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): December 17, 2012

 

 

CAPITAL TRUST, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   1-14788   94-6181186

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

410 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 655-0220

N/A

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

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Indemnification Agreements with Directors and Officers

On December 19, 2012, Capital Trust entered into indemnification agreements (the “ Indemnification Agreements ”) with each of its directors, Geoffrey G. Jervis, Capital Trust’s chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary, and Thomas C. Ruffing, Capital Trust’s chief credit officer and head of asset management (each, an “ Indemnitee ”). The Indemnification Agreements provide that Capital Trust will, subject to certain limitations and exceptions, indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted under Maryland law, and advance expenses to, each Indemnitee, in connection with (among other things) the Indemnitee’s capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of Capital Trust. This obligation includes, subject to certain terms and conditions, indemnification for any expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding. Capital Trust may be required to advance such expenses, in which case the Indemnitee will be obligated to reimburse Capital Trust for the amounts advanced if it is later determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses.

The indemnification provided under the indemnification agreement is not exclusive of any other indemnity rights.

The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms of the Indemnification Agreements, a form of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “ Current Report ”) and incorporated herein by reference.

The information set forth in Item 2.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On December 19, 2012 (the “ Closing Date ”), pursuant to the previously announced purchase and sale agreement, dated September 27, 2012 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and between Capital Trust, Inc. (“ Capital Trust ”) and Huskies Acquisition LLC (the “ Purchaser ”), an affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P. (“ Blackstone ”), and the Assignment Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date (the “ Assignment Agreement ” and, together with the Purchase Agreement, the “ Transaction Agreements ”), by and among Capital Trust, the Purchaser and Blackstone Holdings III L.P., an affiliate of Blackstone (“ Holdings III ”), Capital Trust completed (i) the disposition of its investment management and special servicing business, including CT Investment Management Co., LLC (“ CTIMCO ”) and related private investment fund co-investments for a purchase price of $21,424,028 to the Purchaser and Holdings III (the “ Investment Management Business Sale ”), and (ii) the sale to Holdings III of 5,000,000 shares (the “ New CT Shares ”) of Capital Trust’s class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), for a purchase price of $10,000,000 (the “ Purchaser Investment ”).

Pursuant to the Transaction Agreements, Capital Trust sold to the Purchaser and Holdings III:

 

   

all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in CTIMCO, through which Capital Trust operated its investment management and special servicing business;

 

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all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in CT OPI Investor, LLC, the entity through which Capital Trust co-invested as a limited partner in CT Opportunity Partners I, L.P., an investment fund managed by CTIMCO;

 

   

all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in CT High Grade Partners II Co-Invest, LLC, the entity through which Capital Trust co-invested as a non-managing member of CT High Grade Partners II, LLC, an investment fund managed by CTIMCO; and

 

   

all 100 outstanding shares of class A preferred stock of CT Legacy REIT Mezz Borrower, Inc.

The foregoing description of the Transaction Agreements, Investment Management Business Sale and the Purchaser Investment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Assignment Agreement, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 2.1 and 10.2 to this Current Report, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Special Dividend of $2.00 Per Share

Capital Trust paid the previously announced $2.00 per share special cash dividend on December 20, 2012. Pursuant to the New York Stock Exchange’s “due bills” trading procedure, holders of Common Stock (other than those shares newly issued to Blackstone) at the close of business on the December 20, 2012 are entitled to receive the dividend payment, and the common stock began to trade ex-dividend on December 21, 2012.

New Management Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, on the Closing Date, Capital Trust entered into a new management agreement (the “ New Management Agreement ”) with BREDS / CT Advisors L.L.C., an affiliate of Blackstone (the “ New CT Manager ”), pursuant to which Capital Trust is now managed by the New CT Manager pursuant to the terms and conditions of the New Management Agreement.

The New Management Agreement requires the New CT Manager to manage Capital Trust’s investments and its day-to-day business and affairs in conformity with Capital Trust’s investment guidelines (the “ Investment Guidelines ”) and other policies that are approved and monitored by the board of directors of Capital Trust (the “ Board ”). Among other things, the New CT Manager will be responsible for (i) the selection, the origination or purchase and the sale, of Capital Trust’s portfolio investments, (ii) Capital Trust’s financing activities and (iii) providing Capital Trust with investment advisory services. The New CT Manager’s role as manager will be under the supervision and direction of the Board.

 

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Pursuant to the terms of the New Management Agreement, Capital Trust will pay the New CT Manager a base management fee in an amount equal to the greater of: (i) $250,000 per annum and (ii) 1.50% per annum of Equity (as defined in the New Management Agreement). Based on the calculation of Equity in the New Management Agreement, unless Equity is increased, the base management fee is expected to be $250,000 per annum. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the New Management Agreement, the New CT Manager may earn a quarterly incentive fee equal to 20% of the amount equal to the prior 12 months’ Core Earnings (as defined in the New Management Agreement) minus 7% of the prior 12 months’ Equity, as reduced by the incentive fees for the first three quarters of the prior 12-month period, subject to a three-year look back requiring positive Core Earnings for the look back period.

The foregoing description of the New Management Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete New Management Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement

Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, on the Closing Date, Capital Trust entered into a registration rights agreement with Holdings III (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) pursuant to which, on and after December 19, 2013, Holdings III may require Capital Trust to prepare and file a shelf registration statement relating to the resale of the New CT Shares by Holdings III and under certain circumstances may require Capital file up to four resale registration statements on demand and provide “piggyback” registration rights with respect to resale of the New CT Shares.

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

Lease Assignment

Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, on the Closing Date, Capital Trust and Blackstone Holdings I L.P., an affiliate of Blackstone (“ Holdings I ”), entered into an Assignment and Assumption of Lease (“ Lease Assignment ”) with respect to the lease of Capital Trust’s headquarters at 410 Park Avenue, New York, New York (the “ Lease ”), pursuant to which Holdings I agreed to assume Capital Trust’s obligations under the Lease. Also on the Closing Date, Capital Trust’s landlord, 410 Park Avenue Associates, L.P. (the “ Landlord ”), entered into a Consent to Assignment of Lease, and Fifth Lease Modification Agreement (the “ Consent to Assignment ”) with Capital Trust and Holdings I, pursuant to which the Landlord consented to the Lease Assignment. In accordance with the terms of the Consent to Assignment, if Holdings I defaults on the Lease, Capital Trust will be liable for any such default.

The foregoing description of the Lease Assignment and the Consent to Assignment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms of the Lease Assignment and Consent to Assignment, copies of which are attached as Exhibits 10.5 and 10.6 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information set forth in Item 5.03 below is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

Appointment of New Directors and Resignation of Messrs. Zell and Hyman.

In accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, upon the Closing Date, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Board’s Corporate Governance Committee, appointed Messrs. John G. Schreiber and Michael B. Nash to the Board. Mr. Schreiber was also appointed as Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Schreiber, age 66, is the President of Centaur Capital Partners, Inc. and a Partner and Co-Founder of Blackstone Real Estate Advisors. Mr. Schreiber has overseen all of Blackstone’s real estate investments since 1992. Previously, Mr. Schreiber served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JMB Urban Development Co. and Executive Vice President of JMB Realty Corp. Mr. Schreiber is a past board member of Urban Shopping Centers, Inc., Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., The Rouse Company and AMLI Residential Properties Trust and he currently serves on the board of General Growth Properties, Inc., JMB Realty Corp. and a number of mutual funds managed by T. Rowe Price Associates. Mr. Schreiber graduated from Loyola University of Chicago and received an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mr. Nash, age 51, is a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone and the Chief Investment Officer of Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies. He is also a member of the Real Estate Investment Committee for both Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies and Blackstone Real Estate Advisors. Mr. Nash graduated from State University of New York at Albany and received an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Upon the Closing (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), Messrs. Samuel Zell, the Chairman of the Board prior to the Closing, and Edward S. Hyman resigned as members of the Board. In recognition of Mr. Zell’s longstanding service as Chairman of the Board, upon the recommendation of the Board’s Compensation Committee, Capital Trust provided Mr. Zell with a retirement payment in the amount of $75,000.

Executive Compensation

On December 17, 2012, the Compensation Committee of the Board approved 2012 annual cash bonuses payable to Capital Trust’s named executive officers pursuant to the terms of the Performance-Based Annual Cash Bonus Award Agreements previously entered into with each of Capital Trust’s named executive officers. The cash bonuses awarded to the named executive officers consisted of: $813,917 payable to Stephen D. Plavin, Capital Trust’s chief executive officer and president, $621,133 payable to Mr. Jervis and $378,350 payable to Mr. Ruffing.

 

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

Charter Amendment

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and as approved by Capital Trust’s stockholders, on the Closing Date, Capital Trust amended its charter to include a provision which provides, among other things, subject to certain exceptions, that none of Blackstone or its affiliates, Capital Trust’s directors or any person Capital Trust’s directors control shall have any duty to refrain directly or indirectly from engaging in business opportunities or competing with Capital Trust (the “ Charter Amendment ”).

The foregoing description of the Charter Amendment, filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation on December 19, 2012, is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms of the Charter Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

Bylaw Amendment

Effective on the Closing Date, Capital Trust amended and restated its bylaws (the “ Bylaws Amendment ”) to: (i) provide that the Board shall be comprised of no more than eight members unless agreed to in writing by the Purchaser and (ii) in the event that a vacancy in the Board or committee of the Board is created at any time by the death, disability, retirement or removal of a director designated by the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser has the right to designate an individual as a replacement director to fill such vacancy, subject to the Maryland General Corporation Law and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

The foregoing description of the Bylaws Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms of the Bylaws Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

Effective on the Closing Date, the Board adopted a new Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “ Code ”) that applies to all of Capital Trust’s directors, officers and employees. The new Code takes into account that Capital Trust is now externally managed and covers topics such as business ethics, compliance standards and procedures, confidential information, conflicts of interest, corporate opportunities, protection and proper use of Capital Trust’s assets, fair dealing, compliance with laws and insider trading, public disclosure, international business laws and waivers of the Code, among others.

The foregoing description of the Code is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the new Code, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 14.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference. The amended Code is posted on Capital Trust’s website at www.capitaltrust.com under the “Corporate Governance” subsection of the “Investor Relations” tab.

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On December 19, 2012, Capital Trust held a special meeting of its stockholders (the “ Special Meeting ”) in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement. At the Special Meeting, stockholders considered and voted upon the following proposals to approve:

 

  1. the Purchase Agreement, including the Investment Management Business Sale, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Purchase Agreement;

 

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  2. the Purchaser Investment, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Purchase Agreement;

 

  3. the entry by Capital Trust into the New Management Agreement;

 

  4. the Charter Amendment; and

 

  5. the adjournment of the Special Meeting if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to approve any of the foregoing proposals.

The following is a summary of the voting results for each matter presented to the stockholders:

Purchase Agreement and Investment Management Business Sale:

 

Votes For

   Votes Against    Votes Abstained    Broker Non-Votes

16,195,532

   1,913,203    168,453    0

Purchaser Investment:

 

Votes For

   Votes Against    Votes Abstained    Broker Non-Votes

16,287,163

   1,957,949    32,076    0

New Management Agreement:

 

Votes For

   Votes Against    Votes Abstained    Broker Non-Votes

16,324,121

   1,918,487    34,580    0

Charter Amendment:

 

Votes For

   Votes Against    Votes Abstained    Broker Non-Votes

16,294,422

   1,950,218    32,548    0

Adjournment of the Special Meeting (if necessary):

 

Votes For

   Votes Against    Votes Abstained    Broker Non-Votes

15,941,499

   2,274,302    61,387    0

 

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Item 8.01. Other Events.

On December 19, 2012, Capital Trust issued a press release announcing the Closing. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

The Exhibit Index appearing after the signature page of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference.

As a smaller reporting company, Capital Trust is not required to include pro forma financial information for the Investment Management Business Sale in this Current Report.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

        CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
Date: December 21, 2012      
    By:  

/s/ Geoffrey G. Jervis

    Name:   Geoffrey G. Jervis
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

-8-


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  2.1    Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated September 27, 2012, by and between Capital Trust, Inc. and Huskies Acquisition LLC (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Capital Trust, Inc. on October 3, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.1    Charter Amendment of Capital Trust, Inc.
  3.2    Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Capital Trust, Inc.
10.1    Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.2    Assignment Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2012, by and among Huskies Acquisition LLC, Blackstone Holdings III L.P. and Capital Trust, Inc.
10.3    Management Agreement, dated December 19, 2012, by and between Capital Trust, Inc. and BREDS / CT Advisors L.L.C.
10.4    Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 19, 2012, by and between Capital Trust, Inc. and Blackstone Holdings III L.P.
10.5    Assignment and Assumption of Lease, dated as of December 19, 2012, by and between Capital Trust, Inc. and Blackstone Holdings I L.P.
10.6    Consent to Assignment of Lease, and Fifth Lease Modification Agreement, dated December 19, 2012, between 410 Park Avenue Associates, L.P., Blackstone Holdings I L.P. and Capital Trust, Inc.
14.1    Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
99.1    Press Release, dated December 19, 2012.

 

-9-

Exhibit 3.1

CAPITAL TRUST, INC.

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

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

FIRST: The charter of the Corporation is hereby amended by inserting the following Article X and Article XI:

ARTICLE X

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

(a) The provisions of this Article X are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain business opportunities as they may involve The Blackstone Group L.P. (“Blackstone”), members of the Board of Directors or their respective Affiliates (as defined below) in recognition and anticipation that (i) certain directors, principals, officers, employees and other representatives of Blackstone and its Affiliates may serve as directors, principals, officers, employees and other representatives of the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any entity that provides investment advisory services to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or as a member of the investment committee of any such entity, (ii) Blackstone and its Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage and other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) members of the Board of Directors and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of (i) Blackstone or any of its Affiliates or (ii) any director of the Corporation or his or her Affiliates (the Persons (as defined below) identified in (i) and (ii) above being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (x) engaging in any business opportunity, including but not limited to business opportunities in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates may, from time to time, be engaged or propose to engage (a “Business Opportunity”) or (y) competing with the Corporation, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any duty by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Business Opportunity presented to an Identified Person, except as provided in Section (c) of this Article X. Subject to Section (c) of this Article X, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a Business Opportunity, such Identified Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such Business Opportunity to the Corporation or any


of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any duty as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such Business Opportunity. A Business Opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential Business Opportunity for the Corporation if it is a Business Opportunity that the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no reasonable expectancy.

(c) The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any Business Opportunity offered to any director or officer of the Corporation if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

(d) For purposes of this Article X, (i) “Affiliate” shall mean (a) in respect of Blackstone, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by Blackstone, controls Blackstone or is under common control with Blackstone and shall include any principal, member, director, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation), (b) in respect of a director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (c) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; (ii) “Person” shall mean any individual (and such individual’s heirs, executors or administrators), corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity and (iii) for purposes of the definition of “Affiliate,” “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

ARTICLE XI

SEVERABILITY

If any provision or provisions of this charter shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this charter (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this charter containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECOND: The foregoing amendment to the charter of the Corporation does not increase the authorized stock of the Corporation.

THIRD: These Articles of Amendment of the Corporation have been duly advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.


FOURTH: The undersigned Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation acknowledges these Articles of Amendment 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 acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment to be executed under seal in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary, on this 19th day of December, 2012.

 

ATTEST:     CAPITAL TRUST INC.
By:  

/s/ Geoffrey G. Jervis

    By:  

/s/ Stephen D. Plavin

Geoffrey G. Jervis     Stephen D. Plavin
Secretary     Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 3.2

CAPITAL TRUST, INC.

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

Adopted as of December 19, 2012


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              

Page

ARTICLE I    OFFICES    5
   Section 1.   

PRINCIPAL OFFICE

   5
   Section 2.   

ADDITIONAL OFFICES

   5
ARTICLE II    MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS    5
   Section 1.   

PLACE

   5
   Section 2.   

ANNUAL MEETING

   5
   Section 3.   

SPECIAL MEETINGS

   5
   Section 4.   

NOTICE

   8
   Section 5.   

SCOPE OF NOTICE

   8
   Section 6.   

ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT

   8
   Section 7.   

QUORUM

   9
   Section 8.   

VOTING

   9
   Section 9.   

PROXIES

   10
   Section 10.   

VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS

   10
   Section 11.   

INSPECTORS

   11
   Section 12.   

NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS BY STOCKHOLDERS

   11
   Section 13.   

VOTING BY BALLOT

   14
   Section 14.   

TELEPHONE MEETINGS

   14
ARTICLE III    DIRECTORS    14
   Section 1.   

GENERAL POWERS

   14
   Section 2.   

NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS

   14
   Section 3.   

ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS

   15
   Section 4.   

SPECIAL MEETINGS

   15
   Section 5.   

NOTICE

   15
   Section 6.   

QUORUM

   15
   Section 7.   

VOTING

   16
   Section 8.   

TELEPHONE MEETINGS

   16
   Section 9.   

INFORMAL ACTION BY DIRECTORS

   16
   Section 10.   

VACANCIES

   16
   Section 11.   

COMPENSATION

   16
   Section 12.   

LOSS OF DEPOSITS

   17
   Section 13.   

SURETY BONDS

   17
   Section 14.   

RELIANCE

   17
   Section 15.   

CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

   17
ARTICLE IV    COMMITTEES    17
   Section 1.   

NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS

   17
   Section 2.   

POWERS

   17
   Section 3.   

MEETINGS

   18

 

2


   Section 4.   

TELEPHONE MEETINGS

   18
   Section 5.   

INFORMAL ACTION BY COMMITTEES

   18
   Section 6.   

VACANCIES

   18
ARTICLE V    OFFICERS    18
   Section 1.   

GENERAL PROVISIONS

   18
   Section 2.   

REMOVAL. AND RESIGNATION

   19
   Section 3.   

VACANCIES

   19
   Section 4.   

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

   19
   Section 5.   

VICE CHAIRMEN

   19
   Section 6.   

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

   19
   Section 7.   

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

   19
   Section 8.   

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

   20
   Section 9.   

CHIEF CREDIT OFFICER

   20
   Section 10.   

PRESIDENT

   20
   Section 11.   

MANAGING DIRECTORS

   20
   Section 12.   

DIRECTORS

   20
   Section 13.   

VICE PRESIDENTS

   20
   Section 14.   

SECRETARY

   20
   Section 15.   

TREASURER

   21
   Section 16.   

ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS

   21
   Section 17.   

SALARIES

   21
ARTICLE VI    CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS    21
   Section 1.   

CONTRACTS

   21
   Section 2.   

CHECKS AND DRAFTS

   22
   Section 3.   

DEPOSITS

   22
ARTICLE VII    STOCK    22
   Section 1.   

CERTIFICATES

   22
   Section 2.   

TRANSFERS

   22
   Section 3.   

REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE

   23
   Section 4.   

CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE

   23
   Section 5.   

STOCK LEDGER

   24
   Section 6.   

FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS

   24
ARTICLE VIII    ACCOUNTING YEAR    24
ARTICLE IX    DISTRIBUTIONS    24
   Section 1.   

AUTHORIZATION

   24
   Section 2.   

CONTINGENCIES

   24
ARTICLE X    INVESTMENT POLICY    25

 

3


ARTICLE XI    SEAL    25
   Section 1.   

SEAL

   25
   Section 2.   

AFFIXING SEAL

   25
ARTICLE XII    INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES    25
ARTICLE XIII    WAIVER OF NOTICE    26
ARTICLE XIV    AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS    26

 

4


CAPITAL TRUST, INC.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

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

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

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. PLACE . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may provide that any or all meetings of the stockholders shall not be held at a place, but instead shall be held solely by means of remote communication; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall provide a place for a meeting of the stockholders if a stockholder makes a written request for the same.

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

Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS .

(a) General . The chairman of the board, president, chief executive officer or Board of Directors may call special meetings of the stockholders. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.

(b) Stockholder Requested Special Meetings . (1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the “Record Date Request Notice”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the

 

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

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

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

 

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

(5) If written revocations of requests for the special meeting have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting to the secretary, the secretary shall: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been mailed, refrain from mailing the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been mailed and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the secretary’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting, revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

(6) The chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of

 

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elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported request shall be deemed to have been delivered to the secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of stock that would be entitled to vote at such meeting. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

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

Section 4. NOTICE . Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting written or printed notice stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, either by mail or by presenting it to such stockholder personally or by leaving it at his residence or usual place of business or by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at his post office address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.

Section 5. SCOPE OF NOTICE . Subject to Section 12(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. A Board member’s attendance at a meeting constitutes waiver of notice.

Section 6. ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT . Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment, by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting: the vice chairman of the board, if there be one, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The secretary of the meeting shall be an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to

 

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act as secretary of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment, a person appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary or, in the absence of such appointment, the secretary of the Corporation or, in the secretary’s absence, an assistant secretary of the Corporation, shall act as secretary of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (e) determining when the polls should be opened and closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; and (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 7. QUORUM . At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. If, however, such quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and convened, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

Section 8. VOTING . A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the charter of the Corporation. Unless otherwise provided in the charter, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.

 

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Section 9. PROXIES . A stockholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the shares of stock owned of record by the stockholder in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

Section 10. VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS . Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, a general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any director or other fiduciary may vote stock registered in his name as such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.

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

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

Notwithstanding any other provision of the chapter of the Corporation or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (or any successor statute) shall not apply to: (a) any acquisition by Veqtor Finance Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Veqtor”), or any affiliates thereof, of shares of stock of the Corporation, (b) any

 

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acquisition of shares of class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Corporation (the “Common Stock”), by W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any of its controlled affiliates (collectively, “Berkley”), or (c) any acquisition of shares of Common Stock by Huskies Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any person or entity that is an affiliate of Huskies Acquisition LLC as of September 27, 2012 (collectively, “Huskies”) or by The Blackstone Group L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or any of its affiliates (collectively, “Blackstone”). This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, with respect to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition of (i) Veqtor, or any affiliates thereof, without its prior written consent, (ii) Berkley, without its prior written consent or (iii) Huskies or Blackstone, without the prior written consent of Huskies or Blackstone, as applicable, unless the Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between the Corporation and Huskies Acquisition LLC, dated September 27, 2012, is terminated pursuant to Article 11 thereof.

Section 11. INSPECTORS . At any meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more persons as inspectors for such meeting. Such inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of shares represented at the meeting based upon their determination of the validity and effect of proxies, count all votes, report the results and perform such other acts as are proper to conduct the election and voting with impartiality and fairness to all the stockholders.

Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by him or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

Section 12. NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS BY STOCKHOLDERS .

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders . (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 12(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with this Section 12(a).

(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 12, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 12 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150 th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120 th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of

 

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mailing of the notice for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such individual, (B) the class, series and number of any shares of stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by such individual, (C) the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and (D) all other information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (including such individual’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom; (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned by such stockholder and by such Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and the nominee holder for, and number of, shares owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder and by any such Stockholder Associated Person; (iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person covered by clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (2) of this Section 12(a), the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger and current name and address, if different, and of such Stockholder Associated Person; and (v) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder’s notice.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 12 to the contrary, in the event the Board of Directors increases or decreases the maximum or minimum number of directors in accordance with Article III, Section 2 of these Bylaws, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 12(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

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(4) For purposes of this Section 12, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 12 and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (2) of this Section 12(a) shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120 th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time on the later of the 90 th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) General . (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 12 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate to a material extent, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 12. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the information as to which written verification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12.

 

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(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 12 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 12. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 12.

(3) For purposes of this Section 12, (a) the “date of mailing of the notice” shall mean the date of the proxy statement for the solicitation of proxies for election of directors and (b) “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable news service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 12. Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, nor the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.

Section 13. VOTING BY BALLOT . Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the presiding officer shall order or any stockholder shall demand that voting be by ballot.

Section 14. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . The Board of Directors or chairman of the meeting may permit stockholders to participate in meetings of the stockholders by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

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

 

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Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law, nor more than 8, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors.

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

Section 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board, president or by a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place, either within or without the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.

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

Section 6. QUORUM . A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a majority of such directors are present at said meeting, a majority of the

 

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directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to the charter of the Corporation or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of a particular group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority of such group.

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

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

Section 8. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 9. INFORMAL ACTION BY DIRECTORS . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

Section 10. VACANCIES . If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder (even if fewer than three directors remain). Any vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy in the number of directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors. Any individual so elected as director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualifies.

Section 11. COMPENSATION . Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or

 

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of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 12. LOSS OF DEPOSITS . No director shall be liable for any loss which may occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and loan association, or other institution with whom moneys or stock of the Corporation have been deposited.

Section 13. SURETY BONDS . Unless required by law, no director shall be obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of his duties.

Section 14. RELIANCE . Each director, officer, employee and agent of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties with respect to the Corporation, be fully justified and protected with regard to any act or failure to act in reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation, upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees or by the advisers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected by the Board of Directors or officers of the Corporation, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a director.

Section 15. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS . The directors shall have no responsibility to devote their full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director or officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, in his personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to or in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Corporate Governance Committee and an Investment Committee and other committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. POWERS . The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law.

 

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Section 3. MEETINGS . Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or any two members (if there are more than two members) of any committee may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to act in the place of such absent member. Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings.

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

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

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

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS . The officers of the Corporation shall be a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, two vice chairmen, a chief executive officer, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, a chief credit officer, one or more managing directors, one or more employee directors, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint such other officers with such powers and duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of stockholders, except that the chief executive officer may appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient. Each officer shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualifies or

 

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until his death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may leave unfilled any office except that of president, treasurer and secretary. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

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

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

Section 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . The Board of Directors shall designate a chairman of the board. The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he shall be present. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or them by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. VICE CHAIRMEN . The Vice Chairmen shall have the general responsibility for the implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation.

Section 6. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall exercise chief executive powers and such specific powers and shall perform such duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned to him by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof designated by it to so act. He may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed.

Section 7. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the

 

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responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer. In the absence of a president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the chief operating officer shall perform the duties of president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions placed upon the president.

Section 8. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 9. CHIEF CREDIT OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief credit officer. The chief credit officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 10. PRESIDENT . The president shall have general executive powers and shall have such specific powers and shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. In the absence of a designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief operating officer.

Section 11. MANAGING DIRECTORS . The Board of Directors may designate one or more managing directors. A managing director shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or chief executive officer.

Section 12. DIRECTORS . The Board of Directors may designate one or more employee directors. An employee director shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or chief executive officer.

Section 13. VICE PRESIDENTS . The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents. A vice president shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or chief executive officer. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president or as vice president for particular areas of responsibility.

Section 14. SECRETARY . The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep, or direct that a transfer agent and registrar appointed pursuant to Article VII Section 5 keep, a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the share transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the chief executive officer, the president or by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 15. TREASURER . The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a chief financial officer by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation.

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

If required by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.

Section 16. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS . The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the president or the Board of Directors. The assistant treasurers shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.

Section 17. SALARIES . The salaries and other compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary or other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director.

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

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

 

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

Section 3. DEPOSITS . All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may designate.

ARTICLE VII

STOCK

Section 1. CERTIFICATES . The Corporation may issue some or all of the shares of any or all of the Corporation’s classes or series of stock without certificates if authorized by the Board of Directors. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors and contain the statements and information and be executed in the manner required by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares, for so long as the same is required by the MGCL, a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates. If a class or series of stock is authorized by the Board of Directors to be issued without certificates, no stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates representing any shares of such class or series of stock held by such stockholder unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors and then only upon written request by such stockholder to the secretary of the Corporation.

Section 2. TRANSFERS . All transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class of stock will be subject in all respects to the charter of the Corporation and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

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

 

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

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

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

In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten days before the date of such meeting.

If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books are not closed for the determination of stockholders, (a) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day on which the notice of meeting is mailed or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting; and (b) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the directors, declaring the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted.

 

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When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, except when (i) the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired or (ii) the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which case a new record date shall be determined as set forth herein.

Section 5. STOCK LEDGER . The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issuance and registration of shares of stock, and certificates representing the same, if any, including the appointment from time to time of transfer agents and registrars. The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate share ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

Section 6. FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS . The Board of Directors may issue fractional stock or provide for the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as they may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may issue units consisting of different securities of the Corporation. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Corporation, except that the Board of Directors may provide that for a specified period securities of the Corporation issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only in such unit.

ARTICLE VIII

ACCOUNTING YEAR

The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution.

ARTICLE IX

DISTRIBUTIONS

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

Section 2. CONTINGENCIES . Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation available

 

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for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends or other distributions, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine to be in the best interest of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

ARTICLE X

INVESTMENT POLICY

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

ARTICLE XI

SEAL

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

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

ARTICLE XII

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee of such corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made

 

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a party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity. The Corporation may, with the approval of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation. The indemnification and payment of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, regulation, insurance, agreement or otherwise.

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

ARTICLE XIII

WAIVER OF NOTICE

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

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

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

 

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CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
By:  

/s/ Geoffrey G. Jervis

Name:   Geoffrey G. Jervis
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 10.1

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the      day of December, 2012, by and between Capital Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and                      (“Indemnitee”).

WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves as [a director] [and] [an officer] of the Company and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result of [his][her] service; and

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as [a director] [and] [an officer] , the Company has agreed to indemnify and to advance expenses and costs incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings, to the maximum extent permitted by law; and

WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and advance of expenses;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement:

(a) “Change in Control” means a change in control of the Company occurring after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of the combined voting power of all of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person’s attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of liquidation or other reorganization not approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) at any time, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are not individuals (A) who were directors as of the Effective Date or (B) whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office who were directors as of the Effective Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved.


(b) “Corporate Status” means the status of a person as a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company. As a clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be serving at the request of the Company, service by Indemnitee shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company: (i) if Indemnitee serves or served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (1) of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (2) the management of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company and (ii) if, as a result of Indemnitee’s service to the Company or any of its affiliated entities, Indemnitee is subject to duties by, or required to perform services for, an employee benefit plan or its participants or beneficiaries, including as deemed fiduciary thereof.

“Determination” means a determination that either ( 1 ) Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (a “ Favorable Determination ”) or ( 2 ) Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (an “ Adverse Determination ”).

(c) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification and/or advance of Expenses is sought by Indemnitee.

(d) “Effective Date” means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

(e) “Expenses” means any and all reasonable out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court, arbitration and mediation costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, public relations consultants, bonds, costs of collecting and producing documents, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and any other disbursements or expenses incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in or otherwise participating in a Proceeding. Expenses shall also include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding including, without limitation, the premium, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

(f) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any


other party to or participant or witness in the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(g) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing, claim, demand, discovery request, or any other proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative (formal or informal) nature in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or non-party witness by reason of [his][her] Corporate Status, including any appeal therefrom, except one pending or completed on or before the Effective Date, unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. If Indemnitee reasonably believes that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, such situation shall also be considered a Proceeding

(h) “ Voting Securities ” means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors

Section 2. Services by Indemnitee . Indemnitee [will serve][serves] as [a director] [and] [an officer] of the Company. However, this Agreement shall not impose any independent obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to resign or otherwise terminate such service with immediate effect at any time, and neither such resignation or termination nor the length of such service shall affect the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract, supersede any employment agreement to which Indemnitee is a party or create any right of Indemnitee to continued employment or appointment.

Section 3. General . The Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this Agreement and (b) otherwise to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect on the Effective Date and as amended from time to time; provided, however, that no change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the Effective Date. The rights of Indemnitee provided in this Section 3 shall include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement, including any additional indemnification permitted by Section 2-418(g) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”).

Section 4. Standard for Indemnification . If, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any such Proceeding unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that [his][her] conduct was unlawful.


Section 5. Certain Limits on Indemnification . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6), Indemnitee shall not be entitled to:

(a) indemnification hereunder if the Proceeding was one by or in the right of the Company and Indemnitee is adjudged, in a final adjudication of the Proceeding not subject to further appeal, to be liable to the Company;

(b) indemnification hereunder if Indemnitee is adjudged, in a final adjudication of the Proceeding not subject to further appeal, to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received in any Proceeding charging improper personal benefit to Indemnitee, whether or not involving action in the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status; or

(c) indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder if the Proceeding was brought by Indemnitee, unless: (i) the Proceeding was brought to enforce indemnification under this Agreement, and then only to the extent in accordance with and as authorized by Section 12 of this Agreement, or (ii) the Company’s charter or Bylaws, a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors or an agreement approved by the Board of Directors to which the Company is a party expressly provide otherwise.

Section 6. Court-Ordered Indemnification . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of Indemnitee and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification of Indemnitee by the Company in the following circumstances:

(a) if such court determines that Indemnitee is entitled to reimbursement under Section 2-418(d)(1) of the MGCL, the court shall order indemnification, in which case Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover the Expenses of securing such reimbursement; or

(b) if such court determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not Indemnitee (i) has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper. However, indemnification with respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company or in which liability shall have been adjudged in the circumstances described in Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL shall be limited to Expenses.

Section 7. Indemnification for Expenses of an Indemnitee Who is Wholly or Partially Successful . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of [his][her] Corporate Status, made a party to (or otherwise becomes a participant in) any Proceeding and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of such Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is


successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee under this Section 7 for all Expenses actually incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each such claim, issue or matter, allocated on proportionate basis. For purposes of this Section 7 and, without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

Section 8. Advance of Expenses for Indemnitee . If, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall, without requiring a preliminary Determination of Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification hereunder, advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding. Such advance or advances shall be made within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding and may be in the form of, in the reasonable discretion of the Indemnitee (but without duplication) (a) payment of such Expenses directly to third parties on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advancement to Indemnitee of funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses or (c) reimbursement to Indemnitee for Indemnitee’s payment of such Expenses. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written affirmation by Indemnitee of Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by law and by this Agreement has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or in such form as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time of the execution thereof, to reimburse the portion of any Expenses advanced to Indemnitee relating to claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which it shall ultimately be established that the standard of conduct has not been met by Indemnitee and which have not been successfully resolved as described in Section 7 of this Agreement. To the extent that Expenses advanced to Indemnitee do not relate to a specific claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, such Expenses shall be allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis. The undertaking required by this Section 8 shall be an unlimited general obligation by or on behalf of Indemnitee and shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s financial ability to repay such advanced Expenses and without any requirement to post security therefor.

Section 9. Indemnification and Advance of Expenses as a Witness or Other Participant . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is or may be, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, made a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding or is called upon to produce documents in connection with any such Proceeding, whether instituted by the Company or any other party, and to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be advanced all reasonable Expenses and indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting any such advance or indemnification from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee.


Section 10. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification .

(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request as soon as practicable, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification provided that any failure or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligations under this Agreement unless and to the extent that (i) none of the Company or its subsidiaries are party to or aware of such Proceeding and (ii) the Company is materially prejudiced by such failure or delay. Subject to the foregoing, Indemnitee may submit one or more such requests from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitee’s sole discretion. The officer of the Company receiving any such request from Indemnitee shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) above, a Determination, if required by applicable law, shall promptly be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, which Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors or, if such a quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors consisting solely of one or more Disinterested Directors, (B) if Independent Counsel has been selected by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL and approved by the Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such Determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such Determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such Determination in the discretion of the Board of Directors or Independent Counsel if retained pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of this Section 10(b). Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such Determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of whether the Determination is a Favorable Determination or an Adverse Determination) and the Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(c) The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel, if one is appointed.


Section 11. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

(a) In making a Determination hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such Determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption and may only do so by showing that there is a reasonable basis to support it.

(b) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.

(c) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining any other right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 12. Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a) If (i) an Adverse Determination is made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement, (ii) advance of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no Favorable Determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 7 or 9 of this Agreement within ten days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to any other section of this Agreement or the charter or Bylaws of the Company is not made within ten days after a Favorable Determination , Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court located in the State of Maryland, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advance of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence a proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply to a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce [his][her] rights under Section 7 of this Agreement. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Maryland law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case


may be. Any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 shall be de novo with respect to all determinations of fact and law. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement until a final Determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed). The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement.

(c) If a Favorable Determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement, the Company shall be bound by such Favorable Determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification.

(d) In the event that Indemnitee is successful in seeking, pursuant to this Section 12, a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company for, any and all Expenses actually incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration. If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advance of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately prorated.

(e) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the maximum rate allowed to be charged for judgments under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for amounts which the Company pays or is obligated to pay for the period (i) commencing with either the tenth day after the date on which the Company was requested to advance Expenses in accordance with Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement or the 60 th day after the date on which the Company was requested to make the Determination of entitlement to indemnification under Section 10(b) of this Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) ending on the date such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 13. Defense of the Underlying Proceeding .

(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company promptly in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, request or other document relating to any Proceeding which may result in the right to indemnification or the advance of Expenses hereunder and shall include with such notice a description of the nature of the Proceeding and a summary of the facts underlying the Proceeding. The failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect in any manner any right of Indemnitee, to indemnification or the advance of Expenses under this Agreement unless the Company’s ability to defend in such Proceeding or to obtain proceeds under any insurance policy is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby, and then only to the extent the Company is thereby actually so prejudiced.


(b) Subject to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 13(b) and of Section 13(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding which may give rise to indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within 15 calendar days following receipt of notice of any such Proceeding under Section 13(a) above. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee or (iii) would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee. This Section 13(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 12 of this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13(b) above, if in a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, (i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that Indemnitee may have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with other defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that an actual or apparent conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between Indemnitee and the Company, or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the defense of such Proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate legal counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company. In addition, if the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any Proceeding to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company (subject to Section 12(d) of this Agreement), to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter.

Section 14. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation .

(a) The rights of indemnification and advance of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the charter or Bylaws of the Company, any agreement or a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors, or otherwise. Unless consented to in writing by Indemnitee, no amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in [his][her] Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, regardless of whether a claim with respect to such action or inaction is raised prior or subsequent to such amendment, alteration or repeal. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive


of any other right or remedy, and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prohibit the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) [The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by The Blackstone Group and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Blackstone Indemnitors”). The Company hereby agrees (i) that, as between the Company and the Blackstone Indemnitors, the Company is the indemnitor of first resort ( i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Blackstone Indemnitors to advance Expenses or to provide indemnification for the same Expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that the Company shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the charter or Bylaws of the Company (or any other agreement between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Blackstone Indemnitors, and, (iii) that the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Blackstone Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Blackstone Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Blackstone Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Blackstone Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and Indemnitee agree that the Blackstone Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 14. 1

(c) ] In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

Section 15. Insurance .

(a) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire directors and officers liability insurance, on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, with the advice of counsel, covering Indemnitee or any claim made against Indemnitee by reason of [his][her] Corporate Status and covering the Company for any indemnification or advance of Expenses made by the Company to Indemnitee for any claims made against Indemnitee by reason of [his][her] Corporate Status. In the event of a Change in Control, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain in force any and all directors and officers liability insurance policies that were maintained by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control for a period of six years with the insurance carrier or carriers and through the insurance broker in place at the time of the Change of Control; provided, however, (i) if the carriers will not offer the same policy and an expiring policy needs to be replaced, a policy substantially comparable in scope and amount shall be obtained and (ii) if any replacement

 

1   To be inserted if the Indemnitee is employed by The Blackstone Group or any of its affiliates.


insurance carrier is necessary to obtain a policy substantially comparable in scope and amount, such insurance carrier shall have an AM Best rating that is the same or better than the AM Best rating of existing insurance carrier.

(b) Without in any way limiting any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any payment by Indemnitee arising out of the amount of any deductible or retention and the amount of any excess of the aggregate of all judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding over the coverage of any insurance referred to in the previous sentence. The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such insurance shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company or Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company under any such insurance policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.

Section 16. Coordination of Payments . [Subject to Section 14(b), 2 ] The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable or payable or reimbursable as Expenses hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

Section 17. Contribution . If the indemnification provided in this Agreement is unavailable in whole or in part and may not be paid to Indemnitee for any reason, other than for failure to satisfy the standard of conduct set forth in Section 4 or due to the provisions of Section 5, then, in respect to any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, the Company, in lieu or indemnifying and holding harmless Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, penalties, and/or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquished any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.

Section 18. Reports to Stockholders . To the extent required by the MGCL, the Company shall report in writing to its stockholders the payment of any amounts for indemnification of, or advance of Expenses to, Indemnitee under this Agreement arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company with the notice of the meeting of stockholders of the Company next following the date of the payment of any such indemnification or advance of Expenses or prior to such meeting.

Section 19. Duration of Agreement; Binding Effect .

(a) This Agreement shall continue until and terminate on the later of (i) the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member,

 

2   To be inserted if the Indemnitee is employed by The Blackstone Group or any of its affiliates.


fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company and (ii) the date that Indemnitee is no longer subject to any actual or possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement).

(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon the Indemnitee and the Company and their respective successors and assigns, including without limitation any direct or indirect acquiror of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or business, any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that acquires beneficial ownership of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities or any survivor of any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party, shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

(c) The Company shall require and cause any successor, including without limitation any direct or indirect acquiror of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or business, any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that acquires beneficial ownership of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities or any survivor of any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place and the Company shall not permit any such succession (purchase of assets or business, acquisition of securities or merger or consolidation) to occur until such written agreement has been executed and delivered. No such assumption and agreement shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable by the Company.

(d) The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled. Indemnitee shall further be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders,


preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertakings in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that, in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking.

Section 20. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 21. Identical Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. One such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

Section 22. Headings . The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

Section 23. Termination, Modification and Waiver . No termination, cancellation, supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 24. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on the day of such delivery, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto.


(b) If to the Company, to:

Capital Trust, Inc.

410 Park Avenue, 14th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Fax: (212) 655-0044

Email: gjervis@capitaltrust.com

or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

Section 25. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

COMPANY:
Capital Trust, Inc.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
INDEMNITEE:

 

Name:  
Address:  


EXHIBIT A

AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED

To: The Board of Directors of Capital Trust, Inc.

Re: Affirmation and Undertaking

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This Affirmation and Undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement dated the      day of             , 20    , by and between                     , a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned Indemnitee (the “Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which I am entitled to advance of Expenses in connection with [Description of Proceeding] (the “Proceeding”).

Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement.

I am subject to the Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in such capacity. I hereby affirm my good faith belief that at all times, insofar as I was involved as [a director] [an officer] of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving rise to the Proceeding, I (1) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate dishonesty, (2) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or omission by me was unlawful.

In consideration of the advance of Expenses by the Company for reasonable attorneys’ fees and related Expenses incurred by me in connection with the Proceeding (the “Advanced Expenses”), I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Proceeding, it is established that (1) an act or omission by me was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or (2) I actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, I had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful, then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses relating to the claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which the foregoing findings have been established.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this      day of                     , 20    .

 

Name:  

 

Exhibit 10.2

ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

This ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Assignment ”) is entered into as of December 19, 2012 by and among Huskies Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Assignor ”), Blackstone Holdings III L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Assignee ”) and Capital Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Seller ”). All capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, Assignee is an Affiliate of Assignor;

WHEREAS, Assignor has entered into that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), dated as of September 27, 2012 with the Seller, pursuant to which, among other things, the Seller has agreed to sell to the Assignor:(i) 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in CT OPI Investor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ CTOPI Co-Invest Interests ”), (ii) 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in CT High Grade Partners II Co-Invest, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ CTHG2 Co-Invest Interests ”), and (iii) 5,000,000 shares of class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Seller (the “ New CT Shares ” and, together with the CTOPI Co-Invest Interests and the CTHG2 Co-Invest Interests, the “ Assigned Interests ”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with Section 12.5 of the Purchase Agreement, the Assignor desires to assign, transfer and convey the right to purchase the Assigned Interests to Assignee and the corresponding rights, obligations and liabilities under the Purchase Agreement related to such purchase and Assignee desires to accept such assignment, transfer and conveyance;

WHEREAS, the Purchase Agreement contemplates that prior to the Closing, the Seller will assign, transfer and convey Sixty-Seven (67) shares of Class A Preferred Stock, par value $.0001 per share (“ CTLR Preferred Stock ”) of CT Legacy REIT Mezz Borrower, Inc., a Maryland corporation to CT Investment Management Co., LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ CTIMCO ”);

WHEREAS, at the time the Purchase Agreement was entered into Thirty-Three (33) shares of CTLR Preferred Stock were held of record by CTIMCO;

WHEREAS, prior to the date of this Assignment, the Thirty-Three (33) shares of CTLR Preferred Stock held by CTIMCO were transferred to the Seller, resulting in seller holding One Hundred (100) shares of CTLR Preferred Stock as of the date of this Assignment; and

WHEREAS, in lieu of transferring the Sixty-Seven (67) shares of CTLR Preferred Stock to CTIMCO, Assignor and the Seller desire that all One Hundred (100) shares of CTLR Preferred Stock be transferred from Seller to Assignee upon the Closing.

 

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REPRESENTATION AND AGREEMENTS:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representation and agreements herein contained and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. Assignment of Assigned Interests . Assignor hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to Assignee the right to purchase the Assigned Interests and the corresponding rights pursuant to the Purchase Agreement effective as of the date hereof.

2. Assumption . Assignee hereby accepts the foregoing assignment, transfer and conveyance and assumes and agrees to perform all of the duties and obligations of Assignor under the Purchase Agreement, in accordance with the terms thereof, applicable to or otherwise allocated to or with respect to the Assigned Interests.

3. No Release . The assignment and assumption set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of this Assignment, respectively, shall not release Assignor from the obligation of Assignor to perform in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement. Assignor acknowledges that, notwithstanding such assignment and assumption, Assignor shall remain primarily obligated under the Purchase Agreement.

4. Representation of Ownership of CTLR Preferred Stock . As of the date hereof, the Seller holds of record all right, title and interest to One Hundred (100) shares of CTLR Preferred Stock (the “ Seller’s CTLR Preferred Stock ”).

5. Transfer of Seller’s CTLR Preferred Stock . In lieu of transferring Sixty-Seven (67) shares of CTLR Preferred Stock to CTIMCO prior to the Closing as contemplated by Section 2.1(f) of the Purchase Agreement and in recognition of the transfer prior to the date hereof of the Thirty-Three (33) shares of CTLR Preferred Stock formerly held of record by CTIMCO to the Seller, Seller hereby agrees to assign, transfer and convey Seller’s CTLR Preferred Stock to Assignee upon the Closing.

6. Purchase Price . In light of the assignment and transfer contemplated by Sections 1 and 5 above, respectively, the parties agree that at the Closing (1) Assignee shall pay to the Seller an amount equal to $30,410,893.00 in satisfaction of that portion of the Purchase Price allocable to the Assigned Interests and Seller’s CTLR Preferred Stock otherwise payable by Assignor at the Closing in the absence of this Assignment and (2) Assignor shall pay to the Seller the balance of the Purchase Price after subtracting the portion of the Purchase Price to be paid by Assignee pursuant to clause (1) of this Section 6 .

7. Investment Intent . Assignee hereby represents and warrants to Assignor and the Seller that Assignee has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters such that it (i) is capable of evaluating the risks and merits associated with the acquisition of the Assigned Interests and the CTLR Preferred Stock, (ii) is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act and (iii) is acquiring the Assigned Interests and the CTLR Preferred Stock for its own account for investment, with no present intention of making a public distribution thereof. Assignee will not sell or otherwise dispose of the Assigned Interests or the CTLR Preferred Stock in violation of the Securities Act or any state securities Laws.

 

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8. Governing Law . This Assignment shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

9. Counterparts . This Assignment may be executed in counterparts, each of which, when taken together, shall constitute fully executed originals of this Assignment.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor and Assignee have executed this Assignment as of the date first written above.

 

ASSIGNOR :

HUSKIES ACQUISITION LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:  

/s/ Michael Nash

Name:   Michael Nash
Title:   Authorized Signatory
ASSIGNEE :

BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS III L.P.,

a Delaware limited partnership

By: Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P., its general partner
By: Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Laurence A. Tosi

Name:   Laurence A. Tosi
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen D. Plavin

Name:   Stephen D. Plavin
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

[Assignment Agreement]

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

by and between

Capital Trust, Inc.

and

BREDS/CT Advisors L.L.C.

 

 

 


MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 19, 2012, by and between Capital Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and BREDS/CT Advisors L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Manager ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a corporation which has elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”);

WHEREAS, the Company was previously internally managed by CT Investment Management Co., LLC (“ CTIMCO ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2012 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “ Omnibus Purchase Agreement ”), by and between the Company and Huskies Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, has agreed to acquire CTIMCO’s investment management business and certain related interests on the terms and conditions set forth therein; and

WHEREAS, in connection therewith, the Company desires to retain the Manager to serve as investment manager of the Company and provide various investment management and other services with respect to the Company in the manner and on the terms set forth herein, and the Manager desires to accept such appointment and render such services to the Company in consideration of a management fee and incentive fee as hereinafter set forth.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions.

(a) The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1(a):

Affiliate ” means with respect to a Person (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other Person, (ii) any executive officer, employee or general partner of such Person, (iii) any member of the board of directors or board of managers (or bodies performing similar functions) of such Person, and (iv) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer or general partner; provided , that, for greater certainty, it is acknowledged and agreed that portfolio entities of any Other Blackstone Funds shall not be deemed Affiliates of the Manager.

Agreement ” means this Management Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Allocation Policy ” means the investment allocation policy and procedures of the Manager and/or its Affiliates with respect to the allocation of investment opportunities among the Company and one or more Other Blackstone Funds (as the same may be amended, updated or revised from time to time).


Automatic Renewal Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.

Blackstone ” means, collectively, The Blackstone Group L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and any Affiliate thereof.

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

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

Cause Event ” means (i) a final judgment by any court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction not stayed or vacated within thirty (30) days that the Manager, its agents or its assignees has committed a felony or a material violation of applicable securities laws that has a material adverse effect on the business of the Company or the ability of the Manager to perform its duties under the terms of this Agreement, (ii) an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case relating to the Manager or the Manager authorizing or filing a voluntary bankruptcy petition, (iii) the dissolution of the Manager, or (iv) a determination that the Manager has committed fraud against the Company, misappropriates or embezzles funds of the Company, or has acted, or failed to act, in a manner constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that if any of the actions or omissions described in this clause (iv) are caused by an employee and/or officer of the Manager or one of its Affiliates and the Manager takes all necessary action against such person and cures the damage caused by such actions or omissions within thirty (30) days of such determination, then such event shall not constitute a Cause Event.

Claim ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.

Closing Date ” means the Closing Date under the Omnibus Purchase Agreement.

Code ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company.

Company ” means Capital Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and, where the context requires, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

Company Indemnified Party ” has meaning set forth in Section 8(b) hereof.

Conduct Policies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(n) hereof.

Confidential Information ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.

Core Earnings ” means the net income (loss) attributable to the stockholders of the Company, computed in accordance with GAAP, including realized losses not otherwise included in GAAP net income (loss) and excluding (i) non-cash equity compensation expense, (ii) the Incentive Compensation, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) any unrealized gains or losses or other similar non-cash items that are

 

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included in net income for the applicable reporting period, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income, (v) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain material non-cash income or expense items, in each case after discussions between the Manager and the Independent Directors and approved by a majority of the Independent Directors, and (vi) net income (loss) related to the CT Legacy Interests.

For the avoidance of doubt, the exclusion of depreciation and amortization from the calculation of Core Earnings shall only apply to debt investments related to real estate to the extent that the Company forecloses upon the property or properties underlying such debt investments.

CT Legacy CDOs ” means Capital Trust RE CDO 2004-1 Ltd., a Cayman Islands company, Capital Trust RE CDO 2005-1 Ltd, a Cayman Islands company, and CT CDO IV Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company.

CT Legacy REIT ” means CT Legacy REIT Mezz Borrower, Inc., a Maryland corporation.

CT Legacy REIT Award Agreements ” means those certain award agreements granted under the Company’s 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan related to distributions made by CT Legacy REIT.

CT Legacy Interests ” means the Company’s interests in (i) CT Legacy REIT, net of the Unit Secured Notes and payments made by the Company pursuant to the CT Legacy REIT Award Agreements, (ii) the CTOPI Interest, net of the payments made by the Company pursuant to the CTOPI Award Agreements and (iii) the CT Legacy CDOs.

CTIMCO ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

CTOPI ” means CT Opportunity Partners I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

CTOPI Award Agreements ” means those certain award agreements related to carried interest distributions made by CTOPI.

CTOPI Interest ” means the Company’s interest in CT OPI GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and general partner of CTOPI.

Effective Termination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b) hereof.

Equity ” means (a) the sum of (1) the net proceeds received by the Company from all issuances of the Company’s Common Stock from and after the Closing Date (allocated on a pro rata basis for such issuances during the fiscal quarter of any such issuance), plus (2) the Company’s retained earnings at the end of the most recently completed calendar quarter in respect of Core Earnings from and after the Closing Date, plus (3) cash retained on the Company’s balance sheet as of the Closing Date and cash retained upon realization of the CT Legacy Interests, (b) less (1) any distributions to the Company’s stockholders in excess of retained Core Earnings, (2) any amount that the

 

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Company or any of its Subsidiaries has paid to repurchase the Company’s Common Stock since the Closing Date and (3) any Incentive Compensation paid following the Closing Date.

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

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States on the date such principles are applied.

Governing Agreements ” means, with regard to any entity, the articles of incorporation or certificate of incorporation and bylaws in the case of a corporation, the certificate of limited partnership (if applicable) and the partnership agreement in the case of a general or limited partnership, the certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement in the case of a limited liability company, the trust instrument in the case of a trust, or similar governing documents in each case as amended.

Incentive Compensation ” means the incentive fee calculated and payable with respect to each calendar quarter following the Closing Date (or part thereof that this Agreement is in effect) in arrears in an amount, not less than zero, equal to:

(i) for the first full calendar quarter following the Closing Date , the product of (a) 20% and (b) the difference between (i) Core Earnings of the Company for such calendar quarter, and (ii) the product of (A) the Company’s Equity as of the end of such calendar quarter, and (B) 7%;

(ii) for each of the second, third and fourth full calendar quarters following the Closing Date , the difference between (1) the product of (a) 20% and (b) the difference between (i) Core Earnings of the Company for the previous calendar quarter, and (ii) the product of (A) the Company’s Equity in the previous calendar quarter, and (B) 7%, and (2) the sum of any Incentive Compensation paid to the Manager with respect to the prior calendar quarter(s) following the Closing Date, as applicable; and

(iii) for each calendar quarter thereafter, the difference between (1) the product of (a) 20% and (b) the difference between (i) Core Earnings of the Company for the previous 12-month period, and (ii) the product of (A) the Company’s Equity in the previous 12-month period, and (B) 7%, and (2) the sum of any Incentive Compensation paid to the Manager with respect to the first three calendar quarters of such previous 12-month period; provided, however, that no Incentive Compensation shall be payable with respect to any calendar quarter unless Core Earnings for the 12 most recently completed calendar quarters (or such lesser number of completed calendar quarters from the date of the first offering of Common Stock following the Closing Date) is greater than zero.

Incentive Compensation shall be pro rated for partial periods, to the extent necessary, based on the number of days elapsed or remaining in such period, as the case may be (including any calendar quarter during which the Closing Date occurs and any calendar quarter during which any Effective Termination Date occurs).

Indemnified Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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Independent Director ” means a member of the Board who is “independent” in accordance with the Company’s Governing Agreements and the rules of the NYSE or such other securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed.

Initial Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.

Investment Company Act ” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Investment Guidelines ” means the investment guidelines of the Company approved by the Board, as may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived pursuant to the approval of a majority of the Board (which must include a majority of the Independent Directors) from time to time. As of the date hereof, such investment guidelines are listed on Exhibit A .

Losses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.

Management Fee ” means the management fee, without duplication, payable quarterly in arrears with respect to each calendar quarter following the Closing Date, in an amount equal to the greater of:

(i) $250,000 per annum ($62,500 per quarter); and

(ii) 1.50% per annum (0.375% per quarter) of the Company’s Equity.

The Management Fee shall be pro rated for partial periods, to the extent necessary, as described more fully elsewhere herein.

Manager ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Manager Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

Manager Indemnified Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.

Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

Notice of Proposal to Negotiate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(c) hereof.

NYSE ” means The New York Stock Exchange.

Omnibus Purchase Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Other Blackstone Funds ” means, collectively, any other investment funds, vehicles, accounts, products and/or other similar arrangements sponsored, advised and/or managed by Blackstone, whether currently in existence or subsequently established, in each case, including any related successor funds, alternative vehicles, supplemental capital vehicles, co-investment vehicles and other entities formed in connection with Blackstone’s side-by-side or additional general partner investments with respect thereto.

 

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Person ” means any natural person, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, estate, trust, joint venture, any federal, state, county or municipal government or any bureau, department or agency thereof or any other legal entity and any fiduciary acting in such capacity on behalf of the foregoing.

Regulation FD ” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the SEC.

REIT ” means a “real estate investment trust” as defined under the Code.

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Subsidiary ” means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other entity or organization of which: (a) the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company is a general partner or managing member, or (b) voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions with respect to such entity or organization is held by the Company or by any one or more of the Company’s subsidiaries.

Termination Fee ” means a termination fee equal to three (3) times the sum of (i) the average annual Management Fee, and (ii) average annual Incentive Compensation, in each case earned by the Manager during the 24-month period immediately preceding the most recently completed calendar quarter prior to the Effective Termination Date.

Termination Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b) hereof.

Termination Without Cause ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(b) hereof.

Treasury Regulations ” means the Procedures and Administration Regulation promulgated by the U.S. Department of Treasury under the Code, as amended.

Unit Secured Notes ” means, collectively, the Series 1 Unit Secured Notes issued by CT Legacy Series 1 Note Issuer, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the Series 2 Unit Secured Notes issued by CT Legacy Series 2 Note Issuer, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, issued prior to the date hereof.

(b) As used herein, accounting terms relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, not defined in Section 1(a) and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1(a), to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP. As used herein, “calendar quarters” shall mean the period from January 1 to March 31, April 1 to June 30, July 1 to September 30 and October 1 to December 31 of the applicable year.

(c) The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

(d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”

 

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Section 2. Appointment and Duties of the Manager.

(a) The Company hereby appoints the Manager, as agent, to manage the investments and day-to-day business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, subject at all times to the further terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and to the supervision of the Board. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Manager hereby agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to perform each of the duties set forth herein, provided that the Company reimburses the Manager for costs and expenses in accordance with Section 7 hereof. The appointment of the Manager shall be exclusive to the Manager, except to the extent that the Manager elects, in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to the terms of this Agreement, to cause the duties of the Manager as set forth herein to be provided by third parties and/or its Affiliates.

(b) The Manager, in its capacity as manager of the investments and the operations of the Company, at all times will be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board and will have only such functions and authority as the Board may delegate to it, including, without limitation, managing the Company’s investment activities and other business affairs in conformity with the Investment Guidelines and other policies that are approved and monitored by the Board. The Company and the Manager hereby acknowledge the recommendation by the Manager and the approval by the Board of the Investment Guidelines.

(c) Subject to the oversight of the Board and the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the Investment Guidelines), the Manager will have plenary authority with respect to the management of the business and affairs of the Company and will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company. The Manager will perform (or cause to be performed through one or more of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries) such services and activities relating to the investments and business and affairs of the Company as may be appropriate or otherwise mutually agreed from time to time, which may include, without limitation:

(i) serving as an advisor to the Company with respect to the establishment and periodic review of the Investment Guidelines and other parameters for the Company’s investments, financing activities and operations, any modifications to which will be approved by a majority of the Board (which must include a majority of the Independent Directors);

(ii) identifying, investigating, analyzing, and selecting possible investment opportunities and originating, negotiating, acquiring, consummating, monitoring, financing, retaining, selling, negotiating for prepayment, restructuring, refinancing, hypothecating, pledging or otherwise disposing of investments consistent in all material respects with the Investment Guidelines;

 

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(iii) with respect to prospective purchases, sales, exchanges or other dispositions of investments, conducting negotiations on the Company’s behalf with sellers, purchasers, and other counterparties and, if applicable, their respective agents, advisors and representatives;

(iv) negotiating and entering into, on the Company’s behalf, repurchase agreements, interest rate or currency swap agreements, hedging arrangements, financing arrangements (including one or more credit facilities), foreign exchange transactions, derivative transactions, and other agreements and instruments required or appropriate in connection with the Company’s activities;

(v) engaging and supervising, on the Company’s behalf and at the Company’s expense, independent contractors, advisors, consultants, attorneys, accountants, auditors, and other service providers (which may include Affiliates of the Manager) that provide various services with respect to the Company, including, without limitation, investment banking, securities brokerage, mortgage brokerage, credit analysis, risk management services, asset management services, loan servicing, other financial, legal or accounting services, due diligence services, underwriting review services, and all other services (including transfer agent and registrar services) as may be required relating to the Company’s activities or investments (or potential investments);

(vi) coordinating and managing operations of any joint venture or co-investment interests held by the Company and conducting all matters with the joint venture or co-investment partners;

(vii) providing executive and administrative personnel, office space and office services required in rendering services to the Company;

(viii) administering the day-to-day operations and performing and supervising the performance of such other administrative functions necessary to the Company’s management as may be agreed upon by the Manager and the Board, including, without limitation, the collection of revenues and the payment of the Company’s debts and obligations and maintenance of appropriate computer services to perform such administrative functions;

(ix) communicating on the Company’s behalf with the holders of any of the Company’s equity or debt securities as required to satisfy the reporting and other requirements of any governmental bodies or agencies or trading markets and to maintain effective relations with such holders;

(x) advising the Company in connection with policy decisions to be made by the Board;

(xi) engaging one or more subadvisors with respect to the management of the Company, including, where appropriate, Affiliates of the Manager;

 

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(xii) evaluating and recommending to the Board hedging strategies and engaging in hedging activities on the Company’s behalf, consistent with the Company’s qualification as a REIT and with the Investment Guidelines;

(xiii) advising the Company regarding the maintenance of the Company’s qualification as a REIT and monitoring compliance with the various REIT qualification tests and other rules set out in the Code and Treasury Regulations thereunder and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to qualify for taxation as a REIT;

(xiv) advising the Company regarding the maintenance of the Company’s exemption from regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, monitoring compliance with the requirements for maintaining such exemption and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to maintain such exemption from regulation as an investment company under the Investment Company Act;

(xv) furnishing reports to the Company regarding the Company’s activities and services performed for the Company by the Manager and its Affiliates;

(xvi) monitoring the operating performance of the Company’s investments and providing periodic reports with respect thereto to the Board, including comparative information with respect to such operating performance and budgeted or projected operating results;

(xvii) investing and reinvesting any moneys and securities of the Company (including investing in short-term investments pending investment in other investments, payment of fees, costs and expenses, or payments of dividends or distributions to the Company’s stockholders and partners) and advising the Company as to the Company’s capital structure and capital raising;

(xviii) causing the Company to retain a qualified independent public accounting firm and legal counsel, as applicable, to assist in developing appropriate accounting procedures and systems, internal controls and other compliance procedures and systems with respect to financial reporting obligations and compliance with the provisions of the Code applicable to REITs and to conduct periodic compliance reviews with respect thereto;

(xix) assisting the Company in qualifying to do business in all applicable jurisdictions and to obtain and maintain all appropriate licenses;

(xx) assisting the Company in complying with all regulatory requirements applicable to the Company in respect of the Company’s business activities, including preparing or causing to be prepared all financial statements required under applicable regulations and contractual undertakings and all reports and documents, if any, required under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, or by the NYSE, and facilitating compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the listing rules of the NYSE, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010;

 

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(xxi) assisting the Company in taking all necessary action to enable the Company to make required tax filings and reports, including soliciting stockholders for all information required to the extent provided by the provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations applicable to REITs;

(xxii) placing, or arranging for the placement of, all orders pursuant to the Manager’s investment determinations for the Company either directly with the issuer or with a broker or dealer (including any affiliated broker or dealer);

(xxiii) handling and resolving all claims, disputes or controversies (including all litigation, arbitration, settlement or other proceedings or negotiations) in which the Company may be involved or to which the Company may be subject arising out of the Company’s day-to-day activities (other than with the Manager or its Affiliates), subject to such reasonable limitations or parameters as may be imposed from time to time by the Board;

(xxiv) using commercially reasonable efforts to cause expenses incurred by the Company or on the Company’s behalf to be commercially reasonable or commercially customary and within any budgeted parameters or expense guidelines set by the Board from time to time;

(xxv) advising the Company with respect to and structuring long-term financing vehicles for the Company’s portfolio of assets, and offering and selling securities publicly or privately in connection with any such structured financing;

(xxvi) serving as the Company’s advisor with respect to decisions regarding any of the Company’s financings, hedging activities or borrowings undertaken by the Company, including (1) assisting the Company in developing criteria for debt and equity financing that is specifically tailored to the Company’s investment objectives, and (2) advising the Company with respect to obtaining appropriate financing for the Company’s investments (which, in accordance with applicable law and the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Company’s Governing Agreements may include financing by the Manager or its Affiliates);

(xxvii) providing the Company with portfolio management and other related services;

(xxviii) arranging marketing materials and other related documentation, advertising, industry group activities (such as conference participations and industry organization memberships) and other promotional efforts designed to promote the Company’s business; and

(xxix) performing such other services from time to time in connection with the management of the business and affairs of the Company and its investment activities as the Board shall reasonably request and/or the Manager shall deem appropriate under the particular circumstances.

 

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(d) For the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries hereby constitutes, appoints and authorizes the Manager, and any officer of the Manager acting on its behalf from time to time, as the Company’s true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, in its name, place and stead, to negotiate, execute, deliver and enter into any certificates, instruments, agreements, authorizations and other documentation in the name and on behalf of the Company as the Manager, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of its services hereunder. This power of attorney is deemed to be coupled with an interest. In performing such services, as an agent of the Company, the Manager shall have the right to exercise all powers and authority which are reasonably necessary and customary to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including, the following powers, subject in each case to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Investment Guidelines:

(i) to purchase, exchange or otherwise acquire and to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of, any investment at public or private sale;

(ii) to borrow and, for the purpose of securing the repayment thereof, to pledge, mortgage or otherwise encumber investments and enter into agreements in connection therewith, including, without limitation, repurchase agreements, master repurchase agreements, International Swap Dealer Association swap, caps and other agreements and annexes thereto and other futures and forward agreements;

(iii) to purchase, take and hold investments subject to mortgages or other liens;

(iv) to extend the time of payment of any liens or encumbrances which may at any time be encumbrances upon any investment, irrespective of by whom the same were made;

(v) to foreclose, to reduce the rate of interest on, and to consent to the modification and extension of the maturity or other terms of any investments, or to accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure;

(vi) to join in a voluntary partition of any investment;

(vii) to cause to be demolished any structures on any real estate investment;

(viii) to cause renovations and capital improvements to be made to any real estate investment;

(ix) to abandon any real estate investment deemed to be worthless;

(x) to enter into joint ventures or otherwise participate in investment vehicles investing in investments;

(xi) to cause any real estate investment to be leased, operated, developed, constructed or exploited;

 

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(xii) to obtain and maintain insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are prudent in accordance with customary and sound business practices in the appropriate geographic area;

(xiii) to cause any property to be maintained in good state of repair and upkeep; and to pay the taxes, upkeep, repairs, carrying charges, maintenance and premiums for insurance;

(xiv) to use the personnel and resources of its Affiliates in performing the services specified in this Agreement;

(xv) to designate and engage all professionals, consultants and other service providers subject to and in accordance with, as applicable, Section 2(e), to perform services (directly or indirectly) on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, accountants, legal counsel and engineers; and

(xvi) to take any and all other actions as are necessary or appropriate in connection with the Company’s investments.

The Manager shall be authorized to represent to third parties that it has the power to perform the actions which it is authorized to perform under this Agreement.

(e) The Manager may retain, for and on behalf, and at the sole cost and expense, of the Company, such services of the persons and firms referred to in Section 7(b) hereof as the Manager deems necessary or advisable in connection with the management and operations of the Company, which may include Affiliates of the Manager; provided, that any such services may only be provided by Affiliates to the extent (i) such services are on arm’s length terms and competitive market rates in relation to terms that are then customary for agreements regarding the provision of such services to companies that have assets similar in type, quality and value to the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or (ii) such services are approved by a majority of the Independent Directors. In performing its duties under this Section 2, the Manager shall be entitled to rely reasonably on qualified experts and professionals (including, without limitation, accountants, legal counsel and other professional service providers) hired by the Manager at the Company’s sole cost and expense. The Manager shall keep the Board reasonably informed on a periodic basis as to any services provided by Affiliates of the Manager not approved by a majority of the Independent Directors.

(f) The Manager shall refrain from any action that, in its sole judgment made in good faith, (i) is not in compliance with the Investment Guidelines, (ii) would adversely and materially affect the qualification of the Company as a REIT under the Code or the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ status as entities excluded from investment company status under the Investment Company Act, or (iii) would materially violate the Conduct Policies, any law, rule or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company and its Subsidiaries or of any exchange on which the securities of the Company may be listed or that would otherwise not be permitted by the applicable Governing Agreements. If the Manager is ordered to take any action by the Board, the Manager shall seek to promptly notify the Board if it is the Manager’s reasonable judgment that such action would adversely and materially affect

 

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such status or violate any such law, rule or regulation or Governing Agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Manager nor any of its Affiliates shall be liable to the Company, the Board, or the Company’s stockholders for any act or omission by the Manager or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement.

(g) The Company (including the Board) agrees to take all actions reasonably required to permit and enable the Manager to carry out its duties and obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, all steps reasonably necessary to allow the Manager to make any filing required to be made under the Securities Act, Exchange Act, the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual, Code or other applicable law, rule or regulation on behalf of the Company in a timely manner. The Company further agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the Manager all resources, information and materials reasonably requested by the Manager to enable the Manager to satisfy its obligations hereunder, including its obligations to deliver financial statements and any other information or reports with respect to the Company.

(h) As frequently as the Manager may deem reasonably necessary or advisable, or at the direction of the Board, the Manager shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, (i) reports and other information on the Company’s operations and (ii) other information relating to any proposed or consummated investment as may be reasonably requested by the Company.

(i) The Manager shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, all periodic reports and financial statements with respect to the Company reasonably required by the Board in order for the Company to comply with its Governing Agreements, or any other materials required to be filed with any governmental body or agency, including but not limited to the SEC, and shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, cause to be prepared, all materials and data necessary to complete such reports and other materials, including, without limitation, an annual audit of the Company’s books of account by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm.

(j) The Manager shall prepare, or, at the sole cost and expense to the Company, cause to be prepared, regular reports for the Board to enable the Board to review the Company’s acquisitions, portfolio composition and characteristics, credit quality, performance, asset performance and compliance with the Investment Guidelines, and policies approved by the Board.

(k) Officers, employees and agents of the Manager and its Affiliates may serve as directors, officers, employees, agents, nominees or signatories for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to the extent permitted by their Governing Agreements, by any resolutions duly adopted by the Board. When executing documents or otherwise acting in such capacities for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, such Persons shall indicate in what capacity they are executing on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, while this Agreement is in effect, the Manager will provide the Company with a management team, including a Chief Executive Officer and President, Chief Financial Officer or similar positions, along with appropriate support personnel, to provide the management services to be provided by the Manager to the Company hereunder, who shall devote such of their time to the management of the Company as necessary and appropriate, commensurate with the level of activity of the Company from time to time.

 

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(l) At all times during the term of this Agreement, the Manager, at its sole cost and expense, shall maintain “errors and omissions” insurance coverage and other insurance coverage that is customarily carried by asset and investment managers performing functions similar to those of the Manager under this Agreement with respect to assets similar to the assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

(m) The Manager, at its sole cost and expense, shall provide or otherwise cause to be provided, such internal audit, compliance and control services as may be required for the Company to comply with applicable law (including the Securities Act and Exchange Act), regulation (including SEC regulations) and the rules and requirements of the NYSE and as otherwise reasonably requested by the Company or its Board from time to time.

(n) The Manager agrees to be bound by the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policy on Insider Trading and other compliance and governance policies and procedures required under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, or by the NYSE or other securities exchange, if any (collectively, the “ Conduct Policies ”), and to take, or cause to be taken, all actions reasonably required to cause its officers, directors, members, managers and employees, and any principals, officers or employees of its Affiliates (including Blackstone) who are involved in the business and affairs of the Company, to be bound by the Conduct Policies to the extent applicable to such Persons.

Section 3. Additional Activities of the Manager; Allocation of Investment Opportunities; Non-Solicitation; Restrictions.

(a) Nothing in this Agreement shall (i) prevent the Manager or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors or employees, from engaging in other businesses or from rendering services of any kind to any other Person or entity, whether or not the investment objectives or policies of any such other Person or entity are similar to those of the Company, including, without limitation, the sponsoring, closing and/or managing of any Other Blackstone Funds that employ investment objectives or strategies that overlap, in whole or in part, with the Investment Guidelines of the Company, (ii) in any way bind or restrict the Manager or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors or employees from buying, selling or trading any securities or commodities for their own accounts or for the account of others for whom the Manager or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors or employees may be acting, or (iii) prevent the Manager or any of its Affiliates from receiving fees or other compensation or profits from such activities described in this Section 3(a) which shall be for the Manager’s (and/or its Affiliates’) sole benefit. While information and recommendations supplied to the Company shall, in the Manager’s reasonable and good faith judgment, be appropriate under the circumstances and in light of the investment objectives and policies of the Company, they may be different in certain material respects from the information and recommendations supplied by the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager to others (including, for greater certainty, the Other Blackstone Funds and their investors, as described more fully in Section 3(b)). The Manager and the Company acknowledge and agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) Affiliates of the Manager sponsor, advise and/or manage one or more Other Blackstone Funds and may in the future

 

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sponsor, advise and/or manage additional Other Blackstone Funds, and (ii) the Manager will allocate investment opportunities that overlap with the Investment Guidelines of the Company and such Other Blackstone Funds in accordance with the Allocation Policy.

(b) In connection with the services of the Manager hereunder, the Company and the Board acknowledge and/or agree that (i) as part of Blackstone’s regular businesses, personnel of the Manager and its Affiliates may from time-to-time work on other projects and matters (including with respect to one or more Other Blackstone Funds), and that conflicts may arise with respect to the allocation of personnel between the Company and one or more Other Blackstone Funds and/or the Manager and such other Affiliates, (ii) there may be circumstances where investments that are consistent with the Company’s Investment Guidelines may be shared with or allocated to one or more Other Blackstone Funds (in lieu of the Company) in accordance with the Allocation Policy, (iii) Other Blackstone Funds may invest, from time-to-time, in investments in which the Company may also invest (including at a different level of an issuer’s capital structure ( e.g. , an investment by an Other Blackstone Fund in an equity or mezzanine interest with respect to the same portfolio entity in which the Company owns a debt interest or vice versa ) or in a different tranche of fundraising with respect to an issuer in which the Company has an interest) and while Blackstone will seek to resolve any such conflicts in a fair and equitable manner in accordance with the Allocation Policy, such transactions shall not be required to be presented to the Board for approval, and there can be no assurance that any such conflicts will be resolved in favor of the Company, (iv) the Manager and its Affiliates may from time-to-time receive fees from portfolio entities or other issuers for the arranging, underwriting, syndication or refinancing of investments or other additional fees, including acquisition fees, loan servicing fees, special servicing fees and administrative fees and fees or advisory or asset management fees, including with respect to Other Blackstone Funds and related portfolio entities, and while such fees may give rise to conflicts of interest the Company will not receive the benefit of any such fees, and (v) the terms and conditions of the governing agreements of such Other Blackstone Funds (including with respect to the economic, reporting, and other rights afforded to investors in such Other Blackstone Funds) are materially different from the terms and conditions applicable to the Company and its stockholders, and neither the Company nor any such stockholders (in such capacity) shall have the right to receive the benefit of any such different terms applicable to investors in such Other Blackstone Funds as a result of an investment in the Company or otherwise. The Manager shall keep the Board reasonably informed on a periodic basis in connection with the foregoing, including with respect to any transactions that present conflicts contemplated by clause (iii) of this Section 3(b) and shall provide the Board quarterly updates in respect of such matters.

(c) Subject to Section 3(b), the Board will periodically review the Investment Guidelines and the Company’s investment portfolio when and as determined in its discretion, but will not review each proposed investment; provided, that the Manager shall not consummate on behalf of the Company any transaction that involves (i) the sale of any investment to or (ii) the acquisition of any investment from, Blackstone, any Other Blackstone Fund or any of their Affiliates unless such transaction (A) is on terms no less favorable to the Company than could have been obtained on an arm’s length basis from an unrelated third party and (B) has been approved in advance by a majority of the Independent Directors. In connection with the foregoing, it is understood and/or agreed for greater certainty that while conflicts of interests may arise from time-to-time in connection with the investment activities of the Company,

 

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Blackstone and the Other Blackstone Funds (including as more fully described in Section 3(b) above) and that the Manager will seek to resolve any such conflicts of interest in a fair and equitable manner in accordance with the Allocation Policy and its prevailing policies and procedures with respect to conflicts resolution among Other Blackstone Funds generally, only those transactions set forth above shall be required to be presented for approval to the Independent Directors; provided, that the foregoing shall not limit the ability of the Manager, in its discretion, to present additional matters involving the Company to the Independent Directors from time-to-time for review, advice and/or approval to the extent the Manager reasonably determines that doing so is appropriate under the circumstances (including, without limitation, as a result of a determination that such matters give rise to material conflicts of interest that are appropriate to be reviewed and/or approved by the Independent Directors).

(d) In the event of a Termination Without Cause of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof, for two (2) years after such termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the consent of the Manager, employ or otherwise retain any employee of the Manager or any of its Affiliates or any person who has been employed by the Manager or any of its Affiliates at any time within the two (2) year period immediately preceding the date on which such person commences employment with or is otherwise retained by the Company. The Company acknowledges and agrees that, in addition to any damages, the Manager may be entitled to equitable relief for any violation of this Section 3(d) by the Company, including, without limitation, injunctive relief.

(e) At the reasonable request of the Board, the Manager shall review the Allocation Policy with the Board and respond to reasonable questions regarding the Allocation Policy as it relates to services under the Agreement. The Manager shall promptly provide the Board with a description of any material amendments, updates and revisions to the Allocation Policy.

Section 4. Bank Accounts . At the direction of the Board, the Manager may establish and maintain, as agent on behalf of the Company, one or more bank accounts in the name of the Company or any Subsidiary, and may collect and deposit into any such account or accounts, and disburse funds from any such account or accounts, under such terms and conditions as the Board may approve; and the Manager shall from time to time render appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Board and, upon request, to the auditors of the Company or any Subsidiary.

Section 5. Records; Confidentiality .

The Manager shall maintain appropriate books of account, records and files relating to services performed hereunder, and such books of account, records and files shall be accessible for inspection by representatives of the Company or any Subsidiary at any time during normal business hours upon advance written notice. The Manager shall have full responsibility for the maintenance, care and safekeeping of all such books of account, records and files (it being understood that services may be provided with respect to the Company by service providers ( e.g ., administrators, prime brokers and custodians) and so long as such service providers are monitored by the Manager with due care, the Manager shall be in compliance with the foregoing). The Manager shall keep confidential any and all non-public information, written

 

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or oral, obtained by it in connection with the services rendered hereunder (“ Confidential Information ”) and shall not use Confidential Information except in furtherance of its duties under this Agreement or disclose Confidential Information, in whole or in part, to any Person other than (i) to officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, advisors of the Manager or its Affiliates who need to know such Confidential Information for the purpose of rendering services hereunder, (ii) to appraisers, lenders or other financing sources, co-originators, custodians, administrators, brokers, commercial counterparties or any similar entity and others in the ordinary course of the Company’s business ((i) and (ii) collectively, “ Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties ”), (iii) in connection with any governmental or regulatory filings of the Company (including, if required by law, any filings made by Blackstone as a result of its status as a public company) or disclosure or presentations to Company investors (subject to compliance with Regulation FD), (iv) to governmental officials having jurisdiction over the Company, (v) as requested by law or legal process to which the Manager or any Person to whom disclosure is permitted hereunder is a party, (vi) to existing or prospective investors in Other Blackstone Funds and their advisors to the extent such persons reasonably request such information, subject to an undertaking of confidentiality, non-disclosure and nonuse, or (vii) otherwise with the consent of the Company. The Manager agrees to inform each of its Manager Permitted Disclosure Parties of the non-public nature of the Confidential Information. Nothing herein shall prevent the Manager from disclosing Confidential Information (i) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (ii) upon the request or demand of, or pursuant to any law or regulation to, any regulatory agency or authority, (iii) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, or (iv) to its legal counsel or independent auditors; provided , however that with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), it is agreed that, so long as not legally prohibited, the Manager will provide the Company with written notice within a reasonable period of time of such order, request or demand so that the Company may seek, at its sole expense, an appropriate protective order and/or waive the Manager’s compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. If, failing the entry of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, the Manager is required to disclose Confidential Information, the Manager may disclose only that portion of such information that is legally required without liability hereunder; provided, that the Manager agrees to exercise its reasonable best efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the following shall be deemed to be excluded from provisions hereof: any Confidential Information that (A) is available to the public from a source other than the Manager, (B) is released by the Company to the public (except to the extent exempt under Regulation FD) or to persons who are not under similar obligation of confidentiality to the Company, or (C) is obtained by the Manager from a third-party which, to the best of the Manager’s knowledge, does not constitute a breach by such third-party of an obligation of confidence with respect to the Confidential Information disclosed. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement for a period of one year.

Section 6. Compensation .

(a) For the services rendered under this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Management Fee and the Incentive Compensation to the Manager. The Manager will not receive any compensation for the period prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(b) The parties acknowledge that the Management Fee is intended in part to compensate the Manager and its Affiliates for the costs and expenses they will incur hereunder and pursuant to any subadvisory agreement, as well as certain expenses not otherwise reimbursable under Section 7 below, in order for the Manager to provide the Company the investment advisory services and certain general management services rendered under this Agreement. The fee paid by the Manager under a subadvisory agreement (if any) shall not constitute an expense reimbursable by the Company under this Agreement or otherwise.

(c) The Management Fee shall be payable in arrears in cash, in quarterly installments commencing with the quarter in which this Agreement is executed. If applicable, the initial and final installments of the Management Fee shall be pro-rated based on the number of days during the initial and final quarter, respectively, that this Agreement is in effect. The Manager shall calculate each quarterly installment of the Management Fee, and deliver such calculation to the Company, within thirty (30) days following the last day of each calendar quarter. The Company shall pay the Manager each installment of the Management Fee within five (5) Business Days after the date of delivery to the Company of such computations.

(d) The Incentive Compensation shall be payable in arrears in cash, in quarterly installments commencing with the quarter in which this Agreement is executed. The Manager shall compute each quarterly installment of the Incentive Compensation within forty-five (45) days after the end of the calendar quarter with respect to which such installment is payable. A copy of the computations made by the Manager to calculate such installment shall thereafter promptly be delivered to the Board and, upon such delivery, payment of such installment of the Incentive Compensation shown therein shall be due and payable no later than the date which is five (5) Business Days after the date of delivery to the Board of such computations.

Section 7. Expenses of the Company .

(a) Subject to Section 7(b), the Manager shall be responsible for the expenses related to any and all personnel of the Manager and its Affiliates who provide services to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (including, without limitation, each of the officers of the Company and any directors of the Company who are also directors, officers or employees of the Manager or any of its Affiliates), including, without limitation, salaries, bonus and other wages, payroll taxes and the cost of employee benefit plans of such personnel, and costs of insurance with respect to such personnel (“ Manager Expenses ”).

(b) The Company shall pay all of its costs and expenses and shall reimburse the Manager or its Affiliates for documented costs and expenses of the Manager and its Affiliates incurred on behalf of the Company, other than Manager Expenses. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is specifically agreed that the following costs and expenses of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be paid by the Company and shall not be paid by the Manager or Affiliates of the Manager:

(i) fees, costs and expenses in connection with the issuance and transaction costs incident to the acquisition, negotiation, structuring, trading, settling, disposition and financing of the investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries (whether or not

 

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consummated), including brokerage commissions, hedging costs, prime brokerage fees, custodial expenses, clearing and settlement charges, forfeited deposits, and other investment costs fees and expenses actually incurred in connection with the pursuit, making, holding, settling, monitoring or disposing of actual or potential investments;

(ii) fees costs, and expenses of legal, tax, accounting, consulting, auditing, finance, administrative, investment banking, capital market and other similar services rendered to the Company (including, where the context requires, through one or more third parties and/or Affiliates of the Manager) or, if provided by the Manager’s personnel, in accordance with Section 2(e) hereof;

(iii) the compensation and expenses of the Company’s directors (excluding those directors who are officers of the Manager) and the cost of liability insurance to indemnify the Company’s directors and officers;

(iv) interest and fees and expenses arising out of borrowings made by the Company, including, but not limited to, costs associated with the establishment and maintenance of any of the Company’s credit facilities, other financing arrangements, or other indebtedness of the Company (including commitment fees, accounting fees, legal fees, closing and other similar costs) or any of the Company’s securities offerings;

(v) expenses connected with communications to holders of the Company’s securities or securities of the Subsidiaries and other bookkeeping and clerical work necessary in maintaining relations with holders of such securities and in complying with the continuous reporting and other requirements of governmental bodies or agencies, including, without limitation, all costs of preparing and filing required reports with the SEC, the costs payable by the Company to any transfer agent and registrar in connection with the listing and/or trading of the Company’s securities on any exchange, the fees payable by the Company to any such exchange in connection with its listing, costs of preparing, printing and mailing the Company’s annual report to the Company’s stockholders and proxy materials with respect to any meeting of the Company’s stockholders and any other reports or related statements;

(vi) the Company’s allocable share of costs associated with technology-related expenses, including without limitation, any computer software or hardware, electronic equipment or purchased information technology services from third-party vendors or Affiliates of the Manager that is used solely for the Company, technology service providers and related software/hardware utilized in connection with the Company’s investment and operational activities;

(vii) the Company’s allocable share of expenses incurred by managers, officers, personnel and agents of the Manager for travel on the Company’s behalf and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with the purchase, financing, refinancing, sale or other disposition of an investment or the establishment and maintenance of any of the Company’s securitizations or any of the Company’s securities offerings;

 

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(viii) the Company’s allocable share of costs and expenses incurred with respect to market information systems and publications, research publications and materials, including, without limitation, news research and quotation equipment and services;

(ix) the costs and expenses relating to ongoing regulatory compliance matters and regulatory reporting obligations relating to the Company’s activities;

(x) the costs of any litigation involving the Company or its assets and the amount of any judgments or settlements paid in connection therewith, directors and officers, liability or other insurance and indemnification or extraordinary expense or liability relating to the affairs of the Company;

(xi) all taxes and license fees;

(xii) all insurance costs incurred in connection with the operation of the Company’s business except for the costs attributable to the insurance that the Manager elects to carry for itself and its personnel;

(xiii) the Company’s allocable share of costs and expenses incurred in contracting with third parties, in whole or in part, on the Company’s behalf;

(xiv) all other costs and expenses relating to the Company’s business and investment operations, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of acquiring, owning, protecting, maintaining, developing and disposing of investments, including appraisal, reporting, audit and legal fees;

(xv) expenses relating to any office(s) or office facilities, including, but not limited to, disaster backup recovery sites and facilities, maintained for the Company or the investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries separate from the office or offices of the Manager;

(xvi) expenses connected with the payments of interest, dividends or distributions in cash or any other form authorized or caused to be made by the Board to or on account of holders of the Company’s securities or of the Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, in connection with any dividend reinvestment plan;

(xvii) any judgment or settlement of pending or threatened proceedings (whether civil, criminal or otherwise) against the Company or any Subsidiary, or against any trustee, director, partner, member or officer of the Company or of any Subsidiary in his capacity as such for which the Company or any Subsidiary is required to indemnify such trustee, director, partner, member or officer by any court or governmental agency; and

(xviii) all other expenses actually incurred by the Manager (except as otherwise specifically excluded herein) which are reasonably necessary for the performance by the Manager of its duties and functions under this Agreement.

 

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(c) The Manager may, at its option, elect not to seek reimbursement for certain expenses during a given quarterly period, which determination shall not be deemed to construe a waiver of reimbursement for similar expenses in future periods.

(d) The Manager shall prepare a written expense statement in reasonable detail documenting the costs and expenses of the Company incurred during each fiscal quarter to be reimbursed by the Company, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver the same to the Company within forty-five (45) days following the end of the applicable fiscal quarter (subject to reasonable delays resulting from delays in the receipt of information). The amounts payable for such cost and expense reimbursement shall be paid by the Company within ten (10) days following delivery of the expense statement by the Manager; provided, that such payments may be offset by the Manager against amounts due to the Company from the Manager. Cost and expense reimbursement to the Manager shall be subject to adjustment at the end of each calendar year in connection with the annual audit of the Company.

(e) The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement to the extent such expenses have previously been incurred or are incurred in connection with such expiration or termination.

Section 8. Limits of the Manager’s Responsibility; Indemnification

(a) The Manager assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder in good faith and shall not be responsible for any action of the Board in following or declining to follow any advice or recommendations of the Manager, including as set forth in the Investment Guidelines. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Manager and its Affiliates, and the directors, officers, employees and stockholders of the Manager and its Affiliates, will not be liable to the Company, any Subsidiary, the Board, the Company’s stockholders or any Subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for any acts or omissions by the Manager or its officers, employees or Affiliates performed in accordance with and pursuant to this Agreement, except by reason of acts or omission constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their respective duties under this Agreement. The Company shall, to the full extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its Affiliates, and the directors, officers, employees and stockholders of the Manager and its Affiliates (each, a “ Manager Indemnified Party ”), of and from any and all expenses, losses, damages, liabilities, demands, charges and claims of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (collectively “ Losses ”) in respect of or arising from any acts or omissions of such Manager Indemnified Party performed in good faith under this Agreement and not constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties of such Manager Indemnified Party under this Agreement. In addition, the Manager will not be liable for trade errors that may result from ordinary negligence, including, without limitation, errors in the investment decision making process and/or in the trade process.

(b) The Manager shall, to the full extent lawful, reimburse, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Subsidiaries and the directors, officers, employees and stockholders of the Company and its Subsidiaries and each Person, if any, controlling the Company (each, a “ Company Indemnified Party ”; a Manager Indemnified Party and a Company Indemnified Party are each sometimes hereinafter referred to as an “ Indemnified Party ”) of and

 

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from any and all Losses in respect of or arising from (i) any acts or omissions of the Manager constituting bad faith, willful misconduct, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties of the Manager under this Agreement or (ii) any claims by the Manager’s employees relating to the terms and conditions of their employment by the Manager.

(c) In case any such claim, suit, action or proceeding (a “ Claim ”) is brought against any Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnification may be sought by such Indemnified Party pursuant hereto, the Indemnified Party shall give prompt written notice thereof to the indemnifying party, which notice shall include all documents and information in the possession of or under the control of such Indemnified Party reasonably necessary for the evaluation and/or defense of such Claim and shall specifically state that indemnification for such Claim is being sought under this Section; provided , however , that the failure of the Indemnified Party to so notify the indemnifying party shall not limit or affect such Indemnified Party’s rights other than pursuant to this Section unless the failure to provide such notice results in material prejudice to the indemnifying party. Subject to any applicable insurance policy’s terms and conditions, upon receipt of such notice of Claim (together with such documents and information from such Indemnified Party), the indemnifying party shall, at its sole cost and expense, in good faith defend any such Claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, which counsel may, without limiting the rights of such Indemnified Party pursuant to the next succeeding sentence of this Section, also represent the indemnifying party in such investigation, action or proceeding. In the alternative, such Indemnified Party may elect to conduct the defense of the Claim, if (i) such Indemnified Party reasonably determines that the conduct of its defense by the indemnifying party could be materially prejudicial to its interests, (ii) the indemnifying party refuses to assume such defense (or fails to give written notice to the Indemnified Party within ten (10) days of receipt of a notice of Claim that the indemnifying party assumes such defense), or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed, in such Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment, to defend the Claim in good faith. The indemnifying party may settle any Claim against such Indemnified Party, provided (i) such settlement is without any Losses whatsoever to such Indemnified Party, (ii) the settlement does not include or require any admission of liability or culpability by such Indemnified Party and (iii) the indemnifying party obtains an effective written release of liability for such Indemnified Party from the party to the Claim with whom such settlement is being made, which release must be reasonably acceptable to such Indemnified Party, and a dismissal with prejudice with respect to all claims made by the party against such Indemnified Party in connection with such Claim. The applicable Indemnified Party shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party, at the indemnifying party’s sole cost and expense, in connection with the defense or settlement of any Claim in accordance with the terms hereof. If such Indemnified Party is entitled pursuant to this Section 8 to elect to defend such Claim by counsel of its own choosing and so elects, then the indemnifying party shall be responsible for any good faith settlement of such Claim entered into by such Indemnified Party. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, no Indemnified Party may pay or settle any Claim and seek reimbursement therefor under this Section.

(d) Any Indemnified Party entitled to indemnification hereunder shall first seek recovery from any other indemnity then available with respect to portfolio entities and/or any applicable insurance policies by which such Indemnified Party is indemnified or covered prior to seeking recovery hereunder and shall obtain the written consent of the Company or Manager (as applicable) prior to entering into any compromise or settlement which would result

 

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in an obligation of the Company or Manager (as applicable) to indemnify such Indemnified Party. If such Indemnified Party shall actually recover any amounts under any applicable insurance policies or other indemnity then available, it shall offset the net proceeds so received against any amounts owed by the Company or Manager (as applicable) by reason of the indemnity provided hereunder or, if all such amounts shall have been paid by the Company or Manager (as applicable) in full prior to the actual receipt of such net insurance proceeds, it shall pay over such proceeds (up to the amount of indemnification paid by the Company or Manager (as applicable) to such Indemnified Party) to the Company or Manager (as applicable). If the amounts in respect of which indemnification is sought arise out of the conduct of the business and affairs of the Company or Manager and also of any other Person or entity for which the Indemnified Party hereunder was then acting in a similar capacity, the amount of the indemnification to be provided by the Company or Manager (as applicable) may be limited to the Company’s or Manager’s (as applicable) allocable share thereof if so determined by the Company or Manager (as applicable) in good faith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8 and for greater certainty it is understood and/or agreed that, to the extent that an Indemnified Party is also entitled to be indemnified by one or more portfolio entities, it is intended that (i) such portfolio entities shall be the indemnitors of first resort, (ii) the Company’s or Manager’s (as applicable) obligation, if any, to indemnify any Indemnified Party shall be reduced by any amount that such Indemnified Party shall collect as indemnification from such entity and from any then available insurance policies, which the Indemnified Party shall have an obligation to seek payment from prior to seeking payment from the Company or Manager in respect of such Claims, and (iii) if the Company or Manager pays or causes to be paid any amounts that should have been paid by such portfolio entity or under such insurance policies, then (x) the Company or Manager (as applicable) shall be fully subrogated to all rights of the relevant Indemnified Party with respect to such payment, and (y) each relevant Indemnified Party shall assign to the Company or Manager (as applicable) all of the Indemnified Party’s rights to indemnification from or with respect to such entity’s indemnification.

(e) The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.

Section 9. No Joint Venture . The Company and the Manager are not partners or joint venturers with each other and nothing herein shall be construed to make them such partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on either of them.

Section 10. Term; Renewal; Termination Without Cause .

(a) This Agreement shall become effective on the Closing Date and shall continue in operation, unless terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, until the third anniversary of the Closing Date (the “ Initial Term ”). After the Initial Term, this Agreement shall be deemed renewed automatically each year for an additional one-year period (an “ Automatic Renewal Term ”) unless the Company or the Manager elects not to renew this Agreement in accordance with Section 10(b) or Section 10(d), respectively.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, upon the expiration of the Initial Term or any Automatic Renewal Term and upon one hundred eighty (180) days’ prior written notice to the Manager (the “ Termination Notice ”), the Company

 

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may, without cause, in connection with the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Automatic Renewal Term, decline to renew this Agreement (any such nonrenewal, a “ Termination Without Cause ”) upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Independent Directors that (1) there has been unsatisfactory performance by the Manager that is materially detrimental to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (2) the Management Fee and Incentive Compensation payable to the Manager are not fair, subject to Section 10(c) below. In the event of a Termination Without Cause, the Company shall pay the Manager the Termination Fee before or on the last day of the Initial Term or such Automatic Renewal Term, as the case may be (the “ Effective Termination Date ”). The Company may terminate this Agreement for cause pursuant to Section 12 hereof even after a Termination Notice and, in such case, no Termination Fee shall be payable.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) above, if the reason for nonrenewal specified in the Company’s Termination Notice is that two-thirds (2/3) of the Independent Directors have determined that the Management Fee or the Incentive Compensation payable to the Manager is unfair, the Company shall not have the foregoing nonrenewal right in the event the Manager agrees that it will continue to perform its duties hereunder during the Automatic Renewal Term that would commence upon the expiration of the Initial Term or then current Automatic Renewal Term at a fee that at least two thirds of the Independent Directors determine to be fair; provided , however , the Manager shall have the right to renegotiate the Management Fee and/or the Incentive Compensation, by delivering to the Company, not less than 120 days prior to the pending Effective Termination Date, written notice (a “ Notice of Proposal to Negotiate ”) of its intention to renegotiate the Management Fee and/or the Incentive Compensation. Thereupon, the Company and the Manager shall endeavor to negotiate the Management Fee and/or the Incentive Compensation in good faith. Provided that the Company and the Manager agree to a revised Management Fee, Incentive Compensation or other compensation structure within sixty (60) days following the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Proposal to Negotiate, the Termination Notice from the Company shall be deemed of no force and effect, and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect on the terms stated herein, except that the Management Fee, the Incentive Compensation or other compensation structure shall be the revised Management Fee, Incentive Compensation or other compensation structure as then agreed upon by the Company and the Manager. The Company and the Manager agree to execute and deliver an amendment to this Agreement setting forth such revised Management Fee, Incentive Compensation, or other compensation structure promptly upon reaching an agreement regarding same. In the event that the Company and the Manager are unable to agree to a revised Management Fee, Incentive Compensation, or other compensation structure during such sixty (60) day period, this Agreement shall terminate on the Effective Termination Date and the Company shall be obligated to pay the Manager the Termination Fee upon the Effective Termination Date.

(d) No later than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Automatic Renewal Term, the Manager may deliver written notice to the Company informing it of the Manager’s intention to decline to renew this Agreement, whereupon this Agreement shall not be renewed and extended and this Agreement shall terminate effective on the anniversary date of this Agreement next following the delivery of such notice. The Company is not required to pay to the Manager the Termination Fee if the Manager terminates this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10(d).

 

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(e) Except as set forth in this Section 10, a nonrenewal of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without any further liability or obligation of either party to the other, except as provided in Section 3(b), Section 5, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 14 of this Agreement.

(f) The Manager shall cooperate, at the Company’s expense, with the Company in executing an orderly transition of the management of the Company’s consolidated assets to a new manager.

Section 11. Assignments .

(a) Assignments by the Manager . This Agreement shall terminate automatically without payment of the Termination Fee in the event of its assignment, in whole or in part, by the Manager, unless such assignment is consented to in writing by the Company with the consent of a majority of the Independent Directors. Any such permitted assignment shall bind the assignee under this Agreement in the same manner as the Manager is bound, and the Manager shall be liable to the Company for all acts or omissions of the assignee under any such assignment. In addition, the assignee shall execute and deliver to the Company a counterpart of this Agreement naming such assignee as the Manager. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Manager may, without the approval of the Company’s Independent Directors, (i) assign this Agreement to one or more Affiliates of the Manager and (ii) delegate to one or more of its Affiliates, including subadvisors where applicable, the performance of any of its responsibilities hereunder so long as it remains liable for any such Affiliate’s performance, in each case so long as assignment or delegation does not require the Company’s approval under the Investment Company Act (but if such approval is required, the Company shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay its consent). Nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude any pledge, hypothecation or other transfer of any amounts payable to the Manager under this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by the Company . This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager, except in the case of assignment by the Company to another REIT or other organization which is a successor (by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets, or other transaction) to the Company, in which case such successor organization shall be bound under this Agreement and by the terms of such assignment in the same manner as the Company is bound under this Agreement.

Section 12. Termination for Cause .

(a) The Company may terminate this Agreement effective upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of termination from the Company to the Manager, without payment of any Termination Fee, upon the occurrence of a Cause Event.

(b) The Manager may terminate this Agreement effective upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice of termination to the Company in the event that the Company shall default in the performance or observance of any material term, condition or covenant contained in this Agreement and such default shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof specifying such default and requesting that the same be remedied in such 30-day period. The Company is required to pay to the Manager the Termination Fee if the termination of this Agreement is made pursuant to this Section 12(b).

(c) The Manager may terminate this Agreement if the Company becomes required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, with such termination deemed to occur immediately before such event, in which case the Company shall not be required to pay the Termination Fee.

 

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Section 13. Action Upon Termination . From and after the effective date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Sections 10, 11, or 12 of this Agreement, the Manager shall not be entitled to compensation for further services hereunder, but shall be paid all compensation accruing to the date of termination and, if terminated pursuant to Section 12(b) hereof or not renewed pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof (subject to Section 10(c) hereof), the Termination Fee. Upon any such termination, the Manager shall forthwith:

(a) after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses to which it is then entitled, pay over to the Company or a Subsidiary all money collected and held for the account of the Company or a Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement;

(b) deliver to the Board a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board with respect to the Company and any Subsidiaries; and

(c) deliver to the Board all property and documents of the Company and any Subsidiaries then in the custody of the Manager, provided that the Manager shall be permitted to retain copies of such documents for its records, and if so retained, the Manager shall continue to be bound by the confidentiality obligations and other obligations set forth in Section 5 hereof with respect to the retained documents.

Section 14. Release of Money or Other Property Upon Written Request .

The Manager agrees that any money or other property of the Company (which such term, for the purposes of this Section, shall be deemed to include any and all of its Subsidiaries, if any) held by the Manager shall be held by the Manager as custodian for the Company, and the Manager’s records shall be appropriately and clearly marked to reflect the ownership of such money or other property by the Company. Upon the receipt by the Manager of a written request signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company requesting the Manager to release to the Company any money or other property then held by the Manager for the account of the Company under this Agreement, the Manager shall release such money or other property to the Company within a reasonable period of time, but in no event later than thirty (30) days following such request. Upon delivery of such money or other property to the Company, the Manager shall not be liable to the Company, the Board, or the Company’s stockholders or partners for any acts or omissions by the Company in connection with the money or other property released to the Company in accordance with this Section. The Company shall indemnify the Manager, its directors, officers, stockholders, employees and agents against any and all Losses which arise in connection with the Manager’s proper release of such money or other

 

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property to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 14. Indemnification pursuant to this provision shall be in addition to any right of the Manager to indemnification under Section 8 of this Agreement.

Section 15. Representations and Warranties .

(a) The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Manager as follows:

(i) The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its assets, to lease any property it may operate as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole.

(ii) The Company has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize this Agreement on the terms and conditions hereof and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. No consent of any other Person that has not already been obtained, including stockholders and creditors of the Company, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by the Company in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, the legally valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on the Company, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on the Company, or the Governing Agreements of, or any securities issued by the Company or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien or any of its property, assets or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

 

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(b) The Manager hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(i) The Manager is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the limited liability company power and authority and the legal right to conduct the business in which it is now engaged and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for failures to be so qualified, authorized or licensed that could not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Manager.

(ii) The Manager has the limited liability company power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize this Agreement on the terms and conditions hereof and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all obligations required hereunder. No consent of any other Person, including members and creditors of the Manager, and no license, permit, approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required by the Manager in connection with this Agreement or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and all obligation required hereunder. This Agreement has been, and each instrument or document required hereunder will be, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Manager, and this Agreement constitutes, and each instrument or document required hereunder when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, the legally valid and binding obligation of the Manager enforceable against the Manager in accordance with its terms.

(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents or instruments required hereunder will not violate any provision of any existing law or regulation binding on the Manager, or any order, judgment, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority binding on the Manager, or the Governing Agreements of, or any securities issued by the Manager or of any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking to which the Manager is a party or by which the Manager or any of its assets may be bound, the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the business operations, assets or financial condition of the Manager, and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any lien or any of its property, assets or revenues pursuant to the provisions of any such mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement, instrument or undertaking.

 

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Section 16. Miscellaneous .

(a) Notices . Any notices that may or are required to be given hereunder by any party to another shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) personally delivered or delivered by facsimile, when received, (ii) sent by U.S. Express Mail or recognized overnight courier, on the second following Business Day (or third following Business Day if mailed outside the United States), (iii) delivered by electronic mail, when received or (iv) posted on a password protected website maintained by the Manager and for which the Company has received access instructions by electronic mail, when posted:

 

  The Company:    Capital Trust, Inc.
     410 Park Avenue, 14th Floor
     New York, New York 10022
     Attention: Chief Executive Officer
     Fax: (212) 655-0044
     Email: splavin@capitaltrust.com
  with a copy to:   

Paul Hastings LLP

75 East 55th Street

     New York, NY 10022
     Attention: Michael L. Zuppone, Esq.
     Fax: (212) 230-7752
     Email: michaelzuppone@paulhastings.com
  The Manager:   

BREDS/CT Advisors L.L.C

c/o The Blackstone Group L.P.

345 Park Avenue

    

New York, New York 10154

Attention: Michael Nash; Randall Rothschild

     Email: nash@blackstone.com; Rothschild@blackstone.com
  with a required copy to:   
     Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
     425 Lexington Avenue
     New York, New York 10017
     Attention: Patrick Naughton, Esq.; Brian Stadler, Esq.;
     Email: pnaughton@stblaw.com; bstadler@stblaw.com

(b) Binding Nature of Agreement; Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns as provided herein.

(c) Integration . This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements (including, without limitation, any prior agreements between the Company and CTIMCO), understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.

(d) Amendments . This Agreement, nor any terms hereof, may not be amended, supplemented or modified except in an instrument in writing executed by the parties hereto.

 

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(e) GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR ANY DISTRICT WITHIN SUCH STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY ACTION OR JUDGMENT RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN SUCH COURT.

(f) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

(g) Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties made hereunder, and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

(h) No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies . No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of a party hereto, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

(i) Costs and Expenses . Each party hereto shall bear its own costs and expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel and accountants) incurred in connection with the negotiations and preparation of and the closing under this Agreement, and all matters incident thereto.

(j) Section Headings . The section and subsection headings in this Agreement are for convenience in reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the interpretation of any provisions hereof.

(k) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed by the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

(l) Severability . Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Management Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

Capital Trust, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Stephen D. Plavin

  Name:   Stephen D. Plavin
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
BREDS/CT Advisors L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Michael Nash

  Name:   Michael Nash
  Title:   Authorized Signatory


Exhibit A

Investment Guidelines

1. No investment shall be made that would cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT under the Code.

2. No investment shall be made that would cause the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

3. The Manager shall seek to invest the capital of the Company in a broad range of investments in or relating to public and/or private debt, non-controlling equity, loans and/or other interests (including “mezzanine” interests and/or options or derivatives related thereto) relating to real estate assets (including pools thereof), real estate companies and/or real estate-related holdings.

4. Prior to the deployment of capital into investments, the Manager may cause the capital of the Company to be invested in any short-term investments in money market funds, bank accounts, overnight repurchase agreements with primary federal reserve bank dealers collateralized by direct U.S. government obligations and other instruments or investments reasonably determined by the Manager to be of high quality.

5. Not more than 25% of Equity will be invested in any individual investment without the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors (it being understood, however, that for purposes of the foregoing concentration limit, in the case of any investment that is comprised (whether through a structured investment vehicle or other arrangement) of securities, instruments or assets of multiple portfolio issuers, such investment for purposes of the foregoing limitation shall be deemed to be multiple investments in such underlying securities, instruments and assets and not such particular vehicle, product or other arrangement in which they are aggregated).

6. Any investment in excess of $150 million shall require the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors.

These Investment Guidelines may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived by the Board (which must include a majority of the Independent Directors) without the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

Exhibit 10.4

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of December 19, 2012 by and between CAPITAL TRUST, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”) and BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS III L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Investor ”).

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to issue and sell to the Investor, and the Investor has agreed to purchase, 5,000,000 shares (the “ Investor Shares ”) of the Company’s class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), in a private placement pursuant to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated of even date herewith, between the Company and the Investor (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Purchase and Sale Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Investor is, among other things, purchasing the Company’s investment management business and entering into a management agreement with the Company of even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Management Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the execution of this Agreement and the Management Agreement are conditions to the closing under the Purchase and Sale Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to grant to the Investor the registration rights described herein (the “ Registration Rights ”).

NOW, THEREFORE, for the mutual promises made herein and in the other agreements executed by the parties concurrently herewith or contemplated hereby, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Definitions

The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

Affiliate ” of any Person means another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such first Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of the other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

Agent ” means the principal placement agent on an agented placement of Registrable Securities.

Agreement ” means this Registration Rights Agreement, as originally executed and as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning specified in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

Business Day ” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are required by law or permitted to be closed.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

Common Stock ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Company ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

EDGAR ” is defined in Section 3.1(e)  of this Agreement.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Existing Registration Rights ” means the terms and conditions of the registration rights and other terms and conditions contained in the following agreements, copies of which are attached hereto as Annex I hereto:

 

  (i) the Preferred Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 16, 1997, as amended, between the Company (formerly known as California Real Estate Investment Trust) and Veqtor Finance Company, LLC;

 

  (ii) the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2003 by and among the Company and the Persons named therein; and

 

  (iii) the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2004, by and among the Company, and W.R. Berkley Corporation.

Holder ” means (i) the Investor as owner of Registrable Securities, and (ii) any Person who becomes a Holder pursuant to Section 7.6 .

Inspectors ” is defined in Section 3.1(m) of this Agreement.

Investor ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Investor Shares ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Majority Selling Holders ” means those Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities included in such registration or offering, as applicable, represent a majority of the Registrable Securities of all Selling Holders included therein.

Management Agreement ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Maximum Threshold ” is defined in Section 2.3(b)  of this Agreement.

 

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Minimum Effective Period ” is defined in Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement.

Non-Shelf Demand Registration ” is defined in Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement.

Non-Shelf Demand Registration Notice ” is defined in Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement.

Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement ” is defined in Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, unincorporated association, any federal, state, county or municipal government or any bureau, department or agency thereof and any fiduciary acting in such capacity on behalf of any of the foregoing.

Piggy-Back Registration ” is defined in Section 2.3(a)  of this Agreement.

Pro Rata Adjusted ” is defined in Section 2.3(b)(x)(ii) of this Agreement.

Prospectus ” means the prospectus or prospectuses included in any Registration Statement (including any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) and any prospectus subject to completion and a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus or prospectuses.

Purchase and Sale Agreement ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Registrable Securities ” means the Investor Shares upon original issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto, together with any equity securities of the Company or a successor to the entire business of the Company that may be issued in exchange for or replacement of the Investor Shares or with respect to any stock dividend, stock distribution, stock split or any other pro rata distribution with respect to the Common Stock. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the earliest to occur of: (a) the date on which a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such Registrable Securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of in accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) the date on which such Registrable Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (c) any date after December 19, 2019 on which Company counsel delivers a written opinion of counsel, which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to Holder’s counsel, to the effect that such Holder’s Registrable Securities are eligible for sale without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act and without volume limitations or other restrictions on transfer thereunder; or (d) the date on which such Registrable Securities have been sold to a third party and all transfer restrictions and restrictive legends with respect to such Registrable Securities are removed upon the consummation of such sale.

 

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Registration Rights ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

Registration Statement ” means any registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act (including any Shelf Registration Statement, Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement or any Registration Statement filed in connection with a Piggy-Back Registration) for a public offering and sale of the Common Stock or other securities of the Company, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all materials incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement (other than a registration statement (i) on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form to Form S-4 or Form S-8 or in connection with any employee or director welfare, benefit or compensation plan, (ii) covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity, (iii) in connection with an exchange offer or an offering of securities exclusively to existing security holders of the Company or its subsidiaries, (iv) relating to a transaction pursuant to Rule 145 of the Securities Act, (v) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, or (vi) for a dividend reinvestment plan).

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Selling Holders ” means, with respect to a specified registration or offering pursuant to this Agreement, the Holders whose Registrable Securities are proposed to be included in such registration or offering, as applicable.

Shelf Effectiveness Period ” is defined in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

Shelf Offering ” is defined in Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement.

Shelf Offering Notice ” is defined in Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement.

Shelf Registration Notice ” is defined in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

Shelf Registration Statement ” means a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or another appropriate form for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

Suspension Event ” is defined in Section 2.4  of this Agreement.

Transfer ” means and includes the act of selling, giving, transferring, creating a trust (voting or otherwise), assigning or otherwise disposing of (other than pledging, hypothecating or otherwise transferring as security or any transfer upon any merger or consolidation) (and correlative words shall have correlative meanings); provided , however , that any transfer or other disposition upon foreclosure or other exercise of remedies of a secured creditor after an event of default under or with respect to a pledge, hypothecation or other transfer as security shall constitute a Transfer.

 

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Underwriters’ Representative ” means the managing underwriter, or in the case of a co-managed underwriting, the managing underwriter designated as the Underwriters’ Representative by the co-managers.

WKSI ” shall mean a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Section 2. Registration Rights

2.1 (a) Shelf Registration . At any time and from time to time on or after December 19, 2013 (the first anniversary of the issuance of the Investor Shares) and provided the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, any Holder may deliver to the Company a written notice (a “ Shelf Registration Notice ”) requiring the Company to prepare and file with the Commission a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to resales of some or all Registrable Securities by the Holders as promptly as practicable after receiving the Shelf Registration Notice, but in no event more than forty-five (45) days following receipt of such notice. Unless such Shelf Registration Statement shall become automatically effective, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective by the Commission for all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby as promptly as practicable following delivery of the Shelf Registration Notice (if it is not an automatically effective Shelf Registration Statement) but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the filing of such Shelf Registration Statement. To the extent the Company is a WKSI at the time that the Shelf Registration Statement is to be filed, the Company shall file an automatic Shelf Registration Statement which covers such Registrable Securities. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement (or a successor Registration Statement filed with respect to the Registrable Securities) continuously effective (including by filing a new Shelf Registration Statement if the initial Shelf Registration Statement expires) in order to permit the Prospectus forming a part thereof to be lawfully delivered and the Shelf Registration Statement useable for resale of the Registrable Securities, subject to Section 2.4 , so long as there are any Registrable Securities outstanding (the “ Shelf Effectiveness Period ”).

(b) Shelf Offerings . Subject to Section 2.4 , upon the written request of a Holder (“ Shelf Offering Notice ”) to the Company from time to time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate a “takedown” of Registrable Securities off of the Shelf Registration Statement by such Holder (“ Shelf Offering ”) by amending or supplementing the Prospectus related to the Shelf Registration Statement as may be reasonably requested by such Holder as promptly as reasonably practicable upon receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice and taking other actions contemplated by Section 3.1 that may be applicable to such Shelf Offering. Subject to the Existing Registration Rights, neither the Company nor any stockholder of the Company (other than the Holders) may include securities in any offering requested under Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

(c) Non-Shelf Demand Registration . Subject to Section 2.4 , at any time and from time to time on or after December 19, 2013 (the first anniversary of the issuance of the Investor Shares) from time to time, if the Company has not effected or is not diligently pursuing a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or the Company is not eligible to file a Shelf

 

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Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement shall cease to be effective, any Holder may deliver to the Company a written notice (a “ Non-Shelf Demand Registration Notice ”) informing the Company that the Holder requires the Company to register for resale some or all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities (a “ Non-Shelf Demand Registration ”). Upon receipt of the Non-Shelf Demand Registration Notice, then the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission as promptly as practicable after receiving the Non-Shelf Demand Registration Notice, but in no event more than sixty (60) days following receipt of such notice, a Registration Statement covering all requested Registrable Securities (the “ Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement ”), and agrees (subject to Section 2.4 ) to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable following the filing thereof, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the filing of such Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement. Subject to Section 2.4 , the Company agrees to use reasonable efforts to keep any Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement continuously effective (including the preparation and filing of any amendments and supplements necessary for that purpose) for a period of not less than sixty (60) days (“ Minimum Effective Period ”). All offers and sales by a Holder under a Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement shall be completed within the period during which such Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement remains effective and not the subject of any stop order, injunction or other order of the Commission. Upon notice that such Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement is no longer effective, no Holder will offer or sell the Registrable Securities under the Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement. If directed in writing by the Company, each Holder will return or destroy all undistributed copies of the Prospectus in its possession, other than permanent file copies in the possession of such Holder’s counsel or as other required by applicable law or the document retention policies of such Holder or its Affiliates, upon the expiration of such period.

(d) Notice to Holders . The Company shall give written notice of the proposed filing of any Shelf Registration Statement or Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement to all Holders as soon as practicable, and each Holder who wishes to participate in such Registration Statement shall notify the Company in writing within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company, and shall specify in such notice the number of Registrable Securities to be included in the applicable Registration Statement.

(e) Underwritten Offerings . If any registration or offering pursuant to Section 2.1 involves an underwritten offering (whether on a “firm,” “best efforts” or “all reasonable efforts” basis or otherwise), or an agented offering, the Majority Selling Holders shall have the right to select the underwriter or underwriters and manager or managers to administer such underwritten offering or the placement agent or agents for such agented offering, provided, however, that each Person so selected shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

(f) Rights Subject to Existing Registration Rights . The registration rights contained in this Section 2.1 shall be subject to the Existing Registration Rights, and the Company shall not be required to cause a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 to be declared effective or to include any Registrable Securities in a Shelf Offering or Non-Shelf Demand Registration hereunder to the extent not permitted by the Existing Registration Rights.

 

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2.2 Limitations on Non-Shelf Demand Registration Rights; Priority on Demand .

(a) Limitations on Non-Shelf Demand Registration Rights . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.1 , the Shelf Registration and Non-Shelf Demand Registration rights granted to the Holders in Section 2.1 are subject to the limitations:

(i) that the aggregate market value of the Registrable Securities to be included in the applicable Registration Statement shall be at least $2,500,000, which market value shall be determined by multiplying the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration Statement by the closing price of the Registrable Securities on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the Shelf Registration Notice or Non-Shelf Demand Registration Notice, as applicable ( provided , that (x) the limitation set forth in this clause (a) shall not be in effect at any time the Holder’s Registrable Securities are not able to be sold under Rule 144 because of the Company’s failure to comply with the information requirements thereunder, unless at such time, the Company’s counsel delivers a written opinion of counsel, which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to such Holder’s counsel, to such Holders to the effect that such Holder’s Registrable Securities may be publicly offered and sold without registration under the Securities Act and (y) if the Underwriters’ Representative or Agent advises the Company in writing that, in its opinion, the amount of securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the amount which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, the minimum aggregate market value of Registrable Securities to be included in any Shelf Registration or Non-Shelf Demand Registration, as applicable, may be reduced to the extent required, but in no event may the aggregate market value of the Registrable Securities included therein be lower than $1,250,000); and

(ii) that the Company shall be obligated to effect no more than four (4) Non-Shelf Demand Registrations in total. For purposes of this Section 2.2(a)(ii) , a Non-Shelf Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have been effected: (A) unless a Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement with respect thereto has become effective, (B) if after such Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement has become effective, such Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement or the related offer, sale or distribution of Registrable Securities thereunder is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other governmental agency or court for any reason not attributable to the Holders and such interference is not thereafter promptly eliminated, or (C) if the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting agreement, if any, entered into in connection with such Non-Shelf Demand Registration are not satisfied or waived by reason of a failure on the part of the Company, unless caused by a Holder. If the Company shall have complied with its obligations under this Section 2.2(a)(ii) , a right to demand a registration pursuant to this Section 2.2(a)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon the earlier of (X) the date as of which all of the Registrable Securities included therein shall have been disposed of pursuant to a Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement, (Y) the date when all of the Registrable Securities covered by the Non-Shelf Demand Registration Statement cease to be Registrable Securities and (Z) the date as of which such Non-Shelf Demand Registration shall have been continuously effective for the Minimum Effective Period.

 

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(b) Priority on Demand Registrations . If the Underwriters’ Representative or Agent of a requested underwritten or agented Shelf Offering or Non-Shelf Demand Registration advises the Company in writing that in its opinion the shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be included in any such offering or registration exceeds the number of securities that can be sold in such offering and/or that the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be included in any such registration would materially adversely affect the price per share of the Company’s equity securities to be sold in such offering, the Company shall include in such registration only the number of shares of Registrable Securities that, in the opinion of Underwriters’ Representative or Agent, can be sold without adversely affecting the marketability of the applicable offering. If the number of shares that can be sold is less than the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be registered or sold pursuant to Section 2.1 , the Company shall, subject to the Existing Registration Rights, allocate the amount of Registrable Securities to be so sold among the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each Holder electing to participate in such registration pursuant to Section 2.1 (or in such other proportions as mutually agreed among the Holders).

2.3 (a) Piggy-Back Registration Rights . Subject to the terms and conditions of the Existing Registration Rights as to any Holder, and to the extent a Holder’s Registrable Securities have not been registered pursuant to Section 2.1(a) , from and after December 19, 2013 (the first anniversary of the issuance of the Investor Shares), if (i) the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities by the Company for its own account (other than a Shelf Registration Statement relating to primary offerings by the Company) or for any of the other security holders of the Company for their account (other than pursuant to Section 2.1 ) or (ii) equity securities of the Company are to be sold in an underwritten offering (whether or not for the account of the Company) (other than pursuant to Section 2.1 ) pursuant to an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, then the Company shall (i) give prompt written notice of such proposed filing and/or offering to all Holders if an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is used in such offering or, if an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is not used, those Holders with Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement or anticipated date of pricing of such underwritten offering, which notice shall, subject to the Holder agreeing in writing to keep such information confidential, describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing underwriter(s) or Agent, if any, of the offering, and (ii) offer to the Holders in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of or include in such offering, as applicable, such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) Business Days following receipt of such notice (a “ Piggy-Back Registration ”). If at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration or prior to the pricing of any such underwritten offering, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such securities or to discontinue such underwritten offering, as applicable, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each Holder and, (x) in the case of a determination not to register or to discontinue such offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration or undertake such offering, as

 

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applicable, and (y) in the case of a determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other securities. The Company shall cause all of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a non-underwritten registration to be included in such registration and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing underwriter(s) of a proposed underwritten offering (or Agent with respect to an agented offering) to permit the inclusion of the Registrable Securities requested in such underwritten or agented offering to be so included on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included therein and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing underwriter(s) to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an underwriter(s) or Agent shall (i) in connection with such distribution enter into an underwriting or agency agreement, as applicable, in reasonable and customary form with the underwriter(s) or Agent selected by the Company or the Person exercising demand registration rights, as applicable, and (ii) complete and execute all questionnaires, powers-of-attorney, indemnities, opinions and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement or agency agreement, as applicable; provided , that any such indemnities, contribution or expense reimbursement obligations shall not be more onerous to the Holders than those set forth under Section 4 and Section 5 of this Agreement.

(b) Priority on Piggy-Back Registrations . If the Underwriters’ Representative for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten (or the Agent for an agented offering), advises the Company and the Holders requesting Piggy-Back Registration that in its opinion the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell, taken together with shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, as to which registration or inclusion in the offering has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with Persons other than the Holders hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which registration or inclusion in the offering has been requested under this Section 2.3 , and the shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, as to which registration or inclusion in the offering has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of securities that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of securities, as applicable, the “ Maximum Threshold ”), then the Company shall, subject to the Existing Registration Rights, include in any such registration:

(x) if the registration or offering, as applicable, is undertaken for the Company’s account: (i) first, that number of shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Threshold and (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Threshold has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i) the shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.3 by the Holders pro rata in accordance with the number of Registrable Securities which such Holders have requested be included in such underwritten offering or agented offering,

 

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regardless of the number of Registrable Securities or other securities held by each such Person (such proportion is referred to herein as “ Pro Rata Adjusted ”) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Threshold; and (iii) third, to the extent the Maximum Threshold has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of other Persons that the Company is obligated to register or otherwise include pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such Persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Threshold; and

(y) if the registration is a “demand” registration or offering undertaken at the demand of Persons other than the Holders hereunder: (i) first, subject to the Existing Registration Rights, that number of shares of Common Stock or other securities requested to be sold for the account of such demanding Persons and the Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included pursuant to this Section 2.3 that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Threshold, Pro Rata Adjusted; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Threshold has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Threshold; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Threshold has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, for the account of other Persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such Persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Threshold.

(c) Limitation on Piggy-Back Registration Rights . The Piggy-Back Registration Rights contained in this Section 2.3 shall be subject to the Existing Registration Rights, and the Company shall not be required to include any Registrable Securities in a Piggy-Back Registration hereunder to the extent not permitted by the Existing Registration Rights.

(d) Withdrawal . Any Holder may elect to withdraw such Holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the pricing of an underwritten offering, as applicable. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by Persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement without thereby incurring any liability to the Holders. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the Holders in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 5 .

2.4 Suspension of Use of Registration Statement . Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.1 or 2.3(a) , the Company shall be entitled to postpone the filing of a Registration Statement, and to require Holders not to sell under a Registration Statement or to suspend the use or effectiveness thereof if the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifies to the Holders in writing that the Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good faith that there exist circumstances relating to a material pending development, including, but not limited to a pending or contemplated material acquisition or

 

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merger or other material transaction or event, which would require additional disclosure by the Company in the Registration Statement of previously non-public material information which the Company in its good faith judgment has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the nondisclosure of which in the Registration Statement might cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with disclosure requirements pursuant to applicable law (any such development, a “ Suspension Event ”); provided , however , that the Company may not delay, suspend or withdraw the Registration Statement or any offering thereunder, as applicable, for more than sixty (60) days at any one time, or more than an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any rolling twelve (12) month period; provided , further , that, any applicable Minimum Effective Period shall be extended by the aggregate number of days that the Registration Statement is suspended or withdrawn pursuant to a Suspension Event. Upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the happening of any Suspension Event during the period the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the Prospectus), not misleading, each Holder agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until the Holder receives copies of a supplemental or amended Prospectus (which the Company agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any required post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Company that it may resume such offers and sales and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in the written notice delivered by the Company unless otherwise required by law, subpoena or other applicable judicial or administrative request. If so directed in writing by the Company, each Holder will return to the Company or destroy all undistributed copies of the Prospectus covering the Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice that is in its possession, other than permanent file copies in the possession of such Holder’s counsel or as other required by applicable law or the document retention policies of such Holder or its Affiliates.

 

Section 3. Additional Obligations of the Company and the Holders

3.1 Obligations of the Company . Other than as explicitly set forth below, when the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities or facilitate or effect any offering pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, as applicable, subject to Section 2.2(a) and 2.4 , the Company shall:

(a) use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder may reasonably request in writing, (ii) to keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) cooperate with the Holders and the underwriters or Agents, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA or other applicable regulatory authorities, and (iv) to do any and all other similar acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Holders to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities in each such jurisdiction; provided , however , that the Company shall not

 

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be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction as a foreign corporation or to register as a broker or dealer in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify or register but for this Agreement, (B) take any action that would cause it to become subject to any taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to such taxation or (C) take any action that would subject it to the general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

(b) promptly notify each Selling Holder of the receipt, and provide copies to the Selling Holders, of any comments or other correspondence from staff of the Commission with respect to any Registration Statement and, subject to Section 2.4 , use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly respond to such comments and provide copies of such responses to the Selling Holders;

(c) as promptly as practicable, prepare and file with the Commission, if necessary, such amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document as may be necessary to cause or maintain the effectiveness of such Registration Statement for so long as such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the rules thereunder with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement and the instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company;

(d) in the event that any Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement subject to, or required by, this Agreement remain unsold at the end of the period during which the Company is obligated to maintain the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement for the purpose of removing such securities from registered status;

(e) furnish, without charge, to the Holders such number of copies of the Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits, but excluding any documents to be incorporated by reference therein that are publicly available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”)), and the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act as the Holders or any underwriter or Agent may reasonably request for use in and in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the Holders;

(f) if a disposition of Registrable Securities takes the form of an underwritten or agented offering, any “bought deal” or block trade, promptly enter into customary agreements (including, in the case of an underwritten offering, underwriting agreements in customary form, and including provisions with respect to indemnification and contribution in customary form and consistent with the provisions relating to indemnification and contribution contained herein) and promptly take all other customary actions at such times as customarily occur in similar registered offerings in order to facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and in connection therewith, including:

(i) make such representations and warranties to the Selling Holders and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in similar underwritten offerings;

 

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(ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Selling Holders and the Underwriter’s Representative or Agent, if any) addressed to each Selling Holder and the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Selling Holders and the lead managing underwriter, and the Company shall furnish to each Selling Holder a signed counterpart of any such legal opinion;

(iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the Company’s independent certified public accountants addressed to the Selling Holders, if permissible, and the underwriters, if any, which letters shall be customary in form and shall cover matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters to underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and the Company shall furnish to each Selling Holder a signed counterpart of any such comfort letter; and

(iv) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain executed lock-up agreements from the officers and directors of the Company and from the holders of more than 5% of the Company’s equity securities (who are, or whose associated persons are, bound by the Company’s insider trading policy), if requested by the underwriters.

(g) promptly notify the Holders: (i) when the Registration Statement, any pre-effective amendment, the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed, and, with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation or threat of any proceedings for that purpose, and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose;

(h) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification under state securities or “blue sky” laws, and, if any such order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification under state securities or “blue sky” laws is issued, shall promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment (and shall provide the Holders with prompt notice thereof);

(i) after the filing of a Registration Statement and thereafter until the expiration of the period during which the Company is required to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement as set forth in the applicable sections above, promptly notify the Holders: (i) of the existence of any fact of which the Company is aware or the happening of any event

 

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which has resulted in (A) the Registration Statement, as then in effect, containing an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statements therein not misleading, (B) the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement containing an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary to make any statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (C) the representations and warranties of or relating to the Company contained in any agreement for the sale of any Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement ceasing to be true and correct in any material respect and (ii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement would be appropriate or required or that there exist circumstances not yet disclosed to the public which make further sales under such Registration Statement inadvisable pending such disclosure and post-effective amendment; and, if the notification relates to any event described in either of clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 3.1(i) , at the request of the Majority Selling Holders, the Company shall, subject to Section 2.4 , prepare and file with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the Prospectus and furnish to the Holders a reasonable number of copies of such post-effective amendment or supplement or file any other required document so that (x) such Registration Statement shall not contain any 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 and (y) such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(j) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed, and to maintain the listing of such Registrable Securities, on the national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed and cause to be satisfied all requirements and conditions of such securities exchange to the listing or quoting of such securities that are reasonably within the control of the Company including registering the applicable class of Registrable Securities under the Exchange Act, if appropriate, and using commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration to become effective pursuant to the rules of the Commission in accordance with the terms hereof;

(k) if requested by any Holder participating in the offering of Registrable Securities, incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information concerning the Holder or the intended method of distribution as the Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and is reasonably necessary to permit the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other material terms of the offering; provided, however , that the Company shall not be obligated to include in any such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment any requested information that is not required by the rules of the Commission and is unreasonable in scope compared with the Company’s most recent prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a primary or secondary offering of equity securities by the Company;

(l) make available to its stockholders, as soon as practicable but no later than ninety (90) days following the end of the 12-month period beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

 

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(m) make the Company’s executive officers available for customary presentations to investors to discuss the affairs of the Company at times that may be mutually and reasonably agreed upon (including to the extent customary, senior management participation in due diligence calls with the underwriters (or Agent) and their counsel and, in the case of any marketed underwritten offering, participation in any road show as reasonably requested by the lead managing underwriters for such offering), and provide the Holders, the underwriters and their respective counsel, accountants and other advisors (the “ Inspectors ”) reasonable access to its books and records as shall be reasonably requested in order to conduct a reasonable due diligence investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any applicable Registration Statement; provided , that such Inspectors agree to keep such information confidential (subject to customary exceptions) unless the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement;

(n) in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement, Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, (i) give the Selling Holders, the underwriters or Agent (if applicable) and their respective counsels the opportunity to review and provide comments on such Registration Statement, each Prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereof or supplement thereto, (ii) fairly and in good faith consider such comments in any such documents prior to the filing thereof as the counsel to the Holders or underwriters may reasonably request, and (iii) make available such of the Company’s representatives as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders or any underwriter for discussion of such documents;

(o) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

(p) cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely delivery, preparation and delivery of certificates (or evidence of direct registration), with requisite CUSIP numbers, representing Registrable Securities to be sold;

(q) to the extent the Company is a WKSI during the period in which this Agreement is in effect, use commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as under its control to remain a WKSI and not become an ineligible issuer during the period when any Registration Statement remains in effect; and

(r) take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities included in each such registration.

3.2 Cooperation; Holdback Agreement .

(a) In connection with any Registration Statement utilized by the Company to satisfy the Registration Rights pursuant to this Agreement, each Holder agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, and each Holder agrees that it will (i) respond in a timely manner to any written request by the Company

 

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to provide or verify information regarding the Holder or the Holder’s Registrable Securities (including the proposed manner of sale) that may be required to be included in such Registration Statement and related Prospectus pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission, and (ii) provide in a timely manner information regarding the proposed distribution by the Holder of the Registrable Securities and such other information as may be requested by the Company from time to time in connection with the preparation of and for inclusion in the Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

(b) To the extent requested in writing by the managing underwriter(s), in connection with an underwritten primary or secondary offering to the public, each Holder, which together with its Affiliates, owns more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company at the time of such underwritten offering agrees and will cause its Affiliates to agree, subject to the Company’s compliance with Section 2.3 , not to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Registrable Securities (or other securities that are the same or similar to those being offered in connection with such public sale) of the Company held by them (other than Registrable Securities included in such offering in accordance with the terms hereof) for a period equal to the lesser of sixty (60) days following the effective date of a Registration Statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act or such shorter period as the managing underwriter(s) shall agree to; provided , that all other stockholders who own more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company and all officers and directors of the Company enter into similar agreements; and provided , further , that if any stockholder or officer or director is released from any such (or similar) “lock-up” obligations with respect to such an underwritten offering, then the Holders shall also be released simultaneously from their “lock-up” obligations. Such agreement shall be in writing in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Underwriters’ Representative. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Registrable Securities (or other securities of the Company) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said period.

 

Section 4. Indemnification; Contribution

4.1 Indemnification by the Company . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and each Person, if any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any of their partners, members, officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors or representatives, as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, action, cost, judgment and expense whatsoever (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of attorneys and other professionals), as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which the Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, 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 arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, action, cost, judgment and expense whatsoever (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of attorneys and other professionals), as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; and

(iii) against any and all cost or expense whatsoever, as incurred (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of attorneys and other professionals), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing, defending against or participating in (as a witness or otherwise) any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any third party or governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, in each case whether or not a party, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however , that the indemnity provided pursuant to this Section 4.1 does not apply to any Holder with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, action, cost, judgment or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) any Holder’s failure to deliver an amended or supplemental Prospectus furnished to the Holder by the Company (as and to the extent that the same was required by law to be delivered), if such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense would not have arisen had such delivery occurred at or after the time furnished to such Holder by the Company and prior to any sale of securities covered by such Prospectus.

4.2 Indemnification by Holder . Each Holder (and each permitted assignee of such Holder, on a several basis) severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors and officers (including each director and officer of the Company who signed a Registration Statement), and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, action, cost, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which the Registrable Securities of such Holder were registered under the Securities Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, 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 arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, judgment and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Holder; and

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing, defending against or participating in (as a witness or otherwise) any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, in each case whether or not a party, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraphs (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however , that the indemnity provided pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall only apply with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, action, cost judgment or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) any Holder’s failure to deliver an amended or supplemental Prospectus furnished to the Holder by the Company (as and to the extent that the same was required by law to be delivered), if such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense would not have arisen had such delivery occurred at or after the time furnished to such Holder by the Company and prior to any sale of securities covered by such Prospectus. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.2 , a Holder and any permitted assignee shall not be required to indemnify the Company, its officers, directors or control persons with respect to any amount in excess of the amount of the total net proceeds to the Holder or such permitted assignee, as the case may be, from sales of the Registrable Securities of the Holder under the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as applicable, that is the subject of the indemnification claim.

4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . An indemnified party hereunder shall give reasonably prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any action or proceeding commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under the indemnity agreement provided in Section 4.1 or 4.2 above, unless and only to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and the lack of notice by the indemnified party results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses, and (ii) shall not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided under Section 4.1 or 4.2 above and the contribution obligation provided in Section 4.4 below. If the indemnifying party so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, the indemnifying party may assume the defense of such action or proceeding at such indemnifying party’s own expense with counsel chosen by the

 

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indemnifying party and approved by the indemnified party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided , however , that the indemnifying party will not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any such action or proceeding without the written consent of the indemnified party unless such settlement, compromise or consent secures the unconditional release of the indemnified party and 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; and provided , further , that, if the indemnified party reasonably determines that a conflict of interest exists where it is advisable for the indemnified party to be represented by separate counsel or that, upon advice of counsel, there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party (or in the situation where the indemnifying party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently the action or proceeding within 20 Business Days after receiving notice from the indemnified party that the indemnified party believes the indemnifying party has failed to do so), then the indemnifying party shall not be entitled to assume such defense and the indemnified party shall be entitled to separate counsel at the indemnifying party’s expense, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action, claim or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions, claims or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one additional firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all such indemnified parties. If the indemnifying party is not entitled to assume the defense of such action or proceeding as a result of the second proviso to the preceding sentence, the indemnifying party’s counsel shall be entitled to conduct the indemnifying party’s defense and counsel for the indemnified party shall be entitled to conduct the defense of the indemnified party, it being understood that both such counsel will cooperate with each other to conduct the defense of such action or proceeding as efficiently as possible. If the indemnifying party is not so entitled to assume the defense of such action or does not assume such defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable for any settlement effected without the written consent of the indemnifying party, not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. If an indemnifying party is entitled to assume, and assumes, the defense of such action or proceeding in accordance with this paragraph, the indemnifying party shall not be liable for any fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified party incurred thereafter in connection with such action or proceeding.

4.4 Contribution . In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 above is for any reason held to be unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction to any indemnified party although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company and the relevant Holder shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages, actions, costs, judgments and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Holder, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holder on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages, actions, costs, judgments or expenses. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or the indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action.

 

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The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4 , a Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount that it would have been obligated to pay by way of indemnification if the indemnification provided for under Section 4.2 had been available under the circumstances.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any indemnifying party who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 4.4 , each Person, if any, who controls a Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any of their partners, members, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Holder, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed a Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

In addition, no Person shall be obligated to contribute hereunder for any amounts in payment for any settlement of any action or claim, effected without such Person’s written consent.

4.5 Survival . The indemnification and contribution provisions in this Section 4 shall be a continuing right and shall survive the registration and sale of any securities by any Person entitled to indemnification or contribution, as applicable hereunder, and the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 5. Registration Expenses

The Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its registration obligations under Section 2 above, including (i) all expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing and distribution of any Registration Statement and Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto, (ii) Commission and state securities registration, listing and filing fees, (iii) all fees and expenses of complying with securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Holders in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the securities and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions), (iv) all Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. fees and fees of any applicable stock exchange, including the New York Stock Exchange, (v) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for the independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters), (vi) all internal expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties); (vii) the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement; and (viii) the fees and disbursements of one counsel representing the Holders registering Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and/or participating in the offering, as applicable,

 

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provided such fees and disbursements shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00). Each Holder shall be responsible for the payment of any brokerage and sales commissions, fees and disbursements of the Holder’s accountants and other advisors (other than legal counsel to the Holders, to the extent the Company has agreed to pay for such legal counsel pursuant to this Section 5 ), and any transfer taxes relating to the sale or disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Holder pursuant to this Agreement. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any other costs or expenses incurred by the Holders, including underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the Holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such Holders. In addition, in an underwritten offering, all selling stockholders and the Company shall bear the expenses of the underwriters, pro rata , in proportion to the respective amount of shares each sells in such offering.

 

Section 6. Rule 144 Compliance

The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file as and when applicable, on a timely basis, all reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep current public information available as specified in paragraph (c) of Rule 144 (or any successor rule) promulgated under the Securities Act. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take such further action as may be reasonably required from time to time to enable the Holders to Transfer Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements and, if not, the specifics thereof, as well as any such other information as may be reasonably requested to allow such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144. In connection with any Transfer of Registrable Securities by a Holder pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, the Company shall cooperate with the Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any Securities Act legend, and enable certificates for such Registrable Securities to be for such number of shares and registered in such names as Holder may reasonably request at least five (5) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities hereunder or, if practicable, and at the request of such Holder, have such Registrable Securities delivered electronically via DWAC through the Depository Trust Company.

 

Section 7. Miscellaneous

7.1 Additional Agreements; Certain Transactions .

(a) In the event that any shares of Common Stock or other securities are issued in respect of, or in exchange for, or in substitution of the Registrable Securities by reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, spin-off, partial or complete liquidation, share dividend, split-up, sale of assets, distribution to stockholders or combination of the shares or any other similar change in the Company’s capital structure, the Company agrees that appropriate adjustments shall be made to this Agreement to ensure that the Holders have, immediately after consummation of such transaction, substantially the same rights from the Company or another issuer of securities, as applicable, as it has immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction in respect of the Registrable Securities under this Agreement.

(b) The Company shall not enter into any agreement with respect to the Company’s securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders under this Agreement, and, other than the Existing Registration Rights, no such agreement is currently in effect.

 

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7.2 In-Kind Distributions . If any Holder seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of its Registrable Securities to its direct or indirect equity holders, the Company will cooperate with such Holder and the Company’s transfer agent to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such Holder and consistent with the Company’s obligations under the Securities Act.

7.3 Entire Agreement . This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. The express terms of this Agreement control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement.

7.4 Amendments and Waivers .

(a) The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this Section 7.4 , may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given without the written consent of the Company and the Holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each Holder, each future Holder, and the Company.

(b) Notice of any amendment, modification or supplement to this Agreement adopted in accordance with this Section 7.4 shall be provided by the Company to the Holders prior to the effective date of such amendment, modification or supplement.

7.5 No Implied Waivers; Remedies . No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, privilege, power, or remedy under this Agreement, and no course of dealing shall operate as a waiver of any such right, privilege, power or remedy; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, privilege, power or remedy under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise of any such right, privilege, power or remedy or the exercise of any other right, privilege, power or remedy. No waiver shall be asserted against any party unless signed in writing by such party. The rights, privileges, powers and remedies available to the parties are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, privileges, powers or remedies provided by statute, at law, in equity or otherwise.

7.6 Assignment .

(a) Except as expressly provided in this Section 7.6 , the rights of the parties hereto cannot be assigned and any purported assignment or Transfer to the contrary shall be void ab

 

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initio . Subject to the terms and limitations contained this Section 7.6 , any Holder may assign any of its rights under this Agreement, without the consent of the Company, (x) to any Person to whom such Holder Transfers any Registrable Securities or any rights to acquire Registrable Securities so long as such Transfer is not made pursuant to an effective Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision thereto) under the Securities Act or (y) in connection with a pledge of Registrable Securities to a bona fide lender.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 7.6(a) , no Holder may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom such Holder Transfers any Registrable Securities if the Transfer of such Registrable Securities requires registration under the Securities Act.

(c) The nature and extent of any rights assigned shall be as agreed to between the assigning party and the assignee. No Person may be assigned any rights under this Agreement unless (x) the Company is given written notice by the assigning party at the time of such assignment stating the name and address of the assignee, identifying the securities of the Company as to which rights are being assigned, and providing a description of the nature and extent of the rights that are being assigned and (y) the assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as a “Holder”, including the provisions of this Section 7.6 .

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Investor may assign its rights, under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company to one or more of its Affiliates; provided , that the Investor remains responsible for the obligations under this Agreement with respect to such assignee.

7.7 Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement is not intended, and shall not be construed, to confer any rights or benefits on any Persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Section 4 and Section 7.6 .

7.8 Notices.

(a) All notices, demands or requests provided for or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement must be in writing, to the following addresses:

 

(i) if to the Company:     Capital Trust, Inc.
       410 Park Avenue, 14th Floor
       New York, NY 10022
       Attention:   Chief Financial Officer
       Fax No.:   (212) 655-0044

with a required copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

    Paul Hastings LLP
       75 E. 55th Street
       New York, NY 10022
       Attention:   Michael L. Zuppone, Esq.
       Email:   michaelzuppone@paulhastings.com
       Fax No.:   (212) 230-7752

 

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(ii) if to the Investor:     c/o The Blackstone Group L.P.
       345 Park Avenue
       New York, NY 10154
       Attention:   Chief Legal Officer and
         Randall Rothschild
       Email:   rothschild@blackstone.com
       Fax No.:   (646) 253-8983
         (646) 253-8405

with a required copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
       425 Lexington Avenue
       New York, NY 10017
       Attention:   Brian Stadler
         Patrick Naughton
       Email:   bstadler@stblaw.com
         pnaughton@stblaw.com
       Fax No.:   (212) 455-2502

(iii) if to any Holder other than the Investor, to the address contained in the records of the Company,

or at such other address as the addressee may have furnished in writing to the sender as provided herein.

(b) Any notice or demand that may or are required to be given hereunder by any party to another shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) personally delivered or delivered by facsimile or electronic mail, when received or (ii) sent by U.S. Express Mail or recognized overnight courier, on the second following Business Day (or third following Business Day if mailed outside the United States).

7.9 Specific Performance . The parties hereto acknowledge that the obligations undertaken by them hereunder are unique and that there would be no adequate remedy at law if any party fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder, and accordingly agree that each party, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to (i) compel specific performance of the obligations, covenants and agreements of any other party under this Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (ii) obtain preliminary injunctive relief to secure specific performance and to prevent a breach or contemplated breach of this Agreement in any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction, and in any such case, no bond or security shall be required in connection therewith.

7.10 GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED

 

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BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR ANY DISTRICT WITHIN SUCH STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY ACTION OR JUDGMENT RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN SUCH COURT.

7.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

7.12 Headings; References; Interpretation . The headings contained in this Agreement are solely for convenience and reference and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement. The references herein to Sections, unless otherwise indicated, are references to sections of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include”, “includes”, or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”. Unless the context requires otherwise, all words used in this Agreement in the singular number shall extend to and include the plural number, all words in the plural number shall extend to and include the singular number, and all words in any gender shall extend to and include all genders. To the fullest extent permitted by law, this Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction against the party drafting or causing this instrument to be drafted.

7.13 Severability . If any provision of the Agreement shall be held to be invalid, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

7.14 Counterparts; Facsimile; PDF . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts of this Agreement, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Any facsimile or Adobe portable document format copies hereof or signature hereon shall, for all purposes, be deemed originals.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf as of the date first herein above set forth.

 

CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen D. Plavin

  Name:   Stephen D. Plavin
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS III L.P.
By: Blackstone Holdings III GP L.P., its general partner
By: Blackstone Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Laurence A. Tosi

  Name:   Laurence A. Tosi
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

Exhibit 10.5

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF LEASE

THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF LEASE (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of December 19, 2012, by and between CAPITAL TRUST, INC. , a New York corporation (“ Assignor ”) and BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS I L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (“ Assignee ”).

For and in consideration of that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated September 27, 2012, by and between Assignor and Assignee and the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) and other good and valuable consideration paid by Assignee to Assignor, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Assignor hereby assigns, transfers, sets over and conveys to Assignee, all of Assignor’s right, title and interest in and to that certain Agreement of Lease dated May 30, 2000 between 410 Park Avenue Associates, L.P., as landlord, and Assignor, as tenant (as such lease was amended by that certain Additional Space, Lease Extension and First Lease Modification Agreement dated May 23, 2007, Second Lease Modification Agreement dated May 26, 2009, Third Lease Modification Dated August 31, 2009 and Fourth Lease Modification Agreement dated September 17, 2009, the “ Lease ”). Provided that Landlord consents and agrees to this Agreement as required pursuant to the Lease, Assignee hereby accepts the assignment and agrees to assume, fulfill, perform and discharge all the commitments, obligations and liabilities of Assignor, as tenant under the Lease, in accordance with the terms of the Lease. Assignee hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Assignor from all of the liabilities and obligations of the tenant under the Lease which arise or accrue on or after the date hereof.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing express or implied in this Agreement is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto, or their respective successors or permitted assigns, any rights, remedies obligations or liability under or by reason of this Agreement.

This Assignment shall not be altered, amended, changed, waived, terminated or otherwise modified in any respect unless the same shall be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the party to be charged therewith.

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor and Assignee do hereby execute and deliver this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.


ASSIGNOR :
CAPITAL TRUST, INC., a Maryland corporation
By:  

/s/ Stephen D. Plavin

  Name:   Stephen D. Plavin
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President
ASSIGNEE :
BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS I L.P. a Delaware limited partnership
By:   Blackstone Holdings I/II GP, Inc., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Laurence A. Tosi

  Name:   Laurence A. Tosi
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 10.6

CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF LEASE, AND FIFTH LEASE MODIFICATION AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT dated as of this 19th day of December 2012 (this “Fifth Amendment”) between 410 PARK AVENUE ASSOCIATES, L.P. , a New York limited partnership, having an office at 410 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022 (hereinafter called “Owner”), and CAPITAL TRUST, INC. a New York corporation, having an office at 410 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (hereinafter called “Tenant”), and BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS I L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership, having an office at is 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154 (“Assignee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS:

1. Owner and Tenant executed that certain lease dated as of May 3, 2000, covering the entire fourteenth (14 th ) floor in the building known as 410 Park Avenue, New York, New York (the “Building”) for a term to initially expire on June 30, 2008;

2. Owner and Tenant executed that certain Additional Space, Lease Extension and First Lease Modification Agreement dated as of May 23, 2007 (the “First Amendment”), wherein a portion of the fifteenth (15 th ) floor designated as Suite 1510 on the fifteenth (15 th ) floor of the Building was added to the premises demised in the lease and the term of the lease was extended until October 31, 2018 and otherwise modified as therein provided;

3. Owner and Tenant entered into that certain Second Lease Modification Agreement dated as of May 26, 2009 (the “Second Amendment”) pertaining to certain security deposit requirements under Article 34 of the Lease;

4. Owner and Tenant entered into that certain Surrender and Third Lease Modification Agreement dated as of August 31, 2009 (the “Third Amendment”) wherein Tenant agreed to surrender the fifteenth (15 th ) floor portion of the Building to Owner leased pursuant to the terms of the First Amendment;

5. Owner and Tenant entered into that certain Fourth Lease Modification Agreement dated as of September 17, 2009 (the “Fourth Amendment”) pertaining to the definition of “Tenant’s Percentage” (said lease, as heretofore amended by the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment, and the Fourth Amendment respectively, is hereinafter collectively called the Lease, and the entire fourteenth (14 th ) floor of the Building is hereinafter called the “Demised Premises”); and

6. Tenant desires to assign all of its right, title and interest in the Lease to Assignee (the “Assignment”) effective as of the Effective Date (hereinafter defined), and Owner is willing to consent to the Assignment, subject to the terms hereof.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

FIRST: Owner hereby consents to the Assignment. A fully executed original of the Assignment shall be delivered to Owner and shall be subject and subordinate at all times to all of the covenants, agreements, terms, provisions and conditions of the Lease. The Assignment shall not in any manner release Tenant from any liability under the Lease, nor shall Owner’s consent to the Assignment be deemed a waiver of Owner’s rights under the Lease to consent to any further assignment of Lease, and/or any subletting of all or a portion of the Demised Premises.

SECOND: Effective from and after the Effective Date, Assignee shall observe all of the terms, covenants and conditions of the Lease on Tenant’s part to be observed and performed under the Lease, including, without limitation, payment of all Basic Annual Rent, Rent and additional rent respectively.

For purposes hereof, the term “Effective Date” shall mean December 19, 2012.

THIRD: Upon the express condition that Assignee deliver to Owner a Letter of Credit in the face amount of $683,325.00 (the “Replacement Letter”) substantially in the form required pursuant to Article 34 of the Lease and Exhibit B of the First Amendment respectively, Owner shall, upon receipt of the Replacement Letter, promptly return to Assignee the existing cash security in the sum of $683,325.00, together with any accrued interest thereto, less an administrative expense per annum (pro-rated for periods of less than one (1) year) equal to the lesser of $6,833.25 and the interest earned on such account for the applicable period. The remainder of the interest on such account or certificate shall belong to Assignee.

FOURTH: Assignee acknowledges that it has inspected the Demised Premises and agrees to accept possession thereof in its then “as-is” physical condition on the Effective Date, it being understood and agreed that Owner shall not be obligated to make any improvements or alterations to prepare the Demised Premises for Assignee’s occupancy.

FIFTH: Tenant and Assignee each hereby represent and warrant to Owner that it dealt with no broker or agent in connection with this Fifth Amendment. Tenant and Assignee shall each indemnify and hold Owner harmless from and against any claims including, without limitation, attorneys fees and expenses, arising out of any breach by Tenant or Assignee of the foregoing representation.

SIXTH: The terms and provisions of this Fifth Amendment are subject to the approval of the Building’s lender of the terms contained herein.

SEVENTH: Except to the extent modified and amended by the foregoing, the Lease is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects;

 

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EIGHTH: This Fifth Amendment shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

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3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and seals as of the day and year first above written.

 

OWNER:
410 PARK AVENUE ASSOCIATES, L.P.
By:   410 PARK AVENUE GENPAR CORP.,
Its general partner
By:  

/s/ Michael Alter

  Name:   Michael Alter
  Title:   President
TENANT:
CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen D. Plavin

  Name:   Stephen D. Plavin
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
ASSIGNEE:
BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS I L.P.
By:   BLACKSTONE HOLDINGS I/II GP, INC., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Laurence A. Tosi

  Name:   Laurence A. Tosi
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

4

Exhibit 14.1

CAPITAL TRUST, INC.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

Business Ethics and Compliance Standards and Procedures

Integrity, honesty and sound judgment are fundamental to the reputation and success of Capital Trust, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). The policies outlined in this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) are designed to ensure that all directors, officers and employees of the Company, and all officers and employees of BREDS/CT Advisors L.L.C. (the “Manager”) and its affiliates (“Blackstone”) who provide services to the Company (collectively, “Company Personnel”) not only conduct themselves lawfully at all times, but also maintain the highest ethical standards in every aspect of their dealings with other employees, the business community, clients, suppliers and government authorities. Unless otherwise provided herein, the term “employees” includes employees of the Company and employees of the Manager and Blackstone who provide services to the Company. This Code operates, as it relates to employees of Blackstone, in conjunction with, and in addition to, the policies of the Manager and those of The Blackstone Group, L.P.

The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, age, disability, marital or partnership status, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offense or stalking or any other class or status protected by law in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. All persons must be treated with dignity and respect.

No employee should be misguided by any sense of false loyalty to the Company or a desire for profitability that might cause him or her to disobey any applicable law or Company policy. Violation of Company policy will constitute grounds for disciplinary action, including, when appropriate, termination of service.

The material contained in this Code serves as a guide for employees when faced with legal or ethical questions. The Code and such other material are not all-inclusive, and the Company expects employees to use their own judgment at all times to follow the high ethical standards to which the Company is committed.

The Company takes this Code very seriously. All employees must follow the ethical and compliance standards set forth in this Code and are obligated to report, in a timely fashion, any possible violations of law or of our ethical standards that they may witness or have a reasonable basis to believe exists. Reporting in good faith possible ethical violations by others will not subject you to reprisal. In fact, an employee retaliating or punishing another employee for reporting suspected unethical or illegal conduct or any questionable situation could well be acting in violation of the law. As discussed below, all reports and inquiries will be handled confidentially to the greatest extent possible under the circumstances.

 

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It is the responsibility of employees to read carefully and understand this Code, but we do not expect this Code to answer every possible question an employee may have in the course of conducting business. To this end, employees should keep in mind the following steps as they consider a particular problem or concern:

 

   

Always ask first, act later: If you are unsure of what to do in any situation, seek guidance before you act.

 

   

Make sure you have all the facts . In order to reach the right solutions, we must be as fully informed as possible.

 

   

Ask yourself: What specifically am I being asked to do ? Does it seem unethical or improper? This will enable you to focus on the specific question you are faced with, and the alternatives you have. Use your judgment and common sense; if something seems unethical or improper, it probably is.

 

   

Clarify your responsibility and role . In most situations, there is shared responsibility. Are your colleagues informed? It may help to get others involved and discuss the problem.

 

   

Discuss the problem with your supervisor . This is the basic guidance for all situations. In many cases, your supervisor will be more knowledgeable about the question, and will appreciate being brought into the decision-making process. Remember that it is your supervisor’s responsibility to help solve problems.

 

   

Seek help from individuals other than your supervisor . In situations where it may not be appropriate to discuss an issue with your supervisor, or where you do not feel comfortable approaching your supervisor with your question, consider discussing the issue with the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any). Employees may report to the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors, the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any) openly, confidentially or anonymously, an Accounting Allegation, Legal Allegation or Retaliatory Act (as those terms are used in the Company’s Whistleblower Policy) in the manner set forth in the Company’s Whistleblower Policy. Interested parties may also communicate directly with the Company’s non-management directors through contact information located in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

If employees are concerned about an ethical situation or are not sure whether specific conduct meets the Company’s standards of conduct, employees are responsible for asking their supervisors or managers and, where appropriate, the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any), any questions that they may feel are necessary to understand the Company’s expectations of them.

 

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Employees who fail to comply (either in letter or spirit) with these policies may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. The following are examples of conduct that may result in discipline:

 

   

Actions that violate a Company policy;

 

   

Requesting others to violate a Company policy;

 

   

Failure to promptly disclose a known or suspected violation of a Company policy;

 

   

Failure to cooperate in Company investigations of possible violations of a Company policy;

 

   

Retaliation against another employee for reporting a good faith integrity concern; and

 

   

Failure to demonstrate the leadership and diligence needed to ensure compliance with Company policies and applicable law.

It is important to understand that a violation of certain of these policies may subject the Company and the individual employee to civil liability and damages, regulatory sanction and/or criminal prosecution.

If you believe you or another employee may have violated the Code or an applicable law, rule or regulation, it is your responsibility to immediately report the violation to the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any). Similarly, if you are an employee acting in a supervisory or managerial capacity and you have received information from an employee concerning activity that he or she believes may violate the Code or that you believe may violate the Code, you should report the matter to the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any).

All reports and inquiries will be handled confidentially to the greatest extent possible under the circumstances. Employees may choose to remain anonymous, though in some cases that could make it more difficult to follow up and ensure resolution of their inquiry. As mentioned above, no employee will be subject to retaliation or punishment for good faith reporting of suspected unethical or illegal conduct by another employee as provided in this Code or for coming forward to alert the Company of any questionable situation. Furthermore, any person who participates in retaliation against such employee will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Waivers of the Code

Any waiver of any provision of this Code for executive officers or directors of the Company must be approved by the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors of the Company and will be promptly disclosed as required by applicable securities law and/or stock exchange rules.

 

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Confidential Information

The Company regularly comes into possession of Confidential Information (as that term is defined below) in the course of the Company’s business. The Company is strongly committed to protecting Confidential Information, whether generated within the Company or obtained from some other source. The Company is also strongly committed to avoiding the misuse, or the appearance of misuse, of such information, whether in connection with the trading of securities or otherwise.

In the course of his or her participation in the work of the Company, an employee may obtain or have access to information concerning the business, affairs, operations, strategies, policies, procedures, organizational and personnel matters related to the Company, terms of agreements, financial structure, financial position, financial results or other financial affairs, actual or proposed transactions or investments, investment results, existing or prospective investors, computer programs or other confidential information related to the business of the Company or to its actual or prospective investors, affiliates or other third parties. Such information may have been or may be provided in written or electronic form or orally. All such information, from whatever source obtained and regardless of the Company’s connection to the information, is referred to herein as “Confidential Information.” Confidential Information excludes information that has been made generally available to the public. However, information that when viewed in isolation may be publicly known or can be accessed by a member of the public will constitute Confidential Information for these purposes if such information has become proprietary to the Company through the Company’s (whether by itself or on its behalf) aggregation or interpretation of such information.

Because all Confidential Information constitutes a valuable asset of the Company, without the prior written consent of the Company (which may be given or withheld in the Company’s sole discretion) or unless legally mandated, no employee may, while he or she is employed by or associated with the Company or at any time thereafter, (a) disclose any Confidential Information to any person except in furtherance of the business of the Company, (b) make any other use of any Confidential Information except in the business of the Company and in a manner which at all times is intended to serve the interests of the Company or (c) disclose any information (whether or not Confidential Information) concerning the Company or its present or former employees, clients or investors to any reporter, author or similar person or entity or take any other action likely to result in such information being made available to the public in any form, including books, articles or writings of any other kind, film, videotape, electronic means of communication or any other medium. The foregoing shall not restrict the sharing or use of any such information with or by the Manager to the Manager or any of the Manager’s affiliates, provided that any such disclosure is generally on a need-to-know basis or in order to comply with the policies and procedures of the Manager or those of its affiliates and otherwise generally in accordance with applicable law).

Employees who fail to comply, either in letter or spirit, with these important policies may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. The Company may pursue appropriate legal action against present or former employees to enforce these policies.

 

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Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s private interest interferes in any way or even appears to interfere with the interests of the Company as a whole. A conflict of interest may arise when an employee takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest also arise when an employee, officer or director, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company. Loans to, or guarantees of obligations of, such persons are of special concern.

Business decisions and actions must be based on the best interests of the Company. Apart from an employee’s affiliation and arrangements with the Manager or its affiliates, employees may not have outside interests that conflict or appear to conflict with the best interests of the Company. Any such conflicts of interest are to be scrupulously avoided and, if unavoidable, must be disclosed to the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any) at the earliest opportunity.

Family Members and Close Personal Relationships

Conflicts of interest may arise when doing business with organizations in which employees’ family members have an ownership or employment interest. Family members include spouses, parents, children, siblings and in-laws. Employees may not conduct business on behalf of the Company and may not use their influence to get the Company to do business with family members or an organization with which an employee or an employee’s family member is associated unless specific written approval has been granted in advance by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any).

Outside Directorships

All employees are expected to devote their best efforts to their job at all times. Employees may not maintain outside employment activities that compromise job performance or that may present a conflict of interest or is prejudicial to the Company.

Other than in their roles as employees, members, officers and/or directors of the Manager or its affiliates, employees may not serve as a director of another company without first obtaining the approval of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any).

Ownership in Other Businesses

Other than to the extent arising from their roles as employees, members, officers and/or directors of the Manager and/or its affiliates (including any ownership interest in The Blackstone Group L.P. or any fund or vehicle managed, sponsored or otherwise advised, directly or indirectly, by The Blackstone Group L.P. or its affiliates), employees may not own, directly or indirectly, a significant financial interest in any business entity that does or seeks to do business with the Company unless specific written approval has been granted in advance by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any). 1

 

1  

As a guide, “a significant financial interest” is defined as ownership by an employee or family members of the employee of more than 1% of the outstanding securities/capital value of a corporation or entity or that represents more than 5% of the total assets of such employee or family members of the employee.

 

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There may be instances when potential conflicts may arise where other investment funds, vehicles, accounts, products and/or other similar arrangements sponsored, advised and/or managed by Blackstone (whether currently in existence or subsequently established, in each case, including any related successor funds, alternate vehicles, supplemental capital vehicles, co-investment vehicles and other entities formed in connection with Blackstone’s side-by-side or additional general partner investments with respect thereto) (collectively, “Other Blackstone Funds”) invest in investments in which the Company also invests (including at a different level of an issuer’s capital structure or in a different tranche of fundraising with respect to an issuer in which the Company has an interest). The audit committee of the Company’s board of directors will be required to review such transactions on a quarterly basis. In addition, the sale of any investment to, or acquisition of any investment from, The Blackstone Group L.P., any Other Blackstone Funds or any of their affiliates (but excluding portfolio companies of the Other Blackstone Funds) must be (a) on terms no less favorable to the Company than could have been obtained on an arm’s length basis from an unrelated third party and (b) approved in advance by a majority of the Company’s independent directors.

Consultants and Agents; Service Providers

Whenever it becomes necessary to engage the services of an individual or company to consult for or represent the Company, special care must be taken to ensure that no conflicts of interest exist between the Company and the person or company to be retained. The Manager is responsible for engaging and supervising, on the Company’s behalf and at the Company’s expense, independent contractors, advisors, consultants, attorneys, accountants, auditors, and other service providers (which may include affiliates of the Manager) to provide services with respect to the Company, including, without limitation, investment banking, securities brokerage, mortgage brokerage, credit analysis, risk management services, asset management services, loan servicing, other financial, legal or accounting services, due diligence services, underwriting review services, and all other services (including transfer agent and registrar services) as may be required relating to the Company’s activities or investments (or potential investments). Consistent with the terms of the management agreement between the Company and the Manager, any services provided by affiliates of the Manager, to the extent such services are not on arm’s-length terms and competitive market rates in relation to terms that are then customary for agreements regarding the provision of such services to companies that have assets similar in type, quality and value to the assets of Capital Trust and its subsidiaries, must be approved in advance by a majority of the Company’s independent directors.

Other Situations

Because other conflicts of interest may arise, it would be impractical to attempt to list all possible situations. Any employee, officer or director who becomes aware of a conflict of interest or a potential conflict of interest should bring it to the attention of the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any).

 

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Review of Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions Involving the Manager and/or its Affiliates . The audit committee of the Company’s board of directors will be required to review on a periodic basis all material related party transactions involving the Manager and/or its affiliates. All persons covered by this Code are required to report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer (collectively, the Executive Officers”) on a regular periodic basis all instances involving such related party transactions, arrangements or relationships, regardless of the amount involved.

Related Parties Transactions Not Involving the Manager and/or its Affiliates . Generally, officers of the Company should avoid conducting business or engaging in a transaction on behalf of the Company with an immediate family member or significant other, or with a company or firm with which an employee or his or her immediate family member or significant other is a significant owner or associated or employed in a significant role or position. “Immediate family members” include any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-inlaw, or sister-in-law and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the Company. “Significant others” include cohabitants, domestic partners, and persons with whom an employee has (or reasonably expects to have) a consensual romantic, sexual, intimate or dating relationship. The Audit Committee must review and approve in advance all material related party transactions, including financial transactions, arrangements or relationships (or series of any of the foregoing) in which the Company participates that involve $120,000 or more with any of the Company’s Directors, officers, or significant stockholders ( i.e. , holders of 5% of the Company’s outstanding stock) or any immediate family member (including a significant other) of any of the foregoing (collectively, “related persons”) or any entity in which any of the Company’s related persons is employed or has with other related persons a collective interest in more than 5%, or in the case of a partnership, for which any of them serves as a general partner or is otherwise associated. Directors and officers must not enter into, develop or continue any such material transaction, arrangement or relationship without obtaining such prior Audit Committee approval. The CFO shall report to the Audit Committee at regularly scheduled Audit Committee meetings all related party transactions, arrangements or relationships not subject to prior Audit Committee approval. Further, all instances involving such potential related party transactions, arrangements or relationships regardless of the amount involved must be reported to an Executive Officer who will assess the materiality of the transaction, arrangement or relationship and elevate the matter to the Audit Committee as appropriate. The Company must report all material related party transactions, arrangements and relationships under applicable accounting rules and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) rules and regulations. Any dealings with a related person must be conducted in such a way as to avoid preferential treatment and assure that the terms obtained by the Company are no less favorable than could be obtained from unrelated parties on an arm’s-length basis. Conflicts of interest or the material nature of a transaction, arrangement or relationship may not always be clear-cut; if questions arise, you should consult with an Executive Officer before entering into, developing or continuing a transaction that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest.

 

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Corporate Opportunities

It is the Company’s policy that employees, officers and directors may not take opportunities for themselves that are discovered through the use of Company property, information or position, or use Company property, information or position for personal gain. Employees, officers and directors have a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises. However, (i) certain directors, principals, officers, employees and other representatives of The Blackstone Group L.P. and its affiliates may serve as directors, principals, officers, employees and other representatives of the Company, its subsidiaries or any entity that provides investment advisory services to the Company or its subsidiaries or as a member of the investment committee of any such entity, (ii) The Blackstone Group L.P. and its affiliates may engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company or its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage and other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company or its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) members of the Company’s board of directors and their respective affiliates may engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage and other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company or its subsidiaries may engage. Furthermore, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of (i) The Blackstone Group L.P. or any of its affiliates or (ii) any director of the Company or any person a director of the Company controls (the persons identified in (i) and (ii) above being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (x) engaging in any business opportunity, including but not limited to business opportunities in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Company or any of its affiliates may, from time to time, be engaged or propose to engage or (y) competing with the Company, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of any duty by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities.

Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets

Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on the Company’s profitability. Employees, officers and directors have a duty to safeguard Company assets and ensure their efficient use. Company assets should be used only for legitimate business purposes and employees and directors should take measures to ensure against their theft, damage, or misuse.

Company assets include intellectual property such as trademarks, business and marketing plans, salary information and any unpublished financial data and reports. Unauthorized use or distribution of this information is a violation of Company policy.

 

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Fair Dealing

Each employee, officer and director shall endeavor to deal fairly with the Company’s equity holders, customers, competitors, suppliers and employees. No employee or director shall take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair-dealing practice.

No bribes, kickbacks or other similar payments in any form shall be made directly or indirectly to or for anyone for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or obtaining any other favorable action. The Company and the employee, officer or director involved may be subject to disciplinary action as well as potential civil or criminal liability for violation of this policy.

Compliance with Laws, Insider Trading and Other Matters

The Company operates strictly within the bounds of the laws, rules and regulations that affect the conduct of our business. All employees are expected to know and to follow the law. Company officers and other appropriate personnel must ensure that employees understand and are informed of the requirements relating to their jobs. They must also be available to answer employee questions or concerns and, when necessary, to guide them to other subject-matter experts, including the Company’s outside counsel. There are serious consequences for failing to follow any applicable laws, rules and regulations, up to and including termination of employment and potential criminal and civil penalties.

Governmental Filings and Responding to Governmental and Regulatory Requests

It is Company policy to cooperate with all reasonable requests concerning Company business from U.S. federal, state, municipal and foreign government agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Department of Justice, and from regulatory organizations such as FINRA and the New York Stock Exchange. Employees must immediately forward any such requests, including requests for interviews or access to documents, to the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any) and wait for instructions before proceeding. Additionally, employees are not normally permitted to contact any regulatory entity or any governmental authority on behalf of the Company without prior approval of the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any).

With respect to filings made with U.S. federal, state, municipal and foreign governmental agencies, particularly those filings that are made in connection with an investment by the Company ( e.g. , Hart-Scott-Rodino filings), it is Company policy that counsel retained by the Company must generally be consulted prior to the submission of the filing with such agencies.

Insider Trading

The Company’s policy against insider trading is designed to promote compliance with securities laws and to protect the Company as well as Company representatives from the very serious liability and penalties that can result from violations of these laws. The Company is committed to maintaining its reputation for integrity and ethical conduct and this policy is an important part of that effort. It is the Company’s policy that directors, executive officer

 

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and other employees of the Company may not trade securities, of the Company or otherwise, about which they learn material, non-public information. They are also prohibited from passing on such information to others who might make an investment decision based on it. Any questions as to whether information is material or has been adequately disclosed should be directed to the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any)

In addition, directors, executive officers and employees are prohibited from engaging in transactions in the Company’s securities that may lead to the appearance of insider trading.

Any violation of the Company’s policies and procedures regarding personal securities trading by an employee or an employee’s family member may result in dismissal, suspension, with or without pay or other disciplinary sanctions against the employee, whether or not the violation of the Company’s policy also constitutes a violation of law.

Document Retention

Destruction or falsification of any document that is potentially relevant to a violation of law or a government investigation may lead to prosecution for obstruction of justice. Therefore, if an employee has reason to believe that a violation of the law has been committed or that a government criminal, civil or regulatory investigation has or is about to be commenced, he or she must retain all records (including computer records) that are or could be relevant to an investigation of the matter, whether conducted by the Company or by a governmental authority. Questions with regard to destruction or retention of documents in this context should be directed to the Manager’s chief compliance officer or the Company’s Chief Legal Officer (if any).

Disparaging Remarks

Disparaging statements about the Company or any of its personnel are strictly prohibited. Accordingly, no employee of the Company may make, while in the employ of the Company or at any time thereafter, any oral or written negative, derogatory or disparaging statement about the Company or about any present or former employee or member of the Company.

Employees who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. The Company may also pursue appropriate legal action against present or former employees to enforce this policy.

Public Disclosure

The Company is committed to providing full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in the periodic reports and other information it files with or submits to the SEC and in other public communications, such as press releases, earnings conference calls and industry conferences, made by the Company. In meeting such standards for disclosure, the Company’s executive officers and directors shall at all times strive to comply with the Company’s disclosure obligations and, as necessary, appropriately consider and balance the need or desirability for confidentiality with respect to non-public negotiations or other

 

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business developments. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are responsible for establishing effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls for financial reporting within the meaning of applicable SEC rules and regulations. The Company expects the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to take a leadership role in implementing such controls and procedures and to position the Company to comply with its disclosure obligations and otherwise meet the foregoing standards for public disclosure.

No employee, officer or Director should interfere with, hinder or obstruct the Company’s efforts to meet the standards for public disclosure set forth above.

Doing Business Internationally

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

The Company and its employees, agents and representatives must strictly comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (and amendments) (“FCPA”). The FCPA reaches conduct occurring outside of the territorial boundaries of the United States and applies to domestic and foreign subsidiaries of the Company and to both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens. Under this act:

The Company and its officers and other employees are prohibited from offering, paying or promising to pay or authorizing the payment of either money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to non-U.S. government officials, political parties or candidates for political office outside the United States to win or retain business or influence any act or decision of such officials.

All books, records and accounts, domestic and overseas, must accurately and fairly reflect business transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets.

A system of internal accounting controls must be maintained to provide adequate corporate supervision over the accounting and reporting activities at all levels.

Disclaimer

This Code is designed to acquaint directors, executive officers and employees with the Company’s policies with respect to business conduct and ethics.

The information contained in this Code is not intended to represent all of the Company’s policies. In addition, directors, executive officers and employees should be aware that the Company may revise, supplement or rescind any policies or portions of this Code at any time as it deems appropriate, in its sole and absolute discretion. This Code is the property of the Company.

No Rights Created

This Code is a statement of certain fundamental principles, policies and procedures that govern the directors, executive officers and employees of the Company in the conduct

 

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of the Company’s business. It is not intended to and does not create any rights in any employee, customer/client, visitor, supplier, competitor, shareholder or any other person or entity.

 

12

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

CAPITAL TRUST CLOSES ON SALE OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PLATFORM TO BLACKSTONE

Blackstone Becomes the Manager of Capital Trust and Acquires 17% Stake

$2.00 Special Dividend to be Paid to Capital Trust Shareholders

New York, NY—December 19, 2012— Capital Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CT) (“ Capital Trust ) today announced that an affiliate of Blackstone (NYSE: BX) completed the previously announced acquisition of Capital Trust’s investment management business, operated through its subsidiary, CT Investment Management Co., LLC (“ CTIMCO ”). The closing followed approval today by the shareholders of Capital Trust of the transaction and all related proposals.

At the closing, affiliates of Blackstone acquired CTIMCO and related fund co-investments for $21.4 million. In addition, an affiliate of Blackstone purchased five million newly issued shares of Capital Trust’s class A common stock for $10 million ($2.00 per share), representing 17% of Capital Trust’s outstanding common stock.

Capital Trust will pay the previously announced $2.00 per share special cash dividend on December 20, 2012. Pursuant to the New York Stock Exchange’s “due bills” trading procedure, holders of Capital Trust class A common shares (other than those newly issued to Blackstone) at the close of business on the December 20, 2012 will receive the dividend payment, and the common stock will begin to trade ex-dividend on December 21, 2012.

In conjunction with the transaction, John G. Schreiber, a co-founder of Blackstone Real Estate Advisors, and Michael B. Nash, chief investment officer of Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies, have been appointed to Capital Trust’s board of directors as Blackstone designees. Mr. Schreiber will serve as chairman of the board. Samuel Zell, who served as chairman of the board since the Company’s founding in 1997, and Edward Hyman, a director since 2005, have resigned from Capital Trust’s board of directors.

Capital Trust is now externally managed by BREDS / CT Advisor L.L.C. (the “ New CT Manager ”), an affiliate of Blackstone. CTIMCO and its personnel are being integrated into Blackstone’s Real Estate Debt Strategies business, an affiliate of the New CT Manager. Stephen D. Plavin, Geoffrey G. Jervis and Thomas C. Ruffing will continue to serve as Capital Trust’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chief credit officer, respectively while also becoming employees of an affiliate of Blackstone.

After the sale of CTIMCO and the related transactions, Capital Trust’s assets include cash, its interests in CT Legacy REIT Mezz Borrower, Inc., the incentive management fee interests in CT Opportunity Partners I, L.P., as well as its retained subordinate interests in three Capital Trust sponsored CDOs.

Evercore Partners served as financial advisor to Capital Trust and its independent special committee throughout the strategic alternatives review process and has issued a fairness opinion. Paul Hastings LLP and special


counsels, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Venable LLP, represented Capital Trust in the transaction. Blackstone was represented by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and special counsel Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

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About Capital Trust

Capital Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CT) is a real estate finance company that specializes in credit sensitive structured financial products. To date, Capital Trust’s investment programs have focused primarily on loans and securities backed by commercial real estate assets. The Company is externally managed by BREDS / CT Advisor L.L.C., a subsidiary of Blackstone and is a real estate investment trust traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CT.” Capital Trust is headquartered in New York City.

About Blackstone

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) is one of the world’s leading investment and advisory firms. Blackstone seeks to create positive economic impact and long-term value for its investors, the companies they invest in, the companies they advise and the broader global economy. Blackstone does this through the commitment of their extraordinary people and flexible capital. Their alternative asset management businesses include the management of private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge fund solutions, credit-oriented funds and closed-end mutual funds. Blackstone also provides various financial advisory services, including financial and strategic advisory, restructuring and reorganization advisory and fund placement services. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements relating to future financial results and business prospects. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the potential failure to obtain required shareholder approval, the failure of closing conditions to be satisfied and the possibility that the definitive agreement will not be consummated, the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the transaction contemplated by the definitive agreement will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period, the possibility that Capital Trust will be unable to resume its business as anticipated, the risk that Capital Trust’s management team will not be integrated successfully into the Blackstone business, the potential for disruption in CTIMCO’s relationship with private equity investors resulting from the consummation of the transaction, the performance of Capital Trust’s investments, the timing of collections, its capability to repay indebtedness as it comes due, competition for servicing and investment management assignments, its ability to originate investments, the availability of capital and Capital Trust’s tax status, as well as other risks indicated from time to time in Capital Trust’s Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the SEC. Capital Trust and Blackstone assume no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events or circumstances.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Douglas Armer

darmer@capitaltrust.com

(212) 655-0220

 

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