not be entitled to vote together as a class with the holders of Series A Preferred Stock on any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Charter unless such action affects the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock and such other series of Preferred Stock equally.

9. Information Rights . During any period in which the Corporation is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation will use its best efforts to (i) transmit by mail (or other permissible means under the Exchange Act) to all holders of Series A Preferred Stock, as their names and addresses appear on the record books of the Corporation and without cost to such holders, copies of the annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, respectively, that the Corporation would have been required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if it were subject thereto (other than any exhibits that would have been required); and (ii) promptly, upon request, supply copies of such reports to any holders or prospective holder of Series A Preferred Stock. The Corporation will use its best efforts to mail (or otherwise provide) the information to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock within 15 days after the respective dates by which a periodic report on Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as the case may be, in respect of such information would have been required to be filed with the SEC, if the Corporation were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in each case, based on the dates on which the Corporation would be required to file such periodic reports if it were a “non-accelerated filer” within the meaning of the Exchange Act.

10. Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer . The Series A Preferred Stock shall be subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer set forth in Article VII of the Charter.

11. Record Holders . The Corporation and the transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any Series A Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor the transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

12. Office or Agency . For so long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall at all times maintain an office or agency in one of the 48 contiguous States of the United States of America where shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be surrendered for payment (including upon redemption), registration of transfer or exchange.

SECOND : The Series A Preferred Stock has been classified and designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation under the authority contained in the Charter. These Articles Supplementary have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in the manner and vote required by law.

THIRD : The undersigned Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Investment Officer acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Investment 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 for perjury.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles Supplementary to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and President and attested to by its Secretary on this 30 th day of July, 2012.

 

ATTEST:     CYS Investments, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Thomas A. Rosenbloom

    By:  

/s/ Kevin E. Grant

Name:   Thomas A. Rosenbloom     Name:   Kevin E. Grant
Title:   Secretary     Title:  

Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief

Investment Officer

[ Signature Page to the Articles Supplementary ]

 

11

Exhibit 4.1

 

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016570| 003590|127C|RESTRICTED||4|057-423 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE Certificate Number ZQ 000000 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN CANTON, MA AND NEW YORK, NY CYS INVESTMENTS, INC. INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of CUSIP 12673A207 SEE REVERSE FOR IMPORTANT NOTICE ON TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION Shares * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * * * * * * * * 0 0 0 0 0 0 * * ** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample MR. **** Mr. Alexander SAMPLE David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David &Sample MRS. **** Mr. Alexander David SAMPLE Sample **** Mr. Alexander David & Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander MR. David Sample SAMPLE **** Mr. Alexander David Sample & **** Mr. Alexander MRS. David Sample **** SAMPLE Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample **000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****

000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****

000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****

000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****

000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0000

00**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000

**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**

Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0000 ***ZERO***00**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**

Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**

Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**

Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**

Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**

Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**

Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**S FULLY PAID AND NONASSESSABLE SHARES OF 7.75% SERIES A CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK, LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE $25.00 PER SHARE, OF CYS Investments, Inc. (the “Corporation”) transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by its duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) and the Bylaws of the Corporation, and any amendments thereto. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers. Chief Executive Officer Secretary DATED <<Month Day, Year>> COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR, By AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE PO BOX 43004, Providence, RI 02940-3004 MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 CUSIP XXXXXX XX X Holder ID XXXXXXXXXX Insurance Value 00.1,000,000 Number of Shares 123456 DTC 12345678901234512345678 Certificate Numbers Num/No Denom. Total. 1234567890/1234567890 111 1234567890/1234567890 222 1234567890/1234567890 333 1234567890/1234567890 444 1234567890/1234567890 555 1234567890/1234567890 666 Total Transaction 7


 

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The IRS requires that we report the cost basis of certain shares acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares were covered by the legislation and you have sold or transferred the shares and requested a specific cost basis calculation method, we have processed as requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please visit our website or consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis. If you do not keep in contact with us or do not have any activity in your account for the time periods specified by state law, your property could become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT- . . . . . . . . . .Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship UNIF TRF MIN ACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Custodian (until age. . . ). . . . . . . . . . . and not as tenants in common (Cust) (Minor) under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. . . . . . . . . . (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto Shares Attorney Dated: 20 Signature: Signature: Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. (Cust) (Minor) (State) PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) of Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Corporation represented by this Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint to transfer the said shares on the books of the herein named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. .CYS INVESTMENTS, INC. IMPORTANT NOTICE THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH TO ANY STOCKHOLDER, ON REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE, A FULL STATEMENT OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SECTION 2-211(B) OF THE CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND WITH RESPECT TO THE DESIGNATIONS AND ANY PREFERENCES, CONVERSION AND OTHER RIGHTS, VOTING POWERS, RESTRICTIONS, LIMITATIONS AS TO DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF REDEMPTION OF THE STOCK OF EACH CLASS WHICH THE CORPORATION HAS AUTHORITY TO ISSUE AND, IF THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE ANY PREFERRED OR SPECIAL CLASS IN SERIES, (I) THE DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES BETWEEN THE SHARES OF EACH SERIES TO THE EXTENT SET, AND (II) THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SET SUCH RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SUBSEQUENT SERIES. THE FOREGOING SUMMARY DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND IS SUBJECT TO AND QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION, A COPY OF WHICH WILL BE SENT WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH STOCKHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS. SUCH REQUEST MUST BE MADE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON BENEFICIAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER. SUBJECT TO CERTAIN FURTHER RESTRICTIONS AND EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THE CORPORATION’S CHARTER, (I) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF ANY CLASS OR SERIES OF THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CORPORATION IN EXCESS OF NINE AND EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT (9.8%) IN VALUE OR IN NUMBER OF SHARES, WHICHEVER IS MORE RESTRICTIVE, OF ANY CLASS OR SERIES OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CORPORATION UNLESS SUCH PERSON IS AN EXCEPTED HOLDER (IN WHICH CASE THE EXCEPTED HOLDER LIMIT SHALL BE APPLICABLE); (II) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE CORPORATION BEING “CLOSELY HELD” UNDER SECTION 856(H) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”); (III) NO PERSON MAY TRANSFER SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CORPORATION BEING BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED (100) PERSONS (DETERMINED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY RULES OF ATTRIBUTION) (IV) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OWN SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT WOULD RESULT IN 25% OR MORE OF ANY CLASS OF CAPITAL STOCK BEING BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ONE OR MORE BENEFIT PLAN INVESTORS, DISREGARDING CAPITAL STOCK OWNED BY CONTROLLING PERSONS (OTHER THAN CONTROLLING PERSONS WHICH ARE BENEFIT PLAN INVESTORS); AND (V) NO PERSON MAY TRANSFER SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK WITHOUT OBTAINING FROM ITS TRANSFEREE A REPRESENTATION AND AGREEMENT THAT (A) ITS TRANSFEREE IS NOT (AND WILL NOT BE), AND IS NOT ACTING ON THE BEHALF OF, A BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR OR A CONTROLLING PERSON AND (B) SUCH TRANSFEREE WILL OBTAIN FROM ITS TRANSFEREE THE REPRESENTATION AND AGREEMENT SET FORTH IN THIS CLAUSE (V) (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CLAUSES (A) AND (B). ANY PERSON WHO BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWNS OR ATTEMPTS TO BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK WHICH CAUSES OR WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK IN EXCESS OR IN VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MUST IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IF ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OR OWNERSHIP ABOVE ARE VIOLATED IN (I), (II) OR (III), THE SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO A TRUSTEE OF A CHARITABLE TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE OR MORE CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES. IF, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING SENTENCE, A TRANSFER TO THE CHARITABLE TRUST IS NOT EFFECTIVE FOR ANY REASON TO PREVENT A VIOLATION OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OR OWNERSHIP (I), (II) OR (III) ABOVE, THEN THE ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THAT NUMBER OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT OTHERWISE WOULD CAUSE ANY PERSON TO VIOLATE SUCH RESTRICTIONS SHALL BE VOID AB INITIO. IF ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP IN (IV) AND (V) ABOVE ARE VIOLATED, THEN THE ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THAT NUMBER OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT OTHERWISE WOULD CAUSE ANY PERSON TO VIOLATE SUCH RESTRICTIONS SHALL BE VOID AB INITIO. IF, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING SENTENCE, A PURPORTED TRANSFER IS NOT TREATED AS BEING VOID AB INITIO FOR ANY REASON, THEN THE SHARES TRANSFERRED IN SUCH VIOLATION SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BE TRANSFERRED TO A CHARITABLE TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF A CHARITABLE BENEFICIARY, AND THE PURPORTED OWNER OF TRANSFEREE WILL ACQUIRE NO RIGHTS IN SUCH SHARES. IN ADDITION, THE CORPORATION MAY REDEEM SHARES 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 OTHER EVENT MAY VIOLATE THE RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE. 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. REQUESTS FOR SUCH A COPY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE. IF THIS CERTIFICATE IS LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED, THE CORPORATION WILL REQUIRE A BOND OF INDEMNITY AS A CONDITION TO THE ISSUANCE OF A REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. SECURITY | INSTRUCTIONS THIS IS WATERMARK PAPER, DO NOT ACCEPT WITHOUT NOTING WATERMARK. HOLD TO LIGHT TO VARIFY WATERMARK.

Exhibit 5.1

 

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August 1, 2012

CYS Investments, Inc.

890 Winter Street

Suite 200

Waltham, Massachusetts

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-170572)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as Maryland counsel to CYS Investments, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration by the Company of up to 3,450,000 shares (the “Shares”) of 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (including up to 450,000 Shares which the underwriters in the Offering (as defined herein) have the option to purchase solely to cover over-allotments), covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-3, and all amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). The Shares are to be issued in an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) pursuant to the Prospectus Supplement (as defined herein).

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

1. The charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

2. The Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

3. A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

4. Resolutions (the “Resolutions”) adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and a duly authorized committee thereof relating to the issuance of the Shares, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;


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5. A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof;

6. The Registration Statement, including the form of prospectus included therein;

7. The Underwriting Agreement, dated July 27, 2012 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, as representatives of the several Underwriters named therein;

8. The Prospectus, dated May 12, 2011, as supplemented by a Prospectus Supplement, dated July 27, 2012 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the 1933 Act; and

9. Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth in this letter, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

1. Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.

2. Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

3. Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

4. All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.


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5. The Shares will not be issued in violation of the restrictions on transfer and ownership contained in Article VII of the Charter.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

2. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered in accordance with the Resolutions, the Underwriting Agreement and the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter. The opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of judicial decisions which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Shares (the “Form 8-K”). We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form 8-K and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Venable LLP

122763-330913

Exhibit 8.1

 

  HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP
  RIVERFRONT PLAZA, EAST TOWER
  951 EAST BYRD STREET
  RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23219-4074
  TEL   804 • 788 • 8200
  FAX   804 • 788 • 8218

July 31, 2012

CYS Investments, Inc.

890 Winter Street, Suite 200

Waltham, Massachusetts 02451

CYS Investments, Inc.

Qualification as

Real Estate Investment Trust

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special tax counsel to CYS Investments, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the preparation of a prospectus supplement (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”) dated July 27, 2012 to a prospectus dated May 12, 2011, as amended through the date hereof, including, but not limited to, by Exhibit 99.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on September 1, 2011 (the “ Prospectus ”), as part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-174163) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2011, as amended through the date hereof (the “ Registration Statement ”), with respect to the offer and sale of up to 3,450,000 shares of 7.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. You have requested our opinion regarding certain U.S. federal income tax matters.

The Company owns interests in residential mortgage-backed securities and subordinated tranches of asset-backed securities, including collateralized debt obligations.

In giving this opinion letter, we have examined the following:

 

1. the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement;

 

2. the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement filed as a part of the Registration Statement;

 

3. the TRS elections for Sharpridge TRS, Inc. (dissolved on December 31, 2009) and CS Alternatives TRS, Inc. (dissolved on February 19, 2009); and


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4. such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have assumed, with your consent, that:

1. each of the documents referred to above has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered; is authentic, if an original, or is accurate, if a copy; and has not been amended;

2. during its taxable year ending December 31, 2012, and future taxable years, the Company will operate in a manner that will make the representations contained in a certificate, dated the date hereof and executed by duly appointed officers of the Company (the “Officers’ Certificate”), true for such years, without regard to any qualifications as to knowledge or belief;

3. the Company will not make any amendments to its organizational documents after the date of this opinion that would affect the Company’s qualification as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) for any taxable year; and

4. no action will be taken by the Company after the date hereof that would have the effect of altering the facts upon which the opinions set forth below are based.

In connection with the opinions rendered below, we also have relied upon the correctness, without regard to any qualification as to knowledge or belief, of the factual representations and covenants contained in the Officers’ Certificate and the factual matters discussed in the Prospectus and in the Prospectus Supplement that relate to the Company’s status as a REIT. We are not aware of any facts that are inconsistent with the representations contained in the Officers’ Certificate. Furthermore, where the factual representations in the Officers’ Certificate involve terms defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury regulations thereunder (the “Regulations”), published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (the “Service”), or other relevant authority, we have reviewed with the individuals making such representations the relevant provisions of the Code, the applicable Regulations, the published rulings of the Service, and other relevant authority.

Based on the documents and assumptions set forth above, the representations and covenants set forth in the Officers’ Certificate, and the factual matters discussed in the


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Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Additional U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” (which are incorporated herein by reference), we are of the opinion that:

(a) the Company qualified to be taxed as a REIT pursuant to sections 856 through 860 of the Code for its taxable years ended December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2011, and the Company’s organization and current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2012 and thereafter; and

(b) the descriptions of the law and the legal conclusions contained in the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Additional U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” are correct in all material respects.

We will not review on a continuing basis the Company’s compliance with the documents or assumptions set forth above, or the representations set forth in the Officers’ Certificate. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. Although we have made such inquiries and performed such investigations as we have deemed necessary to fulfill our professional responsibilities as counsel, we have not undertaken an independent investigation of all the facts referred to in this opinion letter or the Officers’ Certificate.

The foregoing opinions are based on current provisions of the Code and the Regulations, published administrative interpretations thereof, and published court decisions. The Service has not issued Regulations or administrative interpretations with respect to various provisions of the Code relating to REIT qualification. No assurance can be given that the law will not change in a way that will prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the U.S. federal income tax matters addressed herein, and no other opinions are rendered with respect to other U.S. federal tax matters or to any issues arising under the tax laws of any other country, or any state or locality. We undertake no obligation to update the opinions expressed herein after the date of this letter. This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. Except as provided in the next paragraph, this opinion letter may not be distributed, quoted in whole or in part or otherwise reproduced in any document, or filed with any governmental agency without our express written consent.


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We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to Hunton & Williams LLP under the captions “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus and the captions “Additional U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Hunton & Williams LLP