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

July 6, 2015

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

 

 

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Maryland

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

001-37420  
(Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

54 West 40 th Street, 10 th Floor

New York, NY 10018

(Address Of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (212) 355-7800

3333 Beverly Road

Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179

(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))

 

 

 


INTRODUCTORY NOTE

On July 7, 2015, Sears Holdings Corporation (“Sears Holdings”) completed the previously announced transactions in which it sold 234 of its owned properties, one of its ground leased properties and its fifty percent (50%) joint venture interests in 31 properties to Seritage Growth Properties, L.P, a Delaware limited partnership (“Operating Partnership”) and the operating subsidiary of the recently formed Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (“Seritage Growth”), for cash proceeds of $2.72 billion, with the substantial majority of such properties being leased back to Sears Holdings (the “Transaction”). The Transaction was partially financed through the distribution of subscription rights to purchase Class A common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A common shares”), to holders of shares of common stock of Sears Holdings (the “Rights Offering”). Additional financing for the Transaction was generated through private placements of Class A common shares to subsidiaries of Simon Property Group, Inc. (“Simon”) and General Growth Properties, Inc. (“GGP”), as well as agreements with ESL Partners, L.P. and Edward S. Lampert (together with ESL Partners, L.P., “ESL”) and Fairholme Capital Management L.L.C. (“Fairholme”) to exchange a portion of their subscription rights and the exercise price therefor for, in the case of ESL, limited partnership units of Operating Partnership and Class B non-economic common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class B non-economic shares”), and, in the case of Fairholme, Class C non-voting common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class C non-voting shares”).

The Rights Offering expired on July 2, 2015. According to reports from Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the subscription agent for the Rights Offering, the offering was 97.3% subscribed on a primary basis and 125.5% subscribed including oversubscriptions. As a result of subscriptions in the Rights Offering and the agreements with ESL, Fairholme, Simon and GGP, Seritage Growth issued 24,583,557 Class A common shares, 1,589,020 Class B non-economic shares and 6,790,635 Class C non-voting shares. In addition, ESL was issued limited partnership units of Operating Partnership representing 43.5% of the outstanding units, with Seritage Growth holding the remaining 56.5% and the general partnership interest.

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Transition Services Agreement

On July 7, 2015, Operating Partnership and Sears Holdings Management Corporation (“SHMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings, entered into a transition services agreement (the “Transition Services Agreement”). Pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement, SHMC will provide certain limited services to Operating Partnership during the period from the closing of the Transaction through the 18-month anniversary of the closing, unless Operating Partnership terminates a service as described below. The services to be provided to Operating Partnership by SHMC include specified facilities management, accounting, treasury, tax, information technology, risk management, human resources and related support services. Under the terms of the Transition Services Agreement, the scope and level of the facilities management services will be substantially consistent with the scope and level of the services provided in connection with the operation of the transferred properties held by Sears Holdings prior to the closing of the Transaction. Operating Partnership will pay SHMC a specified fee for each of these services during the term of the Transition Services Agreement. Operating Partnership has the option to terminate each of the services provided under the Transition Services Agreement at any time with at least 60 days’ prior written notice, and SHMC will also have the option to terminate the services under certain circumstances. The liability of SHMC under the Transition Services Agreement for the services it provides will generally be limited.

The foregoing description of the Transition Services Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Transition Services Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Partnership Agreement

On July 7, 2015, Seritage Growth and ESL entered into the agreement of limited partnership of Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”). Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, as the sole general partner of Operating Partnership, Seritage Growth exercises exclusive and complete responsibility and discretion in its day-to-day management and control of Operating Partnership, and may not be removed as general partner by the limited partners. Certain transactions, including mergers, consolidations, conversions or other combinations or extraordinary transactions or transactions that constitute a “change of control” of Seritage Growth or Operating Partnership, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, require the approval of the partners (other than Seritage Growth and entities controlled by it) holding a majority of all the outstanding partnership units held by all partners (other than Seritage Growth and entities controlled by it). In addition, Seritage Growth may not voluntarily withdraw as the general partner


of Operating Partnership or transfer or assign all or any portion of its interest in Operating Partnership (other than a transfer to a wholly owned subsidiary of Seritage Growth) without such approval of the partners. A limited partner also may not sell, assign, encumber or otherwise dispose of its partnership units without Seritage Growth’s consent during the 12-month period following such limited partner’s acquisition of such partnership units, other than to certain family members, charities, trusts or entities that are controlled by the limited partner.

The Partnership Agreement provides that holders of partnership units are generally entitled to receive distributions on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective partnership units (subject to the rights of the holders of any class of preferred partnership interests that may be authorized and issued after this offering). Limited partners also have the right to acquire additional partnership units to allow them to maintain their relative ownership interests in the Operating Partnership if it issues additional partnership units to Seritage Growth. In addition, each limited partner has the right to require Operating Partnership to redeem part or all of its partnership units that it has held for at least 12 months in exchange for cash. Alternatively, at the election of Seritage Growth, the partnership units may be redeemed for Class A common shares on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustments as provided for in the Partnership Agreement. The Partnership Agreement also permits ESL to transfer its partnership units to one or more underwriters to be exchanged for Class A common shares in connection with certain dispositions in order to achieve the same effect as would occur if ESL were to exchange its partnership units for Class A common shares.

In addition, the Partnership Agreement provides that Seritage Growth, its trustees, officers and employees, officers and employees of Operating Partnership and any other persons whom Seritage Growth may designate are indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The foregoing description of the Partnership Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Partnership Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement

On July 7, 2015, Seritage Growth and ESL entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The Registration Rights Agreement provides for, among other things, demand registration rights and piggyback registration rights for ESL. Seritage Growth is also required to indemnify ESL against losses suffered by it or certain other persons based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement or similar filing.

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 4.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Master Lease

On July 7, 2015, subsidiaries of Seritage Growth (referred to together with Seritage Growth, for purposes of this description of the Master Lease, as “Seritage”) and subsidiaries of Sears Holdings (referred to together with Sears Holdings, for purposes of this description of the Master Lease, as “Sears Holdings”) entered in to a Master Lease Agreement (the “Master Lease”), pursuant to which most of the properties sold to Seritage in the Transaction (the “Acquired Properties”) and the space therein has been leased under the Master Lease to Sears Holdings (which guaranties the obligations of any subsidiary pursuant to the Master Lease). The Master Lease generally is a triple net lease with respect to all space which is leased thereunder to Sears Holdings, subject to proportionate sharing by Sears Holdings for repair and maintenance charges, real property taxes, insurance and other costs and expenses which are common to both the space leased by Sears Holdings and other space occupied by unrelated third-party tenants in the same or other buildings pursuant to third-party leases, space which is recaptured pursuant to Seritage’s recapture rights described below and all other space which is constructed on the properties. Sears Holdings’ obligation to pay rent and all other amounts payable under the Master Lease are absolute and unconditional, subject only to certain exceptions provided in the Master Lease. The following description of the Master Lease does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Master Lease, which is included as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.


Term and Renewals

The Master Lease has an initial term of 10 years. Sears Holdings has three options for five-year renewals of the term and a final option for a four-year renewal. The Master Lease is a unitary, non-divisible lease as to all properties, with Sears Holdings’ obligations as to each property cross-defaulted with all obligations of Sears Holdings with respect to all other properties.

Rental Amounts and Escalators

The aggregate rent for all of the Acquired Properties is initially approximately $134 million. In each of the initial and first two renewal terms, after the first lease year, the annual rent will be increased by 2% per annum (cumulative and compounded) for each lease year over the rent for the immediately preceding lease year. For the third and fourth renewal options, rent for the renewal periods will be set at the commencement of the renewal period at a fair market rent determined based on a customary third-party appraisal process, taking into account all the terms of the Master Lease and other relevant factors, but in no event will the renewal rent be less than the rent payable in the immediately preceding lease year.

Seritage may at its election, for administrative, technical or other reasons (including facilitating sale or transfer of properties) from time to time separate and remove from the Master Lease any of the leased premises and cause Sears Holdings to enter into new leases for such premises. In such cases, the rent will be adjusted under the Master Lease to reflect the removal of such leased premises, and the new leases will be for the rent attributable to the removed premises, and for the remaining term and otherwise on the same terms and conditions as the Master Lease. If the lessor under any new leases is Sears Holdings or an affiliate, such new leases will be cross-defaulted with the Master Lease, but not otherwise.

Recapture Rights

Seritage will, upon compliance with a prescribed notice period, have a recapture right with respect to approximately 50% of the space within the stores (subject to certain exceptions), in addition to all of any automotive care centers which are free-standing or attached as “appendages” to the Stores, and all outparcels or outlots, as well as certain portions of parking areas and common areas, at the Acquired Properties leased to Sears Holdings under the Master Lease, except as set forth in the Master Lease, for no additional consideration. Upon exercising Seritage’s recapture right with respect to a property, Sears Holdings will be required after a certain time period to vacate such recaptured space, and Seritage must pay all costs and expenses for the separation of the recaptured space from the remaining Sears Holdings space and will then have the ability to reconfigure and rent such space for Seritage’s own account to one or more third-party tenants Seritage select and on terms Seritage determine. No additional consideration will be paid to Sears Holdings in the event Seritage exercise its rights pursuant to the recapture right. The remaining space retained by Sears Holdings will be configured and located such that Sears Holdings will not be materially disadvantaged in relation to the recaptured space, and Seritage will bear all costs of reconfiguration and division of the spaces and relocation of Sears Holdings in the remaining space. After recapture of any space, Sears Holdings will thereafter cease to pay Seritage rent and other charges for the recaptured space, and the reduced rent and other charges payable by Sears Holdings under the Master Lease will be determined on a pro-rata basis based on the proportion of the retained space to the space recaptured. While Seritage will be permitted to exercise Seritage’s recapture rights all at once or in stages as to any particular property, Seritage will not be permitted to recapture all or substantially all of the space subject to the recapture right at more than 50 Acquired Properties (other than certain Sears automotive care centers and other spaces) during any lease year.

With respect to 21 stores to be identified in the Master Lease, Seritage will have the further additional right to recapture 100% of the space within the Sears Holdings main store located on each of 21 identified Acquired Properties (excluding from such space all free-standing and “appendage” automotive care centers and all other free-standing buildings located on such Acquired Properties, which are subject to a separate recapture right as described above), effectively terminating the Master Lease with respect to such properties. Seritage will be required to provide notice and make a lease termination payment to Sears Holdings equal to the greater of an amount specified in the Master Lease or an amount equal to 10 times the adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization attributable to such space within the Sears Holdings main store which is not attributable to the space subject to the separate 50% recapture right discussed above for the 12-month period ending at the end of the fiscal quarter ending immediately prior to recapturing such space. In the event of such a recapture of an entire property and any subsequent re-leasing of such property, if the property has store space that is suitable for a Sears Holdings store that Seritage will be seeking to lease to a third party, Sears Holdings will have the right of first offer to lease such store space on terms set forth in the Master Lease. The 50 property limit on the exercise of recapture rights during any lease year does not apply to this additional recapture right.


Sears Holdings’ Termination Rights

The Master Lease also provides for certain rights of Sears Holdings to terminate the Master Lease with respect to Acquired Properties that cease to be profitable for operation by Sears Holdings. Specifically, Sears Holdings also has the right to terminate the Master Lease with respect to an Acquired Property where the fixed rent (together with all other costs and expenses payable under the Master Lease) attributable to such Acquired Property exceeds Sears Holdings’ earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent costs attributable thereto for any 12-month period beginning after the commencement of the lease and ending at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter. In order to terminate the Master Lease with respect to a certain property, Sears Holdings must make a payment to Seritage of an amount equal to one year of rent (together with taxes and other expenses) with respect to such property. Such termination right, however, is limited so that it will not have the effect of reducing the fixed rent under the Master Lease by more than 20% per annum. Once a property qualifies for this termination right, if the 20% annual limitation would prevent the exercise of the termination right, such property continues to be eligible for termination in the next period.

Other Provisions

Sears Holdings is obligated to continuously operate a Sears Holdings store (or such store as may be re-branded and/or used for other retail uses pursuant to the Master Lease) of a minimum size specified in the Master Lease on each of the Acquired Properties where such stores operate currently (except for reasonable periods required for alterations or restoration of damage), subject to the recapture and termination rights provided above. The Master Lease also contains customary provisions contained in master triple net leases governing the leasing of retail properties, including, among others, with respect to maintenance, restoration (and certain termination rights) in the event of casualty and condemnation, cross-default with respect to each property in the separate Master Leases, indemnification and assumption of risk of loss, alterations and insurance. The Master Lease contains customary provisions for the protection of mortgagees, including a provision requiring the parties to enter into a subordination, nondisturbance and attornment agreement.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

The information set forth under the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form 8-K related to the acquisition of properties and certain joint venture interests is incorporated by reference in this Item 2.01.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

On July 7, 2015, Seritage SRC Finance LLC and Seritage KMT Finance LLC, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of Operating Partnership, as borrowers (together, the “Mortgage Borrower”), and certain other subsidiaries of Operating Partnership, entered into a Loan Agreement (the “Mortgage Loan Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and H/2 SO III Funding LLC as lenders. Also on July 7, 2015, Seritage SRC Mezzanine Finance LLC and Seritage KMT Mezzanine Finance LLC, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of Operating Partnership and the parent companies of the Mortgage Borrower, as borrowers (together, the “Mezzanine Borrower”), entered into a Loan Agreement (the “Mezzanine Loan Agreement” and together with the Mortgage Loan Agreement, the “Loan Agreements”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and H/2 Special Opportunities III Corp., as lenders.

Pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Agreement, the Mortgage Borrowers borrowed $925 million, the net proceeds of which were distributed to subsidiaries of Sears Holdings in connection with the Transaction. Pursuant to the Mezzanine Loan Agreement, the Mezzanine Borrowers borrowed $236 million, the net proceeds of which were also distributed to subsidiaries of Sears Holdings in connection with the Transaction. The Mortgage Loan Agreement also provides for a $100 million future funding facility which must be drawn by the Mortgage Borrower by June 2017 to finance development activities at the properties acquired by Seritage Growth in the Transaction. The advances under the Loan Agreements do not amortize and will mature July 2019, subject to two one year extension options at the applicable borrower’s election upon satisfaction of certain conditions. Amounts borrowed and repaid under the Loan Agreements will not be available to be re-borrowed.

All obligations under the Mortgage Loan Agreement are secured by mortgages on, and other security interests in, substantially all of the assets of the Mortgage Borrower, including all of the properties acquired in the Transaction, and by a pledge of the joint venture interests acquired in the Transaction. All obligations under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement are secured by a pledge of the equity interests in the Mortgage Borrower and in the subsidiaries of Operating Partnership that own the joint venture interests acquired in the Transaction. Seritage Growth and Operating Partnership have executed a recourse carve-out guaranty of the obligations under each of the Loan Agreements as well as a limited completion guaranty with respect to future redevelopment projects undertaken by the Mortgage Borrower at the Acquired Properties.


Interest on the loans under the Mortgage Loan Agreement and Mezzanine Loan will accrue at a rate of LIBOR plus a weighted average spread of 465 basis points. In connection with entry into the Loan Agreements, we have entered into a LIBOR interest rate cap agreement at an agreed strike rate.

The Loan Agreements contain affirmative and negative covenants, restrictions and events of default customary for commercial real estate mortgage and mezzanine loans. Such restrictions include cash flow sweep provisions based on certain metrics of our financial and operating performance. The Loan Agreements also include certain representations and warranties and covenants regarding the ownership and operation of the properties acquired in the Transaction and standard special purpose bankruptcy remote entity covenants designed to preserve the separateness of the borrowers from Seritage Growth and the Operating Partnership.

The foregoing descriptions of the Loan Agreements do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Loan Agreements, which are included as Exhibit 10.3 and Exhibit 10.4 hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

On July 7, 2015, Seritage Growth issued and sold to a subsidiary of General Growth Properties, Inc. 1,125,760 Class A common shares at a price of $29.58 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $33.3 million, in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

In addition, on July 7, 2015, Seritage Growth issued and sold to a subsidiary of Simon Property Group, Inc. 1,125,760 Class A common shares at a price of $29.58 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $33.3 million, in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

Furthermore, on July 7, 2015, Seritage Growth issued and sold to ESL 1,589,020 Class B common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class B common shares”) in connection with an exchange of cash and subscription rights for Class B common shares and limited partnership units of the Operating Partnership in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof. The aggregate purchase price for the Class B common shares purchased by ESL was $858,070.80.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders

The information set forth in the Introductory Note and Item 5.03 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

Equity Grants to CEO

On July 7, 2015, Seritage Growth granted Benjamin Schall, its Chief Executive Officer, certain “sign-on awards” or “annual equity grants,” as applicable, as required under Mr. Schall’s employment agreement with Seritage Growth and the Operating Partnership, dated April 17, 2015 (which agreement is described in Seritage Growth’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, as amended (File No. 333-203163)). Generally, the time-vesting awards vest in equal installments over three years, and the performance-vesting awards will become vested subject to achievement of certain performance metrics to be established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Trustees of Seritage Growth (the “Committee”) over a three-year performance period. The sign-on awards granted to Mr. Schall consist of (i) 67,613.25 shares of restricted Class A common shares, 25% of which were immediately vested on the date of grant, and (ii) a performance-vesting restricted Class A common share award covering a target number of shares equal to 101,419.87. Mr. Schall’s annual equity grants for fiscal year 2015 consist of (x) a time-vesting restricted share unit award covering 21,551.72 Class A common shares and (y) a performance-vesting restricted Class A common share award covering a target number of shares equal to 21,551.72. With respect to Mr. Schall’s performance-vesting awards, the Committee may elect to convert such awards into equity awards of the Operating Partnership, and will set performance metrics required to be achieved in order for Mr. Schall to earn his performance-vesting awards, after the date of grant.

The foregoing description of the “sign-on awards” and “annual equity grants” is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Seritage Growth Properties Restricted Share Agreement, Form of Seritage Growth Properties Sign-On P-RSU Restricted Share Agreement, Form of Seritage Growth Properties Time-Vesting Restricted Share Unit Agreement, and Form of Seritage Growth Properties Annual P-RSU Restricted Share Agreement, respectively, which are included Exhibits 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 and 10.9, respectively, hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.


Hiring of Chief Financial Officer

On July 10, 2015, Seritage Growth announced that Brian Dickman will commence employment as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Seritage Growth no later than August 17, 2015. The employment agreement between Seritage Growth and Mr. Dickman on July 6, 2015, which will remain in effect indefinitely, unless otherwise terminated.

Annual Compensation. Mr. Dickman’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $425,000 and an annual cash bonus with a target of 75% of base salary and a maximum of 100% of base salary, with a guarantee that Mr. Dickman’s 2015 annual cash bonus will be at least $318,750 with no proration. The employment agreement also provides for an annual equity award grant covering either shares of Seritage Growth common stock or limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership. The agreement also provides that this annual equity award grant will have a target aggregate grant date fair market value equal to 75% of Mr. Dickman’s annual base salary and a maximum aggregate grant date fair market value equal to 125% of Mr. Dickman’s annual base salary, with a guarantee that Mr. Dickman’s 2015 annual RSU grant will have a value equal to at least $318,750 with no proration. 50% of the annual equity grant will consist of time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and 50% will consist of performance-vesting RSUs, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions established by the Committee.

Sign-On Bonus and Sign-On Equity Awards . Mr. Dickman is entitled to a one-time sign-on bonus of $250,000, payable within 30 days of his start date. Within 60 days following the closing date of the Rights Offering, Mr. Dickman will receive a sign-on equity grant consisting of restricted stock units that relate to Seritage Growth common stock or limited partnership interests in the Operating Partnership. The sign-on RSUs will have a grant date fair market value of $250,000, of which 50% will consist of time-vesting RSUs and 50% will consist of performance-vesting RSUs, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee. In the event of a termination by Seritage Growth for cause or a resignation by Mr. Dickman without good reason during the 12 months following his start date, the sign-on bonus must be repaid immediately and the sign-on equity awards will be forfeited.

Termination due to Death or Disability . Upon a termination of employment due to death or disability, Mr. Dickman is entitled to (i) a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination, based on actual performance for the full year of termination (provided that the 2015 annual bonus is guaranteed at $318,750 if termination occurs during 2015) and (ii) vesting of sign-on and annual RSU awards, provided that the vesting in respect of any performance-vesting equity awards shall be based on performance through the date of termination. In the case of disability, Mr. Dickman is also entitled to 12 months of subsidized COBRA coverage.

Termination without Cause; Resignation with Good Reason. Upon a termination by Seritage Growth without “cause” or resignation by Mr. Dickman with “good reason,” Mr. Dickman shall be entitled to (i) base salary continuation for 12 months, (ii) a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination, based on actual performance for the full year of termination (provided that the 2015 annual bonus is guaranteed at $318,750 if termination occurs during 2015), (iii) 12 months of subsidized COBRA coverage, (iv) vesting of the sign-on RSU awards, and (v) prorated vesting of annual RSU awards based on the number of days worked during the applicable vesting period. Performance for any performance-vesting equity awards that vest as a result of such termination will be determined based on actual performance through the date of termination.

Housing and Relocation Expenses . Mr. Dickman will be provided with corporate housing in New York for an agreed upon period. Upon permanent relocation, Mr. Dickman will be reimbursed for relocation expenses in accordance with Seritage Growth’s policy.

Restrictive Covenants . During his employment with Seritage Growth and for 12 months thereafter, Mr. Dickman is subject to non-competition and non-solicitation covenants. Mr. Dickman is also subject to a perpetual confidentiality covenant.

The foregoing summary of Mr. Dickman’s employment agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to his employment agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.10 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

On July 6, 2015, Mr. Dickman entered into a letter agreement with Seritage Growth and Operating Partnership pursuant to which Operating Partnership agreed to be the primary employer and jointly and severally liable for Seritage Growth’s liabilities and obligations under Mr. Dickman’s employment agreement (excluding the agreement to deliver Seritage Growth equity). In addition, all references to Seritage Growth in Mr. Dickman’s employment agreement will also be deemed to refer to Operating Partnership.


Prior to joining Seritage Growth, Mr. Dickman, age 39, served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Agree Realty Corporation (NYSE: ADC) (“Agree”), where he was responsible for all corporate finance, accounting, financial reporting, treasury, capital markets and investor relations activities. He joined Agree in February 2014. Prior to joining Agree, Mr. Dickman was a real estate investment banker at RBC Capital Markets from April 2012 to February 2014, Barclays from September 2008 to March 2012 and Lehman Brothers from August 2005 to September 2008.

 

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

On July 6, 2015, Seritage Growth amended and restated its declaration of trust (the “Articles of Amendment and Restatement”) and bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”). A description of the material provisions of the Articles of Amendment and Restatement and Amended and Restated Bylaws can be found in the section entitled “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Seritage Growth’s Declaration of Trust and Bylaws” in Seritage Growth’s prospectus dated June 9, 2015 and filed on June 10, 2015 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act, relating to Seritage Growth’s Registration Statement on Form S-11, as amended (File No. 333-203163), which description is incorporated herein by reference.

The foregoing description of the Articles of Amendment and Restatement and the Amended and Restated Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Articles of Amendment and Restatement and the Amended and Restated Bylaws, respectively, which are included as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit 3.1     Articles of Amendment and Restatement
Exhibit 3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws
Exhibit 4.1 Registration Rights Agreement by and among Seritage Growth Properties, ESL Investments, Inc., and Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.1 Transition Services Agreement by and between Sears Holdings Management Corporation and Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.2 Agreement of Limited Partnership of Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.3 Master Lease by and among Seritage SRC Finance LLC, Seritage KMT Finance LLC, Kmart Operations, LLC, and Sears Operations, LLC, dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.4 Mortgage Loan Agreement by and among Seritage SRC Finance LLC, Seritage KMT Finance LLC, certain other subsidiaries of Operating Partnership, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and H/2 SO III Funding LLC, dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.5 Mezzanine Loan Agreement by and among Seritage SRC Mezzanine Finance LLC, Seritage KMT Mezzanine Finance LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and H/2 Special Opportunities III Corp., dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.6 Seritage Growth Properties Restricted Share Agreement
Exhibit 10.7 Form of Seritage Growth Properties Sign-On P-RSU Restricted Share Agreement
Exhibit 10.8 Form of Seritage Growth Properties Time-Vesting Restricted Share Unit Agreement
Exhibit 10.9 Form of Seritage Growth Properties Annual P-RSU Restricted Share Agreement
Exhibit 10.10 Employment Agreement with Brian Dickman, dated as of July 6, 2015.


SIGNATURE

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

 

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES
Dated: July 10, 2015 /s/Matthew Fernand
By: Matthew Fernand
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit 3.1     Articles of Amendment and Restatement
Exhibit 3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws
Exhibit 4.1 Registration Rights Agreement by and among Seritage Growth Properties, ESL Investments, Inc., and Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.1 Transition Services Agreement by and between Sears Holdings Management Corporation and Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.2 Agreement of Limited Partnership of Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.3 Master Lease by and among Seritage SRC Finance LLC, Seritage KMT Finance LLC, Kmart Operations, LLC, and Sears Operations, LLC, dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.4 Mortgage Loan Agreement by and among Seritage SRC Finance LLC, Seritage KMT Finance LLC, certain other subsidiaries of Operating Partnership, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and H/2 SO III Funding LLC, dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.5 Mezzanine Loan Agreement by and among Seritage SRC Mezzanine Finance LLC, Seritage KMT Mezzanine Finance LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and H/2 Special Opportunities III Corp., dated as of July 7, 2015
Exhibit 10.6 Seritage Growth Properties Restricted Share Agreement
Exhibit 10.7 Form of Seritage Growth Properties Sign-On P-RSU Restricted Share Agreement
Exhibit 10.8 Form of Seritage Growth Properties Time-Vesting Restricted Share Unit Agreement
Exhibit 10.9 Form of Seritage Growth Properties Annual P-RSU Restricted Share Agreement
Exhibit 10.10 Employment Agreement with Brian Dickman, dated as of July 6, 2015.

Exhibit 3.1

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

FIRST : Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Trust”) formed under Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, desires to amend and restate its Declaration of Trust as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended and restated.

SECOND : The following provisions are all the provisions of the Declaration of Trust currently in effect and as hereinafter amended and restated:

ARTICLE I

FORMATION

The Trust is a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (“Title 8”). The Trust shall not be deemed to be a general partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, joint stock company or a corporation but nothing herein shall preclude the Trust from being treated for tax purposes as an association or real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

ARTICLE II

NAME

The name of the Trust (the “Trust”) is:

Seritage Growth Properties

Under circumstances in which the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees” or “Board”) determines that the use of the name of the Trust is not practicable, the Trust may use any other designation or name for the Trust.


ARTICLE III

PURPOSES AND POWERS

Section 3.1 Purposes . The purposes for which the Trust is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity for which real estate investment trusts may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereinafter in force including, without limitation, to invest in and to acquire, hold, manage, administer, control and dispose of property, including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code (a “REIT”).

Section 3.2 Powers . The Trust shall have all of the powers granted to real estate investment trusts by Title 8 or any successor statute and all other powers set forth in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) which are not inconsistent with law and are appropriate to promote and attain the purposes set forth in the Declaration of Trust.

ARTICLE IV

RESIDENT AGENT

The name of the resident agent of the Trust in the State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, whose post address is 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. The resident agent is a Maryland corporation. The Trust may have such offices or places of business within or outside the State of Maryland as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Section 5.1 Powers . Subject to any express limitations contained in the Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws of the Trust (the “Bylaws”), (a) the business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees and (b) the Board shall have full, exclusive and absolute power, control and authority over any and all property and business of the Trust. The Board may take any action as in its sole judgment and discretion is necessary or appropriate to conduct the business and affairs of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust shall be

 

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construed with the presumption in favor of the grant of power and authority to the Board. Any construction of the Declaration of Trust or determination made by the Board concerning its powers and authority hereunder shall be conclusive. The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board of Trustees included in the Declaration of Trust or in the Bylaws shall in no way be construed or deemed by inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit the powers conferred upon the Board or the Trustees of the Trust (hereinafter the “Trustees”) under the general laws of the State of Maryland or any other applicable laws.

The Board, without any action by the shareholders of the Trust, shall have and may exercise, on behalf of the Trust, without limitation, the power to terminate the status under the Code of the Trust as a REIT; to determine that compliance with any restrictions or limitations on ownership and transfers of Shares (as defined below) set forth in Article VII of the Declaration of Trust is no longer required in order for the Trust to qualify as a REIT; to adopt, amend and repeal the Bylaws; to elect officers in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws; to solicit proxies from holders of Shares; and to do any other acts and deliver any other documents necessary or appropriate to the foregoing powers.

Section 5.2 Number and Classification . The number of Trustees initially shall be six, which number may be increased or decreased only by the Board of Trustees pursuant to the Bylaws. No reduction in the number of Trustees shall cause the removal of any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his or her term. Each Trustee shall have the qualifications, if any, specified in the Bylaws. The names of the Trustees who shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:

David Fawer

Edward S. Lampert

Kenneth Lombard

John McClain

Benjamin Schall

Thomas Steinberg

 

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The Trustees shall be elected in the manner provided in the Bylaws and, subject to the second succeeding paragraph, any vacancy on the Board of Trustees may be filled in the manner provided in the Bylaws. It shall not be necessary to list in the Declaration of Trust the names and addresses of any Trustees hereinafter elected.

On the first date after which the Trust has more than one holder of Common Shares (as defined below), the Trustees (other than any Trustee elected solely by holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares (as defined below)) shall be classified, with respect to the terms for which they severally serve, into three classes, one class to serve initially for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders, another class to serve initially for a term expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting of shareholders and another class to serve initially for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of shareholders, with the Trustees of each class to serve until their successors are duly elected and qualify. At each annual meeting of shareholders, the successors to the class of Trustees whose term expires at such meeting shall be elected to serve for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders held in the third year following the year of their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualify.

The Trust elects, at such time as it becomes eligible to make the election provided for under Section 3-802 of the Maryland General Corporation Law to make the election provided for under Section 3-804(c) of the Maryland General Corporation Law, that, except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the terms of any class or series of Shares, any and all vacancies on the Board of Trustees may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Trustees in office, even if the remaining Trustees do not constitute a quorum, and any Trustee elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the trusteeship in which such vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Section 5.3 Removal . Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares to elect or remove one or more Trustees, a Trustee may be removed at

 

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any time, but only for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of the holders of Shares having not less than 75% of the voting power of all Shares then-outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of Trustees. For the purpose of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean, with respect to any particular Trustee, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such Trustee caused demonstrable, material harm to the Trust through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.

Section 5.4 Determinations by Board . The determination as to any of the following matters, made by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Trustees shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Trust and every holder of Shares: the amount of the net income of the Trust for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, acquisition of Shares or the payment of other distributions on Shares; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, cash flow, funds from operations, adjusted funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created or shall have been set aside, paid or discharged); any interpretation or resolution of any ambiguity with respect to any provision of the Declaration of Trust (including any of the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of Shares) or of the Bylaws; the number of Shares of any class or series of the Trust; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Trust or of any Shares; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Trust; any interpretation of the terms and conditions of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other entity; the compensation of Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Trust or required or permitted by applicable law, the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Trustees.

 

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Section 5.5 Business Opportunities . If any Trustee or officer of the Trust who is also a director, officer, employee or agent of Sears Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation, ESL Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Fairholme Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, the “Sponsor”), or any of the Sponsor’s affiliates (each, a “Sponsor Affiliate”), acquires knowledge of a potential business opportunity, the Trust renounces, on its behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries, any potential interest or expectation in, or right to be offered or to participate in, such business opportunity, unless it is a Retained Opportunity (as defined below). Accordingly, except for Retained Opportunities, (a) no Trustee who is also a director, officer, employee or agent of the Sponsor or a Sponsor Affiliate is required to present, communicate or offer any business opportunity to the Trust or any of its subsidiaries and (b) such Trustee, on his or her own behalf or on behalf of the Sponsor or a Sponsor Affiliate, shall have the right to hold and exploit any business opportunity, or to direct, recommend, offer, sell, assign or otherwise transfer such business opportunity to any person or entity other than the Trust and its subsidiaries.

The taking by a Trustee who is also a director, officer, employee or agent of the Sponsor or a Sponsor Affiliate for himself or herself, or the offering or other transfer to another person or entity, of any potential business opportunity, other than a Retained Opportunity, whether pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or otherwise, shall not constitute or be construed or interpreted as (a) an act or omission of the Trustee committed in bad faith or as the result of active or deliberate dishonesty or (b) receipt by the Trustee of an improper benefit, or an improper personal benefit, in money, property, services or otherwise.

The term “Retained Opportunity” shall mean any business opportunity of which a Trustee who is also a director, officer, employee or agent of the Sponsor or a Sponsor Affiliate first becomes aware solely as a direct result of his or her capacity as a Trustee or officer of the Trust and (a) which the Trust is financially able to undertake, (b) which the Trust is not prohibited by contract or applicable law from pursuing or undertaking, (c) which, from its nature, is in the line of the Trust’s business, (d) which is of practical advantage to the Trust and (e) in which the Trust has an interest or a reasonable expectancy.

 

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Section 5.6 REIT Qualification . If the Trust elects to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT, the Board of Trustees may, in its sole and absolute discretion, take such lawful actions as it deems necessary or appropriate to preserve the qualification of the Trust as a REIT; however, if the Board of Trustees determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the Board of Trustees may revoke or otherwise terminate the Trust’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board of Trustees, in its sole and absolute discretion, also may (a) determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on ownership and transfers of Shares set forth in Article VII is no longer required for REIT qualification and (b) make any other determination or take any other action pursuant to Article VII.

ARTICLE VI

SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

Section 6.1 Authorized Shares . The beneficial interest of the Trust shall be divided into shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”). The Trust has authority to issue 100,000,000 class A common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (“Class A Common Shares”), 5,000,000 class B common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (“Class B Common Shares”), 50,000,000 class C common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (“Class C Common Shares” and, together with Class A Common Shares and the Class B Common Shares, the “Common Shares”), and 10,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Shares”). If Shares of one class or series are classified or reclassified into Shares of another class or series of Shares pursuant to this Article VI, the number of authorized Shares of the former class or series shall be automatically decreased and the number of Shares of the latter class or series shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of Shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of Shares of all classes or series that the Trust has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number

 

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of Shares set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph. The Board of Trustees, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without any action by the shareholders of the Trust, may amend the Declaration of Trust from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of Shares or the number of Shares of any class or series that the Trust has authority to issue.

Section 6.2 Definitions . For the purpose of this Article VI, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Affiliate . The term “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Person . The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, estate, trust, association, joint stock company or other entity or any government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Transfer . The term “Transfer” shall mean any sale, assignment, bequest, conveyance, devise, gift (outright or in trust), pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange, transfer or other disposition or act of alienation, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, of any Class B Common Share or Class C Common Share in a single transaction or series of transactions. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

Section 6.3 Class A Common Shares . Subject to the provisions of Article VII and except as may otherwise be specified in the Declaration of Trust, each Class A Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter upon which holders of Class A Common Shares are entitled to vote. The Board of Trustees may reclassify any unissued Class A Common Shares from time to time into one or more classes or series of Shares. All Class A

 

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Common Shares which shall have been issued and reacquired in any manner by the Trust shall be cancelled automatically and returned to the status of authorized but unissued Class A Common Shares.

Section 6.4 Class B Common Shares . Subject to the provisions of Article VII and except as may otherwise be specified in the Declaration of Trust, the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted and imposed upon the Class B Common Shares are as follows:

Section 6.4.1 No Dividends or Other Distributions . The holders of Class B Common Shares shall not be entitled to any regular or special dividend payments or other distributions from the Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the holders of Class B Common Shares shall not be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared or paid with respect to the Class A Common Shares or any other Shares whether paid in the ordinary course or upon any dissolution, liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), termination or winding up of the Trust.

Section 6.4.2 Voting Rights . The holders of Class B Common Shares shall have the following voting rights:

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4.4 and Article VII and except as may otherwise be specified in the Declaration of Trust, each Class B Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter on which holders of Class A Common Shares are entitled to vote. The Class B Common Shares and Class A Common Shares shall vote together as a single class, and, except as expressly set forth in Section 6.4.6 hereof, the holders of Class B Common Shares shall have no other voting rights as a separate class or other otherwise.

(b) In the event that the Trust shall (i) declare and pay a dividend or other distribution on its outstanding Class A Common Shares in Class A Common Shares, (ii) split or subdivide its outstanding Class A Common Shares or (iii) effect a reverse share split or otherwise combine its outstanding Class A Common Shares into a smaller number of Class A Common Shares, then, in each such case, the number of votes per Class B Common Share to which the holders of Class B Common Shares were entitled immediately prior to the

 

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completion of any such event specified in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holders thereof be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Class A Common Shares issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reverse split or combination and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Class A Common Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to such dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reverse split or combination.

Section 6.4.3 Reclassification of Unissued Class B Common Shares . The Board of Trustees may reclassify any unissued Class B Common Shares from time to time into one or more classes or series of Shares.

Section 6.4.4 Transfers . Upon any Transfer of a Class B Common Share to any Person other than to an Affiliate of the holder of such Class B Common Share, such Class B Common Share shall thereafter entitle the holder thereof to one one-hundredth of a vote it had immediately before such Transfer on each matter on which holders of Class A Common Shares are entitled to vote.

Section 6.4.5 Status of Acquired Class B Common Shares . All Class B Common Shares which shall have been issued and reacquired in any manner by the Trust shall be cancelled automatically and returned to the status of authorized but unissued Class A Common Shares.

Section 6.4.6 Amendment . So long as any Class B Common Shares remain outstanding, the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of Class B Common Shares (voting as a separate class) shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Declaration of Trust so as to materially and adversely affect any right or voting power of the Class B Common Shares. The holders of Class B Common Shares shall have the exclusive power to vote on any of the foregoing matters; provided, however, if such amendment, alteration or repeal affects all holders of Common Shares materially and adversely in the same manner, the separate voting requirement set forth in this Section 6.4.6 shall not be applicable and all holders of Common Shares shall vote together as a single class.

 

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Section 6.5 Class C Common Shares . Subject to the provisions of Article VII and except as may otherwise be specified in the Declaration of Trust, the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted and imposed upon the Class C Common Shares are as follows:

Section 6.5.1 Preferences and Rights . Except as set forth in Sections 6.5.2 and 6.5.3, the Class C Common Shares shall have identical preferences, rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption as the Class A Common Shares.

Section 6.5.2 Dividends or Other Distributions . Subject to the preferential rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Shares, if any, outstanding at any time, the holders of Class C Common Shares, on a per share basis, shall be entitled to regular and special dividend payments and other distributions from the Trust that are identical to those made to the holders of Class A Common Shares, on a per share basis; provided, that, in the event that the Board of Trustees authorizes and the Trust declares a regular or special dividend payment or other distribution in the form of Class A Common Shares, the holders of Class C Common Shares shall be entitled to, and receive, Class C Common Shares in lieu of such Class A Common Shares.

Section 6.5.3. Voting Rights . Holders of the Class C Common Shares shall not have any voting rights except as set forth in Section 6.5.8.

Section 6.5.4 Adjustments . In the event that the Trust shall (i) split or subdivide its outstanding Class A Common Shares or (ii) effect a reverse share split or otherwise combine its outstanding Class A Common Shares into a smaller number of Class A Common Shares, then, in each such case, the number of issued and outstanding Class C Common Shares shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holders thereof be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Class A Common Shares issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reverse split or combination and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Class A Common Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to such dividend, distribution, split, subdivision, reverse split or combination.

 

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Section 6.5.5 Reclassification of Unissued Class C Common Shares . The Board of Trustees may reclassify any unissued Class C Common Shares from time to time into one or more classes or series of Shares.

Section 6.5.6 Transfers .

(a) Upon any Transfer of a Class C Common Share to any Person other than to an Affiliate of the holder of such Class C Common Share, such Class C Common Share shall automatically convert into one Class A Common Share.

(b) Prior to any Transfer of a Class C Common Share to any Person other than to an Affiliate of the holder of such Class C Common Share, the holder of such Class C Common Share shall deliver a written notice (the “Conversion Notice”) of the Class C Common Share(s) to be converted to the office of the transfer agent of the Trust (the “Transfer Agent”) during normal business hours and (if so required by the Trust or the Transfer Agent) an instrument of transfer, in a form satisfactory to the Trust and to the Transfer Agent, duly executed by such holder or his duly authorized attorney, and funds in the amount of any applicable transfer tax (unless provision satisfactory to the Trust is otherwise made therefor), if required pursuant to Section 6.5.6(d).

(c) As promptly as practicable after the delivery of a Conversion Notice and the payment in cash of any amount required by the provisions of Sections 6.5.6(b) and (d), the Trust will deliver or cause to be delivered at the office of the Transfer Agent to or upon the written order of the holder of the Class C Common Share(s) a confirmation of book-entry transfer of Shares representing the number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Class A Common Shares issuable upon such conversion, issued in such name or names as such may direct. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of the delivery of the Conversion Notice, and all rights of such holder shall cease with respect to such Class C Common Share(s) at such time and the

 

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person or persons in whose name or names the Class A Common Share(s) are to be issued shall upon conversion be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder or holders of such Class A Common Share(s) at such time; provided, however, that any delivery of a Conversion Notice and payment on any date when the share transfer books of the Trust shall be closed shall constitute notice to the person or persons in whose name or names the Class A Common Share(s) are to be issued as the record holder or holders thereof for all purposes immediately prior to the close of business on the next succeeding day on which such share transfer books are open.

(d) The person or persons requesting the conversion of the Class C Common Share(s) shall pay to the Trust the amount of any tax which may be payable in respect of any Transfer involved in the issuance of Class A Common Shares in connection with conversion, or shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trust that such tax has been paid.

Section 6.5.7 Status of Acquired Class C Common Shares . All Class C Common Shares which shall have been issued and reacquired in any manner by the Trust shall be cancelled automatically and returned to the status of authorized but unissued Class A Common Shares.

Section 6.5.8 Amendment . So long as any Class C Common Shares remain outstanding, the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of Class C Common Shares (voting as a separate class) shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Declaration of Trust so as to materially and adversely affect any right of the Class C Common Shares. The holders of Class C Common Shares shall have the exclusive power to vote on any of the foregoing matters; provided, however, if such amendment, alteration or repeal affects all holders of Common Shares materially and adversely in the same manner, the separate voting requirement set forth in this Section 6.5.8 shall not be applicable and all holders of Common Shares shall vote together as a single class. Each Class C Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on any proposal subject to this Section 6.5.8.

 

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Section 6.6 Preferred Shares . The Board of Trustees may classify any unissued Preferred Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Preferred Shares of any class or series from time to time, into one or more class or series of Shares.

Section 6.7 Classified or Reclassified Shares . Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified Shares of any class or series, the Board of Trustees by resolution shall (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of Shares; (b) specify the number of Shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set, subject to the provisions of Article VII and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Shares outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Trust to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”). Any of the terms of any class or series of Shares set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 6.7 or otherwise may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Declaration of Trust (including determinations by the Board of Trustees or other facts or events within the control of the Trust) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of Shares is clearly and expressly set forth in the document filed with the SDAT.

Section 6.8 Authorization by Board of Share Issuance . The Board of Trustees may authorize the issuance from time to time of Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration (whether in cash, property, past or future services, obligation for future payment or otherwise) as the Board of Trustees may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a Share split or Share dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws.

Section 6.9 Dividends and Other Distributions . The Board of Trustees may from time to time authorize, and cause the Trust to declare to shareholders, such dividends or other

 

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distributions, in cash or other assets of the Trust or in securities of the Trust or from any other source as the Board of Trustees in its discretion shall determine. The Board of Trustees shall endeavor to cause the Trust to declare and pay such dividends and other distributions as shall be necessary for the Trust to qualify as a REIT; however, shareholders shall have no right to any dividend or other distribution unless and until authorized by the Board and declared by the Trust. The exercise of the powers and rights of the Board of Trustees pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall be subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Declaration of Trust, no determination shall be made by the Board of Trustees nor shall any transaction be entered into by the Trust which would cause any Shares or other beneficial interest in the Trust not to constitute “transferable shares” or “transferable certificates of beneficial interest” under Section 856(a)(2) of the Code or which would cause any distribution to constitute a preferential dividend as described in Section 562(c) of the Code.

Section 6.10 General Nature of Shares . All Shares shall be personal property entitling the shareholders only to those rights provided in the Declaration of Trust. The shareholders shall have no interest in the property of the Trust and shall have no right to compel any partition, division, dividend or distribution of the Trust or of the property of the Trust. The death of a shareholder shall not terminate the Trust or give his or her legal representatives any rights against other shareholders, the Trustees or the property of the Trust. The Trust is entitled to treat as shareholders only those persons in whose names Shares are registered as holders of Shares on the beneficial interest ledger of the Trust.

Section 6.11 Fractional Shares . The Trust may, without the consent or approval of any shareholder, issue fractional Shares, eliminate a fraction of a Share by rounding up or down to a full Share, arrange for the disposition of a fraction of a Share by the person entitled to it, or pay cash for the fair value of a fraction of a Share.

Section 6.12 Declaration of Trust and Bylaws . The rights of all shareholders and the terms of all Shares are subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws. The Board of Trustees shall have the exclusive power to amend the Bylaws.

 

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Section 6.13 Divisions of Shares . Subject to an express provision to the contrary in the terms of any class or series of Shares hereafter authorized, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to divide the outstanding Shares of any class or series, without a vote of shareholders.

ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

Section 7.1 Definitions . For the purpose of this Article VII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Aggregate Share Ownership Limit . The term “Aggregate Share Ownership Limit” shall mean not more than 9.6% (in value or in number, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding Equity Shares, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Trustees in accordance with Section 7.2.8 of the Declaration of Trust. The value and number of the outstanding Equity Shares shall be determined by the Board of Trustees, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof. For the purposes of determining the percentage ownership of Equity Shares by any Person, Equity Shares that may be acquired upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities of the Trust Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by such Person, but not Equity Shares issuable with respect to the conversion, exchange or exercise of securities of the Trust held by other Persons shall be deemed to be outstanding prior to conversion, exchange or exercise.

Beneficial Ownership . The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Equity Shares by a Person, whether the interest in Equity Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) and 856(h)(3) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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

Charitable Beneficiary . The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Charitable Trust as determined pursuant to Section 7.3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.

Charitable Trust . The term “Charitable Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 7.3.1.

Common Share Ownership Limit . The term “Common Share Ownership Limit” shall mean not more than 9.6% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate number of the outstanding Common Shares, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Trustees in accordance with Section 7.2.8 of the Declaration of Trust. The value and number of the outstanding Common Shares shall be determined by the Board of Trustees, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof. For purposes of determining the percentage ownership of Common Shares by any Person, Common Shares that may be acquired upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities of the Trust Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by such Person, but not Common Shares issuable with respect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Trust held by other Persons, shall be deemed to be outstanding prior to conversion, exchange or exercise.

Constructive Ownership . The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Equity Shares by a Person, whether the interest in Equity Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned actually or constructively through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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Equity Shares . The term “Equity Shares” shall mean Shares of all classes or series, including, without limitation, Common Shares and Preferred Shares.

Excepted Holder . The term “Excepted Holder” shall mean a shareholder of the Trust for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by this Article VII or by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 7.2.7.

Excepted Holder Limit . The term “Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by this Article VII or by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 7.2.7 and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7.2.8, the percentage limit established for an Excepted Holder by the Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 7.2.7, provided, however, that the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder shall be 9.8% in value or in number (whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding Equity Shares unless, from the REIT Election Date until the Restriction Termination Date, such Excepted Holder does not Constructively Own an interest in a Tenant of the Trust (or a Tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Trust) that would cause the Trust to Constructively Own more than a 9.8% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such Tenant. The value, voting power and number of the outstanding Equity Shares shall be determined by the Board of Trustees, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.

Exchange . The term “Exchange” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

Initial Date . The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date after which the Trust has more than one holder of Common Shares.

Market Price . The term “Market Price” on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding Equity Shares, the Closing Price for such Equity Shares on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Equity Shares, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Equity Shares, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on

 

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the Exchange or, if such Equity Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such Equity Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Equity Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Equity Shares are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Equity Shares selected by the Board of Trustees or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Equity Shares, the fair market value of Equity Shares, as determined by the Board of Trustees, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.

Person . The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity or any government or agency or political subdivision thereof and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit applies.

Prohibited Owner . The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer (or other event), any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 7.2.1, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in violation of the provisions of Section 7.2.1(a), and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of Equity Shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

 

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REIT Election Date . The term “REIT Election Date” shall mean June 3, 2015 or such other date on which the Trust elects to be taxed as a REIT under the Code.

REIT . The term “REIT” shall mean a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code.

Restriction Termination Date . The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Board of Trustees determines pursuant to Sections 5.1 or 5.6 of the Declaration of Trust that it is no longer in the best interests of the Trust to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of Equity Shares set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Trust to qualify as a REIT.

SDAT . The term “SDAT” shall mean the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.

Tenant . The term “Tenant” shall mean any Person that leases (or subleases) real property from the Trust or an entity owned or controlled by the Trust.

Transfer . The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such action or cause any such event, of Equity Shares or the right to vote or receive dividends on Equity Shares, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option) with respect to Equity Shares, (b) entering into any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of Equity Shares, (c) any sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares or any interest in Equity Shares or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (d) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

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Trustee . The term “Trustee” shall mean the Person unaffiliated with the Trust and a Prohibited Owner, that is appointed by the Trust to serve as trustee of the Charitable Trust.

Section 7.2 Equity Shares .

Section 7.2.1 Ownership Limitations . During the period commencing on the Initial Date and ending on the Restriction Termination Date:

(a) Basic Restrictions .

(i) (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit and (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.

(ii) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares would result in the Trust being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Trust owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a Tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Trust from such Tenant would cause the Trust to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).

(iii) No Person shall Transfer Equity Shares if, as a result of the Transfer, the Equity Shares would be Beneficially Owned (determined without reference to the rules of attribution under Section 544 of the Code) by fewer than 100 Persons.

(iv) No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Equity Shares to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares could result in the Trust failing to qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

(v) No Person shall Constructively Own Equity Shares to the extent that such Constructive Ownership would cause any income of the Trust that would otherwise qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of Section 856(d) of the Code to fail to qualify as such (including, but not limited to, as a result of causing any entity that the Trust intends to treat as an “independent contractor” within the meaning of Section 856(d)(3) of the Code or an “eligible independent contractor” within the meaning of Section 856(d)(9)(A) of the Code to fail to qualify as such).

 

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(b) Transfer in Trust . If any Transfer of Equity Shares or any other event occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning Equity Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1(a),

(i) then that number of Equity Shares the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust for the exclusive benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 7.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares; or

(ii) if the transfer to the Charitable Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 7.2.1(a), then the Transfer of that number of Equity Shares that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 7.2.1(a) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Equity Shares.

(iii) In determining which Equity Shares are to be transferred to a Charitable Trust in accordance with this Section 7.2.1(b) and Section 7.3 hereof, Equity Shares shall be so transferred to a Charitable Trust in such manner that minimizes the aggregate value of the Equity Shares that are transferred to the Charitable Trust (except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 7.2.6).

(iv) To the extent that, upon a transfer of Equity Shares pursuant to this Section 7.2.1(b), a violation of Section 7.2.1(a) would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of Equity Shares by a single Charitable Trust would result in the Equity Shares being beneficially owned (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) by fewer than 100 Persons), the Equity Shares shall be transferred to that number of Charitable Trusts, each having a distinct Charitable Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Charitable Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of Section 7.2.1(a).

 

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Section 7.2.2 Remedies for Breach . If the Board of Trustees shall at any time determine, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof, that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 7.2.1(a) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Equity Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1(a) (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Trustees shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Trust to redeem Equity Shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Trust or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided , however , that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 7.2.1(a) shall automatically result in the transfer to the Charitable Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Trustees.

Section 7.2.3 Notice of Restricted Transfer . Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares that will or may violate Section 7.2.1(a), or any Person who would have owned Equity Shares that resulted in a transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.2.1(b),

 

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shall immediately give written notice to the Trust of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Trust such other information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Trust’s qualification (or, if prior to the REIT Election Date, expected qualification) as a REIT.

Section 7.2.4 Owners Required To Provide Information . From the Initial Date until the Restriction Termination Date:

(a) every Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of more than five percent (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) in number or value of the outstanding Equity Shares (whichever is more restrictive), within 30 days after initially reaching such ownership threshold and within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Trust stating the name and address of such owner, the number of Equity Shares Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such Person shall provide to the Trust such additional information as the Trust may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Trust’s qualification (or, if prior to the REIT Election Date, expected qualification) as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Common Share Ownership Limit; and

(b) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Equity Shares and each Person (including the shareholder of record) who is holding Equity Shares for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Trust such information as the Trust may request in order to determine the Trust’s qualification (or, if prior to the REIT Election Date, expected qualification) as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Common Share Ownership Limit.

 

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Section 7.2.5 Remedies Not Limited . Subject to Sections 5.1 and 5.6 of the Declaration of Trust, nothing contained in this Section 7.2 shall limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Trust in preserving the Trust’s qualification (or, if prior to the REIT Election Date, expected qualification) as a REIT.

Section 7.2.6 Ambiguity . In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 7.2, Section 7.3 or any definition contained in Section 7.1, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 or any such definition with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 7.2 or 7.3 requires an action by the Board of Trustees and the Declaration of Trust fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board of Trustees (which the Board of Trustees may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 7.2.2) acquired Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Equity Shares in violation of Section 7.2.1, such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the Equity Shares which, but for such remedies, would have been actually owned by such Person, and second to Equity Shares which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such Equity Shares based upon the relative number of the Equity Shares held by each such Person.

Section 7.2.7 Exceptions .

(a) Subject to Section 7.2.1(a), the Board of Trustees, in its sole and absolute discretion, may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a Person from the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Common Share Ownership Limit, or both such limits, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if:

(i) the Board of Trustees obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary for the Board to ascertain that no Person’s Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of such Equity Shares will violate Section 7.2.1(a)(ii) or (v);

 

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(ii) such Person does not and agrees that it will not own, actually or Constructively, an interest in a Tenant of the Trust (or a Tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Trust) that would cause the Trust to own, actually or Constructively, more than a 9.8% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such Tenant and the Board of Trustees obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (except to the extent that the Board of Trustees in its sole and absolute discretion determines that the amount of rent derived from such Tenant is sufficiently small that the receipt of rent from such Tenant would not adversely affect the Trust’s ability to qualify as a REIT); and

(iii) such Person agrees that any violation or attempted violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Sections 7.2.1 through 7.2.6) will result in such Equity Shares being automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust in accordance with Sections 7.2.1(b) and 7.3.

(b) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 7.2.7(a), the Board of Trustees may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in its sole and absolute discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Trust’s qualification as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Trustees may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

(c) Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter or placement agent that participates in a public offering or a private placement of Equity Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares) may Beneficially Own or Constructively

 

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Own Equity Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares) in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, the Common Share Ownership Limit or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.

(d) The Board of Trustees may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or the Common Share Ownership Limit, as the case may be. In the event that the Equity Shares Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by the Excepted Holder decrease to equal to or less than the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, or the Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by the Excepted Holder decrease to equal to or less than the Common Share Ownership Limit, then in either such case, the Board of Trustees may deem such Person no longer to be an Excepted Holder, after which such Person’s Excepted Holder Limit shall no longer apply.

Section 7.2.8 Increase or Decrease in Common Share Ownership or Aggregate Share Ownership Limits . Subject to Section 7.2.1(a)(ii) and this Section 7.2.8, the Board of Trustees may from time to time increase or decrease the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and Common Share Ownership Limit; provided, however, that a decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or Common Share Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership of Equity Shares or Common Shares, as the case may be, is in excess of such decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or Common Share Ownership Limit, as applicable, until such time as such Person’s percentage of Equity Shares or Common Shares, as the case may be, equals or falls below the decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or Common Share Ownership Limit, as applicable, except that until such time as such Person’s percentage of Equity Shares or Common Shares, as the case may be, falls below such decreased Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or Common Share Ownership Limit, any further acquisition of Equity

 

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Shares or Common Shares will be in violation of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or Common Share Ownership Limit; and, provided further, that the new Aggregate Share Ownership Limit or Common Share Ownership Limit would not allow five or fewer individuals (as defined in Section 542(a)(2) of the Code and taking into account all Excepted Holders) to Beneficially Own, in the aggregate more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding Equity Shares.

Section 7.2.9 Legend . Each certificate for Equity Shares shall bear a legend summarizing the restrictions on ownership and transfer contained in the Declaration of Trust. Instead of a legend, the certificate may state that the Trust will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a shareholder on request and without charge.

Section 7.3 Transfer of Equity Shares in Trust .

Section 7.3.1 Ownership in Trust . Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 7.2.1(a) that would result in a transfer of Equity Shares to a Charitable Trust, such Equity Shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Charitable Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 7.2.1(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Trust and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Trust and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Trust as provided in Section 7.3.6.

Section 7.3.2 Status of Shares Held by the Trustee . Equity Shares held by the Trustee shall continue to be issued and outstanding Equity Shares of the Trust. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the Charitable Trust.

Section 7.3.3 Dividend and Voting Rights . The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to Equity Shares held in

 

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the Charitable Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid to a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid with respect to such Equity Shares by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or other distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to shares held in the Charitable Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole and absolute discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Trust has already taken irreversible trust action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, until the Trust has received notification that Equity Shares have been transferred into a Charitable Trust, the Trust shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other shareholder records for purposes of preparing lists of shareholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes and determining the other rights of shareholders.

Section 7.3.4 Sale of Shares by Trustee . Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trust, the Trustee of the Charitable Trust shall sell the shares held in the Charitable Trust to a Person, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 7.2.1(a). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall, as provided in this Section 7.3.4, distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited

 

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Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Charitable Trust ( e.g. , in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Charitable Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Charitable Trust. The Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividend and distributions which has been paid to the Prohibited Owner and is owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.3.3 of this Article VII. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Trust that Equity Shares have been transferred to the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Charitable Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 7.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.

Section 7.3.5 Purchase Right in Shares Transferred to the Trustee . Equity Shares transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Trust, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Charitable Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Trust, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Trust may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.3.3 of this Article VII. The Trust may pay the amount of such reduction to the Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Trust shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the shares held in the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 7.3.4. Upon such a sale to the Trust, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.

 

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Section 7.3.6 Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries . By written notice to the Trustee, the Trust shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Charitable Trust such that (i) Equity Shares held in the Charitable Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary and (ii) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code. Neither the failure of the Trust to make such designation nor the failure of the Trust to appoint the Trustee before the automatic transfer provided for in Section 7.2.1(b) shall make such transfer ineffective, provided that the Trust thereafter makes such designation and appointment.

Section 7.4 Exchange Transactions . Nothing in this Article VII shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the Exchange or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VII and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VII.

Section 7.5 Enforcement . The Trust is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VII.

Section 7.6 Non-Waiver . No delay or failure on the part of the Trust or the Board of Trustees in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Trust or the Board of Trustees, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

SHAREHOLDERS

Section 8.1 Meetings . There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders, to be held on proper notice at such time and location as shall be determined by or in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws, for the election of the Trustees, if required, and for the transaction of any other business within the powers of the Trust. Except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust, special meetings of shareholders may be called in the manner provided in the Bylaws. If there are no Trustees, the officers of the Trust shall promptly call a special meeting of the shareholders entitled to vote for the election of successor Trustees. Any meeting may be postponed and adjourned and reconvened as the Trustees determine or as provided in the Bylaws.

Section 8.2 Voting Rights . Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares then outstanding, the shareholders shall be entitled to vote only on the following matters: (a) election of Trustees as provided in Section 5.2 and the removal of Trustees as provided in Section 5.3; (b) amendment of the Declaration of Trust as provided in Article X; (c) termination of the Trust as provided in Section 12.2; (d) merger, conversion or consolidation of the Trust to the extent a vote of the shareholders is required by Title 8, or the sale or disposition of substantially all of the property of the Trust, to the same extent as a stockholder of a Maryland corporation would be entitled to vote on such sale or disposition under the Maryland General Corporation Law; and (e) such other matters with respect to which the Board of Trustees has adopted a resolution declaring that a proposed action is advisable and directing that the matter be submitted to the shareholders for approval or ratification. Except with respect to the foregoing matters, no action taken by the shareholders at any meeting shall in any way bind the Board of Trustees.

Section 8.3 Preemptive and Appraisal Rights . Except as may be provided by the Board of Trustees in setting the terms of classified or reclassified Shares pursuant to Section 6.7, or as may otherwise be provided by contract approved by the Board of Trustees, no holder of Shares shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares or any other security of the Trust which it may issue or sell. Holders of Shares shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting shareholder provided for under Title 8 and

 

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Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the Maryland General Corporation Law or any successor statute unless the Board of Trustees, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees and upon such terms and conditions as specified by the Board of Trustees, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of Shares, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such Shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.

Section 8.4 Board Approval . The submission of any action of the Trust to the shareholders for their consideration shall first be approved by the Board of Trustees.

Section 8.5 Action By Shareholders without a Meeting . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting by the unanimous consent, in writing or by electronic transmission, of each shareholder entitled to vote in the manner permitted by statute, the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws, as the case may be.

ARTICLE IX

LIABILITY LIMITATION, INDEMNIFICATION

AND TRANSACTIONS WITH THE TRUST

Section 9.1 Limitation of Shareholder Liability . No shareholder shall be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Trust by reason of his being a shareholder, nor shall any shareholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any person in connection with the property or the affairs of the Trust by reason of his being a shareholder.

Section 9.2 Limitation of Trustee and Officer Liability . To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of trustees and officers of a real estate investment trust, no present or former Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any shareholder for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 9.2, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust inconsistent with this Section 9.2, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such

 

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amendment, repeal or adoption. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any shareholder for money damages except to the extent that (a) the Trustee or officer actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services, for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property or services actually received; or (b) a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the Trustee or officer is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the Trustee’s or officer’s action or failure to act was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding.

Section 9.3 Express Exculpatory Clauses in Instruments . Neither the shareholders nor the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust shall be liable under any written instrument creating an obligation of the Trust, and all persons shall look solely to the property of the Trust for the payment of any claim under or for the performance of that instrument. The omission of the foregoing exculpatory language from any instrument shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such instrument and shall not render any shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable thereunder to any third party, nor shall any shareholder, the Trustees or any officer, employee or agent of the Trust be liable to anyone for such omission.

Section 9.4 Indemnification . The Trust shall have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to obligate itself to indemnify, and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any individual who is a present or former shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a Trustee or officer of the Trust and at the request of the Trust, serves or has served as a trustee, director, officer, partner, member or manager, of another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or

 

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which such person may incur by reason of his or her service in such capacity or capacities. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided in the Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a Trustee or officer. The Trust shall have the power, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Trust in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust.

Section 9.5. Insurance . The Trust may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under Title 8.

Section 9.6. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in this Article IX shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any statute, bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested Trustees or otherwise.

Section 9.7 Transactions Between the Trust and its Trustees, Officers, Employees and Agents . Subject to any express restrictions in the Declaration of Trust or adopted by the Board of Trustees in the Bylaws or by resolution, the Trust may enter into any contract or transaction of any kind with any person, including any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or any person affiliated with a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, whether or not any of them has a financial interest in such transaction.

Section 9.8 Amendment . Notwithstanding anything in the Declaration of Trust to the contrary, neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article IX, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or Bylaws inconsistent with this Article IX shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this Article IX with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

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ARTICLE X

AMENDMENTS

Section 10.1 General . The Trust reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Declaration of Trust, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Declaration of Trust, of any Shares. All rights and powers conferred by the Declaration of Trust on shareholders, Trustees and officers are granted subject to this reservation. All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include all amendments thereto.

Section 10.2 By Trustees . The Trustees may amend the Declaration of Trust from time to time, in the manner provided by Title 8, without any action by the shareholders, (i) to qualify as a REIT or as a real estate investment trust under Title 8, (ii) in any respect in which the charter of a corporation may be amended in accordance with Section 2-605 of the Maryland General Corporation Law and (iii) as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust.

Section 10.3 By Shareholders. Any amendment to the Declaration of Trust (other than an amendment referred to in Section 10.2) shall be valid only if approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

ARTICLE XI

MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF TRUST PROPERTY

Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding, the Trust may (a) merge or convert the Trust into another entity, (b) consolidate the Trust with one or more other entities into a new entity or (c) sell, lease, exchange or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the property of the Trust. Any such action must be approved (x) by the Board of Trustees and (y) if a vote of the shareholders is required, after notice to all shareholders entitled to vote on the matter, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

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ARTICLE XII

DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST

Section 12.1 Duration . The Trust shall continue perpetually unless terminated pursuant to Section 12.2 or pursuant to any applicable provision of Title 8.

Section 12.2 Termination .

(a) Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding, after approval by a majority of the entire Board of Trustees, the Trust may be terminated at any meeting of shareholders, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Upon the termination of the Trust:

(i) The Trust shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.

(ii) The Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust and all of the powers of the Trustees under the Declaration of Trust shall continue, including the powers to fulfill or discharge the Trust’s contracts, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining property of the Trust to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business. The Trustees may appoint any officer of the Trust or any other person to supervise the winding up of the affairs of the Trust and delegate to such officer or such person any or all powers of the Trustees in this regard.

(iii) After paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trust may distribute the remaining property of the Trust, in cash or in kind or partly each, among the shareholders so that after payment in full or the setting apart for payment of such preferential amounts, if any, to which the holders of any Shares at the time outstanding

 

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shall be entitled, the remaining property of the Trust shall, subject to any participating or similar rights of Shares at the time outstanding, be distributed ratably among the holders of Class A Common Shares and Class C Common Shares at the time outstanding.

(b) After termination of the Trust, the liquidation of its business and the distribution to the shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and file with the Trust’s records a document certifying that the Trust has been duly terminated, and the Trustees shall be discharged from all liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all shareholders shall cease.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.1 Governing Law . The Declaration of Trust is executed by the undersigned officers and delivered in the State of Maryland with reference to the laws thereof, and the rights of all parties and the validity, construction and effect of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to conflicts of laws provisions thereof.

Section 13.2 Reliance by Third Parties . Any certificate shall be final and conclusive as to any person dealing with the Trust if executed by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Trust or a Trustee, and if certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees, officers of the Trust or shareholders; (b) the due authorization of the execution of any document; (c) the action or vote taken, and the existence of a quorum, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees or shareholders; (d) a copy of the Declaration of Trust or of the Bylaws as a true and complete copy as then in force; (e) an amendment to the Declaration of Trust; (f) the termination of the Trust; or (g) the existence of any fact relating to the affairs of the Trust. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trust on its behalf or by any officer, employee or agent of the Trust.

 

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Section 13.3 Severability . If any provision of the Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such holding shall apply only to the extent of any such invalidity or unenforceability and shall not in any manner affect, impair or render invalid or unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.

Section 13.4 Construction . In the Declaration of Trust, unless the context otherwise requires, words used in the singular or in the plural include both the plural and singular and words denoting any gender include all genders. The title and headings of different parts are inserted for convenience and shall not affect the meaning, construction or effect of the Declaration of Trust. In defining or interpreting the powers and duties of the Trust and its Trustees and officers, reference may be made by the Trustees or officers, to the extent appropriate and not inconsistent with the Code or Title 8, to Titles 1 through 3 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

THIRD : The amendment to and restatement of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Trustees and approved by the shareholders of the Trust as required by law.

FOURTH : The name and address of the Trust’s current resident agent are as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust.

FIFTH : The number of Trustees of the Trust and the names of those currently in office are as set forth in Article V of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust.

SIXTH : The total number of shares of beneficial interest which the Trust had authority to issue immediately prior to this amendment and restatement was 250,000,000, consisting of 100,000,000 class A common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, 50,000,000 class B common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, 50,000,000 class C common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, and 50,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all shares of beneficial interest having par value was $2,500,000.

 

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SEVENTH : The total number of shares of beneficial interest which the Trust has authority to issue pursuant to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the Declaration of Trust is 165,000,000, consisting of 100,000,000 class A common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, 5,000,000 class B common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, 50,000,000 class C common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, and 10,000,000 preferred shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of beneficial interest having par value is $1,650,000.

EIGHTH: The undersigned President acknowledges these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the trust act of the Trust and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned President acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and attested to by its Secretary on this 6th day of July, 2015.

 

ATTEST: SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES

/s/ Matthew Fernand

/s/ Benjamin Schall

(SEAL)
Matthew Fernand Benjamin Schall
Executive Vice President, General and Secretary Chief Executive Officer and President

 

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Exhibit 3.2

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

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

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

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

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

Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING . An annual meeting of shareholders for the election of trustees and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Trust shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Trustees.

Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS . The chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president and Board of Trustees shall have the exclusive power to call a special meeting of shareholders. A special meeting of shareholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Trustees, whoever has called the meeting.

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


Subject to Section 12(a) of this Article II, any business of the Trust may be transacted at an annual meeting of shareholders 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 shareholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The Trust may postpone or cancel a meeting of shareholders by making a “public announcement” (as defined in Section 12(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.

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

 

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Section 6. QUORUM . At any meeting of shareholders, the presence in person or by proxy of shareholders 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 Declaration of Trust of the Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If such quorum is not established at any meeting of the shareholders, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting sine die or from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

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

Section 7. VOTING . At least seventy-five percent of all the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be required to elect a trustee. Each share entitles the holder thereto to vote for as many individuals as there are trustees to be elected and for whose election the holder is entitled to vote. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders 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 Declaration of Trust. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Declaration of Trust, each outstanding share of beneficial interest, regardless of class, entitles the holder thereof to cast one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

Section 8. PROXIES . A holder of record of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust may cast votes in person or by proxy executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’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 Trust before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

Section 9. VOTING OF SHARES BY CERTAIN HOLDERS . Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust registered in the name of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, managing member, manager, general partner or trustee, 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 shares 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 shares. Any trustee or fiduciary, in such capacity, may vote shares of beneficial interest registered in such trustee’s or fiduciary’s name, either in person or by proxy.

Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust 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.

 

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

Section 10. INSPECTORS . The Board of Trustees or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of beneficial interest represented at the meeting in person or by proxy and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and (v) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one 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 11. SHAREHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the shareholders.

Section 12. ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER NOMINEES FOR TRUSTEE AND OTHER SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS .

(a) Annual Meetings of Shareholders . (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Trustees and the proposal of other business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders (i) pursuant to the Trust’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (iii) by any shareholder of the Trust who was a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the shareholder as provided for in this Section 12(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 12(a).

(2) For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 12, the

 

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shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Trust and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the shareholders. To be timely, a shareholder’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 Trust not earlier than the 150 th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time , on the 120 th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 12(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that, in connection with the Trust’s first annual meeting or 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, in order for notice by the shareholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120 th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

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

(i) as to each individual whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a trustee (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a trustee in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”);

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

(iii) as to the shareholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Shareholder Associated Person,

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

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

 

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(C) whether and the extent to which such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of Company Securities for such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such shareholder, Proposed Nominee or Shareholder Associated Person in the Trust or any affiliate thereof disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities, and

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

(iv) as to the shareholder giving the notice, any Shareholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 12(a) and any Proposed Nominee,

(A) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Trust’s share ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Shareholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee, and

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

(v) the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the shareholder giving the notice or any Shareholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee or other business proposal prior to the date of such shareholder’s notice; and

(vi) to the extent known by the shareholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other shareholder supporting the Proposed Nominee or the proposal of other business on the date of such shareholder’s notice.

(4) Such shareholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a written undertaking executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) that such Proposed Nominee (a) is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Trust in connection with service or action as a trustee that has not been disclosed to the Trust and (b) will serve as a trustee of the Trust if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Trust,

 

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upon request, to the shareholder providing the notice and shall include all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a trustee in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, or would be required pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Trust are listed or over-the-counter market on which any securities of the Trust are traded).

(5) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 12 to the contrary, in the event that the number of trustees to be elected to the Board of Trustees is increased, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 12(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a shareholder’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 Trust 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 Trust.

(6) For purposes of this Section 12, “Shareholder Associated Person” of any shareholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with such shareholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder (other than a shareholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person.

(b) Special Meetings of Shareholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Trust’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Trustees may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which trustees are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3 of this Article II for the purpose of electing trustees, by any shareholder of the Trust who is a shareholder 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 in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12. In the event the Trust calls a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Trustees, any shareholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a trustee as specified in the Trust’s notice of meeting, if the shareholder’s notice, containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 12 is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Trust 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 Trustees 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 shareholder’s notice as described above.

 

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(c) General . (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 12 by any shareholder proposing a nominee for election as a trustee or any proposal for other business at a meeting of shareholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12. Any such shareholder shall notify the Trust of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Trustees, any such shareholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Trustees or any authorized officer of the Trust, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the shareholder pursuant to this Section 12 and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Trust, written confirmation by such shareholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the shareholder pursuant to this Section 12 as of an earlier date. If a shareholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12.

(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 12 shall be eligible for election by shareholders as trustees, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders 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, “the date of the proxy statement” shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a shareholder 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 shareholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Trust to omit a proposal from, any proxy statement filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 12 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by the shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such shareholder or Shareholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.

(5) 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 City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

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

ARTICLE III

TRUSTEES

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

Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE, QUALIFICATIONS AND RESIGNATION . At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Trustees may establish, increase or decrease the number of trustees, provided that the number thereof shall never be more than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a trustee shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of trustees. In case of failure to elect trustees at the designated time, the trustees holding over shall continue to serve as trustees with full rights and powers until their successors are elected and qualify. Any trustee of the Trust may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Trustees, the chairman of the board or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.

Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS . An annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of shareholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. In the event that 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 Trustees. The Board of Trustees may provide, by resolution, the time and place of regular meetings of the Board of Trustees without other notice than such resolution.

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

Section 5. NOTICE . Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each trustee 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 three days prior to the meeting. Notice

 

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by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the trustee or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the trustee 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 Trust by the trustee. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Trust by the trustee 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 Trustees need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

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

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

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

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

Section 9. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Trustees 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.

 

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

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

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

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

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

Section 15. INTERESTED TRUSTEE TRANSACTIONS . Section 2-419 of the MGCL shall be available for and apply to any contract or other transaction between the Trust and any of its trustees or between the Trust and any other trust, corporation, firm or other entity in which any of its trustees is a trustee or director or has a material financial interest.

 

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Section 16. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEES . Any trustee or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Trust.

Section 17. EMERGENCY PROVISIONS . Notwithstanding any other provision in the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, this Section 17 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Trustees under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Trustees, (i) a meeting of the Board of Trustees or a committee thereof may be called by any trustee or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Trustees during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many trustees and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) the number of trustees necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . The Board of Trustees may appoint from among its members an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and one or more other committees, composed of one or more trustees, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees. 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 trustee to act in the place of such absent member, unless the Board of Trustees shall otherwise provide.

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

Section 3. MEETINGS . Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Trustees. 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 Trustees may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board of Trustees shall otherwise provide.

Section 4. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Members of a committee of the Board of Trustees 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.

 

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Section 5. CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Trustees may be taken without a meeting, if a consent to such action is given in writing or by electronic transmission 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 Trustees shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

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

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

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

Section 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . The Board of Trustees may designate from among its members a chairman of the board, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Trust. The Board of Trustees may designate the chairman of the board as an executive or non-executive chairman. The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Trustees. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these Bylaws or the Board of Trustees.

 

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Section 5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . The Board of Trustees 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 Trust. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Trust, as determined by the Board of Trustees, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Trust. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Trustees or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Trust or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees from time to time.

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

Section 7. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER . The Board of Trustees may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Trustees or the chief executive officer.

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

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

Section 10. SECRETARY . The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders, the Board of Trustees and committees of the Board of Trustees 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 trust records and of the seal of the Trust; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each shareholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such shareholder; (e) have general charge of the share transfer books of the Trust; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Trustees.

 

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

Section 1. CONTRACTS . The Board of Trustees 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 Trust and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Trust when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Trustees and executed by an authorized person.

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 Trust shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Trust in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Trustees.

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

 

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ARTICLE VII

SHARES

Section 1. CERTIFICATES . Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Trustees, shareholders of the Trust are not entitled to certificates evidencing the shares of beneficial interest held by them. In the event that the Trust issues shares of beneficial interest evidenced by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Trustees or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the Maryland REIT Law (the “MRL”) and shall be signed by the officers of the Trust in any manner permitted by the MRL. In the event that the Trust issues shares of beneficial interest without certificates, to the extent then required by the MRL, the Trust shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MRL to be included on share certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of shareholders based on whether or not their shares are evidenced by certificates.

Section 2. TRANSFERS . All transfers of shares shall be made on the books of the Trust, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Trustees or any officer of the Trust may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Trustees that such shares shall no longer be evidenced by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, the Trust shall provide to the record holders of such shares, to the extent then required by the MRL, a written statement of the information required by the MRL to be included on share certificates.

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

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

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

 

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Section 4. FIXING OF RECORD DATE . The Board of Trustees may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of shareholders 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 shareholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of shareholders of record is to be held or taken.

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

Section 5. SHARE LEDGER . The Trust 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 shareholder and the number of shares of each class held by such shareholder.

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

ARTICLE VIII

ACCOUNTING YEAR

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

ARTICLE IX

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 1. AUTHORIZATION . Dividends and other distributions upon the shares of beneficial interest of the Trust may be authorized by the Board of Trustees, subject to the provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or shares of beneficial interest of the Trust, subject to the provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust.

 

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

ARTICLE X

INVESTMENT POLICY

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

ARTICLE XI

SEAL

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

Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL . Whenever the Trust 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 Trust.

ARTICLE XII

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

Section 1. RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION . To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Trust 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 trustee or officer of the Trust and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a trustee or officer of the Trust and at the request of the Trust, serves or has served as a trustee, director, officer, member, manager or partner of another real estate investment trust, corporation limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by the Declaration of Trust and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a trustee or officer. The Trust may, with the approval of its Board of Trustees, provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to an individual who served a predecessor of the Trust in any of the capacities described in clause (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust.

 

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Section 2. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS . The right to indemnification and the payment or reimbursement of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article XII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may be or may become entitled under any statute, resolution, insurance, provision of the Declaration of Trust, bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested trustees or otherwise.

Section 3. INSURANCE . The Trust may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the MRL.

Section 4. AMENDMENT . Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article XII, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article XII, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this Article XII with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

ARTICLE XIII

WAIVER OF NOTICE

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

ARTICLE XIV

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION

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

 

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ARTICLE XV

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

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

ARTICLE XVI

MISCELLANEOUS

All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include all amendments and supplements thereto and any other documents filed with and accepted for record by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation related thereto.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES,

ESL PARTNERS, L.P.,

EDWARD S. LAMPERT

AND

solely for purposes of Section 7.1,

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, L.P.

DATED AS OF JULY 7, 2015


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I   
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS   
ARTICLE II   
REGISTRATION REQUEST   

SECTION 2.1

Request   4   

SECTION 2.2

Piggyback Registration   5   

SECTION 2.3

Expenses   6   
ARTICLE III   
INCIDENTAL AND SHELF REGISTRATION   

SECTION 3.1

Notice and Incidental Registration   6   

SECTION 3.2

Shelf Registration Statement   7   
ARTICLE IV   
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES   

SECTION 4.1

Registration and Qualification   9   

SECTION 4.2

Underwriting   11   

SECTION 4.3

Blackout Periods   12   

SECTION 4.4

Qualification for Rule 144 Sales   13   

SECTION 4.5

Investor Transferees and Designees   13   
ARTICLE V   
PREPARATION; REASONABLE INVESTIGATION   

SECTION 5.1

Preparation; Reasonable Investigation   13   
ARTICLE VI   
RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC SALE   

SECTION 6.1

Restrictions on Public Sale   14   
ARTICLE VII   
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION   

SECTION 7.1

Indemnification   15   
ARTICLE VIII   
BENEFITS OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS   

SECTION 8.1

Benefits of Registration Rights   18   

SECTION 8.2

General Partner of the Partnership   19   

 

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ARTICLE IX   
MISCELLANEOUS   

SECTION 9.1

No Inconsistent Agreements   19   

SECTION 9.2

Captions   19   

SECTION 9.3

Severability   19   

SECTION 9.4

Governing Law   19   

SECTION 9.5

Modification and Amendment   19   

SECTION 9.6

Counterparts   19   

SECTION 9.7

Entire Agreement   19   

SECTION 9.8

Assignment; Successors and Assigns   19   

SECTION 9.9

Notices   20   

SECTION 9.10

Specific Performance   20   

 

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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of July 7, 2015, by and among SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”), ESL Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Edward S. Lampert (together, the “ Shareholders ”), the Permitted Transferees (as defined below) of the Shareholders who become party hereto in accordance with this Agreement (each of the Shareholders and such entities or Permitted Transferees are sometimes referred to herein individually as an “ Investor ” and collectively as the “ Investors ”) and, solely for purposes of Section 7.1, SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company is the sole general partner of the Partnership;

WHEREAS, the Investor is receiving on the date hereof certain Class A common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“ Common Shares ”) and Common Units (as defined below);

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.6 and the other related provisions of the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of July 7, 2015 (as the same may be amended, restated or supplemented from time to time, the “ Partnership Agreement ”), subject to the various limitations contained in the Partnership Agreement, the Investors are entitled to redeem their Common Units for cash or, at the Company’s election, Common Shares (which may be delivered to the Investor or its designee); and

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to provide to the Investor certain registration rights as set forth herein with respect to the Common Shares held as of the date hereof or issuable by the Company in respect of the redemption of Common Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and subject to and on the terms and conditions herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

1.1. “ Affiliates ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

1.2. “ Agreement ” is defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

1.3. “ beneficial ownership ” and “ beneficial owner ” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder.


1.4. “ Business Day ” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange or such other exchange as the Common Shares are listed is open for trading.

1.5. “ Common Shares ” is defined in the recitals of this Agreement, and shall include equivalent securities of any successor to the Company.

1.6. “ Common Units ” has the meaning given to such term in the Partnership Agreement.

1.7. “ Company ” is defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any entity that becomes the general partner of the Partnership after the date hereof.

1.8. “ Effectiveness Period ” is defined in Section 3.2(a) hereof.

1.9. “ Eligible Securities ” means all or any portion of the Common Shares acquired or that may be acquired by an Investor or its designee upon redemption, conversion or exchange of the Common Units. Eligible Securities shall cease to be Eligible Securities when (i) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such Common Shares shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such Common Shares shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, (ii) such Common Shares shall have been otherwise transferred pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor rule) or pursuant to another applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act, new certificates for such Common Shares not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and such Common Shares shall be freely transferable to the public without registration under the Securities Act or (iii) such Common Shares are no longer outstanding.

1.10. “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

1.11. “ Information Blackout ” is defined in Section 4.3(a) hereof.

1.12. “ Investor ” is defined in the first paragraph of this agreement.

1.13. “ Lock-up Commitment ” is defined in Section 6.1(a) hereof.

1.14. “ Other Securities ” is defined in Section 3.1 hereof.

1.15. “ Participating Holder ” is defined in Section 2.3 hereof.

1.16. “ Partnership ” is defined in the preamble of this Agreement.

1.17. “ Partnership Agreement ” is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.

1.18. “ Person ” means an individual, a partnership (general or limited), corporation, real estate investment trust, joint venture, business trust, cooperative, limited liability company, association or other form of business organization, whether or not

 

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regarded as a legal entity under applicable law, a trust (inter vivos or testamentary), an estate of a deceased, insane or incompetent person, a quasi-governmental entity, a government or any agency, authority, political subdivision or other instrumentality thereof, or any other entity.

1.19. “ Permitted Transferees ” means any Affiliate of each of the Shareholders that has become a party hereto in accordance with Section 9.8 hereof.

1.20. “ Qualifying Other Holder ” is defined in Section 2.2.

1.21. “ Registration Expenses ” means all expenses incurred in connection with the Company’s performance of or compliance with the registration requirements set forth in this Agreement including, without limitation, the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel(s) (United States and foreign), accountants, experts and other persons retained by the Company in connection with the registration, offering and sale of Eligible Securities to be disposed of under the Securities Act; (ii) all expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of any registration statement, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or free writing prospectus, any other offering document and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the underwriters and dealers; (iii) the cost of printing or producing any agreement(s) among underwriters, underwriting agreement(s) and blue sky or legal investment memoranda, any selling agreements and any other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of Eligible Securities to be disposed of; (iv) all expenses in connection with the qualification of Eligible Securities to be disposed of for offering and sale under state securities laws (v) the filing fees incident to securing any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (or any successor thereto) of the terms of the sale of Eligible Securities to be disposed of; (vi) SEC and blue sky registration fees attributable to Eligible Securities; (vii) fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of Eligible Securities on each securities exchange or quotation system on which the Common Shares are then listed; (viii) the reasonable fees and disbursements for one counsel or firm to the Investors selected by the Shareholders; (ix) Securities Act liability insurance or similar insurance if the Company so desires or the underwriters so require in accordance with then-customary underwriting practice; and (x) all expenses related to the “road-show” for any underwritten offering, including all travel, meals and lodging, to the extent not borne by the underwriters; provided , however , that Registration Expenses with respect to any registration pursuant to this Agreement shall not include underwriting discounts or commissions attributable to Eligible Securities, any out-of-pocket expenses of the Selling Investors (including any fees and expenses of their brokers) or transfer taxes applicable to Eligible Securities.

1.22. “ Requesting Investor ” means an Investor requesting registration of its Eligible Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

1.23. “ Sales Blackout Period ” is defined in Section 4.3(a) hereof.

1.24. “ SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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1.25. “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the relevant time.

1.26. “ Selling Investor ” means the Requesting Investor and each Investor who has requested registration pursuant to Article II or Article III hereof, as applicable.

1.27. “ Shelf Registration Statement ” is defined in Section 3.2 hereof.

1.28. “ Underwritten Offering Notice ” is defined in Section 6.1(a) hereof.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION REQUEST

SECTION 2.1 Request . Upon written request from a Requesting Investor requesting that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of all or part of the Eligible Securities held by such Investor, which notice may be delivered at any time and which notice shall specify the intended method or methods of disposition of such Eligible Securities, unless such Eligible Securities are included in a currently effective registration statement of the Company permitting the resale of such Eligible Securities in the manner contemplated by the Requesting Investor, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to (as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in any event within 120 days of such request) cause the registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC and to permit the disposition of such Eligible Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition stated in such request; provided that:

a. if the Company shall have previously caused a registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC with respect to Eligible Securities pursuant to Article III hereof, the Company shall not be required to cause a subsequent registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC pursuant to this Article II until a period of ninety (90) days shall have elapsed from the effective date of the most recent such previous registration;

b. if, while a registration request is pending pursuant to this Article II or Article III, (i) the Board of Trustees of the Company determines that any such filing or the offering of any Eligible Securities would be reasonably likely to materially adversely affect or materially delay any proposed material financing, offer or sale of securities, acquisition, corporate reorganization or other material transaction involving the Company or the Partnership or (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Company determines in good faith, with the advice of counsel, that the filing of a registration statement would be reasonably likely to require the disclosure of non-public material information the disclosure of which would not otherwise be required to be disclosed and which would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company, then, in each case described in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii), the Company shall deliver to the Investors a certificate to such effect signed by its Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, and the Company shall not be required to file a registration statement, prospectus or any amendment or any supplement thereto pursuant to this Article II until the earlier of (i)

 

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the date upon which such financing, offer or sale of securities, acquisition, corporate reorganization or other material transaction concludes, or the date upon which such material information is disclosed to the public or ceases to be material, respectively, or (ii) sixty (60) days after the Company makes such good faith determination; provided , that only two (2) such certificates may be delivered to the Investors in any twelve (12) consecutive month period, and the aggregate number of days in which any Sales Blackout Periods may be in effect in any twelve (12) consecutive month period shall not exceed ninety (90) days;

c. the Company shall not be required to effect (i) more than three (3) registrations pursuant to this Article II in any calendar year or (ii) a registration of Eligible Securities, the fair market value of which on the date of the registration request is less than $5,000,000. No registration of Eligible Securities under this Article II shall relieve the Company of its obligation (if any) to effect registrations of Eligible Securities pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof; and

d. the Company shall not file any registration statement or effect a public offering of its securities during the period of time covered by a certificate relating to an event described in clause (b)(i) (other than in connection with such proposed transaction described in clause (b)(i)) or (b)(ii) above.

SECTION 2.2 Piggyback Registration . The Company may agree to register Common Shares in a registration statement for resale by any holder of registration rights, pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into by it with the Company on or after the date of this Agreement (a “ Qualifying Other Holder ”) and who is proposing to register Common Shares with an aggregate fair market value as of the time of the initial filing of such registration statement of at least $10,000,000. Upon written request from a Qualifying Other Holder requesting that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of all or part of the Eligible Securities held by such Qualifying Other Holder, the Company shall give written notice to the Investors of its intention to so register Common Shares at least thirty (30) days before the initial filing of the registration statement related thereto. The Company shall include in any registration statement filed pursuant to this Article II the Eligible Securities of any Investor (a “ Participating Holder ”) who has delivered written notice to the Company within ten (10) Business Days of the date of the Company’s receipt of the above-referenced written notice from the Qualifying Other Holder. A notice from a Participating Holder under this Section 2.3 shall specify the number of Eligible Securities to be included in the registration statement and the intended method of disposition.

If the Company shall have been advised by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Participating Holders to act as lead underwriter in connection with the public offering of securities by the Company that, in such firm’s opinion, a registration of Eligible Securities requested to be registered at that time would materially and adversely affect the scheduled offering of securities, then the aggregate number of Eligible Securities requested to be included in such registration by the Participating Holders and the Qualifying Other Holder(s) shall be reduced pro rata among the Participating Holders and the Qualifying Other Holder(s) according to the total number of eligible securities requested to be registered by such Persons.

 

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SECTION 2.3 Expenses . The Company shall bear all Registration Expenses in connection with any demand registration pursuant to this Article II, whether or not such registration statement becomes effective; provided , however , that if the Investors request a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 and subsequently withdraw their request, then such Investors shall either pay all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with such registration or forfeit the right to request another registration during the subsequent ninety (90) days unless the withdrawal of such request is the result of facts or circumstances relating to the Company or the Common Shares that arise after the date on which such request was made and would have a material adverse effect on the offering of the Eligible Securities.

ARTICLE III

INCIDENTAL AND SHELF REGISTRATION

SECTION 3.1 Notice and Incidental Registration . If the Company proposes to register any Common Shares, any equity securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares, or other securities issued by it having terms substantially similar to Eligible Securities (“ Other Securities ”) for public sale by the Company under the Securities Act on a form and in a manner which would permit registration of Eligible Securities for sale to the public under the Securities Act, it will give prompt written notice to the Investors of its intention to do so, and upon the written request of any Investor delivered to the Company within ten (10) Business Days after the giving of any such notice (which request shall specify the number of Eligible Securities intended to be disposed of by the Investor and the intended method of disposition thereof), the Company will use reasonable best efforts to effect, in connection with the registration of the Other Securities, the registration under the Securities Act of all Eligible Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Selling Investor(s), to the extent required to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended method or methods thereof as aforesaid) of Eligible Securities so to be registered; provided that:

a. If, at any time after giving such written notice of its intention to register any Other Securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company or such Qualifying Other Holder shall determine for any reason not to register the Other Securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Investors and thereupon the Company shall be relieved of its obligation to register such Eligible Securities in connection with the registration of such Other Securities (but not from its obligation to pay Registration Expenses to the extent incurred in connection therewith as provided in Section 3.2 hereof), without prejudice, however, to the rights (if any) of the Selling Investors immediately to request that such registration be effected as a registration under Article II hereof.

b. The Company shall not be required to give notice of or effect any registration of Eligible Securities under this Section 3.1 incidental to the registration of any of its securities in connection with mergers, acquisitions, exchange offers, subscription offers, dividend reinvestment plans or share options or other employee benefit plans.

 

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c. Notwithstanding any request under this Section 3.1, a Selling Investor may elect in writing prior to the effective date of a registration under this Section 3.1 not to register its Eligible Securities in connection with such registration.

d. No registration of Eligible Securities effected under this Section 3.1 shall relieve the Company of its obligation (if any) to effect registration of other Eligible Securities pursuant to Article II or Section 3.2 hereof.

e. Neither the Company nor the Partnership shall enter into any agreement with a holder of securities of the Company or the Partnership that prevents the Company from complying with its obligations under this Section 3.1 to include Eligible Securities in any registration statement filed by the Company.

f. The Company will not be required to effect any registration pursuant to this Section 3.1 if the Company shall have been advised by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm selected by the Company to act as lead underwriter in connection a the public offering of securities by the Company that, in such firm’s opinion, a registration of Eligible Securities requested to be registered at that time would materially and adversely affect the scheduled offering of securities; provided , however , that if an offering of some but not all of the Eligible Securities requested to be registered by the Investor(s) would not materially adversely affect the Company’s offering of securities, the aggregate number of Eligible Securities requested to be included in such offering by the Investors shall be reduced such that securities are included as follows: (1)  first , 100% of the securities that the Company proposes to sell, (2)  second , and only if all the securities referred to in clause (1) have been included, the number of securities eligible for inclusion in such registration that all other Persons have requested to include, allocated pro rata among such Persons according to the total number of eligible securities requested to be registered by such Persons.

g. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to this Section 3.1.

SECTION 3.2 Shelf Registration Statement .

(a) Shelf Registration Statement . Subject to Section 2.1(b), the Company shall, upon request of any Investor, as promptly as reasonably practicable file with the SEC a registration statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering the resale of all of the Eligible Securities (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”). The Shelf Registration Statement shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of such Eligible Securities for resale by Investors in the manner or manners designated by them (including, without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings). The Company will notify each Investor when such Shelf Registration Statement has become effective. The Company shall not be required to maintain in effect more than one shelf registration at any one time pursuant to this Section 3.2(a). The Company shall (subject to the limitations on registration obligations of the Company set forth in Articles II and III hereof, which shall be applicable with respect to the Shelf Registration) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing of the Shelf

 

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Registration Statement, or automatically if the Company is eligible to file an automatically effective shelf registration statement, and to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date (“ Effectiveness Period ”) when all Eligible Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(b) Shelf Offerings . The Investors shall have the right to conduct a limited number of offerings, provided, that the Company shall have no obligation to effect more than one underwritten offering in every 90 day period, pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period.

(c) Withdrawal of Stop Orders . If the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of the securities registered thereunder), the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof.

(d) Supplement and Amendments . Subject to Section 2.1(b), the Company shall promptly supplement and amend the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act.

(e) Other Shares . Except as provided in Section 2.2, in no event shall the Company agree to register Common Shares or any other securities for issuance by the Company or resale by any Persons other than the Investors in any registration statement filed pursuant to this Section 3.2 without the express written consent of the Shareholders, which consent shall be entirely discretionary.

(f) Other Registrations . Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to effect any shelf registration or to keep any shelf registration statement effective pursuant to this Section 3.2 if the Investors exercise their right to request a demand registration pursuant to Article II, and such demand registration includes all of the Eligible Securities owned by all of the Investors and such securities are sold pursuant to such demand registration.

(g) Expenses . The Company shall bear all Registration Expenses in connection with any shelf registration pursuant to this Section 3.2, whether or not such shelf registration becomes effective; provided , however , that if the Investor(s) request a shelf registration and subsequently withdraw their request, then such Investors shall either pay all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with such shelf registration or forfeit the right to request another shelf registration during the subsequent ninety (90) days unless the withdrawal of such request is the result of facts or circumstances relating to the Company or the Common Shares that arise after the date on which such request was made and would have an adverse effect on the offering of the Eligible Securities.

 

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ARTICLE IV

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

SECTION 4.1 Registration and Qualification . If and whenever the Company is required to use all reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of any Eligible Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Articles II or III hereof, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2, the Company will, as promptly as is practicable:

a. prepare, file and use all reasonable best efforts to cause to become effective and to remain continuously effective a registration statement under the Securities Act regarding the Eligible Securities to be offered;

b. prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Eligible Securities until such time as all of such Eligible Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Selling Investors set forth in such registration statement;

c. furnish to the Investor and any Selling Investors and to any underwriter of such Eligible Securities such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, such documents incorporated by reference in such registration statement or prospectus, and such other documents as the Selling Investors or such underwriter may reasonably request;

d. use all reasonable best efforts to register or qualify all Eligible Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Investor or any Selling Investors or any underwriter of such Eligible Securities shall reasonably request, and use all reasonable best efforts to do other acts and things which may be reasonably requested by the Investor or any Selling Investors or any underwriter to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Eligible Securities covered by such registration statement, except the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it is not so qualified, or to subject itself to taxation on its income in any jurisdiction where it is not then subject to taxation, or to consent to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not then subject to service of process;

e. use all reasonable best efforts to list the Eligible Securities on each national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Common Shares are then listed, if the listing of such securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange;

 

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f. (i) furnish to the Selling Investors opinions of counsel for the Company, addressed to them, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in customary form, scope and substance, (ii) in the case of an underwritten offering, upon such Selling Investor’s request, furnish to the Selling Investors a “comfort letter” signed by the independent public accountants who have audited the Company’s financial statements included in such registration statement, addressed to them and, subject to the Selling Investors providing to the independent public accountants such information and representations as reasonably requested by such independent public accountants to render such “comfort letter”; provided that with respect to such opinion and “comfort letter,” the following shall apply: the opinion and “comfort letter” shall cover such matters as the Selling Investors may reasonably request, but only to the extent substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letter delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities, and (iii) furnish to the Selling Investors such other certificates and documents, dated the date of closing under the underwriting agreement, as are reasonably requested by the Selling Investors and customarily delivered at closing;

g. notify the Investor and any Selling Investors as soon as reasonably practicable and, if requested by any such person, confirm such notice in writing:

(i) (A) when a prospectus, any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus or post-effective amendment is proposed to be filed in respect of a registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, and (B) with respect to such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective;

(ii) of any written comments from the SEC with respect to any filing and of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such registration statement or related prospectus or for additional information related thereto;

(iii) of the issuance by the SEC, any state securities commission, any other governmental agency or any court of any stop order, order or injunction suspending or enjoining the use or effectiveness of any registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Eligible Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;

(v) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of material fact made in any registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement or related prospectus untrue in any material respect, or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement or prospectus so that, in the case of the registration statement, it will not contain any

 

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untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and that, in the case of the prospectus, such prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and

(vi) of the determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement will be filed with the SEC; and

h. upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 4.1(g)(v) hereof, at the request of the Investor or a Selling Investor, prepare and furnish to the Investor and any Selling Investors as many copies as requested of a supplement or amendment, including, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

The Company may require the Investor(s) and any Selling Investors to furnish the Company such information regarding the Investor(s) and any Selling Investors and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing and as shall be required by law or by the SEC in connection with any registration.

SECTION 4.2 Underwriting . (a) If any Selling Investor(s) so elects, an offering under this Agreement shall, by written notice delivered to the Company, be in the form of an underwritten offering (for the avoidance of doubt, underwritten offerings pursuant to a shelf registration statement under Section 3.2 shall be subject to Section 2.1(b)). With respect to any such underwritten offering, the Selling Investors shall select an investment banking firm of international standing to be the managing underwriter for the offering, which firm shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company, following which selection the Company and the Selling Investors shall cooperate to effect such transaction as promptly as reasonably practicable.

(b) In the case of an underwritten offering, the Company will, and will cause the Partnership to, enter into and perform their obligations under an underwriting agreement with such underwriters for such offering, such agreement to contain such representations and warranties by the Company and the Partnership and such other terms and provisions as are customarily contained in underwriting agreements with respect to secondary distributions, which may include, without limitation, indemnities and contribution to the effect and to the extent provided in Article VII hereof and the provision of opinions of counsel and accountants’ letters to the effect and to the extent provided in Section 4.1(f) hereof. The holders of Eligible Securities on whose behalf such securities are to be distributed by such underwriters shall be parties to any such underwriting agreement and the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall

 

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also be made to and for the benefit of such holders of such securities, but only to the extent such representations and warranties and other agreements are customarily made by issuers to selling stockholders in secondary underwritten public offerings.

(c) In the event that any registration pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof shall involve, in whole or in part, an underwritten offering, the Company may require Eligible Securities requested to be registered pursuant to Article III hereof to be included in such underwriting on the same terms and conditions as shall be applicable to the Other Securities being sold through underwriters under such registration. In such case, the holders of Eligible Securities on whose behalf Eligible Securities are to be distributed by such underwriters shall be parties to any such underwriting agreement. Such agreement shall contain such representations and warranties by the Company, the Partnership and the Selling Investors and such other terms and provisions as are customarily contained in underwriting agreements with respect to secondary distributions, which may include, without limitation, indemnities and contribution to the effect and to the extent provided in Article VII hereof. The representations and warranties in such underwriting agreement by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company and the Partnership to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such holders of Eligible Securities, but only to the extent such representations and warranties and other agreements are customarily made by issuers to selling stockholders in secondary underwritten public offerings.

SECTION 4.3 Blackout Periods . (a) At any time when a registration statement effected pursuant to Article II hereof relating to Eligible Securities is effective, upon written notice from the Company to the Selling Investors that the Board of Trustees of the Company has determined in good faith, with the advice of counsel, that the Selling Investors’ sale of Eligible Securities pursuant to the registration statement would be reasonably likely to require disclosure of non-public material information the disclosure of which would not otherwise be required to be disclosed and would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company (an “ Information Blackout ”), the Selling Investors shall suspend sales of Eligible Securities pursuant to such registration statement until the earliest of:

(i) the date upon which such material information is disclosed to the public or ceases to be material;

(ii) sixty (60) days after the Company’s delivery of such written notice to the Selling Investors; and

(iii) such time as the Company notifies the Selling Investors that sales pursuant to such registration statement may be resumed.

The number of days from such suspension of sales by the Selling Investors until the day when such sales may be resumed under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) hereof is hereinafter called a “ Sales Blackout Period ”. In no event may the Company deliver more than two (2) notices of an Information Blackout in any twelve (12) consecutive month period and the aggregate number of days in which any Sales Blackout Periods may be in effect in any twelve (12) consecutive month period shall not exceed ninety (90) days.

 

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(b) Any delivery by the Company of a written notice of an Information Blackout during the sixty (60) days immediately following effectiveness of any registration statement effected pursuant to Article II hereof shall give the Investors the right, by written notice to the Company within twenty (20) Business Days after the end of such Sales Blackout Period, to cancel such registration and obtain one additional registration right during such calendar year under Article II hereof.

(c) The Company shall not effect any public offering of its securities during any Sales Blackout Period.

SECTION 4.4 Qualification for Rule 144 Sales . The Company covenants that it will use its reasonable best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (or, if the Issuer is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the written request of an Investor use its reasonable best efforts to make publicly available such necessary information for so long as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act), and it will use its reasonable best efforts to take any such further action as reasonably requested by any Investors, all to the extent required from time to time to enable Investors to sell Eligible Securities without Registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144, 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the reasonable request of any Investor, the Company will deliver to such Investor a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements and, if not, the specifics thereof.

SECTION 4.5 Investor Transferees and Designees . In the event that the Investor sells or otherwise transfers its Common Units to a third party for redemption for Common Shares pursuant to Section 8.6.G of the Partnership Agreement for the purpose of effecting an offering of such Common Shares, the proceeds of which (less any applicable expenses and commissions) will be received by the Investor, the Company’s obligations hereunder with respect to such Common Shares shall continue in all respects with respect to such offering or offerings and shall not be relieved in any way by reason of such sale or transfer.

ARTICLE V

PREPARATION; REASONABLE INVESTIGATION

SECTION 5.1 Preparation; Reasonable Investigation . In connection with the preparation and filing of each registration statement registering or offering Eligible Securities under the Securities Act, the Company will give the Investor, any Selling Investors and the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel and accountants, drafts of such registration statement for their review and comment prior to filing and such reasonable and customary access to its books and records and such opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers, counsel and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements as shall be necessary to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, provided that the Company may require them to enter into a customary confidentiality agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VI

RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC SALE

SECTION 6.1 Restrictions on Public Sale .

(a) Notwithstanding any registration rights set forth in this Agreement, upon written notice by the Company to the Investors, the Investors shall, in the event (x) the Company is issuing equity securities with an aggregate fair market value of at least $50,000,000 to the public, or (y) any Qualifying Other Holder is proposing to sell Common Shares with an aggregate fair market value of at least $50,000,000, in each case in an underwritten offering, and, if requested in writing by the managing underwriter or underwriters for such underwritten offering, not effect (and sign a written commitment to the underwriter(s) (a “ Lock-up Commitment ”) to not effect) any public sale or distribution of Eligible Securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such Eligible Securities, including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act, for a period commencing on the seventh (7 th ) day prior to the date such underwritten offering commences (such offering being deemed to commence for this purpose on the later of the effective date for the registration statement for such offering or, if applicable, the date of the prospectus supplement for such offering) or, if later, the date of such written request of the underwriter(s), and ending ninety (90) days after the closing of such underwritten offering, so long as the managing underwriter or underwriters obtains a written commitment of each Company trustee and executive officer and each Qualifying Other Holder to agree to the same restrictions; provided, however, that such restrictions shall not apply to any distributions-in-kind to an Investor’s partners or members. Any notice delivered to the Investors pursuant to this Section 6.1(a) (an “ Underwritten Offering Notice ”) shall be delivered not less than five (5) business days prior to the date of the underwriting agreement for such offering. The Company shall not deliver more than two (2) Underwritten Offering Notices pursuant to clause (x) of Section 6.1(a) in any twelve (12) consecutive month period.

(b) In the event of a sale of Common Shares by the Investors in an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 4.2, if requested in writing by the managing underwriter or underwriters for such underwritten offering, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause its trustees and executive officers and each Qualifying Other Holder to sign a Lock-Up Commitment to the underwriter(s) to not effect any public sale or distribution of Common Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Shares, including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act, for a period commencing on the seventh (7 th ) day prior to the date such underwritten offering commences (such offering being deemed to commence for this purpose on the later of the effective date for the registration statement for such offering or, if applicable, the date of the prospectus supplement for such offering) or, if later, the date of such written request of the underwriter(s), and ending no later than the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days after the closing of such underwritten offering and (ii) the date of the expiration of the lock-up imposed on the Investors in respect of such offering; provided , however , that such obligations of the Company with respect to any Qualifying Other Holder shall not apply unless such Qualifying Other Holder is permitted to participate in the underwritten offering in accordance with Section 2.2. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.1, (x) if the Investors fail to sign a Lock-Up Commitment in accordance with, and subject to the terms and limitations set forth in,

 

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Section 6.1(a), then the Company’s obligations under this Section 6.1(c) shall terminate, and (y) if a Qualifying Other Holder fails to sign a Lock-Up Commitment in accordance with, and subject to the terms and limitations set forth in, this Section 6.1(d), then the Investors’ obligations under Section 6.1(a)(y) shall terminate.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not, and shall not not be required to use reasonable best efforts to impose, restrictions on sales and distributions of Eligible Securities by the Investors for more than one hundred (100) days in the aggregate in any twelve (12) consecutive month period.

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

SECTION 7.1 Indemnification . (a) In the event of any registration of Eligible Securities hereunder, the Company and the Partnership jointly and severally will, and hereby do, indemnify and hold harmless, each Selling Investor, its respective directors, trustees, officers, partners, agents, and employees and each other Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of such securities and each other Person, if any, who controls each such Selling Investor or any such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities, joint or several, actions or proceedings (whether commenced or threatened) in respect thereof, to which each such indemnified party may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement contemplated hereby under which Eligible Securities were registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances in which they were made not misleading, and the Company or the Partnership will reimburse each such Selling Investor and each such director, trustee, officer, partner, agent, or employee, underwriter and controlling person for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, or proceeding; provided , however , that the Company and the Partnership shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Selling Investor or underwriter specifically for inclusion in such registration statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement.

(b) Each Selling Investor severally will, and hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its trustees, its officers, employees, agents and each person who

 

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participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of such securities, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act against any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities, joint or several, actions or proceedings (whether commenced or threatened) in respect thereof, to which each such indemnified party may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise insofar as such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such registration statement, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, but only to the extent that such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and, in conformity with, written information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Investor to the Company specifically for inclusion in such registration statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement.

(c) Promptly after receipt by any indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding involving a claim referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 7.1, the indemnified party will notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party under paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 7.1 (except to the extent that is has been prejudiced in any material respect by such failure). In case any such action, suit, claim or proceeding is brought against any indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party in connection with the defense of such suit, action, claim or proceeding, (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel to take charge of the defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, suit, claim or proceeding, or (iii) such indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded, based on the advice of counsel, that there may be defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party which, if the indemnifying party and the indemnified party were to be represented by the same counsel, could result in a conflict of interest for such counsel or materially prejudice the prosecution of the defenses available to such indemnified party. If any of the events specified in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence shall have occurred or shall otherwise be applicable, then the reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel selected by a majority in interest of the indemnified parties shall be borne by the indemnifying party. If, in any case specified in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), the indemnified party employs separate counsel, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action, suit, claim or proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party. Anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for the settlement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent (which consent in the case of an action, suit, claim or proceeding exclusively seeking monetary relief shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Such indemnification shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of any investigation made by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

 

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(d) If for any reason the indemnity under this Section 7.1 is unavailable or is insufficient to hold harmless any indemnified party under paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 7.1, then the indemnifying parties shall contribute to the amount paid or payable to the indemnified party as a result of any loss, claim, expense, damage or liability (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof), and legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, expense, damage, liability, action or proceeding, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Investor and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. If, however, the allocation provided in the second preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or provides a lesser sum to the indemnified party than the amount hereinbefore calculated, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative fault but also the relative benefits of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph (d) of Section 7.1 were to be 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 preceding sentences of this paragraph (d) of Section 7.1.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7.1, to the extent that any director, trustee, officer, partner, agent, employee, or other representative (current or former) of any indemnified party is a witness in any action or proceeding, the indemnifying party agrees to pay to the indemnified party all expenses reasonably incurred by, or on the behalf of, the indemnified party and such witness in connection therewith.

(f) All legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by or on behalf of any indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, expense, damage, liability, action or proceeding which are to be borne by the indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall be paid by the indemnifying party in advance of the final disposition of such investigation, defense, action or proceeding within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the indemnifying party of a statement or statements from the indemnified party requesting from time to time such payment, advance or advances. The entitlement of each indemnified party to such payment or advancement of expenses shall include those incurred in connection with any action or proceeding by the indemnified party seeking an adjudication or award in arbitration pursuant to this Section 7.1. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence such expenses incurred by the indemnified party in connection therewith.

(g) The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, adversely affect the rights of any indemnified party to indemnification hereunder or create a presumption that any indemnified party violated any federal or state securities laws.

 

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(h)

(i) In the event that advances are not made pursuant to this Section 7.1 or payment has not otherwise been timely made, each indemnified party shall be entitled to seek a final adjudication in an appropriate court of competent jurisdiction of the entitlement of the indemnified party to indemnification or advances hereunder.

(ii) The Company, the Partnership and the Selling Investors agree that they shall be precluded from asserting that the procedures and presumptions of this Section 7.1 are not valid, binding and enforceable. The Company, the Partnership and the Selling Investors further agree to stipulate in any such court that the Company, the Partnership and the Selling Investors are bound by all the provisions of this Section 7.1 and are precluded from making any assertion to the contrary.

(iii) To the extent deemed appropriate by the court, interest shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party at a reasonable interest rate for amounts which the indemnifying party has not timely paid as the result of its indemnification and contribution obligations hereunder.

(i) In the event that any indemnified party is a party to or intervenes in any proceeding to which the validity or enforceability of this Section 7.1 is at issue or seeks an adjudication to enforce the rights of any indemnified party under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Section 7.1, the indemnified party, if the indemnified party prevails in whole in such action, shall be entitled to recover from the indemnifying party and shall be indemnified by the indemnifying party against, any expenses reasonably incurred by the indemnified party. If it is determined that the indemnified party is entitled to indemnification for part (but not all) of the indemnification so requested, expenses incurred in seeking enforcement of such partial indemnification shall be reasonably prorated among the claims, issues or matters for which the indemnified party is entitled to indemnification and for such claims, issues or matters for which the indemnified party is not so entitled.

(j) The indemnity agreements contained in this Section 7.1 shall be in addition to any other rights (to indemnification, contribution or otherwise) which any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made or omitted by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of any Eligible Securities by any Investor.

ARTICLE VIII

BENEFITS OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS

SECTION 8.1 Benefits of Registration Rights . The Investors may severally or jointly exercise the registration rights hereunder in such proportion as they shall agree among themselves. In the event that the Company receives conflicting direction from Investors with respect to actions to be taken hereunder, the direction of the Shareholders shall be the only direction the Company shall be required to follow.

 

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SECTION 8.2 General Partner of the Partnership . The Company agrees not to take any action that results in another Person becoming general partner of the Partnership, by merger, agreement or otherwise, without causing such Person to expressly assume all of the obligations of the Company (including as general partner of the Partnership) hereunder.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.1 No Inconsistent Agreements . Neither the Company nor the Partnership has entered and neither of them will enter into any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Investors in this Agreement or that otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof in any material respect. The rights granted to the Investors hereunder do not in any material way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s or the Partnership’s other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.

SECTION 9.2 Captions . The captions or headings in this Agreement are for convenience and reference only, and in no way define, describe, extend or limit the scope or intent of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.3 Severability . If any clause, provision or section of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability of such clause, provision or section shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any of the remaining clauses, provisions or sections hereof to the extent permitted by applicable law.

SECTION 9.4 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without reference to its rules as to conflicts or choice of laws.

SECTION 9.5 Modification and Amendment . This Agreement may not be changed, modified, discharged or amended, except by an instrument signed by all of the parties hereto.

SECTION 9.6 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

SECTION 9.7 Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes any prior understandings and/or written or oral agreements among them respecting the subject matter herein.

SECTION 9.8 Assignment; Successors and Assigns . Except as set forth in the next sentence, this Agreement and the rights granted hereunder may not be assigned by any Investor without the prior written consent of the Company, which may be granted or withheld by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion. Each Investor will be permitted to assign its rights under this Agreement to its Permitted Transferees, so long as the Investor provides to the Company at least five (5) business days’ advance written notice of the transfer, and the transferee executes and delivers to the Company an instrument, in form and substance acceptable to the

 

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Company, agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement as if it were an original party hereto. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon all of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

SECTION 9.9 Notices . All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (c) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next Business Day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All notices and other communications shall be sent to the Company or the Investors, respectively, at the address listed on the signature page hereof or at such other address as the Company or the Investors, respectively, may designate by ten (10) days’ advance written notice to the other parties hereto.

SECTION 9.10 Specific Performance . The parties agree that, to the extent permitted by law, (i) the obligations imposed on them in this Agreement are special, unique and of an extraordinary character, and that in the event of a breach by any such party, damages would not be an adequate remedy; and (ii) each of the other parties shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity.

[ Signature pages follow ]

 

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

 

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, a Maryland real estate investment trust
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name:       Benjamin Schall
Title:       Chief Executive Officer and President
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179
Attn:       General Counsel
Phone:       (203) 861-4685
Email:       MFernand@seritage.com
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attn:       Robin Panovka
Phone:       212-403-1000
Email:       RPanovka@wlrk.com

[ Signatures continued on next page ]

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]


ESL PARTNERS, L.P.
By:

/s/ Edward S. Lampert

Name:       Edward S. Lampert
Title:       Chief Executive Officer of the
      General Partner
1170 Kane Concourse, Suite 200
Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 33154
Attn.:       Harold Talisman
Phone:       305-507-2035
Email:       harold@eslinvest.com
EDWARD S. LAMPERT
By:

/s/ Edward S. Lampert

Name:
Title:
1170 Kane Concourse, Suite 200
Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 33154
Attn.:       Harold Talisman
Phone:       305-507-2035
Email:       harold@eslinvest.com

[ Signatures continued on next page ]

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]


Solely for purposes of Section 7.1:
SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
By: SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, its general partner
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name:       Benjamin Schall
Title:       Chief Executive Officer and President
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179
Attn:       General Counsel
Phone:       (203) 861-4685
Email:       MFernand@seritage.com
with a copy to:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attn:       Robin Panovka
Phone:       212-403-1000
Email:       RPanovka@wlrk.com

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

SEARS HOLDINGS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

AND

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, L.P.

DATED AS OF JULY 7, 2015


Table of Contents

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS      1   

1.01

  

Definitions.

     1   
ARTICLE II. SERVICES      2   

2.01

  

Services to be Provided.

     2   

2.02

  

Quantity and Nature of Service.

     2   

2.03

  

Changes in the Services.

     3   

2.04

  

Transition Plan.

     4   

2.05

  

Standard of Care.

     4   

2.06

  

Responsibility For Errors.

     4   

2.07

  

Good Faith Cooperation; Alternatives.

     4   

2.08

  

Use of Third Parties.

     4   

2.09

  

Assets of Seritage.

     4   

2.10

  

Ownership of Information and Other Assets.

     5   

2.11

  

Contact Person.

     5   
ARTICLE III. CHARGES AND PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES      5   

3.01

  

Compensation.

     5   

3.02

  

Payments.

     6   

3.03

  

Taxes.

     6   
ARTICLE IV. TERMINATION      7   

4.01

  

Termination of an Individual Service for Convenience by Seritage.

     7   

4.02

  

Termination of the Agreement.

     7   

4.03

  

Obligations on Termination.

     7   

4.04

  

Termination of an Individual Service by SHMC.

     8   
ARTICLE V. CONFIDENTIALITY      8   

5.01

  

Confidential Information.

     8   
ARTICLE VI. INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY      8   

6.01

  

Indemnification by Seritage.

     8   

6.02

  

Indemnification by SHMC.

     8   

6.03

  

Procedure.

     9   

6.04

  

Limitation of Liability.

     9   
ARTICLE VII. MISCELLANEOUS      10   

7.01

  

Vendor Agreements.

     10   

7.03

  

Survival.

     10   

7.04

  

Equitable Relief.

     10   

7.05

  

Dispute Resolution.

     11   

7.06

  

Other Provisions.

     11   

 

- i -


Appendices

 

Exhibit A Services
Exhibit B Contact Persons
Exhibit C Lenders

 

- ii -


TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

This TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT, made and entered into effective as of July 7, 2015 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and between Sears Holdings Management Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ SHMC ”) and Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Seritage ”). SHMC and Seritage each are sometimes referred to as a “ Party ” and together sometimes are referred to as the “ Parties .”

WHEREAS, this Agreement is an Ancillary Agreement pursuant to the Subscription, Distribution and Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2015 (the “Separation Agreement”), by and between Sears Holdings Corporation (“ SHC ”) and Seritage Growth Properties;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which SHMC and Seritage hereby acknowledge, SHMC and Seritage hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

1.01 Definitions . Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Separation Agreement. The following terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in the respective Sections set forth below:

 

Term

  

Location

Affiliate    §2.02
Agreement    Preamble
Assets    §2.09
Claim    §6.02
Contact Person    §2.11
Electronic Resource    §7.02
Expenses    §3.01(c)
Expiration Date    §2.01
Fees    §3.01(a)
Lenders    §4.02(a)
New Services    §3.01(b)
Party    Preamble
SHMC    Preamble
SHMC Claims    §6.02
SHMC Indemnitee    §6.01
Seritage    Preamble
Seritage Claims    §6.01
Seritage Indemnitee    §6.02
Service    §2.01
Service Change    §2.03
Service Period        §2.01

 

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Term

  

Location

Service Schedules    §2.01
Separation Agreement    Recitals
Termination Fees    §7.01
Transaction Taxes    §3.03
Vendor    §2.08
Vendor Agreement    §7.01

ARTICLE II.

SERVICES

2.01 Services to be Provided . During the Service Period, SHMC shall provide, or cause to be provided, to Seritage the services (each, a “ Service ”) described on Exhibit A attached hereto (the “ Service Schedules ”) to the extent not prohibited by applicable Law. “ Service Period ” shall mean the period commencing on the Closing Date and continuing until 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on the last day of the month in which the 18 calendar month anniversary of the Closing Date occurs (the “ Expiration Date ”). This Agreement shall automatically (and without notice) expire at 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on the Expiration Date, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing after the date of this Agreement, it being understood that neither Party has the right to renew or extend the Service Period without the written consent of the other Party. Except as expressly stated in Exhibit A , in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and Exhibit A , this Agreement shall control. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing, the Services to be provided by or at the direction of SHMC under this Agreement are limited to those expressly stated herein, and those modified or added to the Service Schedules by a Service Change. This Agreement, and the Services, Fees and Expenses hereunder, may only be modified by a written amendment executed by both Parties, and both Parties acknowledge and agree that in the absence of such signed written amendment, neither Party shall rely (and any such reliance would be unreasonable) upon any proposed amendment or course of dealing by the Parties. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall require or permit SHMC to provide any business managerial services to Seritage or to direct the business, financial or strategic policies or decisions of Seritage.

2.02 Quantity and Nature of Service . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, SHMC shall provide, or shall cause to be provided, the Services in a manner and at a level of service that is substantially similar to the manner and level of service that such Services were provided with respect to the Transferred Properties and the owners thereof prior to the Closing Date. There shall be no substantial change in the scope or level of, or use by, Seritage of the Services during the Service Period (including changes requiring the hiring or training of additional employees by SHMC) without the mutual written consent of the Parties and adjustments, if any, to the applicable Fee to reflect the change in the cost to SHMC of providing such Services. However, SHMC may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing Services (including changes to its, its Affiliates’ and its Personnel’s systems) without Seritage’s consent if SHMC is making similar changes in the manner that it provides substantially similar services to itself and its Affiliates; provided , that SHMC shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Seritage with reasonable prior notice of any material change in the manner of providing Services and consult with Seritage in Good Faith

 

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to minimize the effect thereof on the provision of such Services. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, SHMC shall not provide any legal services or legal advice to Seritage and Seritage shall not be entitled to rely on SHMC for legal advice or counsel, and any advisory communications given by SHMC to Seritage is not to be construed as legal advice. Seritage shall not resell any Services, provide the Services to any joint venture in which it participates or to any non-wholly owned Subsidiary, or otherwise use the Services in any way other than as SHMC or its Affiliates used the Services prior to the Closing Date with respect to the operation of the Transferred Properties. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Affiliate ” means (i) with respect to Seritage, its Subsidiaries, and (ii) with respect to SHMC, SHC and its Subsidiaries; provided , however , that except where the context indicates otherwise, for purposes of this Agreement, from and after the date of this Agreement, (1) no member of the SHC Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the Seritage Group, and (2) no member of the Seritage Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the SHC Group.

2.03 Changes in the Services . If Seritage desires to make changes in this Agreement to provide for different or additional Services to be provided by or at the direction of SHMC (each, a “ Service Change ”), the Parties shall comply with the following Service Change process:

(a) Seritage shall prepare a written proposal for the Service Change including a description of the services, deliverables and schedule, and the proposed Fee, in such detail as would reasonably be needed by an unaffiliated Vendor to develop a competent price proposal for similar services. Seritage may use the hourly rate or unit rate stated in Exhibit A in developing a price proposal for the Fee for such additional service.

(b) All Service Change proposals and responses must be delivered by a Party’s Contact Person to the other Party’s Contact Person. If SHMC can provide the different or additional services proposed in a Service Change with its then-existing resources and capabilities, SHMC and Seritage will proceed to negotiate in Good Faith and, if an agreement with respect thereto is reached, execute a new Service Schedule or an amendment to an existing Service Schedule to reflect the Service Change. If SHMC cannot provide any additional services proposed in a Service Change with its then-existing resources and capabilities, SHMC shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such additional services through a Vendor and, if an agreement with respect thereto is reached, SHMC and Seritage shall execute a new Service Schedule or an amendment to an existing Service Schedule to reflect each Service Change, including changes to the applicable services, deliverables, schedule, fees and expenses. If SHMC will arrange for the additional services under a Service Change to be provided by a Vendor, Seritage shall, if requested by SHMC, execute a written agreement directly with the Vendor for the additional services. In the absence of a signed amendment, the Parties must fulfill their obligations under this Agreement without regard to such proposed Service Change.

(c) Any Service Change proposal by Seritage for a service to be added to the Services must be delivered to SHMC within the first 12 months after the date of this Agreement; no Service Changes for additional services may be requested by Seritage thereafter.

 

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2.04 Transition Plan . During the Service Period, Seritage shall provide SHMC with quarterly reports concerning Seritage’s plans for transitioning the performance of all Services to Seritage, its Affiliates or Vendors prior to the Expiration Date. SHMC shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Seritage with such information and other assistance as Seritage reasonably requests to assist Seritage with such transition.

2.05 Standard of Care . Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement (including Section 2.02 ), SHMC does not assume any responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the Services in Good Faith, in compliance with all applicable Laws and without willful misconduct or gross negligence. SHMC MAKES NO OTHER GUARANTEE, REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND (WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED) REGARDING ANY OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED HEREUNDER, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER GUARANTEES, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER, WHETHER STATUTORY, ORAL, WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. SUBJECT TO THE OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, SHMC SHALL ONLY BE OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH PAST PRACTICE (INCLUDING PRIORITIZATION AMONG PROJECTS FOR SHMC AND ITS AFFILIATES, AND SERITAGE AND ITS AFFILIATES).

2.06 Responsibility For Errors . Subject to Article VI, SHMC’s sole responsibility to Seritage for errors or omissions in Services caused by SHMC shall be to re-perform such Services or furnish correct information, payment or adjustment in the Services, and if such errors or omissions are solely or primarily caused by SHMC, SHMC shall promptly furnish such corrections at no additional cost or expense to Seritage; provided, that SHMC shall have no such responsibility to re-perform or furnish corrections to the extent it is actually prejudiced by any unreasonable delay in notice by Seritage to SHMC of such errors or omissions.

2.07 Good Faith Cooperation; Alternatives . SHMC and Seritage shall use Good Faith efforts to cooperate with each other in all matters relating to the provision and receipt of the Services. If SHMC reasonably believes it is unable to provide any Service because of a failure to obtain Vendor consents or because of impracticability, SHMC shall notify Seritage promptly after SHMC becomes aware of such fact and the Parties shall cooperate to determine the best alternative approach. Seritage shall provide such reasonable advance notice and forecasts of Services as are requested by SHMC or its Vendor performing the Services from time to time.

2.08 Use of Third Parties . In providing, or otherwise causing to be provided, to Seritage the Services, SHMC may use (a) any of its Affiliates and its or its Affiliates’ Personnel or (b) the services of any contractors, subcontractors, vendors or other third party providers (including former Affiliates) (each, a “ Vendor ”) to provide the Services; provided , however , that SHMC shall remain liable at all times for the performance of Services by any such Affiliate, Personnel or Vendor under this Agreement, except as stated in Section 2.06 .

2.09 Assets of Seritage . During the Service Period, (a) SHMC and its Affiliates and Vendors may use, at no charge and on an as-needed basis, all of the software and other assets, tangible and intangible (together, the “ Assets ”), of Seritage to the extent necessary to

 

4


perform, or otherwise make available, the Services (but for no other purpose), and (b) Seritage shall consult with SHMC prior to upgrading or replacing any of the Assets that are necessary for SHMC to provide the Services.

2.10 Ownership of Information and Other Assets . Neither Party shall acquire under this Agreement any right, title or interest in any Asset that is owned or licensed by the other. All Seritage Information or Information that if in existence as of the Closing Date would have constituted Seritage Information shall remain the property of a member of the Seritage Group, and, to the extent such Information remains in the possession of a member of the SHC Group, SHMC shall provide, or shall cause to be provided, to Seritage such copies of such Information during the term of this Agreement, and in any event prior to the Expiration Date in order to facilitate the transitioning of the performance of all Services to Seritage, its Affiliates or Vendors prior to the Expiration Date. All other Information provided by or on behalf of a Party to the other Party or its Affiliates for the purpose of providing or receiving the Services shall remain the property of the Party providing such Information. To the extent the provision of any Service involves intellectual property, including software or patented or copyrighted material, or material constituting trade secrets, each Party agrees that it and its Affiliates shall not copy, modify, reverse engineer, decompile or in any way alter any of such material, or otherwise use such material in a manner inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, without the express written consent of the other Party. Except to the extent provided otherwise in the Separation Agreement, all specifications, tapes, software, programs, services, manuals, materials and documentation developed or provided by SHMC, its Affiliates or its Vendors and utilized in performing this Agreement shall be and remain the property of SHMC, such Affiliates or such Vendors, as applicable, and shall not, without SHMC’s prior written consent, be sold, transferred, disseminated or conveyed by Seritage or its Affiliates to any other Person (other than their Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives) or used, in each case other than in receiving the Services under, or in performing, this Agreement.

2.11 Contact Person . Each Party shall appoint one contact person (a “ Contact Person ”) to facilitate communications and performance under this Agreement. The initial Contact Person of each Party is set forth on Exhibit B . Each Party shall have the right at any time and from time to time to replace its Contact Person by written notice to the other Party, following which Exhibit B shall be amended to reflect such Party’s new Contact Person.

ARTICLE III.

CHARGES AND PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES

3.01 Compensation .

(a) As consideration for the provision of the Services, Seritage shall pay, or cause to be paid, to SHMC or its designee(s) the fees for the Services, in each case as specified on Exhibit A (the “ Fees ”), payable as provided on Exhibit A . Upon termination of an individual Service, Seritage shall pay all Fees attributable to the Service being terminated accrued as of the date of termination of such Service. If the Fees include charges for Services performed by a Vendor and the Vendor’s fees increase during the Service Period, SHMC shall be entitled to include such increased fees as an increase in the Fees; provided , that to the extent that SHMC uses the same Vendor to provide similar services to itself or its Affiliates, each of the Parties shall be responsible for their pro rata portion of the increased amount in accordance with the level of services such Party receives from such Vendor.

 

5


(b) In addition to the Fees, Seritage shall reimburse SHMC or its designee(s) for all actual, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties by SHMC or its Affiliates in connection with the performance of the Services that are not included in the Fees (“ Expenses ”), including, without limitation, the costs of any software, systems or other assets, or modifications thereof; provided , however , that SHMC shall not incur any Expenses that exceed $100,000.00 individually without first receiving the written consent of Seritage, not to be unreasonably withheld; provided , further , that to the extent Seritage does not consent to the Expenses set forth in the prior proviso, but the incurrence of such Expenses is reasonably necessary for SHMC to perform Service under this Agreement, then SMHC shall be relieved of its obligation to perform such Service to the extent that it is not reasonably able to perform such Service without incurring such Expenses. To the extent reasonably practicable, SHMC shall provide Seritage with notice of such Expenses prior to incurring them. Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, each Party shall bear its own fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

3.02 Payments . If directed by SHMC, Seritage shall pay directly any or all Vendors providing Services to or for the benefit of Seritage. Unless otherwise mutually agreed by the Parties in writing, all amounts payable under this Agreement shall be reconciled weekly and the Party owing the net amount shall, make payment to the Party owed the net amount by electronic transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by such owed Party from time to time upon receipt of an invoice for such amount. Monthly installments shall be included in the first week’s reconciliation of each month. All amounts remaining unpaid for more than 15 days after their respective due date(s) set forth in an invoice statement shall accrue interest as set forth in Section 10.19(b) of the Separation Agreement until paid in full.

3.03 Taxes . The Parties hereby acknowledge that the Fees specified on Exhibit A do not include applicable sales, use, excise, value-added, business, service, goods and services, consumption, withholding and other similar taxes or duties, including taxes incurred on transactions between and among SHMC and its Affiliates and its and their Vendors and Personnel (“ Transaction Taxes ”). Seritage shall be responsible for the payment of all Transaction Taxes payable as a result of its receipt of the Services. Seritage shall reimburse SHMC for any deficiency relating to Transaction Taxes that are Seritage’s responsibility under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.03 to the contrary, each Party shall be responsible for its own income and franchise taxes, employment taxes and property taxes, except as otherwise provided in the Separation Agreement or any of the other Ancillary Agreements. The Parties shall cooperate in Good Faith to minimize Transaction Taxes to the extent legally permissible. Each Party shall provide to the other Party any resale exemption, multiple points of use certificates, treaty certification and other exemption information reasonably requested by such other Party.

 

6


ARTICLE IV.

TERMINATION

4.01 Termination of an Individual Service for Convenience by Seritage . Subject to the following sentence, Seritage may, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to SHMC, reduce or terminate for Seritage’s convenience any individual Service at the end of a Seritage fiscal month. Seritage may not reduce or terminate an individual Service if the reduction or termination would materially adversely affect SHMC’s ability to perform another Service. If Seritage’s reduction or termination of a Service results in charges to SHMC or its Affiliate during the Service Period (e.g., termination charges or loss of volume discounts, severance for any Personnel no longer needed to provide Services), Seritage shall reimburse SHMC for such expenses; provided , however , that, prior to the effective time of such reduction or termination, SHMC shall provide Seritage with notice of any such charges it reasonably anticipates will result from such reduction or termination and Seritage may, in its sole discretion, chose to continue the Service. In connection with any termination of services by Seritage in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.01 , Seritage and SHMC will coordinate in good faith regarding the termination or continuation of pre-existing service contracts with third-party providers.

4.02 Termination of the Agreement; Extension or Reinstatement .

(a) Seritage may terminate this Agreement or any individual Service in the event of a material breach of this Agreement by SHMC if SHMC fails to cure the breach within 30 days following receipt of written notice of the breach from Seritage. SHMC may terminate this Agreement in the event of a material breach of any of the payment obligations set forth in this Agreement by Seritage if Seritage or its lenders set forth on Exhibit C (the “ Lenders ”) fail to cure the breach within 30 days following receipt of written notice of the breach from SHMC (in the case of the Lenders, to the address set forth on Exhibit C ); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, non-payment of amounts that are subject to a Good Faith dispute with respect to which Seritage or the Lenders have timely delivered a notice of objection shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement for purposes of this Section 4.02(a) for so long as such amounts remain subject to such Good Faith dispute.

(b) Following any foreclosure of any property of Seritage by the Lenders, the Lenders shall be entitled to extend or reinstate this Agreement upon the terms set forth herein; provided that the “Service Period” shall be deemed to commence on the date of such foreclosure and continue until 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on the last day of the month in which the 18 calendar month anniversary of the date of such foreclosure occurs, and provided , further , that SHMC and the Lenders shall execute an appropriate amendment to this Agreement pursuant to which the Lenders or their designee shall become entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of Seritage hereunder in respect of such property.

4.03 Obligations on Termination . Upon termination of this Agreement, (i) each Party shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, return or deliver to the other Party all Information of the other Party and its Affiliates (including copies of all Information that is or remains the property of the other Party or its Affiliates pursuant to Section 2.10 ); provided that the other Party may retain electronic copies of such Information residing in automatic backup systems that are not generally available to such Party’s Personnel or copies retained to the extent required by applicable Law, regulation or a bona fide document retention policy and (ii) Seritage shall pay all Fees and Expenses accrued as of the date this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.

 

7


4.04 Termination of an Individual Service by SHMC . If a Vendor that provides a Service is unwilling or unable to provide the Service and (i) the Vendor does not provide a similar service to SHMC or its other Affiliates on terms that are comparable to the terms of this Agreement and (ii) SHMC is unable to retain a replacement Vendor to provide the Service on terms that are reasonably comparable to the terms of this Agreement, SHMC, upon providing 90 days’ prior written notice to Seritage, may terminate the Service, but such termination of the Service shall have no effect upon the provision of the other Services to Seritage.

ARTICLE V.

CONFIDENTIALITY

5.01 Confidential Information . All Information provided by or on behalf of a Party to the other Party or its Affiliates under or in connection with this Agreement shall be subject to Sections 7.5 and 7.6 of the Separation Agreement, which shall apply hereto as if set forth herein, mutatis mutandis .

ARTICLE VI.

INDEMNIFICATION; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

6.01 Indemnification by Seritage . Seritage shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless SHMC, its Affiliates, Vendors and Personnel (each, a “ SHMC Indemnitee ”) from and against any and all costs, liabilities, losses, penalties, expenses and damages (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) actually incurred or suffered by the SHMC Indemnitee relating to or arising out of actions and failures to act by Personnel of Seritage or its Affiliates in connection this Agreement (“ Seritage Claims ”), except to the extent that such Seritage Claims arise out of (a) a breach of any provision of this Agreement by SHMC or (b) any negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of SHMC, its Affiliates, Vendors or Personnel in performance of this Agreement.

6.02 Indemnification by SHMC . SHMC shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Seritage, its Affiliates and Personnel (each, a “ Seritage Indemnitee ”) from and against any and all costs, liabilities, losses, penalties, expenses and damages (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) actually incurred or suffered by the Seritage Indemnitee relating to or arising out of (a) a breach of any provision of this Agreement by SHMC (other than in circumstances in which the SHMC has acted in Good Faith and used commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach), (b) any negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of SHMC, its Affiliates, Vendors and Personnel in the performance of this Agreement or (c) relate to the intentional infringement of any copyright or trade secret by an Asset owned by SHMC or its Affiliates and used by SHMC its Affiliates, Vendors and Personnel in the performance of the Services hereunder (together, “ SHMC Claims ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing obligations set forth in this Section 6.02 , SHMC shall not be required defend, indemnify or hold harmless any Seritage Indemnitee to the extent that such SHMC Claims arise out of (i) a breach of any provision of this Agreement by Seritage, (ii) any negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of Seritage, its Affiliates, or its or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives in performance of this Agreement or (iii) with respect to infringement claims

 

8


relating to (A) Seritage’s use of its Assets in combination with any product or information not provided by SHMC, (B) Seritage’s distribution, marketing or use for the benefit of third parties of the Asset, (C) Seritage’s use of its Assets other than as contemplated by this Agreement, (D) Seritage’s use of its Assets that differs materially in scope, extent or intensity to that of SHMC or its Affiliates prior to the effective date of this Agreement, or (E) information, direction, specification or materials provided by or on behalf of Seritage. Seritage Claims and SHMC Claims are each individually referred to as a “ Claim .”

6.03 Procedure . Any Claim under this Agreement shall be subject to Sections 5.5 through 5.11 of the Separation Agreement, which shall apply hereto as if set forth herein, mutatis mutandis .

6.04 Limitation of Liability . EXCEPT FOR (A) EACH PARTY’S INDEMNITY AND DEFENSE OBLIGATIONS AS SET FORTH IN SECTIONS 6.01 , 6.02 AND 6.03 AND OTHER LIABILITIES TO UNAFFILIATED THIRD PARTIES, (B) ANY BREACH BY A PARTY OF ITS CONFIDENTIALITY OBLIGATIONS AND (III) ANY BREACH OF SECTION 2.10 , IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY, THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR ITS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONTRACTORS OR REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR OTHER LOSSES NOT REASONABLY FORESEEABLE OR LOST PROFITS HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH PARTY HAD BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE, SHMC’S AND ITS AFFILIATES’ LIABILITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE RE-PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICES AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 2.06 AND THE PAYMENT OF DIRECT DAMAGES, NOT TO EXCEED (FOR ALL CLAIMS IN THE AGGREGATE) THE FEES PAID BY SERITAGE TO SHMC UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, THERE SHALL BE NO LIMITATION ON SHMC’S OR ITS AFFILIATES’ LIABILITY TO THE EXTENT SHMC HAS ENGAGED IN RECKLESS CONDUCT, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR FRAUD. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, SHMC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY SHMC’S VENDORS; PROVIDED , HOWEVER , THAT SHMC SHALL USE REASONABLE BEST EFFORTS TO PASS THROUGH TO SERITAGE APPLICABLE RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UNDER THE VENDOR AGREEMENTS OR AT SERTIAGE’S REQUEST, USE COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE EFFORTS TO ENFORCE OR CAUSE TO BE ENFORCED, SHMC’S AND ITS AFFILIATES’ RIGHTS UNDER THE VENDOR AGREEMENTS IN ORDER TO PROCURE ANY AVAILABLE REMEDIES ON BEHALF OF, AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF SERITAGE AND ITS AFFILIATES.

 

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ARTICLE VII.

MISCELLANEOUS

7.01 Vendor Agreements .

The Parties anticipate that SHMC shall be relying upon its and its Affiliates’ existing agreements with third parties to provide certain of the Services described herein (each, a “ Vendor Agreement ”) If (a) SHMC’s or its Affiliates’ costs, fees or expenses increase under the terms of a Vendor Agreement or (b) the Vendor demands or is entitled to additional costs, fees or expenses now or in the future, in each case, as a result of Seritage and/or its Affiliates receiving benefits under a Vendor Agreement, then, in addition to all other amounts due hereunder, Seritage shall be liable for its proportionate share of all increased or additional amounts under this Section 7.01 , in each case as such amounts are determined by SHMC in Good Faith. SHMC shall notify Seritage promptly after it learns of any increased amounts due under the immediately preceding sentence and shall work with the Vendor in Good Faith to try to mitigate such increased or additional amounts. To the extent any such Vendor Agreement includes early termination fees or similar charges (the “ Termination Fees ”), Seritage shall be solely responsible for any such Termination Fees that SHMC or its Affiliates incur as a result of the Transaction and/or Seritage and/or its Affiliates ceasing to use the Services under this Agreement.

7.02 Computer Access . If either Party, its Affiliates or its or their respective Personnel are given access, whether on-site or through remote facilities, to any communications, computer, or electronic data storage systems (each, an “ Electronic Resource ”) of the other Party, its Affiliates or its or their respective Personnel in connection with this Agreement, then the Party on behalf of whom such access is given shall ensure that its Personnel’s use of such access shall be solely limited to performance or exercise of such Party’s duties and rights under this Agreement, and that such Personnel will not attempt to access any Electronic Resource other than those specifically required for the performance of such duties and/or exercise of such rights. The Party given access shall (a) limit such access to those of its and its Affiliates’ Personnel who need to have such access in connection with this Agreement, (b) advise the other Party in writing of the name of each of such Personnel who will be granted such access and (c) strictly follow all security rules and procedures for use of such Electronic Resources. All user identification numbers and passwords disclosed to a Party’s or its Affiliates’ Personnel and any information obtained by such Party’s or its Affiliates’ Personnel as a result of its access to, and use of, the other Party’s, its Affiliates’ or their respective Personnel’s Electronic Resources shall be deemed to be, and shall be treated as, Confidential Information of the Party on behalf of whom such access is granted. Each Party shall reasonably cooperate with the other Party in the investigation of any apparent unauthorized access by the other Party, its Affiliates or their respective Personnel to any Electronic Resources or unauthorized release of Confidential Information. Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party of any actual or suspected unauthorized access or disclosure of any Electronic Resource of the other Party, its Affiliates or their respective Personnel.

7.03 Survival . The obligations of each Party to pay all amounts accrued hereunder and the provisions of Sections 2.10 , 7.02 and 7.05 and Article V and Article VI shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

7.04 Equitable Relief . Each Party acknowledges that any breach by a Party of Sections 2.10 , 5.01 or 7.02 may cause the non-breaching Party and its Affiliates irreparable harm for which the non-breaching Party and its Affiliates have no adequate remedies at law. Accordingly, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, the foregoing provisions, each Party shall be entitled to seek equitable relief, including specific

 

10


performance, and injunctive relief, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. A Party seeking such equitable relief is not obligated to comply with Section 7.05 and may seek such relief regardless of any cure rights for such actual or threatened breach. Each Party waives all claims for damages by reason of the wrongful issuance of an injunction and acknowledges that its only remedy in such event is the dissolution of such injunction. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived.

7.05 Dispute Resolution . Except as provided for in Section 7.04 , all Disputes related to this Agreement are subject to Article IV of the Separation Agreement.

7.06 Other Provisions . Sections 10.3 through 10.15 (other than the reference to Article IX of the Separation Agreement in Section 10.8 ), Sections 10.17 through 10.19 and 10.21 of the Separation Agreement shall apply to this Agreement as if set forth herein, mutatis mutandis .

[ signature page follows ]

 

11


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

SEARS HOLDINGS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
By:

/s/ Lawrence J. Meerschaert

Name:

Lawrence J. Meerschaert

Title:

Vice President, Tax and Assistant Treasurer

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, L.P., by Seritage Growth Properties, its general partner
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name:

Benjamin Schall

Title:

Chief Executive Officer and President

 

[ Transition Services Agreement ]


Exhibit A

SERVICES

(See Attached)

 

A-1


Schedule A

Transition Service Schedule

This Schedule A to the Transition Services Agreement, dated July 7, 2015 (the “ Agreement ”), between Sears Holdings Management Corporation (“SHMC”) and Seritage Growth Properties, L.P. (“ Seritage ”) sets forth the specific services that SHMC will provide or cause to be provided to Seritage as Services pursuant, and subject, to the Agreement, and the terms pursuant to which the Services are to be provided. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings as in the Agreement. Throughout these Schedules, where costs are referred to they should be assumed to be in the same denomination as the service fees unless otherwise stated.

The annualized cost of services performed under this agreement are estimated, for informational purposes only, to be approximately $2.5 million or about $210,000 per month. Actual costs will be billed at the rates specified in the tables below.

Sections:

 

    Section 1: Accounting Services

 

    Section 2: Treasury Services

 

    Section 3: Tax Services

 

    Section 4: Information Technology (IT)

 

    Section 5: Risk Management & Insurance Services

 

    Section 6: Employment

 

    Section 7: Facilities Management

 

    Section 8: Real Estate Property Management

 

A-1


Section 1: Accounting Services

 

Function

 

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

  SHMC
Service
Manager
  Seritage
Service
Manager
 

Service Charge

Public Company

Support

 

•      SHMC to make corporate finance and accounting personnel available to provide reasonable assistance to Seritage with respect to the following public company matters including:

 

•      Audit support

 

•      Financial statement creation for external reporting

 

•      Excludes performing financial analysis or providing advice or decisions related to external reporting

  Bryan Kidd   [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$60 per hour

Lease Maintenance

/Leasing Systems

 

•      SHMC to support the following lease maintenance functions as requested by Seritage:

 

•      Reporting on lease payments

 

•      Managing accounting/systems impact of tenant changes

 

•      Future lease obligation reporting

 

•      SHMC to assist Seritage with build out of financial / leasing systems

  Bryan Kidd   [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$60 per hour

Accounting

 

•      SHMC to support the following accounting functions as requested by Seritage:

 

•      Payables Management

 

•      Receivables Management

 

•      Lease Accounting

 

•      Capital Project Accounting

 

•      Fixed Asset Accounting

 

•      1099 Reporting

 

•      Tenant Improvement Allowances

 

•      Escrow Accounting

 

•      Payroll Accounting

 

•      Technical Accounting Research

 

•      SHMC to assist Seritage in transitioning existing accounting data from SHMC systems to a new application to be licensed by Seritage.

  Bryan Kidd   [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$60 per hour

 

A-2


Section 2: Treasury Services

 

Function

 

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

  SHMC
Service
Manager
  Seritage
Service
Manager
 

Service Charge

Domestic Cash

Management

 

•      SHMC to support all domestic cash management functions of Seritage, overseeing daily cash receipts and disbursements, managing the daily liquidity, opening and closing bank accounts.

  Perry Weine   [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$110 per hour

S/T Investments

and Borrowings

 

•      SHMC to support daily investments and borrowing activities of Seritage.

 

•      SHMC to provide data as reasonably requested by Seritage to support Seritage’s preparation, signing, and filing of compliance reporting documents (e.g., borrowing base certificates).

  Perry Weine   [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$110 per hour

Debt Management

 

•      SHMC to provide Seritage support in management of their debt obligations, including calculating and arranging for Seritage to pay interest and amortizations, monitoring and providing data related to compliance requirements.

  Perry Weine   [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$110 per hour

Letter of Credit

 

•      SHC to provide Seritage support in executing, adding, terminating, modifying and otherwise managing letters of credit necessary for the operation of the Seritage Business.

  Perry Weine   [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$110 per hour

 

A-3


Section 3: Tax Services (excludes property tax, payroll tax and 1099 reporting)

 

Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

   SHMC
Service
Manager
   Seritage
Service
Manager
 

Service Charge

1.      Federal

         Income Tax

  

a.     Quarterly and annual REIT qualification testing

 

b.     REIT compliance activities

 

c.     Taxable income forecasting for dividend cash flow planning

 

d.     Calculation of REIT earnings and profits

 

e.     Prepare and coordinate filing REIT and subsidiary returns (and payment of estimated taxes if taxable REIT subsidiaries formed)

 

f.     Work with outside tax advisors to maintain partnership tax accounts and prepare federal tax filings (e.g., Form 1065 and Schedule K-1s)

   Clark Olsen    [TBD]  

Non-Income Tax Returns

 

$100 per return for non-income tax filings identified in 2b-d and 3d

 

Tax Services Hourly Rate

 

$300 per hour for all other services in 1a-f, 2a, 3a-c, 4a-c, 5 and 6

 

2.      State / Local

         Tax

  

a.     Prepare and coordinate filing income tax returns and payment of estimated taxes where necessary

 

b.     Sales and use tax filings where necessary (e.g., FL)

 

c.     Business license filings; gross receipts tax filings and accrual estimates

 

d.     Annual report/franchise tax filings

   Paul
Weatherford

(2a, d)

 

Eric Fellner

(2b, c)

   [TBD]   NOTE : A nticipate significant reliance on third-party service providers with REIT and partnership tax expertise in the U.S. and Puerto Rico with costs paid directly or reimbursed in accordance with section 2.01(c) of this Agreement.

3.      Puerto Rico

         Tax

  

a.     Work with outside tax advisors in preparing necessary tax returns, estimated tax filings and extension filings and facilitating payment of tax

 

b.     Work with outside tax advisors to administer withholding tax compliance and tax compliance responsibilities of non-Puerto Rico partners

 

c.     Separate entity financial statements and tax provision calculations

 

d.     Annual report/license/gross receipts filings

   Clark Olsen    [TBD]  

4.      Financial

         Accounting

  

a.     Quarterly tax provision, book-to-tax income calculations, effective tax rate calculations, tax accounting journal entry support

 

b.     Analysis of uncertain tax positions and quarterly tax reserve calculations and journal entry support (if necessary)

 

c.     Tax footnote disclosures for Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs

   Clark Olsen    [TBD]  

 

A-4


Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

   SHMC
Service
Manager
   Seritage
Service
Manager
 

Service Charge

5.      Transition Tax Functions to Seritage

  

a.     SHMC to assist Seritage in transitioning the responsibilities of managing the tax functions to Seritage

   Larry
Meerschaert
   [TBD]  

6.      Other Tax Services

  

a.     Other tax services as mutually agreed by the parties

   Larry
Meerschaert
   [TBD]  

7.      Seritage Responsibilities

  

Anything not listed above, including:

 

a.     Tax legal services

 

b.     Tax software licenses (e.g., income tax reporting, sales tax)

   N/A    [TBD]   N/A

 

 

A-5


Section 4: Information Technology (IT)

 

Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

  SHMC
Service
Manager
  Seritage
Service
Manager
 

Service Charge

Email/Directory/Handheld   

•      SHMC to provide email options for Seritage:

 

•      Access to MS Exchange mailboxes using MS Outlook (full client) or OWA (Web). Mobile access via ActiveSync

 

•      Archived storage of older messages

 

•      Central repository for shared information and files

 

•      Email delivery system for applications sending end-user notifications and alerts

 

•      7x24x365 day on-call production support

  [Carol
Ricchio]
  [TBD]  

Costs are per user per month for the options listed as follows:

 

Exchange: $7.16

 

Exchange + IM: $10.23

 

Exchange + IM + Mobile: $13.60

Telecom Data
(Support and Data Circuits)
  

•      [SHMC] to provide Seritage with data, network and voice services which include:

 

•      Installation of VPN capability for connectivity to SHC systems, as needed

 

•      Internet (DSL) connectivity, if needed

 

•      Provision of Voice Telecom capabilities

 

•      Wireless network design, installation and maintenance

 

•      Provision of LAN managed services

  [Carol
Ricchio]
  [TBD]  

Site Survey: One-time expense of $515.

 

VPN: One-time expense of $7,520

 

DSL: One-time expense of $258 plus monthly cost of $154

 

Voice Circuits: One-time expense of $1,360 plus monthly cost of $273

 

Wireless Network: One-time expense of $6,592 plus monthly maintenance cost of $36 per access point. One-time cost based on assumption of office space requiring 3 wireless access points.

 

LAN Services: One-time expense of $541 per LAN drop plus one-time circuit extension into office space and installation services of $10,450.

 

Travel and other expenses, as incurred.

 

A-6


Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

  SHMC
Service
Manager
  Seritage
Service
Manager
 

Service Charge

Desktop Services   

•      SHMC to provide Desktop Services options for Seritage:

 

Desktop Purchase Cost:

 

•      Procure Laptop Standard, Lightweight or MAC.

 

•      Hardware Maintenance is included in cost of purchase for 3 years.

 

•      Provide Image and customization as required

 

•      Utilize external VAR and internal resources to build units

 

•      If ongoing support required for a purchased laptop, monthly desktop services charge would apply.

 

Desktop Leasing (option if Seritage does not want to purchase desktops and laptops)

 

•      Create images for [BU units based on BON (business organization name and Role)]

 

•      Test builds and customize to function on standard hardware platforms

 

•      Procure hardware (desktops and laptops)

 

•      Utilize external VAR and internal resources to build units

 

Desktop Support – Remote and Onsite Desktop Support Services

 

•      Printer Support

 

•      Active Directory Policy Management

 

•      Hardware Lifecycle standardization Service

 

•      Depot and Relay PCs

 

•      Compliance Management

 

•      Maintain Architecture, Engineering, and Op’s Doc’s

 

•      Enterprise Standard VDI/Image Management

 

•      Application Packaging (for core-standard applications)

  [Carol

Ricchio]

  [TBD]  

Desktop configuration: One-time cost of $2,884

 

Desktop Purchase Cost:

 

•      Standard Desktop – Laptop, Docking Station, Keyboard, Mouse, 3YR Maintenance –$ 745.00

 

•      MAC Book Pro with Retina Apple care protection plan- $1603.00

 

•      Light Weight Dell Laptop – Laptop, Docking Station, Keyboard, Mouse, 3YR Maintenance – $1036.00

 

•      MAC Book Air – Apple Care Protection – $1532.00

 

Desktop Leasing: Cost is per person per month based upon technology selected:

 

•      Standard Desktop – $21.63

 

•      Standard Laptop – $37.08

 

•      Lightweight Laptop – $52.53

 

•      High End Laptop – $73.13

 

•      High End Desktop – $29.87

 

•      Re-imaging Fee – $144.20 per incident

 

•      Data Transfer – $113.30 – per incident

 

Desktop Support: Per person per month with cost based upon technology supported:

 

•      Win 7 /64 Bit – $21.84

 

•      Win XP 1 – $53.88

 

•      Alternate OS 2 – $27.81

 

•      Mobile Management – $3.70

 

•      BigFix Non-bundle – $1.40

 

•      Citrix – $21.63

 

•      Verastream – $15.45

 

1     Windows XP includes the 2015 Microsoft Custom Support Agreement fees

2     Alternate OS: Windows 7/32 Bit, Windows 8, Ubuntu or Mac OS

 

A-7


Section 5: Risk Management & Insurance

 

Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

  SHMC
Service
Manager
  Seritage
Service
Manager
 

Service Charge

Insurance   

•      SHMC to set-up initial insurance programs to be effective as of the transaction date.

 

•      SHMC to evaluate internal and external alternatives to handle administration of lessee insurance and recommend approach to be implemented within 30 days of the transaction date.

 

•      SHMC to provide support necessary for Seritage to assume management of insurance responsibilities within 30 days of the transaction date.

 

•      SHMC to provide reasonable cooperation in responding to inquiries from Seritage regarding transitioning from SHC’s insurance programs.

 

  Dave
Halffield
  [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$60 per hour

Surety Bond Management   

•      SHMC to provide Seritage support in setting up and implementing a standalone surety bond program necessary for the operation of the Seritage’s business.

 

•      SHMC to provide support necessary for Seritage to assume management of surety bond responsibilities within 30 days of the transaction date.

  Dave
Halffield
  [TBD]  

Time & Materials

 

$60 per hour

 

A-8


Section 6: Human Resources Services

 

Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

  

SHMC
Service
Manager

  

Seritage
Service
Manager

  

Service Charge

Outsourcing Human Resources Function   

•      SHMC to assist Seritage in outsourcing the HR functions of Seritage, including payroll tax administration, to a Human Resource Outsourcer (“HRO”) or Professional Employer Organization (“PEO”).

   Maciej Mrugala    [TBD]   

Time & Materials

 

$60 per hour

 

A-9


Section 7: Facilities Management

 

Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

 

SHMC

Service

Manager

  

Seritage
Service
Manager

  

Service Charge

Major Maintenance Projects   

•      SHC will provide project management services for major maintenance projects on an as requested basis. These services will include:

 

•      Roof replacement

 

•      Parking lot replacement

 

•      HVAC replacement

 

•      Facility Services will provide Preventative Maintenance for HVAC rooftop units and chillers as requested.

 

•      Preventative maintenance and repairs for Roofing, Parking lot and HVAC will be handled by SHC personnel or SHC third party provider

  Mark Conway    [TBD]   

Project Management Services

 

•      Roof Replacement: $23,375 per project

 

•      Parking Lot Replacement: $25,140 per project

 

•      HVAC replacement: $27,400 per project

 

Maintenance & Repair Services

 

3 rd party service provider costs will be passed through to Seritage at cost plus 15%

 

SHC Hourly rate is $85 per hour

Construction Projects   

•      SHC will provide project management services for construction projects on an as requested basis.

  Mark Conway    [TBD]    To be negotiated on project by project basis

 

A-10


Section 8: Real Estate Property Management [With respect to only those properties with third-party leases, other than the Real Estate Tax Services]

 

Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

   SHMC
Service
Manager
   Seritage
Service
Manager
  Service
Charge
Common Area Maintenance Services   

•      Preparation of a Budget, setting out the estimated operating receipts and expenditures of the Transferred Property on a month to month basis for the Service Period and showing ongoing expenses and any anticipated extraordinary expenses and capital expenditures and the approximate date funds therefor will be needed

 

•      Supervision of maintenance and repair of the Transferred Property

 

•      Cause the Transferred Properties to be maintained in a first-class manner comparable to other similar shopping centers located in the area and in good operating condition and repair at Seritage’s cost; provided however, the Demised Premises (as that term is described in the Master Lease) shall be maintained to the standards set forth in the Master Lease

   Tammi
Banaszak
   [TBD]   $85/hour
Real Estate Tax Services   

•      Personal property tax filings

 

•      Real estate tax filings; landlord reimbursements payments

 

•      Accrual estimates

 

•      Real Estate/Personal Property tax bills payments along with recommended changes in current monthly estimate of tax liability per location

 

•      Appeals and audit defense, where appropriate

 

•      Subtenant calculations

 

•      Various reporting

   Maggie
Mullen
   [TBD]   $85/hour
Property Management and Administration   

•      Perform normal asset management functions as contemplated by this Agreement including but not limited to Landlord’s requirements under Section 4.5 of the Master Lease and Article X of the Master Lease

        $85/hour

 

A-11


Function

  

Detailed Requirements/Other Matters

   SHMC
Service
Manager
   Seritage
Service
Manager
   Service
Charge
Third Party Tenant Lease Management   

•      Collection of third party tenant rents and other charges

 

•      Retain copies of all leases and tenant and occupant information relating to the Transferred Property in its files

 

•      Bill tenants and other occupants in the Transferred Property for, and collect all revenues received by SHMC including, without limitation, all fixed rents, percentage rents and other sums, whether payable as additional rent or otherwise payable by such tenants and occupants under their respective leases and other agreements, or by other parties under license, service or other agreements

 

•      Obtain and review statements of sales furnished by tenants to support their payment of percentage rentals or other sums and deduction

 

•      Use diligent efforts to enforce the performance by tenants of all requirements of their respective leases by all reasonable means. It is understood by both parties hereto that SHMC does not guarantee the payment or performance of any lease by any tenant.

   Tammi
Banaszak
      $85/hour
Transition Consultation   

•      Any assistance and/or services required to facilitate the transition of Services provided above from SHMC to Seritage, or its designated third party provider;

 

•      Assignment of any Contracts to Seritage which, pursuant to its terms, may be assigned;

 

•      Communication between SHMC departments and the Seritage counterpart relating to the process of implementation of Services by Seritage and/or its designated third party providers; and

 

•      Assistance, as needed, with the negotiation with third party provider of Services previously engaged by SHMC.

         $85/hour

 

A-12


Exhibit B

CONTACT PERSONS

For Seritage:

Matthew E. Fernand

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

(917) 355-8149

MFernand@seritage.com

For SHMC:

Dodge Daverman

Director, Corporate Development

(847) 286-9094

Dodge.Daverman@searshc.com

 

B-1


Exhibit C

LENDERS

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Attention: Joseph E. Geoghan
Joseph.Geoghan@jpmorgan.com
and H/2 SO III Funding I LLC
c/o H/2 Capital Partners LLC
680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Attention: Daniel Ottensoser
DOttensoser@h2cp.com
with copies to:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Attention: Nancy Alto
nancy.s.alto@jpmorgan.com
and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
One World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
Attention: William P. McInerney, Esq.
William.McInerney@cwt.com
and Strategic Asset Services LLC
375 Park Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10152
Attention: David Katz
dkatz@h2sas.com
and H/2 Capital Partners LLC
680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Attention: William Stefko, Esq.
wstefko@h2sas.com
and H/2 Capital Partners LLC
680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Attention: Maury Apple
mapple@h2cp.com
and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
Attention: Kimberly B. Blacklow, Esq.
kblacklow@cgsh.com

 

C-1

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, L.P.

 

 

Dated as of July 7, 2015

THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER THE SECURITIES OR “BLUE SKY” LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED UNLESS THEY ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES OR “BLUE SKY” LAWS, OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. SUCH PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.


ARTICLE 1

DEFINED TERMS

  1   

Section 1.1

Definitions

  1   

ARTICLE 2

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

  15   

Section 2.1

Organization

  15   

Section 2.2

Name

  15   

Section 2.3

Resident Agent; Principal Office

  15   

Section 2.4

Power of Attorney

  16   

Section 2.5

Term

  17   

Section 2.6

Number of Partners

  17   

Section 2.7

Partnership Interests are Securities

  17   

ARTICLE 3

PURPOSE

  17   

Section 3.1

Purpose and Business

  17   

Section 3.2

Powers

  18   

Section 3.3

Partnership Only for Purposes Specified

  18   

Section 3.4

Representations and Warranties by the Parties

  18   

ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

  20   

Section 4.1

Capital Contributions of the Partners

  20   

Section 4.2

Loans by Third Parties

  20   

Section 4.3

Additional Funding and Capital Contributions

  20   

Section 4.4

Stock Plan

  22   

Section 4.5

Other Contribution Provisions

  23   

ARTICLE 5

DISTRIBUTIONS

  24   

Section 5.1

Requirement and Characterization of Distributions

  24   

Section 5.2

Distributions in Kind

  24   

Section 5.3

Distributions Upon Liquidation

  25   

ARTICLE 6

ALLOCATIONS

  25   

Section 6.1

Timing and Amount of Allocations of Net Income and Net Loss

  25   

Section 6.2

General Allocations

  25   

Section 6.3

Additional Allocation Provisions

  25   

Section 6.4

Tax Allocations

  27   

ARTICLE 7

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS

  28   

Section 7.1

Management

  28   

Section 7.2

Certificate of Limited Partnership

  31   

Section 7.3

Restrictions on General Partner’s Authority

  31   

Section 7.4

Reimbursement of the General Partner

  34   

Section 7.5

Outside Activities of the General Partner

  35   

Section 7.6

Contracts with Affiliates

  36   

 

-i-


Section 7.7

Indemnification

  36   

Section 7.8

Liability of the General Partner

  38   

Section 7.9

Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

  39   

Section 7.10

Title to Partnership Assets

  39   

Section 7.11

Reliance by Third Parties

  40   

ARTICLE 8

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

  40   

Section 8.1

Limitation of Liability

  40   

Section 8.2

Management of Business

  40   

Section 8.3

Outside Activities of Limited Partners

  40   

Section 8.4

Return of Capital

  41   

Section 8.5

Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership

  41   

Section 8.6

Redemption Rights

  42   

ARTICLE 9

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

  45   

Section 9.1

Records and Accounting

  45   

Section 9.2

Fiscal Year

  45   

Section 9.3

Reports

  45   

ARTICLE 10

TAX MATTERS

  46   

Section 10.1

Preparation of Tax Returns

  46   

Section 10.3

Tax Matters Partner

  46   

Section 10.5

Withholding

  47   

ARTICLE 11

TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS

  48   

Section 11.1

Transfer

  48   

Section 11.2

Transfer of General Partner’s Partnership Interest

  48   

Section 11.3

Limited Partners’ Rights to Transfer

  49   

Section 11.4

Substituted Limited Partners

  51   

Section 11.5

Assignees

  51   

Section 11.6

General Provisions

  52   

ARTICLE 12

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

  53   

Section 12.1

Admission of Successor General Partner

  53   

Section 12.2

Admission of Additional Limited Partners

  53   

Section 12.3

Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

  54   

ARTICLE 13

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

  54   

Section 13.1

Dissolution

  54   

Section 13.2

Winding Up

  55   

Section 13.3

Rights of Limited Partners

  56   

Section 13.4

Notice of Dissolution

  56   

Section 13.5

Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

  56   

Section 13.6

Reasonable Time for Winding-Up

  56   

Section 13.7

Waiver of Partition

  57   

Section 13.8

Liability of Liquidator

  57   

 

-ii-


ARTICLE 14

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; CONSENTS

  57   

Section 14.1

Amendments

  57   

Section 14.2

Action by the Partners

  57   

ARTICLE 15

GENERAL PROVISIONS

  58   

Section 15.1

Addresses and Notice

  58   

Section 15.2

Titles and Captions

  58   

Section 15.3

Pronouns and Plurals

  58   

Section 15.4

Further Action

  59   

Section 15.5

Binding Effect

  59   

Section 15.6

Creditors

  59   

Section 15.7

Waiver

  59   

Section 15.8

Counterparts

  59   

Section 15.9

Applicable Law

  59   

Section 15.10

Invalidity of Provisions

  60   

Section 15.11

Entire Agreement

  60   

Section 15.12

No Rights as Shareholders

  60   

 

-iii-


AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, L.P.

THIS AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, dated as of July 7, 2015, is entered into by and among Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”), as the General Partner and the Persons whose names are set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto (the “ Contributors ”), as the Limited Partners, together with any other Persons who become Partners in the Partnership as provided herein.

WHEREAS, the Partnership (as defined below) was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware pursuant to a Certificate of Limited Partnership filed on April 22 , 2015;

WHEREAS, Sears Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Sears Holdings ”), will distribute to holders of its common stock subscription rights to purchase REIT Class A Common Shares (as defined below);

WHEREAS, the Company will issue REIT Class A Common Shares pursuant to such subscription rights in an offering (the “ Rights Offering ”) registered with the SEC (as defined below), and will contribute the net proceeds from the Rights Offering to the Partnership to fund the Partnership’s purchase of certain properties from certain Subsidiaries of Sears Holdings (the “ Properties Purchase ”); and

WHEREAS, the Partnership will issue Partnership Interests (as defined below) to the Company and certain other persons in connection with the Rights Offering and the Properties Purchase and certain related transactions.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINED TERMS

 

  Section 1.1 Definitions .

The following definitions shall be for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary, applied to the terms used in this Agreement.

Act ” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

Additional Funds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.A .


Additional Limited Partner ” means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 12.2 and who is shown as such on the books and records of the Partnership.

Adjustment Date ” means, with respect to any Capital Contribution, the close of business on the Business Day last preceding the date of the Capital Contribution, provided that if such Capital Contribution is being made by the General Partner in respect of the proceeds from the issuance of REIT Shares (or the issuance of the General Partner’s securities exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for REIT Shares), then the Adjustment Date shall be as of the close of business on the Business Day last preceding the date of the issuance of such securities.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

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

Agreement ” means this Agreement of Limited Partnership, as it may be amended or restated from time to time.

Appraisal ” means with respect to any assets, the opinion of an independent third party experienced in the valuation of similar assets, selected by the General Partner in good faith, provided that such opinion may be in the form of an opinion by such independent third party that the value for such property or asset as set by the General Partner is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Partnership.

Assignee ” means a Person to whom one or more Partnership Units have been transferred in a manner permitted under this Agreement, but who has not become a Substituted Limited Partner, and who has the rights set forth in Section 11.5 .

Available Cash ” means, with respect to any period for which such calculation is being made,

(i) the sum of:

a. the Partnership’s Net Income or Net Loss (as the case may be) for such period,

b. Depreciation and all other noncash charges deducted in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period,


c. the amount of any reduction in reserves of the Partnership referred to in clause (ii)(f) below (including, without limitation, reductions resulting because the General Partner determines such amounts are no longer necessary),

d. the excess of the net proceeds from the sale, exchange, disposition, or refinancing of Partnership property for such period over the gain (or loss, as the case may be) recognized from any such sale, exchange, disposition, or refinancing during such period (excluding Terminating Capital Transactions), and

e. all other cash received by the Partnership for such period that was not included in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period;

(ii) less the sum of:

a. all principal debt payments made during such period by the Partnership,

b. capital expenditures made by the Partnership during such period,

c. investments in any entity (including loans made thereto) to the extent that such investments are not otherwise described in clauses (ii)(a) or (b) above,

d. all other expenditures and payments not deducted in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period,

e. any amount included in determining Net Income or Net Loss for such period that was not received by the Partnership during such period,

f. the amount of any increase in reserves established during such period which the General Partner determines is necessary or appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion, and

g. the amount of any working capital accounts and other cash or similar balances which the General Partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion.

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

Board ” means the Board of Trustees of the Company.

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

Capital Account ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6 .


Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Partner, the amount of money and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Partnership with respect to the Partnership Units held by such Partner (net of liabilities secured by such property which the Partnership assumes or takes subject to).

Cash Amount ” means, with respect to any Common Units subject to a Redemption, an amount of cash equal to the Deemed Partnership Interest Value attributable to such Common Units.

Certificate ” means the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 22, 2015, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and the Act.

Change of Control ” means any occurrence resulting in (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities entitled to vote in the election of members of the Board having 30% or more of the then-outstanding voting power of the Company; (ii) the Company becoming a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange, reorganization, sale of assets or other similar extraordinary transaction, or a proxy contest, in each case as a consequence of which members of the Board in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board thereafter; or (iii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board (including for this purpose any new trustee whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the trustees then still in office who were trustees at the beginning of such period, other than those trustees appointed, or nominated for election, in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest or other non-consensual attempt to influence or modify the Board) ceasing for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board.

Charter ” means the Declaration of Trust of the Company filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation on June 3, 2015, as amended or restated on July 6, 2015 and as further amended or restated from time to time.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Common Unit ” means a Partnership Unit representing a Partnership Interest that is without preference as to distributions and allocations or rights upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Consent ” means the consent to, approval of, or vote on a proposed action by a Partner given in accordance with Article 14 .

Consent of the Limited Partners ” means the Consent of a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners, which Consent shall be obtained prior to the taking of any action for which it is required by this Agreement and may be given or withheld by a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, in their sole and absolute discretion.


Consolidated Economic Ownership Interest ” means, as of any specified time, for any specified Person, the collective percentage of economic ownership of the Company held by such Person, assuming for such purposes that all Common Units held by Partners other than the General Partner have been converted into REIT Class A Common Shares.

Contributed Property ” means each property or other asset, in such form as may be permitted by the Act, but excluding cash, contributed or deemed contributed to the Partnership (or deemed contributed to the Partnership on termination and reconstitution thereof pursuant to Code Section 708).

Contributors ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Conversion Factor ” means 1.0; provided that in the event that:

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

(ii) the Company distributes any rights, options or warrants to all holders of any class of its REIT Economic Shares to subscribe for or to purchase or to otherwise acquire REIT Economic Shares (or other securities or rights convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for REIT Economic Shares) at a price per share less than the Fair Market Value of a REIT Economic Share on the record date for such distribution (each a “ Distributed Right ”), then, as of the distribution date of such Distributed Rights or, if later, the time such Distributed Rights become exercisable, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction (a) the numerator of which shall be the number of such class of REIT Economic Shares issued and outstanding on the record date (or, if later, the date such Distributed Rights become exercisable) plus the maximum number of such class of REIT Economic Shares purchasable under such Distributed Rights and (b) the denominator of which shall be the number of such class of REIT Economic Shares issued and outstanding on the record date (or, if later, the date such Distributed Rights become exercisable) plus a fraction (I) the numerator of which is the minimum aggregate purchase price under such Distributed Rights of the maximum number of such class of REIT Economic Shares purchasable under such Distributed Rights and (II) the


denominator of which is the Fair Market Value of a REIT Economic Share of such class as of the record date (or, if later, the date such Distributed Rights become exercisable); provided , however , that, if any such Distributed Rights expire or become no longer exercisable, then the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted, effective retroactive to the date of distribution (or, if later, the date such Distributed Rights become exercisable) of the Distributed Rights, to reflect a reduced maximum number of such class of REIT Economic Shares or any change in the minimum aggregate purchase price for the purposes of the above fraction; and

(iii) the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all holders of a class of its REIT Economic Shares evidences of its indebtedness or assets (including securities, but excluding any dividend or distribution referred to in subsection (i) or (ii) above), which evidences of indebtedness or assets relate to assets not received by the Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant to a pro rata distribution by the Partnership, then the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted to equal the amount determined by multiplying the Conversion Factor in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed for determination of shareholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction the numerator of which shall be such Fair Market Value of a REIT Economic Share of such class on the date fixed for such determination and the denominator of which shall be the Fair Market Value of a REIT Economic Share of such class on the date fixed for such determination less the then fair market value (as reasonably determined by the General Partner) of the portion of the evidences of indebtedness or assets so distributed applicable to one REIT Economic Share.

Any adjustment to the Conversion Factor shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event (or, if later, the date such Distributed Rights become exercisable). If, however, the General Partner received a Notice of Redemption after the record date, if any, but prior to the effective date of such event, the Conversion Factor shall be determined as if the General Partner had received the Notice of Redemption immediately prior to the record date for such event.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Conversion Factor shall not be adjusted in connection with an event described in clauses (i) or (ii) above if, in connection with such event, the Partnership makes a distribution of cash, Partnership Units, REIT Economic Shares and/or rights, options or warrants to acquire Partnership Units and/or REIT Economic Shares with respect to all applicable Common Units or effects a reverse split of, or otherwise combines, the Common Units, as applicable, that is comparable as a whole in all material respects with such event.

Debt ” means, as to any Person, as of any date of determination, (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services; (ii) all amounts owed by such Person to banks or other Persons in respect to reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments guaranteeing payment or other performance of obligations by such Person; (iii) all indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services secured by any lien on any property owned by such Person, to the extent attributable to such Person’s interest in such property, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment thereof; and (iv) lease obligations of such Person that, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, should be capitalized.


Deemed Partnership Interest Value ” means, as of any date with respect to any class of Partnership Interests, the Deemed Value of the Partnership Interests of such class multiplied by the applicable Partner’s Percentage Interest of such class.

Deemed Value of the Partnership Interests ” means, as of any date with respect to any class or series of Partnership Interests, (i) the total number of shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner corresponding to such class or series of Partnership Interests (as provided for in Sections 4.1 and 4.3 ) issued and outstanding as of the close of business on such date (excluding any treasury shares) multiplied by the Fair Market Value of a share of such beneficial interest on such date; (ii) divided by the Percentage Interest of the General Partner in such class of Partnership Interests on such date.

Depreciation ” means, for each Partnership Year or other period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable under the Code with respect to a Partnership asset for such year or other period, except that if the Gross Asset Value of a Partnership asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided , however , that if the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.

Distributed Right ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “ Conversion Factor .”

ESL Holders ” means Mr. Edward S. Lampert, ESL Partners, L.P. and their respective its Affiliates.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any share of beneficial interest of the General Partner, the average of the daily market price for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date with respect to which “Fair Market Value” must be determined hereunder or, if such date is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day; provided, that it is agreed that the Fair Market Value of the REIT Class C Common Shares shall be deemed to be the same as the REIT Class A Common Shares. The market price for each such Trading Day shall be: (i) if such shares are listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange, the closing price, regular way, on such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, (ii) if such shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange, the last reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner, or (iii) if such shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General


Partner, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than ten (10) days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided that, if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten (10) days prior to the date in question, the Fair Market Value of such shares shall be determined by the General Partner acting reasonably and in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate; and provided , further, that, in connection with determining the Deemed Value of the Partnership Interests for purposes of determining the number of additional Partnership Units issuable upon a Capital Contribution funded by an underwritten public offering of shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner, the Fair Market Value of such shares shall be the public offering price per share of such class of beneficial interest sold.

Flow Through Entity ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6 .

Funding Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.B .

General Partner ” means the Company or its successor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as general partner of the Partnership.

General Partner Interest ” means the Partnership Interest held by the General Partner in its capacity as General Partner, which Partnership Interest is an interest as a general partner under the Act. A General Partner Interest may be expressed as a number of any type of Partnership Units.

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

(i) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as determined by the contributing Partner and the General Partner; provided that if the contributing Partner and the General Partner cannot agree on such determination, such determination shall be made by Appraisal; provided , further , that if the contributing Partner is the General Partner then, except with respect to the General Partner’s capital contributions of cash, REIT Shares or other shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner, the determination of the fair market value of the contributed asset shall be determined by (a) the price paid by the General Partner if the asset is acquired by the General Partner contemporaneously with its contribution to the Partnership or (b) Appraisal, if otherwise acquired by the General Partner.

(ii) The Gross Asset Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as determined by the General Partner using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt, immediately prior to the following events:

 

  (a) a Capital Contribution (other than a de minimis Capital Contribution, within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5)(i)) to the Partnership by a new or existing Partner as consideration for Partnership Units, if the General Partner reasonably determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners in the Partnership;


  (b) the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5)(i)) of Partnership property as consideration for the redemption of Partnership Units, if the General Partner reasonably determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners in the Partnership;

 

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

 

  (d) at such other times as the General Partner shall reasonably determine necessary or advisable in order to comply with Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2.

(ii) The Gross Asset Value of Partnership assets distributed to any Partner shall be the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution as determined by the distributee and the General Partner, or if the distributee and the General Partner cannot agree on such a determination, by Appraisal.

(iii) If the Gross Asset Value of a Partnership asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (i) or (ii), such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Net Income and Net Losses.

Holder ” means either the Partner or an Assignee owning a Partnership Unit.

Immediate Family ” means, with respect to any natural Person, such natural Person’s estate or heirs or current spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children, siblings and grandchildren and any trust or estate, all of the beneficiaries of which consist of such Person or such Person’s spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children, siblings or grandchildren.

Incapacity ” or “ Incapacitated ” means, (i) as to any natural person that is a Partner, death, total physical disability or entry by a court of competent jurisdiction adjudicating him or her incompetent to manage his or her Person or his or her estate; (ii) as to any corporation that is a Partner, the filing of a certificate of dissolution, or its equivalent, for the corporation or the revocation of its charter; (iii) as to any partnership that is a Partner, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of the partnership; (iv) as to any estate that is a Partner, the distribution by the fiduciary of the estate’s entire interest in the Partnership; (v) as to any trustee of a trust that is a Partner, the termination of the trust (but not the substitution of a new trustee); or (vi) as to any Partner, the bankruptcy of such Partner. For purposes of this definition, bankruptcy of a Partner shall be deemed to have occurred when (a) the Partner commences a voluntary proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (b) the Partner is adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a final and nonappealable order for relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect has been entered against the Partner, (c) the Partner executes and delivers a general assignment for the benefit of the Partner’s creditors, (d) the Partner files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations


of a petition filed against the Partner in any proceeding of the nature described in clause (b) above, (e) the Partner seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator for the Partner or for all or any substantial part of the Partner’s properties, (f) any proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect has not been dismissed within one hundred twenty (120) days after the commencement thereof, (g) the appointment without the Partner’s consent or acquiescence of a trustee, receiver or liquidator has not been vacated or stayed within ninety (90) days of such appointment, or (h) an appointment referred to in clause (g) is not vacated within ninety (90) days after the expiration of any such stay.

Indemnitee ” means (i) any Person made a party, or threatened to be made a party, to a proceeding by reason of his, her or its status as (a) the Company, (b) the General Partner or (c) a director, trustee, officer, or employee of the Company, the General Partner or the Partnership, and (ii) such other Persons (including, without limitation, Affiliates, officers, employees and agents of the Company, the General Partner or the Partnership or any of their respective Subsidiaries) as the General Partner may designate from time to time (whether before or after the event giving rise to potential liability), in its sole and absolute discretion.

IRS ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Limited Partner ” means any Person named as a Limited Partner in Exhibit A attached hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time, or any Substituted Limited Partner or Additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

Limited Partnership Interest ” means a Partnership Interest of a Limited Partner representing a fractional part of the Partnership Interests of all Limited Partners and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. A Limited Partnership Interest may be expressed as a number of Partnership Units.

Liquidating Events ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1 .

Liquidator ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.2.A .

Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners ” means Limited Partners, excluding the General Partner and its controlled Affiliates in their respective capacities as holders of Limited Partnership Interests, holding in the aggregate Percentage Interests of Limited Partnership Interests that are greater than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Percentage Interests of Limited Partnership Interests held by all Limited Partners, excluding any and all Limited Partnership Interests held by the General Partner and its controlled Affiliates.

Minimum Gain ” means an amount determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(d) by computing, with respect to each Nonrecourse Liability of the Partnership, the amount of gain, if any, that the Partnership would realize if it disposed of the property subject to such liability for no consideration other than full satisfaction thereof, and by then aggregating the amounts so computed.


Minimum Gain Chargeback ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.A .

Net Income ” or “ Net Loss ” means for each Partnership Year, an amount equal to the Partnership’s taxable income or loss for such Partnership Year, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), adjusted as follows:

(i) Any income of the Partnership that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss pursuant to this definition of Net Income or Net Loss shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

(ii) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Partnership Year;

(iii) Any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 6.3 and 6.4 shall not be taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss; and

(iv) Any expenditures of the Partnership described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) (or treated as such under Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i)) and not otherwise taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss pursuant to this definition of Net Income or Net Loss shall be deducted in calculating such taxable income or loss.

New Securities ” means (i) any rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities having the right to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares or other shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner, excluding grants under any Stock Plan, or (ii) any Debt issued by the General Partner that provides any of the rights described in clause (i).

Non-Economic Unit ” means a Partnership Unit representing a Partnership Interest that is not entitled to distributions or allocations, including upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Nonrecourse Deductions ” shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1) and Regulations Section 1.704-2(c).

Nonrecourse Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).

Notice of Redemption ” means the Notice of Redemption substantially in the form of Exhibit B to this Agreement.

Partner ” means a General Partner or a Limited Partner, and “ Partners ” means the General Partner(s) and the Limited Partners.

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


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

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

Partnership ” means the limited partnership formed under the Act and pursuant to this Agreement, and any successor thereto.

Partnership Interest ” means an ownership interest in the Partnership of either a Limited Partner or the General Partner and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. There may be one or more classes or series of Partnership Interests as provided in Section 4.3 . A Partnership Interest may be expressed as a number of Partnership Units. Unless otherwise expressly provided for by the General Partner at the time of the original issuance of any Partnership Interests, all Partnership Interests (whether of a Limited Partner or a General Partner) shall be of the same class or series.

Partnership Minimum Gain ” shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2).

Partnership Record Date ” means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of Available Cash with respect to Partnership Interests (other than Non-Economic Units) that are not entitled to any preference in distribution pursuant to Section 5.1 , which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution to its shareholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

Partnership Unit ” means, with respect to any class of Partnership Interest, a fractional, undivided share of such class of Partnership Interest issued pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.3 . The ownership of Partnership Units may be (but is not required to be) evidenced by a certificate for units substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto or as the General Partner may otherwise determine with respect to any class of Partnership Units issued from time to time under Sections 4.1 and 4.3 .

Partnership Year ” means the fiscal year of the Partnership, which shall be the calendar year.

Percentage Interest ” means, as to a Partner holding a class or series of Partnership Interests, its interest in such class or series as determined by dividing the Partnership Units of such class or series owned by such Partner by the total number of Partnership Units of such class then outstanding as specified in Exhibit A attached hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time. If the Partnership issues more than one class or series of Partnership Interests, the interest in the Partnership among the classes or series of Partnership Interests shall be determined as set forth in the amendment to the Partnership Agreement setting forth the rights and privileges of such additional classes or series of Partnership Interest, if any, as contemplated by Section 4.3.D .


Person ” means an individual or a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association or other entity.

Preemptive Rights Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.C(2) .

Properties ” means such interests in real property and personal property, including without limitation, fee interests, interests in ground leases, interests in joint ventures, interests in mortgages and Debt instruments, as the Partnership may hold from time to time.

Properties Purchase ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Qualified Transferee ” means an “Accredited Investor” as defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Redemption ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.A .

Redemption Underwriter ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.G .

Regulations ” means the final, temporary or proposed income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

Regulatory Allocations ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.F .

REIT ” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Code Sections 856 through 859.

REIT Class A Common Share ” means a Class A common share of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, of the General Partner.

REIT Class B Common Share ” means a Class B common share of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, of the General Partner.

REIT Class C Common Share ” means a Class C common share of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share, of the General Partner.

REIT Economic Share ” means a REIT Class A Common Share or a REIT Class C Common Share.

REIT Requirements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 .

REIT Share ” means a common share of beneficial interest of the General Partner, which may be, without limitation, a REIT Class A Common Share, REIT Class B Common Share or REIT Class C Common Share.


REIT Shares Amount ” means, as of any date, an aggregate number of REIT Economic Shares equal to the number of Tendered Units or Repurchased REIT Shares or, for purposes of Section 11.2.B, one Partnership Unit, as applicable (provided, that in the case of Tendered Units, such REIT Economic Shares shall be REIT Class A Common Shares), multiplied by the Conversion Factor.

REIT Shares Election ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.B .

Repurchased REIT Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Section 7.5.C .

Rights Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Sears Holdings ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

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

Specified Redemption Date ” means the day of receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Redemption.

Stock Plan ” means any share incentive, share option, share ownership or employee benefits plan of the General Partner.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity of which 50% or more of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (ii) the outstanding equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

Substituted Limited Partner ” means a Person who is admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership pursuant to Section 11.4 .

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth within Code Section 6231(a)(7).

Tenant ” means any tenant from which the General Partner derives rent either directly or indirectly through partnerships, including the Partnership.

Tendered Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.A .

Tendering Partner ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.6.A .

Terminating Capital Transaction ” means any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or a related series of transactions that, taken together, result in the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership.

Termination Transaction ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.2.B .


Trading Day ” means, if shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner are listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange, any day on which such shares are traded on such securities exchange (or, if there are more than one such exchange, the principal such exchange) or (ii) if such shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange, any date for which sales prices or closing bid and asked prices (or, if they are not available, high bid and low asked prices) are reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the General Partner.

ARTICLE 2

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

  Section 2.1 Organization

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

 

  Section 2.2 Name

The name of the Partnership is Seritage Growth Properties, L.P. The Partnership’s business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed advisable by the General Partner, including the name of the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof. The words “Limited Partnership,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.” or similar words or letters shall be included in the Partnership’s name where necessary for the purposes of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion may change the name of the Partnership at any time and from time to time and shall notify the Limited Partners of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners.

 

  Section 2.3 Resident Agent; Principal Office

The registered agent of the Partnership for service of process in the State of Delaware and the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is c/o The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The General Partner may from time to time designate in its sole and absolute discretion another registered agent or another location for the registered office or principal place of business, and shall provide the Limited Partners with notice of such change in the next regular communication to the Limited Partners. The principal office of the Partnership shall be located at 54 West 40th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or at such other place as the General Partner may from time to time designate by notice to the Limited Partners. The Partnership may maintain offices at such other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the General Partner deems advisable.


  Section 2.4 Power of Attorney

A. Each Limited Partner and each Assignee constitutes and appoints the General Partner, any Liquidator and the authorized officers and attorneys-in-fact of each of the foregoing, and each of those acting singly, in each case with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in its name, place and stead to:

(1) execute, swear to, seal, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (a) all certificates, documents and other instruments (including, without limitation, this Agreement and the Certificate and all amendments or restatements thereof) that the General Partner or any Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify or continue the existence or qualification of the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the Limited Partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct business or own property; (b) all instruments that the General Partner or any Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement duly adopted in accordance with its terms; (c) all conveyances and other instruments or documents that the General Partner or any Liquidator deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, a certificate of cancellation; (d) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of any Partner pursuant to, or other events described in, Article 11 , 12 or 13 hereof or the Capital Contribution of any Partner; and (e) all certificates, documents and other instruments relating to the determination of the rights, preferences and privileges of Partnership Interests; and

(2) execute, swear to, seal, acknowledge and file all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner or any Liquidator, to make, evidence, give, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action that is made or given by the Partners hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement or appropriate or necessary, in the sole discretion of the General Partner or any Liquidator, to effectuate the terms or intent of this Agreement.

Nothing contained herein shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner or any Liquidator to amend this Agreement except in accordance with Article 14 hereof or as may be otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement.

B. The foregoing power of attorney is hereby declared to be irrevocable and a power coupled with an interest, in recognition of the fact that each of the Partners will be relying upon the power of the General Partner and any Liquidator to act as contemplated by this Agreement in any filing or other action by it on behalf of the Partnership, and it shall survive and not be affected by the subsequent Incapacity of any Limited Partner or Assignee or the transfer of all or any portion of such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s Partnership Units and shall extend to such Limited Partner’s or Assignee’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives. Each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby agrees to be bound by any representation made by


the General Partner or any Liquidator, acting in good faith pursuant to such power of attorney; and each such Limited Partner or Assignee hereby waives any and all defenses which may be available to contest, negate or disaffirm the action of the General Partner or any Liquidator, taken in good faith under such power of attorney. Each Limited Partner or Assignee shall execute and deliver to the General Partner or any Liquidator, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the General Partner’s or Liquidator’s request therefor, such further designation, powers of attorney and other instruments as the General Partner or any Liquidator, as the case may be, deems necessary to effectuate this Agreement and the purposes of the Partnership.

 

  Section 2.5 Term

The term of the Partnership shall be perpetual unless the Partnership is dissolved sooner pursuant to the provisions of Article 13 or as otherwise provided by law.

 

  Section 2.6 Number of Partners

Without the consent of the General Partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion, the Partnership shall not at any time have more than 100 partners (including as partners those persons indirectly owning an interest in the Partnership through a partnership, limited liability company, S corporation or grantor trust (such entity, a “ Flow Through Entity ”), but only if substantially all of the value of such person’s interest in the Flow Through Entity is attributable to the Flow Through Entity’s interest (direct or indirect) in the Partnership).

 

  Section 2.7 Partnership Interests are Securities

All Partnership Interests shall be securities within the meaning of, and governed by, (i)  Article 8 of the Delaware Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware and (ii)  Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction.

ARTICLE 3

PURPOSE

 

  Section 3.1 Purpose and Business

The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, provided , however , that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the General Partner at all times to be classified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, unless the General Partner ceases to qualify as a REIT for reasons other than the conduct of the business of the Partnership, (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other similar arrangement to engage in any business described in the foregoing clause (i) or to own interests in any entity engaged, directly or indirectly, in any such business and (iii) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing.


In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the General Partner’s right in its sole discretion to cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the General Partner has elected REIT status and the General Partner’s continued qualification as a REIT and the avoidance of income and excise taxes on the General Partner inure to the benefit of all the Partners and not solely to the General Partner. The General Partner shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” taxable as a corporation for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code.

 

  Section 3.2 Powers

The Partnership is empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described herein and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership, including, without limitation, full power and authority, directly or through its ownership interest in other entities, to enter into, perform and carry out contracts of any kind, borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness, whether or not secured by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien, acquire, own, manage, improve and develop real property, and lease, sell, transfer and dispose of real property; provided , however , that the Partnership shall not take, or refrain from taking, any action which, in the judgment of the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, could (i) adversely affect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT, (ii) subject the General Partner to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code or (iii) violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the General Partner or its securities or the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, unless any such action (or inaction) under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) shall have been specifically consented to by the General Partner in writing.

 

  Section 3.3 Partnership Only for Purposes Specified

The Partnership shall be a partnership only for the purposes specified in Section 3.1 , and this Agreement shall not be deemed to create a company, venture or partnership among the Partners with respect to any activities whatsoever other than the activities within the purposes of the Partnership as specified in Section 3.1 . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Partner shall have any authority to act for, bind, commit or assume any obligation or responsibility on behalf of the Partnership, its properties or any other Partner. No Partner, in its capacity as a Partner under this Agreement, shall be responsible or liable for any indebtedness or obligation of another Partner, nor shall the Partnership be responsible or liable for any indebtedness or obligation of any Partner, incurred either before or after the execution or delivery of this Agreement by such Partner, except as to those responsibilities, liabilities, indebtedness or obligations incurred pursuant to and as limited by the terms of this Agreement and the Act.


  Section 3.4 Representations and Warranties by the Parties

A. Each Partner that is a natural person represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) such Partner has the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and perform such Partner’s obligations hereunder, (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by such Partner will not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s property is bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner is subject, and (iii) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms.

B. Each Partner that is not a natural person represents and warrants to each other Partner that (i) its execution and delivery of this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by it have been duly authorized by all necessary action, including without limitation, that of its general partner(s), committee(s), trustee(s), member(s), beneficiaries, directors and/or shareholder(s), as the case may be, as required, (ii) the consummation of such transactions shall not result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, its certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, trust agreement, limited liability company operating agreement, charter or bylaws, as the case may be, any agreement by which such Partner or any of such Partner’s properties or any of its partners, beneficiaries, trustees, members, directors or shareholders, as the case may be, is or are bound, or any statute, regulation, order or other law to which such Partner or any of its partners, trustees, beneficiaries, members, directors or shareholders, as the case may be, is or are subject, and (iii) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Partner in accordance with its terms.

C. Each Partner represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act, (ii) it has acquired and continues to hold its interest in the Partnership for its own account for investment purposes only and not for the purpose of, or with a view toward, the resale or distribution of all or any part thereof in violation of applicable laws, nor with a view toward selling or otherwise distributing such interest or any part thereof at any particular time or under any predetermined circumstances in violation of applicable laws. Each Partner further represents and warrants that it is a sophisticated investor, able and accustomed to handling sophisticated financial matters for itself, particularly real estate investments, and that it has a sufficiently high net worth that it does not anticipate a need for the funds that it has invested in the Partnership in what it understands to be a highly speculative and illiquid investment.

D. The representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.4.A , 3.4.B and 3.4.C and this Section 3.4.D shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each Partner and the dissolution, liquidation, termination and winding up of the Partnership.

E. Each Partner hereby acknowledges that no representations as to potential profit, cash flows, funds from operations or yield, if any, in respect of the Partnership or the General Partner have been made by any Partner or any employee or representative or Affiliate of any Partner, and that projections and any other information, including, without limitation, financial and descriptive information and documentation, which may have been in any manner


submitted to such Partner shall not constitute any representation or warranty of any kind or nature, express or implied, and no representation or warranty of any kind or nature has been made by any Partner or any employee or representative or Affiliate of any Partner with respect thereto.

F. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, permit the modification of any of the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.4.A , 3.4.B and 3.4.C above as applicable to any Partner, provided that such representations and warranties, as modified, shall be set forth in a separate writing addressed to the Partnership and the General Partner.

 

  Section 3.5 ERISA

It is expected that the Partnership’s assets will not constitute plan assets under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended and to the extent, the Partnership qualifies as a “real estate operating company” under the Department of Labor Regulation 2531.3-101(e), its annual valuation period (and the annual valuation of the General Partner, if any) shall be commence on the January 1st of each year.

ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS

 

  Section 4.1 Capital Contributions of the Partners

At the time of their respective execution of this Agreement, the Partners shall make Capital Contributions as set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement. The Partners shall own Partnership Units of the class or series and in the amounts and Percentage Interests set forth in Exhibit A , which Exhibit A shall be adjusted from time to time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to reflect accurately exchanges, redemptions, Capital Contributions, the issuance of additional Partnership Units or similar events. Except as required by law or as otherwise provided in Sections 4.3 and 4.4 , no Partner shall be required or permitted to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership. Unless otherwise specified by the General Partner at the time of the creation of any class of Partnership Interests, such Partnership Interests shall be Common Units and the class or series of beneficial interest of the Company corresponding thereto shall be REIT Class A Common Shares.

 

  Section 4.2 Loans by Third Parties

The Partnership may incur Debt, or enter into other similar credit, guarantee, financing or refinancing arrangements for any purpose (including, without limitation, in connection with any acquisition of Properties) upon such terms as the General Partner determines appropriate; provided that, the Partnership shall not incur any Debt that is recourse to any Partner, except to the extent otherwise agreed to by the applicable Partner in its sole discretion.


  Section 4.3 Additional Funding and Capital Contributions

A. General . The General Partner may, at any time and from time to time determine that the Partnership requires additional funds (“ Additional Funds ”) for the acquisition of additional Properties, redemption of Partnership Units or such other purposes as the General Partner may determine. Additional Funds may be raised by the Partnership, at the election of the General Partner, from (i) outside borrowings (subject to Section 4.2 ), (ii) the General Partner or any of its Affiliates or (iii) additional Capital Contributions (subject to this Section 4.3 ).

B. Funding Notice . The General Partner shall give written notice (the “ Funding Notice ”) to the Limited Partners of the need for Additional Funds and the anticipated source(s) thereof.

C. Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests .

(1) Upon delivery of a Funding Notice, the General Partner may raise all or any portion of the Additional Funds by accepting additional Capital Contributions. In connection with any such additional Capital Contributions (of cash or property) the General Partner is hereby authorized, subject to Section 4.3.C(2) , to cause the Partnership from time to time to issue to Partners (including the General Partner) or other Persons (including, without limitation, in connection with the contribution of property to the Partnership) additional Common Units or, in the case of other Persons but not the General Partner, other Partnership Interests in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to then-existing Limited Partnership Interests, all as shall be determined by the General Partner, subject to Delaware law, including without limitation, (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to such class or series of Partnership Interests, (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Interests to share in Partnership distributions and (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Interests upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; provided , that this Agreement shall be amended to the extent necessary to reflect the terms of any such Partnership Interests in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, including such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, at the time of the issuance of additional Partnership Interests.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 4.3.C(1) , at least 10 Business Days prior to the issuance to the General Partner of any additional Common Units pursuant to Section 4.3.C(1), the General Partner shall give notice to each other Partner holding Common Units (a “ Preemptive Rights Notice ”). The Preemptive Rights Notice shall set forth all material terms of the proposed issuance, including the number of Common Units to be issued, the purchase price per Common Unit and the anticipated closing date of the issuance; provided, that in the event of any change to such material terms, the General Partner shall be required to give each Partner a new Preemptive Rights Notice. Each Partner receiving a Preemptive Rights Notice shall have the right, upon written notice to the General Partner and at a price per Common Unit equal to the price specified in the Preemptive Rights Notice, to purchase up to an amount of additional Common Units necessary to maintain such Partner’s Consolidated


Economic Ownership Interest immediately prior to the issuance, during the period commencing on its receipt of the Preemptive Rights Notice and until one hundred eighty (180) days following the closing of the issuance; provided that to the extent Partners elect to exercise such rights at different times during the one hundred eighty (180)-day period, each Partner shall have a continuing right to make purchases during such period to maintain its Consolidated Economic Ownership Interest. Such purchase shall occur (a) on the closing of the issuance to the General Partner, if the Partner gives notice pursuant to the preceding sentence within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the Preemptive Rights Notice, or (b) on such later date as may be specified in the notice given pursuant to the preceding sentence (such date to be no earlier than five (5) Business Days after such notice is given and no later than one hundred eighty (180) days following the anticipated closing of the issuance specified in the Preemptive Rights Notice).

D. Issuance of REIT Shares or Other Securities by the General Partner . The General Partner shall not issue any additional REIT Shares (other than (x) REIT Shares issued pursuant to Section 8.6 or pursuant to a dividend or distribution (including any share split) of REIT Shares to all of its shareholders or (y) REIT Class A Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of REIT Class C Common Shares pursuant to the terms of such REIT Class C Common Shares), other shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner or New Securities unless (i) the General Partner shall make a Capital Contribution of the net proceeds from the issuance of such additional REIT Shares, other shares of beneficial interest or New Securities, as the case may be, and from the exercise of the rights contained in such additional New Securities, as the case may be, and (ii) except with respect to securities to be issued pursuant to any Stock Plan or dividend reinvestment plan, the General Partner shall have delivered to the Limited Partners a Funding Notice regarding the securities to be issued.

E. Percentage Interest Adjustments in the Case of Capital Contributions for Partnership Units . Upon the acceptance of additional Capital Contributions in exchange for any class or series of Partnership Units, the Percentage Interest related thereto shall be equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the amount of cash and the Agreed Value of the Property contributed as of the Adjustment Date and the denominator of which is equal to the sum of (i) the Deemed Value of the Partnership Interests of such class or series (computed as of the Business Day immediately preceding the Adjustment Date) and (ii) the aggregate amount of additional Capital Contributions contributed to the Partnership on such Adjustment Date in respect of such class or series of Partnership Interests. The Percentage Interest of each other Partner holding Partnership Interests of such class or series not making a full pro rata Capital Contribution shall be adjusted to equal a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the sum of (i) the Deemed Partnership Interest Value of such Limited Partner in respect of such class or series (computed as of the Business Day immediately preceding the Adjustment Date) and (ii) the amount of additional Capital Contributions made by such Partner to the Partnership in respect of such class or series of Partnership Interests as of such Adjustment Date, and the denominator of which is equal to the sum of (x) the Deemed Value of the Partnership Interests of such class or series (computed as of the Business Day immediately preceding the Adjustment Date) and (y) the aggregate amount of additional Capital Contributions contributed by all Partners and/or third parties to the Partnership on such Adjustment Date in respect of such class or series; provided , however , that solely for purposes of calculating a Partner’s Percentage Interest pursuant to this Section 4.3.E , cash Capital Contributions by the General Partner will be deemed to equal the cash contributed by the General Partner plus, in the case of cash contributions funded by an


offering of any shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner, the offering costs attributable to the cash contributed to the Partnership. The General Partner shall promptly give each Partner written notice of its Percentage Interest, as adjusted.

 

  Section 4.4 Stock Plan

If at any time or from time to time the General Partner sells REIT Class A Common Shares pursuant to any Stock Plan, the General Partner shall contribute the proceeds therefrom to the Partnership as an additional Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 4.3 in exchange for an amount of additional Common Units equal to the number of REIT Class A Common Shares so sold. The General Partner’s Capital Account shall be increased by the amount of cash so contributed.

 

  Section 4.5 Other Contribution Provisions

In the event that any Partner is admitted to the Partnership (or any existing Partner is issued additional Partnership Interests) and is given a Capital Account in exchange for services rendered to the Partnership, such transaction shall be treated by the Partnership and the affected Partner as if the Partnership had compensated such Partner in cash and the Partner had contributed such cash to the capital of the Partnership. In addition, with the consent of the General Partner, one or more Limited Partners may enter into contribution agreements with the Partnership which have the effect of providing a guarantee of certain obligations of the Partnership.

 

  Section 4.6 Capital Accounts

The Partnership shall establish and maintain a separate capital account (“ Capital Account ”) for each Partner, including a Partner who shall pursuant to the provisions hereof acquire a Partnership Interest (other than Non-Economic Units), which Capital Account shall be:

(1) Credited with the amount of cash contributed by such Partner to the capital of the Partnership; the initial Gross Asset Value (net of liabilities secured by such contributed property that the Partnership assumes or takes subject to) of any other property contributed by such Partner to the capital of the Partnership; such Partner’s distributive share of Net Income; and any other items in the nature of income or gain that are allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article 6 hereof, but excluding tax items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(i); and

(2) Debited with the amount of cash distributed to such Partner pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; the Gross Asset Value (net of liabilities secured by such distributed property that such Partner assumes or takes subject to) of any Partnership property distributed to such Partner pursuant to any provision of this Agreement; the amount of unsecured liabilities of such Partner assumed by the Partnership; such Partner’s distributive share of Net Loss; and any other items in the nature of expenses or losses that are allocated to such Partner pursuant to Article 6 hereof, but excluding tax items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(i).

(3) In the event that any or all of a Partner’s Partnership Units are transferred within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(l), the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent that it relates to the Partnership Units so transferred.


In the event that the Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets are adjusted pursuant to the definition of “Gross Asset Value,” the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted to reflect the aggregate net adjustments as if the Partnership sold all of its properties for their fair market values and recognized gain or loss for federal income tax purposes equal to the amount of such aggregate net adjustment.

Except as required by law, no Limited Partner shall be liable for any deficit in its Capital Account or be obligated to return any distributions of any kind received from the Partnership.

The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied as provided in the Regulations.

ARTICLE 5

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

  Section 5.1 Requirement and Characterization of Distributions

Subject to Article 13 , the other provisions of this Article 5 and the rights and preferences of any additional class or series of Partnership Units established pursuant to this Agreement, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute quarterly all, or such portion as the General Partner may in its discretion determine, of the Available Cash generated by the Partnership to the Partners who are Partners on the applicable record date with respect to such distribution in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests of Limited Partnership Interests on the applicable record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such distribution shall be made in respect of the Non-Economic Units.

Unless otherwise expressly provided for herein or in an agreement at the time a new class of Partnership Interests is created in accordance with Article 4 , no Partnership Interest shall be entitled to a distribution in preference to any other Partnership Interest. The General Partner shall take such reasonable efforts, as determined by it in its sole and absolute discretion and consistent with its qualification as a REIT, to cause the Partnership to distribute sufficient amounts, in accordance with this Section 5.1 , to enable the General Partner to pay shareholder dividends that will (a) satisfy all actions or omissions as may be necessary (including making appropriate distributions from time to time) to permit the General Partner and, where applicable, each of its respective Subsidiaries to qualify or continue to qualify as a REIT within the meaning of Code Section 856 et seq ., as such provisions may be amended from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of succeeding law (“ REIT Requirements ”) and (b) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability of the General Partner.


  Section 5.2 Distributions in Kind

No right is given to any Partner to demand and receive property of the Partnership, except as set forth in Section 8.6 . No distribution of any property of the Partnership other than cash shall be made except following the occurrence of a Liquidating Event and in accordance with Article 13 .

 

  Section 5.3 Distributions upon Liquidation

Proceeds from a Terminating Capital Transaction shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with Section 13.2 .

ARTICLE 6

ALLOCATIONS

 

  Section 6.1 Timing and Amount of Allocations of Net Income and Net Loss

Net Income and Net Loss of the Partnership shall be determined and allocated with respect to each Partnership Year as of the end of each such year. Subject to the other provisions of this Article 6 , an allocation to a Partner of a share of Net Income or Net Loss shall be treated as an allocation of the same share of each item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is taken into account in computing Net Income or Net Loss.

 

  Section 6.2 General Allocations

A. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 6 , Net Income and Net Loss of the Partnership (and each item thereof) for each Partnership Year shall be allocated to each of the Partners holding the same class of Partnership Interests in accordance with their respective Percentage Interest of such class; provided , however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no Net Income or Net Loss of the Partnership (and no item thereof) shall be allocated to any Partner in respect of a Non-Economic Unit. The General Partner is authorized to modify the allocations in this Section 6.2 and amend such provisions (including the defined terms used therein) in such manner as the General Partner determines is necessary or appropriate to reflect the issuance of additional series or classes of Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 4.3 or 4.4 . Any such modification may be made pursuant to the certificate of designations or similar instrument establishing such new class or series.


  Section 6.3 Regulatory Allocations

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 6 , the following provisions shall apply:

A. Minimum Gain Chargeback . A Partner shall not receive an allocation of any Partnership deduction that would result in total loss allocations attributable to Nonrecourse Liabilities in excess of such Partner’s share of Minimum Gain (as determined under Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)). If the Partnership makes a distribution allocable to the proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability, in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(h), the distribution will be treated as allocable to an increase in Partnership Minimum Gain to the extent the increase results from encumbering Partnership property with aggregate Nonrecourse Liabilities that exceed the property’s adjusted tax basis. If there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain for a Partnership Year, in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and the exceptions contained therein, the Partners shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such Partnership Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Partnership Years) equal to the Partners’ respective shares of the net decrease in Minimum Gain within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2) (the “ Minimum Gain Chargeback ”). The items to be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.3.A shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and (j).

B. Partner Nonrecourse Deductions; Partner Minimum Gain Chargeback . Any item of Partner Nonrecourse Deduction with respect to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated to the Partner or Partners who bear the economic risk of loss for such Partner Nonrecourse Debt in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1). If the Partnership makes a distribution allocable to the proceeds of a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(6) the distribution will be treated as allocable to an increase in Partner Minimum Gain to the extent the increase results from encumbering Partnership property with aggregate Partner Nonrecourse Debt that exceeds the property’s adjusted tax basis. Subject to Section 6.2.A hereof, but not withstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain for a Partnership Year, then after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.2.A , but before any other allocations are made for such taxable year, and subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), each Partner with a share of Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such Partnership Year shall be allocated items of income and gain for such Partnership Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Partnership Years) equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain as determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2). The items to be so allocated pursuant to this Section 6.3.B shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and (j).

C. Excess Nonrecourse Liabilities . Pursuant to Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), for the purpose of determining each Partner’s share of excess nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership, and solely for such purpose, each Partner’s interest in Partnership profits shall be determined by any reasonable method chosen by the General Partner including, without limitation, the principles set forth in Rev. Rul. 95-41, 1995-1 C.B. 132.


D. Limitation on Allocation of Net Loss; Qualified Income Offset . No Limited Partner shall be allocated any item of deduction or loss of the Partnership if such allocation would cause such Limited Partner’s Capital Account to become negative by more than the sum of (i) any amount such Limited Partner is obligated to restore upon liquidation of the Partnership, plus (ii) such Limited Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. An item of deduction or loss that cannot be allocated to a Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 6.3.D shall be allocated to the General Partner. For this purpose, in determining the Capital Account balance of such Limited Partner, the items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) shall be taken into account. In the event that (a) any Limited Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustment, allocation or distribution described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), and (b) such adjustment, allocation, or distribution causes or increases a deficit balance (net of amounts which such Limited Partner is obligated to restore or deemed obligated to restore under Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) and determined after taking into account any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), or (6) that, as of the end of the Partnership Year, reasonably are expected to be made to such Limited Partner) in such Limited Partner’s Capital Account as of the end of the Partnership Year to which such adjustment, allocation, or distribution relates, then items of Partnership income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of income or gain) for such Partnership Year and each subsequent Partnership Year shall be allocated to such Limited Partner until such deficit balance or increase in such deficit balance, as the case may be, has been eliminated. In the event that this Section 6.3.D and Section 6.3.A and/or B apply, Section  6.3.A and/or B hereof shall be applied prior to this Section 6.3.D .

E. Capital Account Deficits . In the event any Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Partnership Year which is in excess of the amount such Partner is obligated to restore to the penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), such Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 6.3.E shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such amount after all other allocations provided for under this Agreement have been made as if this Section 6.3.E and Section 6.3.D were not in this Agreement.

F. Curative Allocation . The Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in allocating other items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Partners so that, to the extent possible, the cumulative net amount of allocations of Partnership items under this Section 6.3 shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if the Regulatory Allocations had not been made. This Section 6.3.F is intended to minimize to the extent possible and to the extent necessary any economic distortions which may result from application of the Regulatory Allocations and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith. For purposes hereof, “ Regulatory Allocations ” shall mean the allocations provided under this Section 6.3 (other than this Section 6.3.F ).


  Section 6.4 Tax Allocations

A. Allocations Respecting Section 704(c) Revaluations . In accordance with Code Section 704(b) and 704(c) and the Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Partnership shall, solely for federal income tax purposes, be allocated among the Partners on a property by property basis so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and the initial Gross Asset Value of such property. If the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership property is adjusted as described in the definition of Gross Asset Value, subsequent allocations of income, gains or losses from taxable sales or other dispositions and deductions with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and the Gross Asset Value of such asset in the manner prescribed under Code Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder. Any elections or other decisions relating to allocations under Code Section 704(c) (including under Regulations Section 1.704-3, whether to use the “traditional method,” the “traditional method with curative allocations” or the “remedial method) shall be made by the General Partner.

B. The Net Income, Net Loss, gains, deductions and credits of the Partnership (and all items thereof) for each Partnership Year shall be determined in accordance with the accounting method followed by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes.

C. Except as provided in Section 6.3.A , for income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss or deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction has been allocated pursuant to this Article 6 .

ARTICLE 7

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF BUSINESS

 

  Section 7.1 Management

A. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the Partnership are exclusively vested in the General Partner, and no Limited Partner shall have any right to participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of the Partnership. The General Partner may not be removed by the Limited Partners with or without cause, except with the consent of the General Partner. In addition to the powers now or hereafter granted a general partner of a limited partnership under applicable law or which are granted to the General Partner under any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation Section 7.3 , shall have full power and authority to do all things deemed necessary or desirable by it to conduct the business of the Partnership, to exercise all powers set forth in Section 3.2 and to effectuate the purposes set forth in Section 3.1 , including, without limitation:

(1) the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money (including, without limitation, making prepayments on loans and borrowing money to permit the Partnership to make distributions to its Partners in such amounts as will permit the General Partner (so long as the General Partner has determined to qualify as a REIT) to avoid the incurrence of any federal income tax (including, for this purpose, any excise tax pursuant to Section 4981 of the Code) and to make distributions to its shareholders sufficient to permit the General Partner to maintain REIT status), the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness (including the securing of same by mortgage, deed of trust or other lien or encumbrance on the Partnership’s assets) and the incurring of any obligations it deems necessary for the conduct of the activities of the Partnership;


(2) the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over the business or assets of the Partnership;

(3) the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any assets of the Partnership or the merger or other combination of the Partnership with or into another entity;

(4) the mortgage, pledge, encumbrance or hypothecation of any assets of the Partnership, and the use of the assets of the Partnership (including, without limitation, cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement and on any terms it sees fit, including, without limitation, the financing of the conduct or the operations of the General Partner or the Partnership, the lending of funds to other Persons (including, without limitation, the General Partner (if necessary to permit the financing or capitalization of a Subsidiary of the Partnership) or any Subsidiaries of the Partnership) and the repayment of obligations of the Partnership, any of its Subsidiaries and any other Person in which it has an equity investment;

(5) the negotiation, execution, and performance of any contracts, leases, conveyances or other instruments that the General Partner considers useful or necessary to the conduct of the Partnership’s operations or the implementation of the General Partner’s powers under this Agreement;

(6) the distribution of Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;

(7) the selection and dismissal of employees of the Partnership (including, without limitation, employees having titles such as “president,” “vice president,” “secretary” and “treasurer”), and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors of the Partnership, the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring, including waivers of conflicts of interest and the payment of their expenses and compensation out of the Partnership’s assets;

(8) the maintenance of such insurance (including, without limitation, directors and officers insurance) for the benefit of the Partnership and the Partners as it deems necessary or appropriate;


(9) the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures or other relationships that it deems desirable (including, without limitation, the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to any Subsidiary and any other Person in which it has an equity investment from time to time); provided that, as long as the General Partner has determined to continue to qualify as a REIT, the Partnership may not engage in any such formation, acquisition or contribution that would cause the General Partner to fail to qualify as a REIT;

(10) the control of any matters affecting the rights and obligations of the Partnership, including the conduct of litigation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation, and the indemnification of any Person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

(11) the undertaking of any action in connection with the Partnership’s direct or indirect investment in any Person (including, without limitation, contributing or loaning Partnership funds to, incurring indebtedness on behalf of, or guarantying the obligations of any such Persons);

(12) subject to the other provisions in this Agreement, the determination of the fair market value of any Partnership property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt, provided that such methods are otherwise consistent with requirements of this Agreement;

(13) the management, operation, leasing, landscaping, repair, alteration, demolition or improvement of any real property or improvements owned by the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership or any Person in which the Partnership has made a direct or indirect equity investment;

(14) holding, managing, investing and reinvesting cash and other assets of the Partnership;

(15) the collection and receipt of revenues and income of the Partnership;

(16) the exercise, directly or indirectly through any attorney-in-fact acting under a general or limited power of attorney, of any right, including the right to vote, appurtenant to any asset or investment held by the Partnership;

(17) the exercise of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of or in connection with any Subsidiary of the Partnership or any other Person in which the Partnership has a direct or indirect interest, or jointly with any such Subsidiary or other Person;

(18) the exercise of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement on behalf of any Person in which the Partnership does not have an interest pursuant to contractual or other arrangements with such Person;


(19) the maintenance of the Partnership’s books and records; and

(20) the making, execution and delivery of any and all deeds, leases, notes, deeds to secure debt, mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, conveyances, contracts, guarantees, warranties, indemnities, waivers, releases or legal instruments or agreements in writing necessary or appropriate in the judgment of the General Partner for the accomplishment of any of the powers of the General Partner enumerated in this Agreement.

B. Each of the Limited Partners agrees that the General Partner is authorized to execute, deliver and perform the above-mentioned agreements and transactions on behalf of the Partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the Partners, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement (except as provided in Section 7.3 ), the Act or any applicable law, rule or regulation. The execution, delivery or performance by the General Partner or the Partnership of any agreement authorized or permitted under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty that the General Partner may owe the Partnership or the Limited Partners or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity.

C. At all times from and after the date hereof, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to obtain and maintain (i) casualty, liability and other insurance on the properties of the Partnership and (ii) liability insurance for the Indemnities hereunder.

D. At all times from and after the date hereof, the General Partner may cause the Partnership to establish and maintain working capital reserves in such amounts as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate and reasonable from time to time.

E. Except as provided in this Agreement with respect to the qualification of the General Partner as a REIT and as may be provided in a separate written agreement between the Partnership and a Limited Partner, in exercising its authority under this Agreement, the General Partner may, but shall be under no obligation to, take into account the tax consequences to any Partner (including the General Partner) of any action taken by the General Partner. Except as provided in this Agreement with respect to the qualification of the General Partner as a REIT and as may be provided in a separate written agreement between the Partnership and a Limited Partner, the General Partner and the Partnership shall not have liability to a Partner under any circumstances as a result of an income tax liability incurred by such Limited Partner as a result of an action (or inaction) by the General Partner pursuant to its authority under this Agreement.

 

  Section 7.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership

To the extent that such action is determined by the General Partner to be reasonable and necessary or appropriate, the General Partner shall file amendments to and restatements of the Certificate and do all the things to maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) under the laws of the State of Delaware and each other state, the District of Columbia or other jurisdiction, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property. Subject to the terms of Section 8.5.A(4) ,


the General Partner shall not be required, before or after filing, to deliver or mail a copy of the Certificate or any amendment thereto to any Limited Partner. The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be filed such other certificates or documents as may be reasonable and necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation, qualification and operation of a limited partnership (or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability) in the State of Delaware, any other state, or the District of Columbia or other jurisdiction, in which the Partnership may elect to do business or own property.

 

  Section 7.3 Restrictions on General Partner’s Authority

A. The General Partner may not take any action in contravention of an express prohibition or limitation of this Agreement, including, without limitation:

(1) taking any action that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Partnership, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;

(2) possessing Partnership property, or assigning any rights in specific Partnership property, for other than a Partnership purpose except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;

(3) admitting a Person as a Partner, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;

(4) performing any act that would subject a Limited Partner to liability as a general partner in any jurisdiction or any other liability except as provided herein or under the Act; or

(5) entering into any contract, mortgage, loan or other agreement that expressly prohibits or restricts the Company or the Partnership from performing their respective obligations under this Agreement in connection with a Redemption or prohibits or restricts the ability of a Limited Partner to exercise its rights to a Redemption in full, except with the written consent of such Limited Partner.

B. Without the prior Consent of the Limited Partners, neither the General Partner nor the Partnership may engage in, cause or permit:

(1) at any time:

 

  (i) any action that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Partnership, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;

 

  (ii) any action that would subject a Limited Partner to liability not contemplated in this Agreement or under the Act;

 

  (iii)

entering into any contract, mortgage loan or other agreement that expressly prohibits or restricts the Company


  or the Partnership from performing their respective specific obligations in connection with a Redemption as provided in Section 8.6 or restricts the ability of a Limited Partner to exercise its rights of Redemption in full without the written consent of such Limited Partner;

 

  (iv) except as explicitly permitted under Section 7.3.C , any amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement;

 

  (v) any other direct or indirect transfer of all or any portion of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest, other than pursuant to and in accordance with Section 11.2 ;

 

  (vi) any voluntary withdrawal of the General Partner as general partner except pursuant to and in accordance with Section 11.2 ;

 

  (vii) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or appointment or acquiescence in the appointment of a custodian, receiver or trustee for all or any part of the assets of the General Partner or the Partnership;

 

  (viii) the commencement of any proceeding for bankruptcy by or on behalf of the General Partner or the Partnership

 

  (ix) the confession of a judgment against the General Partner or the Partnership;

 

  (x) the adoption of any plan of liquidation or dissolution of the General Partner or the Partnership;

 

  (xi) any change in any election relating to the tax status of the Partnership or the Company, including, without limitation, the status of the General Partner as a REIT;

 

  (xii) any admission into the Partnership of any Additional or Substitute General Partners, except pursuant to and in accordance with Article 11 or Article 12 ;

(2) until such time as the Consolidated Economic Ownership Interest of the ESL Holders has been less than forty percent (40%) for one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days:

 

  (i) the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the General Partner or the Partnership, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;


  (ii) any waiver of any restrictions in the Charter relating to the ownership and transfer of shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner, including, without limitation, any restriction preventing a person or entity from owning, or being deemed to own, beneficially or by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than a percentage specified in the Charter, in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of any class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the General Partner, including, without limitation, the REIT Shares; or

 

  (iii) a Change of Control of the Partnership or any direct or indirect transfer of all or any portion of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest in connection with, or any other occurrence of, a merger, consolidation, conversion or other combination or extraordinary transaction involving the Partnership.

C. Notwithstanding Section 7.3.B , the General Partner shall have the power to amend this Agreement as may be required to facilitate or implement any of the following purposes:

(1) to reflect the issuance of additional Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 4.3.C or the admission, substitution, termination or withdrawal of Partners in accordance with Articles 11 and 12 ;

(2) to reflect a change that is of an inconsequential nature and does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect, or to cure any ambiguity, correct any provision in this Agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions, or make other changes with respect to matters arising under this Agreement that will not be inconsistent with law or with the provisions of this Agreement;

(3) to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any order, directive, opinion, ruling or regulation of a federal or state agency or contained in federal or state law;

(4) to reflect such changes necessary for the General Partner to satisfy the REIT Requirements, including changes which may be necessitated due to a change in applicable law (or an authoritative interpretation thereof) or a ruling of the IRS; and

(5) to modify, as set forth in the definition of “Capital Account,” the manner in which Capital Accounts are computed.

The General Partner will provide notice to the Limited Partners prior to taking any action under this Section 7.3.C .


D. Notwithstanding Section 7.3.B and 7.3.C , this Agreement shall not be amended with respect to any Partner adversely affected, and no action may be taken by the General Partner, without the Consent of such Partner adversely affected if such amendment or action would (i) convert a Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership into a general partner’s interest (except as the result of the General Partner acquiring such interest), (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited Partner, (iii) alter rights of the Partner to receive distributions pursuant to Article 5 or Section 13.2.A(3) or the allocations specified in Article 6 (except as permitted pursuant to Section 4.3 and Section 7.3.C(3) ), (iv) materially alter or modify the rights of Redemption or the REIT Shares Amount as set forth in Section 8.6 , and related definitions thereof or (v) amend this Section 7.3.D ; provided , that if all holders of Partnership Units of the same class or series are adversely affected on a uniform or pro rata basis, this Agreement may be amended with respect to such Partners by the consent of Partners holding in the aggregate Percentage Interests of such class or series that are greater than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Percentage Interests of such class or series held by all Partners. Further, no amendment may alter the restrictions on the General Partner’s authority set forth elsewhere in this Section 7.3 without the Consent specified in such section. This Section 7.3D does not require unanimous consent of all Partners adversely affected unless the amendment is to be effective against all Partners adversely affected.

 

  Section 7.4 Reimbursement of the General Partner

A. Except as provided in this Section 7.4 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles 5 and 6 regarding distributions, payments and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.

B. The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis for all expenses it incurs relating to the operation of, or for the benefit of, the Partnership. The Limited Partners acknowledge that the General Partner’s sole business is the ownership of interests in and operation of the Partnership and that such expenses are incurred for the benefit of the Partnership. Such reimbursements shall be in addition to any reimbursement to the General Partner as a result of indemnification pursuant to Section 7.7 .

C. If and to the extent any reimbursements to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.4 constitute gross income of the General Partner (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership), such amounts shall constitute guaranteed payments within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code, shall be treated consistently therewith by the Partnership and all Partners, and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Partners’ Capital Accounts.

 

  Section 7.5 Outside Activities of the General Partner

A. The General Partner, the Company and any Affiliates of the General Partner or the Company may acquire Limited Partnership Interests and shall be entitled to exercise all rights of a Limited Partner relating to such Limited Partnership Interests.


B. Except in connection with a transaction pursuant to Section 11.2 , without the Consent of the Limited Partners, the General Partner shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any business, other than in connection with the ownership, acquisition and disposition of Partnership Interests as a General Partner and the management of the business of the Partnership, its operation as a public reporting company with a class (or classes) of securities registered under the Exchange Act, its operation as a REIT and such activities as are incidental to the same. Without the Consent of the Limited Partners, the General Partner shall not, directly or indirectly, participate in or otherwise acquire (i) any interest in any real or personal property or (ii) any equity securities or other interests (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such equity securities or other interests) of any Person other than the Partnership, except in each case its General Partner Interest, its Limited Partnership Interests, and such bank accounts, similar instruments or other short-term investments as it deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities contemplated under this Agreement and the Charter.

C. In the event the General Partner exercises its rights under the Charter to purchase REIT Shares (such REIT Shares, the “ Repurchased REIT Shares ”), then the purchase price paid by the General Partner for such Repurchased REIT Shares and any other expenses incurred by the General Partner in connection with such purchase shall be considered expenses of the Partnership and shall be advanced to the General Partner or reimbursed to the General Partner, subject, to the extent that the Repurchased REIT Shares are REIT Economic Shares, to the condition that the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to redeem a number of Common Units held by the General Partner equal to the REIT Shares Amount.

 

  Section 7.6 Contracts with Affiliates

A. The Partnership may lend or contribute to Persons in which it has an equity investment, and such Persons may borrow funds from the Partnership, on terms and conditions established on the Partnership’s behalf in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. Any Person that has an equity investment in the Partnership may lend or contribute to the Partnership, and the Partnership may borrow funds from such Person, on terms and conditions established on the Partnership’s behalf in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. The foregoing authority shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Person.

B. Except as provided in Section 7.5.B and subject to Section 7.3.B , the Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions consistent with this Agreement and applicable law.

C. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of the Limited Partners, may propose and adopt on behalf of the Partnership employee benefit plans funded by the Partnership for the benefit of employees of the General Partner, the Partnership, Subsidiaries of the Partnership or any Affiliate of any of them in respect of services performed, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of the Partnership, the General Partner or any of the Partnership’s Subsidiaries. The General Partner also is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue to it Common Units corresponding to REIT Class A Common Shares issued


by the General Partner pursuant to any Stock Plan or any similar or successor plan and to repurchase such Common Units from the General Partner to the extent necessary to permit the General Partner to repurchase such REIT Class A Common Shares in accordance with such plan.

D. The General Partner is expressly authorized to enter into, in the name and on behalf of the Partnership, a right of first opportunity arrangement and other conflict avoidance agreements with various Affiliates of the Partnership and the General Partner, on such terms as the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, believes are advisable.

 

  Section 7.7 Indemnification

A. The Partnership shall indemnify an Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership as set forth in this Agreement in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, unless it is established that the act or omission of the indemnitee constituted fraud, intentional harm or gross negligence on the part of the indemnitee; (ii) the claim is brought by the indemnitee (other than to enforce the indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advance of expenses); or (iii) the indemnitee is found to be liable to the Partnership, and then only with respect to each such claim. Without limitation, the foregoing indemnity shall extend to any liability of any Indemnitee, pursuant to a loan guaranty or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership (including, without limitation, any indebtedness that the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership has assumed or taken subject to), and the General Partner is hereby authorized and empowered, on behalf of the Partnership, to enter into one or more indemnity agreements consistent with the provisions of this Section 7.7 in favor of any Indemnitee having or potentially having liability for any such indebtedness. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order or settlement does not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct set forth in this Section 7.7.A . The termination of any proceeding by conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or any entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, creates a rebuttable presumption that the Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified in this Section 7.7.A . Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership.

B. Reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee who is a party to a proceeding may be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt by the Partnership of (i) a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Partnership as authorized in Section 7.7.A has been met and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.

C. The indemnification provided by this Section 7.7 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.


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

E. For purposes of this Section 7.7 , the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 7.7 ; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

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

G. An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 7.7 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

H. The provisions of this Section 7.7 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons. Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.7 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the Partnership’s liability to any Indemnitee under this Section 7.7 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

I. If and to the extent any reimbursements to the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.7 constitute gross income of the General Partner (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership) such amounts shall constitute guaranteed payments within the meaning of Section 707(c) of the Code, shall be treated consistently therewith by the Partnership and all Partners, and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Partners’ Capital Accounts.

 

  Section 7.8 Liability of the General Partner

A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be liable or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Partnership, any Partners or any Assignees for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits derived as a result of errors in judgment or mistakes of fact or law or any act or omission except in the event of the General Partner’s willful misconduct or recklessness.


B. The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting for the benefit of the Partnership, the Limited Partners and the General Partner’s shareholders collectively, that the General Partner is under no obligation to give priority to the separate interests of the Limited Partners or the General Partner’s shareholders (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited Partners or Assignees or to shareholders) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions and that the General Partner shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions, except in the event of the General Partner’s willful misconduct or recklessness.

C. Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 7.1.A , the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents. The General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by it, except in the event of the General Partner’s willful misconduct or recklessness.

D. Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 7.8 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the General Partner’s liability to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section 7.8 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.

 

  Section 7.9 Other Matters Concerning the General Partner

A. The General Partner may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

B. The General Partner may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisers selected by it, and any act taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon the advice or opinion of such Persons as to matters which such General Partner reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence shall be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

C. The General Partner shall have the right, in respect of any of its powers or obligations hereunder, to act through any of its duly authorized officers and a duly appointed attorney or attorneys-in-fact. Each such attorney shall, to the extent provided by the General Partner in the power of attorney, have full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and duty which is permitted or required to be done by the General Partner hereunder.

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


  Section 7.10 Title to Partnership Assets

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

 

  Section 7.11 Reliance by Third Parties

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner has full power and authority to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner as if it were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies that may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (i) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (ii) the Person executing and delivering such certificate,


document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (iii) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

ARTICLE 8

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF LIMITED PARTNERS

 

  Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability

The Limited Partners shall have no liability under this Agreement (other than for breach thereof) except as expressly provided in this Agreement or under the Act.

 

  Section 8.2 Management of Business

No Limited Partner or Assignee (other than the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, director, employee, partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such) shall take part in the operations, management or control (within the meaning of the Act) of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership. The transaction of any such business by the General Partner, any of its Affiliates or any officer, director, employee, partner, agent or trustee of the General Partner, the Partnership or any of their Affiliates, in their capacity as such, shall not affect, impair or eliminate the limitations on the liability of the Limited Partners or Assignees under this Agreement.

 

  Section 8.3 Outside Activities of Limited Partners

Subject to any agreements entered into by a Limited Partner or its Affiliates with the General Partner, Partnership or a Subsidiary of the Partnership, any Limited Partner (including, subject to Section 7.5 , the Company) and any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or shareholder of any Limited Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Partnership or that are enhanced by the activities of the Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor any Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or Assignee. Subject to such agreements, none of the Limited Partners nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any business ventures of any other Person, other than the Limited Partners benefitting from the business conducted by the General Partner, and such Person shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or any such other Person, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership, any Limited Partner or such other Person, could be taken by such Person.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the prior consent of the General Partner, no Limited Partner shall knowingly take any action, including acquiring, directly or indirectly, an interest in any tenant of a Property which would have, through the actual or constructive ownership of any tenant of any Property, the effect of causing the percentage of the gross income of the General Partner that fails to be treated as “rents from real property” within the meaning of Section 856(d) of the Code to exceed such percentage on the date hereof. Each Limited Partner shall have a duty to notify the General Partner on a timely basis of any potential acquisition or change in ownership that could reasonably be expected to have such effect.

 

  Section 8.4 Return of Capital

No Limited Partner shall be entitled to the withdrawal or return of his or her Capital Contribution, except to the extent of distributions made pursuant to this Agreement or upon termination of the Partnership as provided herein and with respect to the rights of Redemption set forth in Section 8.6 . No Limited Partner or Assignee shall have priority over any other Limited Partner or Assignee either as to the return of Capital Contributions or as to profits, losses, distributions or credits, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

  Section 8.5 Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the Partnership

A. In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by the Act, and except as limited by Section 8.5.C , each Limited Partner shall have the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such Limited Partner’s interest as a limited partner in the Partnership, upon written demand with a statement of the purpose of such demand and at the Partnership’s expense:

(1) to obtain a copy of the most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC by the General Partner pursuant to the Exchange Act, and each communication sent to the shareholders of the General Partner;

(2) to obtain a copy of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns for each Partnership Year;

(3) to obtain a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each Partner;

(4) to obtain a copy of this Agreement and the Certificate and all amendments thereto, together with executed copies of all powers-of-attorney pursuant to which this Agreement, the Certificate and all amendments thereto have been executed; and

(5) to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of any other property or services contributed by each Partner and which each Partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a Partner.


B. The Partnership shall notify each Limited Partner in writing of any adjustment made in the Conversion Factor or the calculation of the REIT Shares Amount within ten (10) Business Days of the date such change becomes effective.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.5 , the General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners, for such period of time as the General Partner reasonably determines, any information that (i) the General Partner reasonably believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes is not in the best interests of the Partnership or (ii) the Partnership or the General Partner is required by law or by agreements with unaffiliated third parties to keep confidential.

D. Representatives of the General Partner shall meet with representatives of the Limited Partners quarterly, or more frequently upon the request of any holder of Partnership Units whose Percentage Interest exceeds ten percent (10%), in order to discuss matters that Limited Partners may reasonably request, including, without limitation, the management, operations and strategy of the Partnership.

 

  Section 8.6 Redemption Rights

A. A Limited Partner shall have the right (subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein) to require the Partnership to redeem all or a portion of the Common Units which have been held by such Limited Partner for at least 12 months (such Common Units being hereafter referred to as “ Tendered Units ”) in exchange for the Cash Amount (a “ Redemption ”); provided that no Partnership Units other than Common Units are entitled to a right of Redemption under this Agreement unless the terms of such Partnership Units so provide. Any Redemption shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Redemption delivered to the General Partner by the Limited Partner who is exercising the right (the “ Tendering Partner ”). The Cash Amount shall be delivered as a certified check payable to the Tendering Partner within ten (10) days of the Specified Redemption Date.

B. Notwithstanding Section 8.6.A , if a Limited Partner has delivered to the General Partner a Notice of Redemption, then the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion (subject to Section 8.6.D ), elect to acquire some or all of the Tendered Units from the Tendering Partner in exchange for the REIT Shares Amount (calculated as of the Specified Redemption Date) and, if the General Partner so elects, the Tendering Partner shall sell the Tendered Units to the General Partner in exchange for the REIT Shares Amount. In such event, the Tendering Partner shall have no right to cause the Partnership to redeem such Tendered Units for cash. The Company shall give such Tendering Partner written notice of its election (the “ REIT Shares Election ”) on or before the close of business on the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after its receipt of the Notice of Redemption, and the Tendering Partner may elect to withdraw its redemption request at any time before the close of business on the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the Tendering Partner receives the REIT Shares Election.

C. The REIT Shares Amount, if applicable, shall be delivered as duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable REIT Class A Common Shares, free of


any pledge, lien, encumbrance or restriction, other than those provided in the Charter, the Bylaws of the General Partner, the Securities Act, relevant state securities or blue sky laws and any applicable registration rights agreement with respect to such REIT Class A Common Shares entered into by the Tendering Partner. Subject to Section 8.6.G , notwithstanding any delay in such delivery (but subject to Section 8.6.D ), the Tendering Partner shall be deemed the owner of such REIT Class A Common Shares for all purposes, including without limitation, rights to vote or consent, and receive dividends, as of the Specified Redemption Date, unless the Tendering Partner elects to withdraw its redemption request in accordance with Section 8.6.B .

D. Subject to Section 8.6.G but notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other provision of this Agreement, a Limited Partner (i) shall not be entitled to effect a Redemption for cash or an exchange for REIT Class A Common Shares to the extent the ownership or right to acquire REIT Class A Common Shares pursuant to such exchange by such Partner on the Specified Redemption Date would cause such Partner or any other Person to violate the restrictions on ownership and transfer of REIT Shares set forth in the Charter and (ii) shall have no rights under this Agreement to acquire REIT Shares which would otherwise be prohibited under the Charter. To the extent any attempted Redemption or other exchange for REIT Shares would be in violation of this Section 8.6.D , it shall be null and void ab initio and such Limited Partner shall not acquire any rights or economic interest in the cash otherwise payable upon such Redemption or the REIT Shares otherwise issuable upon such exchange.

E. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (but subject to Section 8.6.D ), with respect to any Redemption or other exchange for REIT Class A Common Shares pursuant to this Section 8.6 :

(1) All Partnership Units acquired by the General Partner pursuant thereto shall automatically, and without further action required, be converted into and deemed to be Limited Partnership Interests and held by the Company in its capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership.

(2) Without the consent of the General Partner, each Limited Partner may not effect a Redemption during the period after the Partnership Record Date with respect to a distribution by the Partnership and before the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution to its shareholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution by the Partnership, provided that the distribution by the General Partner occurs within 30 Business Days of the distribution by the Partnership.

(3) The consummation of any Redemption or other exchange for REIT Class A Common Shares shall be subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period, if any, under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

(4) Each Tendering Partner shall continue to own all Common Units subject to any Redemption or other exchange for REIT Class A Common Shares, and be treated as a Limited Partner with respect to such Common Units for all purposes of this Agreement, until such Tendering Partner is deemed the owner of such REIT Class A Common Shares for all purposes, including without limitation, rights to vote or consent, and receive dividends, under the terms of this Agreement.


F. The General Partner shall take all actions necessary to effect any registration of REIT Class A Common Shares under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the securities or “blue sky” laws of any state or other jurisdiction, and appropriate actions ancillary thereto, as may be required in connection with any Redemption or other exchange for REIT Class A Common Shares as promptly as practicable.

G. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 8.6 to the contrary, the ESL Holders (to the extent they are Limited Partners) shall have the right to sell any or all Common Units which shall have been held by it or them for at least 12 months to one or more investment banks or other underwriters (collectively, the “ Redemption Underwriter ”), which shall then have the right, by delivery of a Notice of Redemption indicating an “Underwriter Redemption” as set forth therein, to require the Partnership to redeem such Common Units (which shall be deemed to be Tendered Units for purposes of this Agreement) for REIT Class A Common Shares in accordance with this Section 8.6 and in connection with a public offering; provided that:

(1) The Redemption Underwriter shall be required to redeem no fewer than all Tendered Units and such Tendered Units shall be exchanged only for the REIT Shares Amount (calculated as of the Specified Redemption Date) and not for cash and without discretion of, election by, or notice to or from the General Partner or any other Person;

(2) The General Partner shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the transfer agent for the REIT Class A Common Shares upon the written order of the Tendering Partner or the Redemption Underwriter, on the date set forth in such order, a confirmation of book-entry transfer of shares representing such REIT Class A Common Shares, issued in such name or names as the Tendering Partner or the Redemption Underwriter shall direct. The Redemption Underwriter may provide a Notice of Redemption prior to becoming the legal owner of the Tendered Units with the delivery of the REIT Class A Common Shares to the Redemption Underwriter being conditioned upon the delivery of the Tendered Units. The General Partner shall deliver or cause to be delivered the REIT Class A Common Shares no later than three Business Days following being provided with the Redemption Notice and, on or before such third Business Day, immediately following the surrender of the Tendered Units;

(3) The Redemption Underwriter shall not be treated as a Limited Partner with respect to such Common Units for purposes of this Agreement, except to the extent necessary to effectuate the transaction contemplated by this Section 8.6.G and matters ancillary thereto and as required by applicable law;

(4) The Partnership and the General Partner shall take all steps reasonably requested by the Redemption Underwriter in order to facilitate settlement in the proposed underwritten offering; and

(5) The issuance of such REIT Class A Common Shares upon such exchange shall be made without charge for any stamp or other similar tax in respect of such issuance; provided , that the Tendering Partner shall pay to the General Partner the amount of any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in such issuance or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the General Partner that such tax has been paid.


ARTICLE 9

BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS

 

  Section 9.1 Records and Accounting

The General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Partnership appropriate books and records with respect to the Partnership’s business, including without limitation, all books and records necessary to provide to the Limited Partners any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 9.3 . Any records maintained by or on behalf of the Partnership in the regular course of its business may be kept on, or be in the form of, any information storage device, provided that the records so maintained are convertible into clearly legible written form within a reasonable period of time. The books of the Partnership shall be maintained, for financial and tax reporting purposes, on an accrual basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

  Section 9.2 Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year.

 

  Section 9.3 Reports

A. No later than the date on which the Company mails its annual report to its shareholders, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner, as of the close of the Partnership Year, an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the Company if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the Company, for such Partnership Year, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, such statements to be audited by a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants selected by the General Partner.

B. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than forty-five (45) days after the close of each calendar quarter (except the last calendar quarter of each year), or such earlier date as they are filed with the SEC, the General Partner shall cause to be mailed to each Limited Partner as of the last day of the calendar quarter, a report containing unaudited financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner, if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the applicable law or regulation, or as the General Partner determines to be appropriate

C. The Partnership shall further cause to be prepared and transmitted to the General Partner such other reports and/or information as are necessary for the General Partner to determine and maintain its qualification as a REIT under the REIT Requirements, its earnings and profits derived from the Partnership, its liability for a tax as a consequence of its Partnership Interest and distributive share of taxable income or loss and items thereof, in each case in a manner that will permit the General Partner to comply with its respective obligations to file federal, state and local tax returns and information returns and to provide its stockholders with tax information.


ARTICLE 10

TAX MATTERS

 

  Section 10.1 Preparation of Tax Returns

A. Consistent with all other provisions of this Agreement, the General Partner shall determine the methods to be used in the preparation of federal, state, and local income and other tax returns for the Partnership in connection with all items of income and expense, including, but not limited to, valuation of assets, the methods of Depreciation and cost recovery, credits and tax accounting methods and procedures, and all tax elections.

B. The Partnership shall timely cause to be prepared and transmitted to the Partners, federal and appropriate state and local Partnership Income Tax Schedules “K-1” or any substitute therefor, with respect to each Partnership Year on appropriate forms prescribed. The Partnership shall make reasonable efforts to prepare and submit such forms before the due date for filing federal income tax returns for the fiscal year in question (determined without extensions), and shall in any event prepare and submit such forms on or before July 15 of the year following the fiscal year in question.

 

  Section 10.2 Tax Matters Partner

A. The General Partner shall be the Tax Matters Partner of the Partnership. As Tax Matters Partner, the General Partner shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, respectively, by the Code for the Tax Matters Partner. The General Partner shall have the right to retain professional assistance in respect of any audit of the Partnership by the IRS and all out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership as Tax Matters Partner shall constitute Partnership expenses. In the event the General Partner notice of a final Partnership adjustment under Code Section 6223(a)(2), the General Partner shall either (i) file a court petition for judicial review of such final adjustment within the period provided under Code Section 6226(a), a copy of which petition shall be mailed to all Limited Partners on the date such petition is filed, or (ii) mail a written notice to all Limited Partners, within such period, that describes the General Partner’s reasons for determining not to file such a petition.

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

C. In the event that the General Partner shall be removed or replaced pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, the successor to the General Partner shall assume the obligations of this Section 10.2 .


  Section 10.3 Withholding

Each Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold from or pay on behalf of or with respect to such Partner any amount of federal, state, local, or foreign taxes that the General Partner determines the Partnership is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Partner pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any taxes required to be withheld or paid by the Partnership pursuant to Section 1441, 1442, 1445 or 1446 of the Code. Any amount paid on behalf of or with respect to a Partner shall constitute a loan by the Partnership to such Partner, which loan shall be due within fifteen (15) days after repayment is demanded of the Partner in question, and shall be repaid through withholding of subsequent distributions to such Partner. Nothing in this Section 10.3 shall create any obligation on the General Partner to advance funds to the Partnership or to borrow funds from third parties in order to make payments on account of any liability of the Partnership under a withholding tax act. Any amounts payable by a Limited Partner hereunder shall bear interest at the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal , plus two (2) percentage points (but not higher than the maximum lawful rate), such interest to accrue from the date such amount is due (i.e., fifteen (15) days after demand) until such amount is paid in full. To the extent the payment or accrual of withholding tax results in a federal, state or local tax credit to the Partnership, such credit shall be allocated to the Partner to whose distribution the tax is attributable.

 

  Section 10.4 Puerto Rico Tax Matters

A. For purposes of Section 10.3 , the Partnership may assume that any Partner who, upon request, fails to provide the General Partner with satisfactory evidence of its tax status for Puerto Rico income tax purposes shall be considered, for purposes of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011, as amended, or any successor statute (collectively, the “ PR Code ”), both a foreign person and a foreign partner.

B. Unless otherwise incompatible with the PR Code or the regulations thereunder, any reference to the Code or the Regulations shall also be deemed a reference to the corresponding provision of the PR Code or its regulations for purposes of, among other things, (1) the determination of Net Income or Net Loss for Puerto Rico income tax purposes, (2) the allocation of such Net Income or Net Loss among the Partners and (3) this Article 10 .

C. A Partner who is eligible to participate in the filing of a combined tax return and desires to participate in the filing of such a return must submit to the Partnership such information as may be required by the PR Code, its regulations or any administrative pronouncement, such as a Puerto Rico Treasury Department Administrative Determination or Circular Letter, in order to elect and participate in the filing of a combined tax return.


ARTICLE 11

TRANSFERS AND WITHDRAWALS

 

  Section 11.1 Transfer

A. The term “transfer,” when used in this Article 11 with respect to a Partnership Interest, shall be deemed to refer to a transaction by which the General Partner purports to assign its General Partner Interest to another Person or by which a Limited Partner purports to assign its Limited Partnership Interest to another Person, and includes a sale, assignment, gift (outright or in trust), pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, mortgage, exchange or any other disposition by operation of law or otherwise. The term “transfer” when used in this Article 11 does not include any Redemption or other exchange for REIT Class A Common Shares pursuant to Section 8.6 . No part of the interest of a Limited Partner shall be subject to the claims of any creditor or any spouse for alimony or support, or to legal process, and may not be voluntarily or involuntarily alienated or encumbered except as may be specifically provided for in this Agreement.

B. No Partnership Interest may be transferred, in whole or in part, except in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Article 11 . Any transfer or purported transfer of a Partnership Interest not made in accordance with this Article 11 shall be null and void ab initio .

 

  Section 11.2 Transfer of General Partner’s Partnership Interest

A. Except in connection with a transaction described in Section 11.2.B , the General Partner shall not withdraw from the Partnership and shall not transfer all or any portion of its interest in the Partnership (whether by sale, statutory merger or consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) without the prior written consent of all of the Limited Partners, which may be given or withheld by each Limited Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, and only upon the admission of a successor General Partner pursuant to Section 12.1 . Upon any transfer of a Partnership Interest in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.2 , the transferee shall become a Substitute General Partner for all purposes herein, and shall be vested with the powers and rights of the transferor General Partner, and shall be liable for all obligations and responsible for all duties of the General Partner, once such transferee has executed such instruments as may be necessary to effectuate such admission and to confirm the agreement of such transferee to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to the Partnership Interest so acquired. It is a condition to any transfer otherwise permitted hereunder that the transferee assumes, by operation of law or express agreement, all of the obligations of the transferor General Partner under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Partnership interest, and no such transfer (other than pursuant to a statutory merger or consolidation approved by the Consent of the Limited Partners in accordance with Section 11.2.B wherein all obligations and liabilities of the transferor General Partner are assumed by a successor corporation by operation of law) shall relieve the transferor General Partner of its obligations under this Agreement


without the consent of all of the Limited Partners, which may be given or withheld by each Limited Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. In the event the General Partner withdraws from the Partnership, in violation of this Agreement or otherwise, or otherwise dissolves or terminates, or upon the Incapacity of the General Partner, a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners may elect to continue the Partnership business by selecting a Substitute General Partner in accordance with the Act.

B. The General Partner shall not engage in, or cause or permit, any direct or indirect transfer of all or any portion of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest in connection with, or any other occurrence of, (i) a merger, consolidation, conversion or other combination or extraordinary transaction involving the General Partner, (ii) a reclassification, recapitalization or change of the outstanding REIT Shares (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or as a result of a share split, share dividend or similar subdivision), or (iii) a Change of Control of the Company, or any reclassification, recapitalization or change of its outstanding equity interests (“ Termination Transaction ”), unless (A) the Termination Transaction has been approved by the Consent of the Limited Partners and (B) in connection with such Termination Transaction all Limited Partners either will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive, for each Partnership Unit other than a Non-Economic Unit an amount of cash, securities or other property equal to the product of the REIT Shares Amount and the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid to a holder of one REIT Economic Share in consideration of one REIT Economic Share at any time during the period from and after the date on which the Termination Transaction is consummated, subject to any escrow, contingent value or other deferred consideration arrangement applicable to such consideration for such REIT Economic Share; provided that, if, in connection with the Termination Transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting power of the Company, each holder of Partnership Units shall have the right to elect to receive the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which such holder would have received had it exercised its rights of Redemption pursuant to Section 8.6 and received REIT Class A Common Shares in exchange for its Partnership Units (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Non-Economic Units) immediately prior to the expiration of such purchase, tender or exchange offer and had thereupon accepted or tendered such REIT Class A Common Shares into such purchase, tender or exchange offer (subject to any escrow, contingent value or other deferred consideration arrangement that would have been applicable to such consideration for such REIT Class A Common Shares).

C. In connection with any transaction permitted by Section 11.2.B , the General Partner shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to structure such Termination Transaction to avoid causing the Limited Partners to recognize gain for federal income tax purposes by virtue of the occurrence of or their participation in such Termination Transaction. In the event of any actual or threatened breach by the General Partner of this Section 11.2.C , the Limited Partners shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity.


  Section 11.3 Limited Partners’ Rights to Transfer

A. Each Limited Partner shall have the right to transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest, subject to the provisions of Section 11.6 and the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

(1) Waiting Period . Prior to the first anniversary of a Limited Partner’s acquisition of a Partnership Interest, no Limited Partner shall transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to any transferee without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; provided , however , that any Limited Partner may, at any time (whether prior to or after such first anniversary), without the consent of the General Partner, (i) transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to an Affiliate (other than Sears Holdings), another original Limited Partner or any of its Affiliates, or an Immediate Family member, subject to the provisions of Section 11.6 , (ii) transfer all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to a trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary or to a charitable foundation, subject to the provisions of Section 11.6 and (iii) subject to the provisions of Section 11.6 , pledge all or any portion of its Partnership Interest to a lending institution, which is not an Affiliate of such Limited Partner, as collateral or security for a bona fide loan or other extension of credit, and transfer such pledged Partnership Interest to such lending institution in connection with the exercise of remedies under such loan or extension or credit, and the transfer of such pledged Partnership Interest by the lender to any transferee.

(2) Qualified Transferee . Any transfer of a Partnership Interest shall be made only to Qualified Transferees. It is a condition to any transfer otherwise permitted hereunder that the transferee assumes by operation of law or express agreement all of the obligations of the transferor Limited Partner under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Partnership Interest and no such transfer (other than pursuant to a statutory merger or consolidation or other event wherein all obligations and liabilities of the transferor Limited Partner are assumed by a successor by operation of law) shall relieve the transferor Limited Partner of its obligations under this Agreement without the approval of the General Partner, in its reasonable discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transferee of any transferred Partnership Interest shall be subject to any and all ownership limitations contained in the Charter and the representations in Section 3.4.D . Any transferee, whether or not admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner, shall take subject to the obligations of the transferor hereunder. Unless admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner, no transferee, whether by a voluntary transfer, by operation of law or otherwise, shall have rights hereunder, other than the rights of an Assignee as provided in Section 11.5 .

B. If a Limited Partner is subject to Incapacity, the executor, administrator, trustee, committee, guardian, conservator, or receiver of such Limited Partner’s estate shall have all the rights of a Limited Partner, but not more rights than those enjoyed by other Limited Partners, for the purpose of settling or managing the estate, and such power as the Incapacitated Limited Partner possessed to transfer all or any part of his or its interest in the Partnership. The Incapacity of a Limited Partner, in and of itself, shall not dissolve or terminate the Partnership.


C. The General Partner may prohibit any transfer otherwise permitted under Section 11.3 by a Limited Partner of his or her Partnership Units if, in the opinion of legal counsel to the Partnership, such transfer would require the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act by the Partnership or would otherwise violate any federal or state securities laws or regulations applicable to the Partnership or the Partnership Unit.

D. In no event may any transfer or assignment of a Partnership Unit (including any Redemption or other exchange for REIT Class A Common Shares pursuant to Section 8.6 ) be made, nor any new Partnership Unit be issued by the Partnership, (i) if such transfer would immediately or with the passage of time cause the General Partner to fail to comply with the REIT Requirements, such determination to be made assuming that the General Partner does comply with the REIT Requirements immediately prior to the proposed transfer; (ii) if such transfer would result in a deemed distribution to any Partner attributable to a failure to meet the requirements of Regulations Section 1.752-2(d)(1), unless such Partner consents thereto; (iii) if such transfer would cause any lender to the Partnership to hold in excess of ten (10%) percent of the Partnership Interest that would, pursuant to the regulations under Code Section 752 or any successor provision, cause a loan by such lender to constitute Partner Nonrecourse Debt; (iv) if such transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership, cause the Partnership to cease to be classified as a Partnership for federal income tax purposes; or (v) if such transfer is effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code.

 

  Section 11.4 Substituted Limited Partners

A. No Limited Partner shall have the right to substitute a transferee as a Limited Partner in his, her or its place (including any transferee permitted by Section 11.3 ). The General Partner shall, however, have the right to consent to the admission of a transferee of the interest of a Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 11.4 as a Substituted Limited Partner, which consent may be given or withheld by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. The General Partner’s failure or refusal to permit a transferee of any such interests to become a Substituted Limited Partner shall not give rise to any cause of action against the Partnership or any Partner.

B. A transferee who has been admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner in accordance with this Article 11 shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the restrictions and liabilities of a Limited Partner under this Agreement. The admission of any transferee as a Substituted Limited Partner shall be conditioned upon the transferee executing and delivering to the Partnership an acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including without limitation, the provisions of Section 2.4 and such other documents or instruments as may be required or advisable to effect the admission, in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner).

C. Upon the admission of a Substituted Limited Partner, the General Partner shall amend Exhibit A to reflect the name, address, number of Partnership Units, and Percentage Interest of such Substituted Limited Partner and to eliminate or adjust, if necessary, the name, address and interest of the predecessor of such Substituted Limited Partner.


  Section 11.5 Assignees

If the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, does not consent to the admission of any permitted transferee under Section 11.3 as a Substituted Limited Partner, as described in Section 11.4 , such transferee shall be considered an Assignee for purposes of this Agreement. An Assignee shall be entitled to all the rights of an assignee of a limited partnership interest under the Act, including the right to receive distributions from the Partnership and the share of Net Income, Net Losses, gain and loss attributable to the Partnership Units assigned to such transferee, the rights to transfer the Partnership Units provided in this Article 11 , and the rights of Redemption provided in Section 8.6 , but shall not be deemed to be a holder of Partnership Units for any other purpose under this Agreement, and shall not be entitled to effect a Consent with respect to such Partnership Units on any matter presented to the Limited Partners for approval (such Consent right remaining with the transferor Limited Partner). In the event any such transferee desires to make a further assignment of any such Partnership Units, such transferee shall be subject to all the provisions of this Article 11 to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of Partnership Units.

 

  Section 11.6 General Provisions

A. No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than (i) as a result of a permitted transfer of all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units in accordance with this Article 11 and the transferee(s) of such Partnership Units being admitted to the Partnership as a Substituted Limited Partner or (ii) pursuant to the exercise of its rights of Redemption of all of its Common Units under Section 8.6 .

B. Any Limited Partner who shall transfer all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units in a transfer permitted pursuant to this Article 11 where such transferee was admitted as a Substituted Limited Partner or pursuant to the exercise of its rights of Redemption of all of such Limited Partner’s Partnership Units under Section 8.6 shall cease to be a Limited Partner.

C. Transfers pursuant to this Article 11 may only be made on the first day of a fiscal quarter of the Partnership, unless the General Partner otherwise agrees.

D. If any Partnership Interest is transferred, assigned or redeemed during any quarterly segment of the Partnership’s fiscal year in compliance with the provisions of this Article 11 or exchanged or redeemed pursuant to Section 8.6 on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then all distributions of Available Cash with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such transfer, assignment, exchange or redemption shall be made to the transferor Partner, and all distributions of Available Cash thereafter, in the case of a transfer or assignment other than a redemption, shall be made to the transferee Partner.

E. In addition to any other restrictions on transfer herein contained, including without limitation the provisions of this Article 11 and Section 2.6 , in no event may any transfer or assignment of a Partnership Interest by any Partner (including by way of a Redemption) be made (i) to any person or entity who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own a Partnership


Interest; (ii) in violation of applicable law; (iii) of any component portion of a Partnership Interest, such as the Capital Account, or rights to distributions, separate and apart from all other components of a Partnership Interest; (iv) if such transfer would cause the Partnership to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(c) of the Code); (v) if such transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership, cause any portion of the assets of the Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.3-101; (vi) if such transfer requires the registration of such Partnership Interest pursuant to any applicable federal or state securities laws; or (vii) if such transfer subjects the Partnership to be regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, each as amended.

F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall place appropriate restrictions on the ability of the Limited Partners to transfer interests in the Partnership (including by exercising redemption rights) as and if deemed necessary to ensure that the Partnership does not constitute a “publicly traded partnership” taxable as an association under Code Section 7704. If and when the General Partner determines that imposing such restrictions is necessary, the General Partner shall give prompt written notice thereof to each of the Limited Partners, which notice shall be accompanied by a copy of an opinion of counsel to the Partnership that states that, in the opinion of such counsel, restrictions are desirable in order to avoid the Partnership being treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Code Section 7704. The General Partner shall have the authority (but shall not be required to) take any steps it determines are necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” taxable as a corporation under Code Section 7704.

ARTICLE 12

ADMISSION OF PARTNERS

 

  Section 12.1 Admission of Successor General Partner

A successor to all of the General Partner’s General Partner Interest pursuant to Section 11.2 who is proposed to be admitted as a successor General Partner shall be admitted to the Partnership as the General Partner, effective upon such transfer. Any such transferee shall carry on the business of the Partnership without dissolution. In each case, the admission shall be subject to the successor General Partner executing and delivering to the Partnership an acceptance of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and such other documents or instruments as may be required to effect the admission. In the case of such admission on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, all items attributable to the General Partner Interest for such Partnership Year shall be allocated between the transferring General Partner and such successor as provided in Article 11 .


  Section 12.2 Admission of Additional Limited Partners

A. After the admission to the Partnership of the initial Limited Partners on the date hereof, a Person who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only upon furnishing to the General Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the power of attorney granted in Section 2.4 and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the General Partner in order to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner.

B. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 12.2 , no Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be given or withheld in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership, following the receipt of the Capital Contribution in respect of such Limited Partner and the consent of the General Partner to such admission. All distributions of Available Cash with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such admission shall be made solely to Partners and Assignees other than the Additional Limited Partner (other than in its capacity as an Assignee) and, except as otherwise agreed to by the Additional Limited Partners and the General Partner, all distributions of Available Cash thereafter shall be made to all Partners and Assignees including such Additional Limited Partner.

 

  Section 12.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership

 

For the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Act to amend the records of the Partnership and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practical an amendment of this Agreement (including an amendment of Exhibit A ) and, if required by law, shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate and may for this purpose exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.4 .

ARTICLE 13

DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

  Section 13.1 Dissolution

The Partnership shall not be dissolved by the admission of Substituted Limited Partners or Additional Limited Partners or by the admission of a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon the withdrawal of the General Partner, any successor General Partner (selected as described in Section 13.1.B ) shall continue the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon the first to occur of any of the following (“ Liquidating Events ”):

A. an event of withdrawal of the General Partner, as defined in the Act, unless, within ninety (90) days after the withdrawal, a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners agree in writing, in their sole and absolute discretion, to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of the date of withdrawal, of a substitute General Partner;


B. subject to compliance with Section 7.3.B , an election to dissolve the Partnership made by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion,

C. entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act;

D. the sale, in accordance with this Agreement (including without limitation Section 7.3.B ) of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the Partnership for cash or marketable securities;

E. the Incapacity of the General Partner, unless a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners in their sole and absolute discretion agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of a date prior to the date of such Incapacity, of a substitute General Partner; or

F. the Redemption or other exchange for REIT Class A Common Shares of all Partnership Units (other than those of the General Partner) pursuant to this Agreement, unless waived by the General Partner.

 

  Section 13.2 Winding Up

A. Upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Partnership shall continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets and satisfying the claims of its creditors and Partners, and no Partner shall take any action that is inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of the Partnership’s business and affairs. The General Partner (or, in the event there is no remaining General Partner, any Person elected by a Majority in Interest of the Limited Partners (the “ Liquidator ”)) shall be responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the Partnership and shall take full account of the Partnership’s liabilities and property and the Partnership property shall be liquidated as promptly as is consistent with obtaining the fair value thereof, and the proceeds therefrom (which may, to the extent determined by the General Partner, include shares of beneficial interest in the General Partner) shall be applied and distributed in the following order:

(1) First, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s debts and liabilities to creditors other than the General Partner;

(2) Second, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership’s debts and liabilities to the General Partner; and

(3) The balance, if any, to the General Partner and Limited Partners in accordance with their positive Capital Account balances, determined after taking into account all Capital Account adjustments for the Partnership taxable year during which the liquidation occurs (other than those made as a result of the liquidating distribution set forth in this Section 13.2.A(3) ); provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no such application or distribution shall be made in respect of the Non-Economic Units.


If upon dissolution and termination of the Partnership the Capital Account of any Partner (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs) is less than zero, then such Partner shall have no obligation to restore the negative balance in its Capital Account, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever.

The General Partner shall not receive any additional compensation for any services performed pursuant to this Article 13 other than reimbursement of its expenses as provided in Section 7.4 .

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.2.A which require liquidation of the assets of the Partnership, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if prior to or upon dissolution of the Partnership the Liquidator determines that an immediate sale of part or all of the Partnership’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the Partners, the Liquidator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, defer (including by establishing reserves and/or distributing into escrow) for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy liabilities of the Partnership (including to those Partners as creditors) and/or distribute to the Partners, in lieu of cash, as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.2.A , undivided interests in such Partnership assets as the Liquidator deems not suitable for liquidation. Any such distributions in kind shall be made only if, in the good faith judgment of the Liquidator, such distributions in kind are in the best interest of the Partners, and shall be subject to such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such properties as the Liquidator deems reasonable and equitable and to any agreements governing the operation of such properties at such time. The Liquidator shall determine the fair market value of any property distributed in kind using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt.

 

  Section 13.3 Rights of Limited Partners

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Limited Partner shall look solely to the assets of the Partnership for the return of his Capital Contribution and shall have no right or power to demand or receive property from the General Partner. No Limited Partner shall have priority over any other Limited Partner as to the return of his Capital Contributions, distributions or allocations. No Limited Partner shall have any rights or powers upon liquidation or dissolution in respect of his or her Non-Economic Units, except as required by law.


  Section 13.4 Notice of Dissolution

In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would, but for the provisions of Section 13.1 , result in a dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner shall, within thirty (30) days thereafter, provide written notice thereof to each of the Partners and to all other parties with whom the Partnership regularly conducts business (as determined in the discretion of the General Partner) and shall publish notice thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in each place in which the Partnership regularly conducts business (as determined in the discretion of the General Partner).

 

  Section 13.5 Cancellation of Certificate of Limited Partnership

Upon the completion of the liquidation of the Partnership cash and property as provided in Section 13.2 hereof, the Partnership shall be terminated, a certificate of cancellation shall be filed, and the Certificate and all qualifications of the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware shall be cancelled and such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Partnership shall be taken.

 

  Section 13.6 Reasonable Time for Winding Up

A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Partnership and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Section 13.2 , in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up, and the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect between the Partners during the period of liquidation.

 

  Section 13.7 Waiver of Partition

Each Partner hereby waives any right to partition of the Partnership property.

 

  Section 13.8 Liability of Liquidator

Any Liquidator shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership in the same manner and to the same degree as an Indemnitee may be indemnified pursuant to Section 7.7 .


ARTICLE 14

AMENDMENT OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT; CONSENTS

 

  Section 14.1 Amendments

A. The actions requiring consent or approval of Limited Partners pursuant to this Agreement, including Section 7.3 , or otherwise pursuant to applicable law, are subject to the procedures in this Article 14 .

B. Amendments to this Agreement may be proposed by the General Partner or by any Limited Partner. Following such proposal, the General Partner shall submit any proposed amendment to the Limited Partners. The General Partner shall seek the written consent of the Limited Partners on the proposed amendment or shall call a meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other business that it may deem appropriate. For purposes of obtaining a written consent, the General Partner may require a response within a reasonable specified time, but not less than fifteen (15) days, and failure to respond in such time period shall constitute a consent which is consistent with the General Partner’s recommendation (if so recommended) with respect to the proposal; provided that an action shall become effective at such time as requisite consents are received even if prior to such specified time.

 

  Section 14.2 Action by the Partners

A. Meetings of the Partners may be called by the General Partner and shall be called upon the receipt by the General Partner of a written request by Limited Partners holding twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Partnership Interests held by Limited Partners (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Partnership Interests held by the General Partner). The call shall state the nature of the business to be transacted. Notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Partners not less than seven (7) days nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of such meeting. Partners may vote in person or by proxy at such meeting. Whenever the vote or Consent of the Limited Partners or of the Partners is permitted or required under this Agreement, such vote or Consent may be given at a meeting of Partners or may be given in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section 14.1 .

B. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Partners may be taken without a meeting if a written consent setting forth the action so taken is signed by the percentage as is expressly required by this Agreement for the action in question. Such consent may be in one instrument or in several instruments, and shall have the same force and effect as a vote of the Percentage Interests of the Partners (expressly required by this Agreement). Such consent shall be filed with the General Partner. An action so taken shall be deemed to have been taken at a meeting held on the effective date so certified.

C. Each Limited Partner may authorize any Person or Persons to act for him by proxy on all matters in which a Limited Partner is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by


the Limited Partner or his attorney-in-fact. A proxy may be granted in writing, by means of electronic transmission or as otherwise permitted by applicable law. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Limited Partner executing it, such revocation to be effective upon the Partnership’s receipt of written notice of such revocation from the Limited Partner executing such proxy.

D. Each meeting of Partners shall be conducted by the General Partner or such other Person as the General Partner may appoint pursuant to such rules for the conduct of the meeting as the General Partner or such other Person deems appropriate.

ARTICLE 15

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

  Section 15.1 Addresses and Notice

Any notice, demand, request or report required or permitted to be given or made to a Partner or Assignee under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or made when delivered in person or when sent by first class United States mail, nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or electronic mail to the Partner or Assignee at the address set forth in Exhibit A or such other address as the Partners shall notify the General Partner in writing.

 

  Section 15.2 Titles and Captions

All article or section titles or captions in this Agreement are for convenience only. They shall not be deemed part of this Agreement and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope or intent of any provisions hereof. Except as specifically provided otherwise, references to “Articles” and “Sections” are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.

 

  Section 15.3 Pronouns and Plurals

Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.

 

  Section 15.4 Further Action

The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.


  Section 15.5 Binding Effect

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

  Section 15.6 Creditors

Other than as expressly set forth herein with respect to Indemnitees, none of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Partnership in its capacity as such or other third party having dealings with the Partnership.

 

  Section 15.7 Waiver

No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon any breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

  Section 15.8 Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on all the parties hereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto.

 

  Section 15.9 Applicable Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

A. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

B. Each Partner hereby (i) stipulates that any dispute or disagreement between or among any of the parties hereto as to the interpretation of any provision of, or the performance of obligations under, this Agreement shall be commenced and prosecuted in its entirety in, and consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and proper venue of, the Delaware Court of Chancery (and if the Delaware Court of Chancery shall be unavailable, any federal court located within the State of Delaware), and each party hereto consents to personal and subject matter jurisdiction and venue in such courts and waives and relinquishes all right to attack the suitability or convenience of such venue or forum by reason of its present or future domiciles, or by any other reason, for any such dispute or disagreement. The parties hereto acknowledge that all directions issued by the forum court, including all injunctions and other decrees, will be binding and enforceable in all jurisdictions and countries; and (ii) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.


  Section 15.10 Invalidity of Provisions

If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.

 

  Section 15.11 Entire Agreement

This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement among the Partners with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any other prior written or oral understandings or agreements among them with respect thereto.

 

  Section 15.12 No Rights as Shareholders

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as conferring upon the holders of Partnership Units any rights whatsoever as holders of REIT Shares or otherwise as shareholders of the General Partner, including without limitation any right to receive dividends or other distributions made to shareholders of the General Partner or to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of any meeting of shareholders for the election of trustees of the General Partner or any other matter.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement of Limited Partnership as of the date first written above.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: Chief Executive Officer, President

 

[ Signature Page to Partnership Agreement ]


LIMITED PARTNER:
ESL PARTNERS, L.P.
By: RBS Partners, L.P., as its general partner
By: ESL Investments, Inc., as its general partner
By:

/s/ Edward S. Lampert

Name: Edward S. Lampert
Title: Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner
LIMITED PARTNER:
EDWARD S. LAMPERT

/s/ Edward S. Lampert

Edward S. Lampert

 

[ Signature Page to Partnership Agreement ]


EXHIBIT A

PARTNERS, CONTRIBUTIONS AND PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

 

Name and Address of Partner

  Cash
Contributions
    Agreed
Value of
Contributed
Property (*)
    Total
Contributions
    Economic
Units
    Economic
Percentage
Interest
    Non-
Economic
Units
    Non-
Economic
Percentage
Interest
 

GENERAL PARTNER

             

Seritage Growth Properties

  $ 928,048,599.36        —        $ 928,048,599.36        31,374,192        56.47867     1,589,020        100

LIMITED PARTNERS

             

ESL Partners, L.P.

             

c/o ESL Investment, Inc.

1170 Kane Concourse, Suite 200

Bay Harbor Islands,

Florida 33154

  $ 325,609,219.02        —        $ 325,609,219.02        11,007,749        19.81574     —          —     

Edward S. Lampert

             

 

c/o ESL Investment, Inc.

1170 Kane Concourse, Suite 200

Bay Harbor Islands,

Florida 33154

  $ 389,526,533.64        —        $ 389,526,533.64        13,168,578        23.70559     —          —     

 

* Net of Debt (if any)

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

The undersigned hereby (i) transfers                      Common Units of Seritage Growth Properties, L.P. in accordance with the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement of Seritage Growth Properties, L.P. and the rights of Redemption and/or exchange referred to therein, (ii) surrenders such Common Units and all right, title and interest therein and (iii) directs that the cash or REIT Class A Common Shares deliverable upon Redemption or exchange be delivered to the address specified below, and if applicable, that such REIT Class A Common Shares be registered or placed in the name(s) and address(es) specified below.

Underwriter Redemption:      Yes      No

 

Dated:

 

Name of Limited Partner or Underwriter:

 

 

(Signature of Limited Partner or Underwriter)

 

(Street Address)

 

(City) (State) (Zip Code)
Signature Guaranteed by:

 

Issue REIT Class A Common Shares to:

Please insert social security or identifying number:

Name:

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF PARTNERSHIP UNIT CERTIFICATE

CERTIFICATE FOR PARTNERSHIP UNITS OF

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES, L.P.

 

No.                           [COMMON / NON-ECONOMIC] UNITS

Seritage Growth Properties, as the General Partner of Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), hereby certifies that                      is a Limited Partner of the Partnership whose Partnership Interests therein, as set forth in the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Seritage Growth Properties, L.P. (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), under which the Partnership is existing and as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (copies of which are on file at the Partnership’s principal office at                     , represent                      [Common / Non-Economic] Units of limited partnership interest in the Partnership.

THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE OR INSTRUMENT MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS SUCH TRANSFER, SALE, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION COMPLIES WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AS OF             , 2015, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE PARTNERSHIP). EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUCH AGREEMENT, NO TRANSFER, SALE, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ ACT ”), OR (B) IF THE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN FURNISHED WITH A SATISFACTORY OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER THAT SUCH TRANSFER, SALE, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE ACT AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN EFFECT THEREUNDER.

DATED:             ,     .

 

Seritage Growth Properties,

General Partner of

Seritage Growth Properties, L.P.

ATTEST:
By:

 

By:

 

 

C-1

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION VERSION

[ THIS LEASE IS NOT TO BE RECORDED ]

MASTER LEASE

by and among

SERITAGE SRC FINANCE LLC

and

SERITAGE KMT FINANCE LLC,

Landlord,

and

KMART OPERATIONS LLC

and

SEARS OPERATIONS LLC,

Tenant


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page  
ARTICLE I DEMISED PREMISES      2   
 

1.1

  

Demised Premises

     2   
 

1.2

  

Single, Unitary, Indivisible Lease

     3   
 

1.3

  

Joint and Several Liability

     4   
 

1.4

  

Term

     5   
 

1.5

  

Renewal Terms

     5   
 

1.6

  

Nonprofitable Property

     7   
 

1.7

  

Recapture Space

     10   
 

1.8

  

Landlord’s Termination Right as to Additional Recapture Space

     17   
 

1.9

  

Landlord’s Termination Right as to 100% Recapture Property

     21   
 

1.10

  

Reservation of Rights Concerning Leases and Recapture Space

     24   
 

1.11

  

General Provisions

     25   
 

1.12

  

Separation of Leases

     27   
 

1.13

  

Self-Help

     29   

ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS

     29   
 

2.1

  

Definitions

     29   
ARTICLE III RENT      50   
 

3.1

  

Rent

     50   
 

3.2

  

Late Payment of Rent

     51   
 

3.3

  

Method of Payment of Rent and Other Sums and Charges

     51   
 

3.4

  

Net Lease

     52   

ARTICLE IV IMPOSITIONS

     52   
 

4.1

  

Impositions

     52   
 

4.2

  

Permitted Contests

     54   
 

4.3

  

General Tax Indemnity

     55   
 

4.4

  

Utility Charges

     55   
 

4.5

  

Installment Expenses

     56   

ARTICLE V NO ABATEMENT

     58   
 

5.1

  

No Termination, Abatement, Etc.

     58   
 

5.2

  

Assumption of Risk of Loss

     59   

ARTICLE VI OWNERSHIP OF DEMISED PREMISES

     60   
 

6.1

  

Ownership of the Demised Premises

     60   
 

6.2

  

Tenant’s Property

     61   

ARTICLE VII CONDITION AND USE OF DEMISED PREMISES

     61   
 

7.1

  

Condition of the Demised Premises

     61   
 

7.2

  

Use of the Demised Premises; Permitted, Prohibited and Restricted Uses

     62   
 

7.3

  

Operating Covenant

     65   
 

7.4

  

Signs

     66   
 

7.5

  

Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date

     67   

ARTICLE VIII ALTERATIONS

     67   
 

8.1

  

Alteration and Additions

     67   
 

8.2

  

Title to Alterations

     68   

 

i


ARTICLE IX TRANSFER   68   

9.1

Transfer; Subletting and Assignment   68   

9.2

Permitted Subletting   69   

9.3

Permitted Assignments   69   

9.4

Required Assignment and Subletting Provisions   70   

9.5

Costs   71   

9.6

No Release of Tenant’s Obligations   71   

9.7

No Restriction on Landlord   71   

9.8

Free-Standing SAC Leases   71   
ARTICLE X MAINTENANCE AND COMMON AREAS   72   

10.1

Maintenance and Repair; Trade Fixtures   72   

10.2

Common Areas   75   

10.3

Landlord’s Responsibility for Leasehold Improvements Subsequent to Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date   78   

10.4

Landlord’s Warranties and Guaranties   78   

10.5

Tenant’s Responsibility under Lands’ End Agreements and Sears Hometown License Agreement   79   
ARTICLE XI INSURANCE   81   

11.1

General Insurance Requirements   81   

11.2

Landlord’s “All-Risk” Insurance   83   

11.3

Additional Insurance   83   

11.4

Waiver of Subrogation   83   

11.5

Policy Requirements   84   

11.6

Increase in Limits   84   

11.7

Blanket Policy   84   

11.8

No Separate Insurance   84   
ARTICLE XII CASUALTY AND CONDEMNATION   84   

12.1

Casualty; Property Insurance Proceeds   84   

12.2

Tenant’s Obligations Following Casualty   86   

12.3

No Abatement of Rent   86   

12.4

Waiver   87   

12.5

Insurance Proceeds Paid to Landlord Mortgagee   87   

12.6

Tenant’s Right to Terminate Upon Damage Near End of Term   87   

12.7

Tenant’s Right to Terminate Upon Total Destruction   88   

12.8

Condemnation   88   

12.9

Condemnation Proceeds Paid to Landlord Mortgagee   89   

12.10

Landlord’s Restoration Obligations   90   

12.11

Nonprofitable Properties   91   
ARTICLE XIII DEFAULT   91   

13.1

Events of Default   91   

13.2

Certain Remedies   94   

13.3

Damages   94   

13.4

Receiver   95   

13.5

Waiver   96   

13.6

Application of Funds   96   

13.7

Landlord’s Right to Cure Tenant’s Default   96   
13.8 Default by Entities Comprising Tenant   96   

 

ii


ARTICLE XIV LANDLORD’S FINANCING   96   
14.1 Landlord’s Financing   96   
14.2 Attornment   97   
14.3 Compliance with Landlord Mortgage Documents   98   
14.4 Landlord Mortgagee Generally   98   
14.5 Limitation of Successor Landlord Liability   99   
14.6 Lease Modifications   99   
14.7 Notice of Default to Landlord Mortgagee   99   
14.8 Delivery of Notices to Landlord Mortgagee   99   
14.9 Right of Landlord Mortgagee to Enforce Lease   100   
14.10 Exercise of Landlord’s Discretion   100   
14.11 Cure of Landlord Defaults   100   
14.12 Indemnification   100   
ARTICLE XV TENANT FINANCING   103   
15.1 No Leasehold Mortgages   103   
15.2 Rights of Lenders to Obtain Collateral   103   
ARTICLE XVI NO MERGER   103   
16.1 No Merger   103   
ARTICLE XVII CONVEYANCE BY LANDLORD   103   
17.1 Conveyance by Landlord   103   
ARTICLE XVIII QUIET ENJOYMENT   104   
18.1 Quiet Enjoyment   104   
ARTICLE XIX NOTICES   104   
19.1 Notices   104   
ARTICLE XX ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNITY   105   
20.1 Hazardous Substances   105   
20.2 Notices   105   
20.3 Remediation   106   
20.4 Indemnity   107   
20.5 Environmental Inspections   108   
20.6 Additional Provisions   109   
20.7 Survival   109   
ARTICLE XXI MISCELLANEOUS   109   
21.1 Survival   109   
21.2 Partial Invalidity   109   
21.3 Non-Recourse   109   
21.4 Successors and Assigns   110   
21.5 Governing Law   110   
21.6 Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury   110   
21.7 Entire Agreement   111   
21.8 Headings   111   
21.9 Counterparts   111   
21.10 Interpretation   111   

 

iii


21.11 Time of Essence   112   
21.12 Further Assurances   112   
21.13 Landlord’s Right to Inspect and Show the Demised Premises   112   
21.14 Acceptance of Surrender   112   
21.15 Non-Waiver   112   
21.16 Accord and Satisfaction   112   
21.17 Recording   113   
21.18 Liens   113   
21.19 Cumulative Remedies   113   
21.20 Rules and Regulations   113   
21.21 Confidentiality and Media Releases   114   
21.22 Authority   114   
21.23 Overdue Rate   114   
21.24 Delivery of Information   114   
21.25 Puerto Rico Premises   116   
ARTICLE XXII MEMORANDUM OF LEASE   117   
22.1 Memorandum of Lease   117   
ARTICLE XXIII BROKERS   117   
23.1 Brokers   117   
ARTICLE XXIV ANTI-TERRORISM   118   
24.1 Anti-Terrorism Representations   118   
ARTICLE XXV REIT PROTECTION   118   
25.1 REIT Protection   118   
ARTICLE XXVI FAIR MARKET RENT—APPRAISAL   120   
26.1 Fair Market Rent   120   
ARTICLE XXVII OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATES—STATUS OF LEASE   121   
27.1 Certificate of Tenant   121   
27.2 Certificate of Landlord   121   
ARTICLE XXVIII CONDITION OF DEMISED PREMISES ON EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF MASTER LEASE   121   
28.1 Delivery of Demised Premises   121   
ARTICLE XXIX ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION—EXPEDITED ARBITRATION   122   
29.1 Attempted Dispute Resolution   122   
29.2 Binding Arbitration   123   

 

iv


Schedules and Exhibits

 

Exhibit A Properties
Exhibit B Prohibited Uses
Exhibit C Form of SNDA
Exhibit D Lands’ End Premises
Schedule 1.7(d) Form of Recapture Notice
Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) General Requirements and Conditions
Schedule 1.8(a) Form of Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice
Schedule 2.1(a) EBITDAR Methodology
Schedule 2.1(b) Lease Guarantors
Schedule 10.2(e) Operating Expenses
Schedule 14.4 Landlord Mortgage Documents
Schedule 20.6 Additional Provisions with Respect to Environmental Matters with Respect to the Demised Premises and SACs

 

v


MASTER LEASE

This MASTER LEASE ( this Master Lease ”) is entered into as of July 7, 2015, by and among Seritage SRC Finance LLC and Seritage KMT Finance LLC (together with their successors and assigns, collectively, jointly and severally, “ Landlord ”), and Kmart Operations LLC (“ Kmart Tenant ”) and Sears Operations LLC (“ Sears Tenant ”) (together with their permitted successors and assigns, collectively, jointly and severally, “ Tenant ”).

RECITALS

Capitalized terms used in this Master Lease and not otherwise defined herein are defined in Article II hereof.

Landlord is the fee owner of those certain properties identified on Exhibit A attached hereto, as the same may be deleted from time to time as further provided herein (each a “ Property ”, and collectively, “ Properties ”). Pursuant to that certain Subscription, Distribution and Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2015 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), by and between Sears Holdings Corporation and Seritage Growth Properties, Landlord desires to lease the Demised Premises (as defined below), as one economic unit, to Tenant and Tenant desires to lease the Demised Premises, as one economic unit, from Landlord upon the terms set forth in this Master Lease.

1. As described in Section 1.2, below, this Master Lease constitutes one single, unitary, indivisible lease of the entirety of the Demised Premises and not separate or severable leases governed by similar terms. The Demised Premises constitutes one indivisible economic unit, and the Base Rent (as defined below) and all other economic and other material lease provisions have been extensively negotiated and agreed to, based on the understanding and agreement of the parties (and each of the parties has entered into this Master Lease in reliance thereon, and it is a material inducement to each of them), that the demise of all of the Demised Premises to Tenant herein is a single, unitary, indivisible, composite, and inseparable transaction. Except as expressly provided in this Master Lease for specific purposes (and then only to the extent so expressly provided), all provisions of this Master Lease apply equally and uniformly to all of the Demised Premises as one indivisible unit. The parties intend that this Master Lease shall be, and the provisions of this Master Lease shall at all times be construed, interpreted and applied so as to carry out their mutual objective to create a single, unitary, indivisible lease of all of the Demised Premises and, in particular but without limitation, that, for purposes of 11 U.S.C. Section 365, or any successor or replacement thereof or any analogous state law, or any attempt thereunder to assume, reject or assign this Master Lease in whole or in part, this Master Lease is one indivisible and nonseverable lease and executory contract dealing with one legal and economic unit and that this Master Lease must be assumed, rejected or assigned as a whole with respect to all (and only as to all) of the Demised Premises.

2. Exhibit A attached hereto also contains a list of the 224 retail stores currently operated by or under the authority of either (a) Kmart Tenant (such retail stores as may be operated by Kmart Tenant or its Affiliates from time to time, individually, a “ Kmart Store ,” and collectively, “ Kmart Stores ”), or (b) Sears Tenant (such retail stores as may be operated by Sears Tenant or its Affiliates from time to time, individually, a “ Sears Store ,” and collectively,


Sears Stores ”) (which Sears Stores shall include each related Sears automotive care center (individually, a “ SAC ” and collectively, “ SACs ”); each Kmart Store and each Sears Store being referred to individually as a “ Store ”)).

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

ARTICLE I

DEMISED PREMISES

1.1 Demised Premises . Upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, Landlord leases to Tenant and Tenant leases from Landlord all of Landlord’s right, title and interest in and to the following assets and interests as described in Section 1.1(a)-(c)  below (individually and collectively, as the context may require, as one economic unit, the “ Demised Premises ”), further subject to the terms, covenants and conditions in Section 1.1(d)-(f)  below:

(a) (i) Prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date with respect to each individual Property, all of such Property and (ii) after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, the portion of each individual Property on which the Store and all Leased Improvements (as hereinafter defined) is located (but excluding, in each case, all real property which is (y) subject to a Lease (as hereinafter defined) as of the date hereof or (z) part of the Common Areas (except the Exclusive Store Areas, as hereinafter defined) (subject to Tenant’s rights to use the Common Areas as provided herein), collectively, the “ Land ”);

(b) (i) all buildings, structures, Fixtures (as hereinafter defined) and other improvements of every kind now or hereafter located on the Land (as the Land may be constituted before or after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, as applicable), including, as applicable, the Store, all free-standing buildings and all other buildings and improvements connected thereto (including all physical entranceways to an adjacent mall to the extent located in the wall of a Store or other such building), together with (ii) prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date with respect to each individual Property, (A) all alleyways and connecting tunnels, passageways and entranceways to any adjacent malls, shopping centers or other third-party properties, sidewalks, utility pipes, conduits and lines (on-site and off-site to the extent Landlord has any interest in the same), and (B) all parking areas and roadways appurtenant to such buildings and structures (collectively, the “ Leased Improvements ”); provided , that “Leased Improvements” shall exclude any asset not constituting “real property” as that term is defined in Treasury Regulations § 1.856-3(d);

(c) All equipment, machinery, fixtures, and other items of property, including all components thereof, that (i) are now or hereafter located in, on or used in connection with and permanently affixed to or otherwise incorporated into the Leased Improvements and (ii) qualify as Long-Lived Assets, together with all replacements, modifications, alterations and additions thereto, and other items of real and/or personal property, including all components thereof, now and hereafter located in, on or used in connection with, and permanently affixed to or incorporated into the Leased Improvements, including all HVAC equipment, all furnaces, boilers, heaters, electrical equipment, heating, plumbing, lighting, ventilating, refrigerating, incineration, air- and water-pollution-control, waste-disposal, air-cooling and air-conditioning

 

2


systems and apparatus, security systems, sprinkler systems and fire- and theft-protection equipment, elevators, escalators and lifts and Environmental Equipment (the “ Fixtures ”), all of which, to the greatest extent permitted by law, are hereby deemed by the parties hereto to constitute real estate, together with all equipment, parts and supplies used to service, repair, maintain and equip the foregoing and all replacements, modifications, alterations and additions thereto; provided , that the foregoing shall exclude all items included within Tenant’s Property; provided , further , that “Fixtures” shall exclude any asset not constituting “real property” as that term is defined in Treasury Regulations § 1.856-3(d);

(d) The Demised Premises is leased together with and shall be subject to all of the following (individually, an “ Encumbrance ” and collectively, “ Encumbrances ”): (i) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, charge, pledge, improvisation, security interest, defect in title, encroachment, or other matter whatsoever affecting title to any of the Demised Premises or any portion thereof or any interest therein, whether or not of record, (ii) all Operating Agreements identifying and all covenants, conditions, restrictions, declarations, easements, rights of way, rights and obligations under the Operating Agreements and other matters relating to or appertaining to the Property, the Land, the Leased Improvements, the Common Areas or affecting the Demised Premises as of the Commencement Date and such subsequent Operating Agreements, covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, declarations and other matters as may be agreed to by Landlord (or by Tenant, with Landlord’s prior reasonable consent) so long as the same do not adversely affect the Property and otherwise are consistent with the terms and conditions of this Master Lease, in each case whether or not of record, and (iii) all Permitted Encumbrances, including any matters which would be disclosed by an inspection or accurate survey of the Demised Premises; provided , however , that Landlord shall not from and after the date of this Master Lease without Tenant’s prior written consent further encumber the Demised Premises (other than under or in connection with any Landlord Mortgages and Landlord Mortgage Documents, subject to the provisions of Article XIV ) in such a manner as would materially interfere with Tenant’s use, occupancy or operation of the Demised Premises or materially increase Tenant’s obligations or liabilities or materially decrease Tenant’s rights or remedies under this Master Lease. For the avoidance of doubt, Landlord shall have the right in its reasonable discretion exercised in good faith without Tenant’s consent to grant, convey or enter into easements, covenants, restrictions, declarations, rights of way agreements, agreements in lieu of condemnation, street widening or improvement or traffic control or other similar agreements, and agreements in connection with utilities, storm and sanitary sewers drainage and similar agreements, with governmental authorities and/or utility companies and which are for the benefit of the Demised Premises or the Property or Common Areas (together with all further encumbrances which may be consented to by Tenant, “ Further Encumbrances ”); and

(e) Landlord shall, within a reasonable time after receipt thereof, forward to Tenant a copy of any and all default notices and/or demands received by Landlord pursuant to the Operating Agreements with respect to the Demised Premises and keep Tenant reasonably apprised with respect thereto.

1.2 Single, Unitary, Indivisible Lease . This Master Lease constitutes one single, unitary, indivisible lease of the entirety of the Demised Premises and not separate or severable leases governed by similar terms. The Demised Premises constitutes one indivisible economic unit, and the Base Rent and all other economic and other material lease provisions have been

 

3


extensively negotiated and agreed to, based on the understanding and agreement of the parties (and each of the parties has entered into this Master Lease in reliance thereon, and it is a material inducement to each of them), that the demise of all of the Demised Premises to Tenant herein is a single, unitary, indivisible, composite, and inseparable transaction. Except as expressly provided in this Master Lease for specific purposes (and then only to the extent so expressly provided), all provisions of this Master Lease apply equally and uniformly to all of the Demised Premises as one indivisible unit. An Event of Default with respect to any portion of the Demised Premises is an Event of Default as to all of the Demised Premises. The parties intend that this Master Lease shall be, and the provisions of this Master Lease shall at all times be construed, interpreted and applied so as to carry out their mutual objective to create, a single, unitary, indivisible lease of all of the Demised Premises and, in particular but without limitation, that, for purposes of 11 U.S.C. Section 365, or any successor or replacement thereof or any analogous state law, or any attempt thereunder to assume, reject or assign this Master Lease in whole or in part, this Master Lease is a single, unitary, indivisible and nonseverable lease and executory contract dealing with one legal and economic unit and that this Master Lease must be assumed, rejected or assigned as a whole with respect to all (and only as to all) of the Demised Premises. The parties may amend this Master Lease from time to time or terminate this Master Lease as to one or more Demised Premises, or separate and include one or more Demised Premises in a separate lease for technical and/or administrative reasons; but no such termination or separation shall in any way change the single, unitary, indivisible and nonseverable nature of this Master Lease and all of the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.2 shall continue to apply in full force. This Master Lease is separate and distinct from any and all other master leases or leases now or hereafter entered into between Landlord and Tenant or any of their respective Affiliates, and (except with respect to the New Leases, as hereinafter provided) no breach or default under this Master Lease, on the one hand, or any such other master leases or leases, on the other hand, shall constitute a breach or default under such other master lease or leases or this Master Lease, as the case may be.

1.3 Joint and Several Liability . (a) In furtherance of the provisions of Section 1.2 , and notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, including the specified obligations of Kmart Tenant with respect to the Kmart Stores and the specified obligations of Sears Tenant with respect to the Sears Stores, respectively, as provided in this Master Lease, it is understood and agreed that each Tenant Party shall be liable and responsible for the payment of all sums payable and for the performance of all obligations performable by one or more of the entities comprising Tenant, and each Tenant Party is and shall be and remain at all times jointly and severally obligated and liable as Tenant for (a) all acts, omissions, failures or refusals of the other Tenant Party to comply with its own respective obligations and the obligations of Tenant under this Master Lease or (b) any breach or default or Event of Default suffered, incurred or created by the other Tenant Party under this Master Lease ((a) and (b) collectively, “ Tenant Party Breach ”), and Landlord shall be entitled to enforce against Tenant, Kmart Tenant and/or Sears Tenant, individually and collectively, any and all rights and remedies under this Master Lease or otherwise available at law or in equity, including without limitation, as applicable, termination of the Master Lease, recovery of any or all of possession of the Demised Premises, recovery of all Rent and other sums and charges and monetary damages, and all injunctive and other equitable relief, in any order and in any manner as Landlord may elect in its sole discretion, in whole or in part. Without limiting the foregoing:

(1) Each and every Tenant Party Breach shall constitute a breach or default or Event of Default by Tenant under this Master Lease.

 

4


(2) Although the separate respective covenants and agreements of Kmart Tenant and Sears Tenant to exclusively and continuously use, occupy and operate the Kmart Stores and the Sears Stores, respectively, may be specifically enforced against the Tenant Party under whose authority such Store is intended to be operated, each and both of such Tenant Parties shall remain jointly and severally liable as Tenant for any Tenant Party Breach with respect to the breach or default of such covenants.

(3) Although as a matter of administrative convenience for the Parties (i) the Base Rent and Additional Charges have been determined and are intended to be assessed separately for accounting purposes with respect to the Kmart Stores and the Sears Stores, and (ii) it is contemplated that Kmart Tenant and Sears Tenant shall as a practical matter discharge their joint and several respective obligations for repair, maintenance, insurance, Alterations, Recapture Separation Work, CAM Expenses, Property Document CAM Expenses, casualty restoration and all other obligations under this Master Lease separately with respect to the Kmart Stores and the Sears Stores, which they respectively occupy, and the Common Areas with respect to each (collectively, “ Premises Obligations ”), Landlord shall be entitled to demand and collect all of the Base Rent and Additional Charges, and shall be entitled to demand and obtain performance of all the Premises Obligations, from either or both Kmart Tenant and/or Sears Tenant in Landlord’s sole discretion; the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.3(a)(3) shall not limit or vary any provisions of Section 1.2 or this Section 1.3 .

(4) Each of Kmart Tenant and Sears Tenant hereby unconditionally and absolutely waives and relinquishes, and covenants not to claim or assert, in all cases for the express benefit of the Landlord, any and all rights of contribution, indemnity, subrogation or recovery (if any) against the other Tenant Party which may otherwise now or hereafter be available to the nonbreaching Tenant Party, of any and all amounts which Landlord may recover or be entitled to recover against one Tenant Party on account of a Tenant Party Breach by the other Tenant Party, until and unless Landlord has fully recovered and received payment of all amounts and full performance of all obligations by Tenant under this Master Lease for the entire Term to which Landlord is entitled (including all contingent obligations, indemnities and liabilities of Tenant).

(b) Each of the entities comprising Landlord shall be jointly and severally liable to Tenant for the performance of all terms, covenants, conditions and obligations of Landlord under this Master Lease.

1.4 Term . The “ Term ” of this Master Lease is the Initial Term plus all Renewal Terms, to the extent exercised. The initial term of this Master Lease (the “ Initial Term ”) shall commence on the date hereof (the “ Commencement Date ”) and end on the last day of the calendar month in which the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Commencement Date occurs, subject to renewal as set forth in Section 1.5 .

1.5 Renewal Terms . (a) The Initial Term of this Master Lease may be extended at the option of Tenant for an aggregate of four (4) consecutive renewal terms (“ Renewal Terms ”)

 

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of five (5) years each (except the fourth (4th) renewal term shall be for four (4) years) with respect to all but not less than all of the Demised Premises which are then subject to this Master Lease, if: (i) at least three hundred sixty (360) days prior to the end of the then-current Term, Tenant delivers to Landlord Notice that it desires to exercise its right to extend this Master Lease for one (1) Renewal Term (a “ Renewal Notice ”); and (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date Landlord receives the Renewal Notice (the “ Renewal Exercise Date ”) and no Event of Default for any nonpayment of Rent shall have occurred and be continuing on the first day of the applicable Renewal Term. During any such Renewal Term, except as otherwise specifically provided for herein, all of the terms and conditions of this Master Lease shall remain in full force and effect. Each Renewal Term shall commence on the expiration date of the current Term (as previously extended) and shall end on the date immediately preceding the fifth (5th) anniversary thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, no Renewal Notice shall be effective and no Renewal Term shall commence in the event Landlord exercises any right to terminate this Master Lease by reason of any Event of Default which has occurred and is continuing after the Renewal Exercise Date.

(b) [Intentionally Omitted]

(c) Tenant may not exercise its option with respect to any Renewal Term unless it has validly exercised its option as to all immediately preceding Renewal Terms.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Base Rent for any Renewal Term is subject to the determination of Fair Market Rent, Tenant shall have the right to irrevocably revoke any Renewal Notice by Notice to Landlord (“ Renewal Revocation Notice ”) given not less than the later of (x) thirty (30) days after the Fair Market Rent (if applicable) has been determined for the Demised Premises and (y) two hundred seventy (270) days prior to the commencement of the then applicable Renewal Term, if Tenant does not wish to renew this Master Lease after the determination of Fair Market Rent for such Renewal Term pursuant to Article XXVI , and in such event, the Master Lease shall terminate on the last day of the then-current Term and Tenant shall not have any further rights of renewal with respect thereto or with respect to any other Renewal Terms.

(e) Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.5 or the provisions of Section 1.6 , 1.7 , 1.8 , or 1.9 , Tenant shall be deemed to automatically revoke the Renewal Notice, and the same shall be automatically revoked without any further action, with respect to a Nonprofitable Property or any Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space (but not with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises as to which such Renewal Notice shall remain in full force and effect) subject to any Tenant Termination Election Notice pursuant to Section 1.6(b) given within two hundred seventy (270) days prior to the commencement of the then applicable Renewal Term or any recapture notice given by Landlord pursuant to Section 1.6 , 1.7 , 1.8 or 1.9 subsequent to such Renewal Notice and prior to the commencement of the applicable Renewal Term.

 

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1.6 Nonprofitable Property . (a) Subject to and in accordance with all of the terms of this Section 1.6 , Tenant shall have the right to terminate this Master Lease as to any Nonprofitable Property (as hereinafter defined).

(b) Subject to the annual limitation in this Section 1.6(b) , if at any time during the Term after the end of the first Lease Year any Store becomes Nonprofitable (a “ Nonprofitable Property ”), then Tenant shall have the right to terminate this Master Lease with respect to such Nonprofitable Property by giving written Notice to Landlord of such election (a “ Tenant Termination Election Notice ”), which Notice shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate setting forth financial data reasonably establishing that the Store is a Nonprofitable Property, and shall set forth the date for termination which shall be a regularly scheduled date for the payment of Base Rent (“ Tenant Termination Election Date ”) not fewer than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the Tenant Termination Election Notice; provided , however , that the Tenant Termination Election Date shall not occur until the following conditions are met: (i) no Event of Default for any nonpayment of Rent shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) Tenant has paid the Tenant Termination Fee (as hereinafter defined) not later than thirty (30) days prior to the Tenant Termination Election Date, as well as all other amounts due to Landlord as provided for in subsection (f) below and (iii) Tenant has substantially complied with the provisions of Sections 28.1(a) , (b)  and (d) . The actual date on which all such conditions have been fulfilled and the Master Lease has in fact been terminated as to the Nonprofitable Property is hereafter referred to as the “ Nonprofitable Property Termination Date .” Tenant shall remain liable to Landlord for the performance of the obligations set forth in Sections 28.1(c) , (e)  and (f) , which, if not performed prior to the Nonprofitable Property Termination Date, shall be performed as expeditiously as reasonably practicable thereafter, but in no event later than one-hundred eighty (180) days following the Nonprofitable Property Termination Date (subject to reasonable extensions according to the nature of the work to be performed, further subject to additional reasonable extensions for delays due to customary acts or occurrences of force majeure ), but in any such case subject to Section 1.11(d) . Landlord agrees to provide access to the Nonprofitable Property as reasonably necessary for Tenant to satisfy the obligations set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provided that Landlord has approved the duration and scope of work and Tenant has provided such other information as Landlord may reasonably request. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, in no event shall Tenant remove any Alterations which are required pursuant to Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements. For the avoidance of doubt, as further provided in Section 1.6(k) , a Nonprofitable Property shall remain a Nonprofitable Property for the purposes of termination of the Master Lease with respect thereto notwithstanding any improvement in such property’s EBITDAR following any Tenant Termination Election Notice and prior to the Nonprofitable Property Termination Date.

(c) In addition to all other amounts payable pursuant to this Section 1.6 , not later than thirty (30) days prior to the Nonprofitable Property Termination Date, Tenant shall pay Landlord with respect to each Nonprofitable Property as to which a Tenant Termination Election Notice has been delivered an amount equal to the sum of the Base Rent (including all increases therein) attributable to such Nonprofitable Property (as calculated in accordance with the “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” as specified in and otherwise as provided in Schedule 2 attached to the Side Letter) plus any payments under the Lands’ End Agreements or the Sears Hometown License Agreement relating to the Nonprofitable Property, in each case that would be payable for

 

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a period (a “ Calculation Period ”) equal to the lesser of (x) one (1) calendar year and (y) the balance of the then-current Term (excluding unexercised renewals), in either case starting from the Nonprofitable Property Termination Date, plus all Property Charges and all other Additional Charges attributable to such Nonprofitable Property, including any Lands’ End Space and Sears Hometown Space, that would be payable during the Calculation Period, which shall be initially determined based on the amount payable during the one (1)-year period immediately preceding the Nonprofitable Property Termination Election Notice, or the most current available records therefor, subject to final adjustment when actual Property Charges and any other Additional Charges attributable to such Nonprofitable Property that are payable during the Calculation Period are known (collectively, “ Termination Fee ”). When the actual amount of such Property Charges and any other Additional Charges has been finally determined for the applicable Calculation Period, Landlord and Tenant shall promptly adjust such amount and refund or pay any difference to the other.

(d) From and after the Nonprofitable Property Termination Date, the Base Rent schedule attached to the Side Letter as Schedule 2 shall be adjusted downward as provided in Schedule 2 to the Side Letter. Except for such Base Rent adjustment, such termination shall not otherwise affect any other terms or conditions of this Master Lease with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises, all of which shall remain in full force and effect.

(e) Tenant shall not have the right to exercise any termination rights in any one (1) Lease Year with respect to any Nonprofitable Properties if the effect of such termination would be to reduce the Base Rent (as then in effect from time to time) payable under the Master Lease for the immediately succeeding Lease Year by more than twenty percent (20%) from the Base Rent in effect on the first day of the then-current Lease Year without giving effect to any reduction in Base Rent since such date as a result of the exercise by Landlord of its rights pursuant to Section 1.7 , 1.8 or 1.9 hereof (“ Nonprofitable Property Limitation ”); provided , however , that any such Nonprofitable Properties as to which termination of the Master Lease would exceed the Nonprofitable Property Limitation may be carried over to the next succeeding Lease Year in which such termination would be permitted under the Nonprofitable Property Limitation.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.6 , Tenant shall not have the right to exercise any termination right with respect to any Nonprofitable Property if the same would constitute a breach or default under any Encumbrances; provided , however , that for the purpose of this Section 1.6(f) only the Landlord Mortgage shall not constitute an Encumbrance which would prevent the exercise of such termination right.

(g) On or before the date which is 30 days prior to the Tenant Termination Election Date, Tenant shall (A) deliver to Landlord an updated title commitment (“ Updated Title Commitment ”) with respect to the applicable Nonprofitable Property, and (B) cooperate with Landlord in obtaining (at Landlord’s option) an owner’s and/or lender’s policy of title insurance (or an endorsement reasonably satisfactory to Landlord with respect to any existing Landlord or Landlord Mortgagee title insurance policy) and an endorsement to any existing Landlord Mortgagee title insurance policy (collectively, “ Current Title Policy ”) from a national title insurer selected by Landlord (“ Title Insurer ”) in reasonable amount as reasonably determined by Landlord or Landlord Mortgagee, committing to insure or insuring, as the case

 

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may be, Landlord’s fee title (or Landlord’s ground leasehold interest, if any) to the Nonprofitable Property and the lien of the Landlord Mortgage free and clear of all Encumbrances other than (1) Permitted Encumbrances (except for (a) Permitted Encumbrances in subdivisions (i), (ii), (iv) or (v) of the definition thereof (“ Excepted Liens ”), and (b) Subleases, Lands’ End Agreements and the Sears Hometown License Agreement); (2) any other Encumbrances suffered or created by Landlord which either are not otherwise Tenant’s obligations or a result of Landlord performing Tenant’s obligations under this Master Lease (“ Landlord Encumbrances ”); or (3) any Excepted Liens to the extent Tenant deposits Cash or other security satisfactory to Landlord, Landlord’s Mortgagee or the Title Insurer in an amount equal to not less than one hundred twenty percent (120%), or such other amount reasonably required by the Title Insurer, of the amount of all such Liens as security for the payment and discharge of such Liens, or Tenant bonds the same in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements (“ Security for Excepted Liens ”); provided , however , that in the event the Security for Excepted Liens is inadequate to satisfy all Excepted Liens (including all reasonable costs and expenses of satisfaction, including reasonable attorneys’ fees), Tenant shall remain liable for such payment and discharge of all Excepted Liens. Upon satisfaction in full of all such Excepted Liens, any remaining balance (if any) of the Security for Excepted Liens shall be returned to Tenant without interest. Without limiting the foregoing, Tenant shall execute, acknowledge and deliver all affidavits and other documentation which the Title Insurer may reasonably require from Tenant in accordance with the Title Insurer’s customary practice.

(h) Tenant hereby agrees to pay, without duplication, all reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses of Landlord and Landlord Mortgagee (or any of their respective Affiliates) in connection with any actions taken pursuant to this Section 1.6 , including, without limitation, reasonable costs incurred by Landlord or Landlord Mortgagee of the following nature: audits; travel; accounting services; environmental and engineering reports (limited to one consultant); property evaluations (limited to one consultant); Updated Title Commitment and all title reports and fees and expenses of Title Insurer (other than the title premiums (including endorsements) for the Current Title Policy); surveys; preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of documents; attorneys’ fees and expenses of Landlord and Landlord Mortgagee; transfer, transfer gains, intangibles and other recording taxes; title insurance; and any amendment to any memorandum of lease, lease termination agreement, mortgage amendments and other documents reasonably requested by Landlord, any Landlord Mortgagee or the Title Insurer (and Tenant agrees to promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver the same), and document recordings and filings and fees and taxes in accordance therewith, but expressly excluding all costs and expenses of reletting or future development of such Nonprofitable Property (collectively, “ Transaction Expenses ”), provided that such Transaction Expenses shall not exceed $10,000 with respect to any individual Demised Premises.

(i) On or before the Tenant Termination Election Date if required by Landlord, Tenant shall cause each Lease Guarantor to execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord a Guaranty Amendment with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises.

(j) After receipt of the Tenant Termination Election Notice and the Termination Fee, and subject to satisfaction of all conditions in this Section 1.6 , then upon the Nonprofitable Property Termination Date, this Master Lease shall terminate as aforesaid with respect to the Nonprofitable Property only, and Tenant and Lease Guarantor shall be released

 

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from all further liabilities with respect to the Nonprofitable Property only, which first arise or accrue after the Nonprofitable Property Termination Date, subject to all obligations of Tenant and Lease Guarantor which survive expiration and termination of the Master Lease.

(k) For the avoidance of doubt, if the Master Lease cannot be terminated with respect to any Nonprofitable Property in any Lease Year solely because of the application of the Nonprofitable Property Limitation, such Nonprofitable Property shall remain a Nonprofitable Property and shall continue to qualify as a Nonprofitable Property for purposes of future termination (regardless of future Store operations and without any updating or further certification of the original financial data or any subsequent data establishing its qualification as a Nonprofitable Property), and shall be entitled to the benefit of a Master Lease termination in any succeeding Lease Year (subject to the Nonprofitable Property Limitation applicable to such Succeeding Lease Year), such termination to occur (at Tenant’s election) at such time as the Nonprofitable Property Limitation permits such termination upon not less than ninety (90) days’ Notice by Tenant.

1.7 Recapture Space . In addition to and separate from any potential Nonprofitable Property, Tenant acknowledges and agrees that as of the date hereof each Demised Premises contains space within each Store as presently constituted which is, and/or may become, excess for the efficient operation of each Store and that may be recaptured by Landlord in its sole discretion. To optimize the utilization of any excess space, thereby increasing its rental value to Landlord, such space may be severed from this Master Lease on the terms and conditions herein. For the avoidance of doubt, for the purpose of this Section 1.7 the term “Store” shall expressly exclude all Additional Recapture Space. Accordingly, Landlord and Tenant further agree as follows:

(a) With respect to each Demised Premises, subject to the further provisions of this Section 1.7 , it is the understanding and intention of the parties that at the election of Landlord the space in each Store may be physically separated into two (2) separate premises consisting of, (i) the space in which the Tenant presently intends to continue to occupy and maintain retail business operations as a Store with a reduced footprint (the aggregate amount thereof, “ Tenant Retained Space ”), and (ii) the remainder of the space (the “ Recapture Space ”) which is currently occupied by the respective Store (and which is not subject to any Lease as of the date hereof) and which may be recaptured by Landlord. Subject to the further provisions hereof, the aggregate Recapture Space shall consist generally of approximately fifty percent (50%) of the total Gross Leasable Square Footage of each Store (excluding from this calculation all Additional Recapture Space and all space which is subject to a Lease as of the date hereof), all or a portion of which shall be available for recapture by Landlord over time for its sole and exclusive use and benefit as hereinafter set forth; provided , however , that in no event shall the Tenant Retained Space at any particular Demised Premises comprise less than an aggregate of forty thousand (40,000) square feet of Gross Leasable Square Footage; provided further , however , the Gross Leasable Square Footage of any interior SAC must either be recaptured in its entirety by Landlord, or shall be excluded from the computation of 40,000 square foot minimum; provided , further , however , that with respect to Lands’ End Space which is in excess of approximately twelve thousand (12,000) Gross Leasable Square Footage in any one (1) Demised Premises, such Gross Leasable Square Footage will be included in the calculation of (and may potentially reduce) the amount of the Recapture Space. By way of example only: (i) if Tenant is presently operating in eighty percent (80%) of the space in a Sears

 

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Store (excluding any Additional Recapture Space) and twenty percent (20%) of the space is subject to a Lease as of the date hereof, the aggregate amount of Recapture Space shall consist of approximately forty percent (40%) of the space in the Sears Store (subject to the forty thousand (40,000) square-foot minimum for the Tenant Retained Space); and (ii) if a Sears Store contains one hundred thousand (100,000) Gross Leasable Square Footage and there is a Lands’ End Space of twenty thousand (20,000) Gross Leasable Square Footage, Landlord can recapture up to forty thousand (40,000) Gross Leasable Square Footage (50% of 80,000 Gross Leasable Square Footage).

(b) It is the understanding and intention of the parties that the following general principles shall govern such separation and recapture: taking into account all separations and divisions previously made in connection with all Leases as of the date of this Master Lease, the separation and division of any Store shall be accomplished such that the Tenant Retained Space as constituted from time to time, shall (i) be reasonably functional for continued use by the Kmart Tenant or Sears Tenant, as applicable, for retail operations as such operations were constituted immediately prior to the separation and recapture (excluding any occupancy or operations under any Subleases in the Tenant Retained Space); (ii) substantially comparable in size, location and utility, including exterior or mall access, windows, frontage and loading docks, and not materially disadvantaged, in comparison with the Recapture Space (for the avoidance of doubt, if Landlord recaptures portions of the Recapture Space in a series of multiple recaptures, each recapture shall result in the Tenant Retained Space from time to time having the foregoing attributes); (iii) contain or have access to certain Exclusive Store Areas which shall be designated as Common Areas on the Final Recapture Plans, which (A) are reasonably necessary or useful for the commercially viable use, operation and occupancy of the Recapture Space and the Tenant Retained Space, and (B) will not materially interfere with Tenant’s continued use and operation of the Tenant Retained Space; (iv) comply with all Legal Requirements; including those of the ADA (other than preexisting conditions or by reason of Tenant’s Acts) as hereinafter defined); (v) reasonably accommodate Tenant’s needs with respect to the preparations for and implementation of Tenant’s relocation in the Tenant Retained Space; including without limitation minimization to the extent commercially reasonably practicable of disruption to Tenant’s retail operations (including with respect to multiple recaptures by Landlord of portions of the Recapture Space); and (vi) are physically separate and secure from Landlord’s or any third-party tenant’s operations, other than shared Exclusive Store Areas (“ Division Principles ”). Consistent with the Division Principles and subject to the further provisions of this Section 1.7 , the Parties agree to work together cooperatively and in good faith to minimize to the extent commercially reasonable the costs of the Recapture Separation Work, including the cost of relocating Tenant, Lands’ End, Sears Hometown and Tenant’s occupants under the Subleases in a commercially reasonable manner.

(c) The parties have attached as Schedule 1.7(c) to the Side Letter a set of initial, incomplete, preliminary conceptual and schematic plans (“ Preliminary Recapture Plans ”) for each of the Stores (except for the 100% Recapture Property) which roughly outline the Recapture Space and the Tenant Retained Space, which shall be completed and further developed and refined by the Parties in accordance with the Division Principles within ninety (90) days after the Commencement Date; provided , however , that due to the particular circumstances and requirements of the individual spaces as generally shown thereon, including configurations with respect to common areas and adjacent malls, it is understood and agreed that

 

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the Preliminary Recapture Plans will require further notes, annotations and changes, including without limitation those which solve for particular issues of sharing window space/frontage, access, loading docks and the like in which there may be slight variations from the approximate fifty percent (50%) recapture concept as provided above. The Parties intend that the Preliminary Recapture Plans shall be subject to written changes from time to time as shall be negotiated reasonably and in good faith by the Parties, including such additional notes, annotations and changes and identification of additional Common Areas which shall be available for the shared use by the Tenant Retained Space (and all third-party Lease improvements), and the Recapture Space, and generally identifying and describing the Recapture Separation Work and promptly upon the execution of this Master Lease the Parties shall continue to work together expeditiously, continuously and in good faith to further develop and refine the Preliminary Recapture Plans and prepare and implement final plans for such physical separations in accordance with such Division Principles with respect to all Stores (such final plans as mutually agreed to in writing by the Parties, the “ Final Recapture Plans ”). If and to the extent the Parties determine after the Commencement Date that Preliminary Recapture Plans and Final Recapture Plans are necessary for any or all of the 100% Recapture Property, the Parties shall agree on the same in good faith in accordance with the Division Principles. Each Recapture Notice shall contain Landlord’s proposal for further refinements of the Preliminary Recapture Plans (including designation of Exclusive Store Areas as Common Areas), and the configuration, separation and division of the subject Recapture Space and the Tenant Retained Space, and Landlord and Tenant shall meet and confer from time to time as necessary or desirable to discuss Landlord’s proposal (which shall reflect the Parties’ prior discussions to the extent reasonably practicable) and the Parties shall use all good faith efforts to agree on the Final Recapture Plans for such configuration, separation and division as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof. Without limiting the foregoing, the work to be performed by Landlord to effectuate the separation and recapture of any Demised Premises pursuant to this Section 1.7 shall include the following:

 

    Construct the demising wall separating the Recapture Space and the Tenant Retained Space;

 

    Separate the HVAC and utilities so that the Tenant Retained Space operates on existing stand-alone facilities after the separation of such Demised Premises (including separate meters);

 

    Construct an exterior entrance for the Tenant Retained Space if, and only if, the Tenant Retained Space is left without an exterior entrance as a result of the layout/design of the separation, subject to full compliance with ADA and all other Legal Requirements, or as required by Subleases existing as of the Commencement Date;

 

    Construct new vertical transportation for the Tenant Retained Space if, and only if, the Tenant Retained Space is located on two (2) floors and is left without any vertical transportation as a result of the layout/design of the separation, subject to full compliance with ADA and all other Legal Requirements;

 

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    Construct new restrooms for the Tenant Retained Space if, and only if, the Tenant Retained Space is left without any restrooms (or insufficient restrooms to satisfy municipal code requirements) as a result of the layout/design of the Recapture Separation Work, subject to full compliance with ADA and all other Legal Requirements; and

 

    Perform asbestos and other environmental remediation directly caused by the Recapture Separation Work, except to the extent expressly provided on Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord shall have no obligation to “modernize” or otherwise to do any work in connection with the Tenant Retained Space to a higher standard than the standard of the improvements and finish work in the interior of the Retained Space existing as of the Commencement Date (including with respect to HVAC and utilities), subject to any Upgrades requested by Tenant as provided below at Tenant’s sole cost and expense; provided , however , that all entrances, exits and exterior facades, treatments, signage and windows for the Tenant Retained Space and Recapture Space shall be harmonious in style, and consistent in general treatment and overall aesthetics.

(d) Landlord shall have the right in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time upon not less than one hundred eighty (180) days’ Notice to Tenant (the “ Recapture Notice ,” a form of which is attached hereto as Schedule 1.7(d) , which shall include a copy of the title report referred to below), subject to the further provisions of Section 1.7(j)(vi) to terminate this Master Lease with respect to the whole of the Recapture Space with respect to a particular Demised Premises or any portion thereof, on a Property by Property basis as identified in the Recapture Notice, on the earlier of (i) the date (“ Proposed Recapture Date ”) set forth in the Recapture Notice and (ii) the date (“ Tenant Recapture Termination Date ”) set forth in a Notice from Tenant after receipt of the Recapture Notice (“ Tenant Recapture Termination Notice ”) given not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of the Recapture Notice, which Tenant Recapture Termination Date shall be not less than ninety (90) days after receipt of the Recapture Notice. The date for the conveyance of the Recapture Space and the termination of the Master Lease with respect thereto shall occur on the earlier of (A) the Proposed Recapture Date, and (B) any Tenant Recapture Termination Date, and is referred to as the “ Actual Recapture Date .” On or before the Actual Recapture Date, Tenant shall have substantially complied with the provisions of Sections 28.1(a) , (b)  and (d) . Tenant shall remain liable to Landlord for the performance of all unperformed obligations set forth in Article XXVIII , which shall be performed as expeditiously as possible following the Actual Recapture Date, but in no event later than one hundred eighty (180) days following the Actual Recapture Date (subject to reasonable extensions according to the nature of the work to be performed, further subject to additional reasonable extensions for delays due to customary acts or occurrences of force majeure ). Landlord agrees to provide access to the Recapture Space as reasonably necessary for Tenant to satisfy the obligations set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provided that Landlord has approved the duration and scope of Tenant’s work and Tenant has provided such other information as Landlord may reasonably request. Tenant shall avoid any interference with the Recapture Separation Work when accessing the Recapture Space following the Actual Recapture Date in accordance with this subsection (d). Landlord shall, at its sole cost and expense, provide removable, temporary partitions or screens between the Tenant Retained Space and the

 

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Recapture Space during the performance of the Recapture Separation Work. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, Landlord shall not have the right to recapture all or substantially all of the Recapture Space at more than fifty (50) of the individual Demised Premises in any one (1) Lease Year. In no event shall Landlord remove any Alterations which are required pursuant to Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements.

(e) Landlord shall order a title report, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, with respect to the Property in question from the Title Insurer which confirms that the Property is, and Tenant shall convey the Recapture Space, on the Actual Recapture Date, free and clear of all Encumbrances, in the same manner and subject to the requirements as set forth in Section 1.6(g) for the clearance of title with respect to a Nonprofitable Property. Landlord shall provide a copy of the title report to Tenant with the Recapture Notice, and Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for the cost of such title report within fifteen (15) days of receipt of an invoice from Landlord therefor.

(f) Tenant shall execute, acknowledge and deliver (without cost or expense to Landlord, other than Tenant’s reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) to Landlord all instruments in recordable form (including assignments, bills of sale, memoranda of termination of lease and quitclaim deeds) as may be reasonably required (and prepared) by Landlord or such Title Insurer to confirm such termination of the Master Lease with respect to, and Landlord’s title to, the Recapture Space and all Leased Improvements and Fixtures comprising the same and all reasonable requests with respect to any Landlord Mortgage. Except by reason of Tenant’s Acts, and subject to Tenant’s obligations pursuant to Section 1.7(e) , and further subject to the provisions hereof with respect to the Recapture Separation Work, Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for its reasonable, documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) with respect to the actions required to be taken by Tenant pursuant to this Section 1.7 (other than as provided in Section 1.7(e) ).

(g) At Landlord’s request and at its expense, Tenant agrees to reasonably cooperate with Landlord in obtaining a Current Title Policy (including with respect to any Landlord Mortgage) with respect to the Recapture Space, including executing, acknowledging and delivering such leasehold affidavits and documents as any Title Insurer may reasonably request. Except for Tenant’s Obligation in Section 1.7(e) , the cost of all Transaction Expenses shall be borne by Landlord.

(h) Subject to the further provisions hereof, on the Actual Recapture Date, the Recapture Space with respect to the applicable Store shall automatically be severed and separated from this Master Lease and this Master Lease shall automatically terminate with respect thereto as if the Actual Recapture Date were the date set forth for the expiration of the Term as to such space, without otherwise affecting any other terms and conditions of this Master Lease with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises, all of which shall remain in full force and effect, and Tenant and Lease Guarantor shall be released from all further liabilities with respect to the Recapture Space only, which first arise or accrue after the Actual Recapture Date subject to all obligations of Tenant which survive expiration or termination of the Master Lease; provided , however , that from and after the Actual Recapture Date with respect to any Recapture Space, the Base Rent shall be adjusted downward in accordance with the “SHC Base

 

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Rent Adjustment” as specified in and otherwise as provided in Schedule 2 to the Side Letter, and all other charges shall be adjusted downward in accordance with, and Tenant shall pay only, Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Property Charges, in accordance with the Recapture Notice (subject to and provided that , pending resolution of any Tenant’s disagreement (if any) with respect thereto as provided in Sections 1.7(j)(vi) and 1.7(j)(vii) .

(i) On or before the Actual Recapture Date, if requested by Landlord, Tenant shall cause Lease Guarantors to execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord a Guaranty Amendment with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises.

(j) From and after the date hereof and as may be required from time to time, and continuing after any Recapture Notice as may be required, Tenant and Landlord shall continue to cooperate in good faith to agree on, and to implement as soon as practicable thereafter, plans, specifications, processes and agreements (including applications for all required permits) to physically separate and divide the Recapture Space from the Tenant Retained Space, including separate entrances, exits and loading docks as Landlord or Tenant may reasonably require (“ Recapture Separation Work ”), and providing for (A) easements and other agreements for ingress, egress and access which are useful or necessary between said spaces, and the spaces occupied pursuant to the Leases, (B) easements and other agreements for sharing building services and facilities, building service equipment, mechanical rooms, stockrooms, elevators, escalators and other Fixtures, as appropriate, including all Exclusive Store Areas which are included in Common Areas, and (C) other joint arrangements as necessary or desirable in the reasonable and good faith judgment of the Parties to ensure the harmonious operation of the Tenant Retained Space and the Recapture Space, and all space occupied pursuant to the Leases, all in accordance with the Division Principles.

(i) Landlord shall select, in full consultation with Tenant, all architects, engineers, contractors and vendors (collectively, “ Approved Vendors ”) for, and shall bear all costs and expenses of, all of the foregoing and all other costs and expenses of the Recapture Separation Work, including without limitation (A) compliance with all Legal Requirements (including ADA and all new requirements of building, fire and other codes which may become applicable to any previously “grandfathered” work of construction in the Demised Premises), (B) customary insurance and all costs of asbestos remediation (including any disturbance or removal of asbestos containing materials not otherwise requiring remediation but for the work) and other environmental remediation directly caused by the Recapture Separation Work (but expressly excluding all environmental remediation required (I) with respect to Known Environmental Problems or other violations of Environmental Laws which exist on the Commencement Date or at any time during the Term (including those which become known in the course of the work) in the Tenant Retained Space or the Recapture Space, (II) in connection with the Tenant Retained Space which is not directly caused by the Recapture Separation Work, (III) in connection with all other improvements and work unrelated to the Recapture Separation Work, which Tenant performs within the Tenant Retained Space, or (IV) by Tenant’s violation of any Environmental Laws during the Term), and (C) to the extent not paid by Landlord, reimbursement of costs related to Tenant’s direct physical separation and relocation (including relocation of space related to

 

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Subleases and all Lands’ End Space and Sears Hometown Space that are located within the Recapture Space) with respect to the Tenant Retained Space incurred and paid by Tenant after the Recapture Notice. Except as expressly set forth in this Section 1.7 , all Recapture Separation Work shall be performed at the sole cost and expense of Landlord;

(ii) All Recapture Separation Work shall be done in a good and workmanlike manner with all new materials and substantially in accordance with the General Requirements and Conditions and Construction Procedures on Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) attached hereto. The Recapture Separation Work shall include installation of a new meter or meters with respect to Utility Charges for the Recapture Space.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if, and to the extent that, Tenant elects to include, in the Tenant Retained Space, as part of the Recapture Separation Work, certain improvements or upgrades to Tenant’s existing Leased Improvements or Fixtures to be retained in the Tenant Retained Space (“ Upgrades ”), Landlord shall include such Upgrades in the Recapture Separation Work and Tenant shall be solely responsible to pay all extra or increased costs and expenses directly incurred or fairly allocable to such Upgrades. No Upgrades shall include any structural changes or Alterations without Landlord’s consent in Landlord’s sole discretion.

(iv) All Exclusive Store Areas which become a part of the Common Areas shall be used on a nonexclusive basis in common by Tenant and its Related Users (as hereinafter defined), on the one hand, and Landlord and its Related Users, on the other hand, in a manner so as not to materially interfere with, the use, occupancy or business of each other group of Related Users.

(v) At Landlord’s request, all Recapture Separation Work shall be scheduled and coordinated with the work of Landlord and/or any of its tenants in or with respect to the Recapture Space or under the Leases (and Tenant agrees to reasonably cooperate therein). All Recapture Separation Work shall be performed in a manner so as to minimize, to the extent reasonably practicable, disruption to the business and activities in all spaces affected thereby. Within a reasonable time of Landlord’s request after any Actual Recapture Date, Tenant shall assign to Landlord all of Tenant’s right, title and interest (if any), without warranty or representation, in and to all warranties, guaranties, permits, plans and specifications in Tenant’s possession at the time of such request, which relate to all Alterations or other work performed by Tenant from and after the Commencement Date in the Recapture Space; provided , however , that if such Alterations or other work also relate to any Retained Space, Tenant shall retain all nonexclusive rights of use in all such plans and specifications, and the Parties shall cooperate in good faith to bifurcate such warranties, guaranties and permits to the maximum extent feasible, or otherwise ensure that both Parties have the full benefit of such warranties, guaranties and permits to their respective spaces.

 

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(vi) Landlord shall set forth in the Recapture Notice: (a) a description of the Tenant Retained Space, (b) the new annual Base Rent, the new Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Property Charges, and the new monthly Installment Expenses payable by Tenant with respect to the applicable modified Demised Premises, (c) a revised Schedule 2 to the Side Letter reflecting the applicable adjustments for the applicable modified Demised Premises, and (d) a site plan showing the applicable modified Tenant Retained Space and Recapture Space. If Tenant disagrees with any of the foregoing items in Landlord’s Recapture Notice, Tenant shall send Landlord a Notice within thirty (30) days of receipt of Landlord’s Recapture Notice setting forth the nature of Tenant’s disagreement in reasonable detail, and thereafter, the Parties shall confer in good faith and mutually agree on all such items and a written statement thereof. Within thirty (30) days after the Actual Recapture Date, the Parties shall confirm the same in writing.

(vii) All disputes and disagreements between the Parties arising in connection with this Section 1.7 (including Section 1.7(j)(vi)) shall be resolved in accordance with the alternative dispute resolution provisions in accordance with Article XXIX , provided , however , that if Landlord and Tenant fail to agree on any Final Recapture Plans and the dispute is submitted for resolution under Article XXIX , then Landlord shall be entitled to proceed with a proposed recapture in accordance with the Preliminary Recapture Plans (as last modified by mutual agreement of the Parties) so long as the Conciliator or arbitrator, as the case may be, determines that they conform to, and Landlord implements the same in accordance with, the Division Principles.

(k) Landlord shall not pay any additional fee, compensation or consideration to Tenant for the right to exercise any rights to recapture any Recapture Space, the consideration therefor having been fully reflected in the Rent and other terms and conditions of this Master Lease and the purchase price for the Demised Premises paid by Landlord pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

(l) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Master Lease, Landlord shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Tenant with respect to all claims, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), damages and losses in connection with Landlord’s performance of all Recapture Separation Work (excluding all consequential damages and damages for lost revenues or profits), other than matters arising out of the negligence or willful misconduct of Tenant or any of Tenant’s Related Users.

1.8 Landlord’s Termination Right as to Additional Recapture Space . In addition to all other rights of termination and/or recapture by Landlord herein, Landlord shall have the separate independent option, in its sole discretion, and from time to time during the Term, exercisable from time to time and at any time, to terminate this Master Lease as to one hundred percent (100%) of any or all Additional Recapture Space as identified by Landlord in the Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice below (“ Additional Recapture Space Termination Right ”). Landlord shall not pay any additional fee, compensation or consideration to Tenant to enable exercise of any right to recapture any Additional Recapture Space, the consideration therefor having been fully reflected in the Rent and other terms and conditions of this Master Lease and the purchase price for the Demised Premises paid by Landlord pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

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(a) If Landlord elects to exercise any Additional Recapture Space Termination Right, it shall do so by giving irrevocable Notice to Tenant (“ Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice ,” a form of which is attached hereto as Schedule 1.8(a) which shall include a copy of the title report referred to below) identifying the specific Additional Recapture Space as to which the Master Lease is to be terminated. The date for the conveyance of such Additional Recapture Space and the termination of the Master Lease with respect thereto (the “ Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date ”) shall occur on the earlier of (i) the date which is not less than ninety (90) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice and specified therein (“ Proposed Additional Recapture Space Date ”) and (ii) the date (“ Tenant Additional Recapture Space Termination Date ”) set forth in a Notice from Tenant after receipt of the Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice (“ Tenant Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice ”) given not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of the Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice, which Tenant Additional Recapture Space Termination Date shall be not less than ninety (90) days after receipt of the Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice. On or before the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, Tenant shall have substantially complied with the provisions of Sections 28.1(a) , (b)  and (d) . Tenant shall remain liable to Landlord for the performance of all unperformed obligations set forth in Article XXVIII and any other provisions of this Section 1.8 , which shall be performed as expeditiously as reasonably practicable following the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, but in no event later than one hundred eighty (180) days following the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date. Landlord agrees to provide access to the Additional Recapture Space as reasonably necessary for Tenant to satisfy the obligations set forth in the immediately preceding sentence (subject to reasonable extensions of time according to the nature of the work to be performed, further subject to additional reasonable extensions for delays due to customary acts or occurrences of force majeure ) provided, that Landlord has approved the duration and scope of Tenant’s work and Tenant has provided such other information as Landlord may reasonably request. Tenant shall avoid any interference with the Landlord’s work when accessing the Additional Recapture Space following the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date in accordance with this subsection (a). Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, in no event shall Tenant remove any Alterations which are required pursuant to Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements.

(b) On or before the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, subject to satisfaction of all conditions in this Section 1.8 :

(i) Landlord shall order a title report, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, with respect to the Property in question from the Title Insurer which confirms that the Property is, and Tenant shall convey the Additional Recapture Space, on the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, free and clear of all Encumbrances, in the same manner and subject to the requirements as set forth in Section 1.6(g) for the clearance of title with respect to a Nonprofitable Property. Landlord shall provide a copy of the title report to Tenant with the Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice, and Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for the cost of such title report within fifteen (15) days of receipt of an invoice from Landlord therefor.

 

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(ii) Tenant shall execute, acknowledge and deliver (without cost or expense to Landlord, other than Tenant’s reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) all title affidavits and documents reasonably requested by Title Insurer to issue to Landlord and any Landlord Mortgagee a Current Title Policy, including all instruments in recordable form (including assignments, bills of sale, memoranda of termination of lease and quitclaim deeds) as may be requested by Landlord or such Title Insurer, to confirm such termination of the Master Lease and Landlord’s title to the Additional Recapture Space and all Leased Improvements and Fixtures comprising the same. Except for Tenant’s obligations in Section 1.8(b)(i) , Landlord shall be responsible for all costs and expenses in connection with the conveyance of the Additional Recapture Space, including those similar to the Transaction Expenses (as and to the extent applicable), and Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for its reasonable documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) with respect thereto the actions required to be taken by Tenant in this Section 1.8 .

(iii) On the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, upon the conveyance of the Additional Recapture Space to Landlord, the Additional Recapture Space shall automatically be severed and separated from this Master Lease, and this Master Lease shall automatically terminate with respect to the Additional Recapture Space, and the Master Lease shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises; provided , however , that from and after such date, the Base Rent shall be adjusted downward in accordance with the “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” as specified in and otherwise as provided in Schedule 2 to the Side Letter and all Property Charges and other charges shall be adjusted in the same manner as provided in Section 1.7(h) . Except for such Base Rent adjustment, such termination shall not otherwise affect any other terms or conditions of this Master Lease with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises, all of which shall remain in full force and effect, subject to all obligations of Tenant which survive termination of the Master Lease. On the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, Tenant shall pay all Base Rent and Additional Charges related to the applicable Additional Recapture Space which are due and payable under the Master Lease through the date of such conveyance, and the Parties shall prorate and adjust the same for any amounts which may have been prepaid or underpaid by Tenant, and shall finally adjust any amounts not yet known or ascertainable promptly after they have been determined; provided that , on the first Payment Date after the Actual Recapture Date and thereafter until and unless Tenant receives a Landlord’s Notice in Section 1.8(b)(vi) , Tenant shall make the foregoing payments in an amount reasonably calculated by Tenant in good faith in accordance with the provisions of this Master Lease; provided further that , at such time as Landlord provides such Notice, Tenant shall pay in accordance with such Notice pending resolution of any disagreement (if any) with respect thereto as provided in Sections 1.8(b)(vi) and 1.8(b)(vii) .

 

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(iv) Landlord shall be solely responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in the recapture of all Additional Recapture Space, including the recapture and separation of any Appendage SAC from the remainder of the Store, together with all ancillary separation costs and expenses with respect to all facilities as are in place immediately prior to the recapture and separation, including installation of separate meters for utilities which are not currently separately metered (as and to the extent commercially reasonably practicable under the circumstances), and all fiber optics, cables and other equipment and systems which also serve the Stores. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Master Lease, Landlord shall indemnify and hold harmless Tenant with respect to all claims, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), damages and losses in connection with Landlord’s performance of all recapture and separation work with respect to the Additional Recapture Space (excluding all consequential damages and damages for lost revenues or profits), other than matters arising out of the negligence or willful misconduct of Tenant or Tenant’s Related Users.

(v) If required by Landlord, Tenant shall cause the Lease Guarantors to execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord a Guaranty Amendment with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises.

(vi) Landlord shall set forth in the Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice: (a) a description of the Tenant Retained Space, (b) the new annual Base Rent and Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Property Charges, and the new monthly Installment Expenses payable by Tenant with respect to the applicable modified Demised Premises, (c) a revised Schedule 2 to the Side Letter reflecting the applicable adjustments for the applicable modified Demised Premises, and (d) a site plan showing the applicable modified Tenant’s retained space and the Additional Recapture Space. If Tenant disagrees with any of the items in Landlord’s notice, the Parties shall confer in good faith and mutually agree on all such items and a written statement thereof. Within thirty (30) days after the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, the Parties shall confirm the same in writing.

(vii) All disputes and disagreements between the Parties arising in connection with this Section 1.8 (including Section 1.8(b)(vi)) shall be resolved in accordance with the alternative dispute resolution provisions in accordance with Article XXIX .

 

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1.9 Landlord’s Termination Right as to 100% Recapture Property . Landlord shall have the several independent options, in its sole discretion, and from time to time during the Term, exercisable at any time to buy out Tenant’s entire leasehold interest in and to terminate this Master Lease as to any or all of the Demised Premises which are listed on Schedule 1.9 attached to the Side Letter (each, a “ 100% Recapture Property ,” and collectively, the “ 100% Recapture Properties ,” and such right, a “ Landlord 100% Recapture Property Termination Right ”), as follows:

If Landlord elects to exercise any Landlord 100% Recapture Property Termination Right, it shall do so by giving irrevocable Notice to Tenant (“ 100% Recapture Property Termination Notice ,” which shall include a copy of the title report referred to below) identifying the specific 100% Recapture Property as to which the Master Lease is to be terminated, and at the election of Landlord, may include the Tenant ROFO Notice referred to below. The 100% Recapture Property Termination Notice shall confirm that the entire 100% Recapture Property Termination Fee (as provided below) has been deposited in cash in escrow by Landlord with an escrow agent mutually reasonably acceptable to Landlord and Tenant (“ 100% Recapture Property Termination Fee Escrow ”), which escrow shall provide that such funds shall be released to Tenant automatically on the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date. Such deposit in escrow shall be a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any 100% Recapture Property Termination Notice, which shall otherwise be null and void ab initio.

The date for the conveyance of the applicable 100% Recapture Property and the termination of the Master Lease with respect thereto (the “ Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date ”) shall occur on the earlier of (i) the date which is not less than one hundred twenty (120) nor more than one hundred fifty (150) days after the date of the 100% Recapture Property Termination Notice and specified therein (“ Proposed 100% Recapture Property Date ”) and (ii) the date (“ Tenant 100% Property Recapture Termination Date ”) set forth in a Notice from Tenant after receipt of the 100% Recapture Notice (“ Tenant 100% Property Recapture Termination Notice ”) given not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of the 100% Recapture Notice, which Tenant 100% Recapture Property Termination Date shall be not less than (90) days after receipt of the 100% Recapture Notice. On or before the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, Tenant shall have substantially complied with the provisions of Sections 28.1(a) , (b)  and (d) . Tenant shall remain liable to Landlord for the performance of all unperformed obligations set forth in Article XXVIII , which shall be performed as expeditiously as reasonably practicable following the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, but in no event later than one hundred eighty (180) days following the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date (subject to reasonable extensions of time according to the nature of the work to be performed, further subject to additional reasonable extensions for delays due to customary acts or occurrences of Force Majeure ). Landlord agrees to provide access to the 100% Recapture Property as reasonably necessary for Tenant to satisfy the obligations set forth in the immediately preceding sentence provided that Landlord has approved the duration and scope of Tenant’s work and Tenant has provided such other information as Landlord may reasonably request. Tenant shall avoid any interference with the Landlord’s work when accessing the 100% Property Recapture following the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date in accordance with this subsection (a). Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, in no event shall Tenant remove any Alterations which are required pursuant to Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements.

 

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(a) On or before the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, subject to satisfaction of all conditions in this Section 1.9 :

(i) Landlord shall order a title report, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, with respect to the Property in question from the Title Insurer which confirms that the Property is, and Tenant shall convey the 100% Recapture Property, on the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, free and clear of all Encumbrances, in the same manner and subject to the requirements as set forth in Section 1.6(g) for the clearance of title with respect to a Nonprofitable Property. Landlord shall provide a copy of the title report to Tenant with the Recapture Space Termination Notice, and Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for the cost of such title report within fifteen (15) days of receipt of an invoice from Landlord therefor. At Landlord’s request and at its expense, Tenant agrees to reasonably cooperate with Landlord in obtaining a Current Title Policy (including with respect to any Landlord Mortgage) with respect to the 100% Recapture Property, including executing, acknowledging and delivering such leasehold affidavits and documents as any Title Insurer may reasonably request. The cost of all Transaction Expenses shall be borne by Landlord.

(ii) Tenant shall execute, acknowledge and deliver (without cost or expense to Landlord, other than Tenant’s reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) all title affidavits and documents reasonably requested by Title Insurer to issue to Landlord and any Landlord Mortgagee a Current Title Policy, including all instruments in recordable form (including assignments, bills of sale, memoranda of termination of lease and quitclaim deeds) as may be requested by Landlord or such Title Insurer, to confirm such termination of the Master Lease and Landlord’s title to the 100% Recapture Property and all Leased Improvements and Fixtures comprising the same. Except for Tenant’s obligations in Section 1.9(a)(i) , Landlord shall be responsible for all costs and expenses in connection with the conveyance of the Additional Recapture Space, including those similar to the Transaction Expenses (as and to the extent applicable), and Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for its reasonable documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) with respect thereto the actions required to be taken by Tenant in this Section 1.9 .

(iii) On the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, upon the conveyance of the 100% Recapture Property to Landlord, the 100% Recapture Property shall automatically be severed and separated from this Master Lease, and this Master Lease shall automatically terminate with respect to the 100% Recapture Property, and the Master Lease shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises; provided , however , that from and after such date, the Base Rent shall be adjusted downward in accordance with the “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” specified in and otherwise as provided in Schedule 2 to the Side Letter. Except for such Base Rent adjustment, such termination shall not otherwise affect any other terms or conditions of this Master Lease with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises all of which

 

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shall remain in full force and effect, subject to all obligations of Tenant which survive termination of the Master Lease. On the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, Tenant shall pay all Base Rent and Additional Charges related to the applicable 100% Recapture Property which are due and payable under the Master Lease through the date of such conveyance, and the Parties shall prorate and adjust the same for any amounts which may have been prepaid or underpaid by Tenant, and shall finally adjust any amounts not yet known or ascertainable promptly after they have been determined.

(iv) On or before the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, subject to satisfaction of all conditions in this Section 1.9 , Landlord shall pay to Tenant a termination fee (“ 100% Recapture Property Termination Fee ”) with respect to each 100% Recapture Property an amount equal to the greater of (A) the amount specified in the applicable column on Schedule 1.9 to the Side Letter and (B) the product of (x) ten (10), multiplied by (y) the EBITDA of the applicable 100% Recapture Property for the twelve (12) months ending on the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of Tenant’s Parent preceding the 100% Recapture Property Termination Notice attributable to the fifty percent (50%) of space located on the specified 100% Recapture Property which is not part of the Recapture Space (the parties having separately taken into account the right of Landlord to recapture fifty percent (50%) of the space ( i.e. , the Recapture Space) at each 100% Recapture Property). For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 1.9(b)(iv) EBITDA shall not include any rent payable by Lands’ End or Sears Hometown or any other Affiliate of Tenant.

(v) If required by Landlord, Tenant shall cause the Lease Guarantors to execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord a Guaranty Amendment with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises.

(b) In the event of Landlord’s buy-out and subsequent redevelopment in its sole discretion of any 100% Recapture Property which contains retail use, upon Landlord’s election in its sole discretion to offer for lease and market any portion of the 100% Recapture Property for lease for retail use, which comprises a space that is suitable for the operation of a Sears or Kmart store, Landlord shall give Tenant written Notice of such space which will be offered for lease (“ Offer Space ”) on or prior to the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, together with an architect’s site plan and rendering in reasonable detail showing the square footage, entrances and exits and all other material elements and features of the Offer Space and the remainder of the development including parking and other common areas (“ Rendering ”), and together with such Notice, collectively, “ Tenant ROFO Notice ”), in which event Tenant shall have the option for a period of sixty (60) days following the Tenant ROFO Notice (“ Offer Period ”) to submit a written offer to lease the Offer Space (“ Tenant Offer ”). Any Tenant’s Offer shall entitle Tenant to an exclusive negotiating period of thirty (30) days, during which Landlord shall not solicit or consider any other third-party offer for the subject space, so long as the Tenant Offer is made in good faith and generally consistent with market rents at the time of the offer. In considering any Tenant Offer together with any competing offers (after such thirty (30)-day period of exclusivity), Landlord may take into account each offeror’s proposed base rent (equivalent or similar to Base Rent), additional

 

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charges (equivalent or similar to Additional Charges), credit quality, operating experience, tenant mix, intended use and other factors (including prevailing market terms) that are relevant to Landlord in maximizing value at the subject 100% Recapture Property. If Tenant and Landlord do not reach agreement on and execute a lease, or agree on all material terms and conditions for a lease and execute a binding and enforceable term sheet (after using reasonable good faith efforts to do so), within the Offer Period, Landlord shall be free to offer and/or lease the Offer Space or any part thereof on such terms as Landlord may determine and Tenant shall not have any other rights in or to the Offer Space or any part thereof or any other rights in the 100% Recapture Property. Without limiting any other provision of this Section 1.9 , Landlord shall have no obligation to redevelop any 100% Recapture Property or to include any retail space therein or to offer or make available for lease in the first instance any retail space (including space suitable for a Kmart or Sears store) in any redeveloped 100% Recapture Property.

1.10 Reservation of Rights Concerning Leases and Recapture Space . Subject to the provisions of this Master Lease, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Landlord (for itself and its authorized agents, representatives, vendors and invitees and guests and tenants, as applicable) retains and reserves all rights of access, ingress and egress in, on, over and through the Demised Premises for all reasonable purposes except in case of emergencies upon reasonable notice during normal business hours in connection with, and to the fullest extent now or hereafter provided or contemplated pursuant to the terms and conditions of, (i) the existing Leases, or as may be reasonably useful or necessary for the use and occupancy of the premises under such Leases, (ii) the effectuation or evaluation of any potential recapture or property termination right provided in accordance with terms of this Master Lease (both before and following delivery of applicable notices relating thereto) and (iii) the exercise of all rights and remedies of Landlord under this Master Lease, including, without limitation, the following:

(a) From and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date only, access, ingress and egress to and from all entrances and exits to or from each Store during normal business hours, all including any adjacent shopping center, mall, or other third-party property, parking areas or other Common Areas;

(b) From and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date only, shared utilization of restrooms, stairwells, escalators and elevators, stockrooms, storage rooms, loading docks and other similar areas and facilities, according to the terms of any Leases, and as may be established by mutual agreement between Landlord and Tenant in connection with any Recapture Space and the Exclusive Store Areas, and any areas occupied under the Leases;

(c) At all times, upon reasonable prior notice to Tenant (except in the case of an emergency), maintaining, repairing, altering, servicing, adjusting and/or installing mechanical rooms, boiler rooms, telecommunications, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other facilities and building service equipment, including all pipes, conduits, wires and other ancillary items in connection with Landlord’s right to perform maintenance and repairs as provided elsewhere in this Master Lease;

(d) From and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date only, nonexclusive use, in common with Tenant, its authorized contractors, vendors, invitees and licensees of all parking areas and other Common Areas and public facilities;

 

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(e) At all reasonable times upon reasonable notice during normal business hours, as may be necessary to comply with Landlord’s obligations under any Landlord Mortgage Document; and

(f) At all times, general access and right of entry reasonably necessary for or incidental to the exercise of all rights and remedies of Landlord in connection with the foregoing and otherwise under this Master Lease.

Landlord shall have the right to grant any of the foregoing rights to its authorized contractors, tenants, vendors, invitees and licensees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all rights of access and entry shall be exercised reasonably and in such a manner as not to materially interfere with Tenant’s business operations at the Demised Premises or Tenant’s use of any Common Areas in connection with its business.

1.11 General Provisions . (a) Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, with respect to any Nonprofitable Property, Recapture Space, 100% Recapture Property, Additional Recapture Space or Removal Property as to which this Master Lease is terminated, or any Demised Premises as to which the Master Lease is terminated by reason of casualty or condemnation in accordance with Article XII (“ Article XII Terminated Space ”) (and, collectively, “ Terminated Space ”), from and after the respective date of termination of the Master Lease with respect thereto, the respective Terminated Space shall no longer be a part of the Demised Premises for any and all purposes under this Master Lease and Tenant and Lease Guarantors shall be released from any and all further obligations to pay Base Rent and from all further obligations and liabilities under this Master Lease with respect to the Terminated Space which first arise or accrue from and after such termination; provided , however , that Tenant and Lease Guarantors shall remain obligated to pay and/or perform all such other amounts and obligations which are to be paid and/or performed upon the surrender or termination of the Master Lease with respect to the Terminated Space, or which survive the expiration or termination of this Master Lease.

(b) From and after the conveyance or termination of this Master Lease with respect to the Recapture Space and/or the Additional Recapture Space, as applicable, Tenant shall pay Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Property Charges, and the Base Rent pursuant to Schedule 2 to the Side Letter, as adjusted pursuant to Section 1.7(h) , Section 1.8(b)(iii) , and/or Section 1.9(b)(iii) , as applicable, with respect to the Tenant Retained Space.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in Section 1.6 , 1.7 , 1.8 or 1.9 , if there shall be an Event of Default which is continuing either on the date of any Tenant Termination Election Date, any Proposed Recapture Date, any Proposed Additional Recapture Date, any Proposed 100% Recapture Property Termination Date, Nonprofitable Property Termination Date, Actual Recapture Date, Actual Additional Recapture Date, or Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, or any date of any Tenant election to terminate or the actual date of termination with respect to any Article XII Terminated Space, Landlord may in its sole discretion waive any such Event of Default (and any or all other conditions to the Master Lease termination with respect thereto, as the case may be, of Section 1.6 , 1.7 , 1.8 , 1.9 or Article III which may be dependent on or impacted by such Event of Default) solely with respect to the termination of the Master Lease as to the

 

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Nonprofitable Property, Recapture Space, Additional Recapture Space or 100% Recapture Property, or Article XII Terminated Space, as the case may be, and Landlord shall have the right to retain the Termination Fee, Total Destruction Termination Fee and 12-Month Destruction Fee under Article XII (as applicable) and proceed with the termination of the Master Lease with respect to such respective Terminated Space, subject to and without any prejudice to Landlord’s exercise of all other rights and remedies with respect to such Event of Default, all of which rights and remedies shall be retained unimpaired by Landlord. Without limiting the foregoing, any such waiver shall apply only to the specific Termination Space involved but no such waiver shall apply to any other Demised Premises.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Master Lease to the contrary, if Tenant does not vacate any (x) Recapture Space on or before the 30 th calendar day following the Actual Recapture Date, (y) Additional Recapture Space on or before the 30 th calendar day following the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, or (z) 100% Recapture Property on or before the 30 th calendar day following the Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date, then in any such case, until such time as Tenant vacates the applicable Recapture Space, Additional Recapture Space or 100% Recapture Property, as the case may be (the “ Holdover Period ”):

(i) Tenant shall continue to be fully responsible for the faithful performance of all of the terms set forth in this Master Lease, except Tenant shall pay as additional rent on the first day of each month during the Holdover Period for use and occupancy of the applicable Recapture Space, Additional Recapture Space and/or 100% Recapture Property (“ Holdover Space ”) an amount equal to the sum of (x) one and three quarters (1.75) times the Base Rent that would otherwise then be applicable to the Holdover Space plus (y) Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Property Charges applicable to the Holdover Space for such period as if this Master Lease had not been terminated or expired with respect to the Holdover Space.

(ii) Tenant shall occupy the Holdover Space during the Holdover Period in its “as is” condition. Nothing contained in this Master Lease shall be construed as a consent by Landlord to the possession by Tenant of the Holdover Space during the Holdover Period, and Landlord, upon commencement of the Holdover Period, shall be entitled to the benefits of all legal remedies that may now be in force or may hereafter be enacted relating to immediate repossession of the Holdover Space by Landlord.

 

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1.12 Separation of Leases . (a) From time to time, at the election of Landlord in its sole discretion, so long as there shall be no material adverse effect on Tenant, Landlord may remove one or more Properties (individually, “ Removal Property ,” and collectively, “ Removal Properties ”) from this Master Lease and place one (1) or more Removal Properties in one (1) or more separate leases with Tenant on terms and conditions substantially similar to, and in any case no less favorable to Tenant than, those set forth in this Master Lease and as otherwise provided in this Section 1.12 (individually, “ New Lease ,” and collectively, “ New Leases ”), for technical or administrative reasons or to facilitate the sale, financing or other disposition of such Removal Properties, or for another legitimate business purpose of Landlord, all as determined by Landlord in its sole discretion.

(b) If Landlord elects to so remove any Removal Properties, Landlord shall give Tenant not less than thirty (30) days’ Notice thereof (a “ Removal Notice ”), and Tenant shall thereafter, within said thirty (30)-day period, execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord (or any new owner of the Removal Properties, as designated by Landlord) at no cost or expense to Tenant, one (1) or more New Leases with respect to one (1) or more Removal Properties as determined by Landlord effective as of the date set forth in the Removal Notice (“ Removal Date ”) for the remaining Term and on substantially the same, and in any case no less favorable to for Tenant than, terms and conditions as this Master Lease, except for appropriate adjustments (including to Exhibits and Schedules), including as follows:

(i) Base Rent . The initial Base Rent for each Removal Property shall be computed in accordance with Schedule 2 to the Side Letter with respect to the property release/recapture amount ascribed to such Removal Property under this Master Lease as of the Removal Date and thereafter shall be increased on the same basis as provided in this Master Lease.

(ii) Tenant’s Proportionate Share . Tenant’s Proportionate Share with respect to each Removal Property shall continue to be calculated in the same manner with respect to such Removal Property as provided in this Master Lease.

(iii) Liabilities and Obligations . The New Lease shall provide that each tenant and each landlord shall be responsible for the payment, performance and satisfaction of all of the duties, obligations and liabilities of Tenant and Landlord, respectively, arising under this Master Lease, insofar as they relate to the Removal Property, that were not paid, performed and satisfied in full prior to the commencement date of the New Lease (and Tenant and Landlord under this Master Lease shall each also remain responsible for the payment, performance and satisfaction of the aforesaid duties, obligations and liabilities not paid, performed and satisfied in full prior to the commencement date of such New Lease), and shall further provide that the Tenant thereunder shall not be responsible for the payment, performance or satisfaction of any duties, obligations and liabilities of Tenant under this Master Lease first arising after the Removal Date.

(iv) Deletion of Provisions . At the election of Landlord, any one or more of the provisions of the New Lease pertaining to the REIT status of any

 

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member of Landlord (or any Affiliate of any member of Landlord) shall be deleted. In addition, Landlord may delete and eliminate from such New Lease such provisions herein as it elects, provided such deletion and elimination do not in any material respect affect any of the obligations, liabilities, rights or remedies of Tenant under such New Lease with respect to the affected Removal Property.

(v) Amendments to this Lease . Upon execution of such New Lease, and effective as of the Property Removal Date, this Master Lease shall be deemed to be amended as follows: (i) the Removal Properties shall be excluded from the Demised Premises hereunder; (ii) Base Rent hereunder shall be reduced by the amount of the Base Rent allocable to the Removal Properties; and (iii)  Schedule 2 attached to the Side Letter shall be modified so as to remove the Removal Properties. Such amendments shall occur automatically and without the necessity of any further action by Landlord or Tenant, but, at Landlord’s election, the same shall be reflected in a formal amendment to this Master Lease, which amendment shall be promptly executed by Tenant.

(vi) Other Undertakings . Tenant shall take such actions and execute and deliver such documents, including, without limitation, the New Lease and new or amended Memorandum(s) of Lease and, if requested by Landlord, an amendment to this Master Lease, as are reasonably necessary and appropriate to effectuate fully the provisions and intent of this Section 1.12(b) , and as otherwise are appropriate or as Landlord or any Title Insurer may reasonably request to evidence such removal and new leasing of the Removal Properties, including memoranda of lease with respect to such New Leases and amendments of all existing memoranda of lease with respect to this Master Lease and an amendment of this Master Lease.

(c) Without limitation of the foregoing, all New Leases shall remain cross-defaulted with this Master Lease unless otherwise required by Landlord; provided , however , that if the landlord under any New Lease shall not be Landlord or an Affiliate of Landlord, any such New Lease shall not be or remain cross-defaulted with this Master Lease. In all cases, whether or not cross-defaulted with this Master Lease, so long as any Landlord Mortgage shall apply to any Removal Property or New Lease, such Removal Property and/or New Lease shall continue to be subject either to the existing SNDA with respect to the Master Lease, or subject to a new SNDA to be delivered by Landlord Mortgagee, Landlord and Tenant on substantially the same terms and conditions as the existing SNDA (having regard to the terms and conditions of the New Lease).

(d) To the extent requested by Landlord, Tenant shall cause Lease Guarantors to execute, acknowledge and deliver a separate New Lease Guaranty with respect to each New Lease and a Guaranty Amendment with respect to this Master Lease the remainder of the Demised Premises.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, all costs and expenses relating to the New Leases (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable, documented out-of-pocket costs incurred by Tenant or Lease Guarantor for outside counsel, if any) shall be borne by Landlord, and not Tenant.

 

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1.13 Self-Help . Notwithstanding that Landlord may be the direct party to any or all Operating Agreements and ground leases, before the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Tenant shall continue to be the responsible party for Landlord’s obligations under all Operating Agreements and any ground lease (where applicable) and Tenant shall comply with all non-monetary terms thereof which are applicable to the Demised Premises and shall pay Tenant’s Proportionate Share of expenses (as set forth in Schedule 2 to the Side Letter) with respect to such Operating Agreements. Landlord shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to comply or cause the compliance with all terms of the Operating Agreements to the extent applicable to the Common Areas and any portions of the Property leased to third parties (“ Applicable Terms ”). In the event Landlord defaults in the performance of any of the Applicable Terms or fails to enforce the obligations of any other obligee under any Operating Agreement with respect to the Applicable Terms and such default or failure would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on Tenant or any individual Demised Premises, Tenant may, but shall not be obligated to, after thirty (30) days’ Notice to Landlord of Tenant’s intention to take such specified action (except in the event of an emergency, defined as a condition presenting an imminent threat of harm to persons and property, in which case no notice shall be required), cure any default by Landlord under the Operating Agreements with respect to the Applicable Terms and/or enforce, in its own name, the obligations of any other obligor under the Operating Agreements with respect to Applicable Terms (to the extent Landlord would be permitted to do so, subject to the terms and conditions under the Operating Agreements with respect to Applicable Terms). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (except in the event of an emergency), Tenant’s foregoing right to exercise self-help with respect to the obligations of any Person under the Operating Agreements with respect to the Applicable Terms shall be tolled during such time that Landlord is using commercially reasonable efforts to enforce such obligations. Landlord shall, within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of Tenant’s demand and supporting documentation in reasonable detail, reimburse Tenant for the reasonable costs incurred by Tenant in performing any of Landlord’s obligations under the Operating Agreements or enforcing the obligations of any Person under any Operating Agreements with respect to the Applicable Terms (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), as to which Tenant has provided such thirty (30)-day Notice. The foregoing rights of Tenant are referred to as “ Self-Help ”.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

2.1 Definitions . For all purposes of this Master Lease, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, (i) the terms defined in this Article II have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular; (ii) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP; (iii) all references in this Master Lease to designated “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of this Master Lease; (iv) the word “including” shall have the same meaning as the phrase “including, without limitation,” and other similar phrases; (v) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Master Lease as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and (vi) for the calculation of any financial ratios or tests referenced

 

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in this Master Lease, this Master Lease, regardless of its treatment under GAAP, shall be deemed to be an operating lease and the Rent payable hereunder shall be treated as an operating expense and shall not constitute Indebtedness or interest expense.

10-Day Period ”: As defined in Section 29.1(c) .

100% Recapture Property ” or 100% Recapture Properties ”: As defined in Section 1.9 .

100% Recapture Property Termination Fee ”: As defined in Section 1.9(a)(iv) .

100% Recapture Property termination Fee Escrow ”: As defined in Section 1.9 .

100% Recapture Property Termination Notice ”: As defined in Section 0 .

12-Month Destruction ”: As defined in Section 12.2(a) .

12-Month Destruction Fee ”: As defined in Section 12.6 .

AAA ”: As defined in Section 29.2(a) .

Actual 100% Property Recapture Termination Date ”: As defined in Section 1.9 .

Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date ”: As defined in Section 1.8(a) .

Actual Recapture Date ”: As defined in Section 1.7(d) .

ADA ”: The Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended) and similar Legal Requirements with respect to persons with disabilities.

Additional Charges ”: 100% of the amount, or Tenant’s Proportionate Share, as applicable as determined in this Master Lease, of all Property Charges, subject to termination of such payments for future Property Charges with respect to all Terminated Space, as provided herein; and all other amounts, sums, charges, liabilities and obligations which Tenant assumes or agrees to pay or may become liable for under this Master Lease at any time and from time to time, other than Base Rent; provided , however , in no event shall Additional Charges include, nor shall Tenant be responsible to pay, any costs, expenses, fees or charges under or with respect to (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, charge, pledge, hypothecation, security interest, or other matter whatsoever affecting title to any of the Demised Premises or any portion thereof or any interest therein (other than Known Environmental Problems or Retail Operations Claims), whether or not of record which was not in existence on the Commencement Date, or thereafter, which was not a result of Tenant’s Acts or incurred for Tenant’s benefit, (b) any Landlord Mortgage Documents, or (c) any liens, charges or encumbrances suffered or created by Landlord or Landlord’s Related Users (but expressly including Further Encumbrances); and, in the event of any failure on the part of Tenant to pay any of those items (except where such failure is directly due to the acts or omissions of Landlord or any of Landlord’s tenants), every fine, penalty, interest and cost which may be added for nonpayment or late payment of such items,

 

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including, without limitation, all amounts for which Tenant is or may become liable to indemnify Landlord and Indemnified Parties under this Master Lease (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs). All Additional Charges (however denominated) shall be collectible and payable as additional rent under this Master Lease.

Additional Recapture Space ”: Each Appendage SAC and each Free-Standing SAC, and each so-called “outlot”, “outparcel” or portion of any parking or Common Area (other than a Free-Standing SAC), whether or not now or hereafter considered as a separate legal or tax parcel, and which is not subject to any Leases (and in respect of any parking or Common Areas, so long as any such Additional Recapture Space is without any material adverse impact on the retail operations of the applicable Store (as the same is reconfigured and constituted from time to time), including access, egress, parking and loading docks).

Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.8(a) .

Additional Recapture Space Termination Right ”: As defined in Section 1.8 .

Adverse Impact ”: As defined in Section 8.1(b).

Affiliate ”: When used with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, the term “Affiliate” shall mean any person which, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such corporation, limited liability company or partnership. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person through the ownership of voting securities, partnership interests or other equity interests.

All Risk ”: As defined in Section 11.2(a) .

Alterations ”: As defined in Section 8.1 .

Appendage SAC ”: A SAC which is physically attached as an “appendage” to a Store but is not located wholly within the interior of the Store and which may be physically separated from the Store without any physical relocation of any other retail operations within the Store.

Applicable Terms ”: As defined in Section 0 .

Appraiser : As defined in Section 26.1 .

Approved Vendors ”: As defined in Section 1.7(j)(i) .

Arbitration Rules ”: As defined in Section 29.2(a) .

Article XII Terminated Space ”: As defined in Section 1.11(a) .

Award ”: All compensation, sums or anything of value awarded, paid or received on a total or partial Taking.

 

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Base Rent ”:

(a) During the Initial Term and each of the first (1st) and second (2nd) Renewal Terms, the Base Rent shall be as follows: (i) during the first (1st) Lease Year, the Base Rent shall be an annual amount equal to $134,007,772, adjusted downward from time to time in accordance with the “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” as specified in and otherwise as provided in Schedule 2 attached to the Side Letter; and (ii) during each Lease Year commencing with the second (2nd) Lease Year, the Base Rent shall be increased by an annual amount equal to two percent (2%), cumulative and compounded, over the Base Rent for the immediately preceding Lease Year (as so increased).

(b) Commencing with the third (3rd) and any subsequent Renewal Term (if any), the Base Rent shall be an annual amount equal to the greater of (a) the Base Rent for the immediately preceding Lease Year and (b) the Fair Market Rent for the entire Demised Premises, determined with respect to each such Renewal Term promptly after the delivery of the applicable Renewal Notice.

Business Day ”: Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which national banks in the City of New York, New York, are authorized, or obligated, by law or executive order, to close.

Calculation Period ”: As defined in Section 1.6(c).

CAM Expenses ”: As defined in Section 10.2(c)(ii) .

Cash ”: Cash and cash equivalents and all instruments evidencing the same or any right thereto and all proceeds thereof.

Change of Control ”: Except as permitted or required hereunder, (i) the direct or indirect sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Tenant or Tenant’s Parent, whether held directly or through Subsidiaries, in one transaction or in a series of related transactions (excluding sales to Tenant’s Parent or its Subsidiaries) and excluding any transaction permitted pursuant to Section 9.3 , or (ii) (a) Tenant ceasing to be a wholly owned Subsidiary (directly or indirectly) of Tenant’s Parent or (b) Tenant’s Parent ceasing to control one hundred percent (100%) of the voting power in the Equity Interests of Tenant. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to compliance with Section 9.3 , the transfer of publicly traded Equity Interests of Tenant’s Parent shall not constitute a Change of Control.

Claim ”: As defined in Section 14.12(a) .

Code ”: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and, to the extent applicable, the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, each as amended from time to time.

Commencement Date ”: As defined in Section 1.4 .

Common Areas ”: The sidewalks, walkways, alleyways, connecting tunnels, passageways and entranceways to third-party properties, sidewalks, utility pipes, conduits and lines, service drives, parking aisles, driveways, doorways (other than located in the wall of any

 

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Leased Improvements), and parking lots and parking areas and other external areas which shall exist from time to time on or adjacent to the Properties or Demised Premises, including such areas which may be available as part of a Shopping Center by the owner thereof or designated as “common areas” or areas for “common use,” by Landlord, Tenant and/or other occupants and/or owners of the Demised Premises or any Recapture Space, Additional Recapture Space and/or any Shopping Centers, and their respective Related Users, provided , however , that at such time as the Recapture Space or any Additional Recapture Space shall cease to be a portion of the Demised Premises, the Common Areas shall also include such of the loading docks, elevators, escalators, store rooms, restrooms and other facilities which are, as of the date hereof, located within or exclusively serving the applicable Store (“ Exclusive Store Areas ”) as are mutually agreed by the Parties and identified on the Final Recapture Plans for the separation of the Tenant Retained Space and the Recapture Space, subject to all Legal Requirements and Encumbrances to the particular Demised Premises; provided , further , that “Common Areas” shall specifically exclude those areas which may be occupied from time to time by buildings or structures or parking areas which shall be designed or designated for the exclusive use of Landlord or any other owners, tenants, licensees or occupants of the Properties or Demised Premises or any Shopping Center, as the case may be, and their respective agents, employees, customers, licensees and invitees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, until the occurrence of the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, all areas and facilities which would otherwise constitute “Common Areas” located wholly on the Property shall be deemed to be a part of the Demised Premises, and shall be subject to Tenant’s exclusive use and possession and shall be Tenant’s sole responsibility (except as otherwise provided herein), subject to all Legal Requirements, Encumbrances and all other provisions of this Master Lease.

Conciliator ”: As defined in Section 29.1(b) .

Condemnation ”: As defined in Section 12.8(a) .

Construction Professionals ”: As defined in Schedule 1.7(j)(ii)B.2 .

Current Title Policy ”: As defined in Section 1.6(g) .

Demised Premises ”: As defined in Section 1.1 .

Destruction Termination Fee ”: As defined in Section 12.7 .

Dispute ”: As defined in Section 29.1(a) .

Dispute Notice ”: As defined in Section 29.1(c) .

Division Principles ”: As defined in Section 1.7(b) .

dollars and “ $ ” shall mean the lawful money of the United States.

EBITDA ,” “ EBITDAR ”: With respect to any Store, the net income (which for the purposes of this calculation shall include all rents collected) or loss calculated with respect to the operations of such Store on a Property-by-Property or “four wall” basis, determined in accordance with GAAP using the methodologies and practices of Tenant’s Parent currently in

 

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effect, adjusted by excluding (1) income tax expense, (2) consolidated interest expense (net of interest income), (3) depreciation and amortization expense, (4) any income, gains or losses attributable to the early extinguishment or conversion of indebtedness or cancellation of indebtedness, (5) gains or losses on discontinued operations and asset sales, disposals or abandonments, (6) impairment charges or asset write-offs, including, without limitation, those related to goodwill or intangible assets, Long-Lived Assets, and investments in debt and equity securities, in each case, in accordance with GAAP, (7) any noncash items of expense (other than to the extent such noncash items of expense require or result in an accrual or reserve for future cash expenses), (8) extraordinary gains or losses, (9) unusual or nonrecurring gains or items of income or loss and (10) in the case of EBITDAR, Base Rent payable under this Master Lease; provided that each of net income and the foregoing adjustments shall be determined using the methodologies and practices of Tenant’s Parent in effect as of the Commencement Date as shown on Schedule 2.1(a) hereto.

Encumbrance ” or “ Encumbrances ”: As defined Section 1.1(d) .

Environmental Costs ”: As defined in Section 20.4 .

Environmental Equipment ”: All above-ground or underground storage tanks for petroleum, petroleum products, solvents, chemicals or other liquids; above-ground or in-ground hydraulic or mechanical lifts; solvent recovery systems; oil-water separator systems; alignment racks; gasoline pumps, dispensers, pipes and pipelines, and dispensing islands and canopies, and ancillary equipment; and all other machinery, equipment, facilities, fixtures and installations now or hereafter used, operated, installed, altered or maintained in connection with or associated with the use, storage, generation, treatment, recycling, transportation, removal or disposal of Hazardous Substances, now or hereafter located at, on or about the Demised Premises.

Environmental Laws ”: Any and all federal, state, municipal and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, guidances, policies, orders, decisions, determinations, decrees or judgments, whether statutory or common law, as amended from time to time, now or hereafter in effect, or promulgated, pertaining to pollution, the environment, natural resources, public health and safety and industrial hygiene, including the management, use, generation, manufacture, labeling, registration, production, storage, release, discharge, spilling, leaking, emitting, injecting, escaping, abandoning, dumping, disposal, handling, treatment, removal, decontamination, cleanup, transportation or regulation of or exposure to any Hazardous Substance, including the Industrial Site Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Environmental Ordinary Course of Business ”: As defined in Section 20.1 .

Environmental Permits ”: As defined in Schedule 20.6(c)(i) .

Equity Interests ”: With respect to any person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents, including membership interests (however designated, whether

 

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voting or nonvoting), of equity of such person, including, if such person is a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and any other interest or participation that confers on a person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, such partnership.

Event of Default ”: As defined in Section 13.1 .

Event of Default Notice ”: As defined in Section 13.2(b) .

Excepted Liens ”: As defined in Section 1.6(g) .

Excess Expenses ”: As defined in Schedule 10.2(e)(17) .

Exclusive Store Areas ”: As defined in definition of “Common Areas.”

Fair Market Rent ”: With respect to the Properties or any portion thereof (including any space offered to Tenant in any 100% Recapture Property), the prevailing market rent (including all fixed, percentage and Additional Charges) which is generally obtained by owners or landlords of real property on an arm’s-length basis for leases of similar space (size, location and amenities) in the geographical market where the subject space is located, taking into account all of the material terms and conditions of the prospective lease, including tenant improvements and allowance, delayed or free rent, security deposits and the like, and in the case of the Demised Premises, subject to the applicable terms and conditions of this Master Lease including with respect to the termination or recapture of Nonprofitable Property, Recapture Property and 100% Recapture Property, such Fair Market Rent to be determined by mutual agreement by the parties or in accordance with Article XXVI .

Final Recapture Plans ”: As defined in Section 1.7(c) .

Financial Statements ”: (i) For a Fiscal Year, consolidated statements of Tenant’s Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such period and the related consolidated balance sheet as at the end of such period, together with the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared in accordance with GAAP and audited by a “big four” or other nationally recognized accounting firm, and (ii) for a fiscal quarter, consolidated statements of Tenant’s Parent’s income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such period and for the period from the beginning of the Fiscal Year to the end of such period and the related consolidated balance sheet as at the end of such period, together with the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Fiscal Year ”: The fiscal year of Tenant’s Parent for public reporting purposes.

50% Go Dark ”: As defined in Section 7.3(b) .

50% Go Dark Date ”: As defined in Section 7.3(b).

 

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50% Go Dark Notice ”: As defined in Section 7.3(b) .

50% Go Dark Operating Standard : As defined in Section 7.3(b).

50% Go Dark Period ”: As defined in Section 7.3(b).

50% Go Dark Property ” and “ 50% Go Dark Properties ”: As defined in Section 7.3(b).

Fixtures ”: As defined in Section 1.1(c) .

Force Majeure ”: A delay due to acts of God, governmental restrictions, stays, judgments, orders, decrees, enemy actions, civil commotion, fire, casualty, strikes, work stoppages, shortages of labor or materials or similar causes beyond the reasonable control of Tenant; provided, that (1) any period of Force Majeure shall apply only to performance of the obligations necessarily affected by such circumstances and shall continue only so long as Tenant is continuously and diligently using all reasonable efforts to minimize the effect and duration thereof; and (2) Force Majeure shall not include the unavailability or insufficiency of funds.

Foreclosure Purchaser ”: As defined in Section 14.1 .

Free-Standing SAC ”: A SAC which comprises a free-standing building separate and apart from a Store, expressly excluding any Appendage SAC.

Free-Standing SAC Lease ”: As defined in Section 9.8(b)(ii) .

Further Encumbrances ”: As defined in Section 1.1(d) .

GAAP ”: United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time.

General Tax Indemnity ”: As defined in Section 4.3 .

Governmental Approvals ” means any notices or reports to be submitted to, or other filings to be made with, or any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, any Governmental Authority.

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, local, foreign or international court, government, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, official or other legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or governmental authority.

Gross Leasable Square Footage ”: With respect to any Demised Premises, the gross square footage available for lease at such Demised Premises or any other building or improvement now or hereafter located on the applicable Property, (a) with respect to Tenant’s Space, as measured and determined in accordance with the same methods and manner applied in the determination of the “Initial Leased Square Feet” of the Demised Premises as set forth on Schedule 2 to the Side Letter, and (b) with respect to all other space, the greater of (i) such gross square footage as measured and determined in accordance with the same methods and manner as

 

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in clause (a) or (ii) any other measure of gross square footage as set forth in any lease or other occupancy agreement by Landlord with respect to the Property. Disputes with respect to the determination of Gross Leasable Square Footage shall be resolved in accordance with Article XXIX .

Guaranty Amendment ”: As defined in definition of “ Lease Guaranty .”

Handling ”: As defined in Section 20.4 .

Hazardous Substances ”: Each and every element, compound, chemical mixture, emission, contaminant, pollutant, material, waste or other substance (including radioactive substances, whether solid, liquid or gaseous) which is defined, determined or identified as hazardous, or toxic or under any Environmental Law or for which liability or standards of care or a requirement for investigation or remediation are imposed under, or that are otherwise subject to, Environmental Law, including, without limitation, asbestos, asbestos containing materials, urethane, polychlorinated biphenyls, any petroleum product, petroleum derived products and/or its constituents or derivatives, and any caustic, flammable or explosive materials. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term shall mean and include:

(a) “hazardous substances” as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act of 1986, or Title III of the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act, each as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder; excluding, however, common maintenance and cleaning products regularly found at properties with a standard of operation and maintenance comparable to the applicable Property;

(b) “hazardous waste” and “regulated substances” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder;

(c) “hazardous materials” as defined in the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder;

(d) “chemical substance or mixture” as defined in the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

(e) “hazardous materials” as defined under all applicable environmental protection statutes of each state and municipality in which the Demised Premises are located.

Holdover Period ”: As defined in Section 1.11(d) .

Holdover Space ”: As defined in Section 1.11(d)(i) .

Hometown Rents ”: As defined in Section 10.5 .

 

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Impositions ”: All taxes, including capital stock, franchise, margin and other state taxes of Landlord, ad valorem, sales, use, single business, gross receipts, transaction privilege, rent or similar taxes, including tax increases and re-assessments; assessments including assessments for supplemental assessments and public improvements or benefits, whether or not commenced or completed prior to the date hereof and whether or not to be completed within the Term; water, sewer and other utility levies and charges; excise tax levies; fees including license, permit, inspection, authorization and similar fees; and all other governmental charges, in each case whether general or special, ordinary or extraordinary, or foreseen or unforeseen, of every character in respect of the Demised Premises or the Property and/or the Rent and Additional Charges (other than Impositions) and all interest and penalties thereon attributable to any failure in payment by Tenant (other than failures arising from the acts or omissions of Landlord) which at any time prior to, during or in respect of the Term hereof may be assessed or imposed on or in respect of or be a lien upon (i) Landlord or Landlord’s interest in the Demised Premises or the Property, (ii) the Demised Premises or any part thereof or any rent therefrom or any estate, right, title or interest therein, (iii) any occupancy, operation, use or possession of, or sales from or activity conducted on or in connection with the Demised Premises or the property or the leasing or use of the Demised Premises or the property or any part thereof, or (iv) any Tenant’s Property; provided , however , that nothing contained in this Master Lease shall be construed to require Tenant to pay (a) any tax based on net income (whether denominated as a franchise or capital stock or other tax) imposed on Landlord or any other Person, (b) any transfer, or net revenue tax of Landlord or any other Person except Tenant and its successors, (c) any tax imposed with respect to the sale, exchange or other disposition by Landlord of any Demised Premises or the proceeds thereof (excluding any recapture of any Recapture Property or Additional Recapture Space or any development, redevelopment or leasing thereof), or (d) any principal or interest on any Indebtedness on or secured by the Demised Premises owed to a Landlord Mortgagee for which Landlord or its Subsidiaries is the obligor; provided , further , that Impositions shall include any tax, assessment, tax levy or charge set forth in the foregoing clause (a) or (b) that is levied, assessed or imposed in lieu of, or as a substitute for, any Imposition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the date of the termination of this Master Lease in respect of any Recapture Space, Tenant shall pay Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Impositions (except in the case of any separate assessment of the Recapture Space and Tenant Retained Space for tax purposes, in which case Tenant shall pay only one hundred percent (100%) of the Impositions which are separately assessed (if any) with respect to the Tenant Retained Space), and Tenant’s obligations for all future Impositions ( i.e. , Impositions first accruing or otherwise first payable subsequent to the Actual Recapture Date) shall cease with respect to all other Terminated Space. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Parties acknowledge and agree that for the sole purpose of any Imposition which may be assessed based upon the rentals payable under this Master Lease, the applicable “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” set forth on Schedule 2 of the Side Letter shall apply with respect to each individual Demised Premises.

Indebtedness ”: With respect to any Landlord Mortgage, all indebtedness for borrowed money and related obligations (including all principal, interest, late charges, prepayment or other penalties, or any other charges solely in connection with the payment, prepayment or nonpayment thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness shall expressly exclude (i) all costs, expenses or obligations directly related to the use, occupancy, repair, allocation or maintenance of the Demised Premises or otherwise arising out of the Demised Premises and (ii) all Impositions, Utility Charges and all other costs, fees or charges (other than Indebtedness) under all Encumbrances, all of which shall remain the obligation of Tenant.

 

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Indemnified Parties ”: Landlord and Landlord Mortgagee, and each of their respective successors and assigns, their members, managers, partners, shareholders, officers, directors, agents, attorneys and representatives.

Initial Term ”: As defined in Section 1.4 .

Inspections ”: As defined in Section 20.5(a) .

Installment Expense” or “Installment Expenses ”: As defined in Section 4.5(a) .

Installment Expense Statement ”: As defined in Section 4.5(b)(iii) .

Insurance Requirements ”: The terms and conditions of all insurance policies required to be maintained by Tenant by this Master Lease, any Landlord Mortgage, and any other Encumbrances, and all requirements of the issuer of any such policy and of any insurance board, association, organization or company necessary for the maintenance of any such policy, including all of Tenant’s permitted self-insurance.

Kmart Store(s) ”: As defined in the Recitals.

Kmart Tenant ”: As defined in the Preamble.

Known Environmental Problems ”: As defined in Section 14.12(b)(ii) .

Land ”: As defined in Section 1.1(a) .

Landlord ”: As defined in the Preamble.

Landlord Authorized Work ”: As defined in Section 21.18 .

Landlord Encumbrances ”: As defined in Section 1.6(g) .

Landlord Mortgage ”: As defined in Section 11.1 .

Landlord Mortgage Documents ”: With respect to each Landlord Mortgage and Landlord Mortgagee, the applicable Landlord Mortgage, loan agreement, debt agreement, credit facility agreement, indenture, lease, note, collateral assignment instruments, guarantees, environmental and indemnity agreements and other documents or instruments evidencing, securing or otherwise relating to the loan made, credit extended, or lease or other financing vehicle entered into pursuant thereto, as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with Article XIV .

Landlord Mortgagee ”: As defined in Section 11.1 .

Landlord 100% Recapture Property Termination Right ”: As defined in Section 1.9 .

 

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Landlord’s Insurance Costs ”: As defined in Section 11.2(b) .

Landlord Tax Returns ”: As defined in Section 4.1(b) .

Landlord’s Work ”: As defined in Schedule 1.7(i)(ii) .

Lands’ End Agreements ”: That certain (a) Master Lease Agreement dated April 4, 2014, as amended on July 6, 2015 (and as hereafter amended) by and between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Lands’ End, Inc. (“ Lands’ End ”) and (b) that certain Retail Operations Agreement dated April 4, 2014 (as now or hereafter amended) by and between and between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Lands’ End, Inc. Those Demised Premises which contain space demised to Lands’ End (“ Lands’ End Space ”) pursuant to the Lands’ End Agreements are listed on Exhibit D attached hereto. Tenant shall continue to retain all right, title and interest in the Lands’ End Agreements, and the same shall not be assigned to Landlord, except to the extent provided in Section 10.5(b) .

Lands’ End Lease ”: That certain (a) Master Lease Agreement dated April 4, 2014, as amended on July 6, 2015 (and as hereafter amended) by and between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Lands’ End.

Lease ” or “ Leases ”: Any and all leases of a portion of any Property by Tenant or any Affiliate of Tenant to any unaffiliated third party existing immediately prior to the consummation of the Purchase Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, and all replacements thereof, and all new leases or subleases entered into by Landlord after the date hereof (including with respect to any Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space), but excluding all Subleases. The Lands’ End Agreements and the Sears Hometown License Agreement shall not constitute or be deemed to be Leases. The Leases which are in existence as of the date hereof have been assigned by separate instrument by Tenant or an Affiliate of Tenant to Landlord in connection with Landlord’s acquisition of the Demised Premises.

Lease Guarantor ”: Tenant’s Parent and each entity that guarantees the payment or collection of all or any portion of the amounts payable by Tenant, or the performance by Tenant of all or any of its obligations, under this Master Lease from time to time, including without limitation those entities set forth on Schedule 2.1(b) . Tenant shall cause each Subsidiary of Tenant’s Parent that, now or in the future becomes liable in respect of Tenant Parent’s principal working capital credit facility (presently the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 8, 2011, as amended), to be a Lease Guarantor and execute a Lease Guaranty; provided that Landlord shall, other than in connection with the sale or other disposition (including without limitation by equity distribution or rights offering) of all or substantially all of the assets in one transaction or a series of related transactions of Tenant’s Parent (in respect of which this proviso shall not apply), upon Tenant’s request and at Tenant’s expense pursuant to reasonable and customary forms prepared by Tenant, release any Lease Guarantor that ceases to be a Subsidiary of Tenant’s Parent from its Lease Guaranty. For avoidance of doubt, no Lease Guarantor that remains a Subsidiary of Tenant’s Parent will be released from the Guaranty or entitled to release from the Guaranty whether or not it ceases to be liable in respect of Tenant Parent’s principal working capital credit facility.

 

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Lease Guaranty ”: Any guaranty by a Lease Guarantor of the obligations of Tenant under this Master Lease, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time with Lender’s prior written consent or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Master Lease. Any Lease Guaranty shall terminate and be of no force or effect with respect to any Property or portion thereof as to which this Master Lease is terminated pursuant to the express terms of Section 1.6 , 1.7 , 1.8 , or 1.9 or by reason of casualty or Condemnation as provided herein (except in each case for all obligations of Tenant which have accrued as of the Master Lease termination date or which survive the termination of the Master Lease) and shall continue in full force and effect with respect to the Master Lease with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises, provided , however , that Landlord may require Lease Guarantor to, and Lease Guarantor shall, execute, and acknowledge an amendment to any existing Least Guaranty (“ Guaranty Amendment ”) ratifying and reconfirming the Lease Guaranty with respect to such remainder of the Demised Premises. In the event of any New Lease, or any new lease to any Successor Landlord, any Lease Guaranty shall continue to apply to same and Tenant shall cause each then-existing Lease Guarantor of this Master Lease to execute, acknowledge and deliver an amendment to any existing Lease Guaranty or a new Lease Guaranty (each, a “ New Lease Guaranty ”) on all of the same terms and conditions of the existing Lease Guaranty, modified appropriately to reflect such New Lease or new lease to Successor Landlord, as the case may be.

Leased Improvements ”: As defined in Section 1.1(b) .

Leasehold Estate ”: As defined in Section 15.1 .

Leasehold Property” : As defined in the Recitals.

Lease Provisions ”: As defined in Section 21.15 .

Lease Year ”: The first (1st) Lease Year shall be the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the last day of the calendar month in which the first (1st) anniversary of the Commencement Date occurs, and each subsequent Lease Year shall be each period of twelve (12) full calendar months after the last day of the prior Lease Year.

Legal Requirements ”: All federal, state, county, municipal and other governmental statutes, laws, rules, policies, guidance, codes, orders, regulations, ordinances, permits, licenses, covenants, conditions, restrictions, judgments, decrees and injunctions (including common law and Environmental Laws) affecting either the Demised Premises or Tenant’s Property or the construction, use or alteration thereof, whether now or hereafter enacted and in force, including any which may (i) require repairs, modifications or alterations in or to the Demised Premises and/or Tenant’s Property, (ii) in any way adversely affect the use and enjoyment thereof, or (iii) regulate the transport, handling, use, storage or disposal or require the cleanup or other treatment of any Hazardous Substance. For the avoidance of doubt, so long as Tenant is not in violation of any Legal Requirements (including, without limitation, by reason of applicable provisions with respect to “grandfathering,” notice, grace or cure periods, protest, dispute and contests, negotiations of terms and conditions of remedial action, and the like), Tenant shall be deemed to be in compliance with any Legal Requirements (including Environmental Law), and Tenant’s liability for any performance by Landlord of Tenant’s obligations to so comply (as permitted in this Master Lease) shall be similarly conditioned or limited thereby.

 

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LE-SHO Letter Agreement ”: As defined in Section 10.5 .

LE Rents ”: As defined in Section 10.5 .

Local Remedies ”: As defined in Section 21.5 .

Long-Lived Assets ”: All property capitalized in accordance with GAAP with an expected life of not less than fifteen (15) years as initially reflected on the books and records of the owner thereof at or about the time of acquisition thereof (and, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to property acquired by Landlord pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the books and records of Tenant’s Parent at the time of acquisition thereof by Tenant’s Parent or its applicable Subsidiary).

Liability ” or “ Liabilities ” means with respect to any Person, any and all claims, debts, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, damages, costs, obligations, accruals, accounts payable, reckonings, bonds, indemnities and similar obligations, agreements, promises, guarantees, make whole agreements and similar obligations, and other liabilities and requirements of such Person, including all contractual obligations, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, reserved or unreserved, known or unknown, or determined or determinable, whenever arising and including those arising under any applicable Law, rule, regulation, Action, threatened or contemplated Action, order or consent decree of any Governmental Authority or any award of any arbitrator or mediator of any kind, and those arising under any Contract, including those arising under this Agreement, in each case, whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements of any Person. For the avoidance of doubt, Liabilities shall include reasonable attorneys’ fees, the costs and expenses of all demands, assessments, judgments, settlements and compromises, and any and all other costs and expenses whatsoever reasonably incurred in connection with anything contemplated by the preceding sentence.

Master Lease ”: As defined in the Preamble.

Maximum Foreseeable Loss ”: As defined in Section 11.2(a) .

Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date ”: At any time during the Term, the earliest (including as of the Commencement Date) date on which any of the following shall occur with respect to a Demised Premises or Property”: (a) the Property shall be subject to any Lease, or (b) the Actual Recapture Date and/or the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date (as applicable).

New Lease ” or “ New Leases ”: As defined in Section 1.12(a) .

New Lease Guaranty ”: As defined in definition of “ Lease Guaranty .”

Nonprofitable ”: With respect to any Store as of any date of determination, that the EBITDAR for such Store for the twelve (12)-month period ending as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of Tenant Parent is less than the applicable ‘SHC Base Rent Adjustment” as specified in Schedule 2 (attached to the Side Letter), as increased from and after the first (1st) Lease Year as provided herein.

 

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Nonprofitable Property ”: As defined in Section 1.6(b) .

Nonprofitable Property Limitation ”: As defined in Section 1.6(e) .

Nonprofitable Property Termination Date ”: As defined in Section 1.6(b) .

Non-Release Violation(s): As defined in Section 20.3 .

Notice ”: A written notice given in accordance with Article XIX .

OFAC ”: As defined in Section 24.1 .

Offer Period ”: As defined in Section 1.9(a)(v) .

Offer Space ”: As defined in Section 1.9(a)(v) .

Officer’s Certificate ”: A certificate of Tenant or Landlord, as the case may be, signed by a senior officer or managing or general partner of such party authorized to so sign by resolution of its board of directors or by its sole member or by the terms of its by-laws or operating agreement or partnership agreement, as applicable; provided , however , that any Officer’s Certificate with respect to a Nonprofitable Property shall be signed by the chief financial officer of Tenant.

Operating Agreements ”: All reciprocal easement, operating and/or construction agreements (“ REAs ”), easements and rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, declarations and similar agreements or encumbrances affecting the access, ingress, egress, use, maintenance, construction, parking, signage, occupancy or operation of any Demised Premises, Property, or Common Area, in existence from time to time, whether or not of record.

Operating Expenses ”: As set forth on Schedule 10.2(e) .

Overdue Rate ”: On any date, an annual rate equal to five (5) percentage points above the Prime Rate, but in no event greater than the maximum rate then permitted under applicable law.

Party ” or “ Parties ”: Landlord and/or Tenant, their successors and assigns as party to this Master Lease, including Kmart Tenant and Sears Tenant (with Kmart Tenant and Sears Tenant each being referred to as a “ Tenant Party ”).

Payment Date ”: As defined in Section 3.1 .

Performing Parties ”: As defined in Schedule 20.6(x)(B) .

Permitted Encumbrances ”: (i) Liens imposed by law, such as mechanics and materialmen Liens in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period or more than thirty (30) days or which are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or such other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against Tenant (for purposes of this definition of “Permitted Encumbrances,” “ Tenant ” shall mean Tenant and any Person claiming by, through or

 

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under Tenant, as applicable) with respect to which Tenant shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if enforcement of such Liens is bonded or stayed, (ii) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if enforcement of such Liens is bonded or stayed, (iii) all matters disclosed on the title commitment or title policy delivered to Landlord in connection with Landlord’s acquisition of the Properties, together with minor survey exceptions (or any state of facts an accurate survey might show), minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Operating Agreements), or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of the Properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of Tenant or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with any indebtedness for borrowed money and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of any Property or materially impair its use in the operation of the business of Tenant, (iv) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding leases of Tenant’s Property entered into by Tenant in the ordinary course of business, (v) Liens securing judgments against Tenant (or any Person claiming by, through or under Tenant) for the payment of money (excluding judgments for payment of borrowed money) so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period with which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired, (vi) Leases, or Subleases which are existing on the date hereof or entered into after the date hereof in accordance with the terms of this Master Lease and (vii) Liens pursuant to or in connection with the Operating Agreements which have not been created or incurred by Tenant. In addition, Permitted Encumbrances shall include any (A) Landlord Mortgage and Landlord Mortgage Documents (including any Liens securing any notes issued in connection therewith, but not for purposes of determining Tenant’s obligations, and (B) all other liens, changes and Encumbrances of whatsoever nature which are not incurred or caused by Tenant, Tenant’s Parent, any other Guarantor or Subsidiary of Tenant’s Parent or Tenant Related User (including all liens, changes and Encumbrances in connection with any work expressly requested to be performed or incurred by Landlord or on behalf of Landlord). Except where the terms of this Master Lease expressly require Tenant to comply with or perform the covenants and obligations of Landlord’s Mortgage Documents, Tenant shall not be deemed to have agreed to comply with or perform said covenants or obligations of Landlord’s Mortgage Documents, notwithstanding that Tenant shall remain obligated to make all other payments and to observe or perform all other obligations under the Permitted Encumbrances.

Person ” or “ person ”: Any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other form of entity.

Preliminary Recapture Plans ”: As defined in Section 1.7(c) .

Premises Obligations ”: As defined in Section 1.3(c) .

Prime Rate ”: On any date, a rate equal to the annual rate on such date publicly announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ( provided , that if JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

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ceases to publish such rate, the Prime Rate shall be determined according to the Prime Rate of another nationally known money center bank reasonably selected by Landlord) to be its prime rate for ninety (90)-day unsecured loans to its corporate borrowers of the highest credit standing, but in no event greater than the maximum rate then permitted under applicable law.

Prohibited Persons ”: As defined in Section 24.1 .

Prohibited Uses ”: As set forth on Exhibit B .

Promotional Rights ”: As defined in Section 10.2(a)(ii) .

Property or Properties ”: As defined in the Recitals.

Property Charges ”: Collectively, Impositions, Utility Charges, CAM Expenses, Property Document CAM Expenses, all rents, additional rent and other charges, Landlord’s Insurance Costs and Operating Expenses, and all other costs, fees and charges under all Encumbrances.

Property Document CAM Expenses ”: As defined in Section 10.2(c)(iii) .

Proposed 100% Recapture Property Date ”: As defined in Section 1.9 .

Proposed Additional Recapture Space Date ”: As defined in Section 1.8(a) .

Proposed Recapture Date ”: As defined in Section 1.7(d) .

Purchase Agreement ”: As defined in the Recitals.

Puerto Rico Premises ”: As defined in Section 21.25 .

REAs ”: As defined in the definition of “Operating Agreements.”

Rebranding and/or Alternative Retail Use ”: As defined in Section 7.2(a) .

Recapture Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.7(d).

Recapture Separation Work ”: As defined Section 1.7(j) .

Recapture Space ”: As defined in Section 1.7(a) .

Related User ” or “ Related Users ”: With respect to any Person, such Person’s tenants, subtenants, licensees, agents, employees, customers, invitees, contractors, vendors, agents and representatives, permitted by such Person to use the premises in question.

Remediation Materials ”: As defined in Schedule 20.6(c)(vii)(B) .

Removal Date ”: As defined in Section 1.12(b) .

Removal Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.12(b) .

 

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Removal Property or “ Removal Properties ”: As defined in Section 1.12(a) .

Renewal Exercise Date ”: As defined in Section 1.5(a) .

Renewal Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.5(a) .

Renewal Revocation Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.5(d) .

Renewal Terms ”: As defined in Section 1.5(a) .

Rent ”: Collectively, the Base Rent and all Additional Charges.

Required Alterations ”: Alterations which are required to comply with Legal Requirements.

Restoration Standards ”: As defined in Section 12.1(a) .

Retail Operations Claims ”: As defined in Section 14.12(b)(i) .

SAC ” or “ SACs ”: As defined in the Recitals.

SAC Definitive Agreement ”: As defined in Section 9.8(a) .

SAC Definitive Agreement Notice ”: As defined in Section 9.8(a) .

SAC Negotiations ”: As defined in Section 9.8(a) .

Sale ”: As defined in Section 21.25 .

Sale Agreement ” As defined in Section  21.25 .

Sale Counter-Party ”: As defined in Section  21.25 .

Sears Store ”: As defined in the Recitals.

Sears Tenant ”: As defined in the Preamble.

SEC ”: The United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Security for Excepted Liens ”: As defined in Section 1.6(g) .

Self-Help ”: As defined in Section 0 .

Sears Hometown ” means Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC.

Sears Hometown License Agreement ” means, solely to the extent related to the Property known as KM 9647 located at 4820 S. 4 th Street, Leavenworth, KS (“ KM 9647 Property ”), that certain License Agreement dated as of November 20, 2008 by and between Sears Holdings Management Corporation, as agent for Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation, as licensor, and Sears Authorized Hometown, as in effect on the date hereof.

 

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Sears Hometown Space ” means the space at the KM 9647 Property occupied by Sears Hometown pursuant to the Sears Hometown License Agreement.

Senior Representative ”: As defined in Section 29.1(b) .

Shopping Center ”: Any shopping center, shopping mall or other property of a third-party property owner located adjacent to the Demised Premises.

Side Letter ” means that certain letter agreement entered into between Landlord and Tenant and dated as of the Commencement Date.

SNDA ”: As defined in Section 14.1 .

State ”: With respect to each Property, the state or commonwealth in which such Store is located.

Statement ”: As defined in Section 4.5(b)(iii) .

Stay Period ”: As defined in Section 13.1(f) .

Store ”: As defined in the Recitals.

Sublease ” or “ Subleases ”: As defined in Section 9.2 .

Subsidiary ”: As to any Person, (i) any corporation more than fifty percent (50%) of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time of determination owned by such Person and/or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other entity in which such person and/or one or more Subsidiaries of such person has more than a fifty percent (50%) equity interest at the time of determination. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Master Lease shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Tenant.

Successor Landlord ”: As defined in Section 14.2 .

Taxes ”: As defined in Section 4.3 .

Tax Statement ”: As defined in Section 4.5(b)(i) .

Tenant ”: As defined in the Preamble and in definition of “ Permitted Encumbrances .”

Tenant 100% Property Recapture Termination Date ”: As defined in Section 1.9(a) .

 

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Tenant 100% Property Recapture Termination Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.9(a) .

Tenant Additional Recapture Space Termination Date ”: As defined in Section 1.8(a) .

Tenant Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.8(a) .

Tenant Confidential Information ”: As defined in Section 21.24 .

Tenant Free-Standing SAC Notice ”: As defined in Section 9.8(a) .

Tenant Offer ”: As defined in Section 1.9(a)(v) .

Tenant Party ”: As defined in definition of “ Party ” or “ Parties .”

Tenant Party Breach ”: As defined in Section 1.3(a) .

Tenant PR Rights ”: As defined in Section  21.25 .

Tenant Recapture Termination Date ”: As defined in Section 1.7(d) .

Tenant Recapture Termination Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.7(d) .

Tenant Retained Space ”: As defined in Section 1.7(a) .

Tenant ROFO Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.9(a)(v) .

Tenant PR Rights ”: As defined in Section 21.25 .

Tenant PR ROFO Rights ”: As defined in Section  21.25 .

Tenant’s Acts ”: Collectively, with respect to any matter, the (A) negligent act or omission or willful or intentional misconduct of Tenant, Tenant’s Parent, Tenant Related User any Subsidiary of Tenant’s Parent, each of their agents, representatives, employees, contractors or vendors, or (B) any breach of any of Tenant’s obligations under this Master Lease.

Tenant’s Award ”: As defined in Section 12.9(d) .

Tenant’s Parent ”: Sears Holdings Corporation.

Tenant’s Property ”: With respect to each Property, all trade fixtures and other assets (other than the Demised Premises and property owned by a third party) owned by Tenant and primarily related to or used in connection with the operation of the business conducted on or about the Demised Premises, together with all replacements, modifications, additions, alterations and substitutes therefor, subject to terms, conditions and limitations of this Master Lease.

 

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Tenant’s Proportionate Share ”: (a) Prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, one hundred percent (100%) of all Property Charges and all other Additional Charges; and (b) from and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, (i) one hundred percent (100%) of all Property Charges and Additional Charges which are separately assessed or imposed with respect to the portion of the Property occupied by Tenant (as adjusted to take into account recaptures and terminations) or which are attributed solely to the use, operation, occupancy or consumption of or by Tenant in or on the Demised Premises, and (ii) otherwise, with respect to any individual Demised Premises, as calculated at the time of determination from time to time, a fraction, (A) the numerator of which shall be the Gross Leasable Square Footage in the Store (including the Lands’ End Space, Sears Hometown Space, any SAC and any other free-standing buildings, if any) which are then leased by Tenant, “ Tenant’s Space ”), and (B) the denominator of which shall be the aggregate of all Gross Leasable Square Footage of (1) Tenant’s Space, plus (2) all other buildings and improvements now or hereafter located on the Property, including all Recapture Space and Additional Recapture Space from and after the date of recapture, and including any new buildings or additions with respect to any Recapture Space, Additional Recapture Space or any other portions of the Property (from and after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or equivalent thereof with respect to such new buildings or additions); provided, however, with respect to any expense paid by a third party occupying a building or other space at the Property directly to the taxing authority, utility or service provider or other vendor which are not included in any Property Charges, the foregoing denominator shall be reduced by the Gross Leasable Square Footage of the building or space leased by such third party for the purpose of calculating Tenant’s Proportionate Share for such expense item and Tenant shall have not liability in respect of such expense. Disputes with respect to Tenant’s Proportionate Share shall be resolved in accordance with Article XXIX . Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant’s Space shall include all space which may be subject to any Lease entered into by Landlord after the Commencement Date but only as to which (and only so long as) the applicable Actual Recapture Date, Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date or the Actual 100% Recapture Termination Date, as the case may be, has not occurred.

Tenant Retained Space ”: As defined in Section 1.7(a) .

Tenant’s Space ”: As defined in the definition of “Tenant’s Proportionate Share.”

Tenant Termination Election Date ”: As defined in Section 1.6(b) .

Tenant Termination Election Notice ”: As defined in Section 1.6(b) .

Tenant’s Work ”: As defined in Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) .

Term ”: As defined in Section 1.4 .

Terminated Space ”: As defined in Section 1.11(a) .

Termination Fee ”: As defined in Section 1.6(c) .

Third-Party Charges ”: As defined in Section 3.1(a) .

Third-Party Late Charges ”: As defined in Section 3.1(a) .

 

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Title Insurer ”: As defined in Section 1.6(g) .

Total Condemnation ”: As defined in Section 12.8(c) .

Total Destruction ”: As defined in Section 12.2(a) .

Transaction Expenses ”: As defined in Section 1.6(h) .

Transfer ”: Any sale, assignment, transfer, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, granting of any security interest, lease, sublicense, license, or occupancy arrangement, whether directly or indirectly, voluntarily or involuntarily, or by operation of law, including without limitation any Change of Control (including any agreement, or granting any option or right, to do or effectuate any of the foregoing, whether conditional, provisional or absolute).

Trustee ”: As defined in Section 14.4 .

Unavoidable Delay ”: Delays due to strikes, lockouts, inability to procure materials, power failure, acts of God, governmental restrictions, enemy action, civil commotion, fire, unavoidable casualty or other causes beyond the reasonable control of the party responsible for performing an obligation hereunder; provided that lack of funds shall not be deemed a cause beyond the reasonable control of a Party.

Union Bidding ”: As defined in Schedule 1.7(j)(ii)B.3 .

Unrelated Successor Tenant ”: As defined in Section 9.3 .

Unsuitable for Its Intended Use ”: A state of any Store such that by reason of damage or destruction, or a partial taking by Condemnation, such Store cannot, following restoration thereof (to the extent commercially practical), be operated on a commercially practicable basis for its use for the operation of Sears store, taking into account, among other relevant factors, the amount of square footage (excluding the Recapture Space) and the estimated revenue affected by such damage or destruction.

Updated Title Commitment ”: As defined in Section 1.6(g) .

Upgrades ”: As defined in Section 1.7(j)(iii) .

Utility Charges ”: All fees, costs, expenses and charges for electricity, power, gas, oil, water, sanitary and storm sewer, septic system refuse collection, security, and other utilities and services used or consumed in connection with the applicable Demised Premises during the Term.

Wire Transfer ”: As defined in Section 3.3 .

ARTICLE III

RENT

3.1 Rent . (a) Subject to Section 3.1(b) , during the Term, Tenant will pay to Landlord the Base Rent and Additional Charges in lawful money of the United States of America and legal

 

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tender for the payment of public and private debts, in the manner provided in Section 3.3 . The Base Rent during any Lease Year is payable in advance in consecutive monthly installments equal to one twelfth (1/12th) of the annual Base Rent on the first (1 st ) Business Day of each calendar month during that Lease Year (each, a “ Payment Date ”).

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Commencement Date shall occur on a date which is other than the first Business Day of a calendar month, then the first Payment Date shall occur on the Commencement Date, and on such date Tenant shall pay the sum of (i) the amount of prorated Base Rent from and after the Commencement Date through the end of the applicable calendar month, plus (ii) the amount of Base Rent payable for the next succeeding calendar month.

3.2 Late Payment of Rent . Tenant hereby acknowledges that late payment by Tenant to Landlord of Rent will cause Landlord to incur costs and administrative complications not contemplated hereunder, the exact amount and scope of which is presently anticipated to be extremely difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, if any installment of Rent, other than Additional Charges payable to a Person other than Landlord (“ Third-Party Charges ”), shall not be paid within five (5) days after its due date, Tenant will pay Landlord on demand a late charge equal to the lesser of (a) five percent (5%) of the amount of such installment or (b) the maximum amount permitted by law. The parties agree that this late charge represents a fair and reasonable estimate of the costs and expenses (including economic losses) that Landlord will incur by reason of late payment by Tenant. The parties further agree that such late charge is Rent and not interest and such assessment does not constitute a lender or borrower/creditor relationship between Landlord and Tenant. Thereafter, if any installment or payment of Rent (other than Third-Party Charges) shall not be paid within ten (10) days after its due date, the amount unpaid, including any late charges previously accrued, shall bear interest at the Overdue Rate from the due date of such installment or payment to the date of payment thereof, and Tenant shall pay such interest to Landlord on demand. The payment of such late charge or such interest shall not constitute waiver of, nor excuse or cure, any default under this Master Lease, nor prevent Landlord from exercising any other rights and remedies available to Landlord. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall be responsible for payment of all interest, late charges and other costs and fees imposed by third parties (“ Third-Party Late Charges ”) with respect to late payments of Third-Party Charges; provided that, if Landlord shall elect in its discretion to pay (without any obligation to do so) any Third-Party Charges which are not paid by Tenant when due (together with any Third-Party Late Charges), Tenant shall pay Landlord a late charge and interest, at the rates provided above, on all amounts so paid by Landlord and which Tenant fails to pay to Landlord within five (5) days (as to late charge) or ten (10) days (as to interest), respectively, after the date of Landlord’s payment. Any interest or late charge which is paid by Tenant and which is subsequently determined to have been charged to or paid by Tenant in error, shall be refunded by Landlord to Tenant without interest.

3.3 Method of Payment of Rent and Other Sums and Charges . Base Rent and Additional Charges to be paid to Landlord and all sums to be paid by Landlord to Tenant shall be paid by electronic funds transfer debit transactions through wire transfer or ACH payment of immediately available funds (“ Wire Transfer ”) and shall be initiated by Tenant for settlement on or before the applicable Payment Date (or when otherwise due and payable). The Parties shall provide each other with appropriate Wire Transfer information in a Notice from each Party to the

 

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other. If Landlord directs Tenant to pay any Rent to any party other than Landlord, Tenant shall send to Landlord, simultaneously with such payment, a copy of the transmittal letter or invoice and a check whereby such payment is made or such other evidence of payment as Landlord may reasonably require. All other payments by Tenant of all other sums and charges hereunder (by way of example, and not limitation, payment of the Termination Fee), and all payments by Landlord to Tenant which are provided herein, shall be made by Wire Transfer. If Tenant makes payment to any third party as directed by Landlord or pursuant to any Landlord Mortgage Documents, upon receipt of such payment (subject to collection) the same shall be deemed to have been paid to Landlord without further recourse to Tenant.

3.4 Net Lease . Landlord and Tenant acknowledge and agree that (i) this Master Lease is, and is intended to be, what is commonly referred to as a “net, net, net” or “triple net” lease, and (ii) the Rent shall be paid absolutely net to Landlord, so that this Master Lease shall yield to Landlord the full amount or benefit of the installments of Base Rent and Tenant’s Proportionate Share of Additional Charges throughout the Term with respect to the entire Demised Premises, all as more fully set forth in Article V and subject to any other provisions of this Master Lease that expressly provide for adjustment or abatement of Rent or other charges (if any). Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Master Lease, Tenant assumes the responsibility for the condition, use, operation and maintenance of the Demised Premises, and Landlord shall have no responsibility or liability therefor. If Landlord commences any proceedings for nonpayment of Rent, Tenant will not interpose any counterclaim or cross complaint or similar pleading of any nature or description in such proceedings (nor move or agree to consolidate in such proceedings any claim by Tenant in any other proceedings). The covenants to pay Base Rent and Additional Charges amounts hereunder are independent covenants, and Tenant shall have no right to hold back, offset, deduct, credit against or fail to pay in full any such amounts for claimed or actual default or breach by Landlord of whatsoever nature or for any other reason whatsoever. For the avoidance of doubt, Tenant shall not have, and hereby expressly and absolutely waives, relinquishes, and covenants not to assert, accept or take advantage of, any right to deposit or pay with or into any court or other third-party escrow, depository account or tenant account with respect to any disputed Rent, or any Rent pending resolution of any other dispute or controversy with Landlord.

ARTICLE IV

IMPOSITIONS

4.1 Impositions . (a) Subject to Section 4.2 relating to permitted contests, and subject to Section 4.5 , during the Term (whether prior or subsequent to any Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date), Tenant shall pay, or cause to be paid, either one hundred percent (100%) or Tenant’s Proportionate Share, as the case may be, of all Impositions before any fine, penalty, interest or cost may be added for nonpayment. Unless otherwise requested by Landlord (including to comply with Landlord Mortgage Documents), Tenant shall make such payments directly to the taxing authorities where feasible, or otherwise make such payments to Landlord as part of the Installment Expenses, and shall promptly furnish to Landlord copies of official receipts or other satisfactory proof evidencing such direct payments. Tenant’s obligation to pay Impositions shall be absolutely fixed upon the date such Impositions become a lien upon the Demised Premises or any part thereof, subject to Section 4.2 . Tenant shall also be responsible for all Impositions which, on the date of the Master Lease, is a lien upon the Demised Premises or any part thereof.

 

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If any Imposition may, at the option of the taxpayer, lawfully be paid in installments, whether or not interest shall accrue on the unpaid balance of such Imposition, Tenant may pay the same, and any accrued interest on the unpaid balance of such Imposition, in installments as the same respectively become due and before any fine, penalty, premium, further interest or cost may be added thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Tenant is making payments of Installment Expenses which include estimated Impositions, Landlord shall provide funds to Tenant for the direct payment of Impositions by Tenant not later than thirty (30) days before the due date, as a condition precedent to Tenant’s obligation to make such direct payments of Impositions.

(b) Landlord shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed all tax returns and reports as may be required by Legal Requirements with respect to Landlord’s net income, gross receipts, franchise taxes and taxes on its capital stock and any other returns required to be filed by or in the name of Landlord (the “ Landlord Tax Returns ”), and Tenant or Tenant’s Parent and/or Lease Guarantor shall prepare and file all other tax returns and reports as may be required by Legal Requirements with respect to or relating to the Demised Premises and Tenant’s Property.

(c) Any refund due from any taxing authority in respect of any Imposition paid by or on behalf of Tenant shall be paid over to or retained by Tenant, net of all of Landlord’s costs, fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with obtaining such refund (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees).

(d) Landlord and Tenant shall, upon request of the other, provide such data as is maintained by the party to whom the request is made with respect to the Demised Premises as may be necessary to prepare any required returns and reports. If any property covered by this Master Lease is classified as personal property for tax purposes, Tenant shall file all personal property tax returns in such jurisdictions where it must legally so file. Landlord, to the extent it possesses the same, and Tenant, to the extent it possesses the same, shall provide the other party, upon request, with cost and depreciation records necessary for filing returns for any property so classified as personal property. Where Landlord is legally required to file personal property tax returns, Tenant shall be provided with copies of assessment notices indicating a value in excess of the reported value in sufficient time for Tenant to file a protest.

(e) Billings for reimbursement by Tenant to Landlord of personal property or real property taxes and any taxes due under the Landlord Tax Returns, if and to the extent Tenant is responsible for such taxes under the terms of this Section 4.1 , shall be accompanied by copies of a bill therefor and payments thereof that identify the personal property or real property or other tax obligations of Landlord with respect to which such payments are made.

(f) Impositions imposed or assessed in respect of the tax-fiscal period during which the Term terminates shall be adjusted and prorated between Landlord and Tenant, whether or not such Imposition is imposed or assessed before or after such termination, and Tenant’s obligation to pay its prorated share thereof in respect of a tax-fiscal period during the Term shall survive such termination. Landlord will not voluntarily enter into agreements that will result in additional Impositions without Tenant’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld (it being understood that it shall not be reasonable to withhold consent to customary additional Impositions that other property owners of properties similar to the Demised Premises customarily consent to in the ordinary course of business); provided , that Tenant is given reasonable opportunity to participate in the process leading to such agreement.

 

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4.2 Permitted Contests . Tenant, upon not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written Notice to Landlord, on its own or in Landlord’s name, at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, may contest, by appropriate legal proceedings conducted in good faith and with due diligence, the amount, validity or application, in whole or in part, of any licensure or certification decision (including pursuant to any Imposition, Legal Requirement, Insurance Requirement, lien, attachment, levy, encumbrance, charge or claim), and upon Tenant’s request Landlord shall reasonably cooperate with Tenant with respect to such contest at no cost or expense to Landlord; provided , however , that (i) in the case of an unpaid Imposition, lien, attachment, levy, encumbrance, charge or claim pursuant to any Legal Requirements, the commencement and continuation of such proceedings shall suspend the collection or enforcement thereof from or against Landlord and the Demised Premises; (ii) neither the Demised Premises, the Rent therefrom nor any part or interest in either thereof would be in any danger of being sold, forfeited, attached or lost pending the outcome of such proceedings; (iii) in the case of a Legal Requirement, neither Landlord nor Tenant would be in any danger of civil or criminal liability for failure to comply therewith pending the outcome of such proceedings; (iv) in the case of a Legal Requirement, Imposition, lien, encumbrance or charge that exceeds five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), Tenant shall give such reasonable security (in Cash, or by satisfactory letter of credit) as may be reasonably required by Landlord or any Title Insurer to insure ultimate payment of the same (including all interest, penalties and charges) and to prevent any sale or forfeiture of the Demised Premises or the Rent by reason of such nonpayment or noncompliance; (v) in the case of an Insurance Requirement, the coverage required by Section 10.3 shall be maintained; (vi) Tenant shall keep Landlord reasonably informed as to the status of and with copies of all material documents in the proceedings; and (vii) if such contest shall be finally resolved against Landlord or Tenant, Tenant shall promptly pay the amount required to be paid, together with all interest and penalties accrued thereon, or comply with the applicable Legal Requirement or Insurance Requirement. Landlord, at Tenant’s expense, shall execute and deliver to Tenant such authorizations and other documents as may reasonably be required in any such contest, and, if reasonably requested by Tenant or if Landlord so desires, Landlord shall have the right to join as a party therein and/or fully participate therein in conjunction with Tenant. The provisions of this Section 4.2 shall not be construed to permit Tenant to contest the payment of Rent payable by Tenant to Landlord hereunder. Without limiting any other provision of this Master Lease, Tenant shall indemnify, defend, protect and save Landlord and all Indemnified Parties and the Demised Premises harmless from and against any and all liability, costs, fees, damages, expenses, penalties, fines and charges of any kind (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those incurred in the enforcement of this indemnity) that may be imposed upon Landlord, the Property and/or the Demised Premises in connection with any such contest and any loss resulting therefrom. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.2 , any contest with respect to any Demised Premises a portion of which has been recaptured by Landlord, shall be subject to Landlord’s prior reasonable approval, provided that , in such event, upon receipt of an invoice therefor in reasonable detail, Landlord shall promptly pay and reimburse Tenant for all reasonable fees, costs and expenses incurred by Tenant (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) in pursuing any such contest, in excess of Tenant’s Proportionate Share thereof.

 

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4.3 General Tax Indemnity . Tenant will indemnify the Indemnified Parties against any fees or taxes (“ Taxes ”) imposed by the United States or any taxing jurisdiction or authority of or in the United States (or foreign taxing authority, to the extent such foreign jurisdiction imposes such taxes as a result of the location of Tenant or activities of Tenant in such jurisdiction) in connection with the Properties or the transactions contemplated herein (unless with respect to Lease Property which has been recaptured or terminated); provided that the amount of any indemnification payment in respect of Taxes shall be (i) decreased by any cash Tax benefit actually realized by the Indemnified Parties as a result of such Taxes; and (ii) increased by an amount equal to any cash Taxes attributable to the receipt of such indemnification payment by the Indemnified Parties. This general tax indemnity (“ General Tax Indemnity ”) will exclude: (i) Taxes based on net income or capital gains, or franchise or doing business taxes of an Indemnified Party imposed by a jurisdiction in which such Indemnified Party is otherwise resident for tax purposes or is subject to taxation as a result of the Properties being located in such jurisdiction (but only to the extent of the portion of rent or gains attributable to such Properties); (ii) Taxes on capital or net worth (including minimum and alternative minimum Taxes measured by any items of Tax preference); (iii) Taxes to the extent they would not have been imposed if the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates had not engaged in activities or had a presence in the jurisdiction imposing such Taxes that activities or presence are unrelated to the transaction contemplated hereby; (iv) Taxes resulting from a voluntary or involuntary transfer by an Indemnified Party of an interest in all or any part of the Properties, an Indemnified Party or any other interest created under the operative documents, other than during an Event of Default and other than pursuant to Tenant’s exercise of any rights or obligations (including any elections with respect to any Terminated Space) under the operative documents; (v) Taxes imposed because the Indemnified Party is not a U.S. person; (vi) Taxes resulting from the willful misconduct or gross negligence by the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates; and (vii) Taxes, with respect to any period after the termination of the Master Lease, with respect to a particular Property. The foregoing exclusions will not apply to sales, use, transfer, recording and similar taxes unrelated to Tenant’s Property or any Alterations which Tenant elects to remove or surrender, or the termination of the Master Lease with respect to any Terminated Space which is not the result of Tenant’s election. The General Tax Indemnity will be subject to Tenant’s right to contest Taxes in the manner provided in Section 4.2 . Tenant will be entitled to all future refunds of, and tax savings of Landlord (but not any of its direct or indirect beneficial owners) resulting from or attributable to, any event giving rise to payment of a General Tax Indemnity or the making of such payment.

4.4 Utility Charges . Tenant shall pay or cause to be paid when due all Utility Charges. Tenant shall also pay or reimburse Landlord for all costs and expenses of any kind whatsoever that at any time during the Term hereof, with respect to any Demised Premises, may be imposed against Landlord by reason of any of the Encumbrances (except as expressly provided to the contrary herein, including any and all costs and expenses associated with any utility, drainage and parking easements). Tenant will not enter into any agreements or consent to any transaction or instruments that will encumber the Demised Premises (except for permitted Subleases on the terms and conditions herein) or the Property or any that will affect the Demised Premises or the Property after the expiration of the Term. In the event of any termination of this Master Lease with respect to any Terminated Space (other than as a result of an Event of Default), Tenant’s obligation for new Utility Charges shall cease as to all Utility Charges applicable to each all such Terminated Space which first accrue from and after the date of termination; provided , that

 

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from and after termination, Tenant shall pay for all Utility Charges with respect to the Tenant Retained Space pursuant to a separate meter to be installed by Landlord at its expense (and, until installation of a separate meter is complete, Tenant shall pay all Utility Charges with respect to the Retained Space in accordance with Landlord’s and Tenant’s reasonable allocation of the Utility Charges as determined then in good faith based on the most current Utility bills available with respect to Tenant’s usage in the applicable Demised Premises) and all accessory lines and equipment which may be required (if any) to be installed by Landlord at its expense.

4.5 Installment Expenses . (a) Subject to the further provisions of this Section 4.5 , from and after the Commencement Date, on each Payment Date for each individual Demised Premises, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12th) of the sum of the reasonable estimate of Landlord of annual Impositions, Operating Expenses, CAM Expenses, Property Document CAM Expenses, Landlord’s Insurance Costs and all other recurrent Property Charges (each an “ Installment Expense ”, and collectively, “ Installment Expenses ”) with respect to such individual Demised Premises, and in light of Tenant’s Proportionate Share, as determined from time to time based on (i) reasonably available information existing as at the Commencement Date, with respect to the first Lease Year, and (ii) thereafter, the prior Lease Year’s estimates (as adjusted for facts or circumstances known to Landlord and/or Tenant). Landlord will apply the amounts so deposited to the payment of Installment Expenses as the same shall become due and payable.

(b) The monthly installments on account of Installment Expenses shall be payable by Tenant as follows:

(i) Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Impositions on an annual basis shall be paid to Landlord in equal monthly installments on each Payment Date in an amount based on one hundred five percent (105%) of the prior calendar year tax bill for all of the Demised Premises, or Landlord may elect, at its sole option, to bill such amounts in arrears; provided , that in the event Landlord is required under any mortgage covering the Property to escrow real estate taxes, Landlord may, but shall not be obligated to, use the amount so paid as a basis for its estimate of the monthly installments due from Tenant hereunder. Tenant shall pay initially, and until further notice by Landlord, the estimated amounts of Impositions set forth in Schedule 4.5 to the Side Letter. On an annual basis, no later than April 1 of each calendar year, Landlord shall furnish Tenant with a written statement of the actual amount of Tenant’s Proportionate Share of Impositions (“ Tax Statement ”) and a copy of any and all tax bills and statements received from the taxing authority which serve as a basis for the determination of Impositions and Tenant’s Proportionate Share of Impositions. In the event no tax bill is available, Landlord will reasonably compute the amount of such tax and provide a copy of the tax bill when the same becomes available. If the total amount paid by Tenant under this Section 4.5(b)(i) for any calendar year during the Lease Term, or any Renewal Term, shall be less than the actual amount due from Tenant for such year, as shown on the applicable Tax Statement, Tenant shall pay to Landlord the difference between the amount paid by Tenant and the actual amount due, such deficiency to be paid within forty-five (45) days after Landlord’s delivery of such statement; and if the total amount paid by Tenant hereunder for any such calendar year shall

 

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exceed such actual amount due from Tenant for such calendar year, such excess shall be credited against the next installment of Impositions and assessments due from Tenant to Landlord hereunder. If the Term shall have expired and no further Impositions shall be due, Landlord shall refund difference to Tenant when Landlord sends the final Tax Statement.

(ii) Landlord shall reasonably estimate by Notice to Tenant given not less than sixty (60) days in advance of each calendar year the amounts Tenant shall owe for Installment Expenses other than Impositions for any full or partial calendar year of the Term. Tenant shall pay such estimated amounts in equal monthly installments on or before each Payment Date. Tenant shall pay initially, and until further notice by Landlord, the estimated amounts of Installment Expenses other than Impositions set forth in Schedule 4.5 to the Side Letter. Within a reasonable time following such Notice of estimated Installment Expenses, the Parties shall promptly confirm in writing a revision of Schedule 4.5 applicable to the next succeeding calendar year reflecting Landlord’s reasonable estimate.

(iii) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each calendar year, Landlord shall provide a statement to Tenant showing: (x) the amount of actual Installment Expenses by category of Installment Expense ( i.e. , Operating Expenses, CAM Expenses, etc .), for such year, with a listing of amounts for major items or categories of such Installment Expenses (“ Installment Expense Statement ”) (in the event no expense information is available for a particular Installment Expense, Landlord will reasonably compute the amount of such Installment Expense and provide a general ledger broken down by each individual Demised Premises and each category with which specific Installment Expenses apply and provide a copy of the Installment Expense Statement when such information becomes available), (y) any amount paid by Tenant towards Installment Expenses during such calendar year on an estimated basis, and (z) any revised estimate of Tenant’s obligations for Installment Expenses for the current calendar year (the “ Statement ”).

(iv) If the Statement shows that Tenant’s estimated payments were less than Tenant’s actual obligations for Installment Expenses for such year, Tenant shall pay the difference. If the Statement shows an increase in Tenant’s estimated payments for the current calendar year, Tenant shall pay the difference between the new and former estimates for the period from January 1 of the current calendar year through the month in which the foregoing Statement is sent, within thirty (30) days of Tenant’s receipt of the Statement.

(v) If the Statement shows that Tenant’s estimated payments exceeded Tenant’s actual obligations for Installment Expenses, Tenant shall receive a credit for the difference against payments of Installment Expenses next due. If the Term shall have expired and no further Rent shall be due, Landlord shall refund such difference when Landlord sends the Statement.

(vi) At its option, Tenant may cause at any reasonable time, upon seven (7) days’ prior written notification to Landlord and during normal

 

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business hours in Landlord’s corporate office (but not more than once in any Lease Year), a complete review and audit to be made of Landlord’s invoices, bills and documentation justifying the Installment Expenses and Tenant’s share of these costs. Tenant agrees that no contingency fee auditor shall be employed by Tenant for the purpose of conducting any such audit. Any overpayment by Tenant revealed by such audit shall promptly be refunded by Landlord. In addition, if such an audit discloses that Tenant has been charged three percent (3%) or more in excess of the amount actually owed by Tenant, Landlord shall be responsible for and reimburse Tenant for the reasonable cost of the audit within thirty (30) days of Tenant’s demand for the same with all supporting documentation.

(vii) Landlord shall adjust the amount of Tenant’s estimated payments of Installment Expenses from time to time to reflect a reduction in Tenant’s Proportionate Share promptly after any Actual Recapture Date, Actual Additional Space Termination Date, and/or other events which result in such reduction, retroactive to the date of such reduction in Tenant’s Proportionate Share, and any overpayments of Installment Expenses based on such reduction shall be credited to the next installment(s) of Installment Expenses.

(viii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Installment Expenses shall not include, and Tenant shall not make any monthly deposits for, any amounts for CAM Expenses, Utility Charges or Operating Expenses (it being understood that Tenant shall pay all such expenses directly to the party to whom they are due as and when due and the same shall constitute Property Charges).

(c) On the Commencement Date, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord an amount equal to: (1) the Installment Expenses that would have been payable on the first Business Day of the calendar month in which the Commencement Date occurs had the Commencement Date occurred prior to such date, ratably reduced for the number of days in such month prior to the Commencement Date, plus (2) a portion of the reserves required on the Commencement Date under the Landlord Mortgage Documents in respect of Impositions in an amount equal to $23,064,975.69.

ARTICLE V

NO ABATEMENT

5.1 No Termination, Abatement, Etc. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Master Lease, Tenant shall remain bound by this Master Lease in accordance with its terms, and shall, under no circumstances, neither take any action without the written consent of Landlord to modify, surrender or terminate the same, nor seek or be entitled to any suspension, abatement, deduction, deferment or reduction of Rent, or to any credit or set-off against, or any deposit in trust or escrow, or to enjoin the payment of, or otherwise obtain equitable relief with respect to, the Rent or any other liabilities or obligations of Tenant hereunder, or any portion thereof. Without limiting the foregoing, except as may be otherwise specifically provided to the contrary in this Master Lease, the respective obligations of Landlord and Tenant shall not be affected by reason of (i) any damage to or destruction of the Demised Premises or the Property or

 

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any portion thereof from whatever cause or any Condemnation of the Demised Premises or any portion thereof; (ii) other than as a direct result of Landlord’s willful misconduct or gross negligence, the lawful or unlawful prohibition of, or restriction upon, Tenant’s use of the Demised Premises or any portion thereof, or the interference with such use by any Person or by reason of eviction by paramount title; (iii) any claim that Tenant has or might have against Landlord by reason of any default or breach of any warranty or representation by Landlord hereunder (if any) or under any other agreement between Landlord and Tenant or to which Landlord and Tenant are parties, or by statute or law, or otherwise, or any breach of Landlord’s covenants or obligations under this Master Lease; (iv) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, consolidation, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, winding up or other proceedings affecting Landlord or Tenant or any assignee or transferee of Landlord or Tenant; or (v) for any other cause, whether similar or dissimilar to any of the foregoing, other than a discharge of Tenant from any such obligations as a matter of law (and Tenant hereby waives and relinquishes any such right of discharge to the greatest extent now or hereafter permitted by law). Tenant hereby specifically and unconditionally further waives all rights arising from any occurrence whatsoever which may now or hereafter be conferred upon it by law or in equity (a) to modify, surrender or terminate this Master Lease in whole or in part or quit or surrender the Demised Premises or any portion thereof (except with respect to any Terminated Space), or (b) which may entitle Tenant to any abatement, reduction, suspension, deferment, stay or enjoining of the payment of the Rent or other sums payable by Tenant hereunder except in each case as may be otherwise specifically provided to the contrary in this Master Lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Article V shall preclude Tenant from bringing a separate action against Landlord for any matter described in the foregoing clause (ii), with respect to Landlord’s willful misconduct or gross negligence only, (iii), (iv) or (v) but specifically excluding any matter referred to in clause (i), and Tenant is not waiving other rights and remedies not expressly waived herein, subject to all other terms and conditions of this Master Lease (including without limitation Section 21.3 ). The obligations of Landlord and Tenant hereunder shall be separate and independent covenants and agreements, and the Rent and all other sums payable by Tenant hereunder shall continue to be payable in all events unless the obligations to pay the same shall be terminated pursuant to the express provisions of this Master Lease or by termination of this Master Lease as to all or any portion of the Demised Premises other than by reason of an Event of Default.

5.2 Assumption of Risk of Loss . Without limiting any other provision of this Master Lease, the entire risk of loss or of decrease in the value, utility or fitness for use, or enjoyment and beneficial use of the Demised Premises as a consequence of (a) the damage or destruction thereof in whole or in part by fire, the elements, casualties thefts, riots or civil unrest, wars, terrorism, or other traditional events of force majeure, (b) changes in applicable law, or changes in financial or economic circumstances or conditions either generally or specifically applicable to Tenant, or other changes, (c) foreclosure, attachments, levies or executions, or (d) condemnation or eminent domain proceedings, in each and every case foreseen or unforeseen, is unconditionally assumed by Tenant, and in no event shall entitle Tenant to any abatement of Base Rent or Additional Charges or any right to modify, amend, suspend or terminate this Master Lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject in all cases to Section 5.1 , Tenant shall not be responsible for any gross negligence or willful acts of Landlord, or for any acts or omissions of Landlord or any Landlord’s tenants under the Leases or in the Recapture Space first arising from and after the date of this Master Lease or the Actual Recapture Date, as the case may be.

 

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ARTICLE VI

OWNERSHIP OF DEMISED PREMISES

6.1 Ownership of the Demised Premises . (a) Landlord and Tenant acknowledge and agree that they have executed and delivered this Master Lease with the understanding that (i) the Demised Premises is the property of Landlord as and to the extent conveyed pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; (ii) Tenant has only the right to the possession and use of the Demised Premises upon the terms and conditions of this Master Lease; (iii) this Master Lease is a “true lease,” is not a financing lease, capital lease, mortgage, equitable mortgage, deed of trust, trust agreement, security agreement or other financing or trust arrangement, or any other agreement or arrangement other than a “true lease,” and the economic realities of this Master Lease are those of a “true lease”; (iv) the business relationship created by this Master Lease and any related documents is, and at all times shall remain, that of landlord and tenant, and shall not create or constitute the relationship of borrower and lender; (v) this Master Lease has been entered into by each party in reliance upon the mutual covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein; and (vi) none of the covenants, conditions or agreements contained herein is intended, nor shall the same be deemed or construed, to create a partnership between Landlord and Tenant, to make them joint venturers, to make Tenant an agent, legal representative, partner, subsidiary or employee of Landlord, or to make Landlord in any way responsible for the debts, obligations or losses of Tenant (except for Landlord’s express obligations with respect to any Recapture Separation Work, Recapture Related Repairs or CAM Expenses which Tenant or an Affiliate of Tenant performs at Landlord’s request as provided in this Master Lease).

(b) Each of the parties hereto covenants and agrees not to (i) file any income tax return or other associated documents; (ii) file any other document with or submit any document to any Governmental Authority; (iii) enter into any written contractual arrangement with any Person; or (iv) release any financial statements, in each case, that takes a position that (1) in general, asserts or could reasonably be construed to assert that this Master Lease is other than a “true lease” as well as an “operating lease” under GAAP, with Landlord as owner of the Demised Premises and Tenant as the tenant of the Demised Premises, and (2) in particular, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, is inconsistent with the following positions: (x) the treatment of Landlord as the owner of such Demised Premises eligible to claim depreciation deductions under Section 167 or 168 of the Code with respect to such Demised Premises, (y) the reporting by Tenant of its Rent payments as rent expense under Section 162 of the Code, and (z) the reporting by Landlord of the Rent payments (including, to the extent permissible under applicable law, any Third-Party Charges that represent expenses of Landlord) as rental income under Section 61 of the Code.

(c) Tenant waives any claim or defense under or with respect to this Master Lease with respect to or against any of the Demised Premises or any Indemnified Parties based upon the characterization of this Master Lease as anything other than a true lease and as a master lease of all of the Demised Premises. Tenant stipulates, covenants and agrees (1) not to challenge or support or consent to the challenge of the validity, enforceability or characterization of this Master Lease of the Demised Premises as a true lease and/or as a single, unitary, indivisible, nonseverable instrument pertaining to the lease of all, but not less than all, of the Demised Premises, and (2) not to assert, take, omit to take, support or consent to any action inconsistent with the agreements and understandings set forth in Section 1.2 or this Section 6.1 .

 

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6.2 Tenant’s Property . Tenant shall, during the entire Term, own (or lease, subject to this Master Lease) and maintain (or cause its Subsidiaries to own (or lease, subject to this Master Lease) and maintain) on the Leased Premises adequate and sufficient Tenant’s Property, and shall maintain (or cause its Subsidiaries to maintain) all of such Tenant’s Property in good order, condition and repair, in all cases as Tenant deems reasonably necessary and appropriate in the good faith exercise of its reasonable commercial judgment to operate the Stores for use as a Sears Store or a Kmart Store (or as some other named or branded store as may be permitted under this Master Lease) in the ordinary course of business in compliance with all applicable licensure and certification requirements, all applicable Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements, and the terms and conditions of this Master Lease. If any of Tenant’s Property requires replacement to comply with the foregoing, Tenant shall replace (or cause a Subsidiary to replace) it with similar property of the same or better quality at Tenant’s (or such Subsidiary’s) sole cost and expense. Subject to the foregoing, including replacement, Tenant and its Subsidiaries may sell, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of Tenant’s Property in their discretion in the ordinary course of its business and Landlord shall have no rights to such Tenant’s Property, so long as the same does not make or result in any Encumbrances on the Demised Premises. Tenant shall, upon Landlord’s request from time to time, but not more frequently than one (1) time per Lease Year, provide Landlord with a substantially complete description of the material Tenant’s Property located at each of the Demised Premises other than inventory, merchandise, and fixtures or equipment exclusively used for the purpose of retail sales and other than Tenant’s Property at any one (1) Demised Premises having (a) a value of less than Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) as to any one item of Tenant’s Property or (b) an aggregate value of less than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) with respect to all items of Tenant’s Property in one (1) Demised Premises. Tenant shall remove all of Tenant’s Property from the Demised Premises at the end of the Term (including all telecommunications cabling and any rooftop antennas or communications installations), except to the extent that Tenant has transferred ownership of such Tenant’s Property to a Successor Tenant or Landlord. Tenant shall restore any and all damage from such removal. Without limiting the foregoing or any other rights or remedies of Landlord, any Tenant’s Property left on the Demised Premises at the end of the Term whose ownership was not transferred to a Successor Tenant or Landlord shall be deemed abandoned by Tenant and shall become the property of Landlord. For the avoidance of doubt, Tenant’s Property will not constitute Alterations or Leased Improvements.

ARTICLE VII

CONDITION AND USE OF DEMISED PREMISES

7.1 Condition of the Demised Premises . Tenant acknowledges receipt and delivery of complete and exclusive possession of the Demised Premises, and complete delivery of the Common Areas subject to the provisions hereof with respect to Tenant’s use and possession prior to and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, and subject to the Permitted Encumbrances and the Leases. Tenant acknowledges and confirms that for a substantial period prior to and up to and including the execution of this Master Lease, Tenant’s Parent and/or its Subsidiaries have been in continuous ownership and possession of the Demised Premises, Tenant is fully familiar therewith, and has examined and otherwise has knowledge of the condition of the Demised Premises prior to the execution and delivery of this Master Lease and has found the same to be in good order and repair and, to the best of Tenant’s knowledge, subject to the normal use and operation of SACs in the ordinary course of business, free from Hazardous Substances not in compliance with Legal

 

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Requirements and satisfactory for its purposes hereunder. Regardless, however, of any knowledge, examination or inspection made by Tenant and whether or not any patent or latent defect or condition was revealed or discovered thereby, Tenant is leasing the Demised Premises “as is,” “where is” and “with all faults” in its present condition. Tenant hereby irrevocably, unconditionally and absolutely waives and relinquishes any claim or action against Landlord whatsoever in respect of the condition of the Demised Premises, including any patent or latent defects or adverse conditions not discovered or discoverable or otherwise known or unknown by Tenant as of the Commencement Date.

LANDLORD MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN LAW, IN RESPECT OF THE DEMISED PREMISES OR ANY PART THEREOF, EITHER AS TO ITS FITNESS FOR USE, DESIGN OR CONDITION FOR ANY PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE, OR AS TO THE NATURE OR QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP THEREIN, OR THE EXISTENCE OF ANY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, IT BEING AGREED THAT ALL SUCH RISKS, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, LATENT OR PATENT, ARE TO BE BORNE SOLELY BY TENANT, INCLUDING ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ANY ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. THE FOREGOING SHALL NOT LIMIT ANY EXPRESS COVENANTS OR OBLIGATIONS OF LANDLORD CONTAINED ELSEWHERE IN THIS MASTER LEASE.

 

Tenant’s Initials:     Landlord’s Initials:    

Without limiting the foregoing, Tenant realizes and acknowledges that factual matters now unknown to it may have given or may hereafter give rise to losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses that are presently unknown, unanticipated and unsuspected, and Tenant further agrees that the waivers and releases herein have been negotiated and agreed upon in light of that realization and that Tenant nevertheless hereby intends to release, discharge and acquit Landlord and all Indemnified Parties from any and all such unknown losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses. In furtherance of this intention, Tenant hereby expressly waives any and all rights and benefits conferred upon it by the provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides as follows:

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.” Tenant acknowledges that all of the foregoing acknowledgments, releases and waivers, including the waiver of the provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542, were expressly bargained for with the advice of counsel.

 

Tenant’s Initials:     Landlord’s Initials:    

7.2 Use of the Demised Premises; Permitted, Prohibited and Restricted Uses . (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.3 and 9.3 , Tenant shall use, or cause to be used, the Demised Premises primarily for the operation of (i) a Kmart Store with respect to the Kmart Stores and (ii) a Sears Store with respect to the Sears Stores and for all other lawful uses

 

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incidental thereto (including without limitation all Subleases) in accordance with all Legal Requirements and for no other use or purpose whatsoever, subject to Tenant’s operating covenant herein, and further subject to all use restrictions and/or exclusives which affect the Demised Premises contained in any Encumbrances; provided, however, that Landlord shall have the right in its discretion to include any or all of the same restrictions and/or exclusives as are in existence as of the date hereof but not any new restrictions and/or exclusives that would limit Tenant’s use of the Demised Premises as permitted under this Master Lease without Tenant’s consent), in any amended or new Lease for the benefit of the tenants thereunder, and Tenant agrees to abide by all such same restrictions and/or exclusives; provided, further, however, that subject to all Legal Requirements, Insurance Requirements and all Encumbrances, all such restrictions and/or exclusions, and all other provisions of this Master Lease, Tenant (or any successor permitted pursuant to Section 9.3) shall (on not less than sixty (60) days’ Notice to Landlord of its intention to do so) have the right at any time and from time to time, to change (i) the name or branding of any Store, provided, that such change of name or branding is the same as the name or branding for all or substantially all of the Sears or Kmart stores, as applicable, nationally in operation at the time (and in the case of any permitted Transfer, such change in branding or name to take effect not later than sixty (60) days after giving effect to any such permitted Transfer), or such changed name or branding includes the “Sears”, “Kmart” or “Shop Your Way” brand or name or abbreviations or derivatives thereof (including by way of example only and not by way of limitation, “K” or “Big K”) and (ii) the primary use of any Store to any other retail use (x) that is within the principal retail uses of such Store as of the Commencement Date or that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, modification development or expansion of any such use or reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary thereto (including, without limitation, any modified department store format or evolution thereof that takes account of changing markets, technology or condition), or (y) that is not within the uses described in clause (x)(ii), but which is undertaken as part of a change to the use of all or substantially all of the Sears or Kmart stores, as applicable, regionally within the region (within the United States) of any affected Demised Premises in operation at the time (collectively, in (i) and (ii), “ Rebranding and/or Alternative Retail Use ”). It is agreed that the foregoing use and restriction on use is a material inducement to Landlord entering into this Master Lease and that Landlord would not enter into this Master Lease without this inducement. To the extent there are costs or expenses for or in connection with complying with Legal Requirements resulting from or associated with the occupancy or operation of the Demised Premises, including, without limitation, fire detection and suppression systems, or environmental equipment or any environmental compliance and remediation, all such costs and expenses shall be borne solely by Tenant. Tenant, at its sole expense, shall keep the Demised Premises clean and tidy at all times, free of debris, trash, rubbish, leaves, ice and snow, and in accordance with all Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements, and shall immediately cause any Hazardous Substances emanating from, in, under or onto the Demised Premises to be promptly reported, cleaned and removed by licensed contractors and deposited in licensed facilities in accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws. Tenant shall use the Demised Premises and all parking and common areas only as provided by and in accordance with all Encumbrances, subject to Landlord’s reservation of rights herein.

 

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(b) From and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Tenant’s use and occupancy shall be further subject to the following:

(i) Landlord’s reasonable rules and regulations therefor as promulgated from time to time;

(ii) In no event shall Tenant make any charge for parking to its customers or invitees;

(iii) Except in Tenant’s year-round and/or seasonal ordinary course of business (including in parking areas and/or sidewalks), Tenant shall not suffer or permit outside displays or advertising, storage or sales of materials or, merchandise, or storage equipment or commercial vehicles (other than vehicles of the Home Services Affiliate of Tenant and/or other Tenant vehicles and other than in the Environmental Ordinary Course of Business), or overnight outside parking of vehicles in connection with Tenant’s activities at the Demised Premises (other than parking of vehicles of the Home Services Affiliate of Tenant and/or other Tenant vehicles, and with the exception of parking in areas designated by Tenant for “early-bird” or other customers dropping off or picking up vehicles left for service at any SAC, or with respect to any vehicles in connection with any vehicle rental business, including customer cars, in each case prior to or after normal business hours);

(iv) Deliveries to the Demised Premises by vendors, contractors and suppliers (including loading and unloading) shall be at such times and otherwise subject to such reasonable rules and regulations established by Landlord from time to time; provided , however , that Tenant may continue to permit deliveries in accordance with its customary practices as in effect on the date hereof with respect to the Kmart Stores and the Sears Stores, subject to the provisions of Section 1.7(j) ; and

(v) Uses as permitted in Section 10.2(a)(ii) .

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Tenant shall not use or permit the Demised Premises (or part thereof), to be used, directly or indirectly, for any use that would violate any Legal Requirements or for any of the Prohibited Uses set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto. Landlord covenants and agrees that it shall not use or permit the use by others of any Property that would violate any of the Prohibited Uses designated in Exhibit B as applicable to Landlord.

(d) Tenant shall not commit, or suffer to be committed, any waste on the Demised Premises or cause or permit any nuisance thereon.

(e) Tenant shall neither suffer nor permit the Demised Premises or any portion thereof to be used, or otherwise act or fail to act, in such a manner as (i) might reasonably tend to impair Landlord’s title thereto or to any portion thereof, (ii) may make possible a claim of adverse use or possession, or an implied dedication of the Demised Premises or any portion thereof, or (iii) may subject the Demised Premises or this Master Lease to any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

 

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7.3 Operating Covenant . (a) Subject to Tenant’s termination rights with respect to each Nonprofitable Property, or any other termination of this Master Lease with respect to any individual Demised Premises or all of the Demised Premises prior to the expiration of the Term, in accordance with the terms of this Master Lease, and subject to the provisions of Section 7.3(b) except in instances of casualty or condemnation during the period reasonably required for restoration, or for consecutive periods not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days in connection with Alterations and other repairs subject to extension for Force Majeure, or for such other periods as Tenant reasonably determines in good faith are reasonably required in connection with the separation and division of any Recapture Property and/or Additional Recapture Space (in each case subject to Landlord’s reasonable approval), Tenant covenants and agrees to and shall continuously operate the retail business of each Sears Store as a Sears store and of each Kmart Store as a Kmart store (including, in part, by means of the Subleases) subject to and in accordance with the use provisions of Section 7.2 , stocked and staffed as is generally consistent with Tenant’s applicable regional practices in the ordinary course of business (subject to any additional applicable terms and conditions of this Master Lease, including Section 7.3(b) ), subject to any Rebranding and/or Alternative Retail Use (subject in all cases to all applicable Legal Requirements), during such hours of operation as are generally consistent with those of similar national retailers further, subject to any additional hours as Tenant may determine in its discretion; provided , however , that in no event shall Tenant be required to (but may in its discretion) operate during any hours which are longer or more restrictive than those (i) as currently operated by Tenant at each individual Demised Premises as of the Commencement Date or as determined by Tenant at any individual Demised Premises from time to time with respect to holiday schedules, or (ii) of any other anchor tenant or the majority of the other tenants or occupants of the Property and the balance of the Shopping Center from time to time. Tenant shall keep the Demised Premises (including all customer and service areas) in no worse condition than their current condition on the Commencement Date (subject to the repairs to be made in accordance with Schedule 10.1 to the Side Letter.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.3(a) , if Tenant determines in its discretion to partially cease business operations at up to 50% of the Gross Leasable Square Footage (“ 50% Go Dark ”) at any individual Demised Premises (each a “ 50% Go Dark Property ” and collectively, “ 50% Go Dark Properties ”), Tenant shall have the right to do so for a period determined by Tenant in its discretion not to exceed twelve (12) calendar months (“ 50% Go Dark Period ”) from and after the date (“ 50% Go Dark Date ”) set forth in a Notice of such intention, which notice shall describe in reasonable detail Tenant’s plan for the 50% Go Dark Period, including the manner in which Tenant will satisfy the 50% Go Dark Operating Standard, given to Landlord not less than ninety (90) days prior to Tenant going dark (“ 50% Go Dark Notice ”); provided , however , that during any one (1) Lease Year in the aggregate there shall not be more than twenty (20) 50% Go Dark Properties in which Tenant has partially ceased business operations, it being understood and agreed that Tenant shall remain liable for each and every obligation (including, without limitation the obligation to pay Base Rent and Property Charges which respect to all of such Demised Premises) under this Master Lease with respect to each such Demised Premises (“ 50% Go Dark Property ”), other than pursuant to this Section 7.3 from and after the 50% Go Dark Notice, subject to all of Tenant’s termination rights with

 

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respect to a Nonprofitable Property. Tenant shall give Landlord not less than thirty (30) days’ Notice of its intention to resume full business operations on or before the expiration of the applicable 50% Go Dark Period. For the avoidance of doubt, Tenant’s election to 50% Go Dark with respect to an individual Demised Premises (i) shall not be deemed to be a default or an Event of Default under this Master Lease, and (ii) Tenant’s election to 50% Go Dark with respect to such Demised Premises shall not disqualify such Demised Premises from being treated as a Nonprofitable Property in accordance with the terms of Section 1.6 , at any time during the 50% Go Dark Period or thereafter. By way of example and not by way of limitation, if Tenant is precluded from exercising its right to terminate this Master Lease with respect to a Nonprofitable Property by reason of the Nonprofitable Property Limitation and thereafter elects to 50% Go Dark with respect to such Nonprofitable Property, at such time as the Nonprofitable Property Limitation ceases to apply thereto, Tenant may exercise such right of termination at any time (x) during the 50% Go Dark Period and (y) after the expiration of the 50% Go Dark Period and any resumption of business operations, without further certification of any financial data with respect to such Nonprofitable Property. Tenant shall operate each 50% Go Dark Property such that it will retain during the entire 50% Go Dark Period the look, feel and consistency of a fully operating Sears Store or Kmart Store to minimize the impact of the 50% Go Dark on customers and the operations of the Store (the “ 50% Go Dark Operating Standard ”).

7.4 Signs . The size, color, design, location and specifications with respect to all exterior signs, and all interior signs which may be viewed from the exterior of any Property, whether ground mounted, pylon, window, door or building, mounted or otherwise, to be located on the Demised Premises or any other portion of any shopping center of which the Demised Premises may be a part shall be submitted for and subject to the prior written approval of Landlord not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (and any other required persons under any REAs or other Encumbrances), and shall comply with all Encumbrances and all Legal Requirements. In each instance where approval of any signage is requested, Tenant shall submit its proposed sign plan to Landlord’s Director of Real Estate (or any other Person designated by Landlord from time to time) for approval at least forty-five (45) days, or fifteen (15) days prior to the required date for submission pursuant to any REAs or other Encumbrances, as applicable, whichever is earlier, prior to the date Tenant plans to erect any such signs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant may continue to maintain all signage and banners in existence as of the date hereof and otherwise in the ordinary course of business (including existing exterior and new interior signage for Subleases in the ordinary course of business, including for auto rental, dental and optician licensed businesses) complies with all Legal Requirements from time to time and Encumbrances, and to replace the same with substantially similar signage without Landlord’s consent. Further notwithstanding the foregoing, all signage on or with respect to any Recapture Space shall be determined by Landlord in its sole discretion, so long as the signage (a) does not materially adversely affect (by way of altering, diminishing, obscuring or impairing) the visibility of (except de minimis impairments of visibility) the signage of the Store as of the date hereof, and is otherwise generally consistent in style and appearance with either (i) the signage in the Store and/or the premises subject to the Leases at the time of installation of said other signage, or (ii) the signage customarily used by any Landlord’s tenant in the majority of the other locations of such tenant, (b) is the same or substantially the same as the signage on any Third-Party Lease Improvements as of the date hereof, or (c) is required to comply with Legal Requirements.

 

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7.5 Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date . Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 7.3 and 7.4 or any other provisions contained in this Master Lease to the contrary, subject to all Legal Requirements and Encumbrances and restrictions/exclusives (if any), (a) until the occurrence of the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, (i) Tenant shall be free to operate each individual Demised Premises during such hours and in such commercially reasonable manner as it shall determine, in its sole discretion, consistent with its operating covenant, and (ii) Tenant shall be free to maintain and/or alter or change any signage in its discretion, and (b) at all times during the Term Tenant shall be free to operate each individual Demised Premises in such manner and with such signage as is consistent with the historical operation of Kmart and Sears Stores and/or its ordinary course of business (subject to any Rebranding and/or Alternative Retail Use).

ARTICLE VIII

ALTERATIONS

8.1 Alteration and Additions . (a) Tenant, at its own sole cost and expense, shall make all alterations, renovations, modifications, additions or improvements to the improvements located at any Property (“ Alterations ”), all as may be required by Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements, or any Encumbrances, subject to customary contest provisions, or as required to comply with its repair, maintenance or other obligations in this Master Lease, and Landlord’s consent shall not be required to make any such Alterations; provided , that Tenant shall give Landlord prior Notice (except in an emergency) of all such Alterations costing in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in any one (1) instance with respect to an individual Demised Premises, together with copies of all material plans, specifications and permits therefor, and provided , further , that Tenant shall comply with Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) .

(b) Tenant shall also have the right to make nonstructural Alterations (including Alterations to nonmaterial components of nonmajor building systems) as needed to keep up with changes in or the requirements of its operations (so long as the same do not adversely affect the value or structural integrity of the Demised Premises, or interfere with or adversely impact any premises demised under any Leases or any Recapture Space, or materially increase the cost of any Recapture Separation Work unless Tenant bears the entire cost of any such increase or conflict with or require consent under any Legal Requirements or Encumbrances (each, an “ Adverse Impact ”)), without Landlord’s consent, upon prior Notice to Landlord, including copies of all plans and specifications therefor; provided , however , that if the Alterations have an aggregate cost in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) with respect to any individual Demised Premises in any Lease Year, then Landlord may require Tenant to remove the same at the expiration or termination of the Lease, as provided below. All Alterations costing in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in any one (1) instance with respect to an individual Demised Premises, whether or not requiring Landlord’s consent, shall be made and shall comply with the construction and insurance requirements in Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) attached hereto, and other customary procedures. If Landlord’s consent is required pursuant to this Section 8.1 , such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by Landlord so long as there is no Adverse Impact.

Prior to making any nonstructural Alterations with a cost in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in any one (1) instance with respect to an in individual Demised Premises, Tenant shall give Landlord Notice in reasonable detail of Tenant’s proposed

 

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Alterations, and in such event Landlord shall give Notice to Tenant within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of Tenant’s such Notice whether removal and restoration of such Alterations would be required at the end of the Term. If Landlord requires or is deemed to require such removal and restoration by Tenant, Tenant shall be required to remove and restore any such Alterations as provided in Section 8.2 . Landlord’s failure to provide such Notice within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of Tenant’s Notice shall be deemed to be a Notice by Landlord to Tenant that such removal and restoration is required.

(c) So long as no Adverse Impact shall result from such Alterations, Tenant may make structural Alterations or Alterations to material components of building systems (i) prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date with Landlord’s consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, and (ii) after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, with Landlord’s consent which may be withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion.

8.2 Title to Alterations . Tenant will retain title to all Alterations so long as such Alterations are not financed by Landlord or are not required by Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements. Title to all Alterations that are financed by Landlord or are required by Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements will vest in Landlord automatically upon the completion thereof. At the expiration or sooner termination of this Master Lease, with respect to the particular Demised Premises, Tenant shall (a) remove all Alterations which Tenant is required to remove in Section 8.1 , and (b) have the right, at its election, to either remove all other Alterations to which it retains title as provided above and repair all damage to the Demised Premises caused by such removal, or to surrender the Alterations to Landlord, free and clear of all claims, right, title and interest of Tenant. Any Alterations not so removed by Tenant shall conclusively be deemed to be Landlord’s sole property and title thereto shall automatically vest in Landlord after such nonremoval and Landlord may retain or dispose of the same in its discretion without any accountability to Tenant; provided , however , that notwithstanding any surrender of the Demised Premises or the Alterations, Tenant shall remain liable to Landlord for all unrepaired damage as a result of any removal of Alterations and all of Landlord’s reasonable costs of such removal with respect to any such nonremoval.

ARTICLE IX

TRANSFER

9.1 Transfer; Subletting and Assignment . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein (including, without limitation, Article XV ), Tenant shall not, without Landlord’s prior written consent (which consent may be withheld in Landlord’s sole and absolute discretion) Transfer this Master Lease or the Demised Premises, or any rights of Tenant or any interest of Tenant therein, including any subletting of part or all or any part of the Demised Premises, or engage the services of any Person (other than an Affiliate of Tenant) for the management or operation of any Demised Premises (as to which management services Landlord’s consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Any assignment or Transfer of any rights or interests in violation of this Article IX is ipso facto null and void and of no force or effect. Tenant acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing restrictions on Tenant’s rights of Transfer are consistent with and integral to the protection and implementation of Landlord’s rights to the Recapture Space and Additional Recapture Space and that the Rent and the other terms and conditions of this Master Lease have been expressly negotiated based upon and taking into

 

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account the foregoing restrictions on Tenant’s rights of Transfer, and that Landlord is relying upon the expertise of Tenant in the operation of each Store and that Landlord entered into this Master Lease with the expectation that Tenant would remain in and operate each Store during the entire Term (except for such express rights of termination by Tenant, or recapture or buy-out by Landlord, or limited rights of Tenant, as set forth herein) and for those reasons, among others, except as set forth herein, Landlord retains sole and absolute discretion in approving or disapproving any assignment or sublease or other Transfer not expressly permitted hereunder. Tenant acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing restrictions on Transfer are reasonable and have been specifically negotiated and bargained for between the parties and are an essential part of the economics of this Master Lease, and are a material inducement to Landlord to enter into this Master Lease.

9.2 Permitted Subletting . Tenant shall not have any right to lease, sublease, license or otherwise permit the use or occupancy of any space on or within any Property, except for: (a) the Lands’ End Agreements; (b) the Sears Hometown License Agreement; and (c) leases, licenses, concessions or in-store department agreements with third-party retailers, concessionaires, tenants or licensees that (i) operate wholly within or as part of Tenant’s Store with respect to any Demised Premises (except for storage or parking of vehicles in connection with vehicle rentals), do not operate separate or apart from the operations of the applicable Kmart Stores and/or Sears Stores, do not violate or conflict with any Encumbrance or any use restrictions and/or exclusives which affect the Demised Premises as of the time of the Commencement Date and which are generally consistent with historical practices at the Stores or otherwise consistent with the permitted uses of Section 7.2 (the leases, licenses, concessions and other agreements in clauses (a), (b) and (c), individually, a “ Sublease ,” and collectively, the “ Subleases ”); provided that in the case of the Subleases described in part (c) of this sentence, (i) (x) Tenant shall use commercially reasonable efforts to give Notice to Landlord of each new Sublease executed after the Commencement Date within thirty (30) days of the execution thereof and prior to the commencement of occupancy by the sublessee; provided , however , Tenant shall not be in breach or default of the foregoing obligation to provide Notices of Subleases if it provides a list of Subleases entered into since the last Notice to Landlord within fifteen (15) days of Landlord’s written request therefor given not more frequently than once in any calendar quarter during the Term, and (y) Tenant shall give Notice to Landlord of each new Sublease to the extent not previously provided, as part of the quarterly reports provided in Section 21.24(a) to the extent of the actual knowledge of such Subleases by the person preparing and signing such quarterly report, and (ii) such Sublease shall be expressly subject to the rights of any other Leases existing as of the Commencement Date which were entered into prior to the execution of such Sublease and to other Encumbrances affecting the Property as of the date such Sublease is entered into. For the purposes of this Section 9.2 only, “ Encumbrance ” shall include any Landlord Mortgage solely with respect to the lien thereof.

9.3 Permitted Assignments . Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant may, without Landlord’s prior written consent: (a) assign this Master Lease to Tenant’s Parent or any Subsidiary thereof; or (b) assign or transfer all of its rights and obligations under the Master Lease (either directly or indirectly, by operation of law or through a merger or other corporate transaction) to any other solvent corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity that (1) acquires all or substantially all of the assets of Tenant’s Parent, (2) is the surviving entity of a merger with Tenant’s Parent, or (3) results from a consolidation, reorganization or

 

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recapitalization of Tenant’s Parent with a solvent corporation, partnership or other legal entity, in each case of subclauses (1), (2) and (3), provided the surviving entity has a net worth of not less than the net worth of Tenant’s Parent as of immediately prior such merger or other corporate transaction, after giving effect to any financing provided or contemplated in such merger or corporate transaction; provided , that in each case the successor tenant or successor Tenant Party (if not the named Tenant herein, the “ Unrelated Successor Tenant ”) assumes all of such Tenant’s obligations under the Master Lease (except that any such Unrelated Successor Tenant shall not be required to operate a “Sears” or “Kmart” Store, but shall otherwise comply with all of the provisions of Sections 7.2 and 7.3 ). In the case of any such assignment, (x) each Lease Guarantor (or the successor to each Lease Guarantor) shall reaffirm the Lease Guaranty (if it is not the successor to Tenant under the Master Lease) in a written instrument for the express benefit of Landlord in form and content reasonably satisfactory to Landlord and Landlord shall receive a fully executed copy thereof, (y) the use of the Demised Premises, except as expressly set forth above, shall continue to comply with the requirements of this Master Lease, including without limitation all rights of Landlord and all obligations of Tenant with respect to the Recapture Space, Additional Recapture Space and the 100% Recapture Property and (z) with respect to subdivision (b) above, if the identity and creditworthiness of the successor tenant and successor Lease Guarantor shall be subject to the reasonable approval of Landlord and Landlord Mortgagee.

9.4 Required Assignment and Subletting Provisions . Any permitted assignment and/or Sublease entered into after the Commencement Date must provide in the assignment or Sublease document that:

(a) in the case of a Sublease, it shall be subject and subordinate to all of the terms and conditions of this Master Lease, including any Landlord Mortgage Documents;

(b) the use of the applicable Store (or portion thereof) shall not conflict with any Legal Requirement or any other provision of this Master Lease;

(c) except as otherwise provided herein, no subtenant or assignee shall be permitted to further sublet all or any part of the applicable Demised Premises or assign this Master Lease or its Sublease or otherwise Transfer any interest in any of the foregoing;

(d) Tenant shall insert in each permitted Sublease entered into after the Commencement Date provisions to the effect (and shall advise all parties thereto in writing with respect to all permitted Subleases entered into prior to the Commencement Date) that (A) in the event the Master Lease shall expire or otherwise terminate for any reason with respect to the Property of which the Sublease is a part before the expiration of such Sublease, the Sublease shall automatically terminate without further notice or action of any kind and the subtenant under the Sublease shall immediately surrender possession of the premises under the Sublease to Landlord or as directed by Landlord, and (B) if the subtenant receives a written notice from Landlord or Landlord’s assignees, if any, stating that an Event of Default has occurred, so long as the Master Lease is not terminated with respect to the Property of which the Sublease premises is a part, the subtenant shall thereafter attorn to the applicable party and be obligated to and shall pay all rentals and all other sums and charges accruing under said Sublease directly to the party giving such notice, or as such party may direct, without any action of or any liability to Tenant.

 

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9.5 Costs . Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for Landlord’s reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred in conjunction with the processing and documentation of any assignment or subletting, Sublease or assignment that is actually consummated.

9.6 No Release of Tenant’s Obligations . No assignment or subletting shall relieve Tenant or subsequent transferee of its obligation to pay the Rent and to perform all of the other obligations to be performed by Tenant hereunder, except as expressly provided herein. The liability of Tenant and any immediate and remote successor in interest of Tenant (by assignment or otherwise), and the due performance of the obligations of this Master Lease on Tenant’s part to be performed or observed, shall not in any way be discharged, excused, released or impaired by any (i) stipulation which extends the time within which an obligation under this Master Lease is to be performed, (ii) waiver of the performance of an obligation required under this Master Lease that is not entered into for the benefit of Tenant or such successor, or (iii) failure to enforce any of the obligations set forth in this Master Lease; provided , that Tenant shall not be responsible for any additional obligations or liability arising as the result of any modification, amendment or renewal of this Master Lease by Landlord and any assignee of Tenant that is not an Affiliate of Tenant. For the avoidance of doubt, all rights and options of Landlord and obligations of Tenant with respect to any Nonprofitable Property, Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space, and all obligations of Tenant pursuant to the exercise of any options with respect to any Renewal Terms, shall continue to apply to Tenant with full force and effect and Tenant shall be fully liable with respect thereto.

9.7 No Restriction on Landlord . Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, Landlord shall be free in its sole discretion, and there shall be no restriction, limitation or requirement whatsoever on or with respect to, Landlord’s rights, to use, operate, occupy, re-lease, sublease or license, alter, add to, modify or maintain, to refrain from doing, suspend or cease any of the foregoing, or to leave vacant, any Recapture Space in whole or in part.

9.8 Free-Standing SAC Leases . (a) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in this Master Lease, at any time prior to or within thirty (30) days of receipt of an Additional Recapture Termination Notice, Tenant may give notice to Landlord (“ Tenant Free-Standing SAC Notice ”) (limited to one (1) Tenant Free-Standing Notice in any twelve (12)-month period) that Tenant has entered or is considering entering into good faith negotiations (“ SAC Negotiations ”) with a prospective acquiror with respect to a bona fide third-party offer to acquire from Tenant the automotive care center business operated by Tenant at not less than 20% of the Free-Standing SACs which are part of the Demised Premises at the time of and as to the Demised Premises identified in such Tenant Free-Standing SAC Notice. In such event, Landlord shall not have the right to recapture any Free-Standing SACs which are identified in such Tenant Free-Standing SAC Notice for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days thereafter or until the termination of Tenant’s negotiations therefor, whichever is earlier. Upon Notice from Tenant (“ SAC Definitive Agreement Notice ”) that Tenant has executed a definitive agreement (“ SAC Definitive Agreement ”) for the acquisition of the automotive care business at not less than 20% of such Free-Standing SACs (including all Free-Standing SACs identified in any Landlord’s Additional Recapture Termination Notice) within such one hundred twenty (120)-day period, Tenant shall have the right to request that Landlord enter into negotiations for the Free-Standing SAC Lease as provided below; provided that Landlord shall have approval rights, in its sole and

 

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absolute discretion, over any Free-Standing SAC Lease. If (i) Landlord does not receive a SAC Definitive Agreement Notice within such one hundred twenty (120)-day period, or (ii) Landlord is otherwise informed that Tenant has terminated all SAC Negotiations without a SAC Definitive Agreement within such one hundred twenty (120)-day period, or (iii) Landlord and the proposed SAC acquiror have not mutually agreed upon and delivered a fully executed master lease with respect to all affected Free-Standing SACs as provided below on or before the Closing of the SAC Definitive Agreement, or (iv) Landlord has not approved the Free Standing SAC Lease, then in any such event Landlord may at its election by Notice to Tenant at any time thereafter reinstate the Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice and/or give any additional or subsequent Additional Response Space Termination Notices and specify a date for recapture of the Additional Recapture Space within sixty (60) days after such Notice.

(b) The SAC Definitive Agreement shall provide:

(i) The Closing thereof shall occur not later than ninety (90) days after the execution of the SAC Definitive Agreement.

(ii) At the Closing, the SAC acquirer (which shall be a creditworthy entity experienced in the operation of automobile centers similar to the SACs, satisfactory to Landlord), as tenant, shall enter into a unitary, cross-defaulted master lease with Landlord, as landlord, with respect to all affected Free-Standing SACs, on such terms and conditions which are mutually satisfactory to Landlord and such tenant in each of their sole discretion (“ Free-Standing SAC Lease ”). Upon the execution and delivery of any Free-Standing SAC Lease (if any), this Master Lease shall terminate with respect to the affected Free-Standing SACs with the same force and effect as provided in Section 1.9(b)(iii) . Nothing contained herein shall obligate Landlord to enter into any Free-Standing SAC Lease and Tenant hereby releases and agrees to hold harmless Landlord, Landlord’s Mortgagee and any other Indemnified Persons with respect to any and all Liabilities arising out of any SAC Definitive Agreement or any refusal or failure to enter into any proposed Free-Standing SAC Lease.

ARTICLE X

MAINTENANCE AND COMMON AREAS

10.1 Maintenance and Repair; Trade Fixtures . (a) During the Term, Tenant, at its sole cost and expense and without the prior consent of Landlord, shall maintain the Demised Premises and Tenant’s Property, and except as provided in, and otherwise subject to, any REAs, all private roadways, sidewalks and curbs appurtenant to the Demised Premises or which are under Tenant’s exclusive control, or under any REAs for which Tenant is responsible for compliance under this Master Lease, in good order and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) with the standard of care and quality taking into account the age of the Demised Premises whether or not the need for such repairs occurs as a result of Tenant’s use, any prior use, the elements, or the age of the Demised Premises or Tenant’s Property, or otherwise (but excluding (i) Landlord’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or any affirmative acts in connection with work performed by Landlord with respect to any Recapture Space or Tenant Retained Space, and (ii) all acts and omissions of any of Landlord’s Related Users in any Recapture Space or Additional

 

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Recapture Space or under any Leases which first arise after the date of this Master Lease), and, with reasonable promptness, make all necessary and appropriate repairs thereto of every kind and nature, including without limitation those necessary to ensure continuing compliance with all Legal Requirements, and Insurance Requirements, whether interior or exterior, structural or nonstructural, ordinary or extraordinary, foreseen or unforeseen, or arising by reason of a condition existing at or prior to the Commencement Date; provided , however , that subject to all Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements all such repairs shall only be required to be made to the standards and the conditions existing as of the Commencement Date with respect to each Demised Premises, ordinary wear and tear excepted, with the standard of care and quality taking into account the age of the Demised Premises, and shall otherwise be made in general conformity with Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) attached hereto; provided , further , however , that Tenant’s obligations under this Section 10.1 shall include the maintenance, repair and replacement (a) at all times, of any and all building systems, machinery and equipment which exclusively serve the Demised Premises, (b) up to and including the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, of the bearing walls, floors, foundations, roofs and all structural elements of the Demised Premises (and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, the obligations in this clause (b) shall be Landlord’s responsibility) and (c) to be made in accordance with Schedule 10.1 to the Side Letter within one year of the Commencement Date. Tenant will not take or omit to take any action the taking or omission of which would reasonably be expected to (x) materially impair the value or the usefulness of the Demised Premises or any part thereof, (y) create (or permit to continue) any dangerous condition or (z) create (or permit to continue) any condition which might reasonably be expected to involve any imminent loss, damage or injury to any person or property; provided , that subject to Article XX , Tenant shall be entitled to operate SACs in accordance with Tenant’s usual and customary business practices in effect on the date of this Master Lease, and in compliance with all Encumbrances, Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements. In connection with the foregoing, Tenant’s obligations shall include without limitation with respect to the Demised Premises, including, prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, with respect to all Common Areas (and Landlord’s obligations with respect to all Common Areas, including all parking lots and parking areas, and landscaping not under the exclusive control of Tenant, after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date shall include):

(i) Maintaining (including periodic washing and painting, as necessary, but in no event shall any Party be required to paint more than once in any rolling 5-year period) and repairing the storefront, facade and exterior walls of the Demised Premises; provided , that any re-painting of a different color or any changes to the exterior shall require Landlord’s prior written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed;

(ii) Repairing and replacing, as necessary (in the same style and appearance), the doors (including, without limitation, any overhead doors) and windows of the Demised Premises, and the mechanisms therefor;

(iii) Causing the regular removal of garbage and refuse from the Demised Premises;

(iv) Causing the regular spraying for and control of insect, rodent, animal and pest infestation, and maintaining in good working order and condition all doors (both swinging and roll-up doors), including, without limitation, all weather seals, so as to limit any gaps to  1 4 inch or less along the bottom and sides of all doors;

 

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(v) Servicing, maintaining, repairing and replacing all Fixtures;

(vi) Regular sweeping, cleaning and removal of trash, debris, grease, oils, other materials and stains from the Demised Premises and from the immediately adjacent sidewalks, service drives and loading or delivery areas, if any of the Demised Premises, as necessary to keep the same clean and in good order and condition (after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date Tenant shall be responsible for such sidewalks, service drives and loading or delivery areas under the exclusive control of Tenant and Landlord shall remain responsible for the immediately adjacent and all other sidewalks, service drives and loading or delivery areas and landscaping not under the exclusive control of the Tenant);

(vii) Regular sweeping, cleaning and washing of the interior of the Demised Premises, including, without limitation, floors, windows and fixtures, and periodic washing and painting of interior walls;

(viii) Repairing broken, damaged or leaking walls, bathrooms, roofs, or fixtures and equipment in the interior of the Demised Premises, including, without limitation, plate glass windows, windows, floors and lighting fixtures, to the extent not covered by Landlord’s “All-Risk” insurance;

(ix) Irrigating and performing all gardening and landscaping of all lawns, trees, shrubs and plantings immediately adjacent to the Demised Premises and under the exclusive control of Tenant;

(x) Paving, repairing and striping of all parking areas as reasonably required; and

(xi) In furtherance of the foregoing obligations to service, repair and maintain any Fixtures during the Term, Tenant shall maintain a contract on at least an annual basis (which contract shall be approved by Landlord, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) for regular servicing and maintenance (in accordance with their respective manufacturing guidelines) of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and vertical transportation systems that are part of the Fixtures in accordance with their manufacturing guidelines, unless Landlord shall otherwise direct (without additional cost or expense to Tenant). Upon request (not more frequently than annually), Tenant shall submit to Landlord a copy of such fully paid contract and any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof. At a minimum, each maintenance contract for any Fixtures shall include a provision that such contractor shall be required to coordinate any activities performed on the roof of the Demised Premises with Landlord’s or any tenant of Landlord’s activities, as the case may be, with/by a roofing contractor, so as to not void any roof or related warranties.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly required elsewhere in this Master Lease (including with respect to Landlord’s obligations from and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy

 

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Date), Landlord shall not under any circumstances be required to (i) build or rebuild any improvements on the Demised Premises; (ii) make any repairs, replacements, alterations, restorations or renewals of any nature to the Demised Premises, whether ordinary or extraordinary, structural or nonstructural, foreseen or unforeseen, or to make any expenditure whatsoever with respect thereto; or (iii) maintain the Demised Premises in any way. Except as otherwise expressly required elsewhere in this Master Lease, Tenant hereby unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law, the right to make any repairs or perform any maintenance at the expense of Landlord pursuant to any law in effect at the time of the execution of this Master Lease, or hereafter enacted. The foregoing shall not limit in any manner Landlord’s obligations to pay for, or to advance or reimburse Tenant for, all costs and expenses of all Recapture Separation Work as provided in this Master Lease.

(c) Tenant shall, upon the expiration or earlier termination of the Term, vacate and surrender the Demised Premises in the condition in which such Demised Premises was originally received from Landlord, except as repaired, rebuilt, restored, altered or added to as permitted or required by the provisions of this Master Lease and except for ordinary wear and tear, and further subject to the provisions with respect to removal and restoration of Tenant’s Property and Alterations and remediation of all environmental conditions.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing standards for Tenant’s repair and maintenance obligations, Tenant agrees to perform those items of deferred repair and maintenance set forth on Schedule 10.1 to the Side Letter; provided , however , to the extent that Tenant shall fund any Landlord Mortgage reserve for work pursuant to Schedule 10.1 to the Side Letter, Tenant’s obligation to perform such deferred repair and maintenance relating to such reserves shall be conditioned upon Landlord’s release of such funds (or an equivalent amount) to Tenant on a timely basis in connection with the performance of such work so long as Tenant has complied with its obligations under Section 21.26 . Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent funds have been released from such reserve but are not sufficient to complete the deferred repair and maintenance in accordance with Schedule 10.1 to the Side Letter, Tenant shall remain obligated to complete such deferred repair and maintenance at Tenant’s sole cost and expense.

10.2 Common Areas . (a) During the Term, until the occurrence of the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Tenant shall have the exclusive use and possession of all Common Areas (subject to all applicable provisions of this Master Lease, Legal Requirements and Encumbrances) and shall be solely responsible therefor, including all maintenance and repairs relating thereto, and shall pay all CAM Expenses and all Property Document CAM Expenses, and the maintenance and repair obligations pursuant to Section 10.1 .

(i) From and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Landlord shall operate and maintain (or cause to be operated and maintained) the Common Areas located wholly within the Property in such a manner as Landlord, in its reasonable discretion, shall determine as being compliant with the Legal Requirements and Encumbrances, but subject to the terms and conditions of this Master Lease relating to any conditions, rights or restrictions of Landlord’s and Landlord’s Related Users in the Common Areas located wholly within the Property, further subject to Tenant’s obligations in Section 10.1(c) . Tenant shall have a

 

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nonexclusive right and license to use the Common Areas in common with Landlord, and their respective Related Users (including all of the same Persons with respect to the Recapture Space and Additional Recapture Space), for the sole purposes of access, ingress, egress, loading and unloading, and parking, subject to the provisions of this Master Lease, all Encumbrances, and all applicable Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements. Tenant’s use of the Common Areas shall be subject to all rules and regulations set forth in the applicable Encumbrances (including, without limitation, any rights of any parties (including Landlord) to reconfigure or alter such Common Areas, at any time and from time to time), and the reasonable, nondiscriminatory rules and regulations promulgated by Landlord in its discretion from time to time, including the designation of specific areas within Landlord’s premises or in reasonable proximity thereto in which automobiles owned by Tenant’s Related Users shall be parked and to accommodate the reasonable requests and requirements of Landlord and Landlord’s Related Users, provided , that the same shall not increase Tenant’s obligations or decrease Tenant’s rights or remedies under this Master Lease, in any material respect. Furthermore, Tenant covenants not to do or permit to be done any act in, on or about the Common Areas or the Demised Premises which would interfere with the use or enjoyment of the premises demised under the Leases or any Recapture Space (or any adjacent shopping center, shopping mall or third-party owner’s property, as the case may be), or the Common Areas by Landlord, its other tenants, authorized users and assigns, or the other owners, tenants, or occupants of any adjacent shopping center, shopping mall, as the case may be, or the respective agents, employees, customers, licensees and invitees of any of the foregoing parties.

(ii) Subject to the provisions of any applicable Encumbrances, Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements and the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 10.2(a)(ii) , subsequent to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date with respect to a Demised Premises, Tenant, Landlord and Landlord’s Related Users shall have the right to (A) to utilize portions of the Common Areas for outdoor events, activities, shows, displays, temporary special promotional events, including sales from temporary facilities, and including carnivals, automobile and boat shows and sales, sales of rugs, cars, spas, plants and antiques, tent sales, and National Safety Weekend events and other charity events (including charity walks); or (B) to utilize the lighting standards and other areas in the parking lot for advertising purposes ((A) and (B) collectively, the “ Promotional Rights ”), subject to Landlord’s reasonable rules and regulations applicable to all tenants of the Property with respect to the manner of the exercise of such Promotional Rights; provided , that (x) Tenant’s Promotional Rights shall include, and Tenant shall exercise Promotional Rights in a manner described in Section 10.2(a)(ii)(A) that is consistent with, the historical practices of Tenant at that Store or that may be conducted on a regional basis with respect to an affected Store (including, without limitation, outdoor garden and/or patio shops), and such other uses in connection with the natural evolution of Tenant’s generally permitted use of the Demised Premises (subject to Landlord’s reasonable approval of such other uses), and (y) Tenant shall not exercise any Promotional Rights in a manner (as opposed to the nature of the use) that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse

 

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impact on Landlord or any third party tenant to whom Landlord has leased or licensed all or any portion of the Property other than the Demised Premises (“ Third Party Tenant ”). Landlord shall have the right to grant Promotional Rights to any Third Party Tenant, provided, that, no such Promotional Rights shall be exercisable in a manner that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on Tenant, Landlord or any other Third Party Tenant. Tenant, Landlord and Third-Party Tenants shall work cooperatively and in good faith to coordinate the exercise of the Promotional Rights in accordance with the foregoing provisions.

(b) Party Walls . Tenant acknowledges and agrees that any walls now or hereafter separating the Demised Premises from any premises demised under any Leases or any Recapture Space, if any, are party walls to be shared by Tenant with Landlord and the other tenants and occupants of the building in which the Demised Premises is located. Tenant hereby grants to Landlord, and such other tenants and occupants, if any, and such persons hereby retain, the nonexclusive right to use such walls for all purposes for which they may be intended, or to such use by Landlord as may be desirable and/or convenient, including, without limitation, utilities, maintenance and fixturing. Tenant hereby acknowledges and agrees that Landlord shall, at its expense (but without charge by Tenant), have the right, at any time and at all times throughout the Term, to install, maintain, alter, repair and replace any cabling, conduit, utilities, venting, pipes, wiring and other items through and into the Demised Premises to serve or service any premises demised under the Leases or any Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space. Tenant shall receive not less than ten (10) days’ prior notice (except in case of an emergency) of any such use or work, and no such use or work shall materially interfere with Tenant’s normal business operations in the Tenant Retained Space. To the extent reasonably required in connection with any Leases as of the date hereof or in connection with any separation of the Recapture Space, Tenant shall have all of the same foregoing rights in connection with the Demised Premises and the Tenant Retained Space. Without limiting the foregoing, except in an emergency, Landlord shall use all reasonable efforts to avoid any material work in the Demised Premises during the period November 1-March 1 in any calendar year.

(c) Common Area Maintenance .

(i) Prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, the Common Areas shall be maintained and operated by Tenant in accordance with all of the provisions of this Lease, and in accordance with all Operating Agreements and other Encumbrances as such Operating Agreements and other Encumbrances apply to the Demised Premises, and Tenant shall pay all CAM Expenses (as hereinafter defined).

(ii) From and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Landlord shall perform and pay for all maintenance, repairs and replacements to all Common Areas (“ CAM Expenses ”), including all parking lot fencing, striping, paving, lighting, fencing and drainage; snow, ice, rubbish and trash removal; irrigation, gardening and landscaping services, with respect to all landscaped areas; and ordinary and customary building services, maintenance, cleaning and janitorial services, except such services and expenses which are separately performed and charged for under Encumbrances, and all other items relating to Common Areas in Section 10.2(c)(i) .

 

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(iii) Tenant shall pay as Additional Charges (as part of Tenant’s payments of Installment Expenses), Tenant’s Proportionate Share of (x) all CAM Expenses and other Operating Expenses and (y) all CAM costs and expenses under all Operating Agreements (including those which are included in) and other Encumbrances (“ Property Document CAM Expenses ”). Landlord shall include itemized statements of all Property Document CAM Expenses in the Statements.

(iv) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Master Lease, except as may be expressly (I) provided in any Lease in existence on the Commencement Date, or (II) now or hereafter authorized in Tenant’s sole discretion in connection with any Sublease, neither Landlord nor any Landlord’s Related User shall use or permit the use of, nor shall any other tenant or occupant of the Property use, any dumpster, compactor, bin or other waste receptacle which is used, serviced or maintained by Tenant for the exclusive use with respect to the Demised Premises.

(d) Tenant’s Building Alarm System . If and to the extent such system exists as of the Commencement Date or is installed by Tenant at its discretion during the Term, Tenant shall, at its sole expense, install, operate and be responsible for maintaining, repairing and replacing an alarm system for each applicable Demised Premises (connected to its own electrical system). Tenant shall be responsible for and shall not in any way connect, tie into or otherwise append the building alarm system for any Demised Premises to the alarm system for any physically separate premises demised under any Lease or any Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space.

(e) Operating Expenses . With respect to all Operating Expenses with respect to the Property which are not otherwise provided for herein in accordance with Section 4.5 , Tenant shall pay (i) prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, one hundred percent (100%) of the cost thereof and (b) after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Tenant’s Proportionate Share thereof.

10.3 Landlord’s Responsibility for Leasehold Improvements Subsequent to Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date . Subject to the provisions of Section 10.2(e) , from and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, and during the balance of the Term, Landlord shall maintain, repair and replace all of the building systems, machinery and equipment, to the extent that the same do not exclusively serve the Demised Premises, and the bearing walls, floors, foundations, roofs and all structural elements of the Leased Improvements in accordance with the Legal Requirements and Insurance Requirements. All costs and expenses incurred by Landlord pursuant to this Section 10.3 shall be included as part of Operating Expenses, and Tenant shall pay Tenant’s Proportionate Share thereof.

10.4 Landlord’s Warranties and Guaranties . In connection with Tenant’s repair and maintenance obligations under this Master Lease, Landlord agrees that Tenant shall have the benefit of, and Landlord shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to enforce (without any

 

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obligation of Landlord to incur legal expenses or institute litigation, unless Tenant pays for all costs and expenses thereof, and holds harmless Landlord therefrom) all applicable warranties and guaranties assigned to or otherwise held by Landlord during the Term; provided , however , that Tenant’s repair and maintenance obligations shall not be delayed, suspended or otherwise affected by the existence or nonexistence, or any failure, refusal, delay in the performance, adequacy or payment or nonpayment, of any such warranty or guaranty (if any).

10.5 Tenant’s Responsibility under Lands’ End Agreements and Sears Hometown License Agreement.

(a) Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that Sears, Roebuck and Co. (“SRC”), Kmart Corporation (“KMC”), Landlord and Tenant have entered into a certain letter agreement dated of even date herewith (the “ LE-SHO Letter Agreement ”) with respect to the Lands’ End Lease as it relates to the Lands’ End Space and the Sears Hometown License Agreement as it relates to the Sears Hometown Space. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Master Lease, Tenant agrees that (i) Tenant is, and shall cause SRC to be, solely responsible to perform and discharge all obligations of the landlord under the Lands’ End Agreements with respect to the Lands’ End Space, and Landlord shall not be responsible therefor, and (ii) Tenant is, and shall cause KMC to be, solely responsible to perform and discharge all obligations of the landlord under the Sears Hometown License Agreement with respect to the Sears Hometown Space, and Landlord shall not be responsible therefor, including without limitation all such obligations (if any) for or with respect to repair, maintenance (including common area maintenance) and alterations. Pursuant to the LE-SHO Letter Agreement, each of SRC and KMC have agreed to, release and indemnify, defend and hold harmless Landlord from all costs, expenses and Liabilities arising from its failure to so perform (except as arising from Landlord’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of the terms of this Lease); provided that Landlord shall be liable for any relocation of the Lands’ End Space and Sears Hometown Space within any Demised Premises pursuant to any Recapture Separation Work.

(b) Tenant hereby presently, absolutely and unconditionally assigns to Landlord, from and after the Commencement Date, (i) all of Tenant’s right, title and interest in all current and future rents and the absolute, unconditional and continuing right to receive and collect all rent, and all taxes and other charges (if any) payable by Lands’ End under the Lands’ End Lease with respect to Lands’ End Space at the Demised Premises (collectively, the “ LE Rents ”) and (ii) all of Tenant’s right, title and interest in all current and future rents and the absolute, unconditional and continuing right to receive and collect all rent, and all taxes and other charges (if any) payable by Sears Hometown under the Sears Hometown License Agreement with respect to Sears Hometown Space at the Demised Premises (collectively, the “ Hometown Rents ”), it being intended by Tenant that this assignment constitutes a present, outright, immediate, continuing and absolute assignment of any and all LE Rents and Hometown Rents and not an assignment for security nor an assignment of the Lands’ End Lease (except with respect to the Lands’ End Space) or the Sears Hometown License Agreement (except with respect to the Sears Hometown Space). In connection with such assignment, Tenant, SRC and KMC shall direct that the LE Rents and Hometown Rents be paid directly to Landlord. Such assignment to Landlord shall not be construed to bind Landlord to the performance of any of the covenants, conditions or provisions contained in the Lands’ End Lease or the Sears Hometown License Agreement or otherwise impose any obligation upon Landlord thereunder.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing assignment of the LE Rents and Hometown Rents to Landlord, Tenant shall perform and discharge all obligations of the landlord under the Lands’ End Lease with respect to the applicable Lands’ End Space and the Sears Hometown License Agreement with respect to the Sears Hometown Space. In furtherance of the foregoing assignment, pursuant to the LE-SHO Letter Agreement, each of Tenant and SRC have agreed to direct Lands’ End and Sears Hometown, respectively, to pay directly to Landlord all LE Rents and Hometown Rents, and, in any event, if Tenant or Sears, Roebuck and Co. shall ever receive any LE Rent or Hometown Rent, Tenant shall (and shall cause Sears, Roebuck and Co.), not later than three (3) Business Days following receipt, remit such LE Rent or Hometown Rent to Landlord or as Landlord shall direct. Tenant agrees to (and to cause Sears, Roebuck and Co. to) execute and deliver to Landlord such additional instruments, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Landlord, as may hereafter be reasonably requested by Landlord to further evidence and confirm such assignment. In the event that Lands’ End or Sears Hometown shall exercise any set-off rights against Tenant, Tenant’s Parent or any Subsidiary of Tenant’s Parent, or otherwise withholds LE Rent or Hometown Rent as a result of a default by Tenant, Tenant’s Parent or any Subsidiary of Tenant’s Parent under any Lands’ End Agreement or Sears Hometown License Agreement, or in the event Lands’ End or Sears Hometown is stayed or otherwise prohibited from making LE Rent/Hometown Rent payments directly to Landlord in the event of any insolvency proceeding of Tenant or Guarantor, Tenant shall be liable for and pay to Landlord, as Additional Charges, all such LE Rent and Hometown Rent at the times provided under the Lands’ End Lease and the Sears Hometown License Agreement, respectively.

(c) Tenant agrees that it shall not amend, modify or terminate (or consent to the amendment, modification or termination of) the LE-SHO Letter Agreement, the Lands’ End Agreements or the Sears Hometown License Agreement in any manner relating to the Properties, without the prior written consent of Landlord, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld to the extent not adverse to Landlord or the Properties.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, Tenant retains rights to relocate Lands’ End Space as provided in the Lands’ End Agreements and all rights to terminate the Lands’ End Agreements in the event Tenant ceases business operations in the applicable Demised Premises as permitted in this Master Lease (except Tenant shall not have the right to cause a termination of the Lands’ End Agreement in connection with a 50% Go Dark), or the Master Lease is otherwise terminated with respect to any individual Demised Premises; provided , Tenant agrees that, other than pursuant to a Final Recapture Plan, it may not relocate Lands’ End Space within any Demised Premises except with the prior written consent of Landlord in its sole discretion, unless Lands’ End shall have consented to such relocation in writing and a copy of such consent shall have been promptly delivered to Landlord and Landlord Mortgagee.

(e) Upon the termination of the occupancy of any Lands’ End Space or Sears Hometown Space by Lands’ End or Sears Hometown at any Demised Premises in accordance with the applicable Lands’ End Agreement, the Sears Hometown License Agreement, or otherwise, such Lands’ End Space or Sears Hometown Space (as applicable) shall be deemed to have been automatically recaptured by Tenant and shall from and after the date of such termination be deemed a part of the Demised Premises demised to Tenant, subject in all respect to the terms and conditions of this Master Lease, including, without limitation, with respect to the payment by Tenant of Base Rent and Additional Charges to Landlord with respect to such former Lands’ End Space. In such event, the amount of Base Rent shall be increased as provided on Schedule 2 to the Side Letter.

 

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ARTICLE XI

INSURANCE

11.1 General Insurance Requirements . During the Term, subject to Section 11.2(a) , Tenant shall at all times keep the Demised Premises, and all property located therein or thereon, including the Leased Improvements, Fixtures and Tenant’s Property, insured with the kinds and amounts of insurance described below, and otherwise as permitted in the Insurance Requirements. Each element of insurance described in this Section 11.1 shall be maintained with respect to the Demised Premises and Tenant’s Property and the operations of each Store thereon. Such insurance shall be written by companies permitted to conduct business in the applicable State. All third-party liability type policies must name Landlord as an “additional insured.” All property policies shall name Landlord as “loss payee” for its interests in each Property. All business interruption policies shall name Landlord as “loss payee” with respect to Rent only. Property losses shall be payable to Landlord and/or Tenant as provided in Article XIV . In addition, the policies, as appropriate, shall name as an “additional insured” and/or “loss payee,” each holder of any mortgage, deed of trust or other security agreement (“ Landlord Mortgagee ”) securing any Indebtedness or any other Encumbrance placed on the Demised Premises in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV (“ Landlord Mortgage ”) by way of a standard form of mortgagee’s loss payable endorsement. Except as otherwise set forth herein, any property insurance loss adjustment settlement shall require the written consent of Landlord, Tenant and each Landlord Mortgagee (to the extent required under the applicable Landlord Mortgage Documents), unless the amount of the loss net of the applicable deductible is less than the lesser of twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the Leasehold Improvements or five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), in which event no consent shall be required by Landlord. Evidence of insurance shall be deposited with Landlord and, if requested, with any Landlord Mortgagee. The insurance policies required to be carried by Tenant hereunder shall insure against at least the following risks with respect to each Property:

(a) Insurance against fire, vandalism, malicious mischief and such other perils as are from time to time included in a standard extended coverage insurance policy, insuring Tenant’s merchandise, inventory, trade fixtures, furnishings, equipment, plate and window glass and all other such items of personal property and Tenant’s Property (including all exterior and interior improvements, including those existing in the Store as of the Commencement Date), and all modifications, replacements and substitutions thereof, in an amount not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the full amount of the actual replacement cost thereof;

(b) Loss or damage by explosion of steam boilers, pressure vessels or similar apparatus, now or hereafter installed in each Store, in such limits, with respect to any one accident, as may be reasonably requested by Landlord from time to time;

(c) Flood (when any of the improvements comprising the Demised Premises is located in whole or in part within a FEMA designated high-hazard flood zone) in an amount not less than the full replacement cost of such improvements or such other hazards and in such amounts as may be customary for comparable properties in the area;

 

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(d) Loss of rental value in an amount not less than twelve (12) months’ Rent payable hereunder or business interruption in an amount not less than twelve (12) months of income and normal operating expenses including ninety (90) days’ ordinary payroll and Rent payable hereunder, with an extended period of indemnity coverage of at least ninety (90) days necessitated by the occurrence of any of the hazards described in Section 11.1(a) , 11.1(b) or 11.1(c) ;

(e) Claims for personal injury or property damage under a policy of comprehensive general public liability insurance with amounts not less than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) each occurrence and one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in the annual aggregate and with a retention or deductible not in excess of five million dollars ($5,000,000); provided , that such requirements may be satisfied through the purchase of a primary general liability policy and excess liability policies. In addition, to the extent that Landlord maintains any policy(ies) of comprehensive general public liability insurance with respect to any Common Areas, Landlord shall name Tenant as an additional insured on each such policy as to all matters arising with respect to such Common Areas from and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date. The coverage under each such policy shall be on a Primary and Non-Contributory Basis;

(f) Workers’ compensation insurance evidenced by Tenant on a per-state basis (with respect to the state in which each Demised Premises are located) and by a certificate of insurance on a “statutory basis” with minimum limits of “employers liability” coverage of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) per occurrence;

(g) Motor vehicle liability insurance with coverage for all owned, nonowned and hired vehicles with a combined single limit of not less than Three Million and No/100 Dollars ($3,000,000) per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage. If no vehicles are owned or leased, the commercial general liability insurance shall be extended to provide insurance for nonowned and hired vehicles;

(h) During such time as Tenant is constructing any improvements, Tenant, at its sole cost and expense, shall carry, or cause to be carried (i) workers’ compensation insurance and employers’ liability insurance covering all persons employed in connection with the improvements in statutory limits, (ii) a completed operations endorsement to the commercial general liability insurance policy referred to above, (iii) builder’s risk insurance, completed value form (or its equivalent), covering all physical loss, in an amount and subject to policy conditions reasonably satisfactory to Landlord, and (iv) such other insurance, in such amounts, as Landlord deems reasonably necessary to protect Landlord’s interest in the Demised Premises from any act or omission of Tenant’s contractors or subcontractors;

(i) Without duplicating any of the above insurance coverages, as and to the extent Tenant engages in (i) the sale or serving of alcoholic beverages, liquor liability insurance, and (ii) the sale of gasoline or other petroleum products and/or the operation of SACs, Tenant shall procure pollution legal liability insurance covering each location with a retroactive date corresponding to the first occupation by Tenant with a minimum limit of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for each incident which coverage shall be primary and noncontributory and should also include coverage for any underground storage tanks located on the Land.

(j) By this Section 11.1, Tenant intends that the risk of loss or damage to the Demised Premises and all property thereon, including the Leased Improvements, Fixtures and Tenant’s Property described above, be borne by responsible property insurance carriers and Tenant hereby agrees to look solely to, and to seek recovery only from, its respective property

 

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insurance carriers, in the event of a loss of a type described above to the extent that such coverage is agreed to be provided hereunder. For this purpose, any applicable deductible or self-insured amount shall be treated as though it were recoverable under such policies; and

(k) Tenant, may self-insure any or all of the above-stated risks by maintaining (or causing Tenant’s Parent or a Subsidiary thereof to maintain) a program of insurance. In the event Tenant elects to self-insure (or cause an Affiliate to insure) for any such risk, it shall use reasonable efforts to endeavor to notify Landlord of such election. Failure to so notify Landlord, however, shall not be considered a default under the terms of this Lease and shall not subject Tenant to any additional liability hereunder. Upon request by Landlord, Tenant shall promptly disclose to Landlord whether or not Tenant self-insures (or cause an Affiliate to insure) any of its insurance risks under this Master Lease.

11.2 Landlord’s “All-Risk” Insurance . (a) Landlord shall provide, with respect to the Demised Premises and the entire building in which it is located, insurance against loss or damage by fire, vandalism and malicious mischief, extended coverage perils commonly known as “ All Risk ,” and all physical loss perils normally included in such All Risk insurance, including, but not limited to, sprinkler leakage and windstorm damages in an amount not less than the insurable value on a Maximum Foreseeable Loss (as defined in this Section 11.2 ) basis and including a building ordinance coverage endorsement. The term “ Maximum Foreseeable Loss ” shall mean the largest monetary loss within one area that may be expected to result from a single fire with protection impaired, the control of the fire mainly dependent on physical barriers or separations and a delayed manual firefighting by public and/or private fire brigades. If Landlord reasonably believes that the Maximum Foreseeable Loss has increased at any time during the Term, it shall have the right to do so on commercially reasonable terms.

(b) Tenant shall reimburse Landlord on demand upon submission of an invoice therefor for the cost of Landlord’s “All-Risk” policy of insurance and all other insurance policies which Landlord may maintain from time to time, with respect to the Demised Premises and the Property (“ Landlord’s Insurance Costs ”), in the amount of, (a) prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, one hundred percent (100%) of the amount thereof, and (b) from and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Tenant’s Proportionate Share thereof (in each case payable as part of the Operating Expenses).

11.3 Additional Insurance . In addition to the insurance described above, Tenant shall maintain such additional insurance upon notice from Landlord as may be reasonably required from time to time by Landlord (as and to the extent then customarily carried or required by prudent owners of properties similar to the Properties) and any Landlord Mortgagee, so long as the same is available at commercially reasonable rates, and shall further at all times maintain adequate workers’ compensation coverage and any other coverage required by Legal Requirements for all Persons employed by Tenant on the Demised Premises in accordance with Legal Requirements. If Tenant is not required to do so, Landlord may abstain and pay on the same and add the cost thereof to the Property Charges.

11.4 Waiver of Subrogation . All insurance policies carried by either Party covering the Demised Premises or Tenant’s Property, including, without limitation, contents, fire and liability insurance, shall expressly waive any right of subrogation on the part of the insurer against the other Party. Each Party, respectively, shall pay any additional costs or charges for obtaining such waiver.

 

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11.5 Policy Requirements . All of the Tenant policies of insurance referred to in this Article XI shall be written in form reasonably satisfactory to Landlord and any Landlord Mortgagee and issued by insurance companies with a minimum policyholder rating of not less than “A” and a financial rating of “VIII” in the most recent version of Best’s Key Rating Guide, or a minimum rating of “BBB” from Standard & Poor’s or the equivalent.

11.6 Increase in Limits . If, from time to time after the Commencement Date, Landlord determines in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment in good faith that the limits of the personal injury or property damage-public liability insurance then carried pursuant to Section 11.1(e) are insufficient, Landlord may give Tenant Notice of acceptable limits for the insurance to be carried; provided , that in no event will Tenant be required to carry insurance in an amount which exceeds the sum of (i) the amounts set forth in Section 11.1(e) hereof and (ii) two percent (2%) thereof in any one (1) Lease Year; and subject to the foregoing limitation, within ninety (90) days after the receipt of such Notice, the liability insurance shall thereafter be carried with limits as prescribed by Landlord until further increase pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.6 .

11.7 Blanket Policy . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article XI , Tenant’s obligations to carry the liability insurance provided for herein may be brought within the coverage of a so-called blanket policy or policies of insurance carried and maintained by Tenant; provided , that the requirements of this Article XI (including satisfaction of the Landlord Mortgagee’s requirements and the approval of the Landlord Mortgagee) are otherwise satisfied; and provided , further , that Tenant maintains specific allocations reasonably acceptable to Landlord.

11.8 No Separate Insurance . Tenant shall not, on Tenant’s own initiative or pursuant to the request or requirement of any third party, (i) take out separate insurance concurrent in form or contributing in the event of loss with that required in this Article XI to be furnished by, or which may reasonably be required to be furnished by, Tenant or (ii) increase the amounts of any then-existing insurance by securing an additional insurance policy or policies, unless all parties having an insurable interest in the subject matter of the insurance coverage, including in all cases Landlord and all Landlord Mortgagees, are included therein as additional insureds and the loss is payable under such insurance policy or policies in the same manner as losses are payable under this Master Lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit Tenant from insuring against risks not required to be insured hereby, and as to such insurance, Landlord and any Landlord Mortgagee need not be included therein as additional insureds, nor must the loss thereunder be payable in the same manner as losses are payable hereunder except to the extent required to avoid a default under the Landlord Mortgage.

ARTICLE XII

CASUALTY AND CONDEMNATION

12.1 Casualty; Property Insurance Proceeds . (a) All proceeds (except business interruption insurance proceeds not allocated to rent expenses) payable by reason of any property

 

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loss, damage, or destruction of or to the Demised Premises by fire or other casualty, or any portion thereof, under any property policy of insurance required to be carried by Landlord hereunder, shall be paid to Landlord Mortgagee if required under any Landlord Mortgage, if any (or if none, to Landlord), to be held in trust for purpose of restoration and made available to Tenant upon request and in accordance with Landlord Mortgagee’s customary procedures (unless Landlord Mortgage Documents permit or require use of such proceeds to pay indebtedness and such proceeds are so used), or if there is no Landlord Mortgagee, by Landlord, pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section 12.1(a) , for the reasonable costs of preservation, stabilization, emergency restoration business interruption (other than any amount allocated to rent expenses), reconstruction and repair, as the case may be, of any damage to or destruction of the Demised Premises, or any portion thereof. All proceeds paid to Tenant from Landlord’s insurance shall be used only for the repair of any damage to the Demised Premises. Any excess proceeds of insurance remaining after the completion of the restoration or reconstruction of the Demised Premises to substantially the same condition as existed immediately before the damage or destruction and with materials and workmanship of like kind and quality and to Landlord’s reasonable satisfaction, and in accordance with the general terms and conditions of Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) attached hereto, as applicable (collectively, “ Restoration Standards ”), shall be provided to Landlord, unless otherwise required by any Landlord Mortgagee. All salvage resulting from any risk covered by insurance for damage or loss to the Demised Premises shall belong to Landlord. Landlord shall have the right to prosecute and settle insurance claims, in good faith in a commercially reasonable manner intended to maximize the recovery, with respect to all Landlord’s insurance, provided , that Landlord shall fully consult with and involve Tenant in the entire process of adjusting and settling any insurance claims under this Article XII, and any final settlement with the insurance company shall be subject to Tenant’s written consent if such adjustment or settlement would result in insurance proceeds which are insufficient to completely cover all of Tenant’s restoration obligations hereunder, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and any consent by Landlord Mortgagee (if required) under any Landlord Mortgage. Tenant shall have the sole right to adjust and settle all insurance claims with respect to all Tenant’s insurance and to retain all proceeds thereof (including loss of rental value) for its own account.

(b) Subject to the provisions of any Landlord Mortgage, and subject to the terms of this Article XII , Landlord Mortgagee or Landlord shall make available to Tenant the insurance proceeds (net of all administrative and collection costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees) paid to Landlord for such repair and rebuilding as it progresses. Payments shall be made against certification of the architect approved by Landlord (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) responsible for the supervision of the repairs and rebuilding that the work had been performed substantially in conformance with the approved plans and specifications therefor and the value of the work in place is equal to not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the aggregate amount advanced by Landlord for the payment of such work. Prior to commencing the repairing and rebuilding, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord for Landlord’s approval a schedule setting forth the estimated monthly draws for such work. Subject to the provisions of any applicable Landlord Mortgage, Landlord shall contribute to such payments, out of the insurance proceeds being held in trust by Landlord, an amount equal to the proportion that the total net amount so held by Landlord bears to the total estimated cost of repairing and rebuilding, multiplied by the payment by Tenant on account of such work. Landlord may, however, withhold ten percent (10%) from each payment until the work has been

 

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completed and unconditional lien releases and/or other proof has been furnished to Landlord that no lien or liability has attached, or will attach, to the applicable Demised Premises or the Property or to Landlord in connection with repairing and rebuilding.

12.2 Tenant’s Obligations Following Casualty . (a) If any Demised Premises is damaged, whether or not from a risk covered by insurance, (i) Tenant shall promptly restore such Demised Premises to the Restoration Standards and (ii) such damage shall not terminate this Master Lease; provided , however , that in the case of (A) a total destruction of the Leased Improvements and Fixtures with respect to a particular Property or a destruction of same such that such Property is rendered Unsuitable For Its Intended Use (“ Total Destruction ”), or (B) a partial destruction which occurs during the last twelve (12) months of the Initial Term or any exercised Renewal Term (“ 12-Month Destruction ”), then in either such event Tenant shall have the right to elect not to restore the Demised Premises, upon Notice to Landlord, and subject to and on the terms and conditions, as hereinafter provided.

(b) If Tenant restores the affected Demised Premises and the cost of the repair or restoration exceeds or appears is likely to exceed the amount of proceeds received from the insurance required to be carried hereunder, or if there are no insurance proceeds promptly after becoming aware of such facts (or at any time) upon demand by Landlord, Tenant shall promptly provide Landlord with evidence reasonably acceptable to Landlord that Tenant has available to it any excess amounts needed to restore such Demised Premises (without any adverse effect on Tenant’s ability to pay all Rent or to perform all of its other obligations with this Master Lease). All such excess amounts necessary to restore such Demised Premises shall be paid by Tenant and the amount thereof promptly deposited with Landlord Mortgagee or Landlord, as the case may be, for disbursement as the work progresses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the amount of insurance proceeds available for restoration is not sufficient solely because of an uninsurable casualty, Tenant shall not be required to restore the casualty damage (but its obligation to pay Rent shall not be suspended or abated).

(c) If there is a 12-Month Destruction and Tenant elects not to restore by Notice to Landlord within sixty (60) days of the 12-Month Destruction, Tenant shall not be required to restore but shall be obligated to make payment to Landlord of the 12-Month Destruction Fee as provided in Section 12.6 .

(d) If Tenant is not required to or permitted to, and elects not to repair and restore the Demised Premises, all insurance proceeds shall be paid to and retained by Landlord free and clear of any claim by or through Tenant, subject to the provisions of any Landlord Mortgage.

12.3 No Abatement of Rent . In the event of any casualty or destruction, including a Total Destruction, this Master Lease shall remain in full force and effect, and Tenant’s obligation to pay the Rent and all other charges required by this Master Lease shall remain unabated during the period required for adjusting insurance, satisfying Legal Requirements, repair and restoration, subject to Tenant’s foregoing right to elect not to restore and the termination of the Master Lease with respect to the affected Demised Premises in the event of Total Destruction, and Landlord’s right of termination if Landlord Mortgagee applies proceeds of insurance as provided below; provided , that in either of which events of termination, as of the date Tenant vacates the affected

 

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Demised Premises (and surrenders the same) in accordance with this Master Lease, there shall be a Base Rent adjustment with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises in accordance with Schedule 2 to the Side Letter (as if the remainder of the Demised Premises was akin to the Tenant Space referenced in item 2 of such Schedule 2 to the Side Letter; provided , further , that the foregoing is subject to the provisions of Section 12.6 .

12.4 Waiver . Tenant waives any statutory rights of termination which may arise by reason of any damage or destruction of the Demised Premises but such waiver shall not affect any contractual rights granted to Tenant under this Article XII .

12.5 Insurance Proceeds Paid to Landlord Mortgagee .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any Landlord Mortgagee is entitled to any insurance proceeds, or any portion thereof, under the terms of any Landlord Mortgage, such proceeds shall be applied, held and/or disbursed in accordance with the terms of the Landlord Mortgage.

(b) Prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, if the Landlord Mortgagee elects, or is required under the related financing document, to apply the insurance proceeds to the Indebtedness secured by the Landlord Mortgage, then Tenant shall not be obligated to repair or restore the Demised Premises and if Tenant does not elect to restore the Demised Premises with its own funds by Notice to Landlord within sixty (60) days of such application of proceeds by Landlord Mortgagee, then except in the case of a Total Destruction, Landlord shall elect upon Notice to Tenant within ninety (90) days of application of such proceeds to the Landlord Mortgagee Indebtedness either to (a) fund the amount of insurance proceeds applied by Landlord Mortgage within six (6) months of such application, in which case Tenant shall be obligated to restore the Demised Premises upon receipt of such proceeds (regardless of the sufficiency thereof for the required restoration), which may be disbursed by Landlord in accordance with the same or similar procedures as applied by Landlord Mortgagee, or (b) terminate this Master Lease as to the Demised Premises effective as of a date ninety (90) days after the date of such Notice.

(c) From and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, if the Landlord Mortgagee elects, or is required under the related financing document, to apply the insurance proceeds to the Indebtedness secured by the Landlord Mortgage, then Landlord shall not be obligated to repair or restore the Demised Premises and Landlord shall elect upon Notice to Tenant within ninety (90) days of application of such proceeds to the Landlord Mortgagee Indebtedness either to (a) repair or restore the Demised Premises using Landlord’s own funds in accordance with the Restoration Standards, or (b) terminate this Master Lease as to the Demised Premises effective as of a date ninety (90) days after the date of such Notice (unless Tenant elects to provide its own funds to Landlord sufficient to complete such repair and restoration by Notice to Landlord within sixty (60) days after Landlord’s Notice of termination).

12.6 Tenant’s Right to Terminate Upon Damage Near End of Term . In the event of a 12-Month Destruction in which Tenant does not elect to rebuild as provided herein, upon payment by Tenant to Landlord of the 12-Month Destruction Fee (as hereinafter defined), the Master Lease will terminate, and Tenant will vacate, the Demised Premises on the date that Tenant pays to Landlord the 12-Month Destruction Fee (as hereinafter defined), which shall not

 

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be later than ninety (90) days after receipt of Notice from Tenant of its election not to rebuild. The “ 12-Month Destruction Fee ” is an amount equal to the greater of (a) the insurance proceeds attributable to such damage or destruction and (b) the cost to repair such damage or destruction as reasonably estimated by Landlord. Except for such Base Rent adjustment, such termination shall not otherwise affect any other terms or conditions of this Master Lease with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises, all of which shall remain in full force and effect, subject to all obligations of Tenant which survive termination of the Master Lease.

12.7 Tenant’s Right to Terminate Upon Total Destruction . In the event of a Total Destruction in which Tenant does not elect to rebuild as provided herein, upon payment by Tenant to Landlord of the Destruction Termination Fee (as hereafter defined) and the earlier of receipt by Landlord of all applicable insurance proceeds (and Landlord agrees to use all commercially reasonable efforts to adjust and obtain the same) or ninety (90) days after the date of the Total Destruction, the Master Lease will terminate as to, and Tenant will vacate, the Demised Premises. The “ Destruction Termination Fee ” is an amount equal to Base Rent attributable to such Demised Premises (as calculated in accordance with the “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” and as otherwise provided in Schedule 2 attached to the Side Letter) plus any payments under the Lands’ End Agreements or the Sears Hometown License Agreement relating to the Nonprofitable Property, in each case that would be payable for a period (the Calculation Period) of the lesser of (x) one (1) calendar year or (y) the balance of the Term (excluding renewals) from the date of termination with respect to such Demised Premises, plus (ii) all Property Charges attributable to such Demised Premises, including any Lands’ End Space and Sears Hometown Space, that would be payable during the Calculation Period, which shall be initially paid at the rate based on the amount payable during the one (1)-year period immediately preceding the date of the Tenant Termination Election Notice, subject to final adjustment. When the actual amount of such Property Charges has been finally determined, Landlord and Tenant shall promptly adjust such amount and refund or pay any 12-Month Destruction Fee or Destruction Termination Fee (as applicable). Except for such Base Rent adjustment, such termination shall not otherwise affect any other terms or conditions of this Master Lease with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises, all of which shall remain in full force and effect, subject to all obligations of Tenant which survive termination of the Master Lease.

12.8 Condemnation . (a) Tenant and Landlord shall promptly give the other written notice upon knowledge of the actual or threatened commencement of any condemnation or eminent domain proceeding or other governmental taking affecting any Demised Premises (a “ Condemnation ”), and, to the extent not otherwise received, shall deliver to the other copies of any and all papers served in connection with such Condemnation.

(b) Subject to the further provisions hereof, following the occurrence of a Condemnation, Tenant, regardless of whether sufficient Condemnation awards are available for restoration, shall, in a reasonably prompt manner, proceed to Restore the Demised Premises to the extent practicable to be of substantially the same character and quality as prior to the Condemnation, in compliance with all applicable material Legal Requirements. Tenant shall not be obligated to restore or replace Tenant’s Property or any alterations or additions to the Demised Premises made by Tenant unless, with respect to such alterations or additions, the same were Required Alterations.

 

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(c) This Master Lease shall terminate with respect to the affected Demised Premises upon the Condemnation of all or substantially all of such Demised Premises, or which renders the unaffected portion of the Demised Premises Unsuitable for its Intended Use (“ Total Condemnation ”); provided , that in the event of a temporary taking (which shall not exceed six (6) consecutive months), the Master Lease shall continue in full force and effect and Tenant shall receive the entire award therefor, subject to any Landlord Mortgage. A Condemnation of substantially all of a Demised Premises shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) fifty percent (50%) or more of the square footage of such Demised Premises shall have been subject to a Condemnation, or (ii) there shall have been a loss of access or egress, parking capacity or any other appurtenance necessary for the operation of such Demised Premises substantially in the manner in which it had previously been operated and there is no reasonably equivalent replacement therefor. In the event of a termination of this Lease pursuant to this Section 12.8(c) , as of the date Tenant vacates the affected Demised Premises (and surrenders the same) in accordance with this Master Lease, Tenant shall have no further obligation to pay any Base Rent or Additional Charges in respect of the affected Demised Premises for the period after such termination and surrender, and there shall be a Base Rent adjustment with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises in accordance with the “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” and as otherwise provided in Schedule 2 to the Side Letter (as if the remainder of the Demised Premises was akin to the Tenant’s Space referred to in item 3 of such Schedule 2 to the Side Letter ) .

12.9 Condemnation Proceeds Paid to Landlord Mortgagee . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any Landlord Mortgagee is entitled to any condemnation proceeds, or any portion thereof, under the terms of any Landlord Mortgage, such proceeds shall be applied, held and/or disbursed in accordance with the terms of the Landlord Mortgage. If the Landlord Mortgagee elects, or is required under the related financing document to apply the condemnation proceeds to the Indebtedness secured by the Landlord Mortgagee, then Tenant shall not be obligated to repair or restore the Demised Premises and if Tenant does not elect to restore the Demised Premises with its own funds by Notice to Landlord within sixty (60) days of such application of proceeds by Landlord Mortgagee, then, except in the case of a Total Condemnation, Landlord shall elect upon Notice to Tenant within ninety (90) days of application of such proceeds by Landlord Mortgagee Indebtedness either to (a) fund the amount of Condemnation proceeds applied by Landlord Mortgagee within six (6) months of such application, in which case Tenant shall be obligated to restore the Demised Premises upon receipt of such proceeds (regardless of the sufficiency thereof for the required restoration), which may be disbursed by Landlord in accordance with the same or similar procedures as applied by Landlord Mortgagee, or (b) terminate this Master Lease as to the Demised Premises effective as of a date ninety (90) days after the date of such Notice.

(a) If the Demised Premises is the subject of a Condemnation and this Master Lease does not terminate with respect thereto pursuant to Section 12.9(c) , then Tenant shall not be required to restore, repair, replace or rebuild such Demised Premises if: the Restoration cannot reasonably be completed prior to the beginning of the ninth (9th) year immediately preceding the expiration of the Initial Term (or prior to the beginning of the fourth (4th) year of any Renewal Term) for any Property, and twenty percent (20%) or more (but less than fifty percent (50%) of the square footage of such Demised Premises shall have been subject to a Condemnation.

 

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(b) With respect to a Condemnation of the Demised Premises that is described in Section 12.9(a) , Tenant shall notify Landlord of its election not to restore within the next one hundred eighty (180) days after it is notified of the Condemnation or, if later, after the net Condemnation Proceeds available for restoration are determined, in which case, this Master Lease shall terminate with respect to the affected Demised Premises on a date specified in said Notice not later than the thirtieth (30th) day after such Notice, conditional on Landlord’s receipt of payment and/or assignment of the proceeds in the next succeeding sentence. In the event of any termination of this Master Lease, Tenant shall pay over and/or assign to Landlord all proceeds payable to Tenant (if any) in connection with such Condemnation, less any portion thereof previously used by Tenant to secure and make safe the affected Demised Premises and the Tenant’s Award (as hereinafter defined).

(c) The Base Rent and Additional Charges in respect of any Demised Premises affected by a Condemnation shall not abate by reason thereof (other than, in the case of any Additional Charges, if the same shall abate by the terms of any applicable law or otherwise as a result of such Condemnation), except as a result of and as of the date of a termination of this Master Lease with respect to an affected Demised Premises; provided , however , that from and after the date of such termination the Rent with respect to the remainder of the Demised Premises shall be adjusted in accordance with the “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” as specified in and as otherwise provided in Schedule 2 to the Side Letter.

(d) Unless Tenant is required or elects to perform any restoration utilizing the Award, Landlord shall be entitled to the entire Award in any Condemnation, subject to Tenant’s Award, and Tenant shall not have any interest in or right to claim any, interest or award for or measured by the value of this Master Lease or Tenant’s leasehold estate hereunder, including any unexpired Term (including any Renewal Terms) hereof. Landlord shall have the exclusive power to collect, receive and retain any Award proceeds and to make any compromise or settlement in connection with such Condemnation, subject to Tenant’s Award, further subject to Landlord’s making available any Award for Tenant’s restoration obligations hereunder. Nothing herein shall be deemed to assign to Landlord, or preclude Tenant from seeking and retaining its interest in, a separate award to Tenant for Tenant’s Property, severable Alterations (subject to the provisions of any Legal Requirements, Insurance Requirements or Encumbrances), moving expenses, business dislocation damages or similar claims ( provided , that where this Master Lease is to terminate as a result of such Condemnation, such claim does not reduce the award that would otherwise be paid over or assigned to Landlord) (“ Tenant’s Award ”).

(e) Any surplus which may remain out of proceeds or awards received pursuant to a Condemnation after payment of such costs of Restoration undertaken by Tenant, and any Tenant’s Award (if any) shall be paid over to and belong to Landlord.

(f) Landlord shall accept or reject Tenant’s offer within sixty (60) days of Tenant’s election not to restore the Demised Premises as provided in this Article XII . All Rent shall be prorated as of and shall be paid or credited as of the closing.

12.10 Landlord’s Restoration Obligations . Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to the terms of any Landlord Mortgage Documents, provided Tenant has not elected to terminate the Master Lease with respect to an individual Demised Premises, as provided for in

 

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this Article XII , from and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, upon reasonable notice to Tenant, Landlord shall perform all of Tenant’s restoration obligations (with the exception of restoration of Tenant’s Alterations (other than Alterations made pursuant to Legal Requirements or Insurance Requirements) and Tenant’s Property) to the extent of the “All Risk” Insurance which Landlord is obligated to carry hereunder, provided that Landlord receives such insurance proceeds in the case of a casualty, or to the extent of the Award actually received by Landlord upon condemnation with respect to damage or destruction which affects both the Demised Premises and any Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space.

12.11 Nonprofitable Properties . Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Master Lease to the contrary, Tenant shall not have any obligation to restore any casualty damage or condemnation to any Nonprofitable Property, and shall be entitled to terminate this Master Lease with respect to such Nonprofitable Property on the earlier of (a) any date otherwise provided in Section 12.6 or 12.7 , as the case may be, and (b) any applicable Nonprofitable Property Termination Date, upon payment of the applicable Nonprofitable Property Termination Fee.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFAULT

13.1 Events of Default . Any one (1) or more of the following shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(a) (i) Tenant shall fail to pay any installment of Base Rent or any installment of the Installment Expenses when due and such failure is not cured by Tenant within ten (10) days after Tenant’s failure to pay such installment of Base Rent or Installment Expenses when due;

(ii) Tenant shall fail to pay any other amount payable hereunder when due and such failure is not cured by Tenant within thirty (30) days after Notice from Landlord of Tenant’s failure to pay such amount when due.

(b) a default shall occur under any Lease Guaranty where the default is not cured within any applicable cure period set forth therein or, if no cure periods are provided, within thirty (30) days after Notice from Landlord;

(c) Tenant or Lease Guarantor shall:

(i) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due;

(ii) file a petition in bankruptcy or a petition to take advantage of any insolvency act;

(iii) make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

(iv) consent to the appointment of a receiver of itself or of the whole or any substantial part of its property; or

(v) file a petition or answer seeking reorganization or arrangement under the United States bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States of America or any state thereof;

 

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(d) Tenant or Lease Guarantor shall be adjudicated as bankrupt or a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter an order or decree appointing, without the consent of Tenant or any Lease Guarantor, a receiver of Tenant or any Lease Guarantor or of the whole or substantially all of the Tenant’s or Tenant’s Parent’s property, or approving a petition filed against Tenant or any Lease Guarantor seeking reorganization or arrangement of Tenant or any Lease Guarantor under the United States bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States of America or any state thereof, and such judgment, order or decree shall not be vacated or set aside or stayed within ninety (90) days from the date of the entry thereof;

(e) Tenant or Tenant’s Parent shall be liquidated or dissolved;

(f) the estate or interest of Tenant in the Demised Premises or any part thereof shall be levied upon or attached in any proceeding relating to more than (i) two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) with respect to any one Demised Premises or (ii) Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) with respect to more than one Demised Premises, and the same shall not be vacated, discharged or stayed pending appeal (or bonded or otherwise similarly secured payment) within the earlier of ninety (90) days after commencement thereof or thirty (30) days after receipt by Tenant of notice thereof from Landlord or any earlier period provided by law for obtaining any stay pending appeal or to prevent foreclosure or sale (“ Stay Period ”); provided , however , that such notice shall be in lieu of and not in addition to any notice required under applicable law;

(g) Tenant ceases the continuous operations of any Store in violation of the Operating Covenant, and Tenant fails to resume operations within thirty-five (35) days after Notice from Landlord; provided , however , if Landlord believes that Tenant has violated the Operating Covenant, it shall offer to meet and confer with Tenant in good faith for a period of fifteen (15) days prior to sending any Notice of such violation or any breach or default to Tenant; provided , further , however , Landlord shall not be required to meet and confer and Tenant shall not have any cure right with respect to any failure to conduct any business operations in 100% of any Demised Premises in violation of the Operating Covenant.

(h) any of the material representations or warranties made by Tenant hereunder or by Lease Guarantor in a Guaranty prove to be untrue when made in any material respect, and (i) if such misrepresentation is capable of being cured, it shall not have been cured within thirty (30) days after Notice from Landlord, unless Tenant shall be diligently pursuing such cure and such cure is completed within an additional sixty (60) days thereafter, or (ii) if such misrepresentation is not capable of being cured but the damages or detriment to Landlord (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees) can reasonably be ascertained and ascribed a monetary value, Tenant fails to pay the amount thereof (as reasonably estimated by Landlord) to Landlord prior to the expiration of such additional sixty (60)-day period;

(i) except as expressly permitted hereunder, there shall occur any Transfer of the Master Lease or any interest therein or any Demised Premises which is not entirely revoked

 

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and rescinded within the earlier of (a) fifteen (15) days after such Transfer or (b) Tenant’s becoming aware thereof; provided , however , that if such Transfer involves an impermissible Sublease of space due solely to Tenant’s good faith error in computing the rental value thereof which results in such Sublease exceeding the ten percent (10%) rental value limitation as provided in Section 9.2 , which exceeds the aggregate limitation of ten percent (10%) of rental value, Tenant shall have an additional period not to exceed ninety (90) days in which to reduce the amount of space in such Sublease to a permissible level or to terminate such Sublease;

(j) Tenant or Lease Guarantor, by its acts or omissions, causes or suffers the occurrence of a default under any provision (to the extent Tenant has knowledge of such provision and Tenant’s or Lease Guarantor’s obligations with respect thereto), of any Landlord Mortgage or Landlord Mortgage Documents by which Tenant is bound in accordance with Article XIV or Tenant has agreed under the terms of this Master Lease to be bound, which default is not cured within the applicable time period, if the effect of such default is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of that Landlord Mortgage or Indebtedness secured by that Landlord Mortgage (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, that Landlord Mortgage (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) to become or be declared due and payable (or redeemable) prior to its stated maturity;

(k) if Tenant shall fail to observe or perform any other nonmonetary term, covenant or condition of this Master Lease (so long as such failure is not caused directly by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Landlord, or the acts or omissions of Landlord’s tenants in the Recapture Space or any Additional Recapture Space or under any Leases first arising from and after the date of this Master Lease) and such failure is not cured by Tenant within thirty (30) days after notice thereof from Landlord, unless such failure cannot with diligence be cured within a period of thirty (30) days, in which case such failure shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default if Tenant proceeds promptly and diligently to cure the failure and continues to act with diligence to complete the curing thereof within a commercially reasonable period of time not to exceed an aggregate of one hundred twenty (120) days (which shall be further extended for up to an additional sixty (60) days for good cause shown) after such notice from Landlord, subject to further extension by reason of Unavoidable Delays, so long as Tenant continues to act with diligence and dispatch; provided , however , that such notice shall be in lieu of and not in addition to any notice required under applicable law; provided , further , however , that in no event shall the original thirty (30)-day period be further extended beyond any period (i) as shall be necessary to prevent imminent loss or damage (including the foreclosure of any lien) to any affected Demised Premises or (ii) which would constitute an event of default under any Landlord Mortgage which would entitle the holder to exercise any remedies thereunder;

(l) if Tenant or Lease Guarantor shall fail to pay, bond, escrow or otherwise similarly secure payment of one or more final judgments aggregating in excess of five million dollars ($5,000,000) with respect to Tenant or Lease Guarantor within the applicable Stay Period, unless the same does not attach to or otherwise adversely affect the Demised Premises or this Master Lease; and

(m) if Tenant shall fail to maintain any insurance required by the Lease and the same is not cured within the earlier of (a) ten (10) days after Notice from Landlord or (b) the date

 

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which is fifteen (15) days prior to the earliest date for cancellation of any insurance for nonpayment or nonrenewal; provided , however , that if such failure is the result of Tenant not obtaining the required insurance immediately following the downgrading of such insurance below the levels required herein, such failure shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such failure shall continue for the earlier of ten (10) days after (a) Tenant’s learning thereof or (b) Notice from Landlord.

13.2 Certain Remedies . (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Landlord may (i) after the expiration ten (10) days after any Event of Default Notice (as hereinafter defined), terminate this Master Lease by giving Tenant no less than ten (10) days’ Notice of such termination and the Term shall terminate and all rights of Tenant under this Master Lease shall cease, (ii) seek damages as provided in Section 13.3 and/or (iii) exercise any other right or remedy at law or in equity available to Landlord as a result of any Event of Default. Tenant shall pay as Additional Charges all costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of Landlord, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, and court costs, as a result of any Event of Default hereunder. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, whether or not this Master Lease has been terminated pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 13.2 , Tenant shall, to the extent permitted by law, if required by Landlord to do so, immediately surrender to Landlord possession of all or any portion of the Demised Premises as to which Landlord has so demanded and quit the same and Landlord may, to the extent permitted by law, enter upon and repossess such Demised Premises by reasonable force, summary proceedings, ejectment or otherwise, and, to the extent permitted by law, may remove Tenant and all other Persons and any of Tenant’s Property from such Demised Premises (including all Alterations), but in no event shall Tenant be obligated to remove any Alterations that are owned or are deemed to be owned by Landlord under this Master Lease.

(b) Landlord shall not be entitled to terminate this Master Lease by reason of an Event of Default (but Landlord may exercise all other rights and remedies), unless and until Landlord has, following the occurrence of such Event of Default, delivered a Notice (“ Event of Default Notice ”) to Tenant stating the Event of Default, and containing the following caption (in bold 16 point type):

“THIS IS AN EVENT OF DEFAULT NOTICE. FAILURE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND TO CURE THE EVENT(S) OF DEFAULT AS SPECIFIED BELOW WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE MAY LEAD TO LANDLORD’S TERMINATION OF THE MASTER LEASE AND/OR THE EXERCISE OF OTHER REMEDIES THEREUNDER.”

13.3 Damages . None of (i) the termination of this Master Lease, (ii) the repossession of the Demised Premises, (iii) the failure of Landlord to relet the Demised Premises or any portion thereof, (iv) the reletting of all or any portion of the Demised Premises, or (v) the inability of Landlord to collect or receive any rentals due upon any such reletting, shall relieve Tenant of its liabilities and obligations hereunder, all of which shall survive any such termination, repossession or reletting. Landlord and Tenant agree that Landlord shall have no obligation to mitigate

 

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Landlord’s damages under this Master Lease except if, and to the extent, required under applicable law. If any such termination of this Master Lease occurs (whether or not Landlord terminates Tenant’s right to possession of the Demised Premises), Tenant shall forthwith pay to Landlord all Rent due and payable under this Master Lease, to and including the date of such termination. Thereafter Tenant shall forthwith pay to Landlord, at Landlord’s option, as and for liquidated and agreed upon current damages for the occurrence of an Event of Default, either:

(a) the sum of:

(i) the worth at the time of award of the unpaid Base Rent which had been earned at the time of termination to the extent not previously paid by Tenant under this Section 13.3 ; plus

(ii) the worth at the time of award of the amount of unpaid Base Rent which would have been earned after termination until the time of award; plus

(iii) the worth at the time of award of the amount of the unpaid Base Rent for the balance of the Term after the time of award; plus

(iv) any other amount necessary to compensate Landlord for the detriment proximately caused by Tenant’s failure to perform its obligations under this Master Lease or which in the ordinary course of business might result therefrom, including all unpaid Additional Charges at the time of Termination and all Additional Charges which might have accrued for the balance of the Term, and all reasonable costs and expenses of reletting the Demised Premises, including, but not limited to, all brokerage, advertising, repairs and other similar expenses reasonably necessary to secure new tenants for the Demised Premises.

As used in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the “worth at the time of award” shall be computed by allowing interest at the Overdue Rate from the date when due to the date paid. As used in Section 13.3(a)(iii) , the “worth at the time of award” shall be computed by discounting such amount at the discount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at the time of award plus one percent (1%); or

(b) regardless of whether Landlord chooses to terminate Tenant’s right to possession of the Demised Premises (whether or not Landlord terminates the Master Lease), each installment of said Rent and other sums payable by Tenant to Landlord under this Master Lease as the same becomes due and payable, together with interest at the Overdue Rate from the date when due until paid, and Landlord may enforce, by action or otherwise, any other term or covenant of this Master Lease (and Landlord may at any time thereafter terminate Tenant’s right to possession of the Demised Premises and seek damages under subparagraph (a) hereof, to the extent not already paid for by Tenant under this subparagraph (b).

13.4 Receiver . Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, and upon commencement of proceedings to enforce the rights of Landlord hereunder, but subject to any limitations of applicable law, Landlord shall be entitled, as a matter of right, to the appointment of

 

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a receiver or receivers acceptable to Landlord of the Demised Premises and of the revenues, earnings, income, products and profits thereof, pending the outcome of such proceedings, with such powers as the court making such appointment shall confer.

13.5 Waiver . If Landlord initiates judicial proceedings or if this Master Lease is terminated by Landlord pursuant to this Article XIII , Tenant waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) any right of redemption, re-entry or repossession; and (ii) the benefit of any laws now or hereafter in force exempting property from liability for rent or for debt.

13.6 Application of Funds . Any payments received by Landlord under any of the provisions of this Master Lease during the existence or continuance of any Event of Default which are made to Landlord rather than Tenant due to the existence of an Event of Default shall be applied to Tenant’s obligations in the order which Landlord may reasonably determine or as may be prescribed by the laws of the State in which the Property is located.

13.7 Landlord’s Right to Cure Tenant’s Default . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in addition to and not in limitation of any and all other rights and remedies, Landlord, without waiving or releasing any obligation or Event of Default, may (but shall be under no obligation to) at any time thereafter make such payment or perform such act for the account and at the expense of Tenant, and may, to the extent permitted by law, enter upon the applicable Demised Premises or any portion thereof for such purpose and take all such action thereon as, in Landlord’s opinion, may be necessary or appropriate therefor including, without limitation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, repossessing the Demised Premises and ejecting any Person or property thereon; provided , however , that no such entry or action by Landlord shall constitute an actual or constructive eviction or repossession, without Landlord’s express intention to do so as expressed in writing. No such entry shall be deemed an eviction of Tenant. All reasonable sums so paid by Landlord and all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses, in each a case, to the extent permitted by law) so incurred, together with interest thereon (to the maximum extent permitted by law) at the Overdue Rate from the date on which such sums or expenses are paid or incurred by Landlord, shall be paid by Tenant to Landlord on demand. The obligations of Tenant and rights of Landlord contained in this Article XIII shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Master Lease.

13.8 Default by Entities Comprising Tenant . For the avoidance of doubt, each and every Event of Default of “Tenant” under this Article XIII shall mean and include the same act, omission, failure, refusal, breach or default by either or both of Kmart Tenant or Sears Tenant.

ARTICLE XIV

LANDLORD’S FINANCING

14.1 Landlord’s Financing . Without the consent of Tenant, Landlord may from time to time, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause to exist any Landlord Mortgage upon the Demised Premises or any portion thereof or interest therein. This Master Lease is and at all times shall automatically and without further action be subject and subordinate to the lien of any Landlord Mortgage which may now or hereafter affect the Demised Premises or any portion thereof or interest therein and to all renewals, modifications, consolidations, replacements, restatements and extensions thereof or any parts or portions thereof, subject to receipt of the

 

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SNDA (hereinafter defined). The holder of each Landlord Mortgage shall execute and deliver to Tenant a nondisturbance and attornment agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (“ SNDA ”) or in the customary form then used by Landlord Mortgagee which is substantially similar thereto in all material respects, which shall also be executed by Tenant as well as Landlord, which will bind Landlord and Tenant, and such holder of such Landlord Mortgage and its successors and assigns as well as any person who acquires any portion of the Demised Premises in a foreclosure or similar proceeding or in a transfer in lieu of any such foreclosure or a successor owner of the Demised Premises (each, a “ Foreclosure Purchaser ”). The SNDA shall provide that in the event of any foreclosure under the Landlord Mortgage, the holder of such Landlord Mortgage, and any Foreclosure Purchaser, shall not disturb either Tenant’s leasehold interest or possession of the Demised Premises in accordance with the terms hereof, nor any of Tenant’s rights, privileges and options, and shall give effect to this Master Lease as if such Landlord Mortgagee or Foreclosure Purchaser were the landlord under this Master Lease (so long as there is not then outstanding and continuing an Event of Default under this Master Lease, it being understood that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time such parties shall be subject to the terms and provisions of this Master Lease concerning the exercise of rights and remedies upon such Event of Default). If, in connection with obtaining any Landlord Mortgage for the Demised Premises or any portion thereof or interest therein, a Landlord Mortgagee or prospective Landlord Mortgagee shall request (A) reasonable cooperation from Tenant, and/or (B) reasonable amendments or modifications to this Master Lease as a condition thereto, Tenant hereby agrees to reasonably cooperate in connection therewith, and to execute and deliver such amendments or modifications so long as any such amendments or modifications do not in any material respect (i) increase Tenant’s monetary obligations under this Master Lease; (ii) increase Tenant’s nonmonetary obligations under this Master Lease; or (iii) diminish Tenant’s rights or remedies under this Master Lease, including without limitation limiting or shortening any time periods for the payment or performance of any Tenant obligations or any notice and cure periods for any default of Tenant or limiting in any manner the right of Tenant to operate the Stores in the ordinary course of its business (collectively, “ Tenant Detriments ”).

14.2 Attornment . As provided in the SNDA attached hereto (and any other SNDA shall so provide), if Landlord’s interest in the Demised Premises or any portion thereof or interest therein is sold, conveyed or terminated upon the exercise of any remedy provided for in any Landlord Mortgage Documents (or in lieu of such exercise), or otherwise by operation of law: (a) at the request and option of the new owner or superior lessor, or other Foreclosure Purchaser, as the case may be (“ Successor Landlord ”), which request and option shall be exercised within thirty (30) days following such transfer of Landlord’s interest, Tenant shall attorn to and recognize the Successor Landlord as Tenant’s “landlord” under this Master Lease or enter into a new lease substantially in the form of this Master Lease with the Successor Landlord, and Successor Landlord and Tenant shall take such actions to confirm the foregoing within ten (10) days after request of the Successor Landlord, all on the terms and conditions set forth in the SNDA; and (b) the Successor Landlord shall not be liable for the acts of the prior Landlord, except as set forth in the SNDA; provided , however , until and unless Successor Landlord has made such request, Tenant shall continue to have all rights of possession of the Demised Premises as provided under this Master Lease.

 

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14.3 Compliance with Landlord Mortgage Documents . (a) Tenant acknowledges that any Landlord Mortgage Documents executed by Landlord or any Affiliate of Landlord may impose certain obligations on the Landlord and its Affiliates to comply with or cause the operator and/or lessee of the Demised Premises to comply with all representations, covenants and warranties contained therein relating to such Demised Premises and the operator and/or lessee of such Demised Premises, including, covenants relating to (i) the maintenance and repair of such Demised Premises; (ii) maintenance and submission of financial records and accounts of the operation of such Demised Premises and related financial and other information regarding the operator and/or lessee of such Demised Premises and such Demised Premises itself; (iii) the procurement of insurance policies with respect to such Demised Premises; and (iv) without limiting the foregoing, compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements relating to such Demised Premises and the operation of the business thereof. For so long as any Landlord Mortgages encumber the Demised Premises or any portion thereof or interest therein, Tenant covenants and agrees, at its sole cost and expense and for the express benefit of Landlord, to operate the applicable Store(s) and Demised Premises in strict compliance with the terms and conditions of the Landlord Mortgage Documents and to timely perform all of the obligations of Landlord relating to the operation of the Stores and the Demised Premises, or to the extent that any of such duties and obligations may not properly be performed by Tenant, Tenant shall cooperate with and assist Landlord in the performance thereof; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 14.3(a) shall not be deemed to, and shall not, impose on Tenant, any Tenant Detriments. If any new Landlord Mortgage Documents to be executed by Landlord or any Affiliate of Landlord would impose on Tenant any obligations permissible under this Section 14.3(a) , Landlord shall provide copies of the same to Tenant for informational purposes (but not for Tenant’s approval) prior to the execution and delivery thereof by Landlord or any Affiliate of Landlord, as identified in Schedule 14.4 . For the avoidance of doubt nothing in this Section 14.3(a) shall require Tenant, Tenant’s Parent or any of their Affiliates to satisfy any financial performance, operating performance or similar test that may be contemplated by any Landlord Mortgage Documents as a condition or covenant relative to the Landlord and its Affiliates.

(b) Without limiting or expanding Tenant’s obligations pursuant to any other provisions of this Master Lease, during the Term of this Master Lease, Tenant acknowledges and agrees that, except as expressly provided elsewhere in this Master Lease, or as Landlord may otherwise elect in writing, it shall undertake at its own cost and expense the performance of any and all repairs, replacements, improvements, maintenance items and all other requirements relating to the condition of the Demised Premises and Common Areas (to the extent that Tenant is then obligated by or for use or occupancy under the terms of this Master Lease) that are required by any Landlord Mortgage Documents or by any Landlord Mortgagee; provided , however , that this Section 14.3(b) shall not in any material respect (i) increase Tenant’s monetary obligations under this Master Lease; (ii) increase Tenant’s nonmonetary obligations under this Master Lease; or (iii) diminish Tenant’s rights or remedies under this Master Lease, including without limitation, limiting or shortening any time periods for the payment or performance of any Tenant obligations or shortening any notice and cure periods for any default of Tenant

14.4 Landlord Mortgagee Generally . Landlord Mortgagee shall be an express and intended third party beneficiary of the provisions contained in this Article XIV and of any other

 

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provision in this Lease expressly requiring the approval or consent of Landlord Mortgagee and shall have the right to enforce such provisions against Tenant. Tenant shall have the right to rely conclusively upon any written communication from any Landlord Mortgagee’s “ Trustee ”, Servicer or Special Servicer as the duly authorized statement or communication by Landlord Mortgagee. Tenant acknowledges that it has received on or prior to the date hereof all of the Landlord Mortgage Documents listed on Schedule 14.4 attached hereto. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Landlord Mortgage Documents, any consent or approval of Landlord Mortgagee required under this Lease may be granted or withheld in Landlord Mortgagee’s sole discretion.

14.5 Limitation of Successor Landlord Liability . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event a Successor Landlord shall acquire title to the Demised Premises (which, for purposes of this Section 14.5 , shall include Landlord at any time after Landlord Mortgagee (or its nominee or designee) shall have acquired direct or indirect control of the voting interests in any Landlord), Successor Landlord shall have no obligation, nor incur any liability, beyond Successor Landlord’s then-interest, if any, in the Demised Premises, and Tenant shall look exclusively to such interest, if any, of Successor Landlord in the Demised Premises for the payment and discharge of any obligations imposed upon Successor Landlord under this Lease. Tenant agrees that, with respect to any monetary judgment which may be obtained or secured by Tenant against Successor Landlord, Tenant shall look solely to the estate or interest owned by Successor Landlord in the Demised Premises (including, without limitation, the rent, issues and profits therefrom), and Tenant will not collect or attempt to collect any such judgment against any Successor Landlord personally or any shareholder, member, partner, director or officer thereof, out of any other assets of Successor Landlord or any shareholder, member, partner, director or officer thereof.

14.6 Lease Modifications . Tenant agrees that no amendment, modification, waiver, termination, tender, surrender or cancellation of this Lease shall be effective as against any Landlord Mortgagee or Successor Landlord unless the same shall have been consented to by Landlord Mortgagee or Successor Landlord in writing, unless otherwise provided in the Landlord Mortgage Documents.

14.7 Notice of Default to Landlord Mortgagee . In the event of any act or omission by Landlord which would give Tenant the right (if any), either immediately or after notice or the lapse of a period of time, or both, to terminate this Lease, or to claim a partial or total eviction, Tenant will not exercise any such right (A) until it has given written notice of such act or omission to Landlord Mortgagee, and (B) until a reasonable period of time (in any event not less than ninety (90) days) for remedying such act or omission shall have elapsed following both the giving of such notice and following the time when Landlord Mortgagee shall have become entitled under the Landlord Mortgage Documents to remedy the same; provided that Landlord Mortgagee, with reasonable diligence (i) shall have pursued such remedies as are available to it under Landlord Mortgage Documents so as to be able to remedy the act or omission, and (ii) thereafter shall have commenced and continued to remedy such act or omission or cause the same to be remedied.

14.8 Delivery of Notices to Landlord Mortgagee . Subsequent to the receipt by Tenant of Notice from Landlord as to the identity and address of Landlord Mortgagee, no Notice

 

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from Tenant to Landlord or Notice from Landlord to Tenant shall be effective unless and until a duplicate original of such Notice is given to Landlord Mortgagee in accordance with Article XIX . The curing of any of Landlord’s defaults by Landlord Mortgagee shall be treated as performance by Landlord.

14.9 Right of Landlord Mortgagee to Enforce Lease . Tenant agrees that, to the extent permitted by Landlord under the Landlord Mortgage Documents, Landlord Mortgagee may exercise the self-help remedies of Landlord hereunder.

14.10 Exercise of Landlord’s Discretion . In any instance hereunder in which Landlord must be reasonable in making a request or granting or withholding an approval or consent, Tenant acknowledges and agrees that Landlord may take into account the reasonable objections of Landlord Mortgagee, to the extent Landlord is required to do so under the Landlord Mortgage Documents.

14.11 Cure of Landlord Defaults . Subject to the provisions of the SNDA, no Landlord default under this Lease shall be deemed to exist so long as any Landlord Mortgagee in good faith, (i) shall have commenced promptly to cure the default in question and prosecutes the same to completion with reasonable diligence and continuity, or (ii) if possession of the Demised Premises is required to cure the default in question, such Landlord Mortgagee (x) shall have entered into possession of the Demised Premises with the permission of Tenant for such purpose or (y) shall have notified Tenant of its intention to institute enforcement proceedings in respect of Landlord Mortgage Documents to obtain possession of Landlord’s interest directly or through a receiver and thereafter prosecutes such proceedings with reasonable diligence and continuity. In any event all rights or obligations of Tenant or Landlord with respect to any actual or potential Terminated Space shall remain in full force and effect.

14.12 Indemnification . (a) Notwithstanding the existence of any insurance required to be provided hereunder (but not in duplication thereof), and without regard to the policy limits of any such insurance, and in addition to and not in limitation of any other indemnity provided in this Master Lease, and further notwithstanding any provision of the Purchase Agreement to the contrary, subject to the provisions of Section 14.12(b) , Tenant will protect, indemnify, save harmless and defend Landlord and Landlord Mortgagee and all Indemnified Parties from and against all liabilities, obligations, claims, damages, penalties, causes of action, costs, fees and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs, including the same incurred in the enforcement of such indemnity), to the maximum extent permitted by law, imposed upon or incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party by reason of: (i) any accident, injury to or death of persons or loss of or damage to property occurring on or about the Demised Premises, or any adjoining property under the exclusive control of Tenant, including any claims made by any Tenant Related User, expressly excluding any accident, injury, death or damage (as the case may be) occurring after the Actual Recapture Date with respect to any Recapture Space, or during or after Landlord’s completion of the Recapture Separation Work, or after the Additional Recapture Space Termination Date or after the recapture work with respect thereto except to the extent caused by negligence of Tenant or any Tenant Related User after the completion of Landlord’s Recapture Separation Work or other recapture and separation work, (ii) any use, misuse, nonuse, condition, maintenance, repair or Alteration by Tenant or anyone claiming by, through or under Tenant, including agents, contractors, invitees or visitors of the applicable Demised Premises or in

 

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connection with any Tenant’s Property, (iii) any failure on the part of Tenant or anyone claiming by, through or under Tenant to perform or comply with any of the terms of this Master Lease, (iv) any failure by Tenant to perform its obligations under the Lands’ End Agreements, the Sears Hometown License Agreement or any Sublease and any claims made thereunder, with respect to Tenant’s such failure to perform, (v) any contest by Tenant of any Legal Requirement or Insurance Requirement, regardless of whether the same is conducted in accordance with the terms hereof, (vi) any Retail Operations Claims, (vii) any Known Environmental Problems, (viii) without limitation of clause (i) above, any accident, injury, death or damage (as the case may be) occurring prior to the Commencement Date on or about any portion of the Property or (ix) without limitation of clause (i) above, any accident, injury, death or damage to any person occurring on or subsequent to the Commencement Date arising from any acts or omissions of Tenant or any Tenant’s Related Users. Any amounts which become payable by Tenant under this Section 14.12 shall bear interest (to the extent permitted by law) at the Overdue Rate from ten (10) business days following the date of demand to the date of payment. Tenant, at its expense, shall contest, resist and defend any such claim, action or proceeding asserted or instituted against any Indemnified Party (“ Claim ”). Nothing herein shall be construed as indemnifying an Indemnified Party against its own grossly negligent acts, or willful misconduct. If at any time an Indemnified Party shall have received written notice of or shall otherwise be aware of any Claim which is subject to indemnity under this Section 14.12 , such Indemnified Party shall give reasonably prompt written notice of such Claim to Tenant; provided , that (i) such Indemnified Party shall have no liability for an inadvertent failure to give notice to Tenant of any Claim and (ii) the inadvertent failure of such Indemnified Party to give such a notice to Tenant shall not limit the rights of such Indemnified Party or the obligations of Tenant with respect to such Claim, provided that Tenant shall have no obligation to indemnify or defend any Claim until it receives actual notice thereof (from any source). Tenant shall have the right to control the defense or settlement of any Claim, provided , that (A) if the compromise or settlement of any such Claim shall not result in the complete release of such Indemnified Party from the claim so compromised or settled, the compromise or settlement shall require the prior written approval of such Indemnified Party and (B) no such compromise or settlement shall include any admission of wrongdoing on the part of such Indemnified Party, provided , further , that an Indemnified Party shall have the right to approve counsel engaged to defend such Claim by Tenant and, at its election and sole cost and expense, shall have the right, but not the obligation, to participate fully in the defense of any Claim with counsel of its choice. Without limiting the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Master Lease, no Indemnified Party shall voluntarily agree to accept or incur liability for any Claim, or waive, toll or extend any applicable limitations period with respect to any Claim. Tenant’s liability under this Section 14.12 shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease.

(b) The following shall be expressly included in the foregoing indemnity by Tenant:

(i) “ Retail Operations Claims ,” which means any and all claims from or by all customers, licensees, invitees, employees and others for personal injury, property damage, product or service warranty, service, merchandise, products liability, and employment, consumer credit and vendor claims, and all claims and liabilities under applicable Legal Requirements, arising out of or relating to the retail business operations or other activities conducted on or

 

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about the Demised Premises by Tenant, Tenant’s Parent or any Affiliate of their Affiliates prior to the Commencement Date or at any time during the term of this Master Lease with respect to the Demised Premises, including without limitation claims from or by all customers, licensees, invitees, employees, Governmental Authorities or any other Person for, among other things, non-compliance with applicable law, personal injury, property damage, product or service warranty, service, merchandise, products liability, tax, employment (including any pension-related claims), consumer credit and vendor claims. For the avoidance of doubt, Retail Operations Claims shall include liabilities arising under tort claims by third parties as a result of violations of applicable Law, in each case, arising from the physical condition or use of the Demised Premises, but shall not include other (a) claims by Landlord, its Affiliates and their successors and assigns, relating directly and solely to the physical condition of the Demised Premises, other than Known Environmental Problems as provided in the Purchase Agreement and in this Master Lease and such other matters as provided hereunder, and (b) claims arising after the recapture by Landlord or its Affiliates of all or any portion of the Demised Premises or termination of this Master Lease with respect to all or any of the Demised Premises, except to the extent provided in this Master Lease.

(ii) “ Known Environmental Problems ,” which means (i) any violation of Environmental Laws or (ii) the use, spilling, leaking, emitting, injecting, escaping, abandoning, dumping, presence, storage, release, threatened release, discharge, migration of or exposure to Hazardous Substances on, in, under, from or around any Land or Improvements in violation of Environmental Laws or in excess of an applicable standard that would require investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to Environmental Law, in each case regardless of when such Hazardous Substances were first introduced in, on or about such Land, Improvements or Intangibles (each as defined in the Purchase Agreement) which (x) exists as of the Commencement Date, and/or (y) is caused by Tenant or any of Tenant’s Related Users, and in any case of (x) or (y) becomes known or disclosed (or is of public record) at any time during the Term or after the expiration or termination of this Master Lease. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Master Lease, Tenant’s liability for any violation of Environmental Laws shall be limited to Known Environmental Problems (including as set forth on Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter).

(c) To the extent not prohibited by Law, Tenant hereby expressly releases Landlord, and Landlord Mortgagee and all Indemnified Parties from, and waives all claims for, damage or injury to person, theft, loss of use of or damage to property and loss of business sustained by Tenant and resulting from the Demised Premises, including any Leased Improvements, Fixtures and Tenant’s Property or any part thereof or any equipment therein or appurtenances thereto becoming in disrepair, or resulting from any damage, accident or event in or about the Demised Premises, from the foregoing release all acts or omissions of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of Landlord, Landlord Mortgagee or any Indemnified Parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Section 14.12(c) shall apply particularly, but not exclusively, to: flooding, damage caused by Building equipment and apparatuses, water, snow, frost, steam, excessive heat or cold, broken glass, sewage, gas, odors, excessive noise or vibration, death, loss, conversion, theft, robbery, or the bursting or leaking of pipes, plumbing fixtures or sprinkler devices.

 

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ARTICLE XV

TENANT FINANCING

15.1 No Leasehold Mortgages . Under no circumstance may Tenant mortgage or otherwise encumber Tenant’s interest and estate in and to the Demised Premises as a whole (the “ Leasehold Estate ”) or in part under one or more mortgages, deeds of trust or other instruments, except upon the prior written consent of Landlord Mortgagee, which may be withheld, conditioned or delayed in Landlord Mortgagee’s sole discretion.

15.2 Rights of Lenders to Obtain Collateral . (a) Landlord agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to accommodate reasonable requests by Tenant and Tenant’s Affiliates relating to the financing arrangements of Tenant and its Affiliates, with respect to the rights of secured creditors to access the Demised Premises to take possession and dispose of assets of Tenant or its Affiliates pledged to such secured creditors.

(b) So long as the Lands’ End Agreements are in effect, Landlord agrees (with respect to the applicable Lands’ End Space), at no cost or expense to Landlord and without abrogating or limiting any other rights of Landlord under the Master Lease, to accommodate commercially reasonable requests of Lands’ End and its Affiliates relating to the financing arrangements of Lands’ End and its Affiliates with respect to the rights of secured creditors to access the applicable Lands’ End Space to take possession and dispense of assets of Lands’ End and its Affiliates pledged to such secured creditors.

ARTICLE XVI

NO MERGER

16.1 No Merger . There shall be no merger of this Master Lease or of the leasehold estate created hereby by reason of the fact that the same Person may acquire, own or hold, directly or indirectly, (i) this Master Lease or the leasehold estate created hereby or any interest in this Master Lease or such leasehold estate and (ii) the fee estate in the Demised Premises.

ARTICLE XVII

CONVEYANCE BY LANDLORD

17.1 Conveyance by Landlord . Without limiting any provisions herein with respect to any Successor Landlord, if Landlord or any successor owner of the Demised Premises shall convey the Demised Premises as an entirety, other than as security for a debt, and the grantee or transferee expressly assumes all obligations of Landlord arising after the date of the conveyance, Landlord or such successor owner, as the case may be, shall thereupon be released absolutely and unconditionally from all future liabilities and obligations of Landlord under this Master Lease arising or accruing from and after the date of such conveyance or other transfer and all such future liabilities and obligations shall thereupon be binding upon the new owner.

 

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ARTICLE XVIII

QUIET ENJOYMENT

18.1 Quiet Enjoyment . So long as Tenant shall pay the Rent as the same becomes due and shall comply with all of the other terms of this Master Lease and fully perform its obligations hereunder, Tenant shall peaceably and quietly have, hold and enjoy the Demised Premises for the Term, free of any claim or other action by Landlord or anyone claiming by, through or under Landlord, including without limitation any Landlord Mortgagee, but subject to all Encumbrances, and all liens and encumbrances after the date hereof provided for in this Master Lease or consented to by Tenant in writing where such consent is required, further subject to the terms and conditions of the SNDA. No failure by Landlord to comply with the foregoing covenant shall give Tenant any right to cancel or terminate this Master Lease or abate, reduce or make a deduction from or offset or receive a credit against the Rent or any other sum payable under this Master Lease, or to fail to perform any other obligation of Tenant hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall have the right, by separate and independent action, to pursue any claim it may have against Landlord as a result of a breach by Landlord of the covenant of quiet enjoyment contained in this Section 18.1 , subject to Section 21.3 .

ARTICLE XIX

NOTICES

19.1 Notices . Any notice, request or other communication required or desired to be given by any party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested, by hand delivery or express or overnight courier service, or by facsimile transmission, to the following address and/or facsimile number:

 

To Tenant: Sears Holdings Corporation
3100 W. Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48084-3163
Attention:

  Vice President of Real Estate

With a copy to: (which shall not constitute notice)

Sears Holdings Corporation

3100 W. Big Beaver Road

Troy, MI 48084-3163

Attention:

  Associate General Counsel of Real Estate

 

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To Landlord: Seritage Growth Properties
54 W. 40 th Street
Suite 10N
New York, NY 10018
Attention: Matthew Fernand

  Executive Vice President and General Counsel

With a copy to: (which shall not constitute notice):

Seritage Growth Properties

54 W. 40 th Street

Suite 10N

New York, NY 10018

Attention: Mary Rottler

  Executive Vice President of Leasing and Operations

or to such other address as either party may hereafter designate. Notice given in accordance with this Section 19.1 shall be deemed to have been given (a) if by hand or by express or overnight courier service, on the date of personal delivery, if such delivery is made on a Business Day, or if not, on the first (1st) Business Day after delivery; if delivery is refused, Notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivery was first attempted; and (b) if by mail, on the third (3rd) Business Day after mailing; and (c) if by facsimile transmission, upon confirmation that such Notice was received at the number specified by the party or in a Notice to the sender.

ARTICLE XX

ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNITY

20.1 Hazardous Substances . Tenant shall not allow any Hazardous Substance to be located in, on, under or about the Demised Premises or incorporated in any Property; provided , however , that Hazardous Substances may be brought, kept, used or disposed of in, on or about the Demised Premises in quantities and for purposes similar to those brought, kept, or properly used or disposed of, from, in, on or under similar facilities used for purposes similar to the uses conducted at the Stores in the ordinary course of business as of the date of this Master Lease and which are brought, kept, used and disposed of in compliance with Legal Requirements, including with respect to the operation of SACs. Tenant shall not allow the Demised Premises to be used as a waste disposal site, or for the management, use, generation, manufacturing, labeling, registration, production, handling, storage, release, discharge, emitting, injecting, abandoning, dumping, disposal, treatment, transportation or distribution or disposal of any Hazardous Substance, other than in the ordinary course of the business conducted at the Demised Premises in compliance with applicable Legal Requirements (“ Environmental Ordinary Course of Business ”).

20.2 Notices . Tenant shall provide to Landlord, within five (5) Business Days after Tenant’s receipt thereof, a copy of any notice or notification (a) from a government agency with respect to (i) any violation of a Legal Requirement (other than a Non-Release Violation (as hereinafter defined)) relating to Hazardous Substances located in, on, or under the Demised

 

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Premises or any adjacent property, (ii) any enforcement, cleanup, removal, or other governmental or regulatory action instituted, completed or threatened with respect to the Demised Premises; (b) with respect to any reports made to any federal, state or local environmental agency arising out of or in connection with any Hazardous Substance in, on, under or removed or migrating from the Demised Premises, including any complaints, notices, warnings or assertions of violations in connection therewith, other than with respect to any Non-Release Violations and (c) with respect to any claim made by any Person against Tenant or the Demised Premises relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss, or injury resulting from or claimed to result from any Hazardous Substance.

20.3 Remediation . (a) Tenant shall diligently and in good faith perform all remediation work described on Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter and shall perform the same by the deadlines set forth on Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter, subject to Force Majeure; provided , that if Tenant is unable to remediate any applicable condition within the required time period notwithstanding its use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, then, so long as (i) Tenant diligently and expeditiously proceeds to complete such remediation and (ii) the failure to complete remediation does not (A) involve matters imminent to protection of human health and safety, (B) does not endanger any tenant, patron or other occupant of the Property or the general public and (C) does not materially and adversely affect the value of the applicable Demised Premises or result in a default by Landlord under any third-party lease or Operating Agreement, such time period shall be extended to such further date as may be requested by Tenant and approved by Landlord in its reasonable discretion. Additionally, if Tenant (a) is or becomes aware of any Known Environmental Problem that involves the presence, a release or poses a potential release of a Hazardous Substance or material harm to human health or safety or for which there is a requirement under applicable Environmental Law to conduct an investigation or remediation, (b) receives notice from a government agency of a violation of any Legal Requirement relating to any Hazardous Substance (excepting administrative. ministerial, recordkeeping, product labelling or information violations, and similar violations which do not involve any presence, release or potential release of Hazardous Substances, and violations which are promptly corrected upon discovery, individually a “Non-Release Violation” and collectively, “ Non-Release Violations ”) in, on, under or about the Demised Premises, or any proximate property which is caused or alleged to be caused by Tenant, or any of Tenant’s Related Users, or (c) if Tenant, Landlord or the Demised Premises becomes subject to any order of any federal, state or local agency to repair, investigate, close, detoxify, decontaminate or otherwise remediate the Demised Premises, or if Landlord becomes aware of the circumstances described in clauses (a) through (c), Tenant shall promptly notify Landlord of such event (or Landlord shall promptly notify Tenant of such event (as applicable)), and, at its sole cost and expense, Tenant shall cure such violation or effect such repair, investigation, closure, detoxification, decontamination or other remediation as is required by applicable Environmental Law. If Tenant fails to implement and diligently pursue any such cure, investigation, repair, closure, detoxification, decontamination or other remediation to the satisfaction of the applicable regulatory authority as evidenced by the issuance of a “no further action/remediation” letter or similar instrument, Landlord shall have the right, but not the obligation, to carry out such action upon reasonable prior notice to Tenant and to recover from Tenant all of Landlord’s costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith in accordance with applicable Environmental Law.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary contained in Sections 1.6 , 1.7 , 1.8 , or 1.9 , or elsewhere in this Master Lease:

(i) as of the Commencement Date, Landlord acknowledges receipt of environmental reports which disclose the existence of various Known Environmental Problems with respect to various Properties described on Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter. Landlord understands and agrees that conditions may be such that remediation of such Known Environmental Problems, may not be completed within the time frames otherwise designated in this Master Lease, including by reason of the nature and extent of such Known Environmental Problems; and

(ii) Landlord agrees that Tenant will be required to commence remediation activities with respect to any Known Environmental Problems promptly after (x) Landlord’s and Tenant’s agreement on the appropriate remediation plan therefor in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements with respect to matters disclosed in such environmental reports as set forth on Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter, and to complete remediation of Known Environmental Problems within a reasonable period of time and using reasonable diligence in accordance with the standard industry practices and in conformity with applicable Legal Requirements, including after the expiration or termination of this Master Lease with respect to any individual Demised Premises.

(c) To the extent that Tenant shall fund any Landlord Mortgage reserve for environmental remediation in accordance with Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter, Tenant’s obligation to perform the environmental remediation relating to such reserves shall be conditioned upon Landlord’s release of such funds (or an equivalent amount) to Tenant in connection with the performance of such work so long as Tenant has complied with its obligations under Section 21.26 . Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent funds have been released from such reserve but are not sufficient to complete the environmental remediation in accordance with Schedule 20.3 , Tenant shall remain obligated to complete such environmental remediation at Tenant’s sole cost and expense.

20.4 Indemnity . Tenant shall indemnify, defend, protect, save, hold harmless, and reimburse Landlord and all Indemnified Parties for, from and against any and all costs, losses (including, losses of use or economic benefit or diminution in value), liabilities, damages, assessments, lawsuits, deficiencies, demands, claims and expenses (collectively, “ Environmental Costs ”), whether or not arising out of third-party claims and regardless of whether liability without fault is imposed, or sought to be imposed, on Landlord, or on the Demised Premises, incurred in connection with, arising out of, resulting from or incident to, directly or indirectly, any and all Known Environmental Problems before, during or after the Term, including (i) the production, management, use, generation, manufacture, labeling, registration, storage, treatment, transporting, disposal, discharge, spilling, leaking, emitting, injecting, escaping, abandoning, dumping, release or other handling or disposition of any Hazardous Substances from, in, on or about the Demised Premises (collectively, “ Handling ”), including the effects of such Handling of or exposure to any Hazardous Substances on any Person or property within or outside the boundaries of the Demised Premises, (ii) the presence of any Hazardous Substances in, on, under

 

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or about the Demised Premises and (iii) the violation of any Environmental Law. “Environmental Costs” include interest, costs of response, removal, remedial action, containment, cleanup, investigation, design, engineering and construction, damages (including actual and consequential damages) for personal injuries and for injury to, destruction of or loss of property or natural resources, relocation or replacement costs, penalties, fines, charges or expenses, attorneys’ fees, expert fees, consultation fees, and court costs, and all amounts paid in investigating, defending or settling any of the foregoing.

20.5 Environmental Inspections . (a) In the event that Landlord has a reasonable basis to believe that Tenant is in breach of its obligations under this Article XX , or that there may exist any violation of Environmental Law or presence of Hazardous Substances in excess of an applicable standard that would require investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to Environmental Law in, on, from, under or about any Demised Premises, or if Landlord desires to do so in connection with the prospective sale, leasing, financing, development or development of any portion of the Property (including the Demised Premises), Landlord shall have the right, from time to time, during normal business hours and upon not less than fifteen (15) days’ Notice to Tenant, except in the case of an emergency, in which event no notice shall be required, to conduct (or cause to be conducted) an inspection of the Demised Premises to determine the existence of such violation of Environmental Law or such presence of Hazardous Substances. During said 15-day period, at Tenant’s request Landlord’s environmental representatives shall meet and confer in good faith with Tenant’s environmental representatives, in an attempt to agree on a potential plan of action for any such inspection, including testing, sampling and monitoring, in a commercially reasonable and cost-effective manner. At the expiration of such 15-day period (except in the case of an emergency), Landlord shall have the right to enter and inspect the Demised Premises, conduct any testing, monitoring, sampling and analyses (collectively, “ Inspections ”) it deems reasonably necessary and shall have the right to inspect materials brought into the Demised Premises, subject to any agreed plan of action with Tenant (if any). Landlord may, in its reasonable discretion, retain such experts to conduct the Inspections and to prepare a written report in connection therewith. All reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Landlord under this Section 20.5 with respect to any Known Environmental Problems shall be paid on demand as Additional Charges by Tenant to Landlord, any failure to pay the same shall bear interest and be subject to terms of conduct by Tenant as provided with respect to Environmental Costs in Section 20.4 . Failure to conduct an environmental inspection or to detect unfavorable conditions if such inspection is conducted shall in no fashion be intended as a release of any liability for Known Environmental Problems. Tenant shall remain liable for any environmental condition related to or having occurred during its tenancy and any Known Environmental Problem regardless of when such conditions are discovered and regardless of whether or not Landlord conducts an environmental inspection at the termination of this Master Lease. The obligations set forth in this Article XX shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Master Lease with respect to any or all Demised Premises for any reason whatsoever.

(b) All Inspections shall be conducted during normal business hours (except in an emergency) and a representative of Tenant shall have the right to be present (except in an emergency if no notice is practicable). Landlord and its representatives shall take reasonable care (i) to minimize disturbance of the operations of the Demised Premises, in the course of any Inspections, except in the case of an emergency, and (ii) not to cause any damage or injury to the

 

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Demised Premises or Tenant’s Property, and Landlord shall be responsible for all negligent acts and omissions for all representatives it brings upon the Demised Premises; provided , that Landlord shall not be responsible for any claims, costs, expenses, loss or damages for any existing environmental conditions or matters except to the extent that the same may be exacerbated by Landlord or its representatives by such negligence. Landlord shall maintain (or cause its contractors and experts to maintain) customary insurance coverage with customary limits with respect to all Inspections.

20.6 Additional Provisions . With respect to the Demised Premises and all SACs, Tenant shall comply with all of the additional terms, conditions and provisions set forth on Schedule 20.6 , subject to the express provisions of this Article XX .

20.7 Survival . Tenant’s liability under this Article XX shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Master Lease.

ARTICLE XXI

MISCELLANEOUS

21.1 Survival . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Master Lease, all terms, conditions, covenants and provisions with respect to Tenant’s obligations hereunder (including, without limitation, all claims against, and liabilities and indemnities of, Tenant) arising or accruing prior to or on the expiration or earlier termination of this Master Lease shall survive such expiration or termination of this Master Lease. For avoidance of doubt, no termination of this Master Lease with respect to part or all of any one or more Demised Premises at any one or more Properties in accordance with the terms of this Master Lease, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, shall have no impact on the effectiveness of this Master Lease with respect to any Demised Premises or Properties which have not been so terminated.

21.2 Partial Invalidity . If any provision, term, covenant or condition of this Master Lease or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance shall, to any extent, be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or any arbitrator to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Master Lease, or the application of such provision, term, covenant or condition to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby and each provision, term, covenant or condition of this Master Lease shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.

21.3 Non-Recourse . Tenant specifically agrees to look solely to the equity interest of Landlord in the Demised Premises as it exists from time to time for the satisfaction of any claim or liability of Landlord under this Master Lease, and Tenant shall not institute any action or proceeding against, nor seek to recover any judgment from, Landlord personally or against any Property, but Landlord’s sole liability hereunder shall be limited solely to its equity interest in the Demised Premises from time to time, and no recourse under or in respect of this Master Lease shall be had against any other assets of Landlord or against any Person having an interest in Landlord or any such Person’s assets whatsoever. Without limiting the foregoing, it is specifically agreed that no constituent partner, member or shareholder or owner of any beneficial or equitable interest in Landlord or any manager, managing member, director, officer or employee of Landlord shall ever be personally liable nor shall any personal assets of any such Person ever

 

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be liable for any such claim, liability or judgment or for the payment of any monetary obligation to Tenant. Furthermore, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, in no event shall Landlord ever be liable to Tenant nor shall Tenant ever be liable to Landlord for any indirect, speculative or consequential damages suffered by Tenant or Landlord, as the case may be, from whatever cause.

21.4 Successors and Assigns . This Master Lease shall be binding upon Landlord and its successors and assigns, and upon Tenant and its permitted successors and assigns pursuant to Article IX .

21.5 Governing Law . THIS MASTER LEASE WAS NEGOTIATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WHICH STATE THE PARTIES AGREE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL JURISDICTIONAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE PARTIES AND TO THE UNDERLYING TRANSACTION EMBODIED HEREBY. ACCORDINGLY, IN ALL RESPECTS THIS MASTER LEASE (AND ANY AGREEMENT FORMED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS HEREOF) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OR CONFLICTS OF LAW) AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EXCEPT THAT ALL PROVISIONS HEREOF RELATING TO THE CREATION OF THE LEASEHOLD ESTATE AND ALL REMEDIES SET FORTH IN ARTICLE XIV RELATING TO RECOVERY OF POSSESSION OF THE DEMISED PREMISES (SUCH AS AN ACTION FOR UNLAWFUL DETAINER, IN REM ACTION OR OTHER SIMILAR ACTION) (COLLECTIVELY, “ LOCAL REMEDIES ”) SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED ACCORDING TO, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE DEMISED PREMISES IS LOCATED.

21.6 Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS MASTER LEASE (INCLUDING ANY BREACH HEREOF) OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, AND AGREES TO COMMENCE ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ONLY IN SUCH COURTS, EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOCAL REMEDIES. EACH PARTY FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY UNITED STATES REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY IN SUCH COURTS, AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH OF LANDLORD AND TENANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS HAD THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE WITH RESPECT TO ITS

 

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RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE. EACH OF LANDLORD AND TENANT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION (i) ARISING UNDER THIS MASTER LEASE (OR ANY AGREEMENT FORMED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS HEREOF) OR (ii) IN ANY MANNER CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF LANDLORD AND TENANT WITH RESPECT TO THIS MASTER LEASE (OR ANY AGREEMENT FORMED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS HEREOF) OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREINAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; EACH OF LANDLORD AND TENANT HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT EITHER PARTY MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS SECTION 21.6 WITH ANY COURT AS CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF EACH SUCH PARTY TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

21.7 Entire Agreement . This Master Lease and the Exhibits and Schedules hereto, the Side Letter and the SNDA constitute the entire and final agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be changed or modified except by an agreement in writing signed by the parties, and no such change or modification to any specific provision of this Master Lease shall be effective without the explicit reference to the applicable Section by number and paragraph (if any). Landlord and Tenant hereby agree that all prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings, agreements or negotiations relative to the leasing of the Demised Premises or the execution of this Master Lease are merged and integrated into, and revoked and superseded, by this Master Lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Master Lease shall govern and supersede the Purchase Agreement in all respects with regard to the matters referred to in the Purchase Agreement in Article V and Section 4.3 thereof.

21.8 Headings . All titles and headings to sections, subsections, paragraphs or other divisions of this Master Lease are only for the convenience of the parties and shall not be construed to have any effect or meaning with respect to the other contents of such sections, subsections, paragraphs or other divisions, such other content being controlling as to the agreement among the parties hereto.

21.9 Counterparts . This Master Lease may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be a valid and binding original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

21.10 Interpretation . Both Landlord and Tenant have been represented by counsel and this Master Lease and every provision hereof has been freely and fairly negotiated. Consequently, all provisions of this Master Lease shall be interpreted according to their fair meaning and shall not be strictly construed against any party.

 

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21.11 Time of Essence . TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS MASTER LEASE AND EACH PROVISION HEREOF IN WHICH TIME OF PERFORMANCE IS ESTABLISHED.

21.12 Further Assurances . The Parties agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver to each other Party and/or such other Persons as a Party may request, all documents reasonably requested by any Party to give effect to the provisions and intent of this Master Lease.

21.13 Landlord’s Right to Inspect and Show the Demised Premises . In addition to all other rights of Landlord hereunder, upon reasonable advance notice to Tenant which may be given verbally to the Store manager with not less than forty-eight (48) hours’ notice (except in the case of an emergency), Landlord and its authorized representatives shall have the right to inspect the Demised Premises and to show the Demised Premises to potential purchasers, tenants and lenders at all reasonable times during usual business hours. Landlord and its representatives shall take reasonable care to minimize disturbance of the operations of the Demised Premises, except in the case of an emergency, and not to cause any damage or injury to the Demised Premises or Tenant’s Property, and Landlord shall be responsible for all acts and omissions for all representatives it brings on the Demised Premises. Tenant and its representatives shall have the right to be present during any and all such inspections.

21.14 Acceptance of Surrender . No surrender to Landlord of this Master Lease or of the Demised Premises or any part thereof, or of any interest therein, shall be valid or effective until and unless agreed to and accepted in writing by Landlord, and no act by Landlord or any representative or agent of Landlord, other than written acceptance by Landlord, shall constitute an acceptance of any such surrender.

21.15 Non-Waiver . The failure of Landlord or Tenant to insist, in any one or more instances, upon a strict performance of any of the covenants, conditions, terms or provisions of this Master Lease, or to exercise any election, option, right or remedy herein contained (collectively, “ Lease Provisions ”), shall not be construed as a waiver or a relinquishment of such Lease Provisions or a waiver for the future of any of the same or any other Lease Provisions, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect. The receipt by Landlord of Rent or payment of Rent by Tenant, with knowledge of the breach of any Lease Provisions for which Tenant is obligated or liable, shall not be deemed a waiver of such breach. No waiver by Landlord or Tenant of any Lease Provisions shall be deemed to have been made unless expressed in writing and signed by Landlord or Tenant, as the case may be.

21.16 Accord and Satisfaction . Without limiting the foregoing provisions of Section 21.15 , no payment by Tenant or receipt by Landlord of a lesser amount than the full amount of Rent herein stipulated shall be deemed to be other than on account of the earliest stipulated or required payments of Rent, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any check or any letter accompanying any check or confirmation of any Wire Transfer or other payment as Rent be deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may accept such check, Wire Transfer or other payment without prejudice to Landlord’s right to recover the balance of such Rent (with late charges and interest as provided herein) or pursue any other remedy provided in this Master Lease or at law or in equity.

 

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21.17 Recording . Tenant shall not record this Master Lease without the written consent of Landlord, but Tenant may record any SNDA.

21.18 Liens . Subject to the express provisions hereof with respect to Tenant’s (or an Affiliate of Tenant’s, as the case may be) performance of Recapture Restoration Work and/or Recapture Related Repairs which has been required and authorized by Landlord in accordance with Section 1.6 or Section 10.1 (“ Landlord Authorized Work ”), Tenant shall have no power to do any act or make any contract which may create or be the foundation for any lien, mortgage or other encumbrance upon the estate of Landlord or of any interest of Landlord in the Demised Premises or the Property, or upon or in the building or buildings or improvements thereon or hereafter erected or placed thereon, it being agreed that should Tenant cause any improvements, alterations or repairs to be made to the Demised Premises, or material furnished or labor performed therein, or thereon, except for Landlord Authorized Work, neither Landlord nor the Demised Premises nor any improvements shall under any circumstances be liable for the payment of any expense incurred or for the value of any work done or material furnished to the Demised Premises or any part thereof. Subject to Landlord’s payment obligations for any Landlord Authorized Work, all such improvements, alterations, repairs, materials and labor shall be done at Tenant’s expense and Tenant shall be solely and wholly responsible to contractors, laborers and material men furnishing labor and material to said premises and building or buildings and improvements or any part thereof and all such laborers, material men and contractors are hereby charged with notice that they must look solely and wholly to Tenant and Tenant’s interest in the Demised Premises to secure the payment of any bills for work done and materials furnished.

In addition to all other rights and remedies of Landlord, in the event that a mechanic’s lien shall be filed against the Demised Premises or Tenant’s interest therein or against the Property or any applicable Shopping Center or any part thereof as the result of any repairs, fixturing, alterations or other work undertaken by Tenant (subject to Landlord’s payment obligations with respect to Landlord Authorized Work), Tenant shall, within twenty-one (21) days (or such shorter period as may be required pursuant to the terms of any REA) after receiving notice of such lien, discharge such lien either by payment of the indebtedness due or by filing a bond (as provided by statute) or by providing a surety bond for one hundred twenty five percent (120%) of the amount of such lien as security therefor, or a title indemnity from a nationally recognized title insurer. In the event that Tenant shall fail to bond or discharge such lien, or provide such security or title indemnity for such lien, provided , that Landlord has complied with its payment obligations with respect to Landlord Authorized Work, Landlord may, but shall not be obligated to, in addition to all other rights and remedies in this Master Lease, have the right to procure such discharge by filing such bond and Tenant shall pay the cost of such bond to Landlord (together with interest at the Overdue Rate) as Additional Charges upon the first day that Rent shall be due thereafter.

21.19 Cumulative Remedies . Each and every one of the rights, remedies and benefits provided by this Lease to Landlord and Tenant shall be cumulative and shall not be exclusive of any other such rights, remedies and benefits allowed by law.

21.20 Rules and Regulations . From and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date, Landlord reserves the right to promulgate reasonable, nondiscriminatory rules and regulations from time to time pertaining to the Demised Premises and the Property; provided , that the same

 

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do not unreasonably or materially interfere with Tenant’s business or access to the Demised Premises or materially increase Tenant’s obligations or materially decrease Tenant’s rights or remedies hereunder. Tenant agrees to comply with and observe all such nondiscriminatory rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with this Section 21.20 and as to which it has received adequate prior Notice providing Tenant with sufficient time to comply with such rules. Failure by Tenant to keep and observe such rules and regulations shall constitute a breach of this Master Lease as if the same were contained herein as covenants of Tenant.

21.21 Confidentiality and Media Releases . The Parties hereby agree not to disclose any of the terms of this Master Lease to any person or entity not a party to this Master Lease, nor shall either Party, without the prior written consent of the other, issue any press or other media releases or make any public statements relating to the terms or provisions of this Master Lease; provided , however , that either Party may make necessary disclosures to (i) potential lenders, investors, purchasers, subtenants, assignees, attorneys, advisors, consultants, accountants and economic development authorities and/or as may be required by applicable laws or court order, so long as such Parties agree to keep all of the terms of this Master Lease strictly confidential to the extent practicable, and except as may be required pursuant to applicable law, or (ii) any lender, investor or prospective investor, rating agency, counsel, advisor, consultant or accountant in connection with a securitization and/or sale of a loan.

21.22 Authority . The Parties hereto represent and warrant to each other that the person(s) executing this Master Lease on behalf of Landlord or Tenant, as the case may be, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or other action of Landlord or Tenant, as the case may be, so that upon such execution this Master Lease will be binding upon and enforceable against each Party in accordance with its terms, subject to general equitable principles and the laws of insolvency and bankruptcy. Landlord and Tenant agree to furnish to the other Party from time to time upon request such written proof of such authorization as either Party may reasonably request.

21.23 Overdue Rate . In addition to all other rights and remedies of Landlord in this Master Lease, in the event that Landlord shall incur any cost or expense on behalf of Tenant (including curing or payment or discharge of any liability or obligation of Tenant or any breach or default by Tenant hereunder), whether or not there is an Event of Default, which is not paid to Landlord by Tenant within five (5) Business Days of Landlord’s demand therefor accompanied by an invoice in reasonable detail, the same shall bear interest at the Overdue Rate from the date of demand until paid in full and shall constitute Additional Charges.

21.24 Delivery of Information . (a) Within seventy-five (75) days after the end of each Fiscal Year and within forty (40) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of Tenant’s Parent during the Term, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year or quarter, as the case may be, then ended.

(b) Tenant shall also deliver the following additional financial information to Landlord (in the forms provided in Schedule 21.24 ):

(i) no later than the time of delivery of Financial Statements pursuant to clause (a) above, statements of EBITDA and EBITDAR with respect to each Store, and all Stores Collectively for the four-quarter period then ended;

 

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(ii) on a monthly basis, within thirty (30) days after the end of each month during the Term, (x) with respect to each Sears Store or Kmart Store, monthly sales and profit and loss reports with respect to each Demised Premises and (y) with respect to each Sears Store or Kmart Store as to which the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date has not yet occurred, a certification as follows: that Tenant is current in its payment of all CAM Expenses, Utility Charges and Operating Expenses (if any) payable by Tenant pursuant to this Master Lease in accordance with all applicable grace periods and no such payments are overdue in excess of such grace periods except for matters being disputed by Tenant in good faith as described on a schedule to such certificate;

(iii) prompt notice (containing reasonable detail) of any material changes in the financial or physical condition of any Property, including any termination of a material lease and any termination or cancellation of terrorism or other insurance required by the Landlord Mortgage;

(iv) as promptly as reasonably practicable, all such other financial statements and information as Landlord may reasonably request, including to enable Landlord to comply with all voluntary and mandatory financial reporting requirements of Landlord under all Legal Requirements and under the Landlord Mortgage, including with respect to any requirements of any member of Landlord (or any Affiliate of any member of Landlord), their successors, and assigns, with respect to status as a REIT; and

(v) on a quarterly basis, within forty (40) days after the end of each calendar quarter during the Term, with respect to each Sears Store or Kmart Store reported in Section 21.24(b)(ii)(y), a statement describing all CAM Expenses, Utility Charges and Operating Expenses (if any) paid by Tenant pursuant to this Master Lease.

Subject to the next succeeding sentence, all such Financial Statements and additional financial information, and information derivative therefrom (collectively, “ Tenant Confidential Information ”, shall be held strictly confidential by Landlord and shall not be shared or disclosed by Landlord (except to its members, employees, representatives, agents, accountants and attorneys and Landlord shall cause its members, employees, representatives, agents, accountants and attorneys to not disclose the same) until and unless Tenant has made such information public and except pursuant to Legal Requirements or legal process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord may disclose Tenant Confidential Information to (i) the agents and actual or prospective lenders in respect of the Landlord Mortgage in accordance with the Landlord Mortgage Documents, (ii) any lender, investor or prospective investor, rating agency, counsel, advisor, consultant or accountant in connection with a securitization and/or sale of a loan, and (iii) actual or prospective equity investors in or purchasers of equity interests in Landlord, Guarantor or this Master Lease or any interests therein who have executed with Tenant a customary confidentiality agreement in a form that has been reasonably approved by Tenant for this purpose.

 

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21.25 Puerto Rico Premises . Landlord covenants and agrees with Tenant, its successors and assigns, that Landlord, its successors and assigns, shall not (and shall not have any power or authority to) sell, convey, lease, assign, or otherwise transfer (“ Sale ”), or enter into any agreement, contract, agreement for deed, lease, agreement for lease, or any option, right of first refusal, right of first offer, or right of first negotiation for with respect to any Sale (“ Sale Agreement ”), except with respect to (i) a Landlord Mortgage, and (ii) unless Tenant has a right not to be disturbed based on the application of the terms of Section 4 of the SNDA, any foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or other exercise of rights or remedies under such Landlord Mortgage and any subsequent sale by Landlord Mortgagee or a purchaser at foreclosure, with respect to (or any real property interest in) any Demised Premises or portion thereof located in Puerto Rico (“ Puerto Rico Premises ”), unless all of the following have been strictly complied with, failure of any of which shall render any Sale to any third-party null and void ab initio:

(a) Any such Sale and each such Sale Agreement shall be made expressly subject to this Master Lease and all of Tenant’s rights, remedies and privileges hereunder with respect to the applicable Puerto Rico Premises, including the Tenant PR ROFO Rights set forth below (“ Tenant PR Rights ”);

(b) Each buyer, purchaser, lessee or other transferee and each other counter-party (other than Landlord or its successor or assign, collectively, “ Sale Counter-Party ”) to each Sale or Sale Agreement shall absolutely waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all rights to disavow any Tenant PR Rights by reason of the failure of Landlord or Tenant to record any lease or notice of lease with respect to the Puerto Rico Premises or this Master Lease;

(c) Each Sale Counter-Party shall agree in writing for the benefit of Tenant, its successors and assigns (each of whom shall be deemed third-party beneficiaries) that each such subsequent Sale or Sale Agreement entered into by any such Sale Counter-Party shall be expressly subject to all of the Tenant PR Rights, and all of Tenant’s PR ROFO Rights; and

(d) Not less than thirty (30) days prior to any proposed Sale or the proposed execution of any Sale Agreement, Landlord shall have provided Tenant with Notice of its intent to enter into a Sale or Sale Agreement and Tenant’s right to offer to purchase the Puerto Rico Premises which is the subject of such Sale or Sale Agreement, followed by a thirty (30)-day period of good faith negotiation between Landlord and Tenant with regard to Tenant’s purchase of such Puerto Rico Premises. If Tenant does not exercise such right to offer to purchase or the parties do not reach agreement during such 30-day negotiation period, Landlord shall provide Tenant with ten (10) days’ prior Notice of any subsequent Sale and any Sale Agreement with respect to such Puerto Rico Premises, which Notice shall include evidence of Landlord’s compliance with all of the foregoing clauses (a)-(c), and all of Tenant’s PR ROFO Rights in this clause (d). This right of offer by Tenant shall apply with respect to each separate Puerto Rico Premises; provided however , Tenant’s right of offer shall automatically be waived with respect to each Sale which otherwise fully complies with the foregoing clauses (a)-(c). In furtherance of said Tenant’s right of offer, the Parties are recording a deed with respect thereto in the Registry of the Property of Puerto Rico. Landlord covenants and agrees to grant an additional ten (10)-year

 

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right of offer with the same terms and conditions provided herein every nine (9) years during the Term of this Master Lease with respect to any of the Puerto Rico Premises (including all renewal terms), commencing on the first day of the ninth (9 th ) anniversary of the Commencement Date and continuing on the first day of each ninth (9 th ) Lease Year thereafter, and the Parties covenant and agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver (in proper form for recording) without charge to either Party corresponding deeds to record the aforementioned Tenant’s right of offer over the Puerto Rico Premises in the Registry of the Property of Puerto Rico. Tenant’s rights in this clause (d) are referred to as the “ Tenant PR ROFO Rights ”).

21.26 Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Work . In connection with Tenant’s work pursuant to Schedules 10.1 and 20.3 to the Side Letter, Tenant has provided funds to Landlord which in turn have been provided by Landlord to Landlord Mortgagee to be held in and disbursed from the Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account (as defined in the Landlord Mortgage Documents) in accordance with the terms of the Landlord Mortgage Documents. In connection with Landlord satisfying the conditions set forth in the Landlord Mortgage Documents for the release and disbursement of such funds to Tenant (which is a condition to Tenant’s performance or causing the performance of the work), Tenant agrees to reasonably cooperate with Landlord in good faith to permit Landlord to satisfy the conditions to disbursement of the reserved funds set forth in Section 3.7(c) of the loan agreement that is part of the Landlord Mortgage Documents.

ARTICLE XXII

MEMORANDUM OF LEASE

22.1 Memorandum of Lease . Landlord and Tenant covenant and agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver a short-form memorandum of this Master Lease, in form suitable for recording under the laws of each state in which the applicable Demised Premises is located, at such time as Tenant has made an initial assignment of this Master Lease to an Affiliate, or at any other time upon the request of Tenant. From time to time, upon request of either Party, the Parties shall execute, acknowledge and deliver amendments to such memoranda of lease (a) to reflect the termination of this Master Lease with respect to any Properties as provided herein, and upon the final expiration or earlier termination of this Master Lease to the Demised Premises, and (b) as otherwise may be appropriate. Tenant shall pay all costs and expenses of recording such Memorandum of Lease and any further memoranda of lease (except in connection with any New Lease) or in connection with any Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space.

ARTICLE XXIII

BROKERS

23.1 Brokers . Tenant warrants that it has not had any contact or dealings with any real estate broker, agent or finder or other Person which would give rise to the payment of any fee, brokerage commission or other payment in connection with this Master Lease, and Tenant shall indemnify, protect, hold harmless and defend Landlord and all Indemnified Parties from and against any claims, liability, damages, fees, costs or expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs (including the same incurred in the enforcement of each indemnity) with respect to any fee, brokerage commission or other payment arising out of any act or omission of Tenant. Landlord warrants that it has not had any contact or dealings with any real estate broker,

 

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agent, finder or other Person which would give rise to the payment of any fee, brokerage commission or other payment in connection with this Master Lease, and Landlord shall indemnify, protect, hold harmless and defend Tenant from and against any claims, liability, damages, fees, costs or expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs (including the same incurred in the enforcement of such indemnity) with respect to any fee, brokerage commission or other payment arising out of any act or omission of Landlord.

ARTICLE XXIV

ANTI-TERRORISM

24.1 Anti-Terrorism Representations . Tenant hereby represents and warrants that neither Tenant, nor, to the knowledge of Tenant, any persons or entities holding any legal or beneficial interest whatsoever in Tenant, are (a) the target of any sanctions program that is established by Executive Order of the President or published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”); (b) designated by the President or OFAC pursuant to the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. § 5, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-06, the Patriot Act, Public Law 107-56, Executive Order 13224 (September 23, 2001) or any Executive Order of the President issued pursuant to such statutes; or (c) named on the following list that is published by OFAC: “List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” (collectively, “ Prohibited Persons ”). Tenant hereby represents and warrants to Landlord that no funds tendered to Landlord by Tenant under the terms of this Master Lease are or will be directly or, to Tenant’s knowledge, indirectly derived from activities that may contravene U.S. federal, state or international laws and regulations, including anti-money laundering laws. If the foregoing representations are untrue at any time during the Term and Landlord suffers actual damages as a result thereof, an Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred, without the necessity of notice to Tenant.

Tenant will not during the Term of this Master Lease knowingly engage in any transactions or dealings, or knowingly be otherwise associated, with any Prohibited Persons in connection with the use or occupancy of the Demised Premises. A breach of the representations contained in this Section 24.1 by Tenant as a result of which Landlord suffers actual damages shall constitute a material breach of this Master Lease and shall entitle Landlord to any and all remedies available hereunder, or at law or in equity.

ARTICLE XXV

REIT PROTECTION

25.1 REIT Protection . (a) The Parties hereto intend that Rent and all other amounts paid by Tenant hereunder will qualify as “rents from real property” within the meaning of Section 856(d) of the Code, or any similar or successor provision thereto and this Master Lease shall be interpreted consistently with this intent.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Master Lease, Tenant shall not without Landlord’s advance written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) (i) sublet, assign or enter into a management arrangement for the Demised Premises on any basis such that the rental or other amounts to be paid by the subtenant, assignee or manager thereunder would be based, in whole or in part, on either (x) the income or

 

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profits derived by the business activities of the subtenant, assignee or manager or (y) any other formula or allocation such that any portion of any amount received by Landlord (or received or deemed to be received for U.S. federal income tax purposes by any member of Landlord (or any Affiliate of any member of Landlord)) would fail to qualify as “rents from real property” within the meaning of Section 856(d) of the Code, or any similar or successor provision thereto; (ii) furnish or render any services to the subtenant, assignee or manager or manage or operate the Demised Premises so subleased, assigned or managed; (iii) sublet or assign to, or enter into a management arrangement for the Demised Premises with, any Person (other than a “taxable REIT subsidiary” (within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code)) in which Tenant, Landlord or any member of Landlord (or any Affiliate of any member of Landlord) owns an interest, directly or indirectly (by applying constructive ownership rules set forth in Section 856(d)(5) of the Code); or (iv) sublet, assign or enter into a management arrangement for the Demised Premises in any other manner which could cause any portion of the amounts received by Landlord (or received or deemed to be received for U.S. federal income tax purposes by any member of Landlord (or any Affiliate of any member of Landlord)) pursuant to this Master Lease or any sublease to fail to qualify as “rents from real property” within the meaning of Section 856(d) of the Code, or any similar or successor provision thereto, or which could cause any other income of Landlord or any member of Landlord (or any Affiliate of any member of Landlord) to fail to qualify as income described in Section 856(c)(2) of the Code. The requirements of this Section 25.1(b) shall likewise apply to any further subleasing by any subtenant.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Master Lease, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Landlord, in its sole discretion, may assign this Master Lease or any interest herein to another Person (including, without limitation, a “taxable REIT subsidiary” (within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code)) to maintain the status of any member of Landlord (or any Affiliate of any member of Landlord) as a “real estate investment trust” (within the meaning of Section 856(a) of the Code); provided , however , that Landlord shall be required to (i) comply with any applicable legal requirements related to such transfer and (ii) give Tenant notice of any such assignment; and provided , further , that any such assignment shall be subject to all of the rights of Tenant hereunder.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Master Lease, upon request of Landlord, Tenant shall cooperate with Landlord in good faith and at no cost or expense to Tenant, and provide such documentation and/or information as may be in Tenant’s possession or under Tenant’s control and otherwise readily available to Tenant as shall be reasonably requested by Landlord in connection with verification of “real estate investment trust” (within the meaning of Section 856(a) of the Code) compliance requirements. Tenant shall take such reasonable action as may be requested by Landlord from time to time to ensure compliance with the Internal Revenue Service requirement that Rent allocable for purposes of Section 856 of the Code to personal property, if any, at the beginning and end of a calendar year does not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the total Rent due hereunder as long as such compliance does not (i) increase Tenant’s monetary obligations under this Master Lease, (ii) materially and adversely increase Tenant’s nonmonetary obligations under this Master Lease or (iii) materially diminish Tenant’s rights under this Master Lease.

 

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ARTICLE XXVI

FAIR MARKET RENT—APPRAISAL

26.1 Fair Market Rent . In the event that it becomes necessary to determine the Fair Market Rent of any Demised Premises for any purpose of this Master Lease, and the parties cannot agree amongst themselves on such value within twenty (20) days after the first request made by one of the parties to do so, then either party may notify the other of a person selected to act as appraiser (such person, and each other person selected as provided herein, an “ Appraiser ”) on its behalf. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt of any such Notice, the other party shall by notice to the first party appoint a second person as Appraiser on its behalf. The Appraisers thus appointed, each of whom must be a member of The Appraisal Institute/American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers (or any successor organization thereto) with at least ten (10) years of experience appraising properties similar to the Demised Premises, shall, within forty-five (45) days after the date of the notice appointing the first appraiser, proceed to appraise the applicable Demised Premises to determine the Fair Market Rent thereof as of the relevant date; provided, that if one Appraiser shall have been so appointed, or if two Appraisers shall have been so appointed but only one such Appraiser shall have made such determination within fifty (50) days after the making of the initial appointment, then the determination of such Appraiser shall be final and binding upon the parties. If two (2) Appraisers shall have been appointed and shall have made their determinations within the respective requisite periods set forth above and if the difference between the amounts so determined shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the lesser of such amounts, then the Fair Market Rent shall be an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the amounts so determined. If the difference between the amounts so determined shall exceed ten percent (10%) of the lesser of such amounts, then such two (2) Appraisers shall have twenty (20) days to appoint a third (3rd) Appraiser, but if such Appraisers fail to do so, then either party may request the American Arbitration Association or any successor organization thereto to appoint an Appraiser within twenty (20) days of such request, and both parties shall be bound by any appointment so made within such twenty (20)-day period. If no such Appraiser shall have been appointed within such twenty (20) days or within ninety (90) days of the original request for a determination of Fair Market Rent, whichever is earlier, either Landlord or Tenant may apply to any court having jurisdiction to have such appointment made by such court. Any Appraiser appointed by the original Appraisers, by the American Arbitration Association or by such court shall be instructed to determine the Fair Market Rent within thirty (30) days after appointment of such Appraiser. The determination of the appraiser which differs most in terms of dollar amount from the determination of the other two Appraisers shall be excluded, and fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the remaining two determinations shall be final and binding upon Landlord and Tenant as the Fair Market Rent for such interest. This provision for determination by appraisal shall be specifically enforceable to the extent such remedy is available under applicable law, and any determination hereunder shall be final and binding upon the parties except as otherwise provided by applicable law. Landlord and Tenant shall each pay the fees and expenses of the Appraiser appointed by it and their own legal fees, and each shall pay one-half of the fees and expenses of the third Appraiser and one-half (1/2) of all other cost and expenses incurred in connection with each appraisal.

 

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ARTICLE XXVII

OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATES—STATUS OF LEASE

27.1 Certificate of Tenant . At any time during the Term, Tenant shall, within twenty (20) days after written request by Landlord, execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord, or any other Person specified by Landlord, an Officer’s Certificate (which may be relied upon by such Person) (a) certifying (i) that, to the knowledge of Tenant, this Master Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there are modifications, that this Master Lease, as modified, is in full force and effect and stating such modifications and providing a copy thereof if requested) and (ii) the date to which Base Rent, Additional Charges and any other item payable by Tenant hereunder has been paid, and (b) stating (i) whether Tenant has given Landlord any outstanding notice of any event that, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a default by Landlord in the performance of any covenant, agreement, obligation or condition contained in this Master Lease and (ii) whether, to the best knowledge of Tenant, Landlord is in default in performance of any covenant, agreement, obligation or condition contained in this Lease, and, if so, specifying in reasonable detail each such default.

27.2 Certificate of Landlord . At any time during the Term, Landlord shall, within twenty (20) days after request by Tenant, execute, acknowledge and deliver to Tenant, or any other Person specified by Tenant, a written statement (which may be relied upon by such Person) (a) certifying (i) that this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there are modifications, that this Lease, as modified, is in full force and effect and stating such modifications and providing a copy thereof if requested) and (ii) the date to which Base Rent, Additional Charges and any other item payable by Tenant hereunder has been paid, and (b) stating (i) whether an Event of Default has occurred or whether Landlord has given Tenant any outstanding notice of any event that, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default and (ii) whether, to the best knowledge of Landlord, Tenant is in default in the performance of any covenant, agreement, obligation or condition contained in this Lease, and, if so, specifying in reasonable detail each such default or Event of Default.

ARTICLE XXVIII

CONDITION OF DEMISED PREMISES ON

EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF MASTER LEASE

28.1 Delivery of Demised Premises . Upon the expiration or termination of this Master Lease from whatsoever cause with respect to any or all of the Demised Premises or a portion thereof, including without limitation any termination under Section 1.6 , 1.7 or 1.8 , with respect to casualty or Condemnation, or as a result of any Event of Default, Tenant shall surrender and deliver the affected Demised Premises to Landlord, together with all Alterations which are Landlord’s property under this Master Lease, (a) vacant and free from all occupants and tenancies, including without limitation all Subleases, (b) broom-clean and in proper order and condition of repair as required by the other provisions of this Master Lease, reasonable wear and tear excepted, (c) in compliance with all Legal Requirements, Encumbrances and all other requirements of this Master Lease, (d) with all Tenant’s Property removed and all Alterations removed which Tenant is entitled to remove and has elected to remove in its sole discretion (and the Demised Premises completely restored with respect to all of the removed Alterations), (e) with all Known Environmental Problems remediated only as and to the extent expressly provided in

 

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Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter, and otherwise subject to Section 20.3(b) including with respect to all SACs in respect of such Known Environmental Problems, with all hydraulic lifts and pits, waste-handling equipment, oil-water separators and all other machinery, facilities and equipment for SAC operations removed, whether located at the SACs or elsewhere on or about the Demised Premises as and to the extent required by Environmental Law, and (f) free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than (x) Permitted Encumbrances (except for (A) Excepted Liens and (B) Subleases, the Sears Hometown License Agreement, and the Lands’ End Agreements), and (y) Permitted Encumbrances (excluding Excepted Liens, except in the case of a Master Lease termination with respect to the Recapture Space in which the Master Lease continues with respect to the Tenant Retained Space, in which case Excepted Liens shall be permitted so long as Security for Excepted Liens is provided to Landlord) and Landlord Encumbrances ( provided , however , that Tenant shall remain liable for the payment and discharge of all Excepted Liens). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Master Lease termination as a result of casualty or Condemnation, the foregoing provisions with respect to Alterations, and subparagraph (b), shall not apply to the extent affected by such casualty or Condemnation.

ARTICLE XXIX

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION—EXPEDITED ARBITRATION

29.1 Attempted Dispute Resolution . (a) All disputes, claims or controversies arising under this Master Lease between the Parties with respect to or arising under (i)  Sections 1.7 and 1.8, (ii) with respect to or arising from the determination of Gross Leasable Square Footage or Tenant’s Proportionate Share, or (iii) with respect to the calculation and determination of Base Rent, the “SHC Base Rent Adjustment” and other items and adjustments as provided in Schedule 2 to the Side Letter (each, a “ Dispute ”) shall be addressed and resolved in accordance with the procedures set forth below, and no other claim shall be brought in any court or under other dispute resolution process, and no other remedy shall be sought to be exercised by any Party with respect to the subject matter of any such Dispute (except that the decision of the Conciliator or Arbitrator may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction). Without limiting the foregoing, pending the resolution of such Dispute as provided herein, neither Party shall be deemed in breach or default nor shall there be any Event of Default under this Master Lease; provided, however, in the event of a Dispute with respect to subdivisions (ii) or (iii), Tenant shall continue to pay all Base Rent and Property Charges in accordance with the amounts last proposed or claimed by Landlord immediately prior to such Dispute, subject to prompt adjustment and refund or credit to Tenant of any amounts owing to Tenant upon such resolution. For the avoidance of doubt, from and after the Actual Recapture Date, a Dispute shall not include (and arbitration shall not apply to) any Event of Default or the exercise of any remedies by Landlord for an Event of Default, including the termination of this Master Lease, with respect to any Recapture Space or any Tenant Retained Space.

(b) Landlord and Tenant shall use all reasonable good faith efforts to settle and resolve all Disputes in an expeditious manner. Landlord and Tenant have each designated a senior executive officer (“ Senior Representative ”) to act as its representative to attempt to resolve all Disputes; each Party may designate a replacement Senior Representative for such Party from time to time by Notice to the other Party. As of the Commencement Date, Landlord’s initial Senior Representative shall be Benjamin Schall, and Tenant’s initial Senior Representative shall be Jeffrey Stollenwerck. On or before the Commencement Date, or at any time thereafter,

 

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by separate agreement, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to select a disinterested Person (“ Conciliator ”) to assist in the resolution of all such Disputes, which Conciliator may similarly be replaced only by mutual agreement of the Parties from time to time.

(c) If the Parties fail to resolve any Dispute through informal discussions, either Landlord or Tenant may give Notice to the other Party (and the Conciliator, if any) of the existence of a Dispute (“ Dispute Notice ”), which shall specify with reasonable detail the matter or matters in dispute and the relief sought (and, if monetary, the amount thereof), and shall propose a place, date and time for the Parties’ respective Senior Representatives to meet with each other (and the Conciliator, if any) to seek to resolve the Dispute (which date shall be no later than three (3) days from the date of delivery of the Dispute Notice). Landlord and Tenant, together with any such Conciliator (if any) shall use reasonable best efforts to negotiate a resolution to the Dispute during a period of ten (10) days (“ 10-Day Period ”) beginning upon the date that any Party delivers a Dispute Notice. These reasonable best efforts shall include taking the following sequential steps, all of which shall be completed within such 10-Day Period:

(i) The Senior Representative of the Party receiving the Dispute Notice shall use his or her reasonable best efforts to meet with the noticing Party’s Senior Representative and any Conciliator at the place, on the date and at the time proposed in the Dispute Notice.

(ii) The Senior Representatives and any Conciliator, acting in good faith, shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to negotiate a mutually acceptable resolution of the asserted Dispute.

(iii) If, acting in good faith, the Senior Representatives (with the assistance of any Conciliator) are unable to achieve a mutually acceptable resolution of the asserted Dispute within said 10-Day Period, the Parties agree that the Conciliator (if any) shall make the final decision at the expiration of such 10-Day Period, which decision shall be in writing and shall be final and binding on the Parties. If the Dispute is not resolved as provided in this Section 29.1 , then the Parties shall submit the Dispute to binding arbitration as provided herein.

29.2 Binding Arbitration . If, upon the expiration of the 10-Day Period following the date of delivery of the Dispute Notice, the Senior Representatives are unable to negotiate a resolution of the Dispute, and there is no Conciliator (or the Conciliator fails to issue a decision), then the Parties shall submit the Dispute to binding arbitration in accordance with the following arbitration procedures:

(a) The arbitration will be conducted pursuant to the Expedited Procedures of the Commercial Arbitration Rules (“ Arbitration Rules ”) of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”) in New York, New York, and the arbitrator shall render his or her award not later than fourteen (14) days after the close of the hearing in the arbitration.

(b) The arbitrator will be selected from an AAA list using the AAA-recommended selection method.

 

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(c) After the appointment of the arbitrator, the arbitrator shall hold a conference with the Parties as soon as practicable (but in any event within five (5) days of such appointment) to define and narrow the issues and claims to be arbitrated, to define and limit discovery and to identify the form of evidence to be presented. All discovery shall be completed within five (5) Business Days of said conference.

(d) Any arbitration shall be conducted by the arbitrator under the guidance of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence, as modified by the Expedited Procedures, but the arbitrator shall not be required to comply strictly with such rules in conducting any such arbitration.

(e) The arbitrator shall conduct such evidentiary or other hearings not to exceed two (2) days, as the arbitrator shall deem necessary or appropriate, and thereafter shall make a determination as soon as practicable and within said fourteen (14)-day period.

(f) A full and complete record of the arbitration shall be maintained, and the award of the arbitrator shall be accompanied by detailed written findings of fact and conclusions of law of the arbitrator.

(g) Each Party will bear equally the costs and expenses of AAA and the arbitrator, and each Party will bear its own costs and expenses.

(h) In no event will the arbitrator determine that any Party should be awarded punitive, exemplary, consequential or speculative damages or any other damages not measured by the prevailing Party’s actual damages.

(i) All arbitration proceedings shall be confidential, except to the extent that disclosure is required by applicable law.

(j) The arbitrator may make and grant interim and interlocutory awards and relief, including injunctive relief, which shall not be subject to appeal.

(k) The final award by the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the Parties and shall not be subject to appeal, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(l) In the case of any conflict between a term or condition of this Master Lease and a term or condition of the Arbitration Rules, the terms and conditions of this Master Lease shall govern and control in all respects to the fullest extent permissible or feasible.

 

[SIGNATURES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Master Lease has been executed and delivered by the Members effective as of the Effective Date.

Landlord:

 

SERITAGE KMT FINANCE LLC

By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President
SERITAGE SRC FINANCE LLC
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President
Tenant:
KMART OPERATIONS LLC
By:

/s/ Lawrence J. Meerschaert

Name: Lawrence J. Meerschaert
Title: Vice President, Tax, Assistant Treasurer and Secretary
SEARS OPERATIONS LLC
By:

/s/ Lawrence J. Meerschaert

Name: Lawrence J. Meerschaert
Title: Vice President, Tax, Assistant Treasurer and Secretary

[Exhibits]

[Schedules]

 

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EXHIBIT A

PROPERTIES

 

    

Store Number

  

City

  

State

1    1089    Anchorage    AK
2    9571    Cullman    AL
3    1206    North Little Rock    AR
4    9711    Russellville    AR
5    2358    Flagstaff    AZ
6    1078    Mesa    AZ
7    1708    Phoenix    AZ
8    2218    Prescott    AZ
9    2047    Sierra Vista    AZ
10    3695    Sierra Vista    AZ
11    1338    Tucson    AZ
12    2078    Yuma    AZ
13    4762    Antioch    CA
14    7653    Big Bear Lake    CA
15    1568    Carson    CA
16    1358    Chula Vista    CA
17    1538    Citrus Heights    CA
18    3945    Delano    CA
19    1438    El Cajon    CA
20    1988    El Centro    CA
21    1159    Fairfield    CA
22    1408    Florin    CA
23    1208    Fresno    CA
24    7390    McKinleyville    CA
25    2298    Merced    CA
26    1748    Montclair    CA
27    1868    Moreno Valley    CA
28    1698    Newark    CA
29    1168    North Hollywood    CA
30    1508    Northridge    CA
31    1968    Palm Desert    CA
32    3678    Ramona    CA
33    1298    Riverside    CA
34    4432    Riverside    CA
35    1156    Roseville    CA

 

Exhibit A Properties – 1


    

Store Number

  

City

  

State

36    1688    Salinas    CA
37    1398    San Bernardino    CA
38    1478    San Bruno    CA
39    1648    San Diego    CA
40    1488    San Jose    CA
41    2308    Santa Cruz    CA
42    2088    Santa Maria    CA
43    1178    Santa Monica    CA
44    7639    Santa Paula    CA
45    1108    Temecula    CA
46    2318    Thousand Oaks    CA
47    1148    Ventura    CA
48    2068    Visalia    CA
49    1189    West Covina    CA
50    1608    Westminster    CA
51    1071    Lakewood    CO
52    4917    Thornton    CO
53    1193    Waterford    CT
54    1063    West Hartford    CT
55    7725    Rehoboth Beach    DE
56    1355    Altamonte Springs    FL
57    1645    Boca Raton    FL
58    2565    Bradenton    FL
59    7321    Bradenton    FL
60    1415    Clearwater    FL
61    1715    Doral    FL
62    1495    Ft. Myers    FL
63    1665    Gainesville    FL
64    1345    Hialeah    FL
65    4292    Hialeah    FL
66    7233    Kissimmee    FL
67    1955    Lakeland    FL
68    2245    Melbourne    FL
69    1365    Miami    FL
70    1655    Miami    FL
71    2695    Naples    FL
72    4295    North Miami    FL
73    1006    Ocala    FL
74    1225    Orlando    FL

 

Exhibit A Properties – 2


    

Store Number

  

City

  

State

75    2805    Panama City    FL
76    1096    Pensacola    FL
77    1535    Plantation    FL
78    1625    Sarasota    FL
79    1295    St. Petersburg    FL
80    4355    St. Petersburg    FL
81    1385    Atlanta    GA
82    1305    Savannah    GA
83    7480    Honolulu    HI
84    9220    Algona    IA
85    2212    Cedar Rapids    IA
86    7767    Charles City    IA
87    9309    Webster City    IA
88    1229    Boise    ID
89    1090    Chicago    IL
90    1380    Chicago    IL
91    3594    Chicago    IL
92    1740    Joliet    IL
93    4297    Moline    IL
94    1212    North Riverside    IL
95    1750    Orland Park    IL
96    3241    Springfield    IL
97    7289    Steger    IL
98    3556    Elkhart    IN
99    1830    Ft. Wayne    IN
100    3180    Merrillville    IN
101    9647    Leavenworth*    KS
102    1101    Overland Pk    KS
103    7607    Hopkinsville    KY
104    7430    Owensboro    KY
105    2176    Paducah    KY
106    3320    Houma    LA
107    1347    Lafayette    LA
108    7061    New Iberia    LA
109    3879    Braintree    MA
110    1053    Saugus    MA
111    2034    Bowie    MD
112    1864    Cockeysville    MD
113    7713    Edgewater    MD

 

Exhibit A Properties – 3


    

Store Number

  

City

  

State

114    2945    Hagerstown    MD
115    9521    Madawaska    ME
116    7733    Alpena    MI
117    2050    Jackson    MI
118    1250    Lincoln Park    MI
119    4845    Manistee    MI
120    1450    Roseville    MI
121    9586    Sault Ste. Marie    MI
122    4177    St. Clair Shores    MI
123    1490    Troy    MI
124    1132    Burnsville    MN
125    3775    Detroit Lakes    MN
126    1122    Maplewood    MN
127    1052    St. Paul    MN
128    7021    Cape Girardeau    MO
129    4304    Florissant    MO
130    7018    Jefferson City    MO
131    7719    Columbus    MS
132    4814    Havre    MT
133    1185    Asheville    NC
134    4758    Concord    NC
135    4353    Minot    ND
136    3814    Kearney    NE
137    2443    Manchester    NH
138    1313    Nashua    NH
139    2663    Portsmouth    NH
140    1003    Salem    NH
141    1574    Middletown    NJ
142    1294    Watchung    NJ
143    1434    Wayne    NJ
144    7755    Deming    NM
145    7035    Farmington    NM
146    7016    Hobbs    NM
147    9819    Henderson    NV
148    1668    Las Vegas    NV
149    1978    Reno    NV
150    1103    Albany    NY
151    1623    Clay    NY
152    1794    East Northport    NY

 

Exhibit A Properties – 4


    

Store Number

  

City

  

State

153    1264    Hicksville    NY
154    1784    Johnson City    NY
155    7695    Olean    NY
156    1524    Rochester    NY
157    7676    Sidney    NY
158    1584    Victor    NY
159    1944    Yorktown Heights    NY
160    1410    Canton    OH
161    1520    Chapel Hill    OH
162    1560    Dayton    OH
163    7736    Kenton    OH
164    7477    Marietta    OH
165    1350    Mentor    OH
166    1430    Middleburg Heights    OH
167    3243    North Canton    OH
168    3142    Tallmadge    OH
169    1220    Toledo    OH
170    7003    Muskogee    OK
171    1091    Oklahoma City    OK
172    1119    Happy Valley    OR
173    3888    The Dalles    OR
174    7746    Carlisle    PA
175    3911    Columbia    PA
176    7699    Lebanon    PA
177    9770    Mount Pleasant    PA
178    3954    Walnutport    PA
179    4313    York    PA
180    7788    Bayamon    PR
181    1085    Caguas    PR
182    1925    Carolina    PR
183    7768    Guaynabo    PR
184    3882    Mayaguez    PR
185    7741    Ponce    PR
186    1083    Warwick    RI
187    7754    Anderson    SC
188    1325    Charleston    SC
189    7043    Rock Hill    SC
190    7318    Sioux Falls    SD
191    1146    Cordova    TN

 

Exhibit A Properties – 5


    

Store Number

  

City

  

State

192    1186    Memphis    TN
193    1847    Austin    TX
194    1227    Dallas    TX
195    4205    El Paso    TX
196    1257    Friendswood    TX
197    7077    Harlingen    TX
198    1067    Houston    TX
199    1277    Ingram    TX
200    2147    Irving    TX
201    1167    San Antonio    TX
202    1127    Shepherd    TX
203    1057    Valley View    TX
204    1197    Westwood    TX
205    7426    Layton    UT
206    1888    West Jordan    UT
207    1284    Alexandria    VA
208    1615    Chesapeake    VA
209    1814    Fairfax    VA
210    1575    Hampton    VA
211    1265    Virginia Beach    VA
212    2514    Warrenton    VA
213    1069    Redmond    WA
214    2239    Vancouver    WA
215    4439    Yakima    WA
216    1082    Greendale    WI
217    2382    Madison    WI
218    3970    Platteville    WI
219    4188    Charleston    WV
220    3877    Elkins    WV
221    3724    Scott Depot    WV
222    4736    Casper    WY
223    4863    Gillette    WY
224    4837    Riverton    WY

 

Exhibit A Properties – 6


EXHIBIT B

PROHIBITED USES

 

[NOTE:        All Prohibited Uses marked “*” shall apply to both Landlord and Tenant; all others apply to Tenant only.]

*     •   A flea market;
* A pawn shop;
A banquet hall, auditorium or other place of public assembly;
A library or reading room (except incidental to the sale at retail of books);
A discotheque or dance hall, any establishment offering live entertainment of any kind (excluding live music in restaurants), and a theatre, cinema or playhouse, provided that readings, demonstrations, television, video and other displays, and/or interactive presentations, shall be permitted as incidental to any other lawful use;
* A mortuary, funeral home or crematorium;
Living quarters, sleeping apartment or lodging rooms;
* Any use which is a public or private nuisance;
* Any use which produces: (A) noise or sound that is objectionable due to intermittence, high frequency, shrillness or loudness (except as otherwise permitted), (B) noxious odors, (C) noxious, toxic, caustic or corrosive fumes, fuel or gas, (D) dust, dirt or fly ash in excessive quantities, or (E) fire, explosion or other damaging or dangerous hazard, excluding in all cases the normal operations of SACs;
* Any assembling, manufacturing, industrial, distilling, refining, smelting, agriculture or mining operation;
* Junk yard or dump;
* A massage parlor, or the sale, rental or display of “adult” or pornographic materials, including, without limitation, magazines, books, movies, videos, and photographs, or any pornographic display of any nature, excepting massages offered by a spa;
A casino, gaming hall, off-track betting facility, or other gambling operation or facility, excepting the sale of lottery tickets and gambling where allowed under applicable Legal Requirements;
* A “head shop” or other business selling drug paraphernalia, and
A retail use that is primarily (a) an off-price or discount store (other than a store operated under the “Sears”, “Kmart” or “Shop Your Way” brand or name or any abbreviation or derivative of such brand or name (such as, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, “K” or “Big K”), or any other brand or name including therein the name “Sears”, “Kmart” or “Shop Your Way” or any abbreviation or derivative for such brand or name as aforesaid ), or *(b) a second-hand store.


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF SNDA

 

Prepared by and after recording return to:        

)

)

)

)

 

)

 

)

 

)

 

)

SUBORDINATION, NON-DISTURBANCE, and Attornment AGREEMENT

THIS SUBORDINATION, NON-DISTURBANCE AND ATTORNMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of the [    ] day of [            ], 2015 by and between (i) [                    ], a [                    ], having an address at [                    ] (together with its successors and assigns, “ Lender ”), (ii)  KMART OPERATIONS LLC , a [limited liability company], having an address at [                                        ] (“ Kmart Tenant ”), SEARS OPERATIONS LLC , a [limited liability company], having an address at [                                        ] (“ Sears Tenant ”, and together with Kmart Tenant, individually or collectively as the context shall indicate, “ Tenant ”), and (iii)  SERITAGE SRC FINANCE LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Sears Landlord ”) and SERITAGE KMT FINANCE LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Kmart Landlord ”, and together with Sears Landlord, individually or collectively as the context shall indicate, “ Landlord ”).

RECITALS

Landlord is the fee owner of those certain properties identified on Exhibit A attached hereto, (collectively, the “ Landlord Parcels ” and each a “ Landlord Parcel ”).

By that certain Master Lease dated [            ] (collectively, the “ Lease ”), by and between Landlord and Tenant, Tenant has leased from Landlord all or a portion of each Landlord Parcel and the improvements thereon (the “ Premises ”), together with certain easements and rights over the Landlord Parcel as described in the Lease.

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 1


Lender is the holder of a mortgage or beneficiary under a deed of trust on each Landlord Parcel, given to the Lender by Landlord dated as of the date hereof (individually or collectively as the context shall indicate, the “ Mortgage ”, and the “ Mortgages ”). Lender and Landlord are also parties to that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Loan Agreement ” and, collectively with the Mortgage and the other Loan Documents as defined in the Loan Agreement, the “ Loan Documents ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement.

The loan terms require Landlord to cause Tenant to subordinate the Lease and its interest in the Premises to the lien of the Mortgage and that Tenant attorn to Lender.

In return for Tenant’s agreement to subordinate and attorn on the terms and conditions set forth herein, Tenant requires recognition of and consent to the Lease terms by Lender, subject to the terms of this Agreement, and to be assured of continued occupancy of the Demised Premises under the terms of the Lease, in the event either Lender or a Successor to Lender (as defined herein) succeeds to the rights of Landlord under the Lease pursuant to the terms of the Mortgage.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1. The Recitals paragraphs set forth above are hereby incorporated into this Agreement. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Lease.

 

2. Lender hereby consents to the Lease.

 

3. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lease is and shall be subject and subordinate to the lien of the Mortgage and to all renewals, replacements and extensions of the Mortgage (pursuant to Section 14.1 of the Lease) to the full extent of the principal sum secured thereby, interest thereon and any applicable fees and expenses and to the terms, conditions and covenants set forth in the Mortgage and the other Loan Documents.

 

4. In the event that Lender shall commence an action to foreclose the Mortgage or to obtain a receiver of the Demised Premises, or shall foreclose the Mortgage by advertisement, entry and sale according to any procedure available under the laws of the state where the Landlord Parcel is located, Tenant shall not be joined as a party defendant in any such action or proceeding, unless such joinder is required by law, and in any event Tenant shall not be disturbed in its possession of the Demised Premises under the Lease, including its rights under Section 21.25 of the Lease, provided that at the time of the commencement of any such action or proceeding or at the time of any such sale or exercise of any such other rights (a) the term of the Lease shall have commenced pursuant to the provisions thereof, (b) Tenant shall be in possession of the premises then currently demised under the Lease (subject to, and as the Demised Premises may be modified from time to time pursuant to, the terms and conditions of the Lease), (c) the Lease shall be in full force and effect and (d) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 2


5. In the event that Lender or any bona-fide purchaser (at a foreclosure sale or other proceedings brought to enforce the Mortgage), subsequent owner (receiving title by deed or assignment in lieu of foreclosure), successor or assign (including, without limitation, a successor or assign from Lender in its capacity as the holder of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage, such purchaser, subsequent owner, successor or assign referred to as “ Successor ”) shall acquire the Demised Premises upon foreclosure, or by deed in lieu of foreclosure, or by any other means:

 

  (a) Lender or its Successor shall recognize and accept the rights of Tenant and shall thereafter assume the obligations of Landlord under the Lease, subject to Section 4 above and subsection 5(d) below;

 

  (b) Tenant shall be deemed to have made a full and complete attornment to Lender or its Successor as the landlord under the Lease so as to establish direct privity between the Lender or its Successor and Tenant;

 

  (c) All rights and obligations of Tenant under the Lease shall continue in full force and effect and be enforceable by and against Tenant, respectively, with the same force and effect as if the Lease had originally been made and entered into directly by and between Lender or its Successor (as the case may be) as the landlord thereunder, and Tenant and, in the event the Lease shall automatically terminate pursuant to applicable law, Lender or its Successor (as the case may be) and Tenant shall, upon the request of Tenant, immediately enter into a new lease on the exact same terms and conditions of the Lease; and

 

  (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the Loan Documents or in the Lease, the following is specifically understood and agreed:

(1) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be obligated to complete any construction work required to be done by Landlord pursuant to the provisions of the Lease or to reimburse Tenant for any construction work done by Tenant. except that with respect to Recapture Separation Work and Additional Recapture Space separation work as provided in Section 1.7 and 1.8 of the Lease that remains unfinished as of the date upon which the Lender or its Successor shall become the owner of the applicable Landlord Parcel (“ Successor Landlord ”), Successor Landlord shall elect to either (A) complete such work (regardless of the adequacy of any reserves available therefor) or (B) notify Tenant that Successor Landlord elects not to complete such work. If Successor Lender elects not to complete such work, the Lease shall automatically be reinstated as to such Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space (in its then current condition) such that the Demised Premises and related Lease terms for such Property shall be the same as though the Recapture Notice or Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice had never been given, it being understood and agreed that (x) from and after Successor Landlord’s election not to complete such work Tenant’s payment obligations under the Lease shall apply to the Demised Premises including the applicable Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space but (y) Tenant shall not be deemed to be in default or breach of the Operating Covenant

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 3


for such reasonable period of time as shall be reasonably necessary for Tenant (at its sole cost and expense) to return the Demised Premises to substantially the condition as existed immediately before the applicable Recapture Notice or Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice was given.

(2) Subject to subsection 5(a) hereof, neither Lender nor its Successor shall be liable (a) for Landlord’s failure to perform any of its obligations under the Lease which have accrued prior to the date on which the Lender or its Successor shall become the owner of the applicable Landlord Parcel, or (b) for any act or omission of Landlord, whether prior to or after such foreclosure or sale, provided , that the foregoing shall not limit the obligations of Lender or its Successor (and they shall remain obligated) for (A) any alteration (but specifically excluding any work under clauses (1) or (4) of this Section 5(d) except as expressly provided therein ), maintenance, or repair covenants of Landlord or any obligations to cure violations of any Legal Requirements by Landlord of a continuing nature (“ Continuing Acts ”), and (B) any obligations of Landlord under the Lease which accrue from and after the date such Lender or its Successor shall succeed to Landlord’s interest.

(3) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be required to make any repairs to any Landlord Parcel or to the Demised Premises required as a result of fire or other casualty or by reason of condemnation, except Lender or its Successor shall remain obligated to make all such repairs if Landlord is required to do so under the Lease to the extent that Lender or its Successor shall have received casualty insurance proceeds or condemnation awards with respect to such events.

(4) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be required to make any capital improvements to any Landlord Parcel or to the Demised Premises under the Lease which Landlord may have agreed to make, but had not completed, or to perform or provide any services not related to possession or quiet enjoyment of the premises demised under the Lease, except they shall remain obligated for (I) all of the same as expressly set forth in Section 5(d)(1) with respect to Recapture Separation Work and Additional Recapture Space separation work, if Lender shall have elected to complete such work as set forth in Section 5(d)(1) above and (II) all Continuing Acts

(5) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be subject to any offsets, defenses, abatements or counterclaims which shall have accrued to Tenant against Landlord prior to the date upon which the Lender or its Successor shall become the owner of the applicable Landlord Parcel, except Tenant shall retain against them all Tenant defenses, claims and counterclaims (if any) with respect to any Continuing Acts.

(6) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be liable for the return of rental security deposits, if any, paid by Tenant to Landlord in accordance with the Lease unless such sums are actually received by Lender or its Successor.

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 4


(7) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be bound by any payment of rents, additional rents or other sums which Tenant may have paid more than one (1) month in advance to any prior Landlord unless (i) such sums are actually received by the Lender or its Successor, or (ii) such prepayment shall have been expressly provided in the Lease; provided that this clause (7) shall not limit Tenant’s right to any credit or refund under the Lease under the installment expense true-up provisions set forth in Section 4.5 of the Lease, except to the extent Landlord has misappropriated any payments therefor.

(8) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be bound to make any payment to Tenant which was required under the Lease, or otherwise, to be made prior to the time the Lender or its Successor succeeded to Landlord’s interest, except that Landlord or its Successor shall remain liable for all payments with respect to all Continuing Acts. In the event any 100% Recapture Property Termination Notice has been given, if any amounts placed into escrow pursuant to Section 1.9 of the Lease with respect to such 100% Recapture Property Termination Notice are not released to Tenant on the termination date contemplated by the Lease, Tenant shall have the right within five (5) Business Days of such scheduled termination date to reinstate the Lease. If Tenant makes such election to reinstate the Lease, Tenant shall not be deemed to be in default or breach of the Operating Covenant for such reasonable period of time as shall be reasonably necessary in order to resume business operations in the event Tenant retains the 100% Recapture Property.

(9) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be bound by any agreement amending, modifying or terminating the Lease (except for any termination, and any amendment, made pursuant to and as expressly provided in the Lease) made without the Lender’s prior written consent prior to the time the Lender or its Successor succeeded to Landlord’s interest.

(10) Neither Lender nor its Successor shall be bound by any assignment of the Lease or sublease of the Landlord Parcel, or any portion thereof, made prior to the time the Successor succeeded to Landlord’s interest, other than if pursuant to the provisions of the Lease.

 

6.

Nothing herein contained shall impose any obligations upon either Lender or its Successor to perform any of the obligations of Landlord under the Lease, unless and until Lender or its Successor shall succeed to the interests of Landlord in accordance with Section 5 above. Provided that the conditions set forth in Section 4 above are satisfied, in the event that Lender, at its election in its sole discretion, shall seek a receiver for any Landlord Parcel, Lender shall (a) use commercially reasonable efforts to request that the order appointing the receiver require the receiver for such Landlord Parcel to operate such Landlord Parcel subject to the terms of the Lease, (b) to the extent required by applicable law, deliver any such required notice or order with respect to such appointment and order, and (c) unless deemed necessary in Lender’s prudent judgment, not object to Tenant appearing at its sole cost and expense in any proceeding for such appointment and order for the sole purpose of supporting a request made under

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 5


  subsection 6(a) , or making a similar request, so long as such appearance shall not hinder or delay the appointment of the receiver and Tenant has advised Lender of its intent to appear.

 

7. Any notice required or desired to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and (a) given by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or (b) sent by reputable overnight air courier service (i.e., Federal Express, Airborne, etc.) with guaranteed overnight delivery; in each instance addressed to the party as provided below. Notices shall be deemed given when actually received by the recipient, receipt thereof is refused by the recipient or the impossibility of delivery due to the failure to provide a new address as required herein. All notices hereunder shall be addressed as follows:

 

If to Lender: [                    ]
If to Tenant: [                    ]
With a copy to: [                    ]
If to Landlord: [                    ]
With a copy to: [                    ]

Either party, at any time and from time to time (by providing notice to the other party in the manner set forth above), may designate a different address or person, or both, to whom such notice may be sent. Notice of change in address or person shall be effective 10 days after written notice of such change has been sent to Tenant in accordance with the terms of this Paragraph.

 

8. Tenant will give Lender a copy of any notice of default sent by Tenant to Landlord (“ Default Notice ”); provided that, Tenant’s failure, for any reason or no reason, to give Lender a Default Notice will not comprise either a default or breach of Tenant’s obligations under the Lease and will not, except as set forth herein, preclude or affect in any way Tenant’s right to exercise any remedy provided to Tenant for Landlord’s default in the Lease. If Lender receives a Default Notice from Tenant, Lender shall have the same period of time provided Landlord under the Lease within which to cure such default. The Lender’s cure period shall begin to run upon receipt of the Default Notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8, Tenant agrees not to terminate the Lease by reason of default by Landlord under the Lease, or to an abatement of rent under the Lease, without delivering to Lender or its Successor written notice of such default and the opportunity to cure within 60 days of the delivery of such notice to Lender or its Successor, or if such default cannot be cured within sixty (60) days, shall have failed within sixty (60) days after receipt of such notice to commence and thereafter diligently pursue any action necessary to cure such default, provided that Lender has kept Tenant up-to-date with the current contact information for Lender or its Successor as to where to send such notice.

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 6


9. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Lender, its Successor, Landlord and Tenant and their respective legal representatives, successors, administrators and assigns. The term “Lender” as used herein shall include the successors and assigns of Lender and any person, party or entity which shall become the owner of a Landlord Parcel by reason of a foreclosure of the Mortgage or the acceptance of a deed or assignment in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise.

 

10. Landlord shall give written notice to Tenant of the reconveyance or other release of the Mortgage within thirty (30) days of the date the reconveyance or other release is recorded.

 

11. This Agreement and the lien of the Mortgage shall not apply to any personalty, real property, fixtures or equipment owned or leased by Tenant which is now or hereafter placed on or installed in the Premises, and Tenant shall have the full right to remove said personalty, real property, fixtures and equipment at the expiration of the Lease term.

 

12. Lender may sell, transfer and deliver the Note and assign the Mortgage, this Agreement and the other documents executed in connection therewith to one or more investors in the secondary mortgage market (“ Investors ”), provided, any assignment of this Agreement in connection with such sale or transfer shall be subject to all terms and provisions of this Agreement. In connection with such sale, Lender may retain or assign responsibility for servicing the loan, including the Note, the Mortgage, this Agreement and the other documents executed in connection therewith, or may delegate some or all of such responsibility and/or obligations to a servicer including, but not limited to, any subservicer or master servicer, on behalf of the Investors. All references to Lender herein shall refer to and include any such servicer to the extent applicable.

 

13. Tenant will, at the cost of Tenant, and without expense to Lender, do, execute, acknowledge and deliver all and every such further acts and assurances, as reasonably necessary, as Lender shall, from time to time, reasonably require, for the better assuring and confirming unto Lender the property and rights hereby intended now or hereafter so to be pursuant to this Agreement, or for carrying out the intention or facilitating the performance of the terms of this Agreement or for filing, registering or recording this Agreement, or for complying with all applicable laws.

 

14.

Tenant acknowledges that Lender is obligated only to Landlord to make the Loan upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Loan Documents. In no event shall Lender or any Successor, nor any heir, legal representative, successor, or assignee of Lender or any such purchaser or grantee (collectively the Lender, such purchaser, grantee, heir, legal representative, successor or assignee, the “ Subsequent Landlord ”) have any personal liability for the obligations of Landlord under the Lease and should the Subsequent Landlord succeed to the interests of the Landlord under the Lease, Tenant shall look only to the estate and property of any such Subsequent Landlord in the applicable Landlord Parcel(s) for the satisfaction of Tenant’s remedies for the collection of a judgment (or other judicial process) requiring the payment of money in the event of any default by any Subsequent Landlord as landlord under the Lease, and no other property or assets of any Subsequent Landlord shall be subject to levy, execution or other

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 7


  enforcement procedure for the satisfaction of Tenant’s remedies under or with respect to the Lease; provided, however, that the Tenant may exercise any other right or remedy provided thereby or by law in the event of any failure by Subsequent Landlord to perform any such material obligation.

 

15. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto concerning its subject matter and may not be modified except in writing signed by the parties hereto.

 

16. The provisions of this Agreement are valid and enforceable only upon execution by Landlord and Lender of an unmodified counterpart hereof and delivering a fully signed original to Tenant by [            ].

{Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Immediately Follow}

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Subordination, Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement has been signed and sealed on the day and year first above set forth.

 

Lender:

 

By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

Tenant:

 

KMART OPERATIONS, LLC

 

By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

SEARS OPERATIONS, LLC

 

By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

Landlord:

 

SERITAGE KMT FINANCE LLC

 

By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

SERITAGE SRC FINANCE LLC

 

By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 9


LENDER NOTARY :

 

STATE OF  

 

  )          
    ) SS:      
COUNTY OF  

 

  )      

THE undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, does hereby certify that                                          personally known to me to be the                                         of                                         , a                                         , and personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged under oath that in such capacity he/she signed and delivered the said instrument pursuant to authority duly given to him/her by said                                         .

GIVEN under my hand and seal this     day of             , 20    .

 

 

Notary Public

 

My Commission Expires:

 

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 10


TENANT NOTARY :

 

STATE OF

 

)    
) SS:
COUNTY OF

 

)

THE undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, does hereby certify that                                          personally known to me to be the                                         of                                         , a                                         , and personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged under oath that in such capacity he/she signed and delivered the said instrument pursuant to authority duly given to him/her by said                                         .

GIVEN under my hand and seal this     day of             , 20    .

 

 

Notary Public

 

My Commission Expires:

 

 

STATE OF

 

)    
) SS:
COUNTY OF

 

)

THE undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, does hereby certify that                                          personally known to me to be the                                         of                                         , a                                         , and personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged under oath that in such capacity he/she signed and delivered the said instrument pursuant to authority duly given to him/her by said                                         .

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 11


GIVEN under my hand and seal this     day of             , 20    .

 

 

Notary Public

 

My Commission Expires:

 

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 12


LANDLORD NOTARY :

 

STATE OF

 

)    
) SS:
COUNTY OF

 

)

THE undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, does hereby certify that                                          personally known to me to be the                                         of                                         , a                                         , and personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged under oath that in such capacity he/she signed and delivered the said instrument pursuant to authority duly given to him/her by said                                         .

GIVEN under my hand and seal this     day of             , 20    .

 

 

Notary Public

 

My Commission Expires:

 

 

STATE OF

 

)    
) SS:
COUNTY OF

 

)

THE undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, does hereby certify that                                          personally known to me to be the                                         of                                         , a                                         , and personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged under oath that in such capacity he/she signed and delivered the said instrument pursuant to authority duly given to him/her by said                                         .

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 13


GIVEN under my hand and seal this      day of             , 20    .

 

 

Notary Public

 

My Commission Expires:

 

 

Exhibit C Form of SNDA – 14


EXHIBIT “A”

LIST AND LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS-FEE PROPERTIES

PROPERTIES

 

Exhibit “A” to the Form of SNDA


EXHIBIT D

LANDS’ END PREMISES

 

    

Store

Number

  

City

 

State

1089    Sears    Anchorage   AK
1538    Sears    Citrus Heights   CA
1438    Sears    El Cajon   CA
1159    Sears    Fairfield   CA
1156    Sears    Roseville   CA
1478    Sears    San Bruno   CA
1648    Sears    San Diego   CA
2308    Sears    Santa Cruz   CA
1178    Sears    Santa Monica   CA
1148    Sears    Ventura   CA
1193    Sears    Waterford   CT
1063    Sears    West Hartford   CT
1645    Sears    Boca Raton   FL
1415    Sears    Clearwater   FL
1225    Sears    Orlando   FL
1625    Sears    Sarasota   FL
1385    Sears    Atlanta   GA
2212    Sears    Cedar Rapids   IA
1750    Sears    Orland Park   IL
1830    Sears    Ft. Wayne   IN
1101    Sears    Overland Pk   KS
1053    Sears    Saugus   MA
1864    Sears    Cockeysville   MD
1450    Sears    Roseville   MI
1490    Sears    Troy   MI
1132    Sears    Burnsville   MN
1122    Sears    Maplewood   MN
1185    Sears    Asheville   NC
2443    Sears    Manchester   NH
1313    Sears    Nashua   NH
2663    Sears    Portsmouth   NH
1003    Sears    Salem   NH
1574    Sears    Middletown   NJ

 

Exhibit D Lands’ End Premises – 1


    

Store

Number

  

City

 

State

1294    Sears    Watchung   NJ
1434    Sears    Wayne   NJ
1103    Sears    Albany   NY
1623    Sears    Clay   NY
1794    Sears    East Northport   NY
1264    Sears    Hicksville   NY
1584    Sears    Victor   NY
1944    Sears    Yorktown Heights   NY
1410    Sears    Canton   OH
1520    Sears    Chapel Hill   OH
1560    Sears    Dayton   OH
1350    Sears    Mentor   OH
1430    Sears    Middleburg Heights   OH
1220    Sears    Toledo   OH
1119    Sears    Happy Valley   OR
1083    Sears    Warwick   RI
1146    Sears    Cordova   TN
1186    Sears    Memphis   TN
1067    Sears    Houston   TX
1888    Sears    West Jordan   UT
1284    Sears    Alexandria   VA
1814    Sears    Fairfax   VA
1265    Sears    Virginia Beach   VA
2514    Sears    Warrenton   VA
1069    Sears    Redmond   WA
2239    Sears    Vancouver   WA
2382    Sears    Madison   WI

 

Exhibit D Lands’ End Premises – 2


SCHEDULE 1.7(d)

FORM OF RECAPTURE NOTICE

[DATE]

[ADDRESS OF TENANT]

RECAPTURE NOTICE

Pursuant to Section 1.7 of the Master Lease

For Sears / Kmart Store [STORE NUMBER]

[NOTE: ANY TENANT RESPONSE REQUIRED WITHIN 30 DAYS]

Seritage Finance LLC (“ Landlord ”) hereby notifies Kmart Operations LLC and Sears Operations LLC (“ Tenant ”) of its intention to recapture space pursuant to Section 1.7 of the Master Lease by and among Seritage Finance LLC, Kmart Operations LLC and Sears Operations LLC, dated as of                 , 2015 (the “ Master Lease ”). All terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meaning ascribed to them in the Master Lease.

This Recapture Notice pertains to Store Number      at [STORE ADDRESS] .

The Proposed Recapture Date is:                     . Tenant has sixty (60) days after receipt of this Recapture Notice to give notice of a Tenant Recapture Termination Date, if desired, which shall not be less than ninety (90) days after receipt of this Recapture Notice.

Following the Actual Recapture Date, the following terms will apply with respect to the modified Demised Premises.

 

    Annual Base Rent:                     

 

    Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Property Charges:                     

 

    Monthly Installment Expenses payable by Tenant:                     

A site plan showing the applicable Tenant Retained Space and the Recapture Space with respect to the modified Demised Premises, along with a description of the Tenant Retained Space, is attached as Exhibit A .

A modified Schedule 2 to the side letter to the Master Lease reflecting the applicable adjustments for the modified Demised Premises is attached as Exhibit B . A copy of a title report with respect to this Property pursuant to Section 1.7(e) of the Master Lease is attached as Exhibit C .

 

Schedule 1.7(d) Form of Recapture Notice – 1


SHOULD TENANT DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING ITEMS, PURSUANT TO THE MASTER LEASE TENANT SHALL SEND LANDLORD A NOTICE WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THIS RECAPTURE NOTICE SETTING FORTH THE NATURE OF TENANT’S DISAGREEMENT IN REASONABLE DETAIL .

 

SERITAGE KMT FINANCE LLC
By:

 

Name:
Title:
SERITAGE SRC FINANCE LLC
By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

Schedule 1.7(d) Form of Recapture Notice – 2


Exhibit A

Site Plan and Description of Tenant Retained Space

 

Exhibit A to Schedule 1.7(d) Form of Recapture Notice


Exhibit B

Modified Schedule 2 to the Master Lease

 

Exhibit B to Schedule 1.7(d) Form of Recapture Notice


Exhibit C

Title Report

 

Exhibit C to Schedule 1.7(d) Form of Recapture Notice


SCHEDULE 1.7(j)(ii)

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS

All provisions of this Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) are intended to supplement the provisions in the Master Lease above governing any general construction work performed by Landlord, or by Tenant, including without limitation Recapture Separation Work, Additional Recapture Space recapture and separation work, or any casualty or Condemnation restoration, or Tenant Alterations. In the event of any conflict between the express provisions of the Master Lease and this Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) , the former shall control. All of the foregoing performed by either Party shall be referred to as “ Landlord’s Work ” or “ Tenant’s Work ,” respectively.

Tenant’s Work will be performed by Tenant in accordance with final plans and specifications approved by Landlord (as and to the extent such plans and specifications and/or approval is provided for in the Master Lease). Tenant’s contractor(s) shall secure and pay for all necessary permits, inspections, certificates, legal approvals, Certificate of Occupancy and/or fees required by public authorities and/or utility companies with respect to Tenant’s Work.

 

A. General Requirements

1. All Landlord’s Work or Tenant’s Work installed by Tenant or Landlord shall be coordinated with, completed in harmony with and so as not to unreasonably interfere with, Landlord’s or Tenant’s construction schedule, business operations, nor any other tenant’s or subtenant’s activities, including with respect to Landlord’s tenants in the Recapture Space or under any of the Leases.

2. All contractors employed by either Landlord or Tenant shall allow other contractors, even of the same trade, to work on the Demised Premises without interference and in accordance with the spirit and intent of Paragraph 1 above.

3. Tenant and Tenant’s contractors shall provide all insurance required by Landlord as set forth in this Lease, or as is otherwise maintained in the ordinary course by prudent and reputable contractors and/or property owners, or as otherwise reasonably required by Landlord, prior to the start of any construction work within the Demised Premises. Landlord and Landlord Mortgagee shall each be named as an additional insured in all such insurance.

4. Tenant shall, at all times, keep or cause to be kept the Demised Premises and the surrounding area free from accumulations of waste materials and/or rubbish caused by it or its contractors’ employees or workers and shall not place or permit to be placed any waste materials and/or rubbish on the Common Areas or other areas of Landlord’s Premises. Tenant and/or its contractors shall provide dumpsters and maintenance of said dumpsters during the construction period in a secure, neat and orderly condition and shall remove and empty the same on a regular basis to avoid unsightly, obstructive or hazardous accumulations or conditions.

5. Tenant shall provide Landlord prior written notice (except in case of an emergency) of the proposed commencement date of (a) any Tenant Alterations to be done within or to the Demised Premises as provided in the Master Lease, and of (b) other Tenant’s Work with a cost in excess of $100,000 in any one (1) instance with respect to an individual

 

Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) – 1


Demised Premises, and Landlord shall provide Tenant at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of the estimated completion of any Recapture Restoration Work or any Additional Recapture Space recapture and separation work.

6. Tenant shall coordinate the parking of contractor vehicles, the placement of dumpsters and the staging area for construction materials, furniture, fixtures and other equipment, with Landlord’s or any of its tenants’ construction representatives and construction coordinators so as not to disrupt Landlord’s or tenants’ operations or interfere with customer parking. All construction materials, furniture, fixtures and other equipment shall be kept within Tenant’s Demised Premises or within areas of the parking lot designated by Landlord following proposal from and consultation with the Tenant, both Parties acting reasonably and in good faith.

 

B. Construction Procedures

1. When submitting construction plans and specifications (preliminary, completed or final), Tenant or the Tenant’s appointed representative shall issue Tenant’s plans, specifications and supporting documents electronically via emails to Landlord’s construction coordinator.

2. Tenant can elect to contract with architects, engineers and other construction professionals of good repute, which are experienced, financially responsible and duly licensed in the jurisdiction in which the Demised Premises is located (“ Construction Professionals ”) of its choosing for the preparation of the construction plans and specifications. The architect (and other Construction Professionals, as appropriate) shall prepare detailed construction drawings for the work to be performed at the Demised Premises, incorporating the improvements to comply with all of Tenant’s obligations under this Master Lease or as determined by Landlord in consultation with Tenant with respect to work to be done on behalf of Landlord. Such drawings will be forwarded to Landlord for its review and comment to the extent Landlord’s approval of same is required under the Master Lease.

3. All contractors engaged by Tenant shall be bondable contractors, possessing good labor relations, capable of performing quality workmanship and working in harmony with any contractor hired by Landlord or Landlord’s tenants. Tenant shall permit union licensed contractors to bid on Tenant’s Work, but Tenant shall not be obligated to engage such contractors unless union labor is required in the area where the Demised Premises is located. Tenant shall retain sufficient documentation evidencing union contractor bidding and shall provide such documentation to Landlord upon fifteen (15) days’ prior written request. In the event Tenant does not permit union licensed contractors to bid on Tenant’s Work (“ Union Bidding ”) and Landlord is picketed or involved in a dispute with the unions due to Tenant’s failure to permit Union Bidding, then Tenant shall indemnify, defend and hold Landlord, its officers, directors, partners, employees and contractors harmless from and against any and all damages, claims, losses and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees and court costs) incurred by Landlord due to Tenant’s failure to permit Union Bidding. All work shall be coordinated with the general project work. Tenant shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its contractors to maintain harmony and avoid any and all disputes with labor unions in which Tenant’s contractors or any person or entity performing work on behalf of Tenant may become involved. Tenant shall be responsible for any delay, disruption, obstruction or hindrance in the completion of Tenant’s Work and any damages and

 

Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) – 2


extra costs resulting from such disputes, except with respect to work for which Landlord is financially responsible under the Master Lease, but expressly excluding all of Tenant’s Acts. Tenant shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its contractors to take all action including, but not limited to, filing charges with the N.L.R.B. and pursuing litigation to prevent or end any stoppage or slowdown of Tenant’s Work.

4. Construction shall comply in all respects with applicable Legal Requirements.

5. Upon Landlord’s request from time to time, Tenant shall assign to Landlord any or all contracts or agreements with contractors, vendors, suppliers and/or Construction Professionals as designated by Landlord in connection with all Tenant Work performed on behalf of Landlord.

 

Schedule 1.7(j)(ii) – 3


SCHEDULE 1.8(a)

FORM OF ADDITIONAL RECAPTURE SPACE TERMINATION NOTICE

[DATE]

[ADDRESS OF TENANT]

ADDITIONAL RECAPTURE SPACE TERMINATION NOTICE

Pursuant to Section 1.8 of the Master Lease

For Sears / Kmart Store [STORE NUMBER]

[NOTE: ANY TENANT RESPONSE REQUIRED WITHIN 30 DAYS]

Seritage Finance LLC (“ Landlord ”) hereby notifies Kmart Operations LLC and Sears Operations LLC (“ Tenant ”) of its intention to recapture space pursuant to Section 1.8 of the Master Lease by and among Seritage Finance LLC, Kmart Operations LLC and Sears Operations LLC, dated as of                 , 2015 (the “ Master Lease ”). All terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meaning ascribed to them in the Master Lease.

This Additional Recapture Space Termination Notice pertains to Store Number      at [STORE ADDRESS].

The Proposed Additional Recapture Space Date is:                     . Tenant has sixty (60) days after receipt of this Recapture Notice to give notice of a Tenant Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, if desired, which shall not be less than ninety (90) days after receipt of this Recapture Notice.

Following the Actual Additional Recapture Space Termination Date, the following terms will apply with respect to the modified Demised Premises.

 

    Annual Base Rent:                     

 

    Tenant’s Proportionate Share of all Property Charges:                     

 

    Monthly Installment Expenses payable by Tenant:                     

A site plan showing the applicable Tenant Retained Space and the Additional Recapture Space with respect to the modified Demised Premises, along with a description of the Tenant Retained Space, is attached as Exhibit A .

 

Schedule 1.8(d) – 1


A modified Schedule 2 to the side letter to the Master Lease reflecting the applicable adjustments for the modified Demised Premises is attached as Exhibit B . A copy of a title report with respect to this Property pursuant to Section 1.8(b) of the Master Lease is attached as Exhibit C .

SHOULD TENANT DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING ITEMS, PURSUANT TO THE MASTER LEASE TENANT SHALL SEND LANDLORD A NOTICE WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THIS RECAPTURE NOTICE SETTING FORTH THE NATURE OF TENANT’S DISAGREEMENT IN REASONABLE DETAIL.

 

SERITAGE KMT FINANCE LLC
By:

 

Name:
Title:
SERITAGE SRC FINANCE LLC
By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

Schedule 1.8(d) – 2


Exhibit A

Site Plan and Description of Tenant Retained Space

 

Exhibit A to Schedule 1.8(d)


Exhibit B

Modified Schedule 2 to the Master Lease

 

Exhibit B to Schedule 1.8(d)


Exhibit C

Title Report

 

Exhibit C to Schedule 1.8(d)


SCHEDULE 2.1(a)

EBITDAR METHODOLOGY

 

General Ledger Account

   Footnote     Calculation   12 Months Ended
January 2015

Property 01478
All Reporting Divisions
 

A04103 Merchandise Sales

         37,181,276   

A04107 Auto Center Revenues External

         2,073,605   

A04108 Delivery Revenues External

         232,543   

A04109 PA Revenues External

         594,439   

A04110 Service Income Revenues External

         (982

A04113 SPP Revenue External

         20,357   

A04114 Miscellaneous Income Revenues External

         (474,368

A04118 Tenant Income External

         108,270   

A04123 Support Services Revenues External

         (4,103

A04115 Credit Revenues External

         282,740   

A04116 Licensed Business Revenues External

         268,380   
      

 

 

 

A04104 Other Revenues

  3,100,881   
      

 

 

 

A04101 Total Revenue

(A04103+A04104)   40,282,157   
      

 

 

 
  —     

A05102 Cost of sales

  26,870,740   

A05113 Occupancy Taxes

  (1   301,942   

A05114 Utility Expense

  329,526   

A05115 Building Expenses

  (2   387,152   
      

 

 

 

A05107 Occupancy

  1,018,620   
      

 

 

 

A05101 Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

(A05102+A05107)   27,889,360   
      

 

 

 


A06160 Payroll & Incentive

  5,074,817   

A06161 Benefits & Taxes

  981,079   

A06162 Associate Expenses

  27,376   

A06163 Equipment Costs

  31,490   

A06164 Data Processing

  837   

A06165 Taxes

  41,834   

A06166 Occupancy Related

  2,072   

A06167 Communication Expense

  84,171   

A06168 Advertising Expense

  (3   1,351,248   

A06169 Supplies & Postage

  238,437   

A06170 Insurance Charges

  (3   229,059   

A06171 Bank Card Expense

  338,585   

A06172 Check Expense

  6,624   

A06173 Cash Over/Short

  19,509   

A06174 Operating Services

  124,856   

A06176 Reclasses

  (4   (956,475

A06177 Miscellaneous SG&A

  67,767   

A06178 Outside Services

  66,652   

A06179 Display Expenses

  113,240   

A06237 Support Services Chargeouts

  (542
      

 

 

 

A06124 Selling and administrative expenses

  (5   7,842,636   

A06125 Depreciation & Amortization

  1,656,792   
      

 

 

 

A06101 Total costs and expenses

(A05101+A06124+A06125)   37,388,788   
      

 

 

 

    

      

 

 

 

A00908 Operating income (loss)

(A4101-A06101)   2,893,369   
      

 

 

 

    

      

 

 

 

EBITDAR

(A06125+A00908)
      

 

 

 

    

      

 

 

 
  4,550,161   
      

 

 

 


Footnotes

 

(1) Reimbursement of property taxes paid by Seritage.
(2) Reimbursement of certain expenses paid by Seritage after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date.
(3) Includes the allocation of certain corporate expenses.
(4) Primarily related to Sears Auto Centers. COGS moved to SG&A.
(5) Overhead structure not generally allocated to property operating statements. Primarily includes: Corporate office (finance, accounting, HR, inventory, merchandising, IT, business leadership, etc) and regional management.


SCHEDULE 2.1(b)

LEASE GUARANTORS

 

1. A&E Factory Service, LLC
2. A&E Home Delivery, LLC
3. A&E Lawn & Garden, LLC
4. A&E Signature Service, LLC
5. California Builder Appliances, Inc.
6. Florida Builder Appliances, Inc.
7. KLC, Inc.
8. Kmart Corporation
9. Kmart Holding Corporation
10. Kmart of Michigan, Inc.
11. Kmart of Washington LLC
12. Kmart Stores of Illinois LLC
13. Kmart Stores of Texas LLC
14. Kmart.com LLC
15. Sears Brands Management Corporation
16. Sears Holdings Corporation
17. Sears Holdings Management Corporation
18. Sears Home Improvement Products, Inc.
19. Sears Protection Company
20. Sears Protection Company (Florida), L.L.C.
21. Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp.
22. Sears Roebuck and Co.
23. Sears Roebuck de Puerto Rico, Inc.
24. SOE, Inc.
25. StarWest, LLC
26. MyGofer LLC
27. Private Brands, Ltd.


SCHEDULE 10.2(e)

OPERATING EXPENSES

Operating Expenses ” means: All costs and expenses of any kind, nature, and description incurred in connection with the maintenance, operation, care and repair of the Property which are desirable for the operation and maintenance of the Property, including the governance, management and administration of this Master Lease, the Leases, and all future leases of portions of the Property by Landlord, in accordance with the standard maintained in the City and State in which the Property is located for similar buildings and sites (subject to any other specific standards applicable to the Demised Premises as provided in this Master Lease), and which are not duplicative of other costs and expenses provided in the Master Lease or otherwise required to be paid or reimbursed by Tenant under this Master Lease. The following types of expenses are by way of illustration and not by way of limitation of the generality of the foregoing:

(1) the cost of providing all heating, ventilating, air conditioning, water and waste-water services and other utilities to the buildings in which the Demised Premises are located;

(2) the cost of refuse, rubbish and garbage collection and removal for the Property;

(3) cleaning, gardening and landscaping the Property (including, without limitation, the Common Areas);

(4) costs of tie-ins or other costs for providing sanitary or storm sewers or control to and for the Property and Demised Premises;

(5) inspection and permit fees, accounting fees, and attorney and other professional fees incurred by Landlord in connection with the operation of the Property or the Demised Premises;

(6) repairs and replacements of the paving and resurfacing of parking lots (as reasonably required), curbs, fencing, walkways, electrical power lines, light poles, bulbs, drainage systems and equipment used on the Property (including the Common Areas);

(7) line painting;

(8) attending the parking areas (if necessary);

(9) any governmental charges, surcharges, fees or taxes on the parking areas or parking spaces or on vehicles parking therein;

(10) security services, including electronic response and surveillance and/or private police protection if obtained;

(11) repair or replacement of on-site water lines, sanitary sewer lines and storm sewer lines serving the Property;

 

Schedule 10.2(e) – 1


(12) rental of machinery, equipment and tools used in operating and maintaining the Property and all buildings and improvements thereon;

(13) reasonable amortization or depreciation of equipment purchased and used for operating or maintaining (i) the Property and/or (ii) all buildings and improvements thereon;

(14) costs of signs, sign maintenance and sound systems;

(15) all personal property and similar taxes on equipment, machinery, tools, supplies and other personal property and facilities used in the maintenance of the Property;

(16) compensation, paid to any person specifically providing direct services with respect to the Property (as opposed to a person in the general employ of Landlord), including the classification of building superintendent;

(17) all repairs to the Property and all buildings and improvements thereon ( provided that with respect to the Demised Premises, any such repairs shall not materially exceed the standard of repairs for which Tenant is obligated under the Master Lease);

(18) all supplies and replacement items required for the Property;

(19) all costs for restoration, relocation or expansion of the Common Areas of the Property;

(20) all charges for maintenance contracts, inspection contracts, HVAC, escalator and elevator contracts and similar contracts for the Property, together with all reasonable costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, tax-reduction personnel, building inspectors, architects, construction engineers, environmental engineers and inspectors, and other professionals and experts in connection with the maintenance, repair and operation of the Property;

(21) [Intentionally Omitted];;

(22) all insurance with respect to the Property, including Landlord’s Insurance Costs;

(23) all costs and expenses incurred by Landlord pursuant to all Operating Agreements;

(24) all costs and expenses incurred by Landlord to perform Landlord’s obligations under Section 10.3 ; and

(25) [Intentionally Omitted].

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Operating Expenses shall expressly exclude:

(1) costs of maintenance and repair reimbursed by insurance proceeds or paid for by other tenants of the Property separate from their share of any Operating Expenses;

 

Schedule 10.2(e) – 2


(2) repairs, maintenance, alterations, tenant improvements, tenant allowances, free rent or other tenant concessions, or other specific costs attributable solely to other tenants’ space in the Property or billed to such tenants;

(3) brokerage and leasing commissions, advertising expenses and other costs incurred in leasing or re-leasing space in the Property, including, without limitation, any Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space;

(4) debt service, interest on borrowed money or debt amortization;

(5) depreciation on the Property or equipment or systems therein;

(6) attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with lease negotiations or lease disputes;

(7) the cost (including any amortization thereof) of any improvements or alterations which would be properly classified as capital expenditures according to generally accepted accounting principles, except for items referred to in Item (24) or any other items of Operating Expenses above;

(8) the cost of decorating, improving for tenant occupancy, painting or redecorating portions of any building to be demised to tenants;

(9) the cost of all Recapture Separation Work and all similar work with respect to any Additional Recapture Space, including, without limitation, any construction management or supervisory fees or expenses;

(10) costs, fees or expenses of or related to any separation, construction, redevelopment or reletting of any Recapture Space or Additional Recapture Space;

(11) salaries and other compensation of personnel in the general employ of Landlord or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates;

(12) advertising and promotional fees in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per calendar year;

(13) the costs of artwork or sculpture;

(14) costs for repairs or other work occasioned by fire, windstorm or other casualty which are fully reimbursed by insurance;

(15) wages, salaries or other compensation paid for clerks or attendants in concessions or newsstands operated by Landlord or Landlord’s affiliates;

(16) costs or expenses charged to or payable by other third-party tenants of Landlord (including utility charges) other than as part of Operating Expenses;

 

Schedule 10.2(e) – 3


(17) any costs or expenses which are otherwise reimbursed to Landlord, other than as part of a Tenant’s Proportionate Share of Operating Expenses or CAM Expenses; provided , however , that notwithstanding any provision in this Master Lease to the contrary, in no event shall Landlord be entitled to bill, receive and retain from Tenant and all third-party tenants (subject to final adjustments and accounting) an aggregate of more than one hundred percent (100%) of all actual costs and expenses paid or incurred by Landlord on account of Operating Expenses or any other Installment Expenses and if Landlord shall receive more than one hundred percent (100%) (“ Excess Expenses ”), Landlord shall promptly refund to Tenant an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of such Excess Expenses, or Tenant’s Proportionate Share thereof (from and after the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date), and (ii) the actual amount paid by Tenant on account of all Operating Expenses or other Installment Expenses.

(18) overhead or administrative fees, costs or expenses of Landlord, or any subsidiaries or affiliates of Landlord (including any profit increments to any such subsidiaries or affiliates);

(19) charitable or political donations or contributions;

(20) interest, charges or penalties arising by reason of Landlord’s failure to timely pay any Impositions, CAM Expenses, (so long as timely paid by Tenant to Landlord), other Operating Expenses or other Property Charges, to the extent Landlord is required or has undertaken to do so under this Master Lease;

(21) any management fee or construction management or supervisory fee, with respect to the Demised Premises or the Property, other than any such fees (if any) which are payable to unrelated third-parties, pursuant to any REAs or Operating Agreements, but in no event with respect to any Recapture Separation Work or any work in connection with any Additional Recapture Space;

(22) any fees or other compensation for services (other than reimbursement for out-of pocket expenses) with respect to the Property paid to Tenant or any Affiliate of Tenant pursuant to any separate agreement for services between Landlord or any Affiliate of landlord, and Tenant or any Affiliate of Tenant;

(22) any costs or expenses arising out of or related to any breach or default by Landlord pursuant to the Master Lease or any negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of Landlord; or

(24) any costs or expenses arising out of or related all matters for which Landlord is required to indemnify, defend or hold harmless Tenant pursuant to the Master Lease.

 

Schedule 10.2(e) – 4


SCHEDULE 14.4

LANDLORD MORTGAGE DOCUMENTS

 

1. Loan Agreement
2. Promissory Note
3. Mortgages/Deeds of Trust for all Properties
4. Pledge and Security Agreement (JV Equity for GGP JV, Simon JV and Macerich JV)
5. Consent (GGP JV Agreement)
6. Consent (Simon JV Agreement)
7. Consent (Macerich JV Agreement)
8. Cash Management Agreement
9. Clearing Account DACA
10. Operating Account DACA (See Schedule 4)
11. Environmental Indemnity Agreement
12. Recourse Carve-Out Guaranty
13. Assignment and Subordination of Management Agreement
14. Assignment and Subordination of SHLD TSA
15. Assignment of Interest Rate Cap
16. Title Instruction Letter


SCHEDULE 20.6

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO THE DEMISED PREMISES AND SACS

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this Master Lease, the following terms and provisions shall apply to and govern Tenant’s use and occupancy of the Demised Premises and the portion thereof containing or relating to SACs, and the conduct of the Tenant’s use and operation of the Demised Premises and the Stores, all of which terms and provisions Tenant shall observe, perform and comply with promptly and at its sole cost and expense:

(a) Storage . All scrap/discarded mufflers or other equipment, parts, tires, batteries/battery cores, brake linings, wiper blades and other potentially hazardous by-products or results of Tenant’s operations, all other debris and waste or used products (including, without limitation, motor oils and petroleum and nonpetroleum products), and all Hazardous Substances, must be stored in accordance with the Environmental Ordinary Course of Business.

(b) Parking . Tenant shall cause its employees to park all automobiles which are in the process of service and/or maintenance either inside the Demised Premises or solely within that portion of the Common Areas identified as parking areas for Sears Store customers in any Encumbrances or, at the request of Landlord, in such specific locations thereof as may be designated from time to time by Landlord.

(c) Environmental Best Management Practices . In using each and all of the Demised Premises or operating the automobile care service business at the Demised Premises, Tenant shall use best management practices in managing all Hazardous Substances, including, but not limited to, strictly complying with all of the following:

(i) Compliance With Environmental Laws and Legal Requirements . Tenant shall comply, and shall cause the Demised Premises and all activities thereon to strictly comply, with all Environmental Laws and all other Legal Requirements now or hereafter in effect. Tenant shall procure and maintain in full force and effect at all times any and all licenses, permits, approvals, consents or authorizations required under any Environmental Laws or other Legal Requirements for the conduct of Tenant’s operations on the Demised Premises (“ Environmental Permits ”), and Tenant shall not take, suffer or permit any action which would violate any such Environmental Permits, nor fail to take any action the failure of which would violate or cause the suspension or revocation of any such Environmental Permits. Tenant shall timely make all applications to renew and extend all Environmental Permits. Landlord shall reasonably cooperate, at Tenant’s expense, with Tenant’s efforts to procure such Environmental Permits, but Landlord shall not incur any expense, liability or obligation with respect to any such Environmental Permits.

(ii) Release and Generation of Hazardous Substances . Tenant shall not cause or permit the release, threatened release, abandonment, treatment, dumping, discharging or disposal of any Hazardous Substances on, from, under or

 

Schedule 20.6 – 1


about the Demised Premises, the Properties and/or the Shopping Center (if applicable). Tenant shall not use, manage, handle, store, generate or transport or permit the use, management, handling, generation or transportation of Hazardous Substances on, under or from the Demised Premises except to the extent necessary for Tenant’s business operations and then only in strict compliance with applicable Environmental Laws and other Legal Requirements. In addition, Tenant shall not manage (except as a generator), store or dispose of any hazardous waste, as such term is defined under applicable Environmental Law, or Hazardous Substances on, from or under the Demised Premises or take any action or allow any activity, in each case that would cause the Demised Premises to be considered a hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal facility within the meaning of any applicable Environmental Law.

(iii) Removal of Waste Oils and Solvents . Tenant shall cause all waste oils, solvents and other used petroleum and nonpetroleum waste to be removed periodically (but not less frequently than once per month or period as may be customary in the industry) and transported from the Demised Premises by a properly licensed, experienced and reputable waste removal contractor, to be disposed of at duly licensed facilities, all in strict accordance with all applicable Legal Requirements and Environmental Laws.

(iv) Oil-Water Separator . Tenant shall regularly (at least annually or such shorter period as required by Environmental Laws) cause the oil-water separator to be dredged, cleaned and refilled and the filtration material replaced, removed and transported by a properly licensed and reputable waste removal contractor, approved in advance by Landlord, to be disposed of at duly licensed facilities in strict accordance with all applicable Legal Requirements and Environmental Laws.

(v) Environmental Equipment; Remediation . Subject to the provisions of Section 20.3(b) :

(A) Tenant shall not use or install or allow the use or installation of any Environmental Equipment on the Demised Premises which is first used or installed after the Effective Date located in whole or in part beneath the surface of the ground without Landlord’s prior written consent ( provided , that Tenant may use the preexisting Environmental Equipment located at the Demised Premises on the date of this Master Lease, subject to the further provisions hereof). Tenant is solely responsible for any liability, damage, cost or claim resulting from, relating to or arising out of any such use or installation. If Tenant installs or uses any Environmental Equipment which is involved in or related to any Known Environmental Problem, Tenant shall, at or before the time that it vacates the Demised Premises and at any rate on or before the effective date of such vacating, unless otherwise directed by Landlord: (i) remove, dispose or repair the same if required in compliance with all Environmental Laws; (ii) restore the Demised Premises to their original condition (excluding and after removal of any and all Environmental Equipment); and (iii) comply with all obligations related thereto under all Environmental Laws;

 

Schedule 20.6 – 2


(B) Subject to the foregoing, with respect to all Known Environmental Problems, Tenant agrees to operate, maintain, abandon, close, remove, repair and replace all Environmental Equipment as may be necessary in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, being responsible for the removal, replacement, treatment and disposal of soils, building materials, equipment and/or groundwater impacted with or by Hazardous Substances and disturbed, exposed or released during such operation, maintenance, abandonment, removal, repair and replacement activities;

(C) Upon removal of any Environmental Equipment, Tenant shall promptly: (x) investigate whether any release of Hazardous Substances occurred in connection with such Environmental Equipment; (y) promptly after the removal thereof notify Landlord in writing of all releases of Hazardous Substances and/or any contamination discovered as a result of such investigation, and provide Landlord with all results thereof and all tests and reports in connection therewith; and (z) using a consultant and methods reasonably approved in advance by Landlord and in full accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws, remove all such Hazardous Substances and repair all damage to the Demised Premises, the Properties and/or the Shopping Center (if applicable);

(D) Without limiting the foregoing provisions of subparagraph (C), in the event that Tenant removes, replaces, repairs or modifies a hydraulic lift, Tenant shall, in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws, promptly remove, replace and properly dispose of all soils and/or groundwater which: (x) are impacted with Hazardous Substances, including, but not limited to, oils, petroleum products and/or petroleum-derived products; and/or (y) are exposed or disturbed by the removal, replacement, repair or modification of a hydraulic lift. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, at Tenant’s expense and without releasing Tenant from any of its liability or obligations under this Master Lease, to initiate or assume control in a commercially reasonable manner in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements over the investigation, remediation or monitoring of any soil and/or groundwater found to be impacted by Hazardous Substances; and

(E) Tenant shall notify Landlord in writing at least seven (7) days in advance of any permanent abandonment or removal (without implying Landlord’s consent to any abandonment or removal, which consent must be requested in writing by Tenant and shall be given or withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion), and/or replacement of Environmental Equipment.

(vi) Storage Tanks . Tenant shall operate above-ground or below-ground storage tanks, including with respect to temporary storage of waste oils and solvents for periodic disposal as provided in Schedules 20.6(c)(iii) and (c)(iv) , and in the Environmental Ordinary Course of Business.

 

Schedule 20.6 – 3


(vii) Compliance, Investigation and Reports .

(A) Tenant shall strictly comply with all applicable Legal Requirements pertaining to the permitted use and the protection of human health and the environment, including making all filings and reports to applicable governmental agencies necessary to so comply, including hazardous waste manifests (providing copies of all such manifests, notices, demands, claims and correspondence received from or sent to any governmental agency to the manager of the Sears Store or Kmart Store, as the case may be, at the respective Sears Store or Kmart Store address, and to Landlord), and performing any investigation, remediation, clean up or work required to comply with Legal Requirements and Environmental Laws and paying (and indemnifying Landlord against) any fines, penalties, damages, costs, liabilities and expenses arising out of Tenant’s failure to comply with Legal Requirements and Environmental Laws.

(B) Without limiting the foregoing, upon receiving notice thereof, Tenant shall promptly: (x) notify Landlord in writing and provide copies of all documents regarding all actual or alleged violations of any Environmental Law that involve a release or threatened release of Hazardous Substance relating to Tenant’s activities or otherwise, including copies of any environmental testing, cleanup, monitoring, or closure reports or documents, regulatory correspondence or other written materials whatsoever (including all updates, supplements and revisions) relating to their discovery, investigation, remediation and/or monitoring of any soils and/or groundwater impacted with Hazardous Materials on or about the Demised Premises, in connection with Tenant’s operation, investigation, maintenance, abandonment, removal, repair and replacement of Environmental Equipment (collectively, “ Remediation Materials ”); and (y) at its sole expense and using a consultant and methods approved in advance by Landlord and in full compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, investigate and correct all such violations, remove all such Hazardous Substances and repair all damage to the Demised Premises, the Properties and/or the Shopping Center (if applicable).

(viii) Removal of Hazardous Substances . Upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Master Lease, Tenant shall cause, at its sole cost and expense, all containerized or accumulated Hazardous Substances, including Hazardous Substances accumulated in any tanks or secondary containment systems, to be removed from the Demised Premises and transported off-site for use, storage or disposal in accordance with all Environmental Laws.

(ix) Inspection by Landlord . Tenant acknowledges and agrees that, at any time and from time to time during the Term, Landlord and its representatives may enter the Demised Premises to install, maintain or use any environmental monitoring or testing equipment or to perform any environmental monitoring, testing, auditing or inspection activity with respect to any activities on,

 

Schedule 20.6 – 4


at or in the vicinity of the Demised Premises, and to review, inspect and copy all Remediation Materials. In addition, Landlord has the right, at any time and from time to time, to inspect or audit the Demised Premises with respect to environmental matters and to observe and audit Tenant’s compliance with Environmental Laws and the provisions of Article XX and other provisions of this Master Lease. During such inspection or audit, Tenant agrees to provide all relevant documents and information reasonably requested by Landlord and to provide to Landlord the opportunity to interview Tenant’s employees relating to environmental matters. This right of audit and inspection does not constitute a duty on Landlord’s part to so inspect and in no event relieves Tenant of any obligations under this Master Lease or under any Legal Requirements. All activities by Landlord under this Schedule 20.6(c)(ix) shall be subject to the provisions with respect to notice and terms of inspection, Landlord’s responsibility and insurance and all other matters as provided in Section 20.5 of this Master Lease. Landlord shall maintain (or cause its contractors and experts to maintain) customary insurance coverage with customary limits with respect to all Inspections naming Tenant as additional insured.

(x) Landlord’s Right to Perform .

(A) If Tenant fails to perform any of its obligations under this Schedule 20.6 in a timely manner, without limiting any other Landlord’s rights or remedies under this Master Lease, upon reasonable notice to Tenant, Landlord may (but shall have no obligation to) perform such obligation at Tenant’s sole risk and expense.

(B) Without limiting the foregoing, in the event Tenant has not fully complied with all obligations to deliver any or all of the Demised Premises free of Hazardous Substances or has failed to remove any Environmental Equipment or has failed to otherwise complete any required remediation activities or other obligations pursuant to Article XX with respect to the surrender of the Demised Premises on the expiration or earlier termination of this Master Lease, subject to the provisions of Schedule 20.3 to the Side Letter and the provisions of Section 20.3(b) , Landlord, its successors, assigns and designees (collectively, “ Performing Parties ”) may accept such delivery and surrender of the Demised Premises with such failure and nonperformance by Tenant and undertake any or all of Tenant’s such obligations with respect to any or all of the Demised Premises in accordance with the requirements of Environmental Law at Tenant’s sole cost and expense, without releasing Tenant from its liabilities or obligations under this Master Lease and without waiving any rights or remedies against Tenant. In such event, in addition to all other Landlord’s rights and remedies, Tenant shall remain liable for all costs, expenses, fees, charges, fines, penalties and damages as a result of Tenant’s such failure to deliver and surrender the Demised Premises in the condition required, and shall pay or reimburse the same to Landlord or any other Performing Parties, plus five percent (5%) of the amount thereof for administrative expenses, within ten (10) days of written demand therefor.

 

Schedule 20.6 – 5


(xi) Tenant to Maintain Records . Tenant shall retain and maintain copies of all removal, transportation and disposal manifests, notices, correspondence, spill or release reports, remediation requests and action plans, environmental reports, tests and inspections, notices of violations, and all other Remediation Materials referred to in this Schedule 20.6 for a period of not less than three (3) years (or such longer period as may be required by applicable Environmental Law) from and after the period to which they relate.

(xii) Environmental Indemnity . In addition to all other Tenant indemnities hereunder, Tenant shall indemnify, defend (with counsel acceptable to Landlord), and hold harmless Landlord and all Indemnified Parties from and against any and all Losses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, including all of the same incurred in the enforcement of this indemnity, and reasonable consultants’ fees) which are caused by, relate to or arise in connection with: (A) any breach of Article XX ; (B) any violation by Tenant or Tenant Group of any Environmental Law with respect to the Demised Premises, the Properties and/or the Shopping Center (if applicable); (C) any act or omission of Tenant or Tenant Group as to any environmental matter or condition arising during the Term resulting in any violation of Environmental Law; and (D) that portion of an environmental condition on or about the Demised Premises, the Properties and/or the Shopping Center (if applicable) caused by, contributed to, or aggravated or exacerbated by Tenant. Tenant’s obligation under this Schedule 20.6(c)(xii) shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Master Lease.

(xiii) Confidentiality . All environmental testing and mitigation results and all documents or reports generated in connection with the Tenant’s operation, investigation, maintenance, abandonment, removal, repair or replacement of any Environmental Equipment or Hazardous Substances shall be kept strictly confidential unless disclosure is required by law (in which event, prior written notice of such disclosure, together with a copy of the testing, mitigation documents or reports that will be disclosed must be given to Landlord at least thirty (30) days prior to the disclosure).

(xiv) Survival . The provisions of this Schedule 20.6 shall survive the expiration or sooner termination of this Master Lease with respect to any or all of the Demised Premises.

 

Schedule 20.6 – 6

Exhibit 10.4

Execution Version

LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of July 7, 2015

by and among

Seritage SRC Finance LLC and

Seritage KMT Finance LLC,

as Borrower,

Seritage GS Holdings LLC,

Seritage SPS Holdings LLC and

Seritage MS Holdings LLC

as JV Pledgor

and

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and

H/2 SO III Funding I LLC

as Lender


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1 GENERAL TERMS

  

Section 1.1

 

The Loan; Term.

     53   

Section 1.2

 

Interest and Principal.

     55   

Section 1.3

 

Method and Place of Payment

     56   

Section 1.4

 

Taxes; Regulatory Change.

     57   

Section 1.5

 

Interest Rate Cap Agreements.

     58   

Section 1.6

 

Release

     59   

Section 1.7

 

Advances.

     59   

ARTICLE 2 VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT AND ASSUMPTION

  

Section 2.1

 

Voluntary Prepayment.

     61   

Section 2.2

 

Property Releases.

     62   

Section 2.3

 

JV Releases.

     65   

Section 2.4

 

Transfers of Equity Interests in Borrower.

     68   

ARTICLE 3 ACCOUNTS

  

Section 3.1

 

Cash Management Account.

     70   

Section 3.2

 

Distributions from Cash Management Account.

     71   

Section 3.3

 

Loss Proceeds Account.

     73   

Section 3.4

 

Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account.

     74   

Section 3.5

 

TI/LC Reserve Account.

     75   

Section 3.6

 

Capital Expenditure Reserve Account.

     76   

Section 3.7

 

Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account.

     76   

Section 3.8

 

Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account.

     77   

Section 3.9

 

Unfunded Obligations Account.

     78   

Section 3.10

 

Cash Flow Sweep Cure Reserve Account.

     79   

Section 3.11

 

Redevelopment Project Reserve Account.

     79   

Section 3.12

 

Account Collateral.

     80   

Section 3.13

 

Bankruptcy

     81   

ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS

  

Section 4.1

 

Organization.

     82   

Section 4.2

 

Authorization

     82   

Section 4.3

 

No Conflicts

     82   

Section 4.4

 

Consents

     82   

Section 4.5

 

Enforceable Obligations

     82   

Section 4.6

 

No Default

     83   

Section 4.7

 

Payment of Taxes

     83   

Section 4.8

 

Compliance with Law

     83   

Section 4.9

 

ERISA.

     83   

Section 4.10

 

Investment Company Act

     84   

Section 4.11

 

No Bankruptcy Filing

     84   

Section 4.12

 

Other Debt

     84   

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 4.13

 

Litigation

     84   

Section 4.14

 

Leases; Material Agreements.

     84   

Section 4.15

 

Full and Accurate Disclosure

     86   

Section 4.16

 

Financial Condition and Projections

     86   

Section 4.17

 

Single-Purpose Requirements.

     86   

Section 4.18

 

Use of Loan Proceeds

     87   

Section 4.19

 

Not Foreign Person

     87   

Section 4.20

 

Labor Matters

     87   

Section 4.21

 

Title

     87   

Section 4.22

 

No Encroachments

     88   

Section 4.23

 

Physical Condition

     88   

Section 4.24

 

Fraudulent Conveyance

     88   

Section 4.25

 

Management

     88   

Section 4.26

 

Condemnation

     89   

Section 4.27

 

Utilities and Public Access

     89   

Section 4.28

 

Environmental Matters

     89   

Section 4.29

 

Assessments

     90   

Section 4.30

 

No Joint Assessment

     90   

Section 4.31

 

Separate Lots

     90   

Section 4.32

 

Permits; Certificate of Occupancy

     90   

Section 4.33

 

Flood Zone

     90   

Section 4.34

 

Security Deposits

     90   

Section 4.35

 

Acquisition Documents

     90   

Section 4.36

 

Insurance

     90   

Section 4.37

 

No Dealings

     91   

Section 4.38

 

Estoppel Certificates; JV Side Letters

     91   

Section 4.39

 

Federal Trade Embargos

     91   

Section 4.40

 

Ground Leased Parcel

     91   

Section 4.41

 

Survival

     92   

ARTICLE 5 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

  

Section 5.1

 

Existence; Licenses

     93   

Section 5.2

 

Maintenance of Property.

     93   

Section 5.3

 

Compliance with Legal Requirements

     95   

Section 5.4

 

Impositions and Other Claims

     95   

Section 5.5

 

Inspection

     96   

Section 5.6

 

Cooperate in Legal Proceedings

     96   

Section 5.7

 

Leases.

     96   

Section 5.8

 

Plan Assets, etc.

     99   

Section 5.9

 

Further Assurances

     99   

Section 5.10

 

Management of Collateral.

     100   

Section 5.11

 

Notice of Material Event

     101   

Section 5.12

 

Annual Financial Statements; Format for Statements

     101   

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 5.13

 

Quarterly Financial Statements

     102   

Section 5.14

 

Monthly Financial Statements; Other Reporting.

     103   

Section 5.15

 

Insurance.

     103   

Section 5.16

 

Casualty and Condemnation.

     108   

Section 5.17

 

Annual Budget

     111   

Section 5.18

 

Venture Capital Operating Companies; Nonbinding Consultation

     111   

Section 5.19

 

Compliance with Encumbrances and Material Agreements.

     112   

Section 5.20

 

Prohibited Persons

     112   

Section 5.21

 

Business Plans

     113   

Section 5.22

 

Redevelopment Plans.

     113   

Section 5.23

 

Recapture Plans

     119   

Section 5.24

 

Joint Ventures.

     119   

ARTICLE 6 NEGATIVE COVENANTS

  

Section 6.1

 

Liens on the Collateral

     120   

Section 6.2

 

Ownership

     120   

Section 6.3

 

Transfer

     120   

Section 6.4

 

Debt

     120   

Section 6.5

 

Dissolution; Merger or Consolidation

     120   

Section 6.6

 

Change in Business

     120   

Section 6.7

 

Debt Cancellation

     120   

Section 6.8

 

Affiliate Transactions

     121   

Section 6.9

 

Misapplication of Funds

     121   

Section 6.10

 

Jurisdiction of Formation; Name

     121   

Section 6.11

 

Modifications and Waivers

     121   

Section 6.12

 

ERISA.

     122   

Section 6.13

 

Alterations and Expansions

     122   

Section 6.14

 

Advances and Investments

     122   

Section 6.15

 

Single-Purpose Entity

     122   

Section 6.16

 

Zoning and Uses

     123   

Section 6.17

 

Waste

     123   

Section 6.18

 

Ground Lease.

     123   

ARTICLE 7 DEFAULTS

  

Section 7.1

 

Event of Default

     124   

Section 7.2

 

Remedies.

     127   

Section 7.3

 

Application of Payments after an Event of Default

     129   

ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

  

Section 8.1

 

Conditions Precedent to Loan Closing

     129   

ARTICLE 9 MISCELLANEOUS

  

Section 9.1

 

Successors

     132   

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 9.2

 

GOVERNING LAW.

     133   

Section 9.3

 

Modification, Waiver in Writing, Approval of Lender

     133   

Section 9.4

 

Notices.

     133   

Section 9.5

 

TRIAL BY JURY

     136   

Section 9.6

 

Headings

     136   

Section 9.7

 

Assignment.

     136   

Section 9.8

 

Severability

     138   

Section 9.9

 

Preferences; Waiver of Marshalling of Assets

     138   

Section 9.10

 

Remedies of Borrower

     138   

Section 9.11

 

Offsets, Counterclaims and Defenses

     139   

Section 9.12

 

No Joint Venture

     139   

Section 9.13

 

Conflict; Construction of Documents

     139   

Section 9.14

 

Brokers and Financial Advisors

     139   

Section 9.15

 

Counterparts

     139   

Section 9.16

 

Estoppel Certificates.

     139   

Section 9.17

 

General Indemnity; Payment of Expenses.

     140   

Section 9.18

 

No Third-Party Beneficiaries

     142   

Section 9.19

 

Recourse.

     143   

Section 9.20

 

Right of Set-Off

     145   

Section 9.21

 

Exculpation of Lender

     145   

Section 9.22

 

Servicer

     146   

Section 9.23

 

No Fiduciary Duty.

     146   

Section 9.24

 

Borrower Information.

     147   

Section 9.25

 

PATRIOT Act Records

     149   

Section 9.26

 

Prior Agreements

     149   

Section 9.27

 

Publicity

     149   

Section 9.28

 

Delay Not a Waiver

     149   

Section 9.29

 

Schedules and Exhibits Incorporated

     150   

Section 9.30

 

New Borrowers

     150   

Section 9.31

 

Joint and Several Liability; Waivers

     151   

 

iv


Exhibits
A Organizational Chart
B Form of Tenant Notice
C Form of Funding Request
D Form of Permitted JV Equity Pledge Agreement
E Form of Borrower Reporting Package
F Form of MRT Amendment
G Form of Lender SNDA
Schedules
A-1 Properties as of Loan Closing
A-2 Properties as of Approved Separation Transaction Closing
A-3 Additional Properties
B Allocated Loan Amounts
C Exception Report
D-1 Deferred Maintenance Conditions
D-2 Environmental Conditions
E-1 Unfunded Obligations
E-2 Existing Redevelopment Funding Conditions
F Rent Roll
G Material Agreements
H Business Plan Requirements
I Ground Leases
J-1 Prohibited Transferees
J-2 Proprietary Information Restricted Persons
K Illustration of SHLD EBITDAR Calculation
L-1 Developer REA Estoppels
L-2 Major Anchor REA Estoppels
M Designated Property Redevelopment Plans
N Recapture Plans
O Approved Property Managers
P Specified Leases
Q Confidentiality Legend
R Title Insurance Pools
S MRT Jurisdictions

 

v


LOAN AGREEMENT

This Loan Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is dated July 7, 2015 and is by and among JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as holder of the A-1 Note (as defined herein) (together with its successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any A-1 Note, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the “ Initial Advance Lender ”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as holder of the A-2-1 Note (as defined herein) (the “ JPM Future Advance Lender ”) and H/2 SO III Funding I LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as holder of the A-2-2 Note (the “ H/2 Future Advance Lender ”, and together with the JPM Future Advance Lender and their respective successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any A-2 Note, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the “ Future Advance Lender ”; the Future Advance Lender, together with the Initial Advance Lender, together with each of their respective successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any portion of the Indebtedness (as defined herein), individually or collectively, as the context may require, “ Lender ”), Seritage SRC Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Seritage KMT Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as borrower (individually or collectively, as the context may require, “ Borrower ”) and Seritage GS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Seritage SPS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Seritage MS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company as pledgor (individually or collectively, as the context may require, “ JV Pledgor ”).

RECITALS

Borrower desires to obtain from Lender the Loan (as defined herein) in connection with the financing of the acquisition of the Properties (as defined herein).

Lender is willing to make the Loan on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement if Borrower joins in the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents.

In consideration of the agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein and in the other Loan Documents, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Lender and Borrower agree as follows:

DEFINITIONS

(a) When used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

A-1 Note(s) ” means that certain promissory note, dated as of the Closing Date, made by Borrower to the order of Initial Advance Lender, designated the “A-1 Note” evidencing the Initial Advance, which note, together with the A-2 Notes, evidence the Loan, as each such note may be replaced by multiple Notes or divided into multiple Note Components in accordance with Section 1.1(c) and as otherwise assigned (in whole or in part), as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.


A-2 Note(s) ” means (i) that certain promissory note, dated as of the Closing Date, made by Borrower to the order of the JPM Future Advance Lender, designated the “A-2-1 Note” in the maximum principal amount of up to $50,000,000 and (ii) that certain promissory note, dated as of the Closing Date, made by Borrower to the order of H/2 Future Advance Lender, designated the “A-2-2 Note” in the maximum principal amount of up to $50,000,000, which notes, together with the A-1 Note, evidence the Loan, as each such note may be replaced by multiple Notes or divided into multiple Note Components in accordance with the Loan Documents and as otherwise assigned (in whole or in part), as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Acceptable Counterparty ” means any counterparty to an Interest Rate Cap Agreement (or the guarantor of such counterparty’s obligations pursuant to a guaranty acceptable to Lender and the Rating Agencies) that has and maintains (a) either (i) a long-term unsecured debt rating or counterparty rating of A- or higher from S&P, or (ii) a short-term unsecured debt rating of A-2 or higher from S&P, and (b) a long-term unsecured debt rating of A3 or higher from Moody’s.

Acceptable Mortgage Modification Endorsement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(j) .

Account Collateral ” means, collectively, the Collateral Accounts and all sums at any time held, deposited or invested therein, together with any interest and other earnings thereon, and all securities and investment property credited thereto and all proceeds thereof (including proceeds of sales and other dispositions), whether accounts, general intangibles, chattel paper, deposit accounts, instruments, documents or securities.

Additional Nonconsolidation Opinion ” shall mean a nonconsolidation opinion letter delivered in connection with the Loan subsequent to the Closing Date reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Lender and, if a Securitization has occurred, satisfactory in form and substance to the Rating Agencies, delivered by Mayer Brown LLP or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to Lender and, if a Securitization has occurred, satisfactory to the Rating Agencies.

Additional Properties ” shall mean the Properties purchased by Borrower in connection with the Approved Separation Transaction Closing as set forth on Schedule A-3 .

Affiliate ” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that is, directly or indirectly, in Control of, is Controlled by or is under common ownership or Control with such Person.

Affiliate Lease ” means any Lease between Borrower and any Broad Affiliate of Borrower (which shall include, for avoidance of doubt, the Lands’ End Master Lease and the Sears Hometown License Agreement).

Agreement ” means this Loan Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

2


Allocated Loan Amount ” means, with respect to each Property, the portion of the Loan Amount allocated to such Property as set forth on Schedule B as of the Loan Closing and adjusted as of the Approved Separation Transaction Closing, as such amount may be increased and/or supplemented by the portion of the Future Advance Amount advanced by the Future Advance Lender in respect of such Property in accordance with Section 1.7 .

Alteration ” means any demolition, alteration, installation, improvement or expansion of or to any of the Properties or any portion thereof.

Annual Budget ” means a capital and operating expenditure budget for each Property and the Borrower (including allocable general and administrative expenses of Guarantor) for a Fiscal Year, prepared by Borrower that specifies amounts sufficient to operate and maintain the Properties consistent with the standards required by this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Annual Budget shall not include expenditures in respect of Redevelopment Projects.

Annual Test Period ” means each one-year period commencing on the date that is 90 days following the Closing Date and each one-year anniversary of such date.

Applicable JV ” means, as to any Seritage JV Member, the GGP JV, the Macerich JV, the Permitted JV or the Simon JV, as applicable to such Seritage JV Member.

Appraisal ” means, with respect to each Property, an as-is appraisal of such Property that is prepared by a member of the Appraisal Institute selected by Lender, meets the minimum appraisal standards for national banks promulgated by the Comptroller of the Currency pursuant to Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended (FIRREA) and complies with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Approved Annual Budget ” means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, the most recent Annual Budget prepared by Borrower and delivered to Lender in accordance with Section 5.17 , and, to the extent required by Section 5.17 , is approved by Lender.

Approved Designated Property Redevelopment Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(h) .

Approved Management Agreement ” means that certain Management and Leasing Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between Borrower and Seritage Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any other management agreement or agreements with one or more Approved Property Managers on terms reasonably acceptable to Lender and with respect to which the Rating Condition is satisfied, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Approved Property Manager ” means:

(i) (a) SHMC and (b) any Person listed on Schedule O hereto;

 

3


(ii) Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof, provided the designated manager either (a) satisfies the Independent Management Criteria or (b) subcontracts with respect to all or a portion of its duties with an Approved Property Manager (satisfying the criteria in clause (i) or clause (iii) of this definition) under an Approved Management Agreement on terms reasonably acceptable to Lender; or

(iii) any other management company that is not a Broad Affiliate of Borrower, Guarantor or SHLD (other than such Persons permitted under clause (i)  or clause (ii)  above) and is otherwise reasonably acceptable to Lender and with respect to which the Rating Condition is satisfied, in each case, unless and until Lender requests the termination of that management company pursuant to Section 5.10(d) .

Approved Redevelopment Costs ” means the Redevelopment Costs incurred by Borrower in accordance with an Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget.

Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget ” means a Redevelopment Plan and Budget prepared by Borrower with respect to all or any portion of a Property that satisfies the applicable requirements set forth Section 5.22 and, to the extent required by Section 5.22 , is approved by Lender.

Approved Redevelopment Pro Rata Share ” means, with respect to any Redevelopment Project, the pro rata share of Approved Redevelopment Costs to be funded with the proceeds of draws on the Future Advance Amount as specified in the applicable Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget. For avoidance of doubt, the Approved Redevelopment Pro Rata Share with respect to a Redevelopment Project may be 100%.

Approved Separation Transaction ” means the acquisition of Mezzanine Borrower, Borrower and the other assets (including the Additional Properties) contemplated thereby by the Guarantor pursuant to the SHLD PSA for a purchase price not less than the Minimum Purchase Price, funded by a combination of proceeds of the Loan, the Mezzanine Loan and the proceeds from a subscription-rights offering to SHLD shareholders that will raise not less than the Minimum Cash Equity (as defined below) on such terms as are approved by Lender and set forth in the Form S-11 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Approved Separation Transaction Closing ” means the closing of the Approved Separation Transaction in accordance with the SHLD PSA.

Assignment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(b) .

Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement ” means each collateral assignment of an interest rate cap agreement executed by Borrower and an Acceptable Counterparty in accordance herewith, each of which must be in substantially the form executed by Borrower and the initial Acceptable Counterparty on the Closing Date, mutatis mutandis, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Bankruptcy Action ” shall mean with respect to any Person (a) such Person filing a voluntary petition under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other Federal, state, local or foreign

 

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bankruptcy or insolvency law; (b) the filing of an involuntary petition against such Person under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other Federal, state, local or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law, or soliciting or causing to be solicited petitioning creditors for any involuntary petition against such Person; (c) such Person filing an answer consenting to or otherwise acquiescing in or joining in any involuntary petition filed against it, by any other Person under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other Federal, state, local or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law; (d) such Person consenting to or acquiescing in or joining in an application for the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee, or examiner for such Person or any portion of any Individual Property; (e) such Person making an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admitting, in writing or in any legal proceeding, its insolvency or inability to pay its debts as they become due; or (f) such Person shall take any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §101, et seq., as the same may be amended from time to time, and any successor statute or statutes and all rules and regulations from time to time promulgated thereunder, and any comparable foreign laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or creditors’ rights or any other Federal, state, local or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law.

Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a) .

Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Borrower Reporting Package ” means the reports required to be delivered by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit E .

Borrower Representative ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4 .

Borrower Tax ” means any U.S. Tax and any present or future tax, assessment or other charge or levy imposed by, or on behalf of, any jurisdiction through which or from which payments due hereunder are made (or any taxing authority thereof).

Broad Affiliate ” means, as to any particular person, any Person either: (i) directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such person; or (ii) owning (directly or indirectly) 10% or more of the direct or indirect equity interests in such person.

Budgeted Operating Expenses ” means, with respect to any calendar month, (i) an amount equal to the Operating Expenses budgeted for such calendar month as set forth in the then-applicable Approved Annual Budget, or (ii) such greater amount as shall equal Borrower’s actual Operating Expenses for such month to the extent permitted by Section 5.17 or approved by Lender in accordance with Section 5.17 (including, for avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Permitted Variances).

Business Day ” means any day other than (i) a Saturday and a Sunday and (ii) a day on which federally insured depository institutions in the State of New York or the state in which the offices of Lender, its trustee, its Servicer or its Servicer’s collection account are located are authorized or obligated by law, governmental decree or executive order to be closed. When used with respect to an Interest Determination Date, “Business Day” shall mean a day on which banks are open for dealing in foreign currency and exchange in London.

 

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Business Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21 .

Capital Expenditure ” means hard and soft costs incurred by Borrower with respect to replacements and capital repairs made to the Properties (including repairs to, and replacements of, structural components, roofs, building systems, parking garages and parking lots), in each case to the extent capitalized in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Expenditure Reserve Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a) .

Cash Flow Sweep Cure Collateral ” means:

(i) with respect to a Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event described in clause (i)  of the definition thereof, cash collateral in an amount sufficient (if it were applied, pro rata, to the then outstanding principal balance of each of the Loan and the Mezzanine Loan) to cause the Debt Yield to equal or exceed 11%; and

(ii) with respect to a Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event described in clause (ii)  of the definition thereof, cash collateral in an amount equal to the product of (i) two multiplied by (ii) the amount by which the Third Party In-Place NOI Threshold exceeds Third Party In-Place NOI.

Cash Flow Sweep Cure Reserve Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a) .

Cash Flow Sweep Period ” means any period from (i) the occurrence of a Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event until (ii) the earlier to occur of (a) unless another termination or suspension date is expressly provided with respect to a particular Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event in the definition thereof, the Payment Date following the conclusion of the second of any two Test Periods ending in consecutive Fiscal Quarters thereafter during each of which such Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event has been cured (without regard to the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Cure Collateral delivered to Lender in accordance with this Agreement) and (b) payment in full of all principal and interest on the Loan and all other amounts payable under the Loan Documents in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents; provided that a Cash Flow Sweep Period caused by a Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event under clause (iv)(a) of the definition thereof shall only be terminated with the consent of Lender in its sole and absolute discretion; and provided , further that if Borrower shall fail to deliver the financial reports required under Sections 5.12 , 5.13 and 5.14 to Lender as and when required hereunder, then, to the extent such failure is not cured within five (5) Business Days of the date of notice thereof from Lender, at Lender’s election a Cash Flow Sweep Period shall be deemed to have commenced and be ongoing, unless and until all such reports are delivered and they indicate that, in fact, no Cash Flow Sweep Period is ongoing.

Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(a) .

 

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Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) the Debt Yield with respect to any Test Period is less than 11.0%; provided that (a) no Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event shall be deemed to have occurred pursuant to this clause (i)  if Borrower shall prepay the Loan and Mezzanine Borrower shall prepay the Mezzanine Loan in accordance with Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement and Section 2.1(c) of the Mezzanine Loan Agreement, as applicable, in an amount sufficient to cause the Debt Yield to equal or exceed 11.0% or (b) such Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event shall be suspended if, at any time, Borrower shall have delivered to Lender the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Cure Collateral;

(ii) at any time after October 7, 2016, the SHLD EBITDAR Rent Ratio with respect to any Test Period is less than 1.50x; provided that (a) no Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event shall be deemed to have occurred pursuant to this clause (ii)  if Third Party In-Place NOI as of the most recently ended Test Period exceeds the Third Party In-Place NOI Threshold or (b) such Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event shall be suspended if Borrower shall have delivered to Lender the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Cure Collateral within 30 days of the commencement of the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Period;

(iii) with respect to any Annual Test Period, Third Party In-Place NOI shall not have increased by at least $7,500,000 relative to Third Party In-Place NOI as of the start of such Annual Test Period as a result of entry into Third Party Leases during such Annual Test Period (i.e., without giving effect to contractual rent steps of previously executed Third Party Leases) (the “ Annual Third Party In-Place NOI Threshold ”; and, for purposes of this clause (iii) , the amount by which Third Party In-Place NOI from entry into Third Party Leases during an Annual Test Period is less than the Annual Third Party In-Place NOI Threshold is referred to as the “ Annual Third Party In-Place NOI Deficiency ” and the Annual Test Period with respect to which an Annual Third Party In-Place NOI Deficiency exists is referred to herein as a “ Deficiency Period ”); provided that the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Period shall terminate on the Payment Date following the first full Fiscal Quarter in a subsequent Annual Test Period in which Borrower has, since the conclusion of the Deficiency Period, both (a) entered into Third Party Leases that generate Third Party In-Place NOI in an amount equal to the applicable Annual Third Party In-Place NOI Deficiency and (b) without duplication of amounts included for purposes of clause (a), entered into Third Party Leases that generate Third Party In-Place NOI in an amount equal to at least the product of (1) $1,875,000 multiplied by (2) the number of Fiscal Quarters that have elapsed since the conclusion of the applicable Deficiency Period;

(iv) (a) a Bankruptcy Action occurs with respect to SHLD or (b) there shall occur and be continuing a payment default (beyond any applicable notice and cure periods) by the SHLD Master Tenant under the SHLD Master Lease; provided that no Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event shall be deemed to have occurred under this clause (iv)  at any time Third Party In-Place NOI as of the most recently ended Test Period exceeds the product of (a) 1.50 multiplied by (b) annual debt service on the aggregate Principal Indebtedness and Mezzanine Loan Principal Indebtedness as of the end of the most recent Test Period assuming an interest rate equal to the sum of (a) the One-Year Forward LIBOR Rate as of the applicable date of determination plus (b) the weighted average of the Mortgage Loan Spread and the Mezzanine Loan Spread;

 

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(v) Borrower shall have failed to deliver to Lender on or prior to January 7, 2016, the Business Plans in accordance with Section 5.21 ; provided that the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Period shall terminate on the Payment Date following delivery by Borrower to Lender of the Business Plans in accordance with Section 5.21 ;

(vi) at any time after October 7, 2016, Borrower shall fail to be in substantial compliance with any material milestone in respect of implementation of the Corporate Business Plan or, as the case may be, has not implemented the Corporate Business Plan provided that the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Period shall terminate on the Payment Date following Borrower’s satisfactory compliance with or implementation of the Corporate Business Plan, as the case may be;

(vii) a Bankruptcy Action shall be continuing with respect to Borrower, Mezzanine Borrower or Guarantor until termination of such Bankruptcy Action; or

(viii) a Mezzanine Loan Event of Default shall be continuing until termination of such Mezzanine Loan Event of Default in accordance with the Mezzanine Loan Documents.

Cash Management Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) .

Cash Management Agreement ” means that certain cash management agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among Borrower, Lender and the Cash Management Bank that maintains the Cash Management Account as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Cash Management Bank ” means the Eligible Institution at which the Collateral Accounts (other than the Clearing Account) are maintained.

Casualty ” means a fire, explosion, flood, collapse, earthquake or other casualty affecting all or any portion of any Property.

Cause ” means, with respect to an Independent Manager, (i) acts or omissions by such Independent Manager that constitute systematic and persistent or willful disregard of such Independent Manager’s duties, (ii) such Independent Manager has been indicted or convicted for any crime or crimes of moral turpitude or dishonesty or for any violation of any Legal Requirements, (iii) such Independent Manager no longer satisfies the requirements set forth in the definition of “Independent Manager”, (iv) the fees charged for the services of such Independent Manager are materially in excess of the fees charged by the other providers of Independent Managers listed in the definition of “Independent Manager” or (v) any other reason for which the prior written consent of Lender shall have been obtained.

Certificates ” means, collectively, any senior and/or subordinate notes, debentures or pass-through certificates, or other evidence of indebtedness, or debt or equity securities, or any combination of the foregoing, representing a direct or beneficial interest, in whole or in part, in the Loan.

 

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Clearing Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) .

Clearing Account Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) .

Clearing Account Bank ” means an Eligible Institution chosen by Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Closing Date ” means the date of this Agreement.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and as it may be further amended from time to time, any successor statutes thereto, and applicable U.S. Department of Treasury regulations issued pursuant thereto in temporary or final form.

Collateral ” means all assets owned from time to time by Borrower including the Properties, the Revenues and all other tangible and intangible property in respect of which Lender is granted a Lien under the Loan Documents, and all proceeds thereof; provided , however , that “Collateral” shall not include the JV Collateral.

Collateral Account ” means each of the accounts and sub-accounts established pursuant to Article III hereof.

Completion Guaranty ” means that certain completion guaranty executed by Guarantor as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Completion Guaranty Payments ” means any payments made by Guarantor from time to time pursuant to the Completion Guaranty.

Component Spread ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(c) .

Condemnation ” means a taking or voluntary conveyance of all or part of any of the Properties or any interest therein or right accruing thereto or use thereof, as the result of, or in settlement of, any condemnation or other eminent domain proceeding by any Governmental Authority.

Contingent Obligation ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person in any manner and any contingent obligation to purchase, to provide funds for payment, to supply funds to invest in any other Person or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and “Controlling,” “Controlled” and “under common Control” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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Cooperation Agreement ” means that certain Mortgage Loan Cooperation Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among Borrower, Lender and Guarantor, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Corporate Business Plan ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.21 .

Damages ” to a Person means any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, demands, damages, penalties, assessments, actions, causes of action, judgments, proceedings, suits, claims, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs of defense and/or enforcement whether or not suit is brought), fines, charges, fees, settlement costs and disbursements actually imposed on, or actually incurred by, such party, whether based on any federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or regulations (including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable cause or on contract or otherwise; provided, however, that “Damages” shall not include special, consequential or punitive damages, except to the extent actually imposed upon Lender by one or more third parties.

DBRS ” means DBRS, Inc. or its applicable Affiliate.

Debt ” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

(i) all indebtedness of such Person to any other party (regardless of whether such indebtedness is evidenced by a written instrument such as a note, bond or debenture), including indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services;

(ii) all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person and all unreimbursed amounts drawn thereunder;

(iii) all indebtedness secured by a Lien on any property owned by such Person (whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed) except obligations for impositions that are not yet due and payable;

(iv) all Contingent Obligations of such Person;

(v) all payment obligations of such Person under any interest rate protection agreement (including any interest rate swaps, floors, collars or similar agreements) and similar agreements; and

(vi) any material actual or contingent liability to any Person or Governmental Authority with respect to any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

Debt Yield ” means, as of any date of determination, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, where (i) the numerator is equal to In-Place NOI for the most recently ended Test Period and (ii) the denominator is equal to the sum of (a) the Principal Indebtedness plus (b) the Mezzanine Loan Principal Indebtedness as of such date of determination.

 

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Debt Yield Threshold ” means (i) with respect to the first Extension Term, 14.0%, and (ii) with respect to the second Extension Term, 15.0%.

Default ” means the occurrence of any event that, but for the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Defaulting Advance Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(g) .

Defaulting Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(f) .

Default Rate ” means, with respect to any Note or Note Component, the greater of (x) 4.0% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise applicable to such Note or Note Component hereunder and (y) 1% per annum in excess of the Prime Rate from time to time; provided that, if the foregoing would result in an interest rate in excess of the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, the Default Rate shall be limited to the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.

Deferred Maintenance Amount ” means $10,574,622.

Deferred Maintenance Conditions ” means those items described in Schedule D-1 .

Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(a) .

“Designated Net Sales Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(iv) .

Designated Property ” and “ Designated Properties ” means each of Aventura (Store #1655), Hicksville (Store #1264) and Santa Monica (Store # 1178), individually or collectively as the context may require.

Designated Redevelopment Project ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(h) .

Diversification Date ” means the date on which the aggregate value of the Properties and JV Collateral then owned by the Borrower and the JV Pledgor constitute less than 90.0% of the consolidated assets (net of cash and cash equivalents) of Seritage REIT, in each case, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Eligible Account ” means a separate and identifiable account from all other funds held by the holding institution that is either (a) an account or accounts (or subaccounts thereof) maintained with a federal or state-chartered depository institution or trust company which complies with the definition of Eligible Institution or (b) a segregated trust account or accounts (or subaccounts thereof) maintained with a federal or state chartered depository institution or trust company acting in its fiduciary capacity that has a Moody’s rating of at least “Baa3” or S&P rating of at least “BBB-” and which, in the case of a state chartered depository institution or trust company, is subject to regulations substantially similar to 12 C.F.R. §9.10(b), having in either case a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.00 and subject to supervision or examination by federal and state authority. An Eligible Account shall not be evidenced by a certificate of deposit, passbook or other instrument.

 

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Eligible Institution ” means either (a) a depository institution or trust company insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the short-term unsecured debt obligations or commercial paper of which are rated at least “A-1+” by S&P or “P-1” by Moody’s in the case of accounts in which funds are held for thirty (30) days or less (or, in the case of letters of credit and accounts in which funds are held for more than thirty (30) days, the long-term unsecured debt obligations of which are rated at least “A+” by S&P and “Aa3” by Moody’s), or (b) (i) Bank of America, N.A., (ii) PNC Bank, National Association and (iii) any other depository institution or trust company approved by Lender and with respect to which the Rating Condition is satisfied; provided that, in each case, the rating by S&P and the other Rating Agencies for the short term unsecured debt obligations or commercial paper and long term unsecured debt obligations of the same does not decrease below the ratings in effect as of the Closing Date.

Embargoed Person ” means any Person subject to trade restrictions under any Federal Trade Embargo.

Engineering Report ” means a structural and seismic engineering report or reports (including a “probable maximum loss” calculation, if applicable) with respect to the Properties prepared by an independent engineer approved by Lender and delivered to Lender in connection with the Loan, and any amendments or supplements thereto delivered to Lender.

Environmental Claim ” means any written notice, claim, proceeding, notice of proceeding, investigation, demand, abatement order or other order or directive by any Person or Governmental Authority alleging or asserting liability with respect to Borrower or the Properties (provided that any such action solely against any Tenant shall not be considered as an action with respect to any Property) arising out of, based on, in connection with, or resulting from (i) the actual or alleged presence, Use or Release of any Hazardous Substance, (ii) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, or (iii) any actual or alleged injury or threat of injury to property, health or safety, natural resources or to the environment caused by Hazardous Substances.

Environmental Reserve Amount ” means $12,034,171.

Environmental Conditions ” means those items described in Schedule D-2 .

Environmental Indemnity ” means that certain environmental indemnity agreement executed by Borrower and Guarantor as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all present and future federal, state and local laws, statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and the like, as well as common law, any judicial or administrative orders, decrees or judgments thereunder, and any permits, approvals, licenses, registrations, filings and authorizations, in each case as now or hereafter in effect, relating to (i) the pollution, protection or cleanup of the environment, (ii) the impact of Hazardous Substances on property, health or safety, (iii) the Use or Release of Hazardous

 

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Substances, (iv) occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene or the protection of human, plant or animal health or welfare or (v) the liability for or costs of other actual or threatened danger to health or the environment. The term “ Environmental Law ” includes, but is not limited to, the following statutes, as amended, any successors thereto, and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and any state or local statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations and the like addressing similar issues: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (including Subtitle I relating to underground storage tanks); the Clean Water Act; the Clean Air Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; the Endangered Species Act; the National Environmental Policy Act; and the River and Harbors Appropriation Act. The term “ Environmental Law ” also includes, but is not limited to, any present and future federal state and local laws, statutes ordinances, rules, regulations and the like, as well as common law, conditioning transfer of property upon a negative declaration or other approval of a Governmental Authority of the environmental condition of a property; or requiring notification or disclosure of Releases of Hazardous Substances or other environmental conditions of a property to any Governmental Authority or other Person, whether or not in connection with transfer of title to or interest in property.

Environmental Reports ” means “Phase I Environmental Site Assessments” as referred to in the ASTM Standards on Environmental Site Assessments for Commercial Real Estate, E 1527-13 (and, if necessary, “Phase II Environmental Site Assessments”), prepared by an independent environmental auditor approved by Lender and delivered to Lender in connection with the Loan and any amendments or supplements thereto delivered to Lender, and shall also include any other environmental reports delivered to Lender pursuant to this Agreement and the Environmental Indemnity.

Equity Interests ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) any share, interest, participation and other equivalent (however denominated) of capital stock of (or other ownership, equity or profit interests in) such Person, (ii) any warrant, option or other right for the purchase or other acquisition from such Person of any of the foregoing, (iii) any security convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing, and (iv) any other ownership or profit interest in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such share, warrant, option, right or other interest is authorized or otherwise existing on any date.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate ,” at any time, means each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that would, at the time, be treated together with Borrower as a single employer under Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

ESL ” means, collectively, Edward S. Lampert, ESL Investments, Inc. and any of their respective affiliates, excluding SHLD and its Subsidiaries.

 

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Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

Exception Report ” means the report prepared by Borrower and attached to this Agreement as Schedule C , setting forth any exceptions to the representations set forth in Article IV .

Excess Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any Payment Date, any amounts released to Borrower in accordance with Section 3.2(a) or any amounts remaining in the Cash Management Account after funding the amounts required under Section 3.2(b)(i) through (vi) .

Excluded Prepayment ” means (i) any prepayment of the Loan (i) in connection with the application of Loss Proceeds following a Casualty or Condemnation with respect to any Property in accordance with Section 5.16 or (ii) any prepayment of the Loan in an amount up to $205,000,000 made in connection with a release of one or more Properties in accordance with to Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 .

Exculpated Person ” means each Person that is an Affiliate, equityholder, beneficiary, trustee, member, officer, director, agent, manager, independent manager, employee or partner of Borrower or Guarantor.

Existing Redevelopment Funding Conditions ” means the conditions set forth on Schedule E-2 hereto.

Extension Fee ” means an extension fee in an amount equal to 0.25% of the Principal Indebtedness then outstanding.

Extension Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(d) .

Extension Rental Revenue Threshold ” means (a) with respect to the first Extension Term, 65% of Rental Revenues and (b) with respect to the second Extension Term, 60% of Rental Revenues.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, the regulations (whether proposed, temporary or final), including any subsequent amendments, and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (or which may be promulgated in the future), and any requirements imposed by any applicable jurisdiction pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement relating to such provisions and guidance, which such jurisdiction has entered into with the United States (including any implementing legislation enacted as a result thereof).

Fairholme ” means Fairholme Capital Management L.L.C., any of its advisory clients from time to time, and any of its Affiliates, including Fairholme Funds, Inc.

Federal Trade Embargo ” means any federal law imposing trade restrictions, including (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended), (ii) the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq. , as amended), (iii) any enabling legislation or executive order relating to the foregoing, (iv) Executive Order 13224, and (v) the PATRIOT Act.

 

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Fiscal Quarter ” means each three-month period ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, or such other fiscal quarter of Borrower as Borrower may select from time to time with the prior consent of Lender, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

Fiscal Year ” means the 12-month period ending on December 31 of each year, or such other fiscal year of Borrower as Borrower may select from time to time with the prior consent of Lender, not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc. and its successors.

Force Majeure ” means a delay due to acts of God, governmental restrictions, stays, judgments, orders, decrees, enemy actions, civil commotion, fire, casualty, strikes, work stoppage, shortages of labor or materials or similar causes beyond the reasonable control of Borrower; provided that (1) any period of Force Majeure shall apply only to performance of the obligations necessarily affected by such circumstance and shall continue only so long as Borrower is continuously and diligently using all reasonable efforts to minimize the effect and duration thereof; and (2) Force Majeure shall not include the unavailability or insufficiency of funds.

Funding Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(b) .

Funding Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(f) .

Funding Request ” means a written request for an advance of the Future Advance Amount or release from the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C or otherwise reasonably acceptable to Lender and containing the supporting information contemplated by Section 5.22(c) .

Future Advance ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(b) .

Future Advance Amount ” means a portion of the Loan in a maximum principal amount of $100,000,000 solely to fund recapture, lease-up and redevelopment of the Properties.

Future Advance Availability Period ” means the period from the Closing Date to and including June 30, 2017.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, consistently applied.

GGP ” means GGP-SRC Member, LLC.

GGP JV ” means GS Portfolio Holdings LLC.

GGP JV Agreement ” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of GS Portfolio Holdings LLC, dated as of June 18, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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GGP JV Collateral ” means the “Pledged Collateral” as defined in the GGP JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

GGP JV Documents ” means, collectively, the GGP JV Agreement and the GGP JV Master Lease.

GGP JV Interests ” means the “JV Interest” as defined in the GGP JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

GGP JV Master Lease ” means that certain Master Lease and Sublease by and among GS Portfolio Holdings LLC as Landlord and Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Tenant, dated as March 31, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

GGP JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by GGP JV Pledgor in favor of Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

GGP JV Pledgor ” means Seritage GS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, county, regional, local or municipal government, any bureau, department, agency or political subdivision thereof and any Person with jurisdiction exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government (including any court).

Ground Lease ” means each ground lease or ground sublease described in a Title Insurance Policy or a Mortgage as set forth on Schedule I hereto, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Ground Leased Parcel ” means any portion of a Property that is ground leased to Borrower as the lessee under the Ground Lease.

Ground Rent ” means rent payable by Borrower pursuant to any Ground Lease.

Guarantor ” means, collectively, Seritage REIT and Seritage OP, on a joint and several basis.

Guarantor Available Funds Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b)(ii) .

Guarantor Retention Amount ” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) $10,000,000 plus (ii) the minimum Liquidity required to be maintained by Guarantor pursuant to the Guaranty as of such date.

 

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Guaranty ” means that certain Guaranty, dated as of the Closing Date, executed by Guarantor for the benefit of Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Hazardous Substances ” means any and all substances (whether solid, liquid or gas) defined, listed, or otherwise classified as pollutants, hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, extremely hazardous wastes, toxic substances, toxic pollutants, contaminants, pollutants or words of similar meaning or regulatory effect under any present or future Environmental Laws or the presence of which on, in or under any of the Properties is prohibited or requires investigation or remediation under Environmental Law, including petroleum and petroleum by-products, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, toxic mold, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead and radon, and compounds containing them (including gasoline, diesel fuel, oil and lead-based paint), pesticides and radioactive materials, flammables and explosives and compounds containing them, but excluding those substances commonly used in the operation and maintenance of properties of kind and nature similar to those of any of the Properties that are used at any of the Properties in compliance with all Environmental Laws and in a manner that does not result in contamination of any of the Properties or a material adverse effect on the use, operation or value of any of the Properties.

Inapplicable Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes applied as to a Lender Party or required to be deducted or withheld from a remittance or payment to a Lender Party: Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, applied by reason of such Lender Party being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction which imposes such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof).

Increased Costs ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(d) .

Indebtedness ” means the Principal Indebtedness, together with interest and all other obligations and liabilities of Borrower under the Loan Documents, including all transaction costs, Spread Maintenance Premiums and other amounts due or to become due to Lender pursuant to this Agreement, under the Notes or in accordance with any of the other Loan Documents, and all other amounts, sums and expenses reimbursable by Borrower to Lender hereunder or pursuant to the Notes or any of the other Loan Documents.

Indemnified Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.19(b) .

Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.17 .

Independent Manager ” of any corporation or limited liability company means an individual who has prior experience as an independent director or independent manager with at least three (3) years of employment experience and is provided by CT Corporation, Corporation Service Company, National Registered Agents, Inc., Wilmington Trust Company, Stewart Management Company, Lord Securities Corporation or, if none of those companies is then providing professional independent directors or managers, another nationally-recognized company reasonably approved by Lender, in each case that is not an Affiliate of Borrower and that provides professional independent directors or managers and other corporate services in the

 

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ordinary course of its business, and which individual is duly appointed as a member of the board of directors or board of managers of such corporation or limited liability company and is not, and has never been, and will not while serving as Independent Manager be, any of the following:

(i) a member (other than an independent, non-economic “springing” member), partner, equityholder, manager, director, officer or employee of such corporation or limited liability company or any of its equityholders or Affiliates (other than as an independent director or manager of an Affiliate of such corporation or limited liability company that does not own a direct or indirect ownership interest in such corporation or limited liability company and that is required by a creditor to be a single purpose bankruptcy remote entity, provided that such independent director or manager is employed by a company that routinely provides professional independent directors or managers in the ordinary course of its business);

(ii) a creditor, supplier or service provider (including provider of professional services) to such corporation or limited liability company or any of its equityholders or Affiliates (other than a nationally recognized company that routinely provides professional independent managers or directors and that also provides lien search and other similar services to such corporation or limited liability company or any of its equityholders or Affiliates in the ordinary course of business);

(iii) a family member of any such member, partner, equityholder, manager, director, officer, employee, creditor, supplier or service provider; or

(iv) a Person that controls (whether directly, indirectly or otherwise) any of the entities described in clauses (i) , (ii)  or (iii)  above.

A natural person who otherwise satisfies the foregoing definition and satisfies subparagraph (i) by reason of being the Independent Manager of a Single-Purpose Entity Affiliated with the corporation or limited liability company in question that does not own a direct or indirect ownership interest in such corporation or limited liability company shall not be disqualified from serving as an Independent Manager of such corporation or limited liability company; provided that the fees that such natural person earns from serving as Independent Manager of Affiliates of such the corporation or limited liability company in any given year constitute in the aggregate less than 5% of such natural person’s annual income for that year. The same natural persons may not serve as Independent Manager of a corporation or limited liability company and, at the same time, serve as Independent Managers of an equityholder or member of such corporation or limited liability company.

Independent Management Criteria ” means, with respect to any Person proposed to be an Approved Property Manager that is the Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof, that such Person shall have demonstrated to Lender’s reasonable satisfaction that it has sufficient employees, infrastructure and expertise to manage the Properties proposed to be managed by it.

Initial Advance ” means a portion of the Loan in the principal amount of $925,000,000.

 

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In-Place NOI ” means, with respect to any Test Period, Net Operating Income for such Test Period, subject to the following adjustments:

(i) base rents under Qualified Leases shall be adjusted to reflect annualized rents under Qualified Leases in place as of the end of such Test Period, normalized for any scheduled rent concessions;

(ii) each of Operating Income and Operating Expenses shall be adjusted to give effect to the exercise, or election to exercise, of any recapture by Borrower or termination by the SHLD Master Tenant, in each case by written notice pursuant to the provisions of the SHLD Master Lease and whether or not SHLD Master Tenant remains in occupancy as of the applicable time; provided , however , that (a) if SHLD Master Tenant has exercised its termination option with respect to a Nonprofitable Property (as defined in the SHLD Master Lease) base rent and expense reimbursement actually paid by SHLD Master Tenant on or prior to the applicable termination date shall be included in the determination of In-Place NOI and (b) base rent and expense reimbursement under a Lease entered into in accordance with this Agreement in respect of a Property as to which a recapture or termination has been noticed under the SHLD Master Lease shall be included as if the same were a Qualified Lease, so long as neither the Tenant nor Borrower is in default thereunder or subject to bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceeding (unless Tenant has assumed such Lease in bankruptcy), even if the Tenant thereunder has not yet assumed occupancy so long as the Lease contains no material contingency to commencement outside of buildout of leased premises and related permits and approvals pursuant to the Lease;

(iii) management fees shall be adjusted to reflect a management fee equal to the greater of the actual management fees and the Maximum Management Fee; and

(iv) Taxes shall be adjusted to reflect annualized Taxes based on the most recent assessment as of the end of such Test Period, with a corresponding adjustment to reimbursements of such Taxes under Qualified Leases.

The calculation of In-Place NOI by Lender shall be binding and conclusive absent manifest error.

Insurance Requirements ” means, collectively, (i) all material terms of any insurance policy required pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) all material regulations and then-current standards applicable to or affecting any of the Properties or any portion thereof or any use or condition thereof, which may, at any time, be recommended by the board of fire underwriters, if any, having jurisdiction over any of the Properties, or any other body exercising similar functions.

Interest Accrual Period ” means, with respect to any specified Payment Date, the period from and including the 15 th day of the calendar month preceding such Payment Date to but excluding the 15 th day of the calendar month containing such specified Payment Date; provided that (i) with respect to the A-1 Note, the first Interest Accrual Period shall commence on the Closing Date and (ii) with respect to the A-2 Notes, the first Interest Accrual Period shall commence on the initial Funding Date.

 

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Interest Determination Date ” means, in connection with the calculation of interest accrued for any Interest Accrual Period, two (2) Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Accrual Period; provided that with respect to the initial funding of any A-2 Note, the initial Interest Determination Date shall be the second Business Day preceding the initial Funding Date.

Interest Rate Cap Agreement ” means an interest rate cap confirmation between an Acceptable Counterparty and Borrower, relating to the initial term of the Loan or the Extension Term, as applicable, pursuant to Section 1.5 , which is in form and substance satisfactory to Lender (together with an interest rate cap agreement and schedules relating thereto, which are consistent in form and substance with the terms set forth in such confirmation).

Ironshore ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(b) .

IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

JV Collateral ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the GGP JV Collateral, the Simon JV Collateral, the Macerich JV Collateral and any Permitted JV Collateral; provided, however , that from and after any JV Pledgor Release Event as to any Seritage JV Member, the following shall be excluded from the JV Collateral: (i) if such Seritage JV Member is GGP JV Pledgor, the GGP JV Collateral, (ii) if such Seritage JV Member is Simon JV Pledgor, the Simon JV Collateral, (ii) if such Seritage JV Member is Macerich JV Pledgor, the Macerich JV Collateral and (iv) if such Seritage JV Member is not covered by clause (i)  through clause (iii)  above, any Permitted JV Collateral under the Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement applicable to such Seritage JV Member.

JV Capital Event Proceeds ” means, with respect to any JV Interests, the net cash proceeds actually received by the applicable JV Pledgor from any refinancing, sale (including in connection with the exercise of any buy-sell or “put” rights under the applicable JV Documents), joint venture, dissolution or application of Loss Proceeds as determined in accordance with the related JV Documents.

JV Documents ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the GGP JV Documents, the Simon JV Documents, the Macerich JV Documents and any Permitted JV Documents.

JV Interests ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the GGP JV Interests, the Simon JV Interests, the Macerich JV Interests and any Permitted JV Interests.

JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the GGP JV Pledge and Security Agreement, the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement, the Macerich JV Pledge and Security Agreement and any Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

 

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JV Pledgor ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, GGP JV Pledgor, Simon JV Pledgor, the Macerich JV Pledgor and any other Seritage JV Member that shall execute and deliver to Lender a Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however , that as to any Seritage JV Member, such Seritage JV Member shall be excluded for all purposes from JV Pledgor, and shall cease to constitute a JV Pledgor, from and after a JV Pledgor Release Event as to such Seritage JV Member.

JV Pledgor Release Event ” means, as to any Seritage JV Member provided that no Event of Default is then continuing and any applicable JV Profits are remitted to the TI/LC Reserve Account or, at Borrower’s sole election, the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account, the earlier of (i) the sale, assignment or transfer to any Person, other than an Affiliate of such Seritage JV Member, of all of the JV Interests then held by such Seritage JV Member or (ii) the receipt by such Seritage JV Member of JV Capital Event Proceeds from (a) the sale, assignment or transfer of either (1) the Applicable JV or (2) all of the assets of the Applicable JV or (b) the dissolution of the Applicable JV; provided that in no event shall a JV Pledgor Release Event occur if any in-kind distribution is made to JV Pledgor in connection with the dissolution of the Applicable JV.

JV Profits ” means distributions of JV Capital Event Proceeds on any JV Interests in excess of the sum of (i) if applicable, the Release Price paid by Borrower to obtain release of the related JV Release Property plus (ii) return of additional invested capital and any applicable preferred return on such JV Interests in accordance with the applicable JV Documents.

JV Release Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) .

JV Release Threshold ” means an amount equal to the difference of (i) $147,508,833 minus (ii) any amounts required to be deducted therefrom in accordance with Section 2.1(b)(ii) .

JV Revenues ” means any revenues, payments or distributions in respect of the JV Interests, including any distributions of JV Capital Event Proceeds.

Lands’ End Master Lease ” means collectively (i) that certain Master Lease Agreement by and between Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Landlord and Lands’ End, Inc. as Tenant and (ii) that certain Master Sublease Agreement by and between Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Sublandlord and Lands’ End, Inc. as Subtenant, each entered into as of April 4, 2014 and each effective as of February 1, 2014.

Lease ” means any lease, license, letting, concession, occupancy agreement, sublease to which Borrower is a party, or other agreement (whether written or oral and whether now or hereafter in effect) under which Borrower is a lessor, sublessor, licensor or other grantor of direct possessory rights existing as of the Closing Date or thereafter entered into by Borrower, in each case pursuant to which any Person is granted a direct possessory interest in, or right to use or occupy all or any portion of any space in any of the Properties, and every modification or amendment thereof, and every guarantee of the performance and observance of the covenants, conditions and agreements to be performed and observed by the other party thereto; provided that for purposes of this Agreement the Lands’ End Master Lease and the Sears Hometown License Agreement shall each be deemed to be a “Lease”.

 

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Leasing Commissions ” means leasing commissions required to be paid by Borrower in connection with the leasing of space to Tenants at any of the Properties pursuant to Leases entered into by Borrower in accordance herewith and payable in accordance with third-party/arm’s-length written brokerage agreements or in accordance with the Approved Management Agreement; provided that the commissions payable pursuant thereto are commercially reasonable based upon the then current brokerage market for property of a similar type and quality to such Property in the geographic market in which such Property is located (or, in the case of leasing commissions payable pursuant to an Approved Management Agreement, not in excess of the leasing commissions set forth in such Approved Management Agreement).

Legal Requirements ” means all governmental statutes, laws, rules, orders, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees and injunctions of Governmental Authorities (including Environmental Laws and zoning restrictions) affecting Borrower, JV Pledgor, Guarantor, the Properties, the JV Collateral or any other Collateral or any portion thereof or the construction, ownership, use, alteration or operation thereof, or any portion thereof (whether now or hereafter enacted and in force), and all permits, licenses and authorizations and regulations relating thereto.

Lender ” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement and in Section 9.7 .

Lender Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(b) .

Lender 80% Determination ” means a reasonable determination by Lender that, based on a current or updated appraisal, a broker’s price opinion or other written determination of value using a commercially reasonable valuation method reasonably satisfactory to Lender, the fair market value of the Properties securing the Loan at the time of such determination (but excluding any value attributable to property that is not an interest in real property within the meaning of section 860G(a)(3)(A) of the Code) is at least 80% of the Loan’s adjusted issue price within the meaning of the Code.

LIBOR ” means the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded up to the next nearest 1/1000 of 1%) for deposits in U.S. dollars, for a one-month period, that appears on “Thomson Reuters ICE LIBOR# Rates – LIBOR01” (or the successor thereto) as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the related Interest Determination Date. If such rate does not appear on Thomson Reuters ICE LIBOR# Rates - LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date, LIBOR shall be the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (expressed as a percentage per annum) for deposits in U.S. dollars for a one-month period that appear on the Thomson Reuters ICE LIBOR# Rates – LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date, if at least two such offered rates so appear. If fewer than two such offered rates appear on the Thomson Reuters ICE LIBOR# Rates – LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date, Lender (or Servicer, on Lender’s behalf) shall request the principal London office of any four major reference banks in the London interbank market selected by Lender to provide such bank’s offered quotation (expressed as a percentage

 

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per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for deposits in U.S. dollars for a one-month period as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date for the amounts of not less than U.S. $1,000,000. If at least two such offered quotations are so provided, LIBOR shall be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are so provided, Lender (or Servicer, on Lender’s behalf) shall request any three major banks in New York City selected by Lender to provide such bank’s rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a one-month period as of approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time on the applicable Determination Date for amounts of not less than U.S. $1,000,000. If at least two such rates are so provided, LIBOR shall be the arithmetic mean of such rates. LIBOR shall be determined conclusively by Lender or its agent, absent manifest error. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall LIBOR be less than zero percent (0.0%) per annum.

LIBOR Loan ” means the Loan at such time as interest thereon accrues at a rate of interest based upon LIBOR.

Lien ” means any mortgage, lien (statutory or other), pledge, hypothecation, assignment, preference, priority, security interest, or any other encumbrance or charge on or affecting any Collateral or JV Collateral or any portion thereof, or any interest therein (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any sale-leaseback, any financing lease or similar transaction having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, the filing of any financing statement or similar instrument under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable law of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, and mechanics’, materialmen’s and other similar liens and encumbrances, as well as any option to purchase, right of first refusal, right of first offer or similar right).

Liquidity ” means, with respect to any Person on any date, the aggregate unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and the amounts available for draw under committed credit facilities on such date of such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries (meaning, for such purposes, that such Person would have satisfied all conditions precedent to draw under the applicable credit facility on such date other than notice); provided that (a) Liquidity shall include any cash and cash equivalents on deposit in the Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account not earmarked for a specific use and (b) undrawn amounts of the Future Advance Amount (to the extent not designated by Borrower to fund a specified Redevelopment Project) shall count as Liquidity at all times prior to January 7, 2017, but not thereafter.

Loan ” means the Initial Advance by the Initial Advance Lender and the aggregate Future Advances by the Future Advance Lender to Borrower, in an aggregate amount up to the Loan Amount.

Loan Amount ” means the sum of (i) the Initial Advance plus (ii) the maximum Future Advance Amount.

Loan Closing ” means the closing of the funding of the Initial Advance by the Lender to the Borrower in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Mortgages (and related financing statements), the Environmental Indemnity, the Subordination of Property Management Agreement, the Cash Management Agreement, the Clearing Account Agreement, the Cooperation Agreement, the Guaranty, each Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement, the Operating Account Agreement, the Completion Guaranty and all other agreements, instruments, certificates and documents necessary to effectuate the granting to Lender of first-priority Liens on the Collateral or the JV Collateral or otherwise in satisfaction of the requirements of this Agreement or the other documents listed above or hereafter entered into by Lender and Borrower in connection with the Loan, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the date of a JV Pledgor Release Event as to the applicable Seritage JV Member, the following shall cease to constitute Loan Documents:

(i) the GGP JV Pledge and Security Agreement, if executed by such Seritage JV Member;

(ii) the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement, if executed by such Seritage JV Member;

(iii) the Macerich JV Pledge and Security Agreement, if executed by such Seritage JV Member,

(iv) any Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement, if executed by such Seritage JV Member; or

(v) any agreement, instrument, certificate or document entered into by such Seritage JV Member in connection with any of the documents described in clause (i)  through clause (iv)  above , as applicable.

Lockout Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the first Payment Date following the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date.

Long-Lived Assets ” means all property capitalized in accordance with GAAP with an expected life of not less than fifteen (15) years as initially reflected on the books and records of the owner thereof at or about the time of acquisition thereof (and, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to property acquired by Borrower pursuant to the SHLD PSA, the books and records of SHLD at the time of acquisition thereof by SHLD or its applicable Subsidiary).

Loss Proceeds ” means amounts, awards or payments payable to Borrower or Lender in respect of all or any portion of any Property in connection with a Casualty or Condemnation thereof (after the deduction therefrom and payment to Borrower and Lender, respectively, of any and all reasonable expenses incurred by Borrower and Lender in the recovery thereof, including all attorneys’ fees and disbursements, the fees of insurance experts and adjusters and the costs incurred in any litigation or arbitration with respect to such Casualty or Condemnation).

Loss Proceeds Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a) .

 

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Loan Pro Rata Share ” means, as of any date or time of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (i) the Principal Indebtedness as of such date or time of determination divided by (ii) the sum of the Principal Indebtedness as of such date or time of determination plus the Mezzanine Loan Principal Indebtedness as of such date or time of determination.

Macerich ” means Macerich SJV LLC.

Macerich JV ” means MS Portfolio LLC.

Macerich JV Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of MS Portfolio LLC dated as of April 30, 2015 as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Macerich JV Collateral ” means the “Pledged Collateral” as defined in the Macerich JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Macerich JV Documents ” means, collectively, the Macerich JV Agreement and the Macerich JV Master Lease.

Macerich JV Interests ” means the “JV Interest” as defined in the Macerich JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Macerich JV Master Lease ” means that certain Master Lease and Sublease by and among MS Portfolio LLC as Landlord and Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Tenant, dated as April 30, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Macerich JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by Macerich JV Pledgor in favor of Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Macerich JV Pledgor ” means Seritage MS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Major Lease ” means (i) the SHLD Master Lease, (ii) the Lands’ End Master Lease, (iii) any Free-Standing SAC Lease (as defined in the SHLD Master Lease), (iv) any Lease that, when aggregated with all other Leases at any Property with the same Tenant (or Affiliated Tenants), and assuming the exercise of all expansion rights contained in such Lease, is expected to cover more than 35,000 rentable square feet, (v) any Lease that contains an option or preferential right to purchase all or any portion of the fee or leasehold interest, as applicable, in a Property, (vi) any Affiliate Lease (including, without limitation, any Lease with SHLD or any Broad Affiliate of SHLD) or (vii) any Lease during the continuance of an Event of Default; provided that with respect to clause (vii) , any Lease that is not otherwise a Major Lease pursuant to clauses (i)   through (vi)  above shall cease to be a Major Lease at any time no Event of Default is continuing.

 

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Major Redevelopment Land Use Matters ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(b)(vii) .

Major Redevelopment Project ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(a) .

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect upon (i) the ability of the Properties, taken as a whole, to generate net cash flow sufficient to service the Loan and the Mezzanine Loan, (ii) the ability of Borrower or Guarantor to perform any material provision of any of the Loan Documents, (iii) the rights and remedies of the Lender under the Mortgages and other Loan Documents, taken as a whole or (iv) the value, use or enjoyment, or the operation or occupancy, of the Properties, taken as a whole.

Material Agreements ” means (i) the SHLD PSA, (ii) the SHLD TSA, (iii) the SHLD Master Lease Guaranty, (iv) the Property Agreements, (v) the other agreements listed on Schedule G hereto and (vi) each contract and agreement (other than Leases) relating to any of the Properties that imposes obligations on Borrower, (a) under which Borrower would have the obligation to pay more than $2,500,000 per annum and that cannot be terminated by Borrower without cause upon 60 days’ notice or less without payment of a termination fee or (b) that is with an Affiliate of Borrower.

Material Alteration ” means any Alteration to be performed by or on behalf of Borrower at any of the Properties that (i) is reasonably expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect, (ii) is reasonably expected to cost in excess of the $7,500,000, as determined by a duly licensed architect (except for Alterations in connection with (a) Tenant Improvements under and pursuant to Leases existing as of the Closing Date (pursuant to the terms thereof in existence as of the Closing Date) or Leases thereafter entered into in accordance with this Agreement, (b) the remediation of any Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition in accordance with this Agreement and (c) restoration of such Property following a Material Casualty Event or a Material Condemnation Event in accordance with this Agreement), or (iii) is reasonably expected to permit (or is reasonably likely to induce) any Tenant to terminate its Lease or abate rent.

Material Casualty Event ” means, with respect to any Property, the occurrence of a Casualty for which the cost of repairing such Casualty is reasonably expected to be in excess of $500,000.

Material Condemnation Event ” means, with respect to any Property, the occurrence of a Condemnation for which (i) the cost of restoring such Property following such Condemnation is reasonably expected to be in excess of $500,000 or (ii) such Condemnation materially interferes with the current use and operation of such Property.

Maturity Date ” means the Payment Date in July, 2019, as same may be extended in accordance with Section 1.1(d) , or such earlier date as may result from acceleration of the Loan in accordance with this Agreement.

Maximum Leverage Ratio ” has the meaning specified in the Guaranty.

 

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Maximum Management Fee ” means 3.0% of the gross Revenues of the Properties.

Mezzanine Borrower ” means, collectively, Seritage KMT Mezzanine Finance LLC and Seritage SRC Mezzanine Finance LLC, together with their permitted successors and assigns.

Mezzanine Lender ” means H/2 Special Opportunities III Corp. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, and their respective successors and assigns as “Lender” under and as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement identified to Lender in writing.

Mezzanine Loan ” means that certain mezzanine loan made on the date hereof by Mezzanine Lender to Mezzanine Borrower.

Mezzanine Loan Agreement ” means that certain Mezzanine Loan Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Mezzanine Lender and Mezzanine Borrower, pursuant to which the Mezzanine Loan was made, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Mezzanine Loan Allocated Loan Amount ” means the “Allocated Loan Amount” as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

Mezzanine Loan Amount ” means $236,195,656.

Mezzanine Loan Completion Guaranty ” means the “Completion Guaranty” as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

Mezzanine Loan Completion Guaranty Payments ” means “Completion Guaranty Payments” as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

Mezzanine Loan Documents ” means the “Loan Documents” as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

Mezzanine Loan Event of Default ” means an “Event of Default” under and as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

Mezzanine Loan Primary Servicing Fee ” means the “Primary Servicing Fee” under and as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

Mezzanine Loan Principal Indebtedness ” means the “Principal Indebtedness” as defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

Mezzanine Loan Release Price ” means the “Release Price” as such term is defined in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

Mezzanine Loan Spread ” means 7.26%.

 

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Minimum Cash Equity ” means $1,131,195,656, plus the amount necessary to purchase the JV Interests, plus amounts (other than amounts funded by Lender and Mezzanine Lender) required to fund actual, documented, third-party and Lender-related closing costs of the Approved Separation Transaction, the Loan and the Mezzanine Loan.

Minimum Purchase Price ” means the sum of (i) $2,262,391,312 for the Properties plus (ii) $429,012,486 for the GGP JV Interests, the Simon JV Interests and the Macerich JV Interests.

Monthly Capital Expenditure Amount ” means, with respect to each Payment Date in any Fiscal Year, an amount equal to 1/12 of the Capital Expenditures set forth in the Approved Annual Budget for such Fiscal Year.

Monthly TI/LC Amount ” means, with respect to each Payment Date in any Fiscal Year, an amount equal to 1/12 of the costs of Tenant Improvements and Leasing Commissions set forth in the Approved Annual Budget for such Fiscal Year.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

Mortgage ” means, with respect to each Property, that certain mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt, as the case may be, assignment of rents and leases, security agreement and fixture filing encumbering any such executed by Borrower as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Spread ” means the weighted average of the applicable Spread on the A-1 Notes and the applicable Spread on the A-2 Notes (assuming for such purposes that the A-2 Notes are fully funded).

MRT ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(j) .

MRT Amendment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(j) .

Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date ” means, with respect to any Property at any time during the term of the SHLD Master Lease, the earliest date (including as of the commencement date thereunder) on which any of the following shall occur with respect to such Property: (a) such Property shall be subject to a Third Party Lease as to which the SHLD Master Tenant relinquished occupancy of the space to be occupied by such Tenant or (b) Borrower shall have recaptured all or any portion of the Property in accordance with terms of the SHLD Master Lease (including in connection with the exercise by SHLD Master Tenant of its termination option thereunder).

Net Operating Income ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the difference of (i) Operating Income for such Test Period minus (ii) Operating Expenses for such Test Period.

Net Sales Proceeds ” means the total cash consideration received by or on behalf of Borrower in connection with the sale of the applicable Release Property or JV Release Property, less the sum of, without duplication, (i) third-party, out-of-pocket costs and expenses

 

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actually incurred by Borrower in connection with the negotiation and consummation of the applicable sale of the related Release Property or JV Release Property (including without limitation, transfer taxes, attorneys’ fees, brokerage fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, related search and recording charges) and (ii) any distributions required to be made by Seritage REIT (and ratable distributions by Seritage OP) in order to avoid taxation on the profits or gains earned in connection with such sale, all of which costs and expenses and distributions described in clause (i)  and clause (ii) , in the aggregate, shall not exceed 10.0% of the gross sale proceeds and shall be substantiated to Lender’s reasonable satisfaction.

New Borrower ” means a newly-formed Special Purpose Entity that is wholly-owned and Controlled, directly or indirectly, by Seritage OP and is formed for the purposes described in, and in accordance with, the provisions of Section 9.30 .

Nonconsolidation Opinion ” means the opinion letter, dated the Closing Date, delivered by Borrower’s counsel to Lender and addressing issues relating to substantive consolidation in bankruptcy.

Non-Defaulting Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(g) .

Non-Defaulting Lender Cure Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(g) .

Note(s) ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the A-1 Notes and/or the A-2 Notes.

Note Component ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(c) .

Obligor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.30 (a).

OFAC List ” means the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons subject to financial sanctions that is maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control and any other similar list maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control pursuant to any applicable governmental statutes, laws, rules, orders, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees and injunctions of Governmental Authorities, including trade embargo, economic sanctions, or other prohibitions imposed by Executive Order of the President of the United States. The OFAC List currently is accessible at http://www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/t11sdn.pdf.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate delivered to Lender that is signed by an authorized officer of Borrower and certifies the information therein.

One-Year Forward LIBOR ” means, as of any date of determination, the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded up to the next nearest 1/1000 of 1%) that appears on Bloomberg MCFR Screen as 1 Month LIBOR on a one (1) year forward basis, as determined by Lender as of 11:00 am New York City time on such date, which determination by Lender shall be binding absent manifest error.

Operating Account ” means one or more Eligible Accounts maintained by the Approved Property Manager or Borrower at an Eligible Institution, which account (i) shall only contain amounts in respect of operating and capital expenses for one or more of the Properties (and no amounts unrelated to the Properties shall be deposited therein or otherwise commingled with the amounts on deposit in such account) and (ii) is subject to an Operating Account Agreement.

 

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Operating Account Agreement ” means an agreement relating to the Operating Account, dated as of the date hereof, among Lender, Borrower and the Eligible Institution at which such account is maintained, pursuant to which such account is pledged to the Lender and the Approved Property Manager or Borrower is given full access to the funds on deposit therein but provides for the discontinuance of such access upon receipt by such Eligible Institution of written notice from Lender of the occurrence of an Event of Default, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Operating Expenses ” means, for any period, all operating, renting, administrative, management (including compensation of property- and regional-level employees of Guarantor for activities related to the properties), legal and other ordinary expenses of Borrower and the Properties during such period, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , however , that such expenses shall not include (i) depreciation, amortization or other non-cash items, (ii) interest, principal or any other sums due and owing with respect to the Loan, (iii) income taxes or other taxes in the nature of income taxes, (iv) Capital Expenditures, (v) costs of Tenant Improvements or Leasing Commissions, (vi) equity distributions, (vii) solely for purposes of calculating Net Operating Income, fees and expenses incurred, including fees payable to SHLD Master Tenant, to recapture and reconfigure space at the Properties in accordance with the SHLD Master Lease, whether or not constituting Capital Expenditures and (viii) solely for purposes of calculating Net Operating Income, overhead expenses (e.g., general and administrative expenses) of Guarantor not allocable to operation of the Properties (based on customary practice for public REITs).

Operating Income ” means, for any period, all operating income from the Properties for such period, including actual in-place base rents under bona fide Qualified Leases and actual percentage rent and expense reimbursements under Qualified Leases, in each case, determined in accordance with GAAP (but without straight-lining of rents), other than (i) Loss Proceeds (but Operating Income will include rental loss insurance proceeds to the extent allocable to such period), (ii) any revenue attributable to a Lease that is not a Qualified Lease, (iii) any revenue attributable to a Lease to the extent it is paid more than 30 days prior to the due date, (iv) any interest income from any source, (v) any repayments received from any third party of principal loaned or advanced to such third party by Borrower, (vi) any proceeds resulting from the Transfer of all or any portion of the Collateral, (vii) sales, use and occupancy or other taxes on receipts required to be accounted for by Borrower to any government or governmental agency, (viii) Termination Fees, and (ix) any other extraordinary or non-recurring items.

Overpaying Obligor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.30 .

PATRIOT Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001), as amended from time to time.

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(b)

Participation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(b) .

 

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Payment Date ” means, with respect to each Interest Accrual Period, the ninth (9 th ) day of the calendar month in which such Interest Accrual Period ends; provided , that prior to a Securitization, Lender shall have the right to change the Payment Date so long as a corresponding change to the Interest Accrual Period is also made. Whenever a Payment Date is not a Business Day, the entire amount that would have been due and payable on such Payment Date shall instead be due and payable on the immediately preceding Business Day.

Permits ” means all licenses, permits, variances and certificates used in connection with the ownership, operation, use or occupancy of any of the Properties (including certificates of occupancy, business licenses, state health department licenses, licenses to conduct business and all such other permits, licenses, consents, approvals and rights, obtained from any Governmental Authority or private Person concerning ownership, operation, use or occupancy of any of the Properties).

Permitted Debt ” means:

(i) the Indebtedness;

(ii) Taxes not yet delinquent or that are being contested by Borrower in good faith in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

(iii) Tenant Improvement and Capital Expenditure costs and Approved Redevelopment Costs, in each case, required under Leases or otherwise permitted to be incurred under the Loan Documents that are paid on or prior to the date when due or are being contested by Borrower in good faith in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and

(iv) Trade Payables not more than 90 days outstanding (unless Borrower or JV Pledgor, as applicable, is contesting such Trade Payables in good faith in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) which are incurred in the ordinary course of Borrower’s ownership and operation of the Properties, or JV Pledgor’s ownership of the JV Interests, as the case may be, in amounts not exceeding, when aggregated with all amounts then outstanding under clauses (v) through (vii) below, $30,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;

(v) Debt incurred by Borrower in the financing of equipment and other personal property used on any of the Properties, so long as such Debt is not secured by any Lien on any Collateral or JV Collateral and does not exceed, when aggregated with all amounts then outstanding under clause (iv) above and clauses (vi) and (vii) below, $30,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;

(vi) any retainage paid by Borrower in the ordinary course of business, but subject to the terms of the applicable contract under which such retainage is held in amounts not exceeding, when aggregated with all amounts then outstanding under clauses (iv) and (v) above and (vii) below, $30,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;

(vii) obligations of Borrower under unsecured bonds and letters of credit in amounts required in connection with the bonding of Liens that may encumber any

 

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Property from time to time in amounts not exceeding, when aggregated with all amounts then outstanding under clauses (iv) through (vi) above, $30,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; and

(viii) obligations of Borrower to reimburse Guarantor for Completion Guaranty Payments solely to the extent paid pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(x) .

Permitted Encumbrances ” means:

(i) the Liens created by the Loan Documents;

(ii) all Liens and other matters specifically disclosed on Schedule B of the Title Insurance Policies;

(iii) Liens, if any, for Taxes not yet delinquent;

(iv) mechanics’, materialmen’s or similar Liens, if any, and Liens for delinquent taxes or impositions, in each case only if being diligently contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings; provided that no such Lien is in imminent danger of foreclosure; and provided further that either (a) each such Lien is released or discharged of record or fully insured over by the title insurance company issuing the Title Insurance Policies within 30 days of its creation, (b) Borrower deposits with Lender, by the expiration of such 30-day period, an amount equal to 120% of the dollar amount of such Lien or a bond in the aforementioned amount from such surety, and upon such terms and conditions, as is reasonably satisfactory to Lender, as security for the payment or release of such Lien;

(v) rights of existing and future Tenants as tenants only pursuant to written Leases that are either (A) in existence prior to the Closing Date, as disclosed to Lender or (B) entered into in conformity with the provisions of this Agreement;

(vi) customary easements, reciprocal easement and operating agreements, rights of way, declarations, dedications, development agreements, reservations, covenants, conditions and restrictions and other similar non-monetary encumbrances against any of the Properties entered into by Borrower in connection with the development and operation of such Property in accordance with this Agreement (including any documents required to be recorded in accordance with applicable law) which do not result in a Property Material Adverse Effect;

(viii) with respect to Leases approved pursuant to this Agreement, memoranda of such Leases;

(ix) mechanic’s and materialmens’ liens, including those being contested by Borrower in good faith, which (A) no longer constitute Liens against any of the Properties by virtue of their having been bonded in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements or (B) for which no exception is taken in the Title Insurance Policies;

 

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(x) equipment leases, pledges or similar instruments that are the subject of Permitted Debt incurred in the financing of equipment and other personal property used on any of the Properties; and

(xi) all now or hereafter existing Subleases (as defined in the SHLD Lease);

(xii) all zoning, planning, land use, and other similar Legal Requirements with respect to any Property; and

(xiii) such other title and survey exceptions as Lender may approve, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

Permitted Equity Distribution Amount ” means, with respect to any date of determination, the difference of (i) the REIT Cash Distribution Amount as of such date minus (ii) Guarantor Available Funds Amount as of such date.

Permitted Investments ” shall mean any one or more of the following obligations or securities acquired at a purchase price of not greater than par, including those issued by Servicer, the trustee under any Securitization or any of their respective Affiliates, payable on demand or having a maturity date not later than the Business Day immediately prior to the first Payment Date following the date of acquiring such investment and meeting one of the appropriate standards set forth below:

(i) obligations of, or obligations fully guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof provided such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America including, without limitation, obligations of: the U.S. Treasury (all direct or fully guaranteed obligations), the Farmers Home Administration (certificates of beneficial ownership), the General Services Administration (participation certificates), the U.S. Maritime Administration (guaranteed Title XI financing), the Small Business Administration (guaranteed participation certificates and guaranteed pool certificates), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (local authority bonds) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (guaranteed transit bonds); provided, however, that the investments described in this clause (A) must have a predetermined fixed dollar of principal due at maturity that cannot vary or change, (B) if rated by S&P, must not have an “r” highlighter affixed to their rating, (C) if such investments have a variable rate of interest, such interest rate must be tied to a single interest rate index plus a fixed spread (if any) and must move proportionately with that index, (D) must not be subject to liquidation prior to their maturity and (E) must have maturities of not more than 365 days;

(ii) Federal Housing Administration debentures having maturities of not more than 365 days;

(iii) obligations of the following United States government sponsored agencies: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (debt obligations), the Farm Credit System (consolidated systemwide bonds and notes), the Federal Home Loan Banks (consolidated debt obligations), the Federal National Mortgage Association (debt

 

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obligations), the Financing Corp. (debt obligations), and the Resolution Funding Corp. (debt obligations); provided, however, that the investments described in this clause (A) must have a predetermined fixed dollar of principal due at maturity that cannot vary or change, (B) if rated by S&P, must not have an “r” highlighter affixed to their rating, (C) if such investments have a variable rate of interest, such interest rate must be tied to a single interest rate index plus a fixed spread (if any) and must move proportionately with that index, (D) must not be subject to liquidation prior to their maturity and (E) must have maturities of not more than 365 days;

(iv) federal funds, unsecured certificates of deposit, time deposits, bankers’ acceptances and repurchase agreements or obligations with maturities of not more than 365 days issued or held by any depository institution or trust company incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof and subject to supervision and examination by federal or state banking authorities, so long as the commercial paper or other short term obligations of which at all times are rated in the highest short term rating category by each Rating Agency (or, if not rated by all Rating Agencies, rated by at least one Rating Agency in the highest short term rating category and otherwise acceptable to each other Rating Agency, as confirmed in writing that such investment would not, in and of itself, result in a downgrade, qualification or withdrawal of the initial, or, if higher, then current ratings assigned to the Certificates); provided, however, that the investments described in this clause (A) must have a predetermined fixed dollar of principal due at maturity that cannot vary or change, (B) if rated by S&P, must not have an “r” highlighter affixed to their rating, (C) if such investments have a variable rate of interest, such interest rate must be tied to a single interest rate index plus a fixed spread (if any) and must move proportionately with that index, (D) must not be subject to liquidation prior to their maturity and (E) must have maturities of not more than 365 days;

(v) fully Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-insured demand and time deposits in, or certificates of deposit of, or bankers’ acceptances issued by, any bank or trust company, savings and loan association or savings bank, the short term obligations of which at all times are rated in the highest short term rating category by each Rating Agency (or, if not rated by all Rating Agencies, rated by at least one Rating Agency in the highest short term rating category and otherwise acceptable to each other Rating Agency, as confirmed in writing that such investment would not, in and of itself, result in a downgrade, qualification or withdrawal of the initial, or, if higher, then current ratings assigned to the Certificates); provided, however, that the investments described in this clause must (A) have a predetermined fixed dollar of principal due at maturity that cannot vary or change, (B) if rated by S&P, must not have an “r” highlighter affixed to their rating, (C) if such investments have a variable rate of interest, such interest rate must be tied to a single interest rate index plus a fixed spread (if any) and must move proportionately with that index, and (D) such investments must not be subject to liquidation prior to their maturity;

(vi) debt obligations with maturities of not more than 365 days and at all times rated by each Rating Agency (or, if not rated by all Rating Agencies, rated by at least one Rating Agency and otherwise acceptable to each other Rating Agency, as confirmed in

 

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writing that such investment would not, in and of itself, result in a downgrade, qualification or withdrawal of the initial, or, if higher, then current ratings assigned to the Certificates) in its highest long-term unsecured rating category; provided, however, that the investments described in this clause must (A) have a predetermined fixed dollar of principal due at maturity that cannot vary or change, (B) if rated by S&P, must not have an “r” highlighter affixed to their rating, (C) if such investments have a variable rate of interest, such interest rate must be tied to a single interest rate index plus a fixed spread (if any) and must move proportionately with that index, and (D) such investments must not be subject to liquidation prior to their maturity;

(vii) commercial paper (including both non-interest-bearing discount obligations and interest-bearing obligations payable on demand or on a specified date not more than one year after the date of issuance thereof) with maturities of not more than 365 days and that at all times is rated by each Rating Agency (or, if not rated by all Rating Agencies, rated by at least one Rating Agency and otherwise acceptable to each other Rating Agency, as confirmed in writing that such investment would not, in and of itself, result in a downgrade, qualification or withdrawal of the initial, or, if higher, then current ratings assigned to the Certificates) in its highest short-term unsecured debt rating; provided, however, that the investments described in this clause must (A) have a predetermined fixed dollar of principal due at maturity that cannot vary or change, (B) if rated by S&P, must not have an “r” highlighter affixed to their rating, (C) if such investments have a variable rate of interest, such interest rate must be tied to a single interest rate index plus a fixed spread (if any) and must move proportionately with that index, and (D) such investments must not be subject to liquidation prior to their maturity;

(viii) units of taxable money market funds, which funds are regulated investment companies, seek to maintain a constant net asset value per share and invest solely in obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, which funds have the highest rating available from each Rating Agency (or, if not rated by all Rating Agencies, rated by at least one Rating Agency and otherwise acceptable to each other Rating Agency, as confirmed in writing that such investment would not, in and of itself, result in a downgrade, qualification or withdrawal of the initial, or, if higher, then current ratings assigned to the Certificates) for money market funds; and

(ix) any other security, obligation or investment which has been approved as a Permitted Investment by Lender and with respect to which the Rating Condition is satisfied;

provided , however , that no obligation or security shall be a Permitted Investment if (A) such obligation or security evidences a right to receive only interest payments or (B) the right to receive principal and interest payments on such obligation or security are derived from an underlying investment that provides a yield to maturity in excess of 120% of the yield to maturity at par of such underlying investment.

Permitted JV ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii) .

 

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Permitted JV Agreement ” means, with respect to any Permitted JV, the joint venture (or similar) agreement entered into between the applicable Seritage JV Member and the applicable Permitted JV Member with respect to such Permitted JV, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Permitted JV Collateral ” means, with respect to any Permitted JV, the “Collateral” as defined in the applicable Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Permitted JV Documents ” means, with respect to any Permitted JV, the Permitted JV Agreement and any other material documents entered into by the applicable Seritage JV Member and/or its affiliates and the Permitted JV Member and/or its affiliates in connection with the Permitted JV, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Permitted JV Interests ” means, with respect to any Permitted JV, has the meaning set forth in the applicable Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Permitted JV Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii) .

Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D , as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Permitted Preferred Equity ” means (i) exchange-listed, perpetual non-voting preferred equity issued by Seritage REIT or Seritage OP or (ii) subject to compliance with the Maximum Leverage Ratio, preferred equity issued by Seritage REIT or Seritage OP that does not comply with clause (i) .

Permitted Transfer ” means each of the following:

(i) Transfers of direct and indirect equity interests in Borrower or JV Pledgor that do not result in a Prohibited Change of Control;

(ii) Transfers of Equity Interests that are traded on a nationally-recognized public stock exchange in Seritage REIT that do not result in a Prohibited Change of Control;

(iii) Transfers of any Property to (a) a Release Entity in connection with the substantially simultaneous release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 and (b) a New Borrower in accordance with Section 9.30 ;

(iv) Transfers that have been approved by Lender in accordance with the Loan Documents;

(v) Permitted Encumbrances;

 

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(vi) Transfers of worn-out, defective or obsolete furnishings, fixtures or equipment that are promptly replaced with property of equivalent value and functionality if reasonably necessary;

(vii) Leases that either have been approved by Lender in accordance with this Agreement or do not require the approval of Lender in accordance with this Agreement;

(viii) Transfers by a natural person of equity interests owned by such transferor to such transferor’s immediate family members or trusts established for the benefit of such family members for estate planning purposes;

(ix) subject to compliance with Section 5.24(a) hereof, and so long as no Event of Default exists, the Transfer, but not pledge, of any JV Interests (or any direct or indirect Equity Interests in JV Pledgor) to any Person (other than an Affiliate or an Embargoed Person) solely for cash consideration; or

(x) Transfers in accordance with Section 2.4(e) hereof.

Permitted Variance ” means expenditures by Borrower that result in a variance from an Approved Annual Budget or an Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, as the case may be, for (i) non-discretionary items, (ii) expenditures required to be made by reason of the occurrence of any emergency ( i.e. , an unexpected event that threatens harm to persons or property at any of the Properties) and with respect to which it would be impracticable, under the circumstances, to obtain Lender’s prior consent thereto, (iii) with respect to the Approved Annual Budget, an increase of up to 5.0% of the total budget for any Property, and increase of up to 2.5% of the total Approved Annual Budget for all Properties and (iv) with respect to any Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, an increase of up to 5.0% with respect to any line-item in such budget, and an increase of up to 2.5% of such total budget.

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, unincorporated association or Governmental Authority and any fiduciary acting in such capacity on behalf of any of the foregoing.

Plan Assets ” means assets of any (i) employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Part 4, Subtitle B, Title I of ERISA, (ii) plan (as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code) subject to Section 4975 of the Code, or (iii) governmental plan (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA) subject to federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations substantially similar to Part 4, Subtitle B, Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Policies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(b) .

Primary Servicing Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.22 .

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest published in The Wall Street Journal from time to time as the “Prime Rate.” If more than one “Prime Rate” is published in The Wall Street Journal for a day, the average of such “Prime Rates” shall be used, and such average shall be rounded up to the nearest 1/100th of one percent (0.01%). If The Wall Street Journal ceases to publish the “Prime Rate,” Lender shall select an equivalent publication that publishes such

 

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“Prime Rate,” and if such “Prime Rates” are no longer generally published or are limited, regulated or administered by a governmental or quasigovernmental body, then Lender shall select a comparable interest rate index.

Prime Rate Loan ” means the Loan at such time as interest thereon accrues at a rate of interest based upon the Prime Rate.

Prime Rate Spread ” means, in connection with any conversion of the Loan to a Prime Rate Loan, the difference (expressed as the number of basis points) of (a) the sum of LIBOR, determined as of the Interest Determination Date for which LIBOR was last available, plus the Mortgage Loan Spread (disregarding the assumption set forth in the definition of “Mortgage Loan Spread” and instead making such calculation based on the actual outstanding principal balance of the A-2 Notes), minus (b) the Prime Rate on such Interest Determination Date; provided , however , that if such difference is a negative number, then the Prime Rate Spread shall be zero.

Principal Indebtedness ” means the principal balance of the Loan outstanding from time to time.

Prohibited Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) the failure of Borrower or Mezzanine Borrower to be directly or indirectly 100% owned and Controlled by Seritage OP;

(ii) the failure of Seritage REIT to be the general partner of and to Control Seritage OP;

(iii) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended, but excluding any employee benefit plan of Seller and its subsidiaries, and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), other than ESL or Fairholme (a) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of Equity Interests of Seritage REIT accounting for 35% or more of the aggregate voting power of all outstanding Equity Interests of Seritage REIT with respect to the election of members of the Board of Trustees of Seritage REIT, (b) shall have obtained the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees of Seritage REIT, (c) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of Equity Interests of Seritage REIT and/or Seritage OP constituting, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of the aggregate economic interest in Seritage OP (calculated in light of the economic ownership of Seritage REIT in Seritage OP as it may appear from time to time) or (d) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of a majority of the Equity Interests of Seritage OP (excluding any such Equity Interests held by Seritage REIT);

(iv) the majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of trustees of Seritage REIT shall cease to be occupied by Persons who either (a) were members of the board of trustees of Seritage REIT as of the Closing Date or (b) were nominated for election by (or whose appointment to the board of trustees was otherwise approved by) the board of trustees of Seritage REIT, a majority of whom were directors as of the Closing Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of such trustees;

 

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(v) any Transfer, whether directly or indirectly through its direct or indirect subsidiaries, of all or substantially all of the assets of Seritage REIT or Seritage OP to a Person that is not 100% owned and Controlled by Seritage OP; or

(vi) the common Equity Interests of Seritage REIT shall, for a period of two (2) consecutive trading days, cease to be traded on a nationally-recognized public stock exchange; or

(vii) Seritage REIT or Seritage OP consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, Seritage REIT, in any such event pursuant to a transaction where the holders of voting Equity Interests in Seritage REIT or Seritage OP, as the case may be, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after such consolidation or merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Equity Interests in Seritage REIT or Seritage OP, as the case may be, representing in the aggregate more than 50% of the combined voting Equity Interests of Seritage REIT or Seritage OP, as the case may be, or the applicable surviving company.

provided that “ Prohibited Change of Control ” shall exclude any such event resulting from the exercise by Mezzanine Lender of its rights and/or remedies under the Mezzanine Loan Documents to the extent permitted under any intercreditor agreement between Lender and Mezzanine Lender.

Prohibited Pledge ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(f) .

Prohibited Transferee ” means any Person that has, or has an Affiliate that Controls or is Controlled by such Person that, (i) has, within the past seven years, defaulted or is now in default (beyond any applicable cure periods) with respect to its material obligations under any written commercial loan agreement with Lender or Mezzanine Lender, (ii) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding for a felony, (iii) has at any time filed a voluntary petition under the Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency law as a borrower or obligor in a commercial lending transaction, (iv) has at any time been subject to the filing of an involuntary petition under the Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency law, which petition was not dismissed within 90 days of filing, (v) has within the past seven years filed or been an adverse party to a claim, petition or cause of action in any municipal, state or federal court or other administrative or regulatory agency in a commercial loan transaction with Lender or Mezzanine Lender, or (vi) is an Embargoed Person or is listed on the OFAC List.

Properties ” means, as of the Loan Closing, the real properties described on Schedule A-1 , and as of the Approved Separation Closing, the real properties described on Schedule A-2 , in each case, together with all buildings and other improvements thereon and all personal property appurtenant thereto; and “Property” means an individual property included in the Properties or all Properties collectively, as the context may require.

 

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Property Agreements ” means those certain reciprocal easement agreements and other property agreements set forth on Schedule G , and similar agreements entered into after the Closing Date in accordance with this Agreement.

Property Business Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21 .

Property Material Adverse Effect ” means, as to any Property, a material adverse effect upon (i) Borrower’s title to such Property, (ii) enforcement or validity of the Mortgage with respect to such Property, or (iii) the value, use or enjoyment of such Property or the operation or occupancy thereof.

Property Release Threshold ” means an amount equal to the difference of (i) $307,500,000 minus (ii) any amounts required to be deducted therefrom in accordance with Section 2.1(b)(ii) minus (ii) any Designated Net Sales Proceeds deposited in the TI/LC Reserve Account and/or the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account in accordance with Section 2.2(a)(iv) .

Proportional Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.30(a) .

Proprietary Information ” means occupancy and leasing pipeline reports, tenant-by-tenant rental revenue by Property, individual property-level SHLD EBITDAR information and individual property-level store sales information for individual tenants.

Qualified Institutional Lender ” shall mean any bank, savings and loan association, investment bank, insurance company, trust company, commercial credit corporation, pension plan, pension fund, pension advisory firm, mutual fund, sovereign wealth fund, state or other governmental pension fund or plan, real estate company, real estate investment trust, investment fund or institution substantially similar to any of the foregoing; provided in each case that such institution has (i) total assets (in name or under management) in excess of, or is managed by a fund manager that manages in excess of, the greater of (a) 2.5x the capital/statutory surplus or shareholder’s equity required under clause (ii)  and (b) $650,000,000 and (ii) (except with respect to a pension advisory firm or similar fiduciary) capital/statutory surplus or shareholder’s equity equal to or greater than 5x the unfunded commitment assumed by the applicable assignee or participant, in each case excluding the Loan, and is regularly engaged in the business of making or owning commercial real estate loans.

Qualified Lease ” means (i) the SHLD Master Lease, (ii) the Lands’ End Master Lease, (iii) the Sears Hometown License Agreement and (iv) any other Lease (other than an Affiliate Lease with Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof), in each case, to a Tenant that is in occupancy and open for business at the applicable Property, is not in default in the payment of rent under its Lease and is not the subject of a bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceeding (unless such Tenant has assumed such Lease in bankruptcy).

Qualified Replacement Lease ” means a Lease that (i) is with a nationally recognized retail tenant with more than 50 locations in the United States, (ii) has a minimum initial term of 10 years, (iii) provides for Borrower to incur the costs of Tenant Improvements, Capital Expenditures, Leasing Commissions and/or free rent on arm’s-length, market terms but in no event shall such amounts exceed $50 per square foot with respect to such Lease and (iv)

 

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provides for aggregate annual base rent at least equal to the applicable allocated annual base rent under the SHLD Master Lease immediately prior to the applicable recapture/termination and (v) as to which Tenant is not in default in the payment of basic rent under such Lease and is not the subject of a bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceeding (unless Tenant has assumed such Lease in bankruptcy).

Rating Agency ” shall mean, prior to the final Securitization of the Loan, each of S&P, Moody’s, DBRS and Fitch, or any other nationally-recognized statistical rating agency that has been designated by Lender and, after the final Securitization of the Loan, shall mean any of the foregoing that have rated and continue to rate any of the Certificates (excluding unsolicited ratings).

Rating Condition ” means, with respect to any proposed action, the receipt by Lender of confirmation in writing from each of the Rating Agencies that such action shall not result, in and of itself, in a downgrade, withdrawal, or qualification of any rating then assigned to any outstanding Certificates. No Rating Condition shall be regarded as having been satisfied unless and until any conditions imposed on the effectiveness of any confirmation from any Rating Agency shall have been satisfied. Lender shall waive a Rating Condition requirement with respect to any Rating Agency that has declined to review the applicable proposal.

Recapture Plans ” means the preliminary plans of Borrower and SHLD Master Tenant with respect to physical separation of any space at a Property recaptured by Borrower which have been approved by Lender as of the Closing Date and copies of which are appended to the SHLD Master Lease and are attached hereto as Schedule N , as the same may be amended, updated, replaced or supplemented in accordance with the terms of the SHLD Master Lease and/or this Agreement, including Section 5.23 .

Recapture Threshold ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(g) .

Redevelopment Bring-Down Package ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(g) .

Redevelopment Costs ” means hard and soft costs set forth in a Redevelopment Plan and Budget, including Capital Expenditures and costs of Tenant Improvements and Leasing Commissions.

Redevelopment Date of Coverage ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(g) .

Redevelopment Plan and Budget ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(a) .

Redevelopment Project ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(a) .

Redevelopment Project Reserve Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a) .

Redevelopment Reconciliation Report ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(d) .

 

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Reference Banks ” means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by Lender.

Regulatory Change ” means any change after the Closing Date in federal, state or foreign laws or regulations or the adoption or the making, after such date, of any interpretations, directives or requests applying to a class of banks or companies controlling banks, including Lender, of or under any federal, state or foreign laws or regulations (whether or not having the force of law) by any court or governmental or monetary authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Regulatory Change”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

REIT Cash Distribution Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b)(i) .

Release ” with respect to any Hazardous Substance means any release, deposit, discharge, emission, leaking, leaching, spilling, seeping, migrating, injecting, pumping, pouring, emptying, escaping, dumping, disposing or other movement of Hazardous Substances into the indoor or outdoor environment (including the movement of Hazardous Substances through ambient air, soil, surface water, ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata), and “ Released ” has the meaning correlative thereto.

Release Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

Release Entity ” means a newly-formed Special Purpose Entity that is wholly-owned and Controlled, directly or indirectly, by Seritage OP and is formed for the purpose of facilitating the substantially simultaneous release of Property in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 , subject to satisfaction of the respective requirements therein.

Release Price ” means:

(i) with respect to the release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 , the greater of (a) 120% of the applicable Allocated Loan Amount and (b) the Loan Pro Rata Share of the applicable Net Sales Proceeds received by Borrower; and

(ii) with respect to the release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.3 , the greater of (a) 130% of the applicable Allocated Loan Amount and (b) the Loan Pro Rata Share of the applicable Net Sales Proceeds (excluding the Permitted JV Interest established in connection with such release, and the proceeds thereof) received by Borrower in connection with formation of the applicable Permitted JV.

Release Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

REMIC ” means a “real estate mortgage investment conduit” as defined in Section 860D of the Code.

 

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Rent Roll ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(a) .

Rental Revenues ” means, with respect to the Properties, all actual in-place base rents and expense reimbursements under bona fide Qualified Leases.

Replacement Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(g) .

Replacement Lender Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(g) .

Required SPE ” means Borrower, JV Pledgor and any Single-Purpose Equityholder.

Required Title Update ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(g) .

Restricted Party ” means, collectively (a) Borrower, JV Pledgor, Mezzanine Borrower or any respective Subsidiary thereof and (b) any shareholder, partner, member, non-member manager, any direct or indirect legal or beneficial owner of Borrower or Mezzanine Borrower, but excluding any shareholder, partner, member, non-member manager, any direct or indirect legal or beneficial owner of Seritage OP or Seritage REIT.

Revenues ” means all rents (including percentage rent), rent equivalents, moneys payable as damages pursuant to a Lease or in lieu of rent or rent equivalents (including all Termination Fees), royalties (including all oil and gas or other mineral royalties and bonuses), income, receivables, receipts, revenues, deposits (including security, utility and other deposits), accounts, cash, issues, profits, charges for services rendered, and other consideration of whatever form or nature received by or paid to or for the account of or benefit of Borrower from any and all sources including any obligations now existing or hereafter arising or created out of the sale, lease, sublease, license, concession or other grant of the right of the use and occupancy of property or rendering of services by Borrower or the grant or withholding of any consent, waiver or other concession relating to any Property Agreement or other matter relating to one or more Properties and proceeds, if any, from business interruption or other loss of income insurance. Revenues shall not include any JV Revenues.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Sears Hometown License Agreement ” means, solely to the extent related to a Property, that certain License Agreement dated as of November 20, 2008 by and between Sears Holdings Management Corporation, as agent for Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation, as licensor, and Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Securitization ” means a transaction in which all or any portion of the Loan is deposited into one or more trusts or entities that issue Certificates to investors, or a similar transaction; and the term “ Securitize ” and “ Securitized ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Securitization Vehicle ” means the issuer of Certificates in a Securitization of the Loan.

 

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Seller Estoppel ” means an estoppel delivered by SHLD to the Lender on the Closing Date in order for Borrower to satisfy one or more of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 8.1(k)(i) and/or Section 8.1(k)(ii) , in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Seritage JV Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii) .

Seritage OP ” means Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Seritage REIT ” means Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust.

Servicer ” means Strategic Asset Services LLC or such other entity or entities appointed by Lender from time to time to serve as servicer and/or special servicer of the Loan. If at any time no entity is so appointed, the term “Servicer” shall be deemed to refer to Lender.

Severed Loan Documents ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(e) .

SHLD ” means Sears Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

SHLD EBITDAR ” means, with respect to any Test Period and the Properties, the aggregate net income (which for the purposes of this calculation shall exclude all rents collected by the SHLD Master Tenant from any Affiliate of SHLD Master Tenant unless such Affiliate is a Tenant at the applicable Properties and also a tenant at similar properties owned or leased by SHLD and/or its subsidiaries under a master agreement in connection with a national or regional roll-out by such Tenant at Sears stores and/or Kmart stores) or loss for such Test Period calculated with respect to the operations of the Properties on a Property-by-Property or “four wall” basis, determined in accordance with GAAP and adjusted by excluding (1) income tax expense, (2) consolidated interest expense (net of interest income), (3) depreciation and amortization expense, (4) any income, gains or losses attributable to the early extinguishment or conversion of indebtedness or cancellation of indebtedness, (5) gains or losses on discontinued operations and asset sales, disposals or abandonments, (6) impairment charges or asset write-offs, including, without limitation, those related to goodwill or intangible assets, Long-Lived Assets, and investments in debt and equity securities, in each case, in accordance with GAAP, (7) any noncash items of expense (other than to the extent such noncash items of expense require or result in an accrual or reserve for future cash expenses), (8) extraordinary gains or losses, (9) unusual or nonrecurring gains or items of income or loss and (10) SHLD Master Lease Rent for such Test Period; provided that each of net income and the foregoing adjustments shall be determined using the methodologies and practices of SHLD in effect as of the Closing Date as shown on Schedule K hereto.

SHLD EBITDAR Rent Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the quotient of (i) SHLD EBITDAR for such Test Period divided by (ii) the SHLD Master Lease Rent for such Test Period.

SHLD Master Guaranty ” means the Lease Guaranty, as defined in the SHLD Master Lease, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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SHLD Master Lease ” means that certain Master Lease and side letter entered into in connection therewith, each dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Borrower, as Landlord, and SHLD Master Tenant, as Tenant, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

SHLD Master Lease Rent ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the aggregate annualized base rent obligations under the SHLD Master Lease as of the end of such Test Period.

SHLD Master Tenant ” means, collectively, Kmart Operations, LLC and Sears Operations, LLC.

SHLD PSA ” means that certain Subscription, Distribution and Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of June 8, 2015 by and between SHLD and Seritage REIT, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

SHLD TSA ” means that certain Transition Services Agreement by and between SHMC and Seritage OP, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

SHMC ” means Sears Holdings Management Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Simon ” means SPG Portfolio Member, LLC.

Simon JV ” means SPS Portfolio Holdings LLC.

Simon JV Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SPS Portfolio Holdings LLC, dated as of April 13, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Simon JV Collateral ” means the “Pledged Collateral” as defined in the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Simon JV Documents ” means, collectively, the Simon JV Agreement and the Simon JV Master Lease.

Simon JV Interests ” means the “JV Interest” as defined in the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Simon JV Master Lease ” means that certain Master Lease by and among SPS Portfolio Holdings LLC as Landlord and Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Tenant, dated as April 13, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by Simon JV Pledgor in favor of Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Simon JV Pledgor ” means Seritage SPS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Single Member LLC ” means a limited liability company that either (x) has only one member, or (y) has multiple members, none of which is a Single-Purpose Equityholder.

Single-Purpose Entity ” means a Person that:

(a) was formed under the laws of the State of Delaware solely for the purpose of (i) in the case of Borrower, owning, holding, developing, selling, transferring, leasing, managing, operating or otherwise dealing with or disposing of an ownership interest in one or more of the Properties, entering into this Agreement with Lender and performing Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents, refinancing of any of the Properties in connection with a repayment of all or any portion of the Loan, and any and all activities that are necessary, convenient or incidental to the foregoing, (ii) in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, acquiring and holding an ownership interest in Borrower or JV Pledgor or (iii) in the case of a JV Pledgor, owning, holding, selling, transferring and managing of the applicable JV Interests entering into a joinder to this Agreement with Lender and performing JV Pledgor’s obligations under the Loan Documents, and transacting lawful business that is incident, necessary and appropriate to accomplish the foregoing;

(b) does not engage in any business unrelated to (i) in the case of the Borrower, owning, holding, selling, transferring, leasing, managing, operating or otherwise dealing with or disposing of the Properties, (ii) in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, its ownership interest in Borrower or JV Pledgor or (iii) in the case of a JV Pledgor, owning, holding, selling, transferring and managing the applicable JV Interests;

(c) does not own any assets other than (i) in the case of the Borrower, its interest in the Properties and incidental personal property necessary for the ownership and operation of the Properties (and in the case of Borrower, does not and will not own any assets on which Lender does not have a Lien, other than excess cash that has been released to Borrower pursuant hereto), (ii) in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, its ownership interest in Borrower or JV Pledgor) or (iii) in the case a JV Pledgor, the applicable JV Interests (and in the case of JV Pledgor, does not and will not own any assets on which Lender does not have a Lien, other than cash distributions that have been released to or are permitted to be retained by JV Pledgor pursuant hereto or pursuant to the JV Pledge and Security Agreement);

(d) does not have any Debt other than (i) in the case of Borrower or JV Pledgor, Permitted Debt, or (ii) in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, reasonable and customary administrative expenses and state franchise taxes;

 

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(e) maintains (or will cause its Approved Property Manager to maintain) books, accounts, records, financial statements, stationery, invoices and checks that are separate and apart from those of any other Person (except that such Person’s financial position, assets, results of operations and cash flows may be included in the consolidated financial statements of an Affiliate of such Person in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i) appropriate notations should be made on any such consolidated financial statements to indicate that such Person’s assets and credit are not available to satisfy the claims of its Affiliate’s creditors and (ii) such assets shall also be listed on such Person’s own separate balance sheet);

(f) is subject to and complies with all of the limitations on powers and separateness requirements set forth in the organizational documentation of such Person as of the Closing Date;

(g) holds itself out as being a Person separate and apart from each other Person and not as a division or part of another Person;

(h) conducts its business in its own name;

(i) exercises reasonable efforts to correct any known misunderstanding actually known to it regarding its separate identity, and maintains an arm’s-length relationship with its Affiliates (other than capital contributions and distributions permitted under the terms of such Person’s organizational documents), and only enters into a contract or agreement with an Affiliate upon terms and conditions that are commercially reasonable and comparable to those that would be available on an arm’s length basis with unaffiliated third parties;

(j) except as contemplated by the Loan Documents with respect to any co-borrower hereunder, pays its own liabilities out of its own funds (provided that the foregoing shall not require any holder of any Equity Interests to make any additional capital contributions to such Person) and reasonably allocates any overhead that is shared with an Affiliate, including paying for shared office space and services performed by any officer or employee of an Affiliate;

(k) does not have any employees;

(l) conducts its business so that the assumptions made with respect to it that are contained in the Nonconsolidation Opinion shall at all times be true and correct in all material respects;

(m) maintains its assets in such a manner that it will not be costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or identify its individual assets from those of any other Person;

(n) observes all applicable entity-level formalities necessary to maintain its separate existence;

(o) except as contemplated by the Loan Documents with respect to any co-borrower hereunder (including, without limitation, in a Collateral Account or an Operating Account), does not commingle its assets with those of any other Person, and holds its assets in its own name;

 

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(p) does not assume, guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any other Person, and does not hold out its credit as being available to satisfy the obligations or securities of others, except as contemplated by the Loan Documents with respect to any co-borrower hereunder;

(q) does not acquire obligations or securities of its direct or indirect equityholders;

(r) does not pledge its assets to secure the obligations of any other Person and does not make any loans or advances to any other Person, except as contemplated by the Loan Documents with respect to any co-borrower hereunder;

(s) maintains adequate capital in light of its contemplated business operations (provided that the foregoing shall not require such Person’s partners, members or shareholders to make any additional capital contributions to such Person);

(t) has two Independent Managers on its board of directors or board of managers, or has a Single-Purpose Equityholder with two Independent Managers on such Single-Purpose Equityholder’s board of directors or board of managers, and has organizational documents that (i) provide that the Independent Managers consider only the interests of the Required SPE, including its creditors, and shall have no fiduciary duties to the Required SPE’s equityholders (except to the extent of their respective interests in the Required SPE), and (ii) prohibit the replacement of any Independent Manager without Cause and without giving at least five Business Days’ prior written notice to Lender and the Rating Agencies (except in the case of the death, legal incapacity, or voluntary non-collusive resignation of an Independent Manager, in which case no prior notice to Lender or the Rating Agencies shall be required in connection with the replacement of such Independent Manager with a new Independent Manager that is provided by any of the companies listed in the definition of “Independent Manager”);

(u) if such entity is a Single Member LLC, has organizational documents that provide that upon the occurrence of any event that causes its sole member to cease to be a member while the Loan is outstanding, at least one of its Independent Managers shall automatically be admitted as the sole member of the Single Member LLC and shall preserve and continue the existence of the Single Member LLC without dissolution; and

(v) files its own tax returns separate from those of any other Person, except to the extent it is treated as a “disregarded entity” for tax purposes and is not required to file tax returns under applicable law, and pays any taxes required to be paid under applicable law only from its own funds (provided that the foregoing shall not require such Person’s partners, members or shareholders to make any additional capital contributions to such Person);

(w) except to the extent expressly permitted by the Loan Documents, shall not dissolve, liquidate, consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets;

(x) has by-laws or an operating agreement, or has a Single-Purpose Equityholder with by-laws or an operating agreement, which provides that, for so long as the

 

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Loan is outstanding, such Person shall not take or consent to any of the following actions except to the extent expressly permitted in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents:

(i) the dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of its assets (and, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, the assets of the Required SPE);

(ii) the engagement by such Person (and, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, the engagement by the Required SPE) in any business other than the acquisition, development, management, leasing, ownership, transfer, leasing, managing, maintenance and operation of the Properties and activities incidental thereto (and, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, activities incidental to the acquisition and ownership of its interest in the Required SPE);

(iii) the filing, or consent to the filing, of a bankruptcy or insolvency petition, any general assignment for the benefit of creditors or the institution of any other insolvency proceeding, the seeking or consenting to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator, custodian or any similar official in respect of such Person, admitting in writing such Person’s inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing, in each case, in respect of itself or, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, in respect of Borrower, without the affirmative vote of both of its Independent Managers; and

(iv) any amendment or modification of any provision of its (and, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, Borrower’s) organizational documents relating to qualification as a “Single-Purpose Entity” without the prior written consent of the Lender.

Single-Purpose Equityholder ” means, with respect to any the Required SPE that is a limited partnership, a Single-Purpose Entity that (x) is a limited liability company or corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, (y) owns at least a 1% direct equity interest in the Required SPE, and (z) serves as the general partner or managing member of the Required SPE.

Spread ” means:

(i) with respect to the A-1 Notes, initially, 3.9861%, and with respect to the A-2 Notes, initially 4.6500%; and

(ii) following the bifurcation of any Note into multiple Note Components pursuant to Section 1.1(c) , the weighted average of the Component Spreads of such Note Components at the time of determination, weighted on the basis of the corresponding outstanding principal balances of such Note Components at the time of determination.

Spread Maintenance Expiration Date ” shall mean with respect to any prepayment of the Loan:

(i) with respect to a payment in full of the Loan after the end of the Lockout Period, January 9, 2018;

 

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(ii) with respect to any permitted partial prepayment of the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, up to an aggregate principal amount equal to 35.0% of the Loan Amount, January 9, 2018;

(iii) with respect to any permitted partial prepayment of the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in excess of the threshold provided in clause (ii) above, up to an aggregate principal amount equal to 15.0% of the Loan Amount, July 9, 2019;

(iv) with respect to any principal payment on the Loan during the continuance of an Event of Default, January 9, 2018; or

(v) if a prepayment permitted pursuant to Section 2.1(c) would cause the aggregate principal prepayments of the Loan to exceed 50% of the Loan Amount, July 9, 2019.

Spread Maintenance Premium ” means the sum of (i) with respect to any prepayment of the Loan evidenced by the A-1 Notes (a) permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (b) during the continuance of an Event of Default, an amount equal to the product of (A) the principal amount so prepaid, times (B) the applicable Spread, times (C) 1/360, times (D) the number of days from (but excluding) the conclusion of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made through and including the applicable Spread Maintenance Expiration Date plus (ii) with respect to any prepayment of the Loan evidenced by the A-2 Notes (a) permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (b) during the continuance of an Event of Default, an amount equal to the product of (A) the principal amount so prepaid, times (B) the applicable Spread, times (C) 1/360, times (D) the number of days from (but excluding) the conclusion of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made through and including the applicable Spread Maintenance Expiration Date; provided that, in each case, no Spread Maintenance Premium shall be payable with respect to Excluded Prepayments.

Strike Rate ” means (i) with respect to the initial term of the Loan, 3.5% and (ii) with respect to any Extension Term, the greater of (a) 3.5% and (b) the strike rate necessary to produce a debt service coverage ratio equal to 1.20x (determined based on, as of any date of determination, (1) the weighted average of the Mortgage Loan Spread and the Mezzanine Loan Spread as of such date, (2) the sum of (A) the Principal Indebtedness plus (B) the Mezzanine Loan Principal Indebtedness as of such date and (3) In-Place NOI for the most recently ended Test Period).

Subordination of Property Management Agreement ” means (i) that certain consent and agreement of manager and subordination of management agreement executed by Borrower and Seritage Management LLC as of the Closing Date and (ii) that certain consent and agreement of manager and subordination of transition services agreement executed by Borrower and SHMC as of the Closing Date and (iii) any other agreement executed by Borrower and any Approved Property Manager from time to time pursuant to which the applicable Approved Management Agreement and all fees thereunder (including any incentive fees) are subject and subordinate to the Indebtedness, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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Subsidiary ” of any Person shall mean and include (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose capital stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any limited liability company, partnership, association, joint venture or other entity of which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50% equity interest at the time.

Survey ” means, with respect to each Property, a current land title survey of such Property, certified to Borrower, the title company issuing the Title Insurance Policies and Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Taxes ” means all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, fees, taxes on rents or rentals, water rates or sewer rents, facilities and other governmental, municipal and utility district charges or other similar taxes or assessments now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Property or Borrower with respect to the Property or rents therefrom or that may become Liens upon any Property, without deduction for any amounts reimbursable to Borrower by third parties.

Tenant ” means any Person liable by contract or otherwise to pay monies (including a percentage of gross income, revenue or profits) pursuant to a Lease.

Tenant Improvements ” means, collectively, (i) tenant improvements to be undertaken for any Tenant that are required to be completed by or on behalf of Borrower pursuant to the terms of such Tenant’s Lease, and (ii) tenant improvements paid or reimbursed through allowances to a Tenant pursuant to such Tenant’s Lease.

Tenant Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) .

Terminated Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7(g) .

Termination Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(d) .

Test Period ” means each 12-month period ending on the last day of any Fiscal Quarter.

Third Party In-Place NOI ” means, with respect to any Test Period, In-Place NOI, as adjusted to reflect solely Operating Income generated by Third Party Leases.

Third Party In-Place NOI Threshold ” means, with respect to any Test Period, an amount equal to the product of (i) 1.10 multiplied by (ii) annual debt service on the aggregate Principal Indebtedness and Mezzanine Loan Principal Indebtedness as of the end of such Test Period assuming an interest rate equal to the sum of (a) the One-Year Forward LIBOR Rate as of the applicable date of determination plus (b) the weighted average of the Mortgage Loan Spread and the Mezzanine Loan Spread.

Third Party Lease ” means each Lease entered into in accordance with the terms of this Agreement other than the SHLD Master Lease and any Affiliate Lease.

 

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Title Insurance Policy ” means, with respect to each Property, an American Land Title Association lender’s title insurance policy or a comparable form of lender’s title insurance policy approved for use in the applicable jurisdiction, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Title Insurance Pool ” means each group of Properties whose Title Insurance Policies are subject to a “tie-in” or similar endorsement (ALTA 12 or its equivalent) aggregating title insurance coverage with respect to such Properties as designated on Schedule R hereto

Title Insurance Pool Amount ” means the aggregate amount of title insurance coverage under the Title Insurance Policies relating to a Title Insurance Pool.

Threshold Amount ” means, with respect to any Property, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $10,000,000 and (ii) 30% of the sum of (a) the Allocated Loan Amount plus (b) the Mezzanine Loan Allocated Loan Amount with respect to such Property.

TI/LC Reserve Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a) .

Trade Payables ” means unsecured amounts (other than pursuant to statutory or other involuntary liens that are Permitted Liens) payable by or on behalf of Borrower for or in respect of the operation of the Properties in the ordinary course or JV Pledgor for or in respect of the management of the JV Interests in the ordinary course and that would under GAAP be regarded as ordinary expenses, including amounts payable to managers under an Approved Management Agreement, Guarantor or other parent entities for services rendered or obtained (including indirectly, through the SHLD TSA) and suppliers, vendors, contractors, mechanics, materialmen or other Persons providing property or services to the Properties, Borrower or JV Pledgor and the capitalized amount of any ordinary-course financing leases.

Transaction ” means, collectively, the transactions contemplated and/or financed by the Loan Documents.

Transfer ” means the sale or other whole or partial conveyance of all or any portion of any of the Collateral or the JV Collateral or any direct or indirect interest therein to a third party, including granting of any purchase options, rights of first refusal, rights of first offer or similar rights in respect of any portion of the Collateral or the JV Collateral or the subjecting of any portion of the Collateral or the JV Collateral to restrictions on transfer; except that the conveyance of a space lease at any Property in accordance herewith shall not constitute a Transfer.

Unfunded Obligations ” means the items described in Schedule E-1 .

Unfunded Obligations Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a) .

Use ” means, with respect to any Hazardous Substance, the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, handling, possession, use, discharge, placement, treatment, disposal, disposition, removal, abatement, recycling or storage of such Hazardous Substance or transportation of such Hazardous Substance.

 

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U.S. Tax ” means any present or future tax, assessment or other charge or levy imposed by or on behalf of the United States of America or any taxing authority thereof.

Waste ” means any material physical abuse or destructive physical use (whether by action or inaction) of any Property.

(b) Rules of Construction . Unless otherwise specified, (i) all references to sections, schedules and exhibits are to sections, schedules and exhibits in or to this Agreement, (ii) all meanings attributed to defined terms in this Agreement shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms so defined, (iii) “including” means “including, but not limited to”, (iv) “mortgage” means a mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt or similar instrument, as applicable, and “mortgagee” means the secured party under a mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt or similar instrument, (v) the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “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, article, section or other subdivision of this Agreement, (vi) unless otherwise indicated, all references to “this Section” shall refer to the Section of this Agreement in which such reference appears in its entirety and not to any particular clause or subsection or such Section, (vii) the use of the phrases “an Event of Default exists”, “during the continuance of an Event of Default” or similar phrases in the Loan Documents shall not be deemed to grant Borrower any right to cure an Event of Default except as expressly provided herein, and (viii) terms used herein and defined by cross-reference to another agreement or document shall have the meaning set forth in such other agreement or document as of the Closing Date, notwithstanding any subsequent amendment or restatement of or modification to such other agreement or document. Except as otherwise indicated, all accounting terms not specifically defined in this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as the same may be modified in this Agreement.

ARTICLE 1

GENERAL TERMS

Section 1.1 The Loan; Term .

(a) The Loan shall be advanced in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.7 hereof and shall initially be represented by the A-1 Note, the A-2-1 Note and the A-2-2 Note that shall bear interest as described in this Agreement at the applicable per annum rate as provided in Section 1.2(a) . Each of the Notes and the interests of each Lender in the Loan (including without limitation the Initial Advance and any Future Advances) and the Loan Documents shall be pari passu, of equal rank and dignity without priority or preference of one over the other. Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that the obligations of each Lender hereunder are several and not joint. Interest payable hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the related Interest Accrual Period.

(b) The Loan shall be secured by the Collateral and the JV Collateral pursuant to the Mortgages and the other Loan Documents.

 

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(c) Upon written notice from Lender to Borrower, any Note will be deemed to have been subdivided into multiple components (“ Note Components ”). Each Note Component shall have such notional balance as Lender shall specify in such notice and an interest rate equal to the sum of LIBOR plus such amount as Lender shall specify in such notice (“ Component Spread ”); provided that the sum of the notional balances of all Note Components shall equal the then-current Principal Indebtedness evidenced by the applicable Note, and the weighted average of the Component Spreads, weighted on the basis of their respective principal balances, shall initially equal the percentage set forth in clause (i) of the definition of “ Spread ” applicable to such Note. Borrower shall be treated as the obligor with respect to each of the Note Components, and Borrower acknowledges that each Note Component may be individually beneficially owned by a separate Person. The Note Components need not be represented by separate physical Notes, but if requested by Lender and subject in each case to the return to Borrower of the Note that is being replaced by the Note Components, each Note Component shall be represented by a separate physical Note, in which case Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender each such Note promptly following Borrower’s receipt of an execution copy thereof.

(d) Borrower shall have two successive options to extend the scheduled Maturity Date of the Loan to the Payment Date in the month containing the one-year anniversary of the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect (the period of each such extension, an “ Extension Term ”); provided that, as a condition to each Extension Term (i) Borrower shall deliver to Lender written notice of such extension at least 30 days and not more than 90 days prior to the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect; (ii) no Event of Default shall be continuing on either the date of such notice or the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect; (iii) the Debt Yield for the Properties for the Test Period ending immediately prior to the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect shall be no less than the applicable Debt Yield Threshold; provided that if the Debt Yield is less than the applicable Debt Yield Threshold, Borrower shall be permitted to prepay the Loan (together with a simultaneous pro rata prepayment by Mezzanine Borrower of the Mezzanine Loan) in the amount required to cause the Debt Yield to equal the applicable Debt Yield Threshold, which prepayment shall be made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 2.1(e) but without the notice required thereunder; (iv) on the Maturity Date theretofore in effect, the percentage of Rental Revenues generated by the SHLD Master Lease shall be less than the applicable Extension Rental Revenue Threshold; (v) on or before the Maturity Date theretofore in effect, Borrower shall have obtained an Interest Rate Cap Agreement for the applicable Extension Term and collaterally assigned such Interest Rate Cap Agreement to Lender pursuant to an Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement; (vi) on or before the Maturity Date theretofore in effect, Borrower shall have paid the Extension Fee; (vii) provided that Lender shall have delivered to Borrower reasonably detailed invoices therefor not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect, Borrower shall have reimbursed Lender for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender in connection with such extension; and (viii) the Mezzanine Loan maturity date shall have been simultaneously extended to the same date as the new Maturity Date of the Loan. If Borrower fails to exercise any extension option in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, such extension option, and any subsequent extension option hereunder, will automatically cease and terminate.

 

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Section 1.2 Interest and Principal .

(a) On each Payment Date Borrower shall pay to Lender (to be applied to each Note on a pro rata, pari passu basis) (i) at any time the Loan is a LIBOR Loan (A) interest on the Principal Indebtedness evidenced by the A-1 Notes for the applicable Interest Accrual Period at a rate per annum equal to (i) the sum of LIBOR, determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding such Interest Accrual Period, plus the applicable Spread and (B) interest on the Principal Indebtedness evidenced by the A-2 Notes for the applicable Interest Accrual Period at a rate per annum equal to (i) the sum of LIBOR, determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding such Interest Accrual Period, plus the applicable Spread, and (ii) at any time the Loan is a Prime Rate Loan, the sum of the Prime Rate, determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding such Interest Accrual Period, plus the Prime Rate Spread (except that in each case, interest shall be payable on the Indebtedness, including due but unpaid interest, at the Default Rate with respect to any portion of such Interest Accrual Period falling during the continuance of an Event of Default). As of the Closing Date, the Loan is a LIBOR Loan, and except as provided in Section 1.2(e) , the Loan shall at all times be a LIBOR Loan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, on the Closing Date, Borrower shall pay interest on A-1 Notes from and including the Closing Date through the end of the first Interest Accrual Period, in lieu of making such payment on the first Payment Date following the Closing Date.

(b) The entire outstanding Principal Indebtedness, together with all interest thereon through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which the Maturity Date falls (calculated as if such Principal Indebtedness were outstanding for the entire Interest Accrual Period) and all other amounts then due under the Loan Documents shall be due and payable by Borrower to Lender on the Maturity Date. The payment by Borrower of the Principal Indebtedness on the Maturity Date and any other prepayments of the Loan permitted under this Agreement shall be applied to the Notes on a pro rata, pari passu basis.

(c) If all or any portion of the Principal Indebtedness is paid to Lender prior to the initial Maturity Date during the continuance of an Event of Default, Borrower shall pay to Lender an amount equal to the applicable Spread Maintenance Premium. Amounts received in respect of the Indebtedness during the continuance of an Event of Default shall be applied toward interest, principal and other components of the Indebtedness (in such order as Lender shall determine) before any such amounts are applied toward payment of Spread Maintenance Premium, with the result that Spread Maintenance Premium shall accrue as the Principal Indebtedness is repaid but no amount received from Borrower shall constitute payment of a Spread Maintenance Premium until the remainder of the Indebtedness shall have been paid in full. Borrower acknowledges that (i) a prepayment prior to the initial Maturity Date will cause damage to Lender; (ii) the Spread Maintenance Premium is intended to compensate Lender for the loss of its investment and the expense incurred and time and effort associated with making the Loan, which will not be fully repaid if the Loan is prepaid; (iii) it will be extremely difficult and impractical to ascertain the extent of Lender’s damages caused by a prepayment after an acceleration or any other prepayment prior to the initial Maturity Date; and (iv) the Spread Maintenance Premium represents Lender’s and Borrower’s reasonable estimate of Lender’s damages from the prepayment and is not a penalty.

(d) Any payments of interest and/or principal not paid when due hereunder shall bear interest at the applicable Default Rate and, in the case of all payments due hereunder

 

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other than the repayment of the Principal Indebtedness on the Maturity Date, when paid shall be accompanied by a late fee in an amount equal to the lesser of 3.0% of such unpaid sum and the maximum amount permitted by applicable law, in order to defray a portion of the expense incurred by Lender in handling and processing such delinquent payment and to compensate Lender for the loss of the use of such delinquent payment.

(e) In the event that Lender shall reasonably determine that by reason of circumstances affecting the interbank Eurodollar market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR in accordance with the definition thereof, then the Loan shall be converted to a Prime Rate Loan effective as of the commencement of the Interest Accrual Period following the date of such determination, and Lender shall give notice thereof to Borrower by telephone at least one day prior to the applicable Interest Determination Date (which notice shall thereafter be promptly confirmed by Lender in writing). If, pursuant to this Section, any portion of the Loan has been converted to a Prime Rate Loan and Lender thereafter reasonably determines that the events or circumstances that resulted in such conversion are no longer applicable, the Loan shall be converted to a LIBOR Loan effective as of the commencement of the Interest Accrual Period following the date of such determination, and Lender shall give notice thereof to Borrower by telephone at least one day prior to the applicable Interest Determination Date (which notice shall thereafter be promptly confirmed by Lender in writing). Borrower shall pay to Lender, within five (5) Business Days following written demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate Lender for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by Lender in making any conversion in accordance with this Section, including interest or fees payable by Lender to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to maintain a LIBOR Loan hereunder. In the event the Note has been divided into multiple Notes or Note Components pursuant to Section 1.1(c) , upon any conversion of the Loan pursuant to this Section the interest rate applicable to such Notes or Note Components shall be proportionately adjusted to reflect such conversion. Except as provided in this Section, the Loan shall at all times be a LIBOR Loan. In no event shall Borrower have the right to convert a LIBOR Loan to a Prime Rate Loan.

Section 1.3 Method and Place of Payment . Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, all payments and prepayments under this Agreement and the Notes (including any deposit into the Cash Management Account pursuant to Section 3.2(c) ) shall be made to Lender not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due and shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by wire transfer in federal or other immediately available funds to the account specified from time to time by Lender. Any funds received by Lender after such time shall be deemed to have been paid on the next succeeding Business Day. Lender shall notify Borrower in writing of any changes in the account to which payments are to be made. If the amount received from Borrower (or from the Cash Management Account pursuant to Section 3.2(b) ) is less than the sum of all amounts then due and payable hereunder, such amount shall be applied, at Lender’s sole discretion, either toward the components of the Indebtedness ( e.g. , interest, principal and other amounts payable hereunder) and the Notes and Note Components, in such sequence as Lender shall elect in its sole discretion, or toward the payment of Property expenses. Whenever any payment to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

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Section 1.4 Taxes; Regulatory Change .

(a) Borrower shall indemnify Lender and hold Lender harmless from and against any present or future stamp, documentary, transfer, excise, property or other similar taxes or other similar charges now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority by reason of the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents or any Notes issued thereunder and any consents, waivers, amendments and enforcement of rights under the Loan Documents.

(b) Reasonably promptly following Borrower’s request, any Lender at the time the initial advance is made shall complete and deliver to Borrower a duly executed Form W-9 certifying that is not subject to backup withholding or an appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable. If Borrower is required by law to withhold or deduct any amount from any payment hereunder in respect of any Borrower Tax, Borrower shall withhold or deduct the appropriate amount, remit such amount to the appropriate Governmental Authority and pay to the Lender and each Person to whom there has been an Assignment or Participation of a Loan (Lender and all such Persons, collectively, “ Lender Parties ” and each individually, a “ Lender Party ”) such additional amounts as are necessary in order that the net payment of any amount due hereunder, after deduction for or withholding in respect of any Borrower Tax imposed with respect to such payment, will not be less than the amount stated in this Agreement to be then due and payable; except that the foregoing obligation to pay such additional amounts shall not apply to (i) Inapplicable Taxes; (ii) any amount of U.S. Tax in effect and applicable to payments to Lender on the date of this Agreement, provided that Borrower requests from Lender, if necessary to prevent the imposition of such U.S. Tax, a Form W-9 or W-8, as applicable, reasonably in advance of when withholding in respect of such U.S. Tax would be required absent the receipt of such form; (iii) with respect to payments made under this Agreement to any Lender Party to whom there has been an Assignment or Participation, any amount of U.S. Tax imposed, to the extent that the receipt of additional amounts in respect of such U.S. Tax would entitle the Lender Party to receive greater payment than the assignor would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights assigned, unless such assignment shall have been made at a time when the circumstances giving rise to such greater payment did not exist; (iv) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA; or (v) any amount of Borrower Taxes imposed solely by reason of the failure by an assignee to comply with Section 9.7(c) . If Borrower shall fail to pay any Borrower Taxes or other amounts that Borrower is required to pay pursuant to this Section, and Lender or any Person to whom there has been an Assignment or Participation of a Loan pays the same, Borrower shall reimburse Lender or such Person promptly following demand therefore in the currency in which such taxes or other amounts are paid, whether or not such taxes were correctly or legally asserted, together with interest thereon from and including the date of payment to but excluding the date of reimbursement at a rate per annum equal to the Default Rate.

(c) Within 30 days after paying any amount from which it is required by law to make any deduction or withholding, and within 30 days after it is required by law to remit such deduction or withholding to any relevant Governmental Authority, Borrower shall deliver to Lender satisfactory evidence of such deduction, withholding or payment (as the case may be).

(d) If, as a result of any Regulatory Change, any reserve, special deposit or similar requirements relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with, Lender or any holder of all or a portion of the Loan is imposed, modified or deemed applicable

 

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and the result is to increase the cost to such Lender or such holder of making or holding the Loan, or to reduce the amount receivable by Lender or such holder hereunder in respect of any portion of the Loan by an amount deemed by Lender or such holder to be material (such increases in cost and reductions in amounts receivable, but excluding any reserve requirement that is reflected in LIBOR, “ Increased Costs ”), then Borrower agrees that it will pay to Lender or such holder upon Lender’s or such holder’s request such additional amount or amounts as will compensate Lender and/or such holder for such Increased Costs to the extent that such Increased Costs are reasonably allocable to the Loan. Lender will notify Borrower in writing of any event occurring after the Closing Date that will entitle Lender or any holder of the Loan to compensation pursuant to this Section as promptly as practicable after it obtains knowledge thereof and determines to request such compensation. If such Lender shall fail to notify Borrower of any such event within nine months following the end of the month during which such event occurred, then Borrower’s liability for any amounts described in this Section incurred by such Lender as a result of such event shall be limited to those attributable to the period occurring subsequent to the date that is nine months prior to the date upon which such Lender actually notified Borrower of the occurrence of such event. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1.4 to the contrary, in no event shall Borrower be required to compensate Lender or any holder of the Loan for any Inapplicable Taxes or for any portion of the income or franchise taxes of Lender or such holder, whether or not attributable to payments made by Borrower. If a Lender requests compensation under this Section, Borrower may, by notice to Lender, require that such Lender furnish to Borrower a statement setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such compensation and the method for determining the amount thereof.

Section 1.5 Interest Rate Cap Agreements .

(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, Borrower shall obtain, and thereafter maintain in effect, an Interest Rate Cap Agreement, which shall be coterminous with the initial term of the Loan and have a notional amount equal to the Loan Amount. Any initial Interest Rate Cap Agreement shall have a strike rate equal to or less than the Strike Rate.

(b) If Borrower exercises any of its options to extend the term of the Loan pursuant to Section 1.1(d) , on or prior to the commencement of the applicable Extension Term, Borrower shall obtain, and thereafter maintain in effect, an Interest Rate Cap Agreement having (x) a term coterminous with such Extension Term, (y) a notional amount at least equal to the Principal Indebtedness as of the first day of such Extension Term, and (z) a strike rate equal to or less than the Strike Rate.

(c) Borrower shall collaterally assign to Lender pursuant to an Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement all of its right, title and interest in any and all payments under each Interest Rate Cap Agreement and shall deliver to Lender an executed counterpart of such Interest Rate Cap Agreement and obtain the consent of the Acceptable Counterparty to such collateral assignment (as evidenced by the Acceptable Counterparty’s execution of such Collateral Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement).

(d) Borrower shall comply, in all material respects, with all of Borrower’s obligations under the terms and provisions of each Interest Rate Cap Agreement. All amounts paid under an Interest Rate Cap Agreement shall be deposited directly into the Cash

 

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Management Account. Borrower shall take all actions reasonably requested by Lender to enforce Lender’s rights under the Interest Rate Cap Agreement in the event of a default by the counterparty thereunder and shall not waive, amend or otherwise modify any of its rights thereunder without Lender’s consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld).

(e) If, at any time during the term of the Loan, the counterparty to the Interest Rate Cap Agreement then in effect ceases to be an Acceptable Counterparty and thereafter fails to abide by the requirements set forth in such Interest Rate Cap Agreement with respect to ratings downgrades, then Borrower shall promptly after notice from Lender demanding such replacement, obtain a replacement Interest Rate Cap Agreement satisfying the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) or (b) above, as applicable, with a counterparty that is an Acceptable Counterparty.

(f) At Closing and at any time that Borrower obtains a replacement Interest Rate Cap Agreement pursuant to this Section, Borrower shall deliver to Lender a customary legal opinion or opinions from counsel to the applicable Acceptable Counterparty (which counsel may be internal counsel) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Section 1.6 Release . Upon payment of the Indebtedness in full when permitted or required hereunder, Lender shall execute instruments prepared by Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to Lender, which, at Borrower’s election and at Borrower’s sole cost and expense either (a) release and discharge all Liens on all Collateral or the JV Collateral securing payment of the Indebtedness (subject to Borrower’s obligation to pay any associated fees and expenses), including all balances in the Collateral Accounts; or (b) assign such Liens (and the Loan Documents) to a new lender designated by Borrower. Any release or assignment provided by Lender pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse, representation or warranty of any kind, except for, solely to the extent required by the applicable assignee, customary representations and warranties by Lender as to Lender’s due authorization, execution and delivery of the assignment and Lender’s ownership of the Lien and any assigned Loan Documents free and clear of any Liens or prior assignments, in each case, granted by Lender. In addition, upon payment of the Indebtedness in full when permitted or required hereunder, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, Lender shall execute and deliver Lender’s written consent to the rescission of the Tenant Notices required pursuant to Section 3.1(a) .

Section 1.7 Advances .

(a) On the Closing Date, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender shall advance the Initial Advance to Borrower.

(b) During the Future Advance Availability Period, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein and except as provided in Section 1.7(c) , the Future Advance Amount will be available to Borrower solely to fund Approved Redevelopment Costs, and shall be funded to Borrower on the Funding Date specified in the Funding Request. From time to time, Borrower may submit a Funding Request to Lender specifying the amount to be advanced (each, a “ Future Advance ”) and a date (each, a “ Funding Date ”) not less than 15 days nor more than 30 days after Lender’s receipt of such Funding Request on which Borrower would like such advance to be made, which Funding Request shall be subject to Lender’s review and approval

 

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(such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that Borrower shall not be entitled to more than one advance of the Future Advance Amount during any calendar month (it being understood that any individual Future Advance may, if the applicable conditions are satisfied, include funds for multiple Redevelopment Projects). The Future Advance Lenders shall advance from the Future Advance Amount on each applicable Funding Date to the Operating Account, the applicable Approved Redevelopment Pro Rata Share of the Approved Redevelopment Costs set forth in such Funding Request, subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on or prior to the applicable Funding Date:

(i) no monetary Default, material non-monetary Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(ii) prior to the initial Funding Request with respect to a Redevelopment Project, Borrower shall have satisfied the conditions set forth in Section 5.22(b) ;

(iii) prior to each Funding Request with respect to a Redevelopment Project, Borrower shall have satisfied the conditions set forth in Section 5.22(c) ; and

(iv) prior to the final Funding Request with respect to a Redevelopment Project, Borrower shall have satisfied the condition set forth in the first sentence of Section 5.22(f).

(c) Regardless of whether or not the Borrower shall have given Lender any direction as to the party to whom any advance shall be disbursed, during the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may make any advance or portion thereof (up to the amount provided to be paid to the applicable Person in the Funding Request) directly to any Person due payment in connection with a Funding Request, and the execution of this Agreement by Borrower constitutes an irrevocable direction and authorization to so advance during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the election of Lender. No further direction or authorization from Borrower shall be necessary to make such direct advances to each such other Person, and all such direct advances shall satisfy the obligations of Lender under this Agreement and shall be and become a part of the Principal Indebtedness as fully as if made directly to Borrower, regardless of the disposition thereof by such Person.

(d) No advance shall constitute an approval or acceptance by Lender of any construction work, a waiver of any condition precedent to any further advance, or preclude Lender from thereafter requiring the Borrower to satisfy such condition precedent which was not waived in accordance with the terms hereof. No waiver by Lender of any condition precedent or obligation shall preclude Lender from requiring such condition or obligation to be met prior to making any other advance or from thereafter declaring the failure to satisfy such condition or obligation to be a Default.

(e) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon Borrower’s written request at any time during the last 120 days of the Future Advance Availability Period, Future Advance Lender shall, on the last Business Day in the Future Advance Availability Period, advance from the Future Advance Amount into the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account the entire then undrawn portion of the Future Advance Amount or such lesser amount as Borrower shall specify in such written request.

 

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(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Initial Advance Lender shall have no obligation hereunder to make any Future Advances, it being acknowledged by Borrower that the obligation to make any Future Advance shall solely be the obligation of each Future Advance Lender (on a several basis). In the event that any Future Advance Lender defaults (in each case, a “ Defaulting Lender ”) in its obligation to fund (a “ Funding Default ”) any Future Advance following satisfaction by the Borrower of the conditions precedent described in this Section 1.7 , no rights or obligations of the Initial Advance Lender or any other Lender shall be increased or otherwise affected, and performance by the Borrower and the JV Pledgors of their respective obligations hereunder and the other Loan Documents shall not be excused or otherwise modified as a result of any Funding Default (Borrower hereby expressly agreeing that it waives any right of set-off or similar rights with respect to any Funding Default). In furtherance of the foregoing, Borrower agrees that no claim may be made by Borrower or any other Person claiming by or through Borrower against Initial Advance Lender, any non-defaulting Future Advance Lender or the directors, officers, employees, attorneys or agents (including Servicer and any other servicer or trustee in connection with a Securitization) of the Initial Advance Lender or any non-defaulting Future Advance Lender for any damages of any nature whatsoever in respect of any claim whatsoever for a Funding Default by a Defaulting Lender, and Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees to hold harmless the Initial Advance Lender and any non-defaulting Future Advance Lender or the directors, officers, employees, attorneys or agents (including Servicer or any other servicer or trustee in connection with a Securitization of Note A-1) with respect to any claim for any such damages. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 1.7(f) , each of Borrower and the other Lenders shall have such rights and remedies against a Defaulting Lender as may be available under applicable law.

(g) In the event that any Future Advance Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Future Advance, Borrower may deliver a written notice to such Defaulting Lender requesting that such Defaulting Lender fund such Future Advance in accordance with the terms hereunder (“ Defaulting Advance Notice ”). If such Defaulting Lender shall fail to fund such Future Advance within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such Defaulting Advance Notice, Borrower shall have the right to replace such Defaulting Lender (the “ Terminated Lender ”); provided , that (i) Borrower shall have delivered a copy of the applicable Defaulting Advance Notice to each Future Advance Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender (each a “ Non-Defaulting Lender ”) and no Non-Defaulting Lender (or a Qualified Institutional Lender designated by a Non-Defaulting Lender) shall within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of such Defaulting Advance Notice (the “ Non-Defaulting Lender Cure Period ”) elect to fund such Future Advance; (ii) Borrower shall, following the expiration of the Non-Defaulting Lender Cure Period, deliver written notice to such Terminated Lender and each other Future Advance Lender of the termination of the Terminated Lender and the appointment of a Replacement Lender (as defined below) (“ Replacement Lender Notice ”); (iii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement; (iv) the entity(ies) appointed to replace the Terminated Lender shall be one or more Qualified Institutional Lenders (or another institution acceptable to Lenders) designated by the Borrower that is not an Affiliate of Borrower (each a “Replacement Lender”); (v) such replacement shall not conflict with any Legal Requirements; (vi) within ten (10) Business Days of delivery of such Replacement Lender Notice, such Replacement Lender shall purchase, at par, the outstanding principal balance of, and all accrued and unpaid interest through the assignment date on, all outstanding A-2 Notes of the Terminated Lender, and shall assume such Defaulting Lender’s ratable share of the unfunded Future Advance Amount and such Defaulting Lender’s other rights and obligations under the Loan Documents and any co-lender agreements among the Future Advance Lenders (from and after the date of such assignment); and (vii) on the date of such assignment, the Borrower shall pay all amounts, if any, payable to such Terminated Lender pursuant to Section 1.4 . Upon the payment to Terminated Lender of the amounts described in clauses (vi) and (vii) above, such Terminated Lender shall no longer constitute a “ Lender ” for purposes hereof; provided that any rights of such Terminated Lender to any provisions stated to survive repayment of the Loan, including any indemnifications under the Loan Documents, shall survive as to such Terminated Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the replacement of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this paragraph, nor anything else contained in this Section 1.7(g) shall waive any rights and remedies that Borrower may have at law or in equity against any Defaulting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any Future Advance Lender that does not fund a Future Advance because it has determined in good faith that the conditions precedents set forth in Section 1.7(b) have not been satisfied in accordance with the terms hereunder shall not be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Initial Advance Lender and any directors, officers, employees, attorneys or agents (including Servicer and any other servicer or trustee in connection with a Securitization) of the Initial Advance Lender shall not have any liabilities or obligations arising pursuant to this Section 1.7(g) .

ARTICLE 2

VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT; RELEASE; TRANSFERS

Section 2.1 Voluntary Prepayment .

(a) Borrower shall be prohibited from prepaying the Loan, in whole or in part, during the Lockout Period except in connection with (i) the application of Loss Proceeds following a Casualty or Condemnation with respect to a Property in accordance with Section 5.16 or (ii) in connection with the release of one or more Properties in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 . After the expiration of the Lockout Period, Borrower shall have the right, at its option, upon not less than 5 Business Days’ prior written notice to Lender (or such other notice period as specified), to prepay the Loan in whole or, to the extent provided in Section 1.1(d)(iii) , Section 2.1(b) , Section 2.1(c) , Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 in part; provided that (x) Borrower shall pay to Lender simultaneously with such prepayment the applicable Spread Maintenance Premium, if any, (y) there is a simultaneous and pro rata prepayment of the Mezzanine Loan with the result that, after giving effect to such prepayments, the Loan Pro Rata Share remains unchanged and (z) each prepayment of the Loan shall be accompanied by the amount of interest theretofore accrued but unpaid in respect of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount so prepaid had it

 

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remained outstanding through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made. Borrower’s notice of prepayment may be rescinded with one (1) Business Days’ written notice by Borrower to Lender (subject to payment of any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by Lender, including breakage costs actually incurred by Lender, resulting from such rescission).

(b) After the expiration of the Lockout Period, on not less than 15 Business Days’ prior written notice to Lender, and without limitation of Borrower’s right pursuant to Section 2.1(e) to prepay, in whole or in part, on or after the initial Maturity Date, Borrower may prepay up to 50% of the Loan Amount in part (not in connection with the release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 ), subject to payment of Spread Maintenance Premium through and including the applicable Spread Maintenance Expiration Date; provided that (i) any prepayments of the Loan made pursuant to Section 2.1(c) , Section 2.2 , Section 2.3 shall reduce on a dollar-for-dollar basis the foregoing 50% threshold and (ii) any prepayments of the Loan made in accordance with this Agreement (not in connection with the release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 and other than Excluded Prepayments) in excess of 5% of the Loan Amount shall reduce on a dollar-for-dollar basis (but without duplication of such reduction) the Property Release Threshold and/or the JV Release Threshold, as may be elected by Borrower in its sole discretion in the applicable prepayment notice delivered in accordance with Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(b) , as applicable.

(c) If the Debt Yield is less than the applicable 11.0% as of the end of any Test Period at any time, Borrower shall be permitted to (but not obligated to) prepay a portion of the Loan (together with a simultaneous pro rata prepayment by Mezzanine Borrower of the Mezzanine Loan) in the amount required to cause the Debt Yield to equal 11.0%, which prepayment shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount so prepaid through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made plus Spread Maintenance Premium through and including the applicable Spread Maintenance Expiration Date.

(d) [Intentionally Omitted]

(e) Other than as permitted by Section 1.1(d)(iii) , Section 2.1(b) , Section 2.1(c) , Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 and in connection with the application of Loss Proceeds following a Casualty or Condemnation with respect to a Property in accordance with Section 5.16 , no partial prepayments of the Loan shall be permitted prior to the initial Maturity Date. On or after the initial Maturity Date, the Loan may be prepaid in whole or in party at any time without penalty or premium, but otherwise subject to the provisions of Section 2.1(a) .

Section 2.2 Property Releases .

(a) Provided no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall have the right to obtain one or more times during the term of the Loan a release or assignment of the lien of the applicable Mortgage (and related Loan Documents)

 

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as to any of the Properties (the “ Release Property ”) upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(i) not less than 10 Business Days, nor more than 90 days, prior to the date on which the Borrower proposes a release or assignment (including under this Section 2.2 or under Section 2.3 ) to occur (each, a “ Release Date ”), Borrower shall provide to Lender a notice specifying the proposed Release Date, which notice shall be revocable without penalty by Borrower at any time on or prior to the Release Date (subject to payment by Borrower of any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including breakage costs, actually incurred by Lender in connection with such revocation); provided that Borrower shall have the right to adjourn the Release Date for a period of up to 60 days by delivering notice of such adjournment to Lender on or prior to the then-scheduled Release Date;

(ii) such release or assignment shall be in connection with a bona fide sale of the Release Property to a third party that is not a Broad Affiliate of Borrower, Guarantor or SHLD for cash consideration (i.e., no seller financing) and on arm’s-length terms;

(iii) after giving effect to such release, the aggregate principal amount of the Loan prepaid in connection with release of Properties pursuant to this Section 2.2 will not exceed the Property Release Threshold;

(iv) (A) Borrower shall make a principal payment to be applied against the principal balance of the Loan in accordance with Section 2.1 in an aggregate amount equal to the applicable Release Price, together with the amount of interest theretofore accrued but unpaid in respect of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount so prepaid had it remained outstanding through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made and, if applicable, the Spread Maintenance Premium and (B) Mezzanine Borrower shall make a principal payment to be applied against the principal balance of the Mezzanine Loan in an aggregate amount equal to the Mezzanine Loan Release Price, together with any other amounts then due and payable under the Mezzanine Loan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrower may, with respect to any Release Property, deposit a portion of the Net Sales Proceeds thereof in excess of 150% of the Allocated Loan Amount of such Release Property into the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account or the TI/LC Reserve Account (any such Net Sales Proceeds so deposited, “ Designated Net Sales Proceeds ”); provided that (1) the aggregate amount of the Designated Net Sales Proceeds deposited pursuant to this sentence shall not exceed $75,000,000 during the life of the Loan and (ii) not more than $50,000,000 in the aggregate of such Net Sales Proceeds shall remain in the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account and/or the TI/LC Reserve Account at any one time.

(v) Borrower shall have complied in all material respects with all requirements of and obtained all approvals, if any, required under any Ground Leases, Leases (including the SHLD Master Lease) and/or Material Agreements applicable to the release or assignment of the Release Property, and the release shall not violate any of the provisions of any of the foregoing (except to the extent such provisions have been waived or otherwise amended in such a manner that Borrower is no longer in violation thereof), and except as to all of the foregoing, if any non-compliance or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(vi) Lender shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Mezzanine Borrower shall have satisfied all of the conditions to the proposed release set forth in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement (including written confirmation from the Mezzanine Lender that satisfactory escrow arrangements in connection with the release of such Property have been established) and Mezzanine Lender shall have simultaneously effected a release under the Mezzanine Loan Documents of the Release Property; and

(vii) if the Loan has been Securitized and the Securitization Vehicle is a REMIC, after giving effect to the release of the Release Property, the Lender 80% Determination shall have been satisfied or, if the same is not so satisfied, then Borrower shall have prepaid the Loan in an amount equal to the lesser of (x) the fair market value of the Release Property so released (as determined by Lender in its reasonable discretion using any commercially reasonable method permitted to a REMIC and excluding the value attributable to any property that is not an interest in real property within the meaning of Section 860(G)(a)(3)(A) of the Code) and (y) the amount necessary to obtain a Lender 80% Determination, it being agreed that Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Lender 80% Determination not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Release Date;

(viii) if the Loan has been Securitized and the Securitization Vehicle is a REMIC, Borrower shall deliver to Lender an opinion of counsel in form and substance which would be acceptable to a prudent lender of securitized commercial mortgage loans acting reasonably, stating, among other things, (subject to customary assumptions of fact) that any REMIC Trust formed pursuant to a Securitization will not fail to maintain its status as a REMIC as a result of such release and will not be subject to tax on any “prohibited transactions” or “prohibited contributions” as a result of such release;

(ix) Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the requirements set forth in this Section 2.2 (except as to clause (viii)  above) have been satisfied; and

(x) provided that Lender shall have delivered to Borrower reasonably detailed invoices therefor not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Release Date (but without limiting Borrower’s obligations to pay such costs and expenses), Borrower shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Lender actually incurred in connection with the release of the Release Property, including without limitation Lender’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.

(b) In connection with a release or assignment of the Release Property in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(a) , Borrower shall submit to Lender, not less than three Business Days prior to the Release Date, a release or assignment of Lien (and related Loan Documents) for execution by the Lender with respect to the Release Property. Such release or assignment shall be in a form appropriate in the jurisdiction in which the Release Property is located and shall comply with the provisions of Section 1.6 . In addition, Borrower shall promptly deliver to Lender such other documentation as Lender may reasonably request in connection with such release or assignment. In connection with such property release, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, Lender shall execute and deliver Lender’s written consent to the rescission of the Tenant Notices required pursuant to Section 3.1(a) .

 

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(c) In connection with a release or assignment of the Release Property in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(a) , at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, Lender shall reasonably cooperate with Borrower to structure such release or assignment in a manner requested by Borrower (including interim transfers to a Release Entity) provided the same does not impair Lender’s remaining Collateral, the continued validity of any of the Loan Documents or result in a waiver of any of the requirements of Section 2.2(a) or any of Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

Section 2.3 JV Releases .

(a) Provided no monetary Default, material non-monetary Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall have the right to obtain one or more times during the term of the Loan a release or assignment of the lien of the applicable Mortgage (and related Loan Documents) as to any of the Properties (the “ JV Release Property ”) upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(i) not less than 15 Business Days, nor more than 90 days, prior to the Release Date, Borrower shall provide to Lender a notice specifying the proposed Release Date, which notice shall be revocable without penalty by Borrower at any time on or prior to the Release Date (subject to payment by Borrower of any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by Lender in connection with the release); provided that Borrower shall have the right to adjourn the Release Date for a period of up to 60 days by delivering notice of such adjournment to Lender on or prior to the then-scheduled Release Date;

(ii) such release or assignment shall be in connection with a bona fide transfer of the JV Release Property to a joint venture (a “ Permitted JV ”) between a Single-Purpose Entity wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by Seritage OP (the “ Seritage JV Member ”) and a third party that is not a Broad Affiliate of Borrower, Guarantor or SHLD (a “ Permitted JV Member ”);

(iii) after giving effect to such release, the aggregate principal amount of the Loan prepaid in connection with release of Properties pursuant to this Section 2.3 will not exceed the JV Release Threshold;

(iv) (A) Borrower shall make a principal payment to be applied against the principal balance of the Loan in accordance with Section 2.1 in an aggregate amount equal to the applicable Release Price, together with the amount of interest theretofore accrued but unpaid in respect of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount so prepaid had it remained outstanding through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made and, if applicable, the Spread Maintenance Premium and (B) Mezzanine Borrower shall make a principal payment to be applied against the principal balance of the Mezzanine Loan in an aggregate amount equal to the Mezzanine Loan Release Price, together with any other amounts then due and payable under the Mezzanine Loan;

 

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(v) Borrower shall have complied in all material respects with all requirements of and obtained all approvals, if any, required under any Ground Leases, Leases, the SHLD Master Lease and/or Material Agreements applicable to the release or assignment of the JV Release Property, and the release shall not violate any of the provisions of any of the foregoing (except to the extent such provisions have been waived or otherwise amended in such a manner that Borrower is no longer in violation thereof), and except as to all of the foregoing, if any non-compliance or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect;

(vi) not less than ten (10) Business Days’ prior to the expected Release Date, Borrower shall have delivered to Lender true and correct copies of all related Permitted JV Documents, which Permitted JV Documents shall expressly permit the direct or indirect pledge to Lender of, and during the continuance of an Event of Default the foreclosure on or assignment-in-lieu of foreclosure of, the related Permitted JV Collateral;

(vii) (A) 100% of the equity interests held by the Seritage JV Member shall be pledged to Lender as additional collateral for the Loan pursuant to a Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement; provided , that if, notwithstanding Borrower’s good faith, commercially reasonable efforts to obtain consent to such direct pledge from the applicable Permitted JV Member, such direct pledge is not permitted under the Permitted JV Documents, then 100% of the equity interests in the Seritage JV Member shall be pledged to Lender as additional collateral for the Loan and the Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement shall be modified to reflect the indirect (rather than direct) pledge to Lender and (B) Seritage JV Member shall have delivered to Lender such organizational documents and opinions (including with respect to authority, enforceability and, if required by the Rating Agencies, non-consolidation) in substantially the same forms as delivered by the JV Pledgors on the Closing Date;

(viii) the Permitted JV Member shall have sufficient expertise and experience in the development, ownership and operation of similar properties, as reasonably determined by Lender;

(ix) Lender shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Mezzanine Borrower shall have satisfied all of the conditions to the proposed release set forth in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement (including written confirmation from the Mezzanine Lender that satisfactory escrow arrangements in connection with the release of such Property have been established) and Mezzanine Lender shall have simultaneously effected a release under the Mezzanine Loan Documents of the JV Release Property;

(x) if the Loan has been Securitized and the Securitization Vehicle is a REMIC, after giving effect to the release of the Release Property, the Lender 80% Determination shall have been satisfied or, if the same is not so satisfied, then Borrower shall have prepaid the Loan in an amount equal to the lesser of (x) the fair market value

 

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of the Release Property so released (as determined by Lender in its reasonable discretion using any commercially reasonable method permitted to a REMIC and excluding the value attributable to any property that is not an interest in real property within the meaning of Section 860(G)(a)(3)(A) of the Code) and (y) the amount necessary to obtain a Lender 80% Determination, it being agreed that Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Lender 80% Determination not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Release Date;

(xi) if the Loan has been Securitized and the Securitization Vehicle is a REMIC, Borrower shall deliver to Lender an opinion of counsel in form and substance which would be acceptable to a prudent lender of securitized commercial mortgage loans acting reasonably, stating, among other things, (subject to customary assumptions of fact) that any REMIC Trust formed pursuant to a Securitization will not fail to maintain its status as a REMIC as a result of such release and will not be subject to tax on any “prohibited transactions” or “prohibited contributions” as a result of such release;

(xii) Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the requirements set forth in this Section 2.3 (except as to clause (xi)  above) have been satisfied; and

(xiii) provided that Lender shall have delivered to Borrower reasonably detailed invoices therefor not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Release Date (but without limiting Borrower’s obligations to pay such costs and expenses), Borrower shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Lender actually incurred in connection with the release of the JV Release Property, including without limitation Lender’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.

(b) In connection with a release or assignment of the JV Release Property in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3(a) , Borrower shall submit to Lender, not less than five Business Days prior to the Release Date, a release or assignment of Lien (and related Loan Documents) for execution by the Lender with respect to the JV Release Property. Such release or assignment shall be in a form appropriate in the jurisdiction in which the JV Release Property is located and shall comply with the provisions of Section 1.6 . Borrower shall promptly deliver to Lender such other documentation as Lender may reasonably request in connection with such release or assignment. In connection with such property release, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, Lender shall execute and deliver Lender’s written consent to the rescission of the Tenant Notices required pursuant to Section 3.1(a) .

(c) In connection with a release or assignment of the JV Release Property in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3(a) , at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, Lender shall reasonably cooperate with Borrower to structure such release or assignment in a manner requested by Borrower (including interim transfers to a Release Entity) provided the same does not impair Lender’s remaining Collateral, the continued validity of any of the Loan Documents or result in a waiver of any of the requirements of Section 2.3(a) or any of Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

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Section 2.4 Transfers of Equity Interests in Borrower .

(a) No direct or indirect Equity Interests in a Restricted Party shall be Transferred to any Person, unless the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) no Event of Default shall be continuing at the time of such conveyance or transfer;

(ii) no Prohibited Change of Control or Prohibited Pledge shall occur as a result thereof, and such Person shall not be a Prohibited Transferee;

(iii) if such conveyance or transfer results in any Person acquiring more than 49% of the direct or indirect equity interest in any Required SPE (even if not constituting a Prohibited Change of Control), Borrower shall have delivered to Lender with respect to such Person an Additional Non-Consolidation Opinion;

(iv) provided that Lender shall have delivered to Borrower reasonably detailed invoices therefor not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the applicable Transfer (but without limiting Borrower’s obligations to pay such costs and expenses), Borrower shall have paid the costs and expenses (if any) of the Rating Agencies and Servicer and reimbursed Lender for its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred in connection with any such conveyance or transfer;

(v) Lender shall have received 10 days advance written notice of such Transfer;

(vi) Lender shall have received copies of all instruments effecting such proposed Transfer (which instruments are subject to Lender’s reasonable approval) and any other information that Lender may reasonably request in connection with the proposed Transfer;

(vii) to the extent any transferee shall own twenty percent (20%) or more of the direct or indirect ownership interests in Borrower or JV Pledgor immediately following such Transfer (provided such transferee owned less than twenty percent (20%) of the direct or indirect ownership interests in Borrower or JV Pledgor as of the Closing Date), Borrower shall deliver (and Borrower shall be responsible for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection therewith) all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act which shall include customary searches reasonably requested by Lender in writing (which may include, without limitation, credit, judgment, lien, litigation, bankruptcy, criminal and watch list searches) reasonably acceptable to Lender with respect to such transferee; and

(viii) Lender shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Mezzanine Borrower shall have satisfied all of the conditions to the proposed Transfer set forth in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.

(b) A Transfer shall include, but not be limited to, (i) if a Restricted Party is a corporation, any merger, consolidation or sale or pledge of such corporation’s stock or the

 

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creation or issuance of new stock; (ii) if a Restricted Party is a limited or general partnership or joint venture, any merger or consolidation or the change, removal, resignation or addition of a general partner or the sale or pledge of the partnership interest of any general partner or any profits or proceeds relating to such partnership interest, or the sale or pledge of limited partnership interests or any profits or proceeds relating to such limited partnership interest or the creation or issuance of new limited partnership interests; (iii) if a Restricted Party is a limited liability company, any merger or consolidation or the change, removal, resignation or addition of a managing member or non-member manager (or if no managing member, any member) or the sale or pledge of the membership interest of a managing member (or if no managing member, any member) or any profits or proceeds relating to such membership interest, or the sale or pledge of non-managing membership interests or the creation or issuance of new non-managing membership interests; or (iv) if a Restricted Party is a trust or nominee trust, any merger, consolidation or the sale or pledge of the legal or beneficial interest in such Restricted Party or the creation or issuance of new legal or beneficial interests.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i)  Section 2.4(a) shall not apply to Transfers of Equity Interests in Seritage OP unless the Transfer constitutes (A) a Prohibited Change of Control, (B) a Prohibited Pledge or (C) a Transfer to which Section 2.4(a)(iii) or (vii)  applies and (ii) Transfers of Equity Interests in Seritage REIT that are traded on a nationally-recognized public stock exchange shall not constitute a Transfer for any purposes of this Section 2.4 so long as such Transfer does not result in a Prohibited Change of Control.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, so long as no Event of Default exists, the Transfer, but not pledge, of any JV Interests (or any direct or indirect Equity Interests in JV Pledgor) to any Person (other than an Affiliate or a Embargoed Person) solely for cash consideration shall be permitted at any time upon not less than 10 Business Days’ prior notice to Lender, and, subject to compliance by JV Pledgor with the provisions of Section 5.24(a) , Lender shall release its Lien on the JV Interests being Transferred, on the date of such Transfer, subject to the terms of the applicable JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, following the Loan Closing, Lender agrees that all of the indirect Equity Interests in each of Borrower and JV Pledgor may be Transferred to Seritage OP in accordance with the SHLD PSA (the “ Separation Transfer ”) in connection with consummation of the Approved Separation Transaction Closing; provided that the following conditions (to the extent not already satisfied in connection with the Loan Closing) shall have been satisfied simultaneously or immediately thereafter, as the case may be (or waived in accordance with Section 9.3 ):

(i) Transfer of Additional Properties and Simon JV Interests . Immediately following the Approved Separation Transaction Closing (A) the Borrower shall have purchased the Additional Properties and (B) the Simon JV Pledgor shall have purchased the Simon JV Interests, in each case, in accordance with the SHLD PSA.

(ii) Loan Documents . (A) Borrower shall have duly executed and delivered to Lender a Mortgage with respect to each Additional Property, (B) Simon JV Pledgor shall have duly executed and delivered the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement and (C) each of Seritage REIT and Seritage OP shall have duly executed and delivered to Lender, the Guaranty.

 

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(iii) Approved Management Agreements . Lender shall have received duly executed copies of each Approved Management Agreement, the SHLD TSA and the Subordination of Property Management Agreement, and each of Seritage Management LLC and SHMC shall have duly executed and delivered the related Subordination of Management Agreement.

(iv) Opinions . Lender shall have received, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, (i) a New York legal opinion with respect to the Guaranty and the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement, (ii) a Maryland law opinion with respect to the Seritage REIT, (iii) a Delaware law opinion with respect to the Borrower, JV Pledgor and Seritage OP, (iv) a legal opinion with respect to the laws of each state in which the Additional Properties are located and (v) a bankruptcy nonconsolidation opinion with respect to each Person owning at least a 49% direct or indirect equity interest in any Required SPE, and any Affiliated property manager.

(v) Mezzanine Loan . The conditions precedent to Separation Transfer in the Mezzanine Loan Agreement shall be satisfied.

(vi) Title . Lender shall have received a marked, signed commitment to issue, or a signed pro-forma version of, a Title Insurance Policy in respect of each Additional Property, listing only such exceptions as are reasonably satisfactory to Lender. If the Title Policy is to be issued by, or if disbursement of the proceeds of the Loan are to be made through, an agent of the actual insurer under the Title Policy (as opposed to the insurer itself), the actual insurer shall have issued to Lender for Lender’s benefit a so-called “Insured Closing Letter.”

ARTICLE 3

ACCOUNTS

Section 3.1 Cash Management Account .

(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, Borrower shall establish and thereafter maintain with the Clearing Account Bank one or more accounts (including, as to payments by check, a lockbox account) into which all Revenues from the Properties will be deposited (collectively, the “ Clearing Account”). As a condition precedent to the closing of the Loan, Borrower shall cause the Clearing Account Bank to execute and deliver an agreement (as modified or replaced in accordance herewith, a “ Clearing Account Agreement ”) which provides, inter alia , that neither Borrower nor any Approved Property Manager shall have access to funds in the Clearing Account and that at the end of each Business Day the Clearing Account Bank will remit all amounts contained therein directly into an Eligible Account of the Borrower specified from time to time by Lender (the “ Cash Management Account ”). Within ten Business Days following the Closing Date, Borrower shall deliver to each Tenant in the Properties a written notice (a “ Tenant Notice ”) in the form of Exhibit B instructing that (i) all payments under

 

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the Leases shall thereafter be remitted by them directly to, and deposited directly into, the Clearing Account, and (ii) such instruction may not be rescinded unless and until such Tenant receives from Borrower or Lender a copy of Lender’s written consent to such rescission; provided that the Tenant Notice with respect to the SHLD Master Tenant, the Tenant under the Lands’ End Lease and each Tenant under an Affiliate Lease shall be delivered on the Closing Date. Borrower shall send a copy of each such written notice to Lender and shall redeliver such notices to each Tenant until such time as such Tenant complies therewith. Borrower shall cause all cash Revenues relating to the Properties and all other money received by Borrower or the Approved Property Manager with respect to the Properties (other than tenant security deposits required to be held in escrow accounts) to be deposited in the Clearing Account or the Cash Management Account by the end of the second Business Day following Borrower having actual knowledge of Borrower’s or the Approved Property Manager’s receipt thereof.

(b) Lender shall have the right at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion to change the Eligible Institution at which any one or more of the Collateral Accounts (other than the Clearing Account) is maintained (and in the case of any such change in respect of the Cash Management Account, Lender shall deliver not less than five Business Days’ prior written notice to Borrower and the Clearing Account Bank). In addition, during the continuance of an Event of Default, or if the Clearing Account Bank fails to comply with the Clearing Account Agreement or ceases to be an Eligible Institution, Lender shall have the right at any time, upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to Borrower, to replace the Clearing Account Bank with any Eligible Institution at which Eligible Accounts may be maintained that will promptly execute and deliver to Lender a Clearing Account Agreement satisfactory to Lender.

(c) Borrower shall maintain at all times an Operating Account into which amounts may be deposited from time to time pursuant to Section 3.2(a) and Section 3.2(b) . Borrower shall not permit any amounts unrelated to the Properties to be commingled with amounts on deposit in the Operating Account and shall cause all amounts payable with respect to Operating Expenses for the Properties to be paid from the Operating Account or the Cash Management Account (to the extent required or permitted hereunder) and no other account. Borrower shall deliver to Lender each month the monthly bank statement related to such Operating Account. So long as no Event of Default is continuing, Borrower and any Approved Property Manager shall be permitted to withdraw amounts from the Operating Account for the purpose of paying bona fide Property expenses incurred in accordance with this Agreement. So long as no Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is continuing, Borrower shall be permitted to make equity distributions from amounts remaining therein after Operating Expenses that are then due and payable have been paid. During the continuance of an Event of Default, all amounts contained in the Operating Account shall be remitted to the Cash Management Account.

Section 3.2 Distributions from Cash Management Account .

(a) Lender shall transfer from the Cash Management Account to the Operating Account, at the end of each Business Day (or, at Borrower’s election, on a less frequent basis), the amount, if any, by which amounts then contained in the Cash Management Account exceed the aggregate amount required to be paid to or reserved with Lender or Mezzanine Lender on the next Payment Date pursuant hereto; provided , however , that, subject to Section 3.2(b) , Lender shall terminate such remittances during the continuance of an Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period.

 

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(b) On each Payment Date, provided no Event of Default is continuing (and, if and to the extent Lender so elects in its sole discretion, during the continuance of an Event of Default until the Loan has been accelerated), Lender shall transfer amounts from the Cash Management Account, to the extent available therein, to make the following payments in the following order of priority:

(i) to the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account, the amounts then required to be deposited therein pursuant to Section 3.4 ;

(ii) to Lender (i) for payment to Servicer, the Primary Servicing Fee and (ii) the amount of all scheduled or delinquent interest and principal on the Loan and all other amounts, in each case, then due and payable under the Loan Documents (with any amounts in respect of principal paid last);

(iii) during the continuance of a Cash Flow Sweep Period, to the Operating Account, an amount equal to the Budgeted Operating Expenses for the month in which such Payment Date occurs; provided that the amounts disbursed to such account pursuant to this clause (iii) shall be used by Borrower solely to pay Budgeted Operating Expenses for such month (Borrower agreeing that, in the event that such Budgeted Operating Expenses exceed the actual operating expenses for such month, such excess amounts shall be remitted by Borrower to the Cash Management Account prior to the next succeeding Payment Date); and provided further that no amounts in excess of the Maximum Management Fees will be disbursed to Borrower in respect of the base property management fees of any Approved Property Manager that is an Affiliate of Borrower during the continuance of a Cash Flow Sweep Period or an Event of Default;

(iv) to the TI/LC Reserve Account, the amount required to be deposited therein pursuant to Section 3.5 ;

(v) to the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account, the amount required to be deposited therein pursuant to Section 3.6 ;

(vi) until Lender shall have received notice from Mezzanine Lender that the Mezzanine Loan has been repaid in full and provided that no Event of Default is then continuing, to Mezzanine Lender, the Mezzanine Loan Primary Servicing Fee and all scheduled interest then due and payable or past due and payable to Mezzanine Lender under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement, as specified by Mezzanine Lender pursuant to Mezzanine Lender’s written instructions to Lender;

(vii) during the continuance of a Cash Flow Sweep Period, with respect to ongoing Redevelopment Projects as of such date, to the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account, the aggregate amount of Approved Redevelopment Costs set forth in the applicable Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budgets that are budgeted to be funded from Excess Cash Flow;

 

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(viii) if Lender has received written notice from the Mezzanine Lender that a Mezzanine Loan Event of Default is continuing, so long as no Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default is continuing, all remaining amounts to Mezzanine Lender;

(ix) during the continuance of a Cash Flow Sweep Period or, if Lender makes the election described in Section 3.2(b) above, during the continuance of an Event of Default, all remaining amounts to the Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account;

(x) if no Cash Flow Sweep Period, Event of Default or Mezzanine Loan Event of Default is continuing, to Guarantor in reimbursement of any Completion Guaranty Payments or Mezzanine Loan Completion Guaranty Payments, in each case, made by Guarantor; and

(xi) if no Cash Flow Sweep Period, Event of Default or Mezzanine Loan Event of Default is continuing, all remaining amounts to the Operating Account.

(c) If on any Payment Date the amount in the Cash Management Account is insufficient to make all of the transfers described above (other than remittance of excess cash to the Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account or the Operating Account or any required remittance to Mezzanine Lender), then Borrower shall remit to the Cash Management Account on such Payment Date the amount of such deficiency. If Borrower fails to remit such amount to the Cash Management Account on such Payment Date, the same shall constitute an Event of Default and, in addition to all other rights and remedies provided for under the Loan Documents, Lender may disburse and apply the amounts in the Collateral Accounts in accordance with Section 3.12(c) .

(d) All transfers of Borrower’s funds from the Cash Management Account or other sources to or for the benefit of Mezzanine Lender or Mezzanine Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, the Cash Management Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, are intended by Borrower and Mezzanine Borrower to constitute, and shall constitute, distributions from Borrower to Mezzanine Borrower in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

(e) Lender may, absent manifest error, conclusively rely upon any notice received from Mezzanine Lender with respect to the amount then payable under the applicable Mezzanine Loan Agreement and with respect to the occurrence, continuance or termination of any Mezzanine Loan Event of Default. Lender shall be under no duty to inquire into or investigate the validity, accuracy or content of any such notice.

Section 3.3 Loss Proceeds Account .

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Material Casualty Event or a Material Condemnation Event, Lender will establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the purpose of depositing any Loss Proceeds (the “ Loss Proceeds Account ”).

(b) Provided no Event of Default is continuing, funds in the Loss Proceeds account shall be applied in accordance with Section 5.16 .

 

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Section 3.4 Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account .

(a) Lender will establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the purpose of reserving amounts payable by Borrower in respect of Taxes, Ground Rents and insurance premiums (the “ Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account ”).

(b) On the Closing Date, the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account shall be funded in an amount equal to the sum of (i) an amount sufficient to pay all Taxes by the 30 th day prior to the date they come due, assuming subsequent monthly fundings on Payment Dates of 1/12 of projected annual Taxes, plus (ii) an amount sufficient to pay all Ground Rents by the 30 th day prior to the date they come due, assuming subsequent monthly fundings on Payment Dates of 1/12 of projected annual Ground Rents, plus (iii) an amount sufficient to pay all insurance premiums by the 30 th day prior to the date they come due, assuming subsequent monthly fundings on Payment Dates of 1/12 of projected annual insurance premiums.

(c) On each subsequent Payment Date, an additional deposit shall be made therein in an amount equal to the sum of:

(i) 1/12 of the Taxes that Lender reasonably estimates, based on information provided by Borrower, will be payable during the next ensuing 12 months, plus

(ii) 1/12 of the Ground Rents that Lender reasonably estimates, based on information provided by Borrower, will be payable during the next ensuing 12 months, plus

(iii) 1/12 of the insurance premiums that Lender reasonably estimates, based on information provided by Borrower, will be payable during the next ensuing 12 months;

provided , however , that if at any time Lender reasonably determines that the amount in the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account will not be sufficient to accumulate (upon payment of subsequent monthly amounts in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement) the full amount of all installments of Taxes, Ground Rents and insurance premiums by the date on which such amounts come due, then Lender shall notify Borrower of such determination and Borrower shall increase its monthly payments to the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account by the amount that Lender reasonably estimates is sufficient to achieve such accumulation.

(d) Borrower shall provide Lender with copies of all tax, Ground Rents and insurance bills relating to the Properties promptly after Borrower’s receipt thereof. Lender will apply amounts in the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account toward the purposes for which such amounts are deposited therein. In connection with the making of any payment from the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account, Lender may cause such payment to be made according to any bill, statement or estimate provided by Borrower or procured from the appropriate public office, ground lessor or insurance carrier, without inquiry into the accuracy of such bill, statement or estimate or into the validity of any tax, assessment, sale, forfeiture, tax lien or title or claim thereof unless given written advance notice by Borrower of such inaccuracy, invalidity or other contest.

 

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(e) If Lender so elects at any time, Borrower shall provide, at Borrower’s expense, a tax service contract for the term of the Loan issued by a tax reporting agency reasonably acceptable to Lender. If Lender does not so elect, Borrower shall reimburse Lender for the actual, out-of-pocket cost of making annual tax searches throughout the term of the Loan.

Section 3.5 TI/LC Reserve Account .

(a) Lender will establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the purpose of reserving amounts in respect of Tenant Improvements and Leasing Commissions (the “ TI/LC Reserve Account ”).

(b) On each Payment Date, there shall be deposited into the TI/LC Reserve Account an amount equal to the Monthly TI/LC Amount (as reduced by the amount of any JV Profits deposited in the TI/LC Reserve Account in accordance with Section 5.24(a) in the prior calendar month).

(c) Upon the request of Borrower at any time that no Event of Default is continuing (but not more often than once per calendar month), Lender shall cause disbursements to Borrower from the TI/LC Reserve Account to pay, or to reimburse Borrower for, Leasing Commissions and Tenant Improvement costs incurred by Borrower in connection with a new Lease (or Lease extension) entered into in accordance herewith; provided that:

(i) Borrower shall deliver to Lender invoices evidencing that the costs for which such disbursements are requested are due and payable;

(ii) Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate confirming that all such costs have been previously paid by Borrower or will be paid from the proceeds of the requested disbursement and that all conditions precedent to such disbursement required by the Loan Documents have been satisfied; and

(iii) Lender may condition the making of a requested disbursement on (1) reasonable evidence establishing that Borrower has applied prior disbursements from the TI/LC Reserve Account for the related Property as provided in the related disbursement requests and (2) with respect to disbursements for Tenant Improvements relating to any single Tenant or any single Lease in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate (whether disbursed in a lump sum or multiple installments), (x) a reasonably satisfactory site inspection, and (y) receipt of partial or complete lien releases and waivers from any contractors, subcontractors and others with respect to such amounts.

(d) Whenever a Lease is terminated in whole or in part (including without limitation the SHLD Master Lease), whether by buy-out, cancellation, default or otherwise, and Borrower receives any payment, fee or penalty in respect of such termination (a “ Termination Fee ”), Borrower shall promptly cause such Termination Fee to be deposited into the TI/LC Reserve Account. Provided no Event of Default is continuing, Lender shall disburse such Termination Fee or portion thereof to Borrower at the written request of Borrower in respect of Leasing Commissions and Tenant Improvement costs incurred by Borrower in connection with one or more replacement or other Leases entered into in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Designated Net Sales Proceeds be released from the TI/LC Reserve Account until such time as the entirety of the Future Advance Amount shall have been drawn by Borrower.

Section 3.6 Capital Expenditure Reserve Account .

(a) Lender will establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the purpose of reserving amounts in respect of Capital Expenditures (the “ Capital Expenditure Reserve Account ”).

(b) On each Payment Date, there shall be deposited into the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account an amount equal to the Monthly Capital Expenditure Amount.

(c) Upon the request of Borrower at any time that no Event of Default is continuing (but not more often than once per calendar month), Lender shall cause disbursements to Borrower from the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account to pay, or to reimburse Borrower for, Capital Expenditures that are consistent with the Approved Annual Budget; provided that:

(i) Borrower shall deliver to Lender invoices evidencing that the costs for which such disbursements are requested are due and payable;

(ii) Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate confirming that all such costs have been previously paid by Borrower or will be paid from the proceeds of the requested disbursement and that all conditions precedent to such disbursement required by the Loan Documents have been satisfied; and

(iii) Lender may condition the making of a requested disbursement on (1) reasonable evidence establishing that Borrower has applied prior disbursements from the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account for the related Property as provided in the related disbursement requests and (2) with respect to disbursements for Capital Expenditures relating to any single capital improvement costing in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate (whether disbursed in a lump sum or multiple installments), (x) a reasonably satisfactory site inspection, and (y) receipt of partial or complete lien releases and waivers from any contractors, subcontractors and others with respect to such amounts .

Section 3.7 Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account .

(a) Lender will establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the purpose of reserving amounts anticipated to be required to correct Deferred Maintenance Conditions and Environmental Conditions (the “ Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account ”).

(b) On the Closing Date, Borrower shall deposit into the Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account an amount equal to the sum of the Deferred Maintenance Amount and the Environmental Reserve Amount.

 

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(c) Upon the request of Borrower at any time that no Event of Default is continuing (but not more often than once per calendar month), Lender shall cause disbursements to Borrower from the Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account to pay, or to reimburse Borrower for, reasonable costs and expenses incurred in order to correct Deferred Maintenance Conditions and Environmental Conditions; provided that:

(i) Borrower shall deliver to Lender invoices evidencing that the costs for which such disbursements are requested are due and payable;

(ii) Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate confirming that all such costs have been previously paid by Borrower or will be paid from the proceeds of the requested disbursement and that all conditions precedent to such disbursement required by the Loan Documents have been satisfied; and

(iii) Lender may condition the making of a requested disbursement on (1) reasonable evidence establishing that Borrower has applied prior disbursements from the Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account for the related Property as provided in the related disbursement requests and (2) with respect to disbursements for any single Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition costing in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate to remediate (whether disbursed in a lump sum or multiple installments), (x) reasonably satisfactory site inspections, and (y) receipt of partial or complete lien releases and waivers from any contractors, subcontractors and others with respect to such amounts.

(d) Upon the correcting of all Deferred Maintenance Conditions and Environmental Conditions and payment of all costs and expenses in respect thereof, provided no Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, any amounts then remaining in the Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account shall promptly be remitted to Borrower and the Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account will no longer be maintained.

Section 3.8 Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account .

(a) Lender will establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the deposit of amounts required to be deposited therein in accordance with Section 3.2(b) (the “ Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account ”).

(b) Provided that no Event of Default is then continuing, upon not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice from Borrower (but no more often than quarterly), Lender shall release to Borrower funds from the Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account in the Permitted Equity Distribution Amount with respect to such period; provided that Borrower shall include with such notice, an Officer’s Certificate that includes the following:

(i) a reasonably detailed calculation of (1) REIT taxable income for the applicable period and (2) the resulting amount required to be distributed by Seritage REIT to its shareholders with respect to such period under U.S. federal income tax laws for it to maintain its REIT status and the proportionate amount of such distribution to be distributed by Seritage OP with respect to its partnership units (the “ OP Units ”) (such

 

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amount required to be paid, in the aggregate, by Seritage REIT and Seritage OP, the “ REIT Cash Distribution Amount ”), assuming that, for purposes of calculating the REIT Cash Distribution Amount, (other than with respect to a Cash Flow Sweep Period initiated by a Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event set forth in clause (iii)  or clause (vi)  of the definition thereof, as to which an assumption shall apply that such distributions by each of Seritage REIT and Seritage OP will be made entirely in cash), (A) Seritage REIT will pay such distributions partly in cash and partly in shares of Seritage REIT stock at the election of each Seritage REIT shareholder, where the aggregate amount of cash to be distributed is capped at 50% of the total amount distributed by Seritage REIT pursuant to such distribution, and (B) Seritage OP will pay such distributions partly in cash and partly in OP Units at the election of each holder of OP Units, where the aggregate amount of cash to be distributed is capped at 50% of the total amount distributed by Seritage OP pursuant to such distribution; and

(ii) a reasonably detailed calculation of Guarantor’s consolidated Liquidity (calculated on a consolidated basis) in excess of the Guarantor Retention Amount (“ Guarantor Available Funds Amount ”).

(c) Provided no Event of Default is then continuing, Lender shall release to the Cash Management Account all amounts then contained in the Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account on the first Payment Date after Borrower delivers to Lender evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lender establishing that no Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing. Such a release shall not preclude the subsequent commencement of a Cash Flow Sweep Period and the deposit of amounts into the Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account as set forth in Section 3.2(b) .

Section 3.9 Unfunded Obligations Account .

(a) Lender shall establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the purpose of reserving for Unfunded Obligations required to be funded by Borrower (the “ Unfunded Obligations Account ”).

(b) On the Closing Date, Borrower shall deposit into the Unfunded Obligations Account an amount equal to the $42,469,698.

(c) Borrower shall perform its obligations in respect of the Unfunded Obligations when and as due under the respective Leases or other applicable agreements. Upon the request of Borrower at any time that no Event of Default is continuing (but not more often than once per calendar month), Lender shall cause disbursements to Borrower from the Unfunded Obligations Account to pay, or to reimburse Borrower for, reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the performance of Unfunded Obligations; provided that

(i) Borrower shall have satisfied the applicable Existing Redevelopment Funding Conditions (which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth herein in full);

(ii) Borrower shall deliver to Lender invoices evidencing that the costs for which such disbursements are requested are due and payable;

 

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(iii) Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate confirming that all such costs have been previously paid by Borrower or will be paid from the proceeds of the requested disbursement and that all conditions precedent to such disbursement required by the Loan Documents have been satisfied; and

(iv) Lender may condition the making of a requested disbursement on (1) reasonable evidence establishing that Borrower has applied prior disbursements from the Unfunded Obligations Account for the related Property as provided in the related disbursement requests and (2) with respect to disbursements for any single Unfunded Obligation costing in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate (whether disbursed in a lump sum or multiple installments), (x) reasonably satisfactory site inspections and (y) receipt of partial or complete lien releases and waivers from any contractors, subcontractors and others with respect to such amounts.

(d) Upon payment or performance, as applicable, of all Unfunded Obligations identified for any Property on Schedule E-1 , and provided no Event of Default is then continuing, the remainder of the portion of the Unfunded Obligations Account held for such Property (as shown adjacent to such line item on Schedule E-1 ) shall promptly be remitted to Borrower. Upon the payment or performance in full of all Unfunded Obligations, provided no Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, any amounts then remaining in the Unfunded Obligations Account shall promptly be remitted to Borrower and the Unfunded Obligations Account will no longer be maintained.

Section 3.10 Cash Flow Sweep Cure Reserve Account .

(a) Upon request of Borrower in connection with the occurrence of an event that would otherwise be a Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event, Lender will establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the deposit of the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Cure Collateral (the “ Cash Flow Sweep Cure Reserve Account ”).

(b) Provided that no Event of Default is then continuing, Lender shall release to the Cash Management Account all amounts then contained in the Cash Flow Sweep Cure Reserve Account on the first Payment Date after Borrower delivers to Lender evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lender establishing that the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Trigger Event is no longer continuing (without regard to the applicable Cash Flow Sweep Cure Collateral delivered to Lender in accordance with this Agreement).

Section 3.11 Redevelopment Project Reserve Account .

(a) Lender will establish and maintain an Eligible Account (which may be a subaccount of the Cash Management Account) for the purpose of reserving amounts in respect of Approved Redevelopment Costs of Redevelopment Projects (the “ Redevelopment Project Reserve Account ”). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in lieu of making any required deposit into the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account, Borrower may elect in writing by notice to Lender, in Borrower’s sole discretion, to designate all or any portion of undrawn balance of the Future Advance Amount (to the extent not previously designated for use

 

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on any other Redevelopment Project) for application to one or more Redevelopment Projects, and such election, unless revoked by written notice from Borrower to Lender (which notice Borrower may elect to give in Borrower’s sole discretion) be deemed to constitute available funds in the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account; provided that such revocation by Borrower shall only be permitted so long as Borrower has not incurred any costs in respect of such Redevelopment Project that have been or are expected to be funded by advances by Future Advance Lender of the Future Advance Amount or has otherwise demonstrated to Lender’s reasonable satisfaction that the conditions set forth in Section 5.22(b)(ii) are satisfied as of the date of such revocation.

(b) Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, funds on deposit in the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account will be available to Borrower solely to fund Approved Redevelopment Costs, and shall be funded to Borrower on the Funding Date specified in the Funding Request. From time to time, Borrower may submit a Funding Request to Lender specifying the amount to be released and a Funding Date not less than 5 days nor more than 30 days after Lender’s receipt of such Funding Request on which Borrower desires such release to be made, provided that Borrower shall only be entitled to release of funds from the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account up to four times during any calendar month (but only once during any calendar month with respect to any single Redevelopment Project). Lender shall release from the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account on each applicable Funding Date to the Operating Account, the Approved Redevelopment Costs set forth in such Funding Request, subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on or prior to the applicable Funding Date:

(i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(ii) prior to the initial Funding Request with respect to a Redevelopment Project, Borrower shall have satisfied the conditions set forth in Section 5.22(b) ;

(iii) prior to each Funding Request with respect to a Redevelopment Project, Borrower shall have satisfied the conditions set forth in Section 5.22(c) ; and

(iv) prior to the final Funding Request with respect to a Redevelopment Project, Borrower shall have satisfied the condition set forth in the first sentence of Section 5.22(f) .

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Designated Net Sales Proceeds be released from the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account until such time as the entirety of the Future Advance Amount shall have been drawn by Borrower.

Section 3.12 Account Collateral .

(a) Borrower hereby pledges the Account Collateral to Lender as security for the Indebtedness, together with all rights of a secured party with respect thereto, it being the intention of the parties that such pledge shall be a perfected first-priority security interest. Each Collateral Account shall be an Eligible Account under the sole dominion and control of Lender. Borrower shall have no right to make withdrawals from any of the Collateral Accounts other than the Operating Account. Funds in the Collateral Accounts shall not be commingled with any

 

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other monies at any time. Borrower shall execute any additional documents that Lender in its reasonable discretion may require and shall provide all other evidence reasonably requested by Lender to evidence or perfect its first-priority security interest in the Account Collateral. Funds in the Collateral Accounts shall be invested only in Permitted Investments, which Permitted Investments shall be credited to the related Collateral Account. All income and gains from the investment of funds in the Collateral Accounts other than the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account shall be retained in the Collateral Accounts from which they were derived. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, all income and gains from the investment of funds in the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account shall be for the account of Lender in consideration of its administration of such Collateral Account, and Lender shall have the right at any time to withdraw such amounts from the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account. All fees of the Cash Management Bank and the Clearing Account Bank shall be paid by Borrower. After the Loan and all other Indebtedness have been paid in full, the Collateral Accounts shall be closed and the balances therein, if any, shall be paid to Mezzanine Lender unless Lender shall have received written notice from Mezzanine Lender that the Mezzanine Loan has been paid in full, and if such notice has been delivered by Mezzanine Lender, to Borrower.

(b) The insufficiency of amounts contained in the Collateral Accounts shall not relieve Borrower from its obligation to fulfill all covenants contained in the Loan Documents.

(c) During the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may, in its sole discretion, apply funds in the Collateral Accounts, and funds resulting from the liquidation of Permitted Investments contained in the Collateral Accounts, either toward the components of the Indebtedness ( e.g. , interest, principal and other amounts payable hereunder), the Loan, the Note Components and the Notes in such sequence as Lender shall elect in its sole discretion, and/or toward the payment of Property expenses.

Section 3.13 Bankruptcy . Borrower and Lender acknowledge and agree that upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition by or against Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, the Account Collateral and the Revenues (whether then already in the Collateral Accounts, or then due or becoming due thereafter) shall be deemed not to be property of Borrower’s bankruptcy estate within the meaning of Section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code. If, however, a court of competent jurisdiction determines that, notwithstanding the foregoing characterization of the Account Collateral and the Revenues by Borrower and Lender, the Account Collateral and/or the Revenues do constitute property of Borrower’s bankruptcy estate, then Borrower and Lender further acknowledge and agree that all such Revenues, whether due and payable before or after the filing of the petition, are and shall be cash collateral of Lender. Borrower acknowledges that Lender does not consent to Borrower’s use of such cash collateral and that, in the event Lender elects (in its sole discretion) to give such consent, such consent shall only be effective if given in writing signed by Lender. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, Borrower shall not have the right to use or apply or require the use or application of such cash collateral (i) unless Borrower shall have received a court order authorizing the use of the same, and (ii) Borrower shall have provided such adequate protection to Lender as shall be required by the bankruptcy court in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS

Borrower and, to the extent provided in this Article IV , JV Pledgor, represents to Lender that, as of the Closing Date, except as set forth in the Exception Report:

Section 4.1 Organization .

(a) Each Required SPE is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction where ownership of its properties or the conduct of its business requires it to be so, and each Required SPE has all power and authority under such laws and its organizational documents and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

(b) The organizational chart contained in Exhibit A is true and correct as of the date hereof.

Section 4.2 Authorization . Each of Borrower and JV Pledgor, as applicable, has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and has by proper action duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents.

Section 4.3 No Conflicts . Neither the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents by Borrower and JV Pledgor, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will (i) violate or conflict with any provision of its formation and governance documents, (ii) violate any material Legal Requirement, regulation (including Regulation U, Regulation X or Regulation T), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (iii) violate or conflict with contractual provisions of, or cause an event of default under, any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, contract (including Ground Leases, Leases (including the SHLD Master Lease), the JV Documents and/or Material Agreements), to which Borrower, JV Pledgor or Guarantor, as applicable, is a party or may be bound, or (iv) result in or require the creation of any Lien or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to the Collateral or the JV Collateral in favor of any Person other than Lender.

Section 4.4 Consents . No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by Borrower and JV Pledgor, as applicable, of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for any of the foregoing that have already been obtained.

Section 4.5 Enforceable Obligations . This Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by Borrower and JV Pledgor and constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The Loan Documents are not subject to any right of rescission, offset, abatement, counterclaim or defense by Borrower, JV Pledgor or Guarantor, including the defense of usury or fraud.

 

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Section 4.6 No Default . No Default or Event of Default will exist immediately following the making of the Loan.

Section 4.7 Payment of Taxes . Borrower and JV Pledgor, as applicable, has filed, or caused to be filed, all tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid all amounts of taxes due (including interest and penalties) except for taxes that are not yet delinquent and has paid all other taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangible taxes) owing by it necessary to preserve the Liens in favor of Lender.

Section 4.8 Compliance with Law . Borrower, each Property and the use thereof comply in all material respects with all applicable Insurance Requirements. Borrower, each Property and the use thereof comply with all Legal Requirements, including building and zoning ordinances and codes, except in each case where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect. Each Property conforms to current zoning requirements (including requirements relating to parking) and is neither an illegal nor a legal nonconforming use except as specified in the zoning report delivered to Lender in connection with the Closing, except in each case where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect. Borrower is not in default or violation of any order, writ, injunction, decree or demand of any Governmental Authority the violation of which could adversely affect any Property or the condition (financial or otherwise) or business of Borrower or JV Pledgor. There has not been committed by or on behalf of Borrower any act or omission affording any federal Governmental Authority or any state or local Governmental Authority the right of forfeiture as against any Property or any portion thereof or any monies paid in performance of its obligations under any of the Loan Documents. Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor has purchased any portion of any of the Collateral or JV Collateral with proceeds of any illegal activity.

Section 4.9 ERISA .

(a) Neither Borrower, JV Pledgor nor any ERISA Affiliate of Borrower nor JV Pledgor has incurred or could be subjected to any liability under Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or maintains or contributes to, or is or has been required to maintain or contribute to, any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not constitute or result in any non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or substantially similar provisions under federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.

(b) Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor is or is acting on behalf of (i) an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, (ii) a “plan” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or (iii) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. §2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, of any such employee benefit plan or plan.

 

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Section 4.10 Investment Company Act . Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 4.11 No Bankruptcy Filing . Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor is contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any state or federal bankruptcy or insolvency laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property. Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor has any knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it. During the ten year period preceding the Closing Date, no petition in bankruptcy has been filed by or against any Required SPE, Guarantor, any of their respective Subsidiaries and no such Persons have been convicted of a felony. As of the Closing Date, Borrower has not received notice of and is not otherwise aware of any Tenant under a Major Lease contemplating or having filed any of the foregoing actions.

Section 4.12 Other Debt . Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor has outstanding any Debt other than Permitted Debt.

Section 4.13 Litigation . There are no actions, suits, proceedings, arbitrations or governmental investigations by or before any Governmental Authority or other court or agency now filed or otherwise pending, and to the knowledge Borrower and JV Pledgor there are no such actions, suits, proceedings, arbitrations or governmental investigations threatened in writing, against or affecting Borrower, JV Pledgor, Guarantor or any of the Collateral or the JV Collateral, in each case, except for (i) matters covered by insurance and (ii) matters that would not reasonably be expected to either have a Material Adverse Effect, a Property Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the condition (financial or otherwise) or business of Borrower or JV Pledgor.

Section 4.14 Leases; Material Agreements .

(a) Borrower has delivered to Lender true and complete copies of all Leases in effect on or prior to the Closing Date, including all modifications and amendments thereto. No person has any possessory interest in any of the Properties or right to occupy the same except under and pursuant to the provisions of the Leases. The rent roll attached to this Agreement as Schedule F (the “ Rent Roll ”) is accurate and complete in all material respects as of the Closing Date. Except as indicated on the Rent Roll or Exception Report, no security deposits are being held by Borrower (including bonds or letters of credit being held in lieu of cash security deposits), no Tenant listed on Schedule P hereto has any termination options (except in connection with a Casualty or Condemnation), no Tenant has any extension or renewal rights (except as set forth in its Lease), no Tenant or other party has any option, right of first refusal or similar preferential right to purchase all or any portion of the fee or Ground Lease interest in the Property, and no fixed rent has been paid more than 30 days in advance of its due date and, as of the Closing Date, no payments of rent are more than 30 days delinquent. Each of the following is true and correct with respect to each Lease:

(i) such Lease is valid and enforceable and is in full force and effect (A) on the Closing Date or (B) as to any subsequent date as of which this representation is being made, as expressly provided in this Agreement, except where the same would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(ii) Borrower is the sole owner of the entire lessor’s interest in such Lease;

(iii) other than the SHLD Master Lease, the Lands’ End Master Lease and the Sears Hometown License Agreement, such Lease is an arm’s-length agreement with a bona fide, independent third party;

(iv) none of the Revenues reserved in such Lease have been assigned or otherwise pledged or hypothecated (except such pledge or hypothecation that will be fully terminated and released in connection with the filing and recordation of the Mortgage and except for the Liens contemplated pursuant to the Loan Documents);

(v) neither Borrower nor, to Borrower’s knowledge, any other party under such Lease is in default thereunder either (A) on the Closing Date, in any material respect, or (B) as to any subsequent date as of which this representation is being made, as expressly provided in this Agreement, where the same would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect;

(vi) there exist no offsets or defenses to the payment of any portion of the rents thereunder (A) on the Closing Date, or (B) as to any subsequent date as of which this representation is being made, as expressly provided in this Agreement, except where the same would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect;

(vii) as of the Closing Date, no brokerage commissions or finders fees are due and payable regarding any Lease; and

(viii) except for the Unfunded Obligations, all work to be performed by the landlord under such Lease has been substantially performed, all Tenants have accepted possession of their respective premises under such Lease, all contributions to be made by the landlord to the Tenants thereunder have been made, all other conditions to each Tenant’s obligations thereunder have been satisfied, no Tenant has the right to require Borrower to perform or finance Tenant Improvements or Material Alterations and no Leasing Commissions are owed or would be owed upon the exercise of any Tenant’s existing renewal or expansion options, and Borrower has no other monetary obligation to any Tenant under such Lease, in each case as of the Closing Date.

(b) As of the Closing Date, there are no Material Agreements except as described in Schedule G . Borrower has made available to Lender true and complete copies of all Material Agreements and the JV Documents (including all exhibits and schedules thereto) as of the Closing Date. The Material Agreements and the JV Documents are in full force and effect and there are no defaults thereunder by Borrower or, to Borrower’s knowledge, any other party thereto (A) on the Closing Date, or (B) as to any subsequent date as of which this representation is being made, as expressly provided in this Agreement, except where the same would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect. Borrower has delivered or made available to Lender all material written correspondence with respect to any material pending or threatened disputes under any Property Agreement.

 

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(c) The SHLD Master Lease is a “true lease” for all purposes of the Bankruptcy Code (including Section 365(d) and 502(b)(6) thereof).

Section 4.15 Full and Accurate Disclosure . All written information, other than projections, other forward looking information and information of a general economic or industry nature, that has been made available to Lender by or on behalf of Borrower or JV Pledgor prior to the date of this Agreement in connection with the Loan and the other transactions contemplated hereby, when taken as a whole, was, when furnished, true and correct in all material respects and did not, when furnished, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made (giving effect to all supplements and updates provided thereto). There is no fact, event or circumstance presently known to Borrower or JV Pledgor that has not been disclosed to Lender that has had or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.16 Financial Condition and Projections . Borrower has heretofore delivered to Lender (i) cash basis property-by-property 12-month pro forma operating statements with respect to the Properties and (ii) the list of Unfunded Obligations attached hereto as Schedule E-1 , and all such materials have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are believed by the preparer thereof to be reasonable at the time such materials were prepared (it being understood that the materials described in clause (i)  and clause (ii)  hereof are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and actual results may vary materially from the information contained in such materials).

Section 4.17 Single-Purpose Requirements .

(a) Each Required SPE is now, and has always been since its formation, a Single-Purpose Entity and has conducted its business in substantial compliance with the provisions of its organizational documents. Borrower has never (i) owned any property other than the Properties and incidental personal property necessary for the ownership and operation of the Properties, (ii) engaged in any business, except the owning, holding, developing, selling, transferring, leasing, managing and operating of the Properties and other lawful business that is incident, necessary and appropriate to accomplish the foregoing or (iii) had any material contingent or actual obligations or liabilities unrelated to the Properties. JV Pledgor has never (i) owned any property other than the applicable JV Interests, (ii) engaged in any business, except owning, holding, selling, transferring and managing the JV Interests or (iii) had any material contingent or actual obligations or liabilities unrelated to the JV Interests.

(b) (i) Borrower has provided Lender with true, correct and complete copies of Borrower’s current operating agreement or partnership agreement, as applicable, together with all amendments and modifications thereto and (ii) JV Pledgor has provided Lender with true, correct and complete copies of JV Pledgor’s current operating or partnership agreement, as applicable, together with all amendments and modifications thereto.

 

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(c) Any and all of the stated facts and assumptions made in any Nonconsolidation Opinion, including, but not limited to, any exhibits attached thereto, will have been and shall be true and correct in all respects, and Borrower and JV Pledgor, as applicable, will have complied and will comply with all of the stated facts and assumptions made with respect to it in any Nonconsolidation Opinion. Each entity other than Borrower and JV Pledgor, as applicable, with respect to which an assumption is made or a fact stated in any Nonconsolidation Opinion will have complied and will comply with all of the assumptions made and facts stated with respect to it in any such Nonconsolidation Opinion. Each of Borrower and JV Pledgor covenants that in connection with any Additional Nonconsolidation Opinion delivered in connection with this Agreement it shall provide an updated certification regarding compliance with the facts and assumptions made therein.

Section 4.18 Use of Loan Proceeds . No part of the proceeds of the Loan will be used for the purpose of purchasing or acquiring any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or for any other purpose that would be inconsistent with such Regulations T, U or X or any other Regulations of such Board of Governors, or for any purpose prohibited by Legal Requirements or by the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents.

Section 4.19 Not Foreign Person . Borrower is not a “foreign person” within the meaning of Section 1445(f)(3) of the Code.

Section 4.20 Labor Matters . Neither the Borrower nor the JV Pledgor has any employees and neither is a party to any collective bargaining agreements.

Section 4.21 Title . Borrower owns insurable fee or leasehold title to the Properties (other than any personal property) and good and marketable title to the related personal property, to the Collateral Accounts, and to any other Collateral, and JV Pledgor owns good title to the JV Collateral, in each case free and clear of all Liens whatsoever except the Permitted Encumbrances. Each Mortgage, when properly recorded in the appropriate records, together with any Uniform Commercial Code financing statements required to be filed in connection therewith, will create (i) a valid, perfected first priority Lien on the real property portion of the Properties and the rents therefrom, enforceable as such against creditors of and purchasers from Borrower and subject only to Permitted Encumbrances, and (ii) perfected Liens (pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York) in and to all personalty (excluding any portion thereof constituting personalty in which a Lien may not be perfected under applicable law by the filing of a financing statement), subject only to any applicable Permitted Encumbrances. The Permitted Encumbrances do not and will not, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect or interfere with the value, or current or contemplated use or operation, of the Properties, or the security intended to be provided by the Mortgage, the ability of the Properties to generate net cash flow sufficient to service the Loan or Borrower’s ability to pay its obligations as and when they come due, including its ability to repay the Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents. Except as insured over by a Title Insurance Policy, there are, as of the Closing Date, no claims for payment for work, labor or materials affecting the Properties that are or may become a Lien prior to, or of equal priority with, the Liens created by the Loan Documents. No creditor of Borrower other than Lender has in its possession any goods that constitute or evidence the Collateral.

 

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Section 4.22 No Encroachments . Except as shown on the applicable Survey, all of the improvements on each Property lie wholly within the boundaries and building restriction lines of such Property, and no improvements on adjoining property encroach upon any Property, and no easements or other encumbrances upon any Property encroach upon any of the improvements, so as, in any case, to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect, except those that are insured against by a Title Insurance Policy.

Section 4.23 Physical Condition .

(a) Except for matters set forth in the Engineering Reports, each Property and all building systems (including sidewalks, parking lots, storm drainage system, roof, plumbing system, HVAC system, fire protection system, electrical system equipment, elevators, exterior sidings and doors, irrigation system and all structural components) are free of all material damage and are in good condition, order and repair in all respects, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(b) As of the Closing Date, Borrower is not aware of any material structural or other material defect or damages in any of the Properties, whether latent or otherwise.

(c) As of the Closing Date, Borrower has not received and is not aware of any other Person’s receipt of notice from any insurance company or bonding company of any defects or inadequacies in any of the Properties that would, alone or in the aggregate, adversely affect in any material respect the insurability of the same or cause the imposition of extraordinary premiums or charges thereon or of any termination or threatened termination of any policy of insurance or bond.

Section 4.24 Fraudulent Conveyance . Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor has entered into the Transaction or any of the Loan Documents with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor. Each of Borrower and JV Pledgor has received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents. On the Closing Date, the fair salable value of Borrower’s and JV Pledgor’s aggregate assets (as applicable) is and will, immediately following the making of the Loan and the use and disbursement of the proceeds thereof, be greater than its probable aggregate liabilities (including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and Contingent Obligations). The aggregate assets of Borrower and JV Pledgor (as applicable) do not and, immediately following the making of the Loan and the use and disbursement of the proceeds thereof will not, constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out its business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted. Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor intends to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts and liabilities (including Contingent Obligations and other commitments) beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of Borrower).

Section 4.25 Management . Except for any Approved Management Agreement, no property management agreements are in effect with respect to the Properties to which Borrower or SHLD Master Tenant is a party. As of the Closing Date, the Approved Management Agreement is in full force and effect and there is no event of default thereunder by any party thereto and no event has occurred that, with the passage of time and/or the giving of notice would constitute a default thereunder.

 

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Section 4.26 Condemnation . On the Closing Date, no Condemnation has been commenced or, to Borrower’s knowledge, is contemplated in writing or threatened in writing with respect to all or any portion of any of the Properties or for the relocation of roadways providing access to any of the Properties, and, as of any subsequent date as of which this representation is being made, as expressly provided in this Agreement, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.27 Utilities and Public Access . Each of the Properties has adequate rights of access to dedicated public ways (and makes no material use of any means of access or egress that is not pursuant to such dedicated public ways or recorded, irrevocable rights-of-way or easements) and is adequately served by all public utilities, including water and sewer (or well and septic), necessary to the continued use and enjoyment of such Property as presently used and enjoyed.

Section 4.28 Environmental Matters . Except as disclosed in the Environmental Reports:

(i) To Borrower’s knowledge, no Hazardous Substances are located at, on, in or under any of the Properties or have been handled, manufactured, generated, stored, processed, or disposed of at, on, in or under, or have been Released from, any Property. Without limiting the foregoing, to Borrower’s knowledge, there is not present at, on, in or under any of the Properties, any PCB-containing equipment, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, underground storage tanks or surface impoundments for any Hazardous Substance, lead in drinking water (except in concentrations that comply with all Environmental Laws), or lead-based paint. To Borrower’s knowledge, there is no threat of any Release of any Hazardous Substance migrating to any of the Properties.

(ii) Each Property is in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws applicable to such Property (which compliance includes, but is not limited to, the possession of, and compliance with, all environmental, health and safety permits, approvals, licenses, registrations and other governmental authorizations required in connection with the ownership and operation of such Property under all Environmental Laws). No Environmental Claim is pending with respect to any of the Properties, nor, to Borrower’s knowledge, is any threatened, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to Borrower or any of the Properties (A) on the Closing Date, or (B) as to any subsequent date as of which this representation is being made, as expressly provided in this Agreement, except where the same would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) As of the Closing Date, no Liens are recorded with the appropriate land records under or pursuant to any Environmental Law with respect to any of the Properties and, to Borrower’s knowledge, no Governmental Authority has been taking any action to subject any of the Properties to Liens under any Environmental Law.

 

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(iv) There have been no material environmental investigations, studies, audits, reviews or other analyses conducted by or that are in the possession of Borrower in relation to any of the Properties that have not been made available to Lender.

Section 4.29 Assessments . There are no pending or proposed (in writing) special or other assessments for public improvements or otherwise affecting any of the Properties, nor are there any contemplated improvements to any of the Properties that may result in such special or other assessments, in any such case that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.30 No Joint Assessment . Borrower has not initiated the joint assessment of any of the Properties (i) with any other real property constituting a separate tax lot, or (ii) with any personal property, or any other procedure whereby the Lien of any Taxes that may be levied against such other real property or personal property shall be assessed or levied or charged to any of the Properties as a single Lien.

Section 4.31 Separate Lots . No portion of any Property is part of a tax lot that also includes any real property that is not Collateral.

Section 4.32 Permits; Certificate of Occupancy . Subject to administrative or ministerial filings and/or notices as may be required as a result of, or in connection with, the transactions occurring on the Closing Date, Borrower has obtained all Permits necessary for the present and contemplated use and operation of each Property. The uses being made of each Property are in conformity in all material respects with the certificate of occupancy and/or Permits for such Property and any other restrictions, covenants or conditions affecting such Property.

Section 4.33 Flood Zone . None of the improvements on any of the Properties is located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Federal Insurance Administration as a “100 year flood plain” or as having special flood hazards (including Zones A and V), or, to the extent that any portion of any Property is located in such an area, any Property is covered by flood insurance meeting the requirements set forth in Section 5.15(a)(ii) .

Section 4.34 Security Deposits . Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all Legal Requirements relating to security deposits.

Section 4.35 Acquisition Documents . Borrower has delivered to Lender true and complete copies of all material agreements and instruments related to the Approved Separation Transaction under which Borrower, JV Pledgor or any of its Affiliates or the seller of the Collateral or the JV Collateral have remaining rights or obligations in respect of the acquisition of the Collateral or the JV Collateral.

Section 4.36 Insurance . Borrower has obtained insurance policies reflecting the insurance coverages, amounts and other requirements set forth in this Agreement. All premiums on such insurance policies required to be paid as of the Closing Date have been paid for the current policy period. Borrower has not done, by act or omission, anything that would impair the coverage of any such policy.

 

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Section 4.37 No Dealings . Borrower is not aware of any unlawful influence on the assessed value of any Property.

Section 4.38 Estoppel Certificates; JV Side Letters .

(i) Borrower has requested estoppel certificates from each Tenant, each ground lessor under each Ground Lease and each counterparty to a Property Agreement on the form heretofore agreed by Lender and has used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain executed estoppels from such parties. Borrower has delivered to Lender true and complete copies of each estoppel certificate received back from any Tenant, any such ground lessor, and any such Property Agreement counterparty prior to the Closing Date.

(ii) Borrower has used commercially reasonable efforts to obtain executed letter agreements in the form proposed by Lender from each of GGP, Simon and Macerich with respect to the Applicable JV.

Section 4.39 Federal Trade Embargos . Guarantor and each Required SPE is in compliance with all Federal Trade Embargos in all material respects. No Embargoed Person owns any direct or indirect equity interest in any Required SPE. To Borrower’s knowledge, no Tenant at any of the Properties is identified on the OFAC List. Borrower has implemented procedures, and will consistently apply those procedures throughout the term of the Loan, to ensure that the foregoing representations and warranties remain true and correct during the term of the Loan.

Section 4.40 Ground Leased Parcel . Taking into account the estoppel letter delivered to Lender by the related ground lessor, each of the following is true with respect to each Ground Lease:

(i) Borrower has made available to Lender true and complete copies of all Ground Leases, including all modifications and amendments thereto;

(ii) The Ground Lease or a memorandum thereof has been duly recorded or submitted for recordation in a form that is acceptable for recording in the applicable jurisdiction. The Ground Lease or ground lease estoppel letter permits the interest of the lessee to be encumbered by the Mortgage and does not restrict the use of any Property by Borrower, its successors or assigns in a manner that would adversely affect the security provided by the Mortgage;

(iii) The lessor has agreed in writing in the Ground Lease or such estoppel letter that the Ground Lease may not be amended, modified, canceled or terminated without the prior written consent of Lender and that any such action without such consent is not binding on Lender;

(iv) The Ground Lease has an original term (or an original term plus one or more optional renewal terms, which, under all circumstances, may be exercised, and will be enforceable, by Borrower or Lender) that extends not less than 20 years beyond the scheduled Maturity Date;

 

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(v) The Ground Lease is not subject to any interests, estates, liens or encumbrances superior to, or of equal priority with, the Mortgage, except for the related fee interest of the ground lessor and the Permitted Encumbrances;

(vi) The Ground Lease does not place commercially unreasonable restrictions on the identity of the mortgagee and the Ground Lease is assignable to Lender and its successors and assigns without the consent of the lessor thereunder, and in the event it is so assigned, it is further assignable by the holder of the Loan and its successors and assigns without the consent of the lessor;

(vii) There is no default under the Ground Lease and no condition that, but for the passage of time or giving of notice, would result in a default under the terms of the Ground Lease, and the Ground Lease is in full force and effect as of the Closing Date;

(viii) The Ground Lease or such estoppel letter requires the lessor to give to Lender written notice of any default, and provides that no notice of default or termination is effective unless such notice is given to Lender;

(ix) Lender is permitted a reasonable opportunity (including, where necessary, sufficient time to gain possession of the interest of Borrower under the Ground Lease through legal proceedings) to cure any default under the Ground Lease which is curable after Lender’s receipt of notice of any default before the lessor may terminate the Ground Lease;

(x) The Ground Lease does not impose any restrictions on subletting that would be viewed as commercially unreasonable by a prudent commercial mortgage lender;

(xi) The Ground Lease or such estoppel letter does not prohibit or otherwise prevent Loss Proceeds from being held by Lender in the Loss Proceeds Account and applied either to the repair or restoration the applicable Property or to the payment of the Indebtedness in accordance herewith; and without limiting the foregoing, in the case of a total or substantially total loss or taking, the Ground Lease does not prohibit or prevent the application of the Loss Proceeds to the payment of the Indebtedness; and

(xii) Provided that the lender cures any defaults which are susceptible to being cured, the lessor has agreed to enter into a new lease with Lender upon termination of the Ground Lease for any reason, including rejection of the Ground Lease in a bankruptcy proceeding.

Section 4.41 Survival . All of the representations of Borrower set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall survive for so long as any portion of the Indebtedness is outstanding. As to each JV Pledgor, all of the representations of such JV Pledgor set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall survive until the earlier of (i) the JV Pledgor Release Event as to such Pledgor (upon which occurrence such representatives shall have no further force or effect) or (ii) the repayment in full of the Indebtedness. All representations, covenants and agreements made by Borrower and JV Pledgor in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to have been relied upon by Lender

 

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notwithstanding any investigation heretofore or hereafter made by Lender or on its behalf. On the date of any Securitization, on not less than three Business Days’ prior written notice, Borrower and JV Pledgor shall deliver to Lender a certification (x) confirming that all of the representations contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such Securitization, or (y) otherwise specifying any changes in or qualifications to such representations as of such date as may be necessary to make such representations consistent with the facts as they exist on such date.

ARTICLE 5

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Borrower and, to the extent provided in this Article V , JV Pledgor, covenants and agrees as follows:

Section 5.1 Existence; Licenses . Each Required SPE shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to remain in existence. Borrower shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect all rights, licenses, Permits, franchises, certificates of occupancy, consents, approvals and other agreements necessary for the continued use and operation of the Properties. Each Required SPE shall deliver to Lender a copy of each amendment or other modification to any of its organizational documents promptly after the execution thereof. No party hereto shall take any action inconsistent with the classification of each Required SPE as a “disregarded entity” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and Seritage OP, or any other person qualified to make a check-the-box election for such Required SPE, shall make any election necessary to effect such classification.

Section 5.2 Maintenance of Property .

(a) Borrower shall cause each Property to be maintained in good and safe working order and repair, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and in keeping with the condition and repair of properties of a similar use, value, age, nature and construction. Borrower shall not use, maintain or operate any Property in any manner that constitutes a public or private nuisance or that makes void, voidable, or cancelable, or increases the premium of, any insurance then in force with respect thereto. Subject to Section 6.13 , no improvements or equipment located at or on any Property shall be removed, demolished or materially altered without the prior written consent of Lender (except for any Permitted Transfers and except for replacement of equipment in the ordinary course of business with items of the same utility and of equal or greater value and sales of obsolete equipment no longer needed for the operation of the applicable Property), and Borrower shall from time to time make, or cause to be made, all reasonably necessary and desirable repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements to the Properties in each such case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect. Borrower shall not make any change in the use of any Property that would materially increase the risk of fire or other hazard arising out of the operation of any Property, or do or permit to be done thereon anything that may in any way impair the value of any Property in any material respect or the Liens of the Mortgages, where in any such case the same would cause or reasonably be expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect. Borrower shall not install or permit to be installed on any Property any underground storage

 

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tank. Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of Lender, permit any drilling or exploration for or extraction, removal, or production of any minerals from the surface or the subsurface of any Property, regardless of the depth thereof or the method of mining or extraction thereof.

(b) Borrower shall remediate the Deferred Maintenance Conditions and Environmental Conditions within the time periods following the Closing Date as specified in Schedule D-1 and Schedule D-2 hereto (or if no time periods are specified in such schedules, within twelve (12) months following the Closing Date), subject to Force Majeure, and upon request from Lender after the expiration of such period shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate confirming that such remediation has been completed and that all associated expenses have been paid; provided , that if Borrower is unable to remediate any Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition within the time period set forth on Schedule D notwithstanding its use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so, then, so long as (i) no Event of Default is then continuing, (ii) Borrower diligently and expeditiously proceeds to complete such remediation and (iii) the failure to complete remediation of such Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition does not (A) involve matters imminent to protection of human health and safety, (B) does not endanger any tenant, patron or other occupant of the Property or the general public and (C) does not materially and adversely affect the value of the Property or result in a default by Borrower under any Lease or Material Agreement, such time period shall be extended to such further date as may be requested by Borrower and approved by Lender in its reasonable discretion. In connection with any Major Redevelopment Project for which the Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget includes a Deferred Maintenance Condition or an Environmental Condition or makes remediation or related work unnecessary and the Major Redevelopment Project is approved prior to the time period set forth on Schedule D-1 or Schedule D-2 , as applicable, for completion of the remediation of such Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition, the time period set forth on Schedule D-1 or Schedule D-2 , as applicable, for such work shall be extended to coincide with the timing of the applicable Major Redevelopment Project. Additionally, the time period set forth on Schedule D-1 or Schedule D-2 , as applicable, to remediate any Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition may be extended with Lender’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably denied, conditioned or withheld, to the extent such Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition is to be included in a Redevelopment Project (other than a Major Redevelopment Project) and such Redevelopment Project is commenced prior to the time scheduled for completion on Schedule D-1 or Schedule D-2 , as applicable, for the remediation of the applicable Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition. In addition, to the extent any Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition is required to be remediated by SHLD Master Tenant pursuant to the terms of the SHLD Master Lease, Borrower shall be excused from the applicable obligations under this Section 5.2(b) so long as Borrower diligently monitors and enforces any breach by SHLD Master Tenant of its obligations under the SHLD Master Lease with respect to the applicable Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Conditions; provided that if SHLD Master Tenant shall fail to remediate any such Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Conditions within the time periods set forth in Schedule D-1 or Schedule D-2 , as applicable (as modified pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.2(b) ), so long as (i) no Event of Default is then continuing, (ii) Borrower diligently and expeditiously proceeds to complete such remediation and (iii) the failure to complete remediation of such Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition within the time periods set

 

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forth in Schedule D (as modified pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.2(b) ) does not (A) involve matters imminent to protection of human health and safety, (B) does not endanger any tenant, patron or other occupant of the Property or the general public and (C) does not materially and adversely affect the value of the Property or result in a default by Borrower under any Lease or Material Agreement, SHLD Master Tenant shall have additional time to complete such remediation as may be requested by Borrower and/or SHLD Master Tenant and approved by Lender in its reasonable discretion.

Section 5.3 Compliance with Legal Requirements . Borrower shall comply with, and Borrower shall cause the Properties to comply with and be operated, maintained, repaired and improved in compliance with, all Legal Requirements, Insurance Requirements and all material contractual obligations by which Borrower is legally bound.

Section 5.4 Impositions and Other Claims . Each of Borrower and JV Pledgor shall pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied upon it, its income and its assets as and when such taxes, assessments and charges are due and payable, as well as, with respect to Borrower, all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise, subject to any rights to contest contained in the definition of Permitted Encumbrances or in this Agreement. Each of Borrower and JV Pledgor shall file all federal, state and local tax returns and other reports that it is required by law to file. If any law or regulation applicable to Lender, any Note, any of the Collateral or any Mortgage is enacted that deducts from the value of property for the purpose of taxation any Lien thereon, or imposes upon Lender the payment of the whole or any portion of the taxes or assessments or charges or Liens required by this Agreement to be paid by Borrower, or changes in any way the laws or regulations relating to the taxation of mortgages or security agreements or debts secured by mortgages or security agreements or the interest of the mortgagee or secured party in the property covered thereby, or the manner of collection of such taxes, so as to affect any Mortgage, the Indebtedness or Lender, then Borrower, upon demand by Lender, shall pay such taxes, assessments, charges or Liens, or reimburse Lender for any amounts paid by Lender. Following any such demand, Borrower shall have the right, upon 30 days advance written notice to Lender, to repay the Indebtedness in full (but not in part) without the payment of any prepayment premium or prepayment fee. In addition, if in the opinion of Lender’s counsel it might be unlawful to require Borrower to make such payment or the making of such payment might result in the imposition of interest beyond the maximum amount permitted by applicable law, Lender may elect to declare all of the Indebtedness to be due and payable 90 days from the giving of written notice by Lender to Borrower. Borrower and JV Pledgor shall not be required to pay any taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or satisfy any Liens on the Collateral which Borrower or JV Pledgor, as applicable, in good faith disputes and which Borrower or JV Pledgor, as applicable, at its own expense, is currently and diligently contesting, so long as (i) no Event of Default is then continuing, (ii) Borrower or JV Pledgor, as applicable, diligently prosecutes such dispute or contest in accordance with all applicable Legal Requirements to a prompt determination in a manner not prejudicial to Lender and promptly pays all amounts ultimately determined to be owing, (iii) any applicable Lien is not in imminent danger of foreclosure and (iv) Borrower causes any applicable Lien (a) to be released or discharged of record or fully insured over by the title insurance company issuing the Title Insurance Policies within 30 days of its creation, or (b) Borrower deposits with Lender, by the expiration of such 30-day period, an amount equal to 120 % of the dollar amount of such Lien or a bond in the aforementioned amount from such surety, and upon such terms and conditions, as is reasonably satisfactory to Lender, as security for the payment or release of such Lien.

 

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Section 5.5 Inspection . Borrower shall permit agents, representatives and employees of Lender and the Servicer to enter and inspect any of the Properties or any portion thereof, and/or inspect, examine, audit (including audit of the calculation of any tests required under this Agreement) and each of Borrower and JV Pledgor shall permit agents, representatives and employees of Lender and the Servicer to copy the books and records of Borrower and JV Pledgor (including all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording), at such reasonable times during normal business hours as may be requested by Lender upon reasonable advance notice. If an Event of Default is continuing, the cost of such inspections, examinations, copying or audits shall be borne by Borrower, including the cost of all follow up or additional investigations, audits or inquiries deemed reasonably necessary by Lender. The cost of such inspections, examinations, audits and copying, if not paid for by Borrower within ten (10) Business Days following demand, may be added to the Indebtedness and shall bear interest after such 10 th Business Day until paid at the Default Rate.

Section 5.6 Cooperate in Legal Proceedings . Borrower and JV Pledgor shall cooperate fully with Lender with respect to any proceedings before any Governmental Authority that may in any way affect the rights of Lender hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents and, in connection therewith, Lender may, at its election, participate or designate a representative to participate in any such proceedings.

Section 5.7 Leases .

(a) Borrower shall furnish Lender with copies of all executed Leases. All new Leases and renewals or amendments which Borrower is obligated to enter into, all renewals or amendments of Leases must (i) be entered into on an arm’s-length basis with Tenants that are not Affiliates of Borrower and whose identity and creditworthiness is appropriate for tenancy in property of comparable quality, (ii) provide for rental rates and other economic terms that, taken as a whole, are at least equivalent to then-existing market rates, based on the applicable market, and otherwise contain terms and conditions that are commercially reasonable, (iii) have an initial term of not more than 10 years, (iv) not reasonably be expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect and (v) be subject and subordinate to the Mortgage and contain provisions for the agreement by the Tenant thereunder to attorn to Lender and any purchaser at a foreclosure sale, such attornment to be self-executing and effective upon acquisition of title to the applicable Property by any purchaser at a foreclosure sale. Lender, at the request of Borrower (and at Borrower’s sole cost and expense), shall enter into a subordination, attornment and non-disturbance agreement in the form of Exhibit G (with such modifications thereto as may be reasonably acceptable to Lender) or on such other form reasonably satisfactory to Lender, with respect to any Lease entered into after the Closing Date that expressly requires the delivery of a subordination, attornment and non-disturbance agreement.

(b) Any Lease that does not conform to the standards set forth in Section 5.7(a) shall be subject to the prior written consent of Lender, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. In addition, all new Major Leases, and all terminations, renewals (other than as to which Borrower is obligated pursuant to the applicable

 

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Lease) and amendments of Major Leases, and any surrender of rights under any Major Lease, shall be subject to the prior written consent of Lender (not to be unreasonably withheld); provided that, in connection with the transfer of a Property to a New Borrower or in connection with the release of a Property in accordance with this Agreement, administrative and technical modifications to the SHLD Master Lease and modifications to any Major Lease to modify the landlord thereunder will not require the consent of Lender.

(c) Borrower shall (i) observe and punctually perform all obligations imposed upon the lessor under the Leases, including satisfaction of all Unfunded Obligations, in each case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect; (ii) enforce all terms, covenants and conditions contained in the Leases on the part of the lessee thereunder to be observed or performed, short of termination thereof, in each case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect, except that Borrower may terminate any Lease following a material default thereunder by the respective Tenant; (iii) not collect any of the rents thereunder more than one month in advance; (iv) not execute any assignment of lessor’s interest in the Leases or associated rents other than the assignment of rents and leases under the Mortgage; (v) not cancel or terminate any guarantee (including, without limitation, the SHLD Master Lease Guaranty) of any of the Major Leases without the prior written consent of Lender (not to be unreasonably withheld); and (vi) not permit any subletting of any space covered by a Lease or an assignment of the Tenant’s rights under a Lease, except in strict accordance with the terms of such Lease. Borrower shall deliver to each new Tenant a Tenant Notice upon execution of such Tenant’s Lease, and promptly thereafter deliver to Lender a copy thereof and evidence of such Tenant’s receipt thereof.

(d) Security deposits of Tenants under all Leases shall be held in compliance with Legal Requirements and any provisions in Leases relating thereto. Borrower shall maintain books and records of sufficient detail to identify all security deposits of Tenants separate and apart from any other payments received from Tenants. Subject to Legal Requirement, any bond or other instrument held by Borrower in lieu of cash security shall name Lender as payee or mortgagee thereunder or be fully assignable to Lender. Borrower hereby pledges to Lender each such bond or other instrument as security for the Indebtedness. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Borrower shall, upon Lender’s request, deposit with Lender in an Eligible Account pledged to Lender all security deposits of the Tenants (and any interest theretofore earned on such security deposits and actually received by Borrower), and any such bonds, that Borrower had not returned to the applicable Tenants or applied in accordance with the terms of the applicable Lease; (and failure to do so shall constitute a misappropriation of funds pursuant to Section 9.19(b) ); provided that Lender shall hold, or cause Servicer to hold, any such security deposited in an Eligible Account pledged to Lender in accordance with the applicable Leases and the applicable Legal Requirements.

(e) Borrower shall promptly deliver to Lender a copy of each written notice from a Tenant under any Major Lease claiming that Borrower is in default in the performance or observance of any of the material terms, covenants or conditions thereof to be performed or observed by Borrower. Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide in each Major Lease executed after the Closing Date to which Borrower is a party that any Tenant delivering any such notice shall send a copy of such notice directly to Lender.

 

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(f) To the extent reasonably practicable, all agreements entered into by or on behalf of Borrower that require the payment of Leasing Commissions or other similar compensation to any party shall (i) provide that the obligation will not be enforceable against Lender and (ii) be subordinate to the lien of the Mortgage.

(g) Borrower is expressly permitted to exercise any and all recapture rights under the SHLD Master Lease (including 50% recaptures and 100% lease terminations, so long as Borrower complies with this Section 5.7(g) ); provided , however , that such exercise of recapture rights will not be permitted (i) unless the Debt Yield (after giving effect to such recapture or lease termination) as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period is at least 12% (the “ Recapture Threshold ”), or (ii) without consent of Lender, at any time prior to delivery of the Business Plans, if recapture would require payments to SHLD Master Tenant and/or investments in recaptured properties in an aggregate amount in excess of $37,500,000 (it being agreed that, prior to delivery of the Business Plans, Borrower shall nevertheless consult with Lender on any recapture not requiring Lender’s consent), or (iii) without the prior written consent of Lender in its sole discretion, if such recapture is not in substantial compliance with the applicable Recapture Plan previously approved by Lender to the extent required by Section 5.23 or, with respect to any Designated Property, the related Approved Designated Property Redevelopment Plan (as amended consistent with Section 5.22(h) ) or (iv) without the prior written consent of Lender in its sole discretion if an Event of Default is then continuing. If the Debt Yield is below the Recapture Threshold as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, exercise of any recapture rights by Borrower shall be conditioned on execution and delivery of a Qualified Replacement Lease or the consent of Lender. If the Debt Yield is below the Recapture Threshold and Lender shall not consent to any proposed recapture, the Borrower will be permitted to obtain a release of the applicable Property upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.2(a) , except that the Release Price with respect to such Property shall be equal to 200% of the applicable Allocated Loan Amount plus any otherwise applicable Spread Maintenance Premium (and any such release shall be deemed a release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 for all purposes of this Agreement). Unless otherwise approved as part of a Redevelopment Project, Lease termination fees payable by Borrower to the SHLD Master Tenant under the SHLD Master Lease in connection with the exercise of Borrower’s recapture rights shall only be paid from (y) Excess Cash Flow released to Borrower in accordance with Section 3.2(b) and/or Termination Fees received by Borrower from Tenant and deposited in the TI/LC Reserve Account in accordance with Section 3.5(d) or (z) equity contributions from Guarantor.

(h) Whenever Lender’s approval or consent is required pursuant to the provisions of this Section, Lender’s consent and approval shall be deemed given if:

(i) the first correspondence from Borrower to Lender requesting such approval or consent contains a bold-faced, conspicuous legend at the top of the first page thereof stating “FIRST NOTICE: THIS IS A REQUEST FOR CONSENT TO A [ NEW LEASE ] [ LEASE MODIFICATION ] . FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS REQUEST WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS MAY RESULT IN THE REQUEST BEING DEEMED GRANTED,” and is accompanied by such information and documents as is reasonably required for Lender to adequately evaluate such request and as requested by Lender in writing prior to the expiration of such 5 Business Day period, and

 

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(ii) if Lender fails to respond to such request for approval or consent in writing within such 5 Business Day period (and in the case of withholding of consent, stating the grounds therefor), a second notice requesting approval is delivered to Lender from Borrower containing a bold-faced, conspicuous legend at the top of the first page thereof stating that “SECOND AND FINAL NOTICE: THIS IS A REQUEST FOR CONSENT TO A [ NEW LEASE ] [ LEASE MODIFICATION ] . FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS REQUEST IN WRITING WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPROVAL BEING DEEMED GRANTED,” and is accompanied by such information and documents as is reasonably required for Lender to adequately evaluate such request and as requested by Lender in writing prior to the expiration of such 5 Business Day period, and

(iii) Lender fails to respond to such request (and in the case of withholding of consent, stating the grounds therefor) prior to the expiration of such second period.

Section 5.8 Plan Assets, etc .. Borrower and JV Pledgor, as applicable, will do or cause to be done, all things necessary to cause the representations set forth in Section 4.9 to remain true and correct at all times.

Section 5.9 Further Assurances . Borrower and JV Pledgor shall, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, from time to time as reasonably requested by Lender, execute, acknowledge, record, register, file and/or deliver to Lender such other instruments, agreements, certificates and documents (including amended or replacement mortgages), and each of Borrower and JV Pledgor hereby authorizes and consents to the filing by Lender of any Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, and hereby authorizes Lender to use the collateral description “all personal property” or “all assets” in any such financing statements, in each case as Lender may reasonably request to evidence, confirm, perfect and maintain the Liens securing or intended to secure the obligations of Borrower and the rights of Lender under the Loan Documents and do and execute all such further lawful and reasonable acts, conveyances and assurances for the better and more effective carrying out of the intents and purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as Lender shall reasonably request from time to time. Upon foreclosure, the appointment of a receiver or any other relevant action, Borrower and JV Pledgor shall, at its sole cost and expense, cooperate fully and completely to effect the assignment or transfer of any license, permit, agreement or any other right necessary or useful to the operation of the Collateral or the JV Collateral, as applicable. Upon receipt of a reasonably satisfactory affidavit of Lender as to the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which affidavit shall include an indemnification of Borrower that is reasonably satisfactory to Borrower), Borrower will issue, in lieu thereof, a replacement Note in the same principal amount thereof and in the form thereof. Each of Borrower and JV Pledgor hereby authorizes and appoints Lender as its attorney-in-fact to, during the continuance of an Event of Default, execute, acknowledge, record, register and/or file such instruments, agreements, certificates and documents, and to do and execute such acts, conveyances and assurances, should Borrower or JV Pledgor fail to do so itself in violation of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents following written request from Lender, in each case without the signature of Borrower or JV Pledgor, as applicable. The foregoing grant of authority is a power of attorney coupled with an interest and such appointment shall be irrevocable for the term of this Agreement. Each of Borrower and JV Pledgor hereby ratifies all actions that such attorney shall lawfully take or cause to be taken in accordance with this Section.

 

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Section 5.10 Management of Collateral .

(a) Each Property shall be managed at all times by an Approved Property Manager pursuant to an Approved Management Agreement; provided that prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date with respect to any Property, no Approved Property Manager shall be required with respect to such Property. Borrower may from time to time appoint one or more Approved Property Managers to manage one or more of the Properties pursuant to an Approved Management Agreement; provided that (i) no Event of Default is then continuing, (ii) Lender receives at least 30 days prior written notice of same, (iii) such manager shall execute and deliver to Lender for Lender’s benefit a Subordination of Property Management Agreement containing customary terms and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, and (iv) if such Approved Property Manager is an Affiliate of Borrower, Borrower shall deliver to Lender a new nonconsolidation opinion reasonably acceptable to Lender with respect to such Approved Property Manager and new management agreement. The per annum base fees of any Approved Property Manager shall not, at any time, exceed the Maximum Management Fee without the prior approval of Lender in its reasonable discretion.

(b) Borrower shall cause each Approved Management Agreement to require that the applicable Approved Property Manager (including any successor Approved Property Manager) maintain at all times worker’s compensation insurance as required by Governmental Authorities.

(c) Borrower shall notify Lender in writing of any material default of Borrower or the Approved Property Manager under the Approved Management Agreement, after the expiration of any applicable cure periods, of which Borrower has actual knowledge. Lender shall have the right, after reasonable notice to Borrower and in accordance with the Subordination of Management Agreement, to cure defaults of Borrower under the Approved Management Agreement. Any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by Lender to cure any such default shall constitute a part of the Indebtedness and shall be due from Borrower within ten (10) Business Days after demand by Lender.

(d) In the event that (i) an Event of Default shall be continuing, (ii) any foreclosure, conveyance in lieu of foreclosure or other similar transaction following an Event of Default shall have occurred, (iii) a material default by the Approved Property Manager under the Approved Management Agreement (after the expiration of any applicable notice and/or cure periods) shall be continuing, (iv) the Approved Property Manager files or is the subject of a petition in bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceeding, (v) a trustee or receiver is appointed for the Approved Property Manager’s assets or the Approved Property Manager makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (vi) the Approved Property Manager is adjudicated insolvent or (vii) the Approved Property Manager engages in fraud, misappropriation of funds, intentional misrepresentation or willful misconduct in the course of managing any of the Properties, then, in any such case, Lender may, in its sole discretion, terminate or require Borrower to terminate the Approved Management Agreement and engage an Approved Property Manager selected by Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to Lender (or, during the continuance of an Event of Default, selected by Lender with notice to Borrower) to serve as replacement Approved Property Manager pursuant to an Approved Management Agreement.

 

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Section 5.11 Notice of Material Event . Upon Borrower becoming aware of same, Borrower shall give Lender prompt notice (containing reasonable detail) of (i) any material change in the financial or physical condition of any of the Properties, as reasonably determined by Borrower, including the termination or cancellation of any Major Lease (or the closure of a SHLD store) and the termination or cancellation of terrorism or other insurance required by this Agreement, (ii) any notice from the Approved Property Manager, to the extent such notice relates to a matter that could reasonably be expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect, (iii) any litigation or governmental proceedings pending or threatened in writing against Borrower, Guarantor or any Property that is reasonably expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect, (iv) the insolvency or bankruptcy filing of any Required SPE, Guarantor or a Subsidiary of any of the foregoing, (v) any Mezzanine Loan Event of Default, (vi) any material change in the scope of, or termination of, any services provided by SHMC under the SHLD TSA or the Subordination of Property Management Agreement and (vii) any other circumstance or event that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or Property Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.12 Annual Financial Statements; Format for Statements .

(a) As soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, Borrower shall furnish to Lender annual financial statements of Borrower, including a balance sheet and operating statement of Borrower as of the end of such year, together with related statements of operations and equityholders’ capital and cash flow for such Fiscal Year, audited by a “Big Four” accounting firm (or other independent accounting firm reasonably satisfactory to Lender) whose opinion shall be to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis and shall not be qualified as to the scope of the audit or as to the status of Borrower as a going concern. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year (to the extent prior year financial statements for the applicable period exist). Together with Borrower’s audited annual financial statements, Borrower shall furnish to Lender a comparison of Borrower’s applicable audited financial results against the corresponding figures in the Approved Annual Budget for such Fiscal Year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Diversification Date, in lieu of the audited financial statements described above, as soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, Borrower shall furnish to Lender unaudited annual financial statements of Borrower, including a balance sheet and operating statement of Borrower as of the end of such year, together with related statements of operations and equityholders’ capital and cash flow for such Fiscal Year, which statements shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the same are true, correct and complete in all material respects and were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year (to the extent prior year financial statements for the applicable period exist). Together with Borrower’s unaudited annual financial statements, Borrower shall furnish to Lender comparison of Borrower’s applicable audited financial results against the corresponding figures in the Approved Annual Budget for such Fiscal Year. Such annual financial statements shall be accompanied by the reports set forth in Sections 5.13(i) and (iii) for the Fiscal Year then ended.

 

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(b) All financial and other reports required to be delivered hereunder, including pursuant to Section 5.12 through 5.14 , shall be delivered in an Excel spreadsheet file in electronic format to the extent reasonably available, or, in the case of predominantly text documents, in Adobe pdf format to the extent reasonably available. All such reports may be delivered via an intralinks site at Borrower’s sole cost and expense.

Section 5.13 Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available, and in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter (and, subject to the limitation below, including year-end), Borrower shall furnish to Lender, quarterly and year-to-date unaudited financial statements, prepared for such fiscal quarter with respect to Borrower, including a balance sheet and operating statement of Borrower as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, together with related statements of operations, equityholders’ capital and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Fiscal Year ending with such Fiscal Quarter, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the same period(s) for the preceding Fiscal Year (to the extent prior year financial statements for the applicable period exist), which statements shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the same are true, correct and complete in all material respects and were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments. Each such quarterly report shall be accompanied by the following:

(i) a statement in reasonable detail that calculates each of Debt Yield, In-Place NOI, Third Party In-Place NOI and the SHLD EBITDAR Rent Ratio for the Test Period ending in such Fiscal Quarter;

(ii) (a) a comparison of Borrower’s quarterly unaudited financial results against the corresponding figures in the Approved Annual Budget for such period and year-to-date, (b) a comparison of Property-by-Property quarterly operating results against the corresponding figures in the Approved Annual Budget for such Fiscal Quarter and year-to-date and (c) a statement of Borrower’s unaudited operating results (on a Property-by-Property basis) for the trailing twelve-month period ending in such Fiscal Quarter;

(iii) SHLD EBITDAR (on a portfolio and store-by-store basis);

(iv) a report on the status of implementation of the Corporate Business Plan; and

(v) such other information as Lender shall reasonably request.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the year-end delivery pursuant to this Section 5.13 shall be limited to a good faith, preliminary draft income statement, draft calculation of In-Place NOI, Third Party In-Place NOI, Debt Yield and, to the extent the SHLD Master Tenant has delivered the necessary supporting information to Borrower, the SHLD EBITDAR Rent Ratio.

 

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Section 5.14 Monthly Financial Statements; Other Reporting .

(a) Borrower shall furnish within 30 days after the end of each calendar month (other than the final calendar month of any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Quarter), monthly and year-to-date unaudited operating statements (on a Property-by-Property basis) as of the end of such month, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the same period(s) in the preceding Fiscal Year (to the extent prior year financial statements for the applicable period exist). Each monthly report shall also include the following (whether or not operating statements are required to be delivered in accordance with this Section 5.14 ):

(i) then current rent roll, aged payables and aged receivables reports (on a Property-by-Property basis);

(ii) Tenant sales reports (on a Property-by-Property basis, including SHLD Master Tenant store-level sales, and as to other Leases, to the extent reasonably available);

(iii) occupancy and leasing pipeline reports (on a Property-by-Property basis);

(iv) details regarding any termination and/or recapture rights exercised under the SHLD Master Lease in the prior calendar month or expected to be exercised in the subsequent 90-day period (on a Property-by-Property basis);

(v) a report of Capital Expenditures, Tenant Improvements and Leasing Commissions incurred on a cash basis in the such calendar month, year-to-date and for the trailing twelve-month period (on a Property-by-Property basis);]

(vi) a statement of Borrower’s operating results (on a Property-by-Property basis) for the trailing twelve-month period ending in such calendar month; and

(vii) such other information as Lender shall reasonably request.

(b) Borrower shall promptly, and in any event within five Business Days following delivery or receipt thereof, provide Lender copies of: (i) any reports provided to Borrower pursuant to Section 21.24 of the SHLD Master Lease; (ii) all notices of exercise of any termination or recapture rights under the SHLD Master Lease; (iii) notices with respect to any change to the base rent and/or monthly installment expenses payable under the SHLD Master Lease; (iv) notices with respect to proposed modifications to the SHLD Master Lease; (v) notices with respect to any default or dispute under the SHLD Master Lease; and (vi) copies of all other reports, notices or other information relating to the SHLD Master Lease not provided pursuant to the preceding clauses (i)   through (v) as Lender shall reasonably request.

Section 5.15 Insurance .

(a) Borrower shall obtain and maintain with respect to the Properties, for the mutual benefit of Borrower and Lender at all times, the following policies of insurance:

(i) insurance against loss or damage by standard perils included within the classification “All Risks” or “Special Form” Causes of Loss, including coverage for damage caused by windstorm (including named storm) and hail. Such insurance shall

 

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(A) be in an amount equal to the full insurable value on a replacement cost basis of each Property and, if applicable, all related furniture, furnishings, equipment and fixtures (without deduction for physical depreciation); (B) have deductibles acceptable to Lender (but in any event not in excess of $250,000, except in the case of windstorm, flood and earthquake coverage, which shall have deductibles not in excess of 5% of the total insurable value of the applicable Property); (C) be paid annually in advance; (D) be written on a “Replacement Cost” basis, waiving depreciation, (E) be written on a no coinsurance form or contain an “Agreed Amount” endorsement, waiving all coinsurance provisions; (F) include ordinance or law coverage on a replacement cost basis, with no co-insurance provisions, containing Coverage A: “Loss Due to Operation of Law” (with a limit equal to replacement cost), Coverage B: “Demolition Cost” and Coverage C: “Increased Cost of Construction” coverages each with limits of no less than 10% of replacement cost or such lesser amounts as Lender may require in its sole discretion; (G) permit that the improvements and other property covered by such insurance be rebuilt at another location in the event that such improvements and other property cannot be rebuilt at the location on which they are situated as of the date hereof. If such insurance excludes mold, then Borrower shall implement a mold prevention program satisfactory to Lender;

(ii) if any portion of the Improvements at any Property is located in an area identified in the Federal Register by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood hazards, flood insurance in an amount equal to the maximum limit of coverage available under the National Flood Insurance Program, with a deductible not in excess of $50,000, plus such additional excess limits as shall be requested by Lender;

(iii) commercial general liability insurance, including broad form coverage of property damage, contractual liability for insured contracts and personal injury (including bodily injury and death), to be on the so-called “occurrence” form containing minimum limits per occurrence of not less than $1,000,000 with not less than a $2,000,000 general aggregate for any policy year (with a per location aggregate if any Property is insured under a blanket policy), with a deductible not in excess of $250,000. In addition, at least $100,000,000 excess and/or umbrella liability insurance shall be obtained and maintained for any and all claims, including all legal liability imposed upon Borrower and all related court costs and attorneys’ fees and disbursements;

(iv) rental loss and/or business interruption insurance covering actual loss sustained during restoration from all risks required to be covered by the insurance provided for herein, including clauses (i) , (ii) , (v) , (vii) , (viii)  and (ix)  of this Section, and covering the entire period of restoration beginning from the date of any Casualty and containing an extended period of indemnity endorsement covering the 12-month period commencing on the date on which the applicable Property has been restored, as reasonably determined by the applicable insurer (even if the policy will expire prior to the end of such period). The amount of such insurance shall be increased from time to time as and when the gross revenues from the Properties increase;

(v) insurance for steam boilers, air conditioning equipment, high pressure piping, machinery and equipment, pressure vessels or similar apparatus now or hereafter

 

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installed in any of the improvements (without exclusion for explosions) and insurance against loss of occupancy or use arising from any breakdown, in such amounts as are generally available and are generally required by institutional lenders for properties comparable to the Properties, in each case, with a deductible not in excess of $250,000;

(vi) worker’s compensation insurance with respect to all employees of Borrower as and to the extent required by any Governmental Authority or Legal Requirement and employer’s liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 (if applicable);

(vii) during any period of repair or restoration, and only if the property and liability coverage forms do not otherwise apply, commercial general liability and umbrella liability insurance covering claims related to the repairs or restoration at the Properties that are not covered by or under the terms or provisions of the insurance provided for in Section 5.15(a)(iii) (and the insurance provided for in Section 5.15(a)(i) shall, in addition to the requirements set forth in such Section, (1) be written in a so-called builder’s risk completed value form or equivalent coverage, including coverage for 100% of the total costs of construction on a non-reporting basis and against all risks insured against pursuant to clauses (i) , (ii) , (iv) , (v) , (viii)  and (ix)  of Section 5.15(a) and (2) include permission to occupy the applicable Property);

(viii) earthquake insurance for any Property located in seismic zone 3 or 4 (A) with minimum coverage equivalent to 1.0x SEL (scenario expected loss) multiplied by the full replacement cost of the building plus business income, (B) having a deductible not in excess of 5% of the total insurable value of the applicable Property, and (C) if any Property is legally nonconforming under applicable zoning ordinances and codes, containing ordinance of law coverage in amounts as required by Lender;

(ix) so long as the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (“ TRIPRA ”) or a similar or subsequent statute is in effect, terrorism insurance for foreign and domestic acts (as such terms are defined in TRIPRA or similar or subsequent statute) in an amount equal to the full replacement cost of the Properties (plus twelve months of business interruption coverage). If TRIPRA or a similar or subsequent statute is not in effect, then provided that terrorism insurance is commercially available, Borrower shall be required to carry terrorism insurance throughout the term of the Loan as required by the preceding sentence, but in such event Borrower shall not be required to spend on terrorism insurance coverage more than two times the amount of the insurance premium that is payable at such time in respect of the property and business interruption/rental loss insurance required hereunder on a stand-alone basis (without giving effect to the cost of terrorism components of such casualty and business interruption/rental loss insurance), and if the cost of terrorism insurance exceeds such amount, Borrower shall purchase the maximum amount of terrorism insurance available with funds equal to such amount. In either such case, such insurance shall not have a deductible in excess of $250,000;

(x) auto liability coverage for all owned and non-owned vehicles, including rented and leased vehicles containing minimum limits per occurrence of $1,000,000 (if applicable); and

 

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(xi) such other insurance as may from time to time be requested by Lender.

(b) All policies of insurance (the “ Policies ”) required pursuant to this Section shall be issued by one or more insurers having a rating of at least (1) “A” by S&P and “A2” by Moody’s, if Moody’s is rating the Certificates, or by a syndicate of insurers through which at least 75% of the coverage (if there are 4 or fewer members of the syndicate) or at least 60% of the coverage (if there are 5 or more members of the syndicate) is with insurers having such ratings (provided that all such insurers shall have ratings of not less than “BBB+” by S&P and “Baa1” by Moody’s, if Moody’s is rating the Certificates) and (2) “A X” or better by A.M. Best. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (x) Borrower shall be permitted to maintain the Policies required hereunder with Ironshore Specialty Insurance Company in its current participation amount and position within the syndicate (“ Ironshore ”), provided Borrower obtains reinsurance with a “cut-through” endorsement, acceptable to Lender and the Rating Agencies, with respect to Ironshore, from an insurance company which meets the claims-paying ability ratings above and (y) Borrower may maintain the insurance coverage described in and required by Section 5.15(a) with the insurers under the Policies that are not rated with Moody’s as of the Closing Date, provided that such insurers maintain no less than the claims paying ability rating applicable thereto with AM Best and the Rating Agencies in effect on the Closing Date.

(c) All Policies required pursuant to this Section:

(i) shall contain deductibles that, in addition to complying with any other requirements expressly set forth in Section 5.15(a) , are approved by Lender (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, but subject to the requirements of each Rating Agency) and are no larger than is customary for similar policies covering similar properties in the geographic markets in which the Properties are located;

(ii) shall be maintained throughout the term of the Loan without cost to Lender and shall name Borrower as the named insured;

(iii) with respect to casualty and rental or business interruption insurance policies, shall contain a standard noncontributory mortgagee clause naming Lender and its successors and assigns as their interests may appear as first mortgagee and loss payee;

(iv) with respect to liability policies, except for workers compensation, employers liability and auto liability, shall name Lender and its successors and assigns as their interests may appear as additional insureds and, if available using commercially reasonable efforts, shall contain an endorsement or other provision providing that Lender shall receive at least 30 days’ prior written notice of cancellation thereof (or, in the case of cancellation due to non-payment of premium, 10 days’ prior written notice);

(v) with respect to casualty and rental or business interruption insurance policies, shall either be written on a no coinsurance form or contain an endorsement providing that neither Borrower nor Lender nor any other party shall be a co-insurer under such Policies;

 

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(vi) with respect to casualty and rental or business interruption insurance policies, and shall contain an endorsement or other provision providing that Lender shall receive at least 30 days’ prior written notice of cancellation thereof (or, in the case of cancellation due to non-payment of premium, 10 days’ prior written notice);

(vii) with respect to casualty and rental or business interruption insurance policies, shall contain an endorsement providing that no act or negligence of Borrower or any foreclosure or other proceeding or notice of sale relating to the Properties shall affect the validity or enforceability of the insurance insofar as a mortgagee is concerned;

(viii) shall not contain provisions that would make Lender liable for any insurance premiums thereon or subject to any assessments thereunder;

(ix) shall contain a waiver of subrogation against Lender, as applicable;

(x) may be in the form of a blanket policy; provided that Borrower shall provide evidence satisfactory to Lender that the insurance premiums for the Properties are separately allocated to the Properties, and such blanket policy shall provide the same protection as would a separate Policy as determined by Lender, subject to review and approval by Lender based on the schedule of locations and values, portfolio PML reports for the catastrophic perils of earthquake and windstorm/named storm, and such other information as requested by Lender or the Rating Agencies; provided , further , that in no event shall Borrower have less coverage than exists as of the Closing Date unless there is a corresponding proportionate reduction in the values of the locations covered under the policy. Borrower shall notify Lender of any material changes to the blanket policy and associated limits under the policy as of Closing Date or an aggregation of the insured values covered under the blanket policy, including the reduction of earthquake, flood or wind/named storm limits or the addition of locations that are subject to the perils of earthquake, flood or wind/named storm, and such changes shall be subject Lender’s approval; and

(xi) shall otherwise be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Lender and shall contain such other provisions as Lender deems reasonably necessary or desirable to protect its interests.

(d) Borrower shall pay the premiums for all Policies as the same become due and payable. Complete copies of such Policies shall be delivered to Lender promptly upon request. Not later than 20 days prior to the expiration date of each Policy, Borrower shall deliver to Lender evidence, reasonably satisfactory to Lender, of its renewal. Borrower shall promptly forward to Lender a copy of each written notice received by Borrower of any modification, reduction or cancellation of any of the Policies or of any of the coverages afforded under any of the Policies. Within 30 days after request by Lender, Borrower shall obtain such increases in the amounts of coverage required hereunder as may be reasonably requested by Lender, taking into consideration changes in the value of money over time, changes in liability laws, changes in prudent customs and practices, and the like.

 

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(e) Borrower shall not procure any other insurance coverage that would be on the same level of payment as the Policies or would adversely impact in any way the ability of Lender or Borrower to collect any proceeds under any of the Policies. If at any time Lender is not in receipt of written evidence that all Policies are in full force and effect when and as required hereunder, Lender shall have the right to take such action as Lender deems necessary to protect its interest in the Properties, including the obtaining of such insurance coverage as Lender in its sole discretion deems appropriate (but limited to the coverages and amounts required hereunder). All premiums, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by Lender in connection with such action or in obtaining such insurance and keeping it in effect shall be paid by Borrower to Lender upon demand and, until paid, and shall bear interest at the Default Rate.

(f) In the event of foreclosure of one or more of the Mortgages or other transfer of title to one or more of the Properties in extinguishment in whole or in part of the Indebtedness, all right, title and interest of Borrower in and to the Policies then in force with respect to such Properties and all proceeds payable thereunder shall thereupon vest in the purchaser at such foreclosure or in Lender or other transferee in the event of such other transfer of title.

Section 5.16 Casualty and Condemnation .

(a) Borrower shall give prompt notice to Lender of any Material Casualty Event or a Material Condemnation Event or of the actual or threatened commencement of proceedings that would result in a Material Condemnation Event.

(b) Lender may participate in any proceedings for any taking by any public or quasi-public authority accomplished through a Material Condemnation Event or any transfer made in lieu of or in anticipation of a Material Condemnation Event, to the extent permitted by law. Upon Lender’s request, Borrower shall deliver to Lender all instruments reasonably requested by it to permit such participation. Borrower shall, at its sole cost and expense, diligently prosecute any such proceedings, and shall consult with Lender, its attorneys and experts, and cooperate with them in the carrying on or defense of any such proceedings. Borrower shall not consent or agree to a Material Condemnation Event or action in lieu thereof without the prior written consent of Lender in each instance, not to be unreasonably withheld.

(c) Lender may (x) jointly with Borrower settle and adjust any claims, (y) during the continuance of an Event of Default, settle and adjust any claims without the consent or cooperation of Borrower, or (z) allow Borrower to settle and adjust any claims; except that if no Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is continuing, Borrower may settle and adjust claims aggregating not in excess of the Threshold Amount if such settlement or adjustment is carried out in a competent and timely manner, but, subject in all cases to Section 5.16(h) , Lender shall be entitled to collect and receive (as set forth below) any and all Loss Proceeds. The reasonable expenses incurred by Lender in the adjustment and collection of Loss Proceeds shall become part of the Indebtedness and shall be reimbursed by Borrower to Lender upon demand therefor.

 

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(d) All Loss Proceeds from any Casualty or Condemnation that does not constitute a Material Casualty Event or a Material Condemnation Event, as applicable, may be paid directly to the Borrower. All Loss Proceeds from any Material Casualty Event or Material Condemnation Event shall, subject in all cases to Section 5.16(h) , be immediately deposited into the Loss Proceeds Account (monthly rental loss/business interruption proceeds to be initially deposited into the Loss Proceeds Account and subsequently deposited into the Cash Management Account in installments as and when the lost rental income covered by such proceeds would have been payable). Following the occurrence of a Casualty, Borrower, regardless of whether Loss Proceeds are sufficient, shall in a reasonably prompt manner proceed to restore, repair, replace or rebuild the applicable Property to be of at least equal value and of substantially the same character as prior to the Casualty, all in accordance with the terms hereof applicable to Alterations. If, at any Property, any Material Casualty Event or Material Condemnation Event or Casualty occurs as to which, in the reasonable judgment of Lender:

(i) in the case of a Casualty, the cost of restoration would not exceed 35% of the applicable Allocated Loan Amount and the Casualty does not render untenantable, or result in the cancellation of Leases covering, more than 35% of the gross rentable area of such Property, or result in cancellation of Leases covering more than 35% of the base contractual rental revenue of such Property;

(ii) in the case of a Condemnation, the Condemnation does not render untenantable, or result in the cancellation of Leases covering, more than 25% of the gross rentable area of such Property;

(iii) restoration of such Property is reasonably expected to be completed prior to the expiration of rental interruption insurance and at least six months prior to the Maturity Date (taking into account any extension option that has been exercised by Borrower);

(iv) after such restoration, the fair market value of such Property is reasonably expected to equal at least the fair market value of such Property immediately prior to such Condemnation or Casualty (assuming the affected portion of such Property is relet); and

(v) all necessary approvals and consents from Governmental Authorities will be obtained to allow the rebuilding and re-occupancy of such Property in compliance with applicable Legal Requirements;

or if Lender otherwise elects to allow Borrower to restore such Property, then, provided no Event of Default is continuing, the Loss Proceeds after receipt thereof by Lender and reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred by Lender in connection therewith shall be applied to the cost of restoring, repairing, replacing or rebuilding such Property or part thereof subject to the Casualty or Condemnation, in the manner set forth below (and Borrower shall commence, as promptly and diligently as practicable, to prosecute such restoring, repairing, replacing or rebuilding of such Property in a workmanlike fashion and in accordance with applicable law to a status at least equivalent to the quality and character of such Property immediately prior to the Condemnation or Casualty). Provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be then

 

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continuing, Lender shall disburse such Loss Proceeds to Borrower upon Lender’s being furnished with (i) evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the estimated cost of completion of the restoration, (ii) if the cost of completion of the restoration plus payment of debt service on the Loan and funding of required reserves under this Agreement during the period of restoration exceeds the amount then contained in the Loss Proceeds Account, funds in an amount equal to such excess, which funds shall be remitted into the Loss Proceeds Account as additional Collateral for the Loan, and (iii) such architect’s certificates, waivers of lien, contractor’s sworn statements, title insurance endorsements, bonds, plats of survey and such other evidences of cost, payment and performance as Lender may reasonably request; and Lender may, in any event, require that all plans and specifications for restoration reasonably estimated by Lender to exceed the Threshold Amount be submitted to and approved by Lender prior to commencement of work (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). If Lender reasonably estimates that the cost to restore will exceed the Threshold Amount, Lender may retain a local construction consultant to inspect such work and review Borrower’s request for payments and Borrower shall, on demand by Lender, reimburse Lender for the reasonable fees and expenses of such consultant (which fees and expenses shall constitute Indebtedness). Retention as to progress payments to contractors shall be in accordance with the customary practices in the area that includes the applicable Property, as reasonably determined by Borrower. Funds other than Loss Proceeds shall be disbursed prior to disbursement of such Loss Proceeds, and at all times the undisbursed balance of such proceeds remaining in the Loss Proceeds Account, together with any additional funds irrevocably and unconditionally deposited therein or irrevocably and unconditionally committed for that purpose, shall be at least sufficient in the reasonable judgment of Lender to pay for the cost of completion of the restoration free and clear of all Liens or claims for Lien.

(e) Borrower shall cooperate with Lender in obtaining for Lender the benefits of any Loss Proceeds lawfully or equitably payable to Lender in connection with any Property. Lender shall be reimbursed for any expenses reasonably incurred in connection therewith (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, and, if reasonably necessary to collect such proceeds, the expense of an Appraisal on behalf of Lender) out of such Loss Proceeds or, if insufficient for such purpose, by Borrower.

(f) If Borrower is not entitled to apply Loss Proceeds toward the restoration of a Property pursuant to Section 5.16(d) and Lender elects, subject in all cases to Section 5.16(h) , not to permit such Loss Proceeds to be so applied, such Loss Proceeds shall be applied on the first Payment Date following such election to the prepayment of the Principal Indebtedness and shall be accompanied by interest through the end of the applicable Interest Accrual Period (calculated as if the amount prepaid were outstanding for the entire Interest Accrual Period).

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if the Loan is included in a REMIC and immediately following a release of any portion of the applicable Property from the Lien of the Loan Documents in connection with a Casualty or Condemnation the Loan would fail to satisfy a Lender 80% Determination (taking into account the planned restoration of such Property), then Borrower shall prepay the Principal Indebtedness in accordance with Section 5.16(f) in an amount equal to either (i) so much of the Loss Proceeds as are necessary to cause the Lender 80% Determination to be satisfied, or if the aggregate Loss

 

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Proceeds are insufficient for such purpose, then 100% of such Loss Proceeds, or (ii) a lesser amount, provided that Borrower delivers to Lender an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender and delivered by counsel reasonably satisfactory to Lender, opining that such release of Property from the Lien does not cause any portion of the Loan to cease to be a “qualified mortgage” within the meaning of section 860G(a)(3) of the Code.

(h) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.16 to the contrary, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Section 5.16 and the terms of any Lease, Ground Lease or Property Agreement, the terms of such agreement shall govern unless otherwise agreed in writing between Lender and the applicable counterparty(ies) to such agreement.

Section 5.17 Annual Budget . At least 30 days prior to the commencement of each Fiscal Year during the term of the Loan, Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Annual Budget for the Properties for the ensuing Fiscal Year for informational purposes only so long as no Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default is continuing. During the continuance of any Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default, each Annual Budget will require the prior written consent of Lender, not to be unreasonably withheld so long as no Event of Default is then continuing. Within 30 days after the commencement of any Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default, to the extent the Annual Budget then in effect was not otherwise approved by Lender, Borrower shall deliver to Lender an update to the Capital Expenditure portion of the then existing Annual Budget for the remainder of the applicable Fiscal Year, which update will require the prior written consent of Lender, not to be unreasonably withheld so long as no Event of Default is then continuing. Promptly following preparation thereof, Borrower shall deliver to Lender subsequent revisions to any Approved Annual Budget, which shall be for informational purposes except that (i) if no Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, Lender’s prior written consent shall be required with respect to any such revisions that result in variances (other than Permitted Variances) from the Approved Annual Budget most recently delivered to Lender that, individually or in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the total amount of such budget or (ii) if an Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, Lender’s prior written consent shall be required in connection with any such revisions that result in variances (other than Permitted Variances). Borrower shall not amend any Approved Annual Budget more than once in any 60-day period. To the extent Lender’s approval is required with respect to any Annual Budget (or amendment thereto) in accordance with this Section 5.17 , for so long as Lender shall have not yet approved such Annual Budget (or amendment thereto), the Approved Annual Budget in effect prior to any such request for approval shall remain in effect.

Section 5.18 Venture Capital Operating Companies; Nonbinding Consultation . Solely to the extent that Lender or any direct or indirect holder of an interest in the Loan must qualify as a “venture capital operating company” (as defined in Department of Labor Regulation 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101), Lender shall have the right to consult with and advise Borrower regarding significant business activities and business and financial developments of Borrower, provided that any such advice or consultation or the result thereof shall be completely nonbinding on Borrower.

 

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Section 5.19 Compliance with Encumbrances and Material Agreements .

(i) Borrower shall comply with all terms, conditions and covenants of each Material Agreement and each material Permitted Encumbrance, including any reciprocal easement agreement, ground lease, declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions, and any condominium arrangements, in each case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) Borrower and JV Pledgor, as applicable, shall promptly deliver to Lender a true and complete copy of each and every notice of default received by Borrower or JV Pledgor, as applicable, with respect to any obligation of Borrower or JV Pledgor, as applicable, under the provisions of any Material Agreement, JV Document and/or Permitted Encumbrance.

(iii) Borrower shall deliver to Lender copies of any written notices of default or event of default relating to any Material Agreement, JV Document and/or Permitted Encumbrance served by Borrower.

(iv) Without the prior written consent of Lender, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, Borrower shall not grant or withhold any material consent, approval or waiver under any Material Agreement or Permitted Encumbrance unless no Event of Default is continuing and the same would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Borrower shall deliver to each other party to any Permitted Encumbrance and any Material Agreement notice of the identity of Lender and each assignee of Lender of which Borrower is aware if such notice is required in order to protect Lender’s interest thereunder. JV Pledgor shall deliver to each other party to the JV Documents, as applicable, notice of the identity of Lender and each assignee of Lender of which JV Pledgor is aware if such notice is required in order to protect Lender’s interest thereunder.

(vi) Borrower shall enforce, short of termination thereof and without being required to commence or maintain any litigation, the performance and observance of each and every material term, covenant and provision of each Material Agreement and Permitted Encumbrance to be performed or observed, if any, in each case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.20 Prohibited Persons . No Required SPE nor any of its direct or indirect equityholders (excluding (i) any holders of Equity Interests that are traded on a nationally recognized public stock exchange and (ii) any indirect holders of Equity Interests in Seritage OP) shall (i) knowingly conduct any business, or engage in any transaction or dealing, with any Embargoed Person, including the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods, or services, to or for the benefit of a Embargoed Person, or (ii) knowingly engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any Federal Trade Embargo. Borrower and JV Pledgor, as applicable, shall cause the representation set forth in Section 4.39 to remain true and correct at all times.

 

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Section 5.21 Business Plans . Borrower shall deliver business plans to Lender in a form satisfying the requirements set forth on Schedule H hereto on the following schedule:

(i) on or before January 7, 2016, business plans for each individual Property (the “ Property Business Plans ”) as well as the plans of Seritage REIT with respect to senior management and development of infrastructure (including a timeline with major milestones) necessary to operate Seritage REIT without reliance on the SHLD TSA (the “ Corporate Business Plan ” and collectively with the Property Business Plans, the “ Business Plans ”);

(ii) annually thereafter, within 30 days prior to the commencement of each calendar year, updates to the Business Plans; and

(iii) from time to time, updates to any Business Plan promptly following any material change to such plan.

Section 5.22 Redevelopment Plans .

(a) In connection with the redevelopment, re-tenanting or re-positioning of any Property (a “ Redevelopment Project ”), Borrower shall deliver to Lender a redevelopment plan and budget (a “ Redevelopment Plan and Budget ”), including details with respect to Redevelopment Costs of such Redevelopment Project, expected timeline with respect to such Redevelopment Project and Borrower’s source of funds (including any expected draws from the Future Advance Amount) and, promptly after preparation thereof, any subsequent revisions to any Redevelopment Plan and Budget, which delivery shall be for informational purposes so long as no Event of Default is continuing or the applicable Redevelopment Plan and Budget is not otherwise subject to approval by Lender in accordance with this Section 5.22 . Each Redevelopment Plan and Budget with respect to a Redevelopment Project shall be subject to review and approval by Lender, in its reasonable discretion if either (i) the aggregate amount of the budget for such Redevelopment Project exceeds $7,500,000 (or, during a Cash Flow Sweep Period, $5,000,000) or (ii) as to any calendar year, such Redevelopment Project would cause the aggregate budgeted amount of Redevelopment Projects for such year to exceed $25,000,000 and the aggregate amount of the budget for such Redevelopment Project exceeds $5,000,000 (each of (i) and (ii), a “ Major Redevelopment Project ”). In addition, during the continuance of any Event of Default or a Cash Flow Sweep Period each Redevelopment Plan and Budget with respect to a Redevelopment Project not then commenced will require the prior written consent of Lender. Submission and/or approval of a Redevelopment Plan and Budget by Borrower shall not obligate Borrower to commence the applicable Redevelopment Project. Promptly following preparation thereof, Borrower shall deliver to Lender subsequent revisions to any Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, which shall be subject to Lender’s prior written consent (y) if no Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, with respect to any such revisions that result in variances (other than Permitted Variances) from the Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget most recently delivered to Lender that, individually or in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the total amount of such budget or (z) if an Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, Lender’s prior written consent shall be required in connection with any such revisions that result in variances (other than Permitted Variances). Each Redevelopment Plan and Budget may include payment of a construction management fee payable to the Approved

 

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Property Manager equal to up to six percent (6%) of the hard and soft costs of the Redevelopment Project actually incurred by Borrower (payable as and when the cost of the work on which such fee is based is due and payable) or, if applicable, up to two percent (2%) of the hard and soft costs incurred by tenants in connection with the redevelopment of the Properties.

(b) Not less than 30 days prior to the commencement of any redevelopment that involves more than 15,000 square feet of ground-up or substantially equivalent new build construction, and not less than 15 days prior to the commencement of any other Redevelopment Project, Borrower shall have delivered the following (as applicable), it being agreed that Future Advance Lender shall not be obligated to make any advances of the Future Advance Amount nor shall Lender be obligated to release funds from the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account until all of the conditions below (as applicable) shall have been satisfied:

(i) [Reserved].

(ii) Borrower shall have demonstrated to Lender’s reasonable satisfaction that Borrower has access to funds in an amount not less than the Approved Redevelopment Costs (or, in the case of any Redevelopment Project to be funded in whole or in part with the proceeds of Future Advances, 105% of the Approved Redevelopment Costs) set forth in the applicable Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, whether from debt and/or equity.

(iii) Lender shall have received copies of the plans and specifications for the Redevelopment Project.

(iv) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender an Officer’s Certificate certifying that Borrower has made all necessary filings and obtained all necessary approvals to commence the Redevelopment Project, including all applicable building permits, and containing copies of material approvals and Permits.

(v) Lender shall have received a copy of the construction contract for such Redevelopment Project.

(vi) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender and, if applicable, its construction consultant a copy of any architect contract and any other material service provider agreements entered into by Borrower or any Affiliate thereof in connection with such Redevelopment Project.

(vii) (a) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender an Officer’s Certificate certifying its compliance in all material respects with all requirements of, and that it has obtained all approvals, if any, required under, any Ground Leases, Leases (including the SHLD Master Lease) and/or Material Agreements applicable to the Redevelopment Project, and that the Redevelopment Project does not violate any of the provisions of any of the foregoing (except to the extent such provisions have been waived or otherwise amended, in accordance with terms of this Agreement, in such a manner that Borrower is no longer in violation thereof) and, and (b) with respect to each Major Redevelopment Project, Lender shall have approved, in its reasonable discretion, all material modifications to existing zoning, entitlements and other in-place approvals relating to the use and operations of the Property and all parking and ingress/egress specifications (“ Major Redevelopment Land Use Matters ”).

 

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(c) Each request for a draw of the Future Advance Amount or a release of funds from the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

(i) Borrower shall deliver to Lender invoices evidencing that the costs for which such advance is requested are due and payable, and Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate confirming that (i) all such costs to be funded by the requested advance or release have been previously paid by Borrower or will be paid from the proceeds of the requested advance or release, (ii) all conditions precedent to such advance required by the Loan Documents have been satisfied and (iii) Borrower has applied all prior amounts advanced or released to it in accordance with this Section 5.22(c) in respect of the applicable Redevelopment Project to the costs set forth in its prior Funding Requests.

(ii) no mechanics or materialmen’s lien or encumbrance shall have been filed and remain in effect against the applicable Property (unless bonded or insured over by the title insurance company issuing the related Title Insurance Policy for such Property as required under applicable law or otherwise in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Lender);

(iii) if Lender shall have determined based on the most recent Officer’s Certificate delivered to Lender in accordance with Section 5.22(d) that Borrower’s available funds to cover Approved Redevelopment Costs that are required to be funded by Borrower in accordance with the related Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget are less than 75% of such required Borrower funds, Borrower shall deposit in the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account the amount of such shortfall;

(iv) if Lender shall have determined that based on the most recent Redevelopment Reconciliation Report that the actual Approved Redevelopment Costs incurred by Borrower exceed the amounts provided in the Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, Borrower shall have deposited an amount equal to such shortfall in the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account or Borrower shall, with Lender’s consent (in its sole discretion), have designated such amount against the undrawn balance of the Future Advance Amount in accordance with Section 3.11(a) ;

(v) to the extent the Approved Redevelopment Pro Rata Share with respect to a Redevelopment Project is less than 100%, Borrower shall have delivered to Lender evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lender that an amount equal to the Borrower’s pro rata share (if any) of the amount of the costs which are subject to the related Funding Request has been funded through Excess Cash Flow or through cash equity contributions to Borrower (it being agreed that Lender shall not be obligated to fund more than the applicable Approved Redevelopment Pro Rata Share of the amount of the costs which are the subject of the related Funding Request);

 

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(vi) in connection with any funding of the Future Advance Amount, the representations in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on the applicable Funding Date with the same effect as if made on such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), and except with respect to matters that have theretofore been disclosed in writing to Lender in the form of an updated Exception Report (provided, that, in no event shall such update reflect facts the existence of which would constitute an Event of Default hereunder or would result in a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect), as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate; and

(vii) Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 5.22(g) .

(d) With respect to each Major Redevelopment Project that has been commenced until final completion thereof, Borrower shall deliver to Lender, on a monthly basis, a reconciliation report of the actual Redevelopment Costs incurred and/or paid in the prior calendar month against such costs included in the Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget (each such report, an “ Redevelopment Reconciliation Report ”), which report shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such report is true, complete and correct in all material respects. In addition, with respect to all Redevelopment Projects, Borrower shall deliver to Lender, on a monthly basis, an Officer’s Certificate certifying the availability of adequate funds to complete such Redevelopment Projects or, as the case may be, the Borrower’s plan to obtain such funds.

(e) Once commenced by Borrower, Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly and diligently perform to completion in a workmanlike fashion and in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements all work in connection with any Redevelopment Project substantially within the timelines set forth in the Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget (subject to Force Majeure). For any Major Redevelopment Project, Lender may retain a construction consultant to review the Redevelopment Plan and Budget, to review any submissions made to Lender pursuant to Section 5.22(b) and/or Section 5.22(c) and to perform site inspections. Borrower shall, within ten (10) Business Days’ demand by Lender, reimburse Lender for the reasonable fees and expenses of such consultant for the applicable Major Redevelopment Project.

(f) Promptly upon completion of all work contemplated under an Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, Borrower shall deliver to Lender a certificate of substantial completion issued by an architect reasonably satisfactory to Lender with respect to the applicable Redevelopment Project. Borrower shall promptly deliver evidence to Lender of the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy or the equivalent thereof, if required by law, and an Officer’s Certificate certifying compliance in all material respects of the applicable Redevelopment Project with all Legal Requirements. In addition, to the extent contemplated under the applicable Redevelopment Plan and Budget, a reciprocal easement agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, including cost-sharing arrangements, shall have been recorded in the applicable real property records.

 

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(g) Within 10 days following the earlier to occur of (i) the disbursement by the Future Advance Lender of $5,000,000 of the Future Advance Amount since the “last date of coverage” provided in the applicable Title Insurance Policy (the “ Redevelopment Date of Coverage ”) and (ii) the end of any Fiscal Quarter during which the Future Advance Lender has funded any portion of the Future Advance Amount, Borrower shall furnish to Lender (A) reasonable evidence establishing that Borrower has applied all amounts received by it in accordance with Section 5.22(c) since the prior Redevelopment Date of Coverage to the costs set forth in the applicable Funding Requests, (B) partial or complete releases or waivers of mechanics’ and materialmen’s liens from all Persons furnishing work or materials with respect to Approved Redevelopment Costs funded since the prior Redevelopment Date of Coverage (to the extent Borrower is able to obtain such releases and waivers with the use of commercially reasonable efforts) and (C) a Required Title Update as to the Title Insurance Policy for each Property subject to a Redevelopment Project which was funded since the prior Redevelopment Date of Coverage, which update shall show that there have been no mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens filed by any Persons performing work, other than liens that have been bonded over or insured over in compliance with this Agreement ((A), (B) and (C), collectively, the “ Redevelopment Bring-Down Package ”). To the extent applicable pursuant to Section 5.22(j) , the Redevelopment Bring-Down Package shall include the documents referenced in Section 5.22(j) . As used in this Agreement, the term “ Required Title Update ” shall mean, as to any Title Insurance Policy, (1) as to a Property in any jurisdiction in which an ALTA form 33-06 endorsement, or its equivalent, is available, (A) an ALTA form 33-06 (or equivalent) endorsement to such Title Insurance Policy, which endorsement shall reflect the aggregate amount disbursed by Lender as recognized by the applicable title insurer and shall not take exception for any mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens on the applicable Property, and shall amend the “Date of Coverage” of the applicable Title Insurance Policy to the date of the most recent search prior to such disbursement and (B) an informational title report from the applicable title insurer which issued such Title Insurance Policy, which report shall not disclose any mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens and, except for other Permitted Encumbrances, not disclosing any other Liens on the applicable Property, (2) as to any Property not covered by clause (1)  above or clause (3)  below, (A) an endorsement to such Title Insurance Policy recognizing such disbursement and insuring against any mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens and (B) an informational title report from the applicable title insurer which issued such Title Insurance Policy, which report shall not disclose any mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens and, except for other Permitted Encumbrances, not disclosing any other Liens on the applicable Property; (3) that with respect to any Property in Delaware, Borrower shall provide an informational title report from the applicable title insurer which issued the applicable Title Insurance Policy, which report shall not disclose any mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens or, except for other Permitted Encumbrances, any other Liens on the applicable Property); and (4) with respect to each applicable Property where the Title Insurance Pool Amount is less than the aggregate Allocated Loan Amounts of the Properties in such Title Insurance Pool (after giving effect to all Future Advances made with respect to Properties in such Title Insurance Pool), an increase in the amount of title insurance on such Property sufficient to cause the applicable Title Insurance Pool Amount to equal or exceed the aggregate Allocated Loan Amounts of the Properties in such Title Insurance Pool (after giving effect to all Future Advances made with respect to the Properties in such Title Insurance Pool).

(h) As of the Closing Date, the Lender has approved the redevelopment plans attached hereto as Schedule M for each Designated Property (the “ Approved Designated

 

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Property Redevelopment Plans ”). Any Redevelopment Project with respect to a Designated Property that is funded in its entirety from sources other than proceeds of Future Advances and other than amounts on deposit in the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account (a “ Designated Redevelopment Project ”) shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to be a Major Redevelopment Project except as provided in this Section 5.22(h) . Provided that the Designated Redevelopment Project proposed in a Redevelopment Plan and Budget submitted by Borrower to Lender (and any subsequent revisions thereof) in accordance with Section 5.22(a) is substantially consistent with the proposed uses and overall density described in the applicable Approved Designated Property Redevelopment Plan (i) the Redevelopment Plan and Budget with respect to such Designated Redevelopment Project (and subsequent revisions thereof) will be subject to review by Lender in accordance with Section 5.22(a) , but will not be subject to approval by Lender and (ii) Lender’s approval will not be required in connection with any Major Redevelopment Land Use Matters related to such Designated Redevelopment Project.

(i) Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each construction agreement, architect contract or other material agreement to include a consent to assignment to Lender (including an agreement to attorn to Lender during the continuance of an Event of Default) from the applicable service provider. In addition, Borrower shall include commercially reasonable retainage provisions in each such contract.

(j) If the applicable Property in respect of which Future Advances have been disbursed is located in a jurisdiction that imposes a mortgage recording, intangibles or similar tax (any such tax, “ MRT ”) and the advance of such portion of the Future Advance Amount would require payment of additional MRT and/or an amendment to the applicable Mortgage for the purpose of securing such portion of the Future Advance Amount (any such amendment, an “ MRT Amendment ”), then, the Redevelopment Bring-Down Package delivered pursuant to Section 5.22(g) shall, to the extent applicable, include the following, which shall be furnished by Borrower at Borrower’s sole cost and expense: (a) evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lender of the payment of such additional MRT; (b) an MRT Amendment executed and delivered by the applicable Borrower, which MRT Amendment shall solely increase the amount secured by the applicable Mortgage, by no less than the applicable Future Advances and which shall otherwise be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender and acceptable for recording in the applicable jurisdiction, and (c) in connection with any MRT Amendment, an ALTA 11 or ALTA 11.2 Mortgage Modification Endorsement or jurisdictional equivalent to the applicable Title Insurance Policy that insures the MRT Amendment and, with respect to any Property where the Title Insurance Pool Amount is less than the aggregate Allocated Loan Amounts of the Properties in such Title Insurance Pool (after giving effect to all Future Advances made with respect to Properties in such Title Insurance Pool), an increase in the amount of title insurance on such Property sufficient to cause the applicable Title Insurance Pool Amount to equal or exceed the aggregate Allocated Loan Amounts of the Properties in such Title Insurance Pool (after giving effect to all Future Advances made with respect to the Properties in such Title Insurance Pool) (an “ Acceptable Mortgage Modification Endorsement ”); provided , however , that for any Property in the State of New York, (i) instead of an MRT Amendment to the existing Mortgage, the Redevelopment Bring-Down Package shall include an additional mortgage executed by the applicable Borrower, in substantially the form of the existing applicable Mortgage, in the amount of at least such portion of the Future Advance Amount and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender and which additional mortgage shall state that such additional

 

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mortgage is pari passu with the existing applicable Mortgage(s), which additional mortgage shall secure such portion of the Future Advance Amount, and (ii) if Borrower executes and delivers such additional mortgage, instead of an Acceptable Mortgage Modification Endorsement, the Redevelopment Bring-Down Package shall include a new Title Insurance Policy in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender with respect to such additional mortgage in the amount equal to at least such portion of the Future Advance Amount. Lender acknowledges that the form of MRT Amendment attached hereto as Exhibit F is satisfactory to Lender, and Lender shall not unreasonably withhold or delay approval of forms proposed by Borrower of MRT Amendments or, for New York State Properties, forms of additional mortgages. Each of Borrower and Lender acknowledges that, as of the Closing Date, this Section 5.22(j) applies to the jurisdictions listed on Schedule S attached hereto.

Section 5.23 Recapture Plans . Lender agrees that the Recapture Plans attached to the SHLD Master Lease and attached hereto as Schedule N have been approved by Lender. Borrower shall promptly provide to Lender copies of any subsequent amendments, replacements or additions to any Recapture Plan (including all Recapture Plans with respect to Properties as to which no Recapture Plan is attached to the SHLD Master Lease), together with a narrative description highlighting changes from the prior Recapture Plan delivered to Lender; provided that Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of Lender (not to be unreasonably withheld), modify, amend, supplement or replace any Recapture Plan (i) with respect to a Redevelopment Project that is not a Major Redevelopment Project if the effect of such modification, amendment or supplement would be to: (1) leave the portion of the applicable Property to be recaptured by Borrower without adequate ingress or egress; (2) deprive the portion of the applicable Property to be recaptured by Borrower of vertical transport, unless provision for such shall be made in the applicable Redevelopment Plan and Budget; (3) alter the allocations of horizontal and vertical space between SHLD Master Tenant and Borrower by more than 10.0%; (4) cause the Tenant under the Land’s End Lease to terminate the Land’s End Lease with respect to such Property; (ii) with respect to any Major Redevelopment Project; or (iii) which is funded from disbursements from the Unfunded Obligations Account.

Section 5.24 Joint Ventures .

(a) JV Pledgor shall cause any JV Profits distributed in respect of its JV Interests to be remitted directly to either (i) the TI/LC Reserve Account or (ii) at the sole election of Borrower from time to time on or prior to the date of each such remittance of such JV Profits, the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account.

(b) JV Pledgor shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, all quarterly and annual financial reports received by JV Pledgor pursuant to the applicable JV Documents and such other information in respect of JV Pledgor and its assets and each Applicable JV as Lender may reasonably request.

(c) JV Pledgor shall not permit any JV Documents or any Debt incurred by any Applicable JV or any subsidiary of any Applicable JV to prohibit, restrict or otherwise impair (i) the ability of JV Pledgor to grant a first priority security interest in the applicable JV Collateral to Lender pursuant to the JV Pledge and Security Agreement or (ii) other than the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are substantially the same as those contained in the JV

 

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Documents as of the Closing Date, the ability of Lender to exercise its rights and remedies under the JV Pledge and Security Agreement, including, without limitation, the foreclosure sale, or assignment-in-lieu of foreclosure, of the JV Interests and the other JV Collateral to Lender or any other Person; provided, however, that customary restrictions in any such Debt (including, without limitation, restriction based on Embargoed Person; “Know your customer”, absence of adverse ligation or foreclosures, absence of bankruptcy or similar filings, and other customary restrictions as to a Person holding 50% of the direct or indirect Equity Interests in the Applicable JV) shall not be affected by the restriction in this Section 5.24 .

ARTICLE 6

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Section 6.1 Liens on the Collateral . No Required SPE shall permit or suffer the existence of any Lien on any of its assets, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

Section 6.2 Ownership . Borrower shall not own any assets other than the Properties and incidental personal property necessary for the ownership and operation of the Properties. JV Pledgor shall not own any assets other than the applicable JV Interest and incidental personal property necessary for the ownership and operation of the applicable JV Interest.

Section 6.3 Transfer . Borrower shall not convey a fee interest or ground leasehold interest in any of the Properties other than a Permitted Transfer, and Borrower shall not hereafter file a declaration of condominium with respect to any Property without Lender’s consent in its sole discretion. To the extent any Permitted Encumbrances are reasonably approved by Lender, Lender agrees that, when reasonably required in connection with such Permitted Encumbrances, Lender shall, at Borrower’s request and at Borrower’s sole cost and expense subordinate the Liens of the Loan Documents to such Permitted Encumbrances. JV Pledgor shall not make any direct or indirect transfer of the JV Interests except for any Transfer in compliance with Section 2.4(d) .

Section 6.4 Debt . Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor shall have any Debt, other than Permitted Debt.

Section 6.5 Dissolution; Merger or Consolidation . No Required SPE shall dissolve, terminate, liquidate, merge with or consolidate into another Person.

Section 6.6 Change in Business . Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor shall make any material change in the scope or nature of its business objectives, purposes or operations or undertake or participate in activities other than (i) in the case of Borrower, the continuance of owning, holding, developing, selling, transferring, leasing, managing and operating the Properties and (ii) in the case of a JV Pledgor, owning, holding, selling, transferring and managing the applicable JV Interests.

Section 6.7 Debt Cancellation . Borrower shall not cancel or otherwise forgive or release any material claim or Debt owed to it by any Person, except for adequate consideration or in the ordinary course of its business without Lender’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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Section 6.8 Affiliate Transactions . Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor shall enter into, or be a party to, any transaction with any Affiliate of Borrower, except as expressly permitted under this Agreement or otherwise on arm’s-length terms and approved by Lender in its reasonable discretion.

Section 6.9 Misapplication of Funds . Borrower shall not (a) distribute any Revenue or Loss Proceeds in violation of the provisions of this Agreement (and shall promptly cause the reversal of any such distributions made in error of which Borrower becomes aware), (b) fail to remit amounts to the Clearing Account as required by Section 3.1 , (c) make any distributions to equityholders during the continuance of a Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default unless expressly permitted hereunder, or (d) misappropriate any security deposit or portion thereof. JV Pledgor shall not fail to remit JV Profits (as determined by JV Pledgor in good faith), to the TI/LC Reserve Account or the Redevelopment Project Reserve Accounting, as applicable, as required by Section 5.24(a) .

Section 6.10 Jurisdiction of Formation; Name . Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor shall change its jurisdiction of formation, its jurisdiction of fiscal residence or name without receiving Lender’s prior written consent and promptly providing Lender such information and replacement Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and legal opinions as Lender may reasonably request in connection therewith.

Section 6.11 Modifications and Waivers . Unless otherwise consented to in writing by Lender in Lender’s reasonable discretion (provided that if any of the following matters would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect, Lender’s consent in its sole discretion shall be required):

(i) Borrower shall not terminate, renew, surrender, or materially modify, amend or waive any rights or remedies under, any Lease (including, without limitation, the SHLD Master Lease, it being expressly understood that any change or update to any schedule to the SHLD Master Lease shall constitute a modification to the Master Lease), or enter into any Lease, in each case except in compliance with Section 5.7 ;

(ii) No Required SPE shall terminate, amend or modify its organizational documents (including any operating agreement, limited partnership agreement, by-laws, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or certificate of incorporation);

(iii) Borrower shall not terminate or surrender, or materially amend, modify or waive any rights or remedies under, any Approved Management Agreement;

(iv) Borrower shall not (x) enter into any Material Agreement, or amend, modify, surrender or waive any material rights or remedies under any Material Agreement, (y) terminate any Material Agreement (z) where such default would reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect, default in its obligations under the SHLD Master Lease or any Material Agreement; or

 

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(v) JV Pledgor shall not amend or modify, and JV Pledgor shall not terminate, the GGP JV Agreement, the Simon JV Agreement, the Macerich JV Agreement or the Permitted JV Agreement.

Section 6.12 ERISA .

(a) Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor shall maintain or contribute to, or agree to maintain or contribute to, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to maintain or contribute to or agree to maintain or contribute to, any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

(b) Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor shall engage in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code, or substantially similar provisions under federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations or in any transaction that would cause any obligation or action taken or to be taken hereunder (or the exercise by Lender of any of its rights under the Notes, this Agreement, the Mortgage or any other Loan Document) to be a non-exempt prohibited transaction under such provisions.

Section 6.13 Alterations and Expansions . During the continuance of any Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default, Borrower shall not incur or contract to incur any capital improvements requiring Capital Expenditures that are not consistent with the Approved Annual Budget or an Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget. Borrower shall not perform, undertake, contract to perform or consent to any Material Alteration without the prior written consent of Lender, which consent (in the absence of a continuing Event of Default) shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, but may be conditioned on the deposit by Borrower into the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account of an amount equal to the remaining budgeted Capital Expenditures in respect of any such Material Alteration in excess of $7,500,000 from time to time. If Lender’s consent is requested hereunder with respect to a Material Alteration, Lender may retain a construction consultant to review such request and, if such request is granted, Lender may retain a construction consultant to inspect the work from time to time. Borrower shall, on demand by Lender, reimburse Lender for the reasonable fees and disbursements of such consultant.

Section 6.14 Advances and Investments . Borrower shall not lend money or make advances to any Person, or purchase or acquire any stock, obligations or securities of, or any other interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any Person, except for Permitted Investments.

Section 6.15 Single-Purpose Entity . No Required SPE shall cease to be a Single-Purpose Entity; provided, however , that from and after a JV Pledgor Release Event as to any Seritage JV Member, such Seritage JV Member shall cease to be a Required SPE. No Required SPE shall remove or replace any Independent Manager without Cause and without providing at least five Business Days’ advance written notice thereof to Lender and the Rating Agencies.

 

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Section 6.16 Zoning and Uses . Borrower shall not do any of the following without the prior written consent of Lender, in the case of clause (iii)  below not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed:

(i) initiate or consent to any limiting change in the permitted uses of any of the Properties (or to the extent applicable, zoning reclassification of any of the Properties) or any portion thereof, seek any variance under existing land use restrictions, laws, rules or regulations (or, to the extent applicable, zoning ordinances) applicable to any of the Properties, or use or permit the use of any of the Properties in a manner that would result in the use of such Property becoming a nonconforming use under applicable land-use restrictions or zoning ordinances or that would violate the terms of any Lease (including, without limitation, the SHLD Master Lease), Material Agreement, Ground Lease or Legal Requirement (and if under applicable zoning ordinances the use of all or any portion of any of the Properties is a nonconforming use, Borrower shall not cause or permit such nonconforming use to be discontinued or abandoned);

(ii) impose or consent to the imposition of any restrictive covenants, easements or encumbrances upon any of the Properties in any manner that is reasonably likely to have a Property Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) execute or file any subdivision plat affecting any of the Properties, or institute, or permit the institution of, proceedings to alter any tax lot comprising any of the Properties; or

(iv) permit or consent to the use of any of the Properties by the public or any Person in such manner as might make possible a claim of adverse usage or possession or of any implied dedication or easement.

Section 6.17 Waste . Borrower shall not commit any Waste on any of the Properties, nor knowingly take any actions that could reasonably be expected to invalidate any insurance carried on any of the Properties (and Borrower shall promptly correct any such actions of which Borrower becomes aware).

Section 6.18 Ground Lease .

(i) Borrower shall not, without Lender’s written consent, fail to exercise any option or right to renew or extend the term of any Ground Lease, and shall give immediate written notice to Lender and shall execute, acknowledge, deliver and record any document requested by Lender to evidence the lien of the related Mortgage on such extended or renewed lease term. If Borrower shall fail to exercise any such option or right to renew or extend, Lender may exercise the option or right as Borrower’s agent and attorney-in-fact as provided herein in Lender’s own name or in the name of and on behalf of a nominee of Lender, as Lender may determine in the exercise of its sole and absolute discretion.

(ii) Borrower shall not waive, excuse, condone or in any way release or discharge any Ground Lessor under any Ground Lease of or from such Ground Lessor’s obligations, covenant and/or conditions under the related Ground Lease without the prior written consent of Lender.

 

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(iii) Borrower shall not, without Lender’s prior written consent, surrender, terminate, forfeit, or suffer or permit the surrender, termination or forfeiture of, or change, modify or amend any Ground Lease, other than an expiration of the Ground Lease pursuant to its terms. Consent to one amendment, change, agreement or modification by Lender shall not be deemed to be a waiver of the right to require consent to other, future or successive amendments, changes, agreements or modifications. Any acquisition of Ground Lessor’s interest in any Ground Lease by Borrower or any Affiliate of Borrower shall be accomplished by Borrower in such a manner so as to avoid a merger of the interests of lessor and lessee in such Ground Lease, unless consent to such merger is granted by Lender.

ARTICLE 7

DEFAULTS

Section 7.1 Event of Default . The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall be, and shall constitute the commencement of, an “ Event of Default ” hereunder (any Event of Default that has occurred shall continue unless and until waived by Lender in writing in its sole discretion):

(a) Payment .

(i) Borrower shall default in the payment when due of any principal or interest owing hereunder or under the Notes (including any mandatory prepayment required hereunder) provided that no default shall exist under this clause (i) if and to the extent that on the applicable Payment Date the amount in the Cash Management Account is sufficient to make all of the remittances and deposits required under Section 3.2(c) ; or

(ii) Borrower shall default, and such default shall continue for at least five Business Days after written notice to Borrower that such amounts are owing, in the payment when due of fees, expenses or other amounts owing hereunder, under the Notes or under any of the other Loan Documents (other than principal and interest owing hereunder or under the Notes); provided , however , that no default shall exist under this clause (ii) if and to the extent that the amount in the applicable Collateral Account is sufficient to make such payment and Borrower is entitled to the application of such amounts to such payments pursuant to the Loan Documents.

(b) Representations . Any representation made by Borrower or Guarantor in any of the Loan Documents, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other instrument, agreement or document furnished to Lender shall have been false or misleading in any material respect (or, with respect to any representation that itself contains a materiality qualifier, in any respect) as of the date such representation was made or deemed made; provided that as to any such breach of any representation or warranty which was unintentionally made to Lender if such representation or warranty can either be made true and correct in all material respects or may

 

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otherwise be cured, Borrower shall have a period of 5 Business Days in the event such cure can be effectuated by the payment of money, or otherwise 30 days, after Borrower receives written notice thereof, to undertake and complete any required action to make such representation or warranty either true and correct in all material respects or otherwise to cure the same.

(c) Other Agreements . A default by Borrower, Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall occur under any Material Agreement, Ground Lease, or Approved Management Agreement, in each case, beyond the expiration of any applicable cure period, and in each case if such default would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Bankruptcy, etc .

(i) Any Required SPE or Guarantor shall commence a voluntary case concerning itself under the Bankruptcy Code;

(ii) any Required SPE or Guarantor shall commence any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of creditors, dissolution, insolvency or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to such Required SPE or Guarantor, or shall dissolve or otherwise cease to exist;

(iii) there is commenced against any Required SPE or Guarantor an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code, or any such other proceeding, which remains undischarged, unstayed and undismissed for a period of 90 days after commencement;

(iv) any Required SPE or Guarantor is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt;

(v) any Required SPE or Guarantor suffers appointment of any custodian or the like (other than a custodian or the like appointed by or at the direction of Lender) for it or for any substantial portion of its property and such appointment continues unchanged or unstayed for a period of 90 days after commencement of such appointment;

(vi) any Required SPE or Guarantor makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

(vii) any Required SPE or Guarantor takes any action with the intent of effecting any of the foregoing.

(e) Prohibited Change of Control . A Prohibited Change of Control shall occur.

(f) Equity Pledge; Preferred Equity . (i) Any direct or indirect equity interest in or right to distributions from any Restricted Party shall be subject to a Lien in favor of any Person, or (ii) Borrower, JV Pledgor, Seritage REIT, Seritage OP or any other holder of a direct or indirect interest in either of Borrower or JV Pledgor that is a Subsidiary of Seritage REIT or Seritage OP shall issue preferred equity (or debt granting the holder thereof rights substantially

 

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similar to those generally associated with preferred equity); except that the following shall be permitted:

(i) any pledge of direct or indirect equity interests in and rights to distributions from Seritage REIT and Seritage OP (other than equity interests in and rights to distributions from Seritage OP held by Seritage REIT);

(ii) the pledge of equity interests in Borrower securing the Mezzanine Loan or the refinancing thereof; and

(iii) the issuance of Permitted Preferred Equity by Seritage REIT and Seritage OP.

Any act, action or state of affairs that would result in an Event of Default pursuant to this subsection shall be referred to in this Agreement as a “ Prohibited Pledge ”.

(g) Insurance . Borrower shall fail to maintain in full force and effect all Policies required hereunder; provided , however , that no default shall exist under this clause (g) if and to the extent that (i) sufficient amounts are then reserved in the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account and designated for the payment of insurance premiums, (ii) Borrower is entitled to the application of same to such payment pursuant to the Loan Documents and has requested such payment from Lender and (iii) Lender fails to release such payment from the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account.

(h) ERISA; Negative Covenants . A default shall occur in the due performance or observance by Borrower or JV Pledgor of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.8 or in Article VI .

(i) Legal Requirements . Borrower shall fail to cure properly any violations of Legal Requirements affecting all or any portion of any Property within 30 days after Borrower first receives written notice of any such violations, and such violations result in a Property Material Adverse Effect; provided , however , if any such violation is reasonably susceptible of cure, but not within such 30 day period, then Borrower shall be permitted up to an additional 30 days to cure such violation provided that Borrower commences a cure within such initial 30 day period and thereafter diligently and continuously pursues such cure.

(j) Business Plans . Borrower shall have failed to deliver the Business Plans in accordance with Section 5.21 to Lender on or before January 7, 2017.

(k) Other Covenants . A default shall occur in the due performance or observance by Borrower or JV Pledgor of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in any other subsection of this Section) contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, except that in the case of a default that can be cured by the payment of money, such default shall not constitute an Event of Default unless and until it shall remain uncured for 10 Business Days after Borrower or JV Pledgor, as the case may be, receives written notice thereof; and in the case of a default that cannot be cured by the payment of money but is susceptible of being cured within 30 days, such default shall not constitute an Event of Default unless and until it remains uncured for 30 days after Borrower or JV Pledgor, as the case may be,

 

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receives written notice thereof, provided that promptly following its receipt of such written notice, Borrower or JV Pledgor, as the case may be, delivers written notice to Lender of its intention and ability to effect such cure within such 30 day period; and if such non-monetary default is not cured within such 30 day period despite diligent efforts of Borrower or JV Pledgor, as the case may be, but is susceptible of being cured within 120 days of receipt of Lender’s original notice, then Borrower or JV Pledgor, as the case may be, shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of 120 days from receipt of Lender’s original notice; provided that Borrower or JV Pledgor, as the case may be, is diligently pursuing such cure.

(l) Any Loan Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or to convey the material Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby and Borrower shall fail to promptly comply with Section 5.9 to remedy such failure.

(m) Borrower shall fail to provide to Lender the financial statements and other information specified in Sections 5.12 , 5.13 or 5.14 within the respective time periods specified therein, or Guarantor fails to provide the financial statements and other information specified in the Guaranty within the respective time period specified therein, and such failure is not cured within ten (10) Business Days of notice thereof by Lender.

(n) Borrower shall Transfer any Property in violation of Section 6.3 .

(o) Any event shall occur that is expressly identified as an “Event of Default” under any provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document.

Section 7.2 Remedies .

(a) During the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may by written notice to Borrower and JV Pledgor, in addition to any other rights or remedies available pursuant to this Agreement, the Notes, the Mortgage and the other Loan Documents, at law or in equity, declare by written notice to Borrower and JV Pledgor all or any portion of the Indebtedness to be immediately due and payable, whereupon all or such portion of the Indebtedness shall so become due and payable, and Lender may enforce or avail itself of any or all rights or remedies provided in the Loan Documents against Borrower and the Collateral and the JV Collateral (including all rights or remedies available at law or in equity); provided , however , that, notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 7.1(d) shall occur, then (except as specified in Section 7.2(f) ) the Indebtedness shall immediately become due and payable without the giving of any notice or other action by Lender. Any actions taken by Lender shall be cumulative and concurrent and may be pursued independently, singly, successively, together or otherwise, at such time and in such order as Lender may determine in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law, without impairing or otherwise affecting the other rights and remedies of Lender permitted by law, equity or contract or as set forth in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents.

(b) If Lender forecloses on any Collateral or any of the JV Collateral, Lender shall apply all net proceeds of such foreclosure to repay the Indebtedness, the Indebtedness shall be reduced to the extent of such net proceeds and the remaining portion of the Indebtedness shall

 

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remain outstanding and secured by the remaining Collateral and the remaining JV Collateral. At the election of Lender, the Notes shall be deemed to have been accelerated only to the extent of the net proceeds actually received by Lender with respect to the Properties and applied in reduction of the Indebtedness.

(c) During the continuance of any Event of Default (including an Event of Default resulting from a failure to satisfy the insurance requirements specified herein), Lender may, but without any obligation to do so and without notice to or demand on Borrower or JV Pledgor and without releasing Borrower or JV Pledgor from any obligation hereunder, take any action to cure such Event of Default. Lender may enter upon any or all of the Properties upon reasonable notice to Borrower for such purposes or appear in, defend, or bring any action or proceeding to protect its interest in the Collateral or the JV Collateral or to foreclose the Mortgage or collect the Indebtedness. The costs and expenses incurred by Lender in exercising rights under this Section (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), with interest at the Default Rate for the period after notice from Lender that such costs or expenses were incurred to the date of payment to Lender, shall constitute a portion of the Indebtedness, shall be secured by the Mortgage and other Loan Documents and shall be due and payable to Lender upon demand therefor.

(d) Interest shall accrue on any judgment obtained by Lender in connection with its enforcement of the Loan at a rate of interest equal to the Default Rate.

(e) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender shall have the right from time to time to sever the Notes and the other Loan Documents into one or more separate notes, mortgages and other security documents (the “ Severed Loan Documents ”) in such denominations as Lender shall determine in its sole discretion for purposes of evidencing and enforcing its rights and remedies provided hereunder; provided that the terms of such separate notes, mortgages, and other security documents are identical to the original Notes and Loan Documents and do not increase Borrower’s liability under the Notes and the other Loan Documents in any manner. Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender from time to time, promptly after the request of Lender, a severance agreement and such other documents as Lender shall request in order to effect the severance described in the preceding sentence, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender. Borrower hereby absolutely and irrevocably appoints Lender as its true and lawful attorney, coupled with an interest, in its name and stead to execute the Severed Loan Documents (Borrower ratifying all that its said attorney shall do by virtue thereof); provided, however, that Lender shall not make or execute any such Severed Loan Documents under such power until the expiration of five days after written notice has been given to Borrower by Lender of Lender’s intent to exercise its rights under the aforesaid power. Borrower shall be obligated to pay any costs or expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution, recording or filing of the Severed Loan Documents. The Severed Loan Documents shall not contain any representations, warranties or covenants not contained in the Loan Documents, and any such representations and warranties contained in the Severed Loan Documents will be given by Borrower only as of the Closing Date.

(f) Notwithstanding the availability of legal remedies, Lender will be entitled to obtain specific performance, mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, or other equitable relief requiring Borrower or JV Pledgor to cure or refrain from repeating any Default.

 

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(g) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an event specified in Section 7.1(d) occurs solely in respect of Guarantor and not any Required SPE, then such event shall not constitute an Event of Default or result in an acceleration of the Loan unless, in each case, Lender so determines in its sole discretion by written notice to Borrower; and unless and until Lender sends such notice, a Cash Flow Sweep Period shall be deemed to have commenced for all purposes hereunder, which Cash Flow Sweep Period shall continue until the Loan is repaid in full.

Section 7.3 Application of Payments after an Event of Default . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, during the continuance of an Event of Default, all amounts received by Lender in respect of the Loan shall be applied at Lender’s sole discretion either toward the components of the Indebtedness ( e.g. , Lender’s expenses in enforcing the Loan, interest, principal and other amounts payable hereunder) and the Notes or Note Components in such sequence as Lender shall elect in its sole discretion, or toward the payment of Property expenses.

ARTICLE 8

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 8.1 Conditions Precedent to Loan Closing . This Agreement shall become effective on the date that all of the following conditions (except for items to be delivered in connection with the Approved Separation Transaction Closing in accordance with Section 2.4(e) ) shall have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.3 ),:

(a) Loan Documents . Lender shall have received a duly executed copy of each Loan Document. Each Loan Document that is to be recorded in the public records shall be in form suitable for recording.

(b) Collateral Accounts . Each of the Collateral Accounts shall have been established and funded to the extent required under Article III .

(c) Opinions . Lender shall have received, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, (i) New York and Delaware legal opinions, (ii) a legal opinion with respect to the laws of each state in which the Properties are located, (iii) a bankruptcy nonconsolidation opinion with respect to each Person owning at least a 49% direct or indirect equity interest in any Required SPE, and any Affiliated property manager, (iv) a Delaware legal opinion regarding matters related to Single Member LLC’s, (v) a solvency opinion with respect to SHLD, (vi) a satisfactory true sale opinion with respect to the Approved Separation Transaction, (vii) a copy of a satisfactory fairness opinion delivered to SHLD’s board of directors with respect to the Approved Separation Transaction and (viii) a satisfactory true lease opinion with respect to the SHLD Master Lease.

(d) Mezzanine Loan . The conditions precedent to the closing of the Mezzanine Loan shall be satisfied and the Mezzanine Loan shall close simultaneously with the Loan.

 

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(e) Organizational Documents . Lender shall have received all documents reasonably requested by Lender relating to the existence of Borrower and JV Pledgor, the validity of the Loan Documents and other matters relating thereto, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, including:

(i) Authorizing Resolutions . To the extent the required authorizations are not contained directly in the organizational documents of any Required SPE and Guarantor, certified copies of the resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents by Guarantor, Borrower and JV Pledgor.

(ii) Organizational Documents . Certified copies of the organizational documents of Guarantor and each Required SPE (including any certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, certificate of incorporation, operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or by-laws), in each case together with all amendments thereto.

(iii) Certificates of Good Standing or Existence . Certificates of good standing or existence for Guarantor and each Required SPE issued as of a recent date by its state of organization and, with respect to the Borrower, by the state in which the Properties are located.

(f) Lease; Material Agreements . Lender shall have received true, correct and complete copies of the SHLD PSA and all “Ancillary Agreements” (as defined in the SHLD PSA), including without limitation, the SHLD Master Lease and the SHLD Master Lease Guaranty, all Leases, Ground Leases, JV Documents and all Material Agreements.

(g) Lien Search Reports . Lender shall have received satisfactory reports of Uniform Commercial Code, tax lien, bankruptcy and judgment searches conducted by a search firm acceptable to Lender with respect to the Properties, Guarantor, each Required SPE any such Required SPE’s immediate predecessor, if any, such searches to be conducted in such locations as Lender shall have requested.

(h) No Default or Event of Default . (i) No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date either before or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and (ii) no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date under any Lease, including without limitation the SHLD Master Lease.

(i) No Injunction . No Legal Requirement shall exist, and no litigation shall be pending or threatened, which in the good faith judgment of Lender would enjoin, prohibit or restrain, or impose or result in the imposition of any material adverse condition upon, the making or repayment of the Loan or the consummation of the Transaction.

(j) Representations . The representations in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on such date.

(k) Estoppel Letters . Borrower shall have received and delivered to Lender estoppel certificates (i) from Tenants under Third Party Leases that generate at least 75% of the

 

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Net Operating Income from Third Party Leases as of the Closing Date and from the Tenant under the Land’s End Master Lease, (ii) from each counterparty to a Property Agreement listed on Schedule L-1 hereto and from at least 50% the counterparties to a Property Agreement listed on Schedule L-2 hereto and (iii) from each ground lessor under each Ground Lease, in each case, in such form and substance as shall be satisfactory to Lender, and each of which shall specify, unless otherwise agreed by Lender, that Lender and its successors and assigns may rely thereon; provided that Borrower may deliver to Lender a Seller Estoppel with respect to any estoppels required under clause (i) or clause (ii) of this Section 8.1(k) in order to meet the applicable threshold.

(l) No Material Adverse Effect . No event or series of events shall have occurred since May 27, 2015 that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) Transaction Costs . Borrower shall have paid all transaction costs (or provided for the direct payment of such transaction costs by Lender from the proceeds of the Loan), to the extent invoiced not fewer than three days prior to the Closing Date.

(n) Insurance . Lender shall have received certificates of insurance on ACORD Form 25 for liability insurance and ACORD Form 28 for casualty insurance demonstrating insurance coverage in respect of the Properties of types, in amounts, with insurers and otherwise in compliance with the terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Such certificates shall indicate that Lender and its successors and assigns are named as additional insured on each liability policy, and that each casualty policy and rental interruption policy contains a loss payee and mortgagee endorsement in favor of Lender, its successors and assigns.

(o) Title . Lender shall have received a marked, signed commitment to issue, or a signed pro-forma version of, a Title Insurance Policy in respect of each Property, listing only such exceptions as are reasonably satisfactory to Lender. If the Title Policy is to be issued by, or if disbursement of the proceeds of the Loan are to be made through, an agent of the actual insurer under the Title Policy (as opposed to the insurer itself), the actual insurer shall have issued to Lender for Lender’s benefit a so-called “Insured Closing Letter.”

(p) Zoning . Lender shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lender that each Property is in compliance with all applicable zoning requirements (including a zoning report, a zoning endorsement if obtainable and a letter from the applicable municipality if obtainable).

(q) Permits; Certificate of Occupancy . Lender shall have received a copy of all Permits necessary for the use and operation of each Property and the certificate(s) of occupancy, if required, for each Property, all of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

(r) Engineering Report . Lender shall have received a current Engineering Report with respect to each Property, which report shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

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(s) Environmental Report . Lender shall have received an Environmental Report (not more than six months old) with respect to each Property that discloses no material environmental contingencies with respect to any Property.

(t) Survey . Lender shall have received a Survey with respect to each Property in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

(u) Appraisal . Lender shall have obtained an Appraisal of each Property satisfactory to Lender.

(v) Consents, Licenses, Approvals, etc . Lender shall have received copies of all consents, licenses and approvals, if any, required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Borrower, and the validity and enforceability, of the Loan Documents, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect.

(w) Annual Budget . Lender shall have received the Annual Budget for the current calendar year.

(x) Know Your Customer Rules . At least 10 days prior to the Closing Date, the Lender shall have received all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.

(y) Approved Separation Transaction . The Approved Separation Transaction shall be consummated simultaneously with the closing of the Loan on the terms set forth in the SHLD PSA and the Form S-11 of Seritage REIT filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as of May 27, 2015.

(z) Underwritten NOI . Pro forma net operating income on the Closing Date shall be at least $162,265,584, consistent with Lender’s underwritten net operating income of the Properties based upon historical and pro forma operating expenses.

(aa) Additional Matters . Lender shall have received such other certificates, opinions, documents and instruments relating to the Loan as may have been reasonably requested by Lender. All corporate and other proceedings, all other documents (including all documents referred to in this Agreement and not appearing as exhibits to this Agreement) and all legal matters in connection with the Loan shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Lender.

ARTICLE 9

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.1 Successors . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, whenever in this Agreement any of the parties to this Agreement is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. All covenants, promises and agreements in this Agreement contained, by or on behalf of Borrower or JV Pledgor, shall inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns.

 

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Section 9.2 GOVERNING LAW .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST LENDER OR BORROWER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN ANY ACTION IN RESPECT OF THE CREATION, PERFECTION OR ENFORCEMENT OF A LIEN OR SECURITY INTEREST CREATED PURSUANT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS NOT GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK) MAY BE INSTITUTED IN ANY FEDERAL OR STATE COURT IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, NEW YORK. BORROWER AND LENDER HEREBY (i) IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, (ii) IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, AND (iii) IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS BY MAIL, PERSONAL SERVICE OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 9.4 (AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE AT SUCH ADDRESS IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER ITSELF IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT).

Section 9.3 Modification, Waiver in Writing, Approval of Lende r. Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated, unless such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing signed by Lender and Borrower. No consent or approval of Lender shall be granted hereunder unless such consent or approval is in writing signed by Lender. Any provision in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents that requires the reasonable consent or approval of Lender shall be deemed to require that such reasonable consent or approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Section 9.4 Notices .

(a) All notices, consents, approvals and requests required or permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be given in writing by expedited prepaid delivery service, either commercial or United States Postal Service, with proof of delivery or attempted delivery, addressed as follows (or as a pdf attachment to an e-mail address to the respective addressees specified below, immediately followed by delivery in one of the other methods provided). Any party hereto may change its address and other contact information for purposes hereof at any time by sending a written notice to the other parties to this Agreement in the manner provided for in this Section). A notice shall be deemed to have been given when delivered or upon refusal to accept delivery (or in the case of any email delivered after 5:00 pm Eastern time or on a day that is not a Business Day, the Business Day next following such date of delivery, provided that there is immediately following delivery as aforesaid).

 

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If to Lender:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Attention: Joseph E. Geoghan

         Joseph.Geoghan@jpmorgan.com

 

  and           H/2 SO III Funding I LLC

c/o H/2 Capital Partners LLC

680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor

Stamford, Connecticut 06901

Attention: Daniel Ottensoser

DOttensoser@h2cp.com

 

  with copies to:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Attention: Nancy Alto

nancy.s.alto@jpmorgan.com

 

  and           Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

One World Financial Center

New York, New York 10281

Attention: William P. McInerney, Esq.

William.McInerney@cwt.com

 

  and           Strategic Asset Services LLC

375 Park Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, New York 10152

Attention: David Katz

dkatz@h2sas.com

 

  and           H/2 Capital Partners LLC

680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor

Stamford, Connecticut 06901

Attention: William Stefko, Esq.

wstefko@h2sas.com

 

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  and           H/2 Capital Partners LLC

680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor

Stamford, Connecticut 06901

Attention: Maury Apple

mapple@h2cp.com

 

  and           Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, New York 10006

Attention: Kimberly B. Blacklow, Esq.

kblacklow@cgsh.com

If to Borrower or JV Pledgor:

c/o Seritage Growth Properties, L.P.

54 W. 40th Street, Suite 10N

New York, NY 10018

Attention: Matthew Fernand

Executive Vice President & General Counsel

mfernand@seritage.com

and

Mary Rottler

Executive Vice President, Operations and Leasing

mrottler@seritage.com

with copies to:

Mayer Brown LLP

71 S. Wacker Dr.

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention: Heather Adkerson

 HAdkerson@mayerbrown.com

and:

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 W. 52 nd Street

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Josh Feltman

 jafeltman@wlrk.com

(b) Borrower and JV Pledgor hereby appoint Seritage SRC Finance LLC (the “ Borrower Representative ”) to serve as agent on behalf of all Borrowers and all JV Pledgors to receive any notices required to be delivered to any or all Borrowers and all JV Pledgors

 

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hereunder or under the other Loan Documents and to be the sole party authorized to deliver notices on behalf of the Borrowers and all JV Pledgors hereunder and under each of the other Loan Documents. Any notice delivered to the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have been delivered to all Borrowers and all JV Pledgors, and any notice received from the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have been received from all Borrowers and all JV Pledgors. The Borrower and the JV Pledgors shall be entitled from time to time to appoint a replacement Borrower Representative by written notice delivered to Lender and signed by both the new Borrower Representative and the Borrower Representative being so replaced.

Section 9.5 TRIAL BY JURY . LENDER, BORROWER AND JV PLEDGOR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THAT THEY MAY LAWFULLY DO SO, HEREBY AGREE NOT TO ELECT A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY ISSUE TRIABLE OF RIGHT BY JURY, AND WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY FULLY TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY SUCH RIGHT SHALL NOW OR HEREAFTER EXIST WITH REGARD TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER ACTION ARISING IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. THIS WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IS GIVEN KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY BY LENDER, BORROWER AND JV PLEDGOR AND IS INTENDED TO ENCOMPASS INDIVIDUALLY EACH INSTANCE AND EACH ISSUE AS TO WHICH THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY WOULD OTHERWISE ACCRUE. LENDER, BORROWER AND JV PLEDGOR ARE EACH HEREBY INDIVIDUALLY AUTHORIZED TO FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH IN ANY PROCEEDING AS CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF THIS WAIVER.

Section 9.6 Headings . The Article and Section headings in this Agreement are included in this Agreement for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.

Section 9.7 Assignment .

(a) Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor may sell, assign or otherwise transfer any rights, obligations or other of its interest in or under the Loan Documents.

(b) Lender and each assignee of all or a portion of the Loan shall have the right from time to time in its discretion and without the consent of Borrower to sell, assign, syndicate, Securitize, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise transfer one or more of the Notes or any interest therein (in each case, an “ Assignment ”) and/or sell a participation interest in one or more of the Notes (a “ Participation ”); provided that, so long as no Event of Default is then continuing, Borrower’s consent in its sole discretion will be required in connection with (i) any such Assignment (other than transfers of securities backed by the Loan) or Participation to any Person listed on Schedule J-1 hereto and (ii) any Assignment or Participation in the unfunded portion of any A-2 Note other than to (1) another Lender that holds an A-2 Note or (2) a Qualified Institutional Lender. Lender will consult on a non-binding basis with Borrower with respect to any assignment of an unfunded commitment to a Qualified Institutional Lender. Borrower shall and shall cause Guarantor to reasonably cooperate with Lender, at Lender’s request, in order to effectuate any such Assignment or Participation, and Borrower shall promptly provide such information, legal opinions and documents relating to each Required SPE, Guarantor, the Properties, the Approved Property Manager and any Tenants as Lender may

 

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reasonably request in connection with such Assignment; provided , Borrower and Guarantor shall not be required to incur out-of-pocket costs pursuant to this sentence in respect of cooperation provided pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, other than in respect of their own legal costs. In the case of an Assignment, (i) each assignee shall have, to the extent of such Assignment, the rights, benefits and obligations of the assigning Lender as a “Lender” hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (ii) the assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to an Assignment, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement, and (iii) one Lender shall serve as agent for all Lenders and shall be the sole Lender to whom notices, requests and other communications shall be addressed and the sole party authorized to grant or withhold consents hereunder on behalf of the Lenders (subject, in each case, to appointment of a Servicer, pursuant to Section 9.22 , to receive such notices, requests and other communications and/or to grant or withhold consents, as the case may be). Lender or, upon the appointment of a Servicer, such Servicer, shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, as non-fiduciary agent for Borrower, a register on which it shall enter the name or names of the registered owner or owners from time to time of the Notes. Upon effectiveness of any Assignment of any Note in part, Borrower will promptly provide to the assignor and the assignee separate Notes in the amount of their respective interests (but, if applicable, with a notation thereon that it is given in substitution for and replacement of an original Note or any replacement thereof), and otherwise in the form of such Note, upon return of the Note then being replaced. Each potential or actual assignee, participant or investor in a Securitization, and each Rating Agency, shall be entitled to receive all information received by Lender under this Agreement, except that, without Borrower’s consent in its sole discretion, no assignee or participant that is a Person listed on Schedule J-2 hereto, and no agent, attorney, advisor or representative of any such Person, shall be entitled to receive any Proprietary Information; provided that the foregoing shall not apply in connection with any Securitization of the Loan. After the effectiveness of any Assignment, the party conveying the Assignment shall provide notice to Borrower and each Lender of the identity and address of the assignee. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, after an Assignment, the assigning Lender (in addition to the assignee) shall continue to have the benefits of any indemnifications contained in this Agreement that such assigning Lender had prior to such assignment with respect to matters occurring prior to the date of such assignment. Each Lender that sells a Participation shall, or upon appointment of a Servicer, such Servicer shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loan under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant’s interest in the Loan) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Loan is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

(c) If, pursuant to this Section, any interest in this Agreement or any Note is transferred to any transferee, such transferee shall, promptly upon receipt of written request from Borrower, furnish to Borrower an IRS Form W-9, or an appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable, or any successor form thereof having substantially the same effect.

 

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Section 9.8 Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or condition exists.

Section 9.9 Preferences; Waiver of Marshalling of Assets . Lender shall have no obligation to marshal any assets in favor of Borrower or any other party or against or in payment of any or all of the obligations of Borrower pursuant to the Loan Documents. Lender shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply or reverse and reapply any and all payments by Borrower to any portion of the obligations of Borrower hereunder and under the Loan Documents. If any payment to Lender is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then the obligations hereunder or portion thereof intended to be satisfied by such payment shall be revived and continue in full force and effect, as if such payment had not been made. Borrower hereby waives any legal right otherwise available to Borrower that would require the sale of any Collateral or JV Collateral either separate or apart from the other, or require Lender to exhaust its remedies against any Collateral or the JV Collateral before proceeding against the other. Without limiting the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Borrower hereby waives and shall not assert any rights in respect of a marshalling of Collateral or JV Collateral, a sale in the inverse order of alienation, any homestead exemption, the administration of estates of decedents, or any other matters whatsoever to defeat, reduce or affect the right of Lender under the Loan Documents to a sale of the Collateral or the JV Collateral or any portion thereof in any sequence and any combination as determined by Lender in its sole discretion.

Section 9.10 Remedies of Borrower . If a claim is made that Lender or its agents have unreasonably delayed acting or acted unreasonably in any case where by law or under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents any of such Persons has an obligation to act promptly or reasonably, Borrower agrees that no such Person shall be liable for any monetary damages, and Borrower’s sole remedy shall be limited to commencing an action seeking specific performance, injunctive relief and/or declaratory judgment; provided , however, that the forgoing shall not prevent Borrower from obtaining a monetary judgment against Lender if it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Lender acted with gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against Lender and/or its Affiliates, directors, employees, attorneys, agents or sub-agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (whether or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or duty imposed by any applicable Legal Requirement) arising out of, as a result of, or in any way related to, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim for any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

 

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Section 9.11 Offsets, Counterclaims and Defenses . All payments made by Borrower hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall be made irrespective of, and without any deduction for, any offsets, counterclaims or defenses. Borrower waives the right to assert a counterclaim, other than a mandatory or compulsory counterclaim, in any action or proceeding brought against it by Lender arising out of or in any way connected with the Notes, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the Indebtedness. Any assignee of Lender’s interest in the Loan shall take the same free and clear of all offsets, counterclaims or defenses against the assigning Lender.

Section 9.12 No Joint Venture . Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create a joint venture, partnership, tenancy-in-common or joint tenancy relationship between Borrower and Lender, nor to grant Lender any interest in any Property other than that of mortgagee or lender.

Section 9.13 Conflict; Construction of Documents . In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. The parties acknowledge that they were each represented by competent counsel in connection with the negotiation, drafting and execution of the Loan Documents and that the Loan Documents shall not be subject to the principle of construing their meaning against the party that drafted same.

Section 9.14 Brokers and Financial Advisors . Borrower represents that neither it nor Guarantor has dealt with any financial advisors, brokers, underwriters, placement agents, agents or finders in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold Lender harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, costs and expenses of any kind in any way relating to or arising from a claim by any Person that such Person acted on behalf of Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement. The provisions of this Section shall survive the expiration and termination of this Agreement and the repayment of the Indebtedness.

Section 9.15 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Any counterpart delivered by facsimile, pdf or other electronic means shall have the same import and effect as original counterparts and shall be valid, enforceable and binding for the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 9.16 Estoppel Certificates .

(a) Borrower shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Lender, within five days after receipt of Lender’s written request therefor at any time from time to time, a statement in writing setting forth (A) the Principal Indebtedness, (B) the date on which installments of interest and/or principal were last paid, (C) any offsets or defenses to the payment of the Indebtedness, (D) that the Notes, this Agreement, the Mortgage and the other Loan Documents are valid, legal and binding obligations and have not been modified or if modified, giving particulars of such modification, (E) that neither Borrower nor, to Borrower’s knowledge,

 

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Lender, is in default under the Loan Documents (or specifying any such default), (F) that all Leases are in full force and effect and have not been modified (except in accordance with the Loan Documents), (G) whether or not any of the Tenants under the Leases or any of the counterparties under the Property Agreements are in material default under the Leases or Property Agreements, as applicable (setting forth the specific nature of any such material defaults) and (H) such other matters as Lender may reasonably request. Any prospective purchaser of any interest in a Loan shall be permitted to rely on such certificate.

(b) Upon Lender’s written request, Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from each Tenant and Property Agreement counterparty and thereafter promptly deliver to Lender duly executed estoppel certificates from any one or more Tenants or Property Agreement counterparties specified by Lender, attesting to such facts regarding the Leases or Property Agreements as Lender may reasonably require or in the form and/or substance required to be provided by such Tenant or counterparty pursuant to its Lease or Property Agreement, as applicable, including attestations that each Lease or Property Agreement, as applicable, covered thereby is in full force and effect with no material defaults thereunder on the part of any party, that rent has not been paid more than one month in advance, except as security, and that the Tenant or Property Agreement counterparty, as applicable, claims no defense or offset against the full and timely performance of its obligations under the Lease or Property Agreement. Borrower shall not be required to deliver such certificates more frequently than one time in any 12-month period, other than the 12-month period during which a Securitization occurs or is attempted.

Section 9.17 General Indemnity; Payment of Expenses .

(a) Borrower, at its sole cost and expense, shall protect, indemnify, reimburse, defend and hold harmless Lender and its officers, partners, members, directors, trustees, advisors, employees, agents, sub-agents, Affiliates, successors, participants and assigns of any and all of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Indemnified Parties ”) for, from and against any and all Damages of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any of the Indemnified Parties, in any way relating to or arising out of Lender’s interest in the Loan; provided , however , that no Indemnified Party shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder to the extent that such Damages have been found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party.

(b) If for any reason (including violation of law or public policy) the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section are unenforceable in whole or in part or are otherwise unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold it harmless, then Borrower shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of any Damages the maximum amount Borrower is permitted to pay under Legal Requirements. The obligations of Borrower under this Section will be in addition to any liability that Borrower may otherwise have hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

(c) To the extent any Indemnified Party has notice of a claim for which it intends to seek indemnification hereunder, such Indemnified Party shall give prompt written

 

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notice thereof to Borrower, provided that failure by Lender to so notify Borrower will not relieve Borrower of its obligations under this Section, except to the extent that Borrower suffers actual prejudice as a result of such failure. In connection with any claim for which indemnification is sought hereunder, Borrower shall have the right to defend the applicable Indemnified Party (if requested by the applicable Indemnified Party, in the name of such Indemnified Party) from such claim by attorneys and other professionals reasonably approved by the applicable Indemnified Party. Upon assumption by Borrower of any defense pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, Borrower shall have the right to control such defense, provided that the Applicable Indemnified Party shall have the right to reasonably participate in such defense and Borrower shall not consent to the terms of any compromise or settlement of any action defended by Borrower in accordance with the foregoing without the prior consent of the applicable Indemnified Party, unless such compromise or settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of the applicable Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the applicable Indemnified Party. The applicable Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel if (i) Borrower shall have failed to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Indemnified Party in a timely manner, or (ii) the applicable Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there are actual or potential material conflicts of interest between Borrower and the applicable Indemnified Party, including situations in which there are one or more legal defenses available to the applicable Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to Borrower. So long as Borrower is conducting the defense of any action defended by Borrower in accordance with the foregoing in a prudent and commercially reasonable manner, Lender and the applicable Indemnified Party shall not compromise or settle such action defended without Borrower’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Upon demand, Borrower shall pay or, in the sole discretion of the applicable Indemnified Party, reimburse the applicable Indemnified Party for the payment of reasonable fees and disbursements of attorneys, engineers, environmental consultants, laboratories and other professionals retained by the Applicable Indemnified Party in accordance with this Section in connection with defending any claim subject to indemnification hereunder.

(d) Any amounts payable to Lender by reason of the application of this Section shall be secured by the Mortgage and shall become immediately due and payable and shall bear interest at the Default Rate from the date Damages are sustained by the Indemnified Parties until paid.

(e) The provisions of and undertakings and indemnification set forth in this Section shall survive the satisfaction and payment in full of the Indebtedness and termination of this Agreement.

(f) Borrower shall reimburse Lender upon receipt of written notice from Lender for (i) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with the origination of the Loan, including legal fees and disbursements, accounting fees, and the costs of the Appraisals, the Engineering Reports, the Title Insurance Policies, the Surveys, the Environmental Reports and any other third-party diligence materials; (ii) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with (A) monitoring Borrower’s ongoing performance of and compliance with Borrower’s agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on its part to be

 

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performed or complied with after the Closing Date, including confirming compliance with environmental and insurance requirements, (B) the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and administration of any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents or matters relating hereto (including Leases, Material Agreements, JV Documents, Ground Leases and Permitted Encumbrances), (C) filing, registration and recording fees and expenses and other similar expenses incurred in creating and perfecting the Liens in favor of Lender pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including the filing, registration or recording of any instrument of further assurance) and all federal, state, county and municipal, taxes (including, if applicable, intangible taxes), search fees, title insurance premiums, duties, imposts, assessments and charges arising out of or in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, any mortgage supplemental thereto, any security instrument with respect to the Collateral or the JV Collateral or any instrument of further assurance, (D) enforcing or preserving any rights, in response to third party claims or the prosecuting or defending of any action or proceeding or other litigation, in each case against, under or affecting Borrower, Guarantor, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any Collateral or any JV Collateral (including, for avoidance of doubt, reasonable, periodic monitoring of any litigation related to the Approved Separation Transaction) and (E) the satisfaction of any Rating Condition in respect of any matter required or requested by Borrower hereunder, and (iii) all actual out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees and, if the Loan has been Securitized, special servicing fees) incurred by Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with the enforcement of any obligations of Borrower, or a Default by Borrower, under the Loan Documents, including any actual or attempted foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, refinancing, restructuring, settlement or workout and any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings (including any applicable transfer taxes). Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower shall pay all costs, expenses and fees of Lender and its Servicer, operating advisor and securitization trustee resulting from Defaults or reasonably imminent Defaults or requests by Borrower (including enforcement expenses and any liquidation fees, workout fees, special servicing fees, operating advisor consulting fees or any other similar fees and interest payable on advances made by the Servicer or the securitization trustee with respect to delinquent debt service payments or expenses of curing Borrower’s defaults under the Loan Documents, and any expenses paid by Servicer or a trustee in respect of the protection and preservation of any Property, such as payment of taxes and insurance premiums) and the costs of all property inspections and/or appraisals (or any updates to any existing inspection or appraisal) that Servicer may be required to obtain due to a request by Borrower or the occurrence of a Default.

Section 9.18 No Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are solely for the benefit of Lender and Borrower, and nothing contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to confer upon anyone other than Lender, Borrower and Indemnified Parties any right to insist upon or to enforce the performance or observance of any of the obligations contained herein or therein. All conditions to the obligations of Lender to make the Loan hereunder are imposed solely and exclusively for the benefit of Lender, and no other Person shall have standing to require satisfaction of such conditions in accordance with their terms or be entitled to assume that Lender will refuse to make the Loan in the absence of strict compliance with any or all thereof, and no other Person shall under any circumstances be deemed to be a beneficiary of such conditions, any or all of which may be freely waived in whole or in part by Lender if, in Lender’s sole discretion, Lender deems it advisable or desirable to do so.

 

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Section 9.19 Recourse .

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, but subject to the qualifications set forth in this Section 9.19 , Lender shall not enforce Borrower’s obligation to pay the Indebtedness by any action or proceeding wherein a deficiency judgment or other judgment establishing personal liability shall be sought against Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any Exculpated Person, except for foreclosure actions or any other appropriate actions or proceedings in order to fully exercise Lender’s remedies in respect of, and to realize upon, the Collateral and the JV Collateral, and except for any actions to enforce any obligations expressly assumed or guaranteed by any guarantor, indemnitor or similar party (whether or not such party is an Exculpated Person) under the Loan Documents.

(b) Borrower shall indemnify Lender and hold Lender harmless from and against any and all Damages to Lender (including the legal and other expenses of enforcing the obligations of Borrower under this Section and Guarantor under the Guaranty) resulting from or arising out of any of the following (the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”), which Indemnified Liabilities shall be guaranteed by Guarantor pursuant to the Guaranty:

(i) any wrongful Waste or wrongful removal at any of the Properties of any Personal Property or other Collateral committed or permitted by Borrower, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates;

(ii) any fraud or material misrepresentation committed by Borrower, JV Pledgor, SHLD, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates;

(iii) any willful misconduct by Borrower, JV Pledgor, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates that results in any adverse effect on the Collateral or the JV Collateral, the ability of Borrower to pay the Loan or the ability of Lender to enforce its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents (including any criminal acts and wrongful contest to the validity of the Loan documents or bad faith acts to interfere, hinder delay or obstruct the efforts of Lender to exercise any rights and remedies available to Lender as provided herein and in the other Loan Documents during the continuance of an Event of Default; and Borrower’s and/or JV Pledgor’s bad faith refusal to comply with Section 5.9 hereof) other than, in each case, defenses raised in good faith;

(iv) the misappropriation or misapplication by Borrower, JV Pledgor, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates of any Loss Proceeds, Revenues, security deposits and/or other amounts in violation of the Loan Documents;

(v) any voluntary incurrence of Debt if and to the extent the continued existence of such Debt is prohibited hereunder;

(vi) any breach by Borrower or Guarantor of any representation or covenant regarding environmental matters contained in this Agreement or in the Environmental Indemnity;

 

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(vii) the failure to apply available funds from cash flow at the Properties (after such cash flow has been disbursed from the Cash Management Account in accordance with Section 3.2) to pay or maintain the Policies or to pay the amount of any deductible required thereunder following a Casualty or other insurance claim, excluding any such failure resulting from Lender’s failure to disburse funds from reserves maintained for such purpose under the Loan Documents if required to be disbursed in accordance with this Agreement;

(viii) the failure to apply available funds from cash flow at the Properties (after such cash flow has been disbursed from the Cash Management Account in accordance with Section 3.2) to pay Taxes, excluding any such failure resulting from Lender’s failure to disburse funds from reserves maintained for such purpose under the Loan Documents if required to be disbursed in accordance with this Agreement;

(ix) the failure to apply available funds from cash flow at the Properties (after such cash flow has been disbursed from the Cash Management Account) in accordance with Section 3.2) to pay charges (including charges for labor and materials) that results in a Lien on any Property, unless contested by Borrower in good faith and otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(x) any material breach of Section 4.17 and/or 6.15 , excluding any breach resulting solely from a failure of the Properties to generate sufficient cash flow or a failure of Guarantor to contribute additional capital;

(xi) any fees or commissions paid by Borrower to any Affiliate in violation of the terms of the Loan Documents; and

(xii) any termination or modification of the SHLD Master Lease, the SHLD Master Lease Guaranty, the SHLD PSA, the SHLD TSA, any Approved Management Agreement, any JV Documents or any Ground Lease in violation of the Loan Documents.

(c) In addition to the foregoing, the Loan shall be fully recourse to Borrower and Guarantor, jointly and severally, if (i) Borrower Transfers any of the Properties, the JV Collateral or other Collateral or there is a Prohibited Change of Control, in each case, in violation of the Loan Documents and without Lender’s prior written consent in its sole discretion, (ii) Borrower creates a voluntary Lien on any of the Properties, the JV Collateral or other Collateral to secure additional financing or Borrower’s equityholders create a Prohibited Pledge, in each case in violation of the Loan Documents and without Lender’s prior written consent in its sole discretion; (iii) any petition for bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution or liquidation under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal or state law is filed by, consented to, or acquiesced in by, any Required SPE, (iv) any Required SPE or any of their respective Affiliates (including Guarantor) shall have colluded with other creditors to cause an involuntary filing under the Bankruptcy Code or similar federal or state law with respect to any Required SPE, or (v) any Required SPE fails to be, and to at all times have been, a Single-Purpose Entity, which failure results in a substantive consolidation of Borrower with any Affiliate in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding (or the filing of a motion for substantive consolidation in bankruptcy citing any such breach), except, in each case with respect to any action taken by any Person (other than by

 

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Borrower, Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof) after the foreclosure or assignment-in-lieu of foreclosure by Mezzanine Lender on the Equity Interests in Borrower in connection with the exercise of remedies by Mezzanine Lender. All of Borrower’s liabilities under this Section 9.19 shall be guaranteed by Guarantor pursuant to the Guaranty.

(d) The foregoing limitations on personal liability shall in no way impair or constitute a waiver of the validity of the Notes, the Indebtedness secured by the Collateral or the JV Collateral, or the Liens on the Collateral or the JV Collateral, or the right of Lender, as mortgagee or secured party, to foreclose and/or enforce its rights with respect to the Collateral or the JV Collateral after an Event of Default. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any right which Lender may have under the Bankruptcy Code to file a claim for the full amount of the debt owing to Lender by Borrower or to require that all Collateral or the JV Collateral shall continue to secure all of the Indebtedness owing to Lender in accordance with the Loan Documents. Lender may seek a judgment on the Notes (and, if necessary, name Borrower in such suit) as part of judicial proceedings to foreclose on any Collateral or the JV Collateral or as a prerequisite to any such foreclosure or to confirm any foreclosure or sale pursuant to power of sale thereunder, and in the event any suit is brought on the Notes, or with respect to any Indebtedness or any judgment rendered in such judicial proceedings, such judgment shall constitute a Lien on and may be enforced on and against the Collateral or the JV Collateral and the rents, profits, issues, products and proceeds thereof. Nothing in this Agreement shall impair the right of Lender to accelerate the maturity of the Notes upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, nor shall anything in this Agreement impair or be construed to impair the right of Lender to seek personal judgments, and to enforce all rights and remedies under applicable law, jointly and severally against any indemnitors and guarantors to the extent allowed by any applicable Loan Documents. The provisions set forth in this Section are not intended as a release or discharge of the obligations due under the Notes or under any Loan Documents, but are intended as a limitation, to the extent provided in this Section, on Lender’s right to sue for a deficiency or seek a personal judgment.

Section 9.20 Right of Set-Off . In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, during the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may from time to time, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind (all of such rights being hereby expressly waived), set-off and appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by Lender (including branches, agencies or Affiliates of Lender wherever located) to or for the credit or the account of Borrower against the obligations and liabilities of Borrower to Lender hereunder, under the Notes, the other Loan Documents or otherwise, irrespective of whether Lender shall have made any demand hereunder and although such obligations, liabilities or claims, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured, and any such set-off shall be deemed to have been made immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default even though such charge is made or entered on the books of Lender subsequent thereto.

Section 9.21 Exculpation of Lender . Lender neither undertakes nor assumes any responsibility or duty to Borrower or any other party to select, review, inspect, examine, supervise, pass judgment upon or inform Borrower or any third party of (a) the existence, quality, adequacy or suitability of appraisals of the Properties or other Collateral or the JV Collateral, (b) any environmental report, or (c) any other matters or items, including engineering,

 

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soils and seismic reports that are contemplated in the Loan Documents. Any such selection, review, inspection, examination and the like, and any other due diligence conducted by Lender, is solely for the purpose of protecting Lender’s rights under the Loan Documents, and shall not render Lender liable to Borrower or any third party for the existence, sufficiency, accuracy, completeness or legality thereof.

Section 9.22 Servicer .

(a) Lender may delegate any and all rights and obligations of Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents to the Servicer upon notice by Lender to Borrower, whereupon any notice or consent from the Servicer to Borrower, and any action by Servicer on Lender’s behalf, shall have the same force and effect as if Servicer were Lender. As of the Closing Date, Lender has appointed Strategic Asset Services LLC (“ SAS ”) as Servicer. Servicer will be the primary point of contact with Borrower responsible for processing all Borrower requests and implementing all other servicing decisions (including, without limitation and to the extent applicable, approval of advances of the Future Advance Amount, approval of any Redevelopment Plan and Budget and approval of any Major Lease) with respect to the Loan.

(b) On each Payment Date, Borrower shall pay Servicer a primary servicing fee at a rate of 0.03% per annum, computed on the basis of the same principal amount, on the same interest accrual basis, and for the same interest accrual period respecting which any related interest payment on the Loan is (or would have been) computed (the “ Primary Servicing Fee ”). The Primary Servicing Fee shall be paid in accordance with Section 3.2(b) .

Section 9.23 No Fiduciary Duty .

(a) Borrower acknowledges that, in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Transaction, Lender has relied upon and assumed the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial, legal, regulatory, accounting, tax and other information provided to, discussed with or reviewed by Lender for such purposes, and Lender does not assume any liability therefor or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or independent verification thereof. Lender, its Affiliates and their respective equityholders and employees (for purposes of this Section, the “ Lending Parties ”) have no obligation to conduct any independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities (including any contingent, derivative or off-balance sheet assets and liabilities) of Guarantor, Borrower or any other Person or any of their respective Affiliates or to advise or opine on any related solvency or viability issues.

(b) It is understood and agreed that (i) the Lending Parties shall act under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as an independent contractor, (ii) the Transaction is an arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lending Parties, on the one hand, and Borrower, on the other, (iii) each Lending Party is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of Borrower, Guarantor or their respective Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors or any other Person and (iv) nothing in this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Transaction or otherwise shall be deemed to create (A) a fiduciary duty (or other implied duty) on the part of any Lending Party to Guarantor, Borrower, any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors, or any other Person or (B) a fiduciary or agency relationship between Guarantor, Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders,

 

146


employees or creditors, on the one hand, and the Lending Parties, on the other. Borrower agrees that neither it nor Guarantor nor any of their respective Affiliates shall make, and hereby waives, any claim against the Lending Parties based on an assertion that any Lending Party has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to Borrower, Guarantor of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors. Nothing in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is intended to confer upon any other Person (including Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors of Borrower and Guarantor) any rights or remedies by reason of any fiduciary or similar duty.

(c) Borrower acknowledges that it has been advised that the Lending Parties include full service financial services firms and/or asset management firms engaged, either directly or through Affiliates in various activities, including securities trading, investment banking and financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities and financial planning and benefits counseling for both companies and individuals. In the ordinary course of these activities, the Lending Parties may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and/or financial instruments (including loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and/or instruments. Such investment and other activities may involve securities and instruments of Affiliates of Borrower, including Guarantor, as well as of other Persons that may (i) be involved in transactions arising from or relating to the Transaction, (ii) be customers or competitors of Borrower, Guarantor and/or their respective Affiliates, or (iii) have other relationships with Borrower, Guarantor and/or their respective Affiliates. In addition, the Lending Parties may provide investment banking, underwriting and financial advisory services to such other Persons. The Lending Parties may also co-invest with, make direct investments in, and invest or co-invest client monies in or with funds or other investment vehicles managed by other parties, and such funds or other investment vehicles may trade or make investments in securities of Affiliates of Borrower, including Guarantor, or such other Persons. The Transaction may have a direct or indirect impact on the investments, securities or instruments referred to in this paragraph. Although the Lending Parties in the course of such other activities and relationships may acquire information about the Transaction or other Persons that may be the subject of the Transaction, the Lending Parties shall have no obligation to disclose such information, or the fact that the Lending Parties are in possession of such information, to Borrower, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates or to use such information on behalf of Borrower, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates

(d) Borrower acknowledges and agrees that Borrower has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Transaction and the process leading thereto.

Section 9.24 Borrower Information .

(a) Borrower shall make available to Lender all information concerning its business and operations that Lender may reasonably request. Subject to Section 9.24(b) , Lender shall have the right to disclose any and all information provided to Lender by Borrower or Guarantor regarding Borrower, Guarantor, the Loan and the Properties (i) to Affiliates of Lender

 

147


and to Lender’s agents and advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such confidential information and instructed to keep such confidential information confidential), (ii) to any actual or potential assignee, transferee or participant in connection with the contemplated Assignment or Securitization of all or any portion of the Loan or any participations therein, and to any investors or prospective investors in the Certificates, and their respective advisors and agents, including the operating advisor, or to any direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to Borrower and its obligations, or to any Person that is a party to a repurchase agreement with respect to the Loan; provided that any potential assignee, transferee, participant or investor shall be informed of the confidential nature thereof and that, by accepting any such confidential information, it shall be deemed to be bound to keep such information confidential subject to the exceptions set forth in this Section 9.24(a) (it being agreed that, in connection with a Securitization of all or any portion of the Loan, Lender will have satisfied such obligation if it includes the applicable legend set forth on Schedule Q , or Lender otherwise has in place or enters into a confidentiality agreement on customary terms with such potential assignee, transferee, participant or investor that, with respect to any such information provided to such potential assignee, transferee, participant or investor, does not expire earlier than one year from the date such information is provided (Lender agreeing to use good faith efforts (but having no obligation) to obtain a two-year sunset in any new confidentiality agreements entered into in connection with the Securitization of all or any part of the Loan), (iii) to any Rating Agency in connection with a Securitization or as otherwise required in connection with a disposition of the Loan, (iv) to any Person necessary or desirable in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document following an Event of Default, (v) to any governmental agency, including the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the FDIC, the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority that may exercise authority over Lender or any investor in the Certificates (including the Servicer, the Securitization trustee and their respective agents and employees) or any representative thereof, and to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, in each case if requested by such governmental agency or otherwise required to comply with the applicable rules and regulations of such governmental agency or if required pursuant to legal or judicial process, and (vi) in any Disclosure Document (as defined in the Cooperation Agreement). In addition, Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement and customary information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to Lender in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each party hereto (and each of their respective Affiliates, employees, representatives or other agents) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions and other tax analyses) that are provided to any such party relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For the purpose of this Section, “tax structure” means any facts relevant to the federal income tax treatment of the Transaction but does not include information relating to the identity of any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Affiliates. Except as expressly set forth above, Lender shall hold all information regarding Borrower disclosed by Borrower in connection with this Agreement, whether prior to or following the date of this Agreement, confidential, except such information that (i) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of disclosure by Lender or (ii) is or becomes available to the Lender from a

 

148


source other than the Borrower, provided that such source is not known by Lender to be subject to a confidentiality obligation to the Borrower or (iii) is independently developed by the Lender without reference to the information received from Borrower.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.24(a) , without Borrower’s consent in its sole discretion, no Person listed on Schedule J-2 hereto, and no agent, attorney, advisor or representative of any such Person, shall be entitled to receive, and no Lender shall disclose to any such Person, any Proprietary Information; provided that the foregoing shall not apply in connection with any Securitization of the Loan.

Section 9.25 PATRIOT Act Records . Lender hereby notifies Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower, JV Pledgor and Guarantor, which information includes the name and address of Borrower, JV Pledgor and Guarantor and other information that will allow Lender to identify Borrower, JV Pledgor or Guarantor in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.

Section 9.26 Prior Agreements . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS CONTAIN THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY, AND ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS AMONG OR BETWEEN SUCH PARTIES, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, INCLUDING ANY TERM SHEETS, CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENT LETTERS, ARE SUPERSEDED BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (EXCEPT THAT ANY ORIGINATION FEE SPECIFIED IN ANY TERM SHEET, COMMITMENT LETTER OR FEE LETTER SHALL BE AN OBLIGATION OF BORROWER AND SHALL BE PAID AT CLOSING, AND ANY INDEMNIFICATIONS, FLEX PROVISION, EXIT FEES AND THE LIKE PROVIDED FOR THEREIN SHALL SURVIVE THE CLOSING).

Section 9.27 Publicity . If the Loan is made, Lender may, with the prior written approval of Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld, issue press releases, advertisements and other promotional materials describing in general terms or in detail Lender’s participation in such transaction, and may utilize photographs of the Properties in such promotional materials. Borrower shall not make any references to Lender in any press release, advertisement or promotional material issued by Borrower or Guarantor, unless Lender shall have approved of the same in writing prior to the issuance of such press release, advertisement or promotional material.

Section 9.28 Delay Not a Waiver . Neither any failure nor any delay on the part of Lender in insisting upon strict performance of any term, condition, covenant or agreement, or exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege hereunder, under any other Loan Document or under any other instrument given as security therefor, shall operate as or constitute a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other future exercise, or the exercise of any other right, power, remedy or privilege. In particular, and not by way of limitation, by accepting payment after the due date of any amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, Lender shall not be deemed to have waived any right either to require prompt payment when due of all other amounts due under this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents, or to declare a default for failure to effect prompt payment of any such other amount.

 

149


Section 9.29 Schedules and Exhibits Incorporated . The Schedules and Exhibits annexed hereto are hereby incorporated herein as a part of this Agreement with the same effect as if set forth in the body hereof.

Section 9.30 New Borrowers

(a) At the Borrower’s election, Borrower may cause one or more Properties to be Transferred to one or more New Borrowers upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to Lender, to effectuate a one-time restructuring of the ownership of some or all of the Properties; provided that the Transfer of any Property to a New Borrower pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

(i) no Event of Default shall be continuing and such Transfer shall not result in a default under any applicable Lease (including the SHLD Master Lease) or any Material Agreement;

(ii) such New Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender a joinder to this Agreement (by amendment, restatement, supplement or otherwise) whereby New Borrower assumes all the obligation and liabilities of Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents in form and substance acceptable to Lender;

(iii) each of Seritage REIT and Seritage OP shall have duly executed and delivered to Lender a reaffirmation of the Guaranty;

(iv) New Borrower shall have delivered to Lender such Uniform Commercial Code financing statements as may be reasonably requested by Lender;

(v) such New Borrower shall have delivered to Lender legal opinions of counsel reasonably acceptable to Lender that are equivalent to the opinions delivered to Lender on the Closing Date, including new nonconsolidation opinions that are reasonably satisfactory to Lender and (following a Securitization of the Loan) satisfactory to each of the Rating Agencies; and Borrower and the New Borrower shall have delivered such other documents, certificates and legal opinions, including relating to REMIC or grantor trust matters, as applicable, as Lender shall reasonably request;

(vi) such New Borrower shall have delivered to Lender all documents reasonably requested by it relating to the existence of such New Borrower and the due authorization of the New Borrower to assume the Loan and to execute and deliver the documents described in this Section 9.30 , each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, including a certified copy of the applicable resolutions from all appropriate persons, certified copies of the organizational documents of the New Borrower, together with all amendments thereto, and certificates of good standing or existence for the New Borrower issued as of a recent date by its state of organization and each other state where such entity, by the nature of its business, is required to qualify or register;

 

150


(vii) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender new Title Insurance Policies, or updates to existing Title Insurance Policies, in either case, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender with respect to such New Borrower and the related Transfer of the applicable Property(ies);

(viii) Borrower, New Borrower and Guarantor shall have executed and/or delivered such additional Loan Documents, amendments to Loan Documents, amendments to the SHLD Master Lease and any other Lease or Material Agreement, organizational documents, certificates, evidence of authority, lien searches and other documentation as Lender shall reasonably request and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Lender (and following a Securitization of the Loan, acceptable to the Rating Agencies); and

(ix) Borrower shall have reimbursed Lender for its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with such Transfer (including any costs required for review of such Transfer by the Rating Agencies).

Section 9.31 Joint and Several Liability; Waivers .

(a) The representations, covenants, warranties and obligations of Borrower hereunder are joint and several. In the event of (a) any payment by any one or more of the Borrowers of any amount in excess of its respective Proportional Amount, or (b) the foreclosure of, or the delivery of deeds in lieu of foreclosure relating to, any of the Collateral or JV Collateral owned by one or more of the Borrowers or one or more JV Pledgors (each, an “ Obligor ” and collectively, the “ Obligors ”), each Obligor (the “ Overpaying Obligor ”) that has paid more than its Proportional Amount or whose Collateral or assets have been utilized to satisfy obligations under the Loan or otherwise for the benefit of one or more other Obligors shall be entitled, after payment in full of the Notes and the satisfaction of all the other obligations of the Obligors to the Lender under the Loan Documents, to contribution from each of the benefited Obligors (i.e., the Obligors, other than the Overpaying Obligor, who have paid less than their respective Proportional Amount or whose Collateral or JV Collateral or assets have not been so utilized to satisfy obligations under the Loan) for the amounts so paid, advanced or benefited, up to such benefited Obligor’s then current Proportional Amount. Such right to contribution shall be subordinate in all respects to the Loan. As used herein, the “Proportional Amount” with respect to any Obligor shall equal the amount derived as follows: (a) the ratio of the value of the Collateral or JV Collateral, as applicable, in which such Obligor has an interest to the then aggregate value of all Collateral and JV Collateral; times (b) the aggregate amount of the Indebtedness under the Loan Documents.

(b) Without limiting any of the other waivers and provisions set forth in the Loan Documents, Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the extent permitted by law, all rights and defenses that Borrower may have because the Indebtedness is secured in whole or in part by real property, including any rights or defenses that Borrower may have or be entitled to assert based on or arising out of any one or more of California Code of

 

151


Civil Procedure Sections 580a, 580b, 580d or 726 or California Civil Code Section 2848. This means, among other things that:

(i) Borrower hereby agrees that during the continuation of an Event of Default, Lender may elect to foreclose either judicially or non-judicially against any real or personal property collateral or security it holds for all or any part of the Indebtedness or the other Obligations, or accept an assignment of any such collateral or security in-lieu of foreclosure, or compromise or adjust any part of such obligations, or make any other accommodation with Borrower, or exercise any other remedy against Borrower or any collateral or security. No such action by Lender will release or limit the liability of Borrower to Lender, who shall remain liable under the Loan Documents after any such action, even if the effect of any such action is to deprive Borrower of the right to collect reimbursement from any other Person (including any other Borrower) for any sums paid to Lender or of its rights of subrogation, contribution or indemnity against any other Person (including any other Borrower).

(ii) Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower hereby waives, to the extent permitted by law, all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by Lender, even though such an election of remedies, such as nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for any of the Indebtedness or the other Obligations, has impaired or destroyed any right or ability that Borrower may have to seek reimbursement, contribution, or indemnification for any amounts paid by Borrower under the Loan Documents, by the operation of Section 580d of the California Code of Civil Procedure. Borrower further understands and acknowledges that in the absence of this waiver such potential impairment or destruction of Borrower’s rights, if any, may entitle Borrower to assert a defense to the Loan Documents based on California Code of Civil Procedure Section 580d as interpreted in Union Bank v. Gradsky, 265 Cal. App. 2d 40, 71 Cal. Rptr. 64 (1968), on the grounds, among others, that Lender should be estopped from pursuing Borrower because Lender’s election to foreclose may have impaired or destroyed such subrogation, reimbursement, contribution, or indemnification rights of Borrower. By execution of the Loan Documents, Borrower hereby intentionally, freely, irrevocably, and unconditionally waives and relinquishes, to the extent permitted by law, any such defense and agrees that (i) Borrower will be liable under the Loan Documents even though Lender has foreclosed judicially or non-judicially against any real or personal property collateral or security for Borrower’s obligations, (ii) Borrower will not assert any such defense in any action or proceeding that Lender may begin to enforce the Loan Documents and (iii) Borrower shall in no event be deemed to have any right, title, interest or claim under any circumstance in or to any real or personal property held by Lender or any third party following any foreclosure or assignment-in-lieu thereof of any such collateral or security.

(iii) Borrower hereby intentionally, freely, irrevocably and unconditionally waives and relinquishes, to the extent permitted by law, all rights that may be available to Borrower under any provision of California law or under any California judicial decision, including Sections 580a and 726(b) of the California Code of Civil Procedure, to limit the amount of any deficiency judgment or other judgment that may be obtained against Borrower under the Loan Documents to not more than the amount by which all unpaid Indebtedness and other Obligations due from Borrower under the Loan Documents, exceeds the fair market value or fair value of any real or personal property securing such obligations and any other Indebtedness due from Borrower under the Loan Documents,

 

152


including all rights to an appraisement of, judicial or other hearing on, or other determination of the value of such property. Borrower understands and agrees that, as a result of the waiver of the foregoing rights, privileges, benefits and defenses, and without limiting the effect of the foregoing waiver, (i) Lender may have the ability to pursue Borrower for a judgment on the Indebtedness and the other Obligations without having first foreclosed on the real or personal property collateral or security for all or any part of the Indebtedness or the other Obligations, (ii) Lender may have the ability to sue Borrower for a deficiency judgment on the Indebtedness or the other Obligations after a non-judicial foreclosure sale or, regardless of any election of remedies by Lender, if the Indebtedness or any other Obligations of Borrower to Lender under the Loan Documents is considered to have been provided by a vendor to a buyer and to evidence part of the purchase price for the real or personal property collateral or security and (iii) Lender may be entitled to recover from Borrower an amount that, when combined with the value of any real or personal property foreclosed upon by Lender (or the proceeds of the sale of which have been received by Lender) and any sums collected by Lender from Borrower or other Person, might exceed the amount of the Indebtedness and the other Obligations due from Borrower under the Loan Documents.

(c) The foregoing provisions of Section 9.30(b) shall apply only to the extent California law is deemed to apply notwithstanding the choice of law set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in Section 9.30(b) shall in any way be deemed to imply that California law or any other state’s law other than New York shall govern this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents in any respect, except as may be expressly set forth therein, including with respect to the exercise of Lender’s remedies under the Loan Documents.

 

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Lender, Borrower and JV Pledgor are executing this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

LENDER :
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:

/s/ Jennifer Lewin

Name: Jennifer Lewin
Title: Vice President
H/2 SO III FUNDING I LLC
By:

/s/ Daniel Ottensoser

Name: Daniel Ottensoser
Title: Authorized Signatory
By:

/s/ Ben Doramus

Name: Ben Doramus
Title: Authorized Signatory
BORROWER :
SERITAGE SRC FINANCE LLC
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President
SERITAGE KMT FINANCE LLC
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President
JV PLEDGOR :
SERITAGE GS HOLDINGS LLC
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President

 

S-1


SERITAGE SPS HOLDINGS LLC
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President
SERITAGE MS HOLDINGS LLC
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President

 

S-2

Exhibit 10.5

Execution Version

MEZZANINE LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of July 7, 2015

by and among

Seritage SRC Mezzanine Finance LLC and

Seritage KMT Mezzanine Finance LLC,

as Borrower,

and

H/2 SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES III CORP. and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Lender


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE 1 GENERAL TERMS

     44   

Section 1.1

 

The Loan; Term

     44   

Section 1.2

 

Interest and Principal

     45   

Section 1.3

 

Method and Place of Payment

     47   

Section 1.4

 

Taxes; Regulatory Change

     47   

Section 1.5

 

Interest Rate Cap Agreements

     49   

Section 1.6

 

Release

     50   

ARTICLE 2 VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT AND ASSUMPTION

     50   

Section 2.1

 

Voluntary Prepayment

     50   

Section 2.2

 

Property Releases

     51   

Section 2.3

 

JV Releases

     54   

Section 2.4

 

Transfers of Equity Interests in Borrower

     56   

ARTICLE 3 ACCOUNTS

     59   

Section 3.1

 

Cash Management Account

     59   

Section 3.2

 

Distributions from Cash Management Account

     59   

Section 3.3

 

Mortgage Loan Covenants; Replacement of Mortgage Loan Collateral Accounts

     59   

Section 3.4

 

Account Collateral

     60   

Section 3.5

 

Bankruptcy

     61   

ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS

     61   

Section 4.1

 

Mortgage Loan Representations

     61   

Section 4.2

 

Organization

     61   

Section 4.3

 

Authorization

     61   

Section 4.4

 

No Conflicts

     61   

Section 4.5

 

Consents

     62   

Section 4.6

 

Enforceable Obligations

     62   

Section 4.7

 

No Default

     62   

Section 4.8

 

Payment of Taxes

     62   

Section 4.9

 

Compliance with Law

     62   

Section 4.10

 

ERISA

     63   

Section 4.11

 

Investment Company Act

     63   

Section 4.12

 

No Bankruptcy Filing

     63   

Section 4.13

 

Other Debt

     63   

Section 4.14

 

Litigation

     63   

Section 4.15

 

Full and Accurate Disclosure

     63   

Section 4.16

 

Financial Condition and Projections

     64   

Section 4.17

 

Single-Purpose Requirements

     64   

Section 4.18

 

Use of Loan Proceeds

     64   

Section 4.19

 

Not Foreign Person

     65   

Section 4.20

 

Labor Matters

     65   

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 4.21

 

Title

     65   

Section 4.22

 

Fraudulent Conveyance

     65   

Section 4.23

 

Management

     65   

Section 4.24

 

Federal Trade Embargos

     65   

Section 4.25

 

Ground Leased Parcel

     66   

Section 4.26

 

Survival

     67   

ARTICLE 5 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     67   

Section 5.1

 

Existence; Licenses

     67   

Section 5.2

 

Maintenance of Property

     68   

Section 5.3

 

Compliance with Legal Requirements

     68   

Section 5.4

 

Impositions and Other Claims

     69   

Section 5.5

 

Inspection

     69   

Section 5.6

 

Cooperate in Legal Proceedings

     70   

Section 5.7

 

Leases

     70   

Section 5.8

 

Plan Assets, etc.

     73   

Section 5.9

 

Further Assurances

     73   

Section 5.10

 

Management of Properties

     73   

Section 5.11

 

Notice of Material Event

     74   

Section 5.12

 

Annual Financial Statements; Format for Statements

     75   

Section 5.13

 

Quarterly Financial Statements

     75   

Section 5.14

 

Monthly Financial Statements; Other Reporting

     76   

Section 5.15

 

Insurance

     77   

Section 5.16

 

Casualty and Condemnation

     78   

Section 5.17

 

Annual Budget

     78   

Section 5.18

 

Venture Capital Operating Companies; Nonbinding Consultation

     79   

Section 5.19

 

Compliance with Encumbrances and Material Agreements

     79   

Section 5.20

 

Prohibited Persons

     80   

Section 5.21

 

Business Plans

     80   

Section 5.22

 

Redevelopment Plans

     80   

Section 5.23

 

Recapture Plans

     83   

Section 5.24

 

Joint Ventures

     84   

ARTICLE 6 NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     84   

Section 6.1

 

Liens on the Collateral

     84   

Section 6.2

 

Ownership

     85   

Section 6.3

 

Transfer

     85   

Section 6.4

 

Debt

     85   

Section 6.5

 

Dissolution; Merger or Consolidation

     85   

Section 6.6

 

Change in Business

     85   

Section 6.7

 

Debt Cancellation

     85   

Section 6.8

 

Affiliate Transactions

     85   

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 6.9

 

Misapplication of Funds

     85   

Section 6.10

 

Jurisdiction of Formation; Name

     86   

Section 6.11

 

Modifications and Waivers

     86   

Section 6.12

 

ERISA

     87   

Section 6.13

 

Alterations and Expansions

     87   

Section 6.14

 

Advances and Investments

     87   

Section 6.15

 

Single-Purpose Entity

     87   

Section 6.16

 

Zoning and Uses

     88   

Section 6.17

 

Waste

     88   

Section 6.18

 

Ground Lease

     88   

ARTICLE 7 DEFAULTS

     89   

Section 7.1

 

Event of Default

     89   

Section 7.2

 

Remedies

     92   

Section 7.3

 

Application of Payments after an Event of Default

     94   

ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     94   

Section 8.1

 

Conditions Precedent to Loan Closing

     94   

ARTICLE 9 MISCELLANEOUS

     98   

Section 9.1

 

Successors

     98   

Section 9.2

 

GOVERNING LAW

     98   

Section 9.3

 

Modification, Waiver in Writing, Approval of Lender

     99   

Section 9.4

 

Notices

     99   

Section 9.5

 

TRIAL BY JURY

     101   

Section 9.6

 

Headings

     102   

Section 9.7

 

Assignment

     102   

Section 9.8

 

Severability

     103   

Section 9.9

 

Preferences; Waiver of Marshalling of Assets

     103   

Section 9.10

 

Remedies of Borrower

     104   

Section 9.11

 

Offsets, Counterclaims and Defenses

     104   

Section 9.12

 

No Joint Venture

     104   

Section 9.13

 

Conflict; Construction of Documents

     104   

Section 9.14

 

Brokers and Financial Advisors

     104   

Section 9.15

 

Counterparts

     105   

Section 9.16

 

Estoppel Certificates

     105   

Section 9.17

 

General Indemnity; Payment of Expenses

     106   

Section 9.18

 

No Third-Party Beneficiaries

     108   

Section 9.19

 

Recourse

     108   

Section 9.20

 

Right of Set-Off

     111   

Section 9.21

 

Exculpation of Lender

     111   

Section 9.22

 

Servicer

     111   

Section 9.23

 

No Fiduciary Duty

     112   

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 9.24

 

Borrower Information

     113   

Section 9.25

 

PATRIOT Act Records

     115   

Section 9.26

 

Prior Agreements

     115   

Section 9.27

 

Publicity

     115   

Section 9.28

 

Delay Not a Waiver

     115   

Section 9.29

 

Schedules and Exhibits Incorporated

     115   

Section 9.30

 

New Pledge

     116   

Section 9.31

 

Joint and Several Liability; Waivers

     117   

Section 9.32

 

Senior Loan

     117   

Section 9.33

 

Intercreditor Agreement

     119   

 

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Exhibits
A Organizational Chart
B Intentionally Omitted
C Form of Permitted JV Equity Pledge Agreement
D Form of Borrower Reporting Package
Schedules
A Allocated Loan Amounts
B Exception Report
C Business Plan Requirements
D-1 Prohibited Transferees
D-2 Proprietary Information Restricted Persons
E-1 Developer REA Estoppels
E-2 Major Anchor REA Estoppels
F Designated Property Redevelopment Plans
G Recapture Plans
H Confidentiality Legend
Annexes
I Mortgage Loan Agreement

 

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LOAN AGREEMENT

This Loan Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is dated July 7, 2015 and is by and among H/2 Special Opportunities III Corp., a Delaware corporation, as holder of the M-1 Note (as defined herein) (together with its successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any M-1 Note, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the “ M-1 Lender ”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association as holder of the M-2 Note (as defined herein) (together with its successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any M-2 Note, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the “ M-2 Lender ”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association as holder of the M-2 Note (as defined herein) (together with its successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any M-3 Note, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the “ M-3 Lender ”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association as holder of the M-3 Note (as defined herein) (together with its successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any M-4 Note, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the “ M-4 Lender ”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, a national banking association as holder of the M-5 Note (as defined herein) (together with its successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any M-5 Note, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the “ M-5 Lender ”; the M-5 Lender, together with the M-1 Lender, the M-2 Lender, the M-3 Lender and the M-4 Lender and each of their respective successors and assigns, including any lawful holder of any portion of the Indebtedness, as defined herein, individually or collectively, as the context may require, “ Lender ”) and Seritage SRC Mezzanine Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Seritage KMT Mezzanine Finance LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as borrower (individually or collectively, as the context may require, “ Borrower ”).

RECITALS

Borrower desires to obtain from Lender the Loan (as defined herein) in connection with the financing of the acquisition of the Properties (as defined herein).

Lender is willing to make the Loan on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement if Borrower joins in the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents.

In consideration of the agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein and in the other Loan Documents, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Lender and Borrower agree as follows:

DEFINITIONS

(a) When used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

Acceptable Counterparty ” means any counterparty to an Interest Rate Cap Agreement (or the guarantor of such counterparty’s obligations pursuant to a guaranty acceptable to Lender and the Rating Agencies) that has and maintains (a) either (i) a long-term unsecured debt rating or counterparty rating of A- or higher from S&P, or (ii) a short-term unsecured debt rating of A-2 or higher from S&P, and (b) a long-term unsecured debt rating of A3 or higher from Moody’s.


Account Collateral ” means, collectively, the Collateral Accounts and all sums at any time held, deposited or invested therein, together with any interest and other earnings thereon, and all securities and investment property credited thereto and all proceeds thereof (including proceeds of sales and other dispositions), whether accounts, general intangibles, chattel paper, deposit accounts, instruments, documents or securities.

Additional Nonconsolidation Opinion ” shall mean a nonconsolidation opinion letter delivered in connection with the Loan subsequent to the Closing Date reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Lender and, if a Securitization has occurred, satisfactory in form and substance to the Rating Agencies, delivered by Mayer Brown LLP or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to Lender and, if a Securitization has occurred, satisfactory to the Rating Agencies.

Additional Properties ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Affiliate ” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that is, directly or indirectly, in Control of, is Controlled by or is under common ownership or Control with such Person.

Affiliate Lease ” means any Lease between Property Owner and any Broad Affiliate of Property Owner or Borrower (which shall include, for avoidance of doubt, the Lands’ End Master Lease and the Sears Hometown License Agreement).

Agreement ” means this Loan Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Allocated Loan Amount ” means, with respect to each Property, the portion of the Loan Amount allocated to such Property as set forth on Schedule A as of the Loan Closing and adjusted as of the Approved Separation Transaction Closing.

Alteration ” means any demolition, alteration, installation, improvement or expansion of or to any of the Properties or any portion thereof.

Annual Budget ” means a capital and operating expenditure budget for each Property and the Property Owner (including allocable general and administrative expenses of Guarantor) for a Fiscal Year, prepared by Borrower that specifies amounts sufficient to operate and maintain the Properties consistent with the standards required by this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Annual Budget shall not include expenditures in respect of Redevelopment Projects.

Annual Test Period ” means each one-year period commencing on the date that is 90 days following the Closing Date and each one-year anniversary of such date.

 

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Applicable JV ” means, as to any Seritage JV Member, the GGP JV, the Macerich JV, the Permitted JV or the Simon JV, as applicable to such Seritage JV Member.

Appraisal ” means, with respect to each Property, an as-is appraisal of such Property that is prepared by a member of the Appraisal Institute selected by Mortgage Lender, meets the minimum appraisal standards for national banks promulgated by the Comptroller of the Currency pursuant to Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, as amended (FIRREA) and complies with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Approved Annual Budget ” means, with respect to any Fiscal Year, the most recent Annual Budget prepared by Property Owner and delivered to Lender in accordance with Section 5.17 , and, to the extent required by Section 5.17 , is approved by Lender.

Approved Designated Property Redevelopment Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(h) .

Approved Management Agreement ” means that certain Management and Leasing Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between Property Owner and Seritage Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any other management agreement or agreements with one or more Approved Property Managers on terms reasonably acceptable to Lender and with respect to which the Rating Condition is satisfied, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Approved Property Manager ” means:

(i) (a) SHMC and (b) any Person listed on Schedule O to the Mortgage Loan Agreement;

(ii) Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof, provided the designated manager either (a) satisfies the Independent Management Criteria or (b) subcontracts with respect to all or a portion of its duties with an Approved Property Manager (satisfying the criteria in clause (i) or clause (iii) of this definition) under an Approved Management Agreement on terms reasonably acceptable to Lender; or

(iii) any other management company that is not a Broad Affiliate of Property Owner, Borrower, Guarantor or SHLD (other than such Persons permitted under clause (i)  or clause (ii)  above) and is otherwise reasonably acceptable to Lender and with respect to which the Rating Condition is satisfied, in each case, unless and until Lender requests the termination of that management company pursuant to Section 5.10(d) .

Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget ” means a Redevelopment Plan and Budget prepared by Property Owner with respect to all or any portion of a Property that satisfies the applicable requirements set forth Section 5.22 and, to the extent required by Section 5.22 , is approved by Lender.

 

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Approved Separation Transaction ” means the acquisition of Borrower, Property Owner and the other assets (including the Additional Properties) contemplated thereby by the Guarantor pursuant to the SHLD PSA for a purchase price not less than the Minimum Purchase Price, funded by a combination of proceeds of the Loan, the Mortgage Loan and the proceeds from a subscription-rights offering to SHLD shareholders that will raise not less than the Minimum Cash Equity (as defined below) on such terms as are approved by Lender and set forth in the Form S-11 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Approved Separation Transaction Closing ” means the closing of the Approved Separation Transaction in accordance with the SHLD PSA.

Assignment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(b) .

Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement ” means each collateral assignment of an interest rate cap agreement executed by Borrower and an Acceptable Counterparty in accordance herewith, each of which must be in substantially the form executed by Borrower and the initial Acceptable Counterparty on the Closing Date, mutatis mutandis, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Assignments of Title Insurance Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(o) .

Bankruptcy Action ” shall mean with respect to any Person (a) such Person filing a voluntary petition under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other Federal, state, local or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law; (b) the filing of an involuntary petition against such Person under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other Federal, state, local or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law, or soliciting or causing to be solicited petitioning creditors for any involuntary petition against such Person; (c) such Person filing an answer consenting to or otherwise acquiescing in or joining in any involuntary petition filed against it, by any other Person under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other Federal, state, local or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law; (d) such Person consenting to or acquiescing in or joining in an application for the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee, or examiner for such Person or any portion of any Individual Property; (e) such Person making an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admitting, in writing or in any legal proceeding, its insolvency or inability to pay its debts as they become due; or (f) such Person shall take any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §101, et seq., as the same may be amended from time to time, and any successor statute or statutes and all rules and regulations from time to time promulgated thereunder, and any comparable foreign laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or creditors’ rights or any other Federal, state, local or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law.

Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

 

4


Borrower Reporting Package ” means the reports required to be delivered by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit D .

Borrower Representative ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4 .

Borrower Tax ” means any U.S. Tax and any present or future tax, assessment or other charge or levy imposed by, or on behalf of, any jurisdiction through which or from which payments due hereunder are made (or any taxing authority thereof).

Broad Affiliate ” means, as to any particular person, any Person either: (i) directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such person; or (ii) owning (directly or indirectly) 10% or more of the direct or indirect equity interests in such person.

Budgeted Operating Expenses ” means, with respect to any calendar month, (i) an amount equal to the Operating Expenses budgeted for such calendar month as set forth in the then-applicable Approved Annual Budget, or (ii) such greater amount as shall equal Property Owner’s actual Operating Expenses for such month to the extent permitted by Section 5.17 or approved by Lender in accordance with Section 5.17 (including, for avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Permitted Variances).

Business Day ” means any day other than (i) a Saturday and a Sunday and (ii) a day on which federally insured depository institutions in the State of New York or the state in which the offices of Lender, its trustee, its Servicer or its Servicer’s collection account are located are authorized or obligated by law, governmental decree or executive order to be closed. When used with respect to an Interest Determination Date, “Business Day” shall mean a day on which banks are open for dealing in foreign currency and exchange in London.

Business Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21 .

Capital Expenditure ” means hard and soft costs incurred by Property Owner with respect to replacements and capital repairs made to the Properties (including repairs to, and replacements of, structural components, roofs, building systems, parking garages and parking lots), in each case to the extent capitalized in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Expenditure Reserve Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Cash Flow Sweep Period ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Cash Management Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

 

5


Casualty ” means a fire, explosion, flood, collapse, earthquake or other casualty affecting all or any portion of any Property.

Cause ” means, with respect to an Independent Manager, (i) acts or omissions by such Independent Manager that constitute systematic and persistent or willful disregard of such Independent Manager’s duties, (ii) such Independent Manager has been indicted or convicted for any crime or crimes of moral turpitude or dishonesty or for any violation of any Legal Requirements, (iii) such Independent Manager no longer satisfies the requirements set forth in the definition of “Independent Manager”, (iv) the fees charged for the services of such Independent Manager are materially in excess of the fees charged by the other providers of Independent Managers listed in the definition of “Independent Manager” or (v) any other reason for which the prior written consent of Lender shall have been obtained.

Certificates ” means, collectively, any senior and/or subordinate notes, debentures or pass-through certificates, or other evidence of indebtedness, or debt or equity securities, or any combination of the foregoing, representing a direct or beneficial interest, in whole or in part, in the Loan.

Clearing Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Closing Date ” means the date of this Agreement.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and as it may be further amended from time to time, any successor statutes thereto, and applicable U.S. Department of Treasury regulations issued pursuant thereto in temporary or final form.

Collateral ” means all assets owned from time to time by Borrower including (i) 100% of the issued and outstanding limited liability interests in each Property Owner, (ii) all other collateral pledged under the Pledge Agreement, and (iii) all other tangible and intangible property in respect of which Lender is granted a Lien under the Loan Documents, and all proceeds thereof; provided , however , that “Collateral” shall not include the JV Collateral.

Collateral Account ” means each of the accounts and sub-accounts established pursuant to Section 3.3(b) .

Completion Guaranty ” means that certain Completion Guaranty (Mezzanine) executed by Guarantor as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Completion Guaranty Payments ” means any payments made by Guarantor from time to time pursuant to the Completion Guaranty.

Component Spread ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(c) .

Condemnation ” means a taking or voluntary conveyance of all or part of any of the Properties or any interest therein or right accruing thereto or use thereof, as the result of, or in settlement of, any condemnation or other eminent domain proceeding by any Governmental Authority.

 

6


Contingent Obligation ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person in any manner and any contingent obligation to purchase, to provide funds for payment, to supply funds to invest in any other Person or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and “Controlling,” “Controlled” and “under common Control” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Cooperation Agreement ” means that certain Mezzanine Loan Cooperation Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among Borrower, Lender and Guarantor, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Corporate Business Plan ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.21 .

Damages ” to a Person means any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, demands, damages, penalties, assessments, actions, causes of action, judgments, proceedings, suits, claims, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs of defense and/or enforcement whether or not suit is brought), fines, charges, fees, settlement costs and disbursements actually imposed on, or actually incurred by, such party, whether based on any federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or regulations (including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable cause or on contract or otherwise; provided, however, that “Damages” shall not include special, consequential or punitive damages, except to the extent actually imposed upon Lender by one or more third parties.

DBRS ” means DBRS, Inc. or its applicable Affiliate.

Debt ” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

(i) all indebtedness of such Person to any other party (regardless of whether such indebtedness is evidenced by a written instrument such as a note, bond or debenture), including indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services;

(ii) all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person and all unreimbursed amounts drawn thereunder;

(iii) all indebtedness secured by a Lien on any property owned by such Person (whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed) except obligations for impositions that are not yet due and payable;

(iv) all Contingent Obligations of such Person;

 

7


(v) all payment obligations of such Person under any interest rate protection agreement (including any interest rate swaps, floors, collars or similar agreements) and similar agreements; and

(vi) any material actual or contingent liability to any Person or Governmental Authority with respect to any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

Debt Yield ” means, as of any date of determination, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, where (i) the numerator is equal to In-Place NOI for the most recently ended Test Period and (ii) the denominator is equal to the sum of (a) the Principal Indebtedness plus (b) the Mortgage Loan Principal Indebtedness as of such date of determination.

Debt Yield Threshold ” means (i) with respect to the first Extension Term, 14.0%, and (ii) with respect to the second Extension Term, 15.0%.

Default ” means the occurrence of any event that, but for the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means, with respect to any Note or Note Component, the greater of (x) 4.0% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise applicable to such Note or Note Component hereunder and (y) 1% per annum in excess of the Prime Rate from time to time; provided that, if the foregoing would result in an interest rate in excess of the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, the Default Rate shall be limited to the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.

Deferred Maintenance Amount ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Deferred Maintenance Conditions ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Designated Net Sales Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(iv) .

Designated Property ” and “ Designated Properties ” means each of Aventura (Store #1655), Hicksville (Store #1264) and Santa Monica (Store #1178), individually or collectively as the context may require.

Designated Redevelopment Project ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(h) .

Diversification Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

 

8


Eligible Account ” means a separate and identifiable account from all other funds held by the holding institution that is either (a) an account or accounts (or subaccounts thereof) maintained with a federal or state-chartered depository institution or trust company which complies with the definition of Eligible Institution or (b) a segregated trust account or accounts (or subaccounts thereof) maintained with a federal or state chartered depository institution or trust company acting in its fiduciary capacity that has a Moody’s rating of at least “Baa3” or S&P rating of at least “BBB-” and which, in the case of a state chartered depository institution or trust company, is subject to regulations substantially similar to 12 C.F.R. §9.10(b), having in either case a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.00 and subject to supervision or examination by federal and state authority. An Eligible Account shall not be evidenced by a certificate of deposit, passbook or other instrument.

Eligible Institution ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Embargoed Person ” means any Person subject to trade restrictions under any Federal Trade Embargo.

Engineering Report ” means a structural and seismic engineering report or reports (including a “probable maximum loss” calculation, if applicable) with respect to the Properties prepared by an independent engineer approved by Lender and delivered to Lender in connection with the Loan, and any amendments or supplements thereto delivered to Lender.

Environmental Indemnity ” means that certain environmental indemnity agreement executed by Borrower and Guarantor as of the Closing Date, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Environmental Laws ” means any and all present and future federal, state and local laws, statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and the like, as well as common law, any judicial or administrative orders, decrees or judgments thereunder, and any permits, approvals, licenses, registrations, filings and authorizations, in each case as now or hereafter in effect, relating to (i) the pollution, protection or cleanup of the environment, (ii) the impact of Hazardous Substances on property, health or safety, (iii) the Use or Release of Hazardous Substances, (iv) occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene or the protection of human, plant or animal health or welfare or (v) the liability for or costs of other actual or threatened danger to health or the environment. The term “ Environmental Law ” includes, but is not limited to, the following statutes, as amended, any successors thereto, and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and any state or local statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations and the like addressing similar issues: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (including Subtitle I relating to underground storage tanks); the Clean Water Act; the Clean Air Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Occupational Safety and Health Act; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; the Endangered Species Act; the National Environmental Policy Act; and the River and Harbors Appropriation Act. The term “ Environmental Law ” also includes, but is not limited to, any present and future federal state and local laws, statutes ordinances, rules, regulations and the like,

 

9


as well as common law, conditioning transfer of property upon a negative declaration or other approval of a Governmental Authority of the environmental condition of a property; or requiring notification or disclosure of Releases of Hazardous Substances or other environmental conditions of a property to any Governmental Authority or other Person, whether or not in connection with transfer of title to or interest in property.

Environmental Reports ” means “Phase I Environmental Site Assessments” as referred to in the ASTM Standards on Environmental Site Assessments for Commercial Real Estate, E 1527-13 (and, if necessary, “Phase II Environmental Site Assessments”), prepared by an independent environmental auditor approved by Lender and delivered to Lender in connection with the Loan and any amendments or supplements thereto delivered to Lender, and shall also include any other environmental reports delivered to Lender pursuant to this Agreement and the Environmental Indemnity.

Environmental Conditions ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Environmental Reserve Amount ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Equity Interests ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) any share, interest, participation and other equivalent (however denominated) of capital stock of (or other ownership, equity or profit interests in) such Person, (ii) any warrant, option or other right for the purchase or other acquisition from such Person of any of the foregoing, (iii) any security convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing, and (iv) any other ownership or profit interest in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such share, warrant, option, right or other interest is authorized or otherwise existing on any date.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate ,” at any time, means each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that would, at the time, be treated together with Borrower as a single employer under Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

ESL ” means, collectively, Edward S. Lampert, ESL Investments, Inc. and any of their respective affiliates, excluding SHLD and its Subsidiaries.

Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

Exception Report ” means the report prepared by Borrower and attached to this Agreement as Schedule B , setting forth any exceptions to the representations set forth in Article IV .

Excess Cash Flow ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

 

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Excluded Prepayment ” means (i) any prepayment of the Loan (i) in connection with the application of Loss Proceeds following a Casualty or Condemnation with respect to any Property in accordance with Section 5.16 or (ii) any prepayment of the Loan in an amount up to $47,239,131.20 made in connection with a release of one or more Properties in accordance with to Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 .

Exculpated Person ” means each Person that is an Affiliate, equityholder, beneficiary, trustee, member, officer, director, agent, manager, independent manager, employee or partner of Borrower or Guarantor.

Extension Fee ” means an extension fee in an amount equal to 0.25% of the Principal Indebtedness then outstanding.

Extension Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(d) .

Extension Rental Revenue Threshold ” means (a) with respect to the first Extension Term, 65% of Rental Revenues and (b) with respect to the second Extension Term, 60% of Rental Revenues.

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, the regulations (whether proposed, temporary or final), including any subsequent amendments, and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (or which may be promulgated in the future), and any requirements imposed by any applicable jurisdiction pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement relating to such provisions and guidance, which such jurisdiction has entered into with the United States (including any implementing legislation enacted as a result thereof).

Fairholme ” means Fairholme Capital Management L.L.C., any of its advisory clients from time to time, and any of its Affiliates, including Fairholme Funds, Inc.

Federal Trade Embargo ” means any federal law imposing trade restrictions, including (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended), (ii) the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq ., as amended), (iii) any enabling legislation or executive order relating to the foregoing, (iv) Executive Order 13224, and (v) the PATRIOT Act.

Fiscal Quarter ” means each three-month period ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, or such other fiscal quarter of Borrower as Borrower may select from time to time with the prior consent of Lender, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

Fiscal Year ” means the 12-month period ending on December 31 of each year, or such other fiscal year of Borrower as Borrower may select from time to time with the prior consent of Lender, not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc. and its successors.

 

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Force Majeure ” means a delay due to acts of God, governmental restrictions, stays, judgments, orders, decrees, enemy actions, civil commotion, fire, casualty, strikes, work stoppage, shortages of labor or materials or similar causes beyond the reasonable control of Borrower; provided that (1) any period of Force Majeure shall apply only to performance of the obligations necessarily affected by such circumstance and shall continue only so long as Borrower is continuously and diligently using all reasonable efforts to minimize the effect and duration thereof; and (2) Force Majeure shall not include the unavailability or insufficiency of funds.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, consistently applied.

GGP ” means GGP-SRC Member, LLC.

GGP JV ” means GS Portfolio Holdings LLC.

GGP JV Agreement ” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of GS Portfolio Holdings LLC, dated as of June 18, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

GGP JV Collateral ” means 100% of the equity interests in GGP JV Pledgor and all Pledged Collateral relating thereto.

GGP JV Documents ” means, collectively, the GGP JV Agreement and the GGP JV Master Lease.

GGP JV Interests ” means the “JV Interest” as defined in the GGP JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

GGP JV Master Lease ” means that certain Master Lease and Sublease by and among GS Portfolio Holdings LLC as Landlord and Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Tenant, dated as March 31, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

GGP JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

GGP JV Pledgor ” means Seritage GS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, county, regional, local or municipal government, any bureau, department, agency or political subdivision thereof and any Person with jurisdiction exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government (including any court).

Ground Lease ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

 

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Ground Leased Parcel ” means any portion of a Property that is ground leased to Property Owner as the lessee under the Ground Lease.

Ground Rent ” means rent payable by Property Owner pursuant to any Ground Lease.

Guarantor ” means, collectively, Seritage REIT and Seritage OP, on a joint and several basis.

Guaranty ” means that certain Guaranty, dated as of the Closing Date, executed by Guarantor for the benefit of Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Hazardous Substances ” means any and all substances (whether solid, liquid or gas) defined, listed, or otherwise classified as pollutants, hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, extremely hazardous wastes, toxic substances, toxic pollutants, contaminants, pollutants or words of similar meaning or regulatory effect under any present or future Environmental Laws or the presence of which on, in or under any of the Properties is prohibited or requires investigation or remediation under Environmental Law, including petroleum and petroleum by-products, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, toxic mold, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead and radon, and compounds containing them (including gasoline, diesel fuel, oil and lead-based paint), pesticides and radioactive materials, flammables and explosives and compounds containing them, but excluding those substances commonly used in the operation and maintenance of properties of kind and nature similar to those of any of the Properties that are used at any of the Properties in compliance with all Environmental Laws and in a manner that does not result in contamination of any of the Properties or a material adverse effect on the use, operation or value of any of the Properties.

Inapplicable Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes applied as to a Lender Party or required to be deducted or withheld from a remittance or payment to a Lender Party: Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, applied by reason of such Lender Party being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction which imposes such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof).

Increased Costs ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(d) .

Indebtedness ” means the Principal Indebtedness, together with interest and all other obligations and liabilities of Borrower under the Loan Documents, including all transaction costs, Spread Maintenance Premiums and other amounts due or to become due to Lender pursuant to this Agreement, under the Notes or in accordance with any of the other Loan Documents, and all other amounts, sums and expenses reimbursable by Borrower to Lender hereunder or pursuant to the Notes or any of the other Loan Documents.

Indemnified Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.19(b) .

Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.17 .

 

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Independent Manager ” of any corporation or limited liability company means an individual who has prior experience as an independent director or independent manager with at least three (3) years of employment experience and is provided by CT Corporation, Corporation Service Company, National Registered Agents, Inc., Wilmington Trust Company, Stewart Management Company, Lord Securities Corporation or, if none of those companies is then providing professional independent directors or managers, another nationally-recognized company reasonably approved by Lender, in each case that is not an Affiliate of Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor and that provides professional independent directors or managers and other corporate services in the ordinary course of its business, and which individual is duly appointed as a member of the board of directors or board of managers of such corporation or limited liability company and is not, and has never been, and will not while serving as Independent Manager be, any of the following:

(i) a member (other than an independent, non-economic “springing” member), partner, equityholder, manager, director, officer or employee of such corporation or limited liability company or any of its equityholders or Affiliates (other than as an independent director or manager of an Affiliate of such corporation or limited liability company that does not own a direct or indirect ownership interest in such corporation or limited liability company and that is required by a creditor to be a single purpose bankruptcy remote entity, provided that such independent director or manager is employed by a company that routinely provides professional independent directors or managers in the ordinary course of its business);

(ii) a creditor, supplier or service provider (including provider of professional services) to such corporation or limited liability company or any of its equityholders or Affiliates (other than a nationally recognized company that routinely provides professional independent managers or directors and that also provides lien search and other similar services to such corporation or limited liability company or any of its equityholders or Affiliates in the ordinary course of business);

(iii) a family member of any such member, partner, equityholder, manager, director, officer, employee, creditor, supplier or service provider; or

(iv) a Person that controls (whether directly, indirectly or otherwise) any of the entities described in clauses   (i), (ii)   or (iii)  above.

A natural person who otherwise satisfies the foregoing definition and satisfies subparagraph (i) by reason of being the Independent Manager of a Single-Purpose Entity Affiliated with the corporation or limited liability company in question that does not own a direct or indirect ownership interest in such corporation or limited liability company shall not be disqualified from serving as an Independent Manager of such corporation or limited liability company; provided that the fees that such natural person earns from serving as Independent Manager of Affiliates of such the corporation or limited liability company in any given year constitute in the aggregate less than 5% of such natural person’s annual income for that year. The same natural persons may not serve as Independent Manager of a corporation or limited liability company and, at the same time, serve as Independent Managers of an equityholder or member of such corporation or limited liability company.

 

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Independent Management Criteria ” means, with respect to any Person proposed to be an Approved Property Manager that is the Guarantor or a Subsidiary thereof, that such Person shall have demonstrated to Lender’s reasonable satisfaction that it has sufficient employees, infrastructure and expertise to manage the Properties proposed to be managed by it.

In-Place NOI ” means, with respect to any Test Period, Net Operating Income for such Test Period, subject to the following adjustments:

(i) base rents under Qualified Leases shall be adjusted to reflect annualized rents under Qualified Leases in place as of the end of such Test Period, normalized for any scheduled rent concessions;

(ii) each of Operating Income and Operating Expenses shall be adjusted to give effect to the exercise, or election to exercise, of any recapture by Property Owner or termination by the SHLD Master Tenant, in each case by written notice pursuant to the provisions of the SHLD Master Lease and whether or not SHLD Master Tenant remains in occupancy as of the applicable time; provided , however , that (a) if SHLD Master Tenant has exercised its termination option with respect to a Nonprofitable Property (as defined in the SHLD Master Lease) base rent and expense reimbursement actually paid by SHLD Master Tenant on or prior to the applicable termination date shall be included in the determination of In-Place NOI and (b) base rent and expense reimbursement under a Lease entered into in accordance with this Agreement in respect of a Property as to which a recapture or termination has been noticed under the SHLD Master Lease shall be included as if the same were a Qualified Lease, so long as neither the Tenant nor Property Owner is in default thereunder or subject to bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceeding (unless Tenant has assumed such Lease in bankruptcy), even if the Tenant thereunder has not yet assumed occupancy so long as the Lease contains no material contingency to commencement outside of buildout of the leased premises and related permits and approvals pursuant to the Lease;

(iii) management fees shall be adjusted to reflect a management fee equal to the greater of the actual management fees and the Maximum Management Fee; and

(iv) Taxes shall be adjusted to reflect annualized Taxes based on the most recent assessment as of the end of such Test Period, with a corresponding adjustment to reimbursements of such Taxes under Qualified Leases.

The calculation of In-Place NOI by Mortgage Lender shall be binding and conclusive absent manifest error.

Insurance Requirements ” means, collectively, (i) all material terms of any insurance policy required pursuant to this Agreement or the Mortgage Loan Agreement and (ii) all material regulations and then-current standards applicable to or affecting any of the Properties or any portion thereof or any use or condition thereof, which may, at any time, be recommended by the board of fire underwriters, if any, having jurisdiction over any of the Properties, or any other body exercising similar functions.

 

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Interest Accrual Period ” means, with respect to any specified Payment Date, the period from and including the 15th day of the calendar month preceding such Payment Date to but excluding the 15th day of the calendar month containing such specified Payment Date; provided that the first Interest Accrual Period shall commence on the Closing Date.

Interest Determination Date ” means, in connection with the calculation of interest accrued for any Interest Accrual Period, two (2) Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Accrual Period.

Interest Rate Cap Agreement ” means an interest rate cap confirmation between an Acceptable Counterparty and Borrower, relating to the initial term of the Loan or the Extension Term, as applicable, pursuant to Section 1.5 , which is in form and substance satisfactory to Lender (together with an interest rate cap agreement and schedules relating thereto, which are consistent in form and substance with the terms set forth in such confirmation).

IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

JV Collateral ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the GGP JV Collateral, the Simon JV Collateral, the Macerich JV Collateral and any Permitted JV Collateral; provided, however , that from and after any JV Pledgor Release Event as to any Seritage JV Member, the following shall be excluded from the JV Collateral: (i) if such Seritage JV Member is GGP JV Pledgor, the GGP JV Collateral, (ii) if such Seritage JV Member is Simon JV Pledgor, the Simon JV Collateral, (ii) if such Seritage JV Member is Macerich JV Pledgor, the Macerich JV Collateral and (iv) if such Seritage JV Member is not covered by clause (i)  through clause (iii)  above, any Permitted JV Collateral under the Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement applicable to such Seritage JV Member.

JV Capital Event Proceeds ” means, with respect to any JV Interests, the net cash proceeds actually received by the applicable JV Pledgor from any refinancing, sale (including in connection with the exercise of any buy-sell or “put” rights under the applicable JV Documents), joint venture, dissolution or application of Loss Proceeds as determined in accordance with the related JV Documents.

JV Documents ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the GGP JV Documents, the Simon JV Documents, the Macerich JV Documents and any Permitted JV Documents.

JV Interests ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the GGP JV Interests, the Simon JV Interests, the Macerich JV Interests and any Permitted JV Interests.

JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the GGP JV Pledge and Security Agreement, the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement, the Macerich JV Pledge and Security Agreement and any Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

 

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JV Pledgor ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, GGP JV Pledgor, Simon JV Pledgor, the Macerich JV Pledgor and any other Seritage JV Member that shall execute and deliver to Lender a Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however , that as to any Seritage JV Member, such Seritage JV Member shall be excluded for all purposes from JV Pledgor, and shall cease to constitute a JV Pledgor, from and after a JV Pledgor Release Event as to such Seritage JV Member.

JV Pledgor Release Event ” means, as to any Seritage JV Member provided that no Event of Default is then continuing and any applicable JV Profits are remitted to the TI/LC Reserve Account or, at Property Owner’s sole election, the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account, the earlier of (i) the sale, assignment or transfer to any Person, other than an Affiliate of such Seritage JV Member, of all of the JV Interests then held by such Seritage JV Member or (ii) the receipt by such Seritage JV Member of JV Capital Event Proceeds from (a) the sale, assignment or transfer of either (1) the Applicable JV or (2) all of the assets of the Applicable JV or (b) the dissolution of the Applicable JV; provided that in no event shall a JV Pledgor Release Event occur if any in-kind distribution is made to JV Pledgor in connection with the dissolution of the Applicable JV.

JV Profits ” means distributions of JV Capital Event Proceeds on any JV Interests in excess of the sum of (i) if applicable, the Release Price paid by Borrower to obtain release of the related JV Release Property plus (ii) return of additional invested capital and any applicable preferred return on such JV Interests in accordance with the applicable JV Documents.

JV Release Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) .

JV Release Threshold ” means an amount equal to the difference of (i) 33,991,167 minus (ii) any amounts required to be deducted therefrom in accordance with Section 2.1(b)(ii) .

JV Revenues ” means any revenues, payments or distributions in respect of the JV Interests, including any distributions of JV Capital Event Proceeds.

Lands’ End Master Lease ” means collectively (i) that certain Master Lease Agreement by and between Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Landlord and Lands’ End, Inc. as Tenant and (ii) that certain Master Sublease Agreement by and between Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Sublandlord and Lands’ End, Inc. as Subtenant, each entered into as of April 4, 2014 and each effective as of February 1, 2014.

Lease ” means any lease, license, letting, concession, occupancy agreement, sublease to which Property Owner is a party, or other agreement (whether written or oral and whether now or hereafter in effect) under which Property Owner is a lessor, sublessor, licensor or other grantor of direct possessory rights existing as of the Closing Date or thereafter entered into by Property Owner, in each case pursuant to which any Person is granted a direct possessory interest in, or right to use or occupy all or any portion of any space in any of the Properties, and every modification or amendment thereof, and every guarantee of the performance and observance of the covenants, conditions and agreements to be performed and observed by the other party thereto; provided that for purposes of this Agreement the Lands’ End Master Lease and the Sears Hometown License Agreement shall each be deemed to be a “Lease”.

 

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Leasing Commissions ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Legal Requirements ” means all governmental statutes, laws, rules, orders, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees and injunctions of Governmental Authorities (including Environmental Laws and zoning restrictions) affecting Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor, Guarantor, the Properties, the Collateral, the JV Collateral or any portion thereof or the construction, ownership, use, alteration or operation thereof, or any portion thereof (whether now or hereafter enacted and in force), and all permits, licenses and authorizations and regulations relating thereto.

Lender ” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement and in Section 9.7 .

Lender Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(b) .

LIBOR ” means the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded up to the next nearest 1/1000 of 1%) for deposits in U.S. dollars, for a one-month period, that appears on “Thomson Reuters ICE LIBOR# Rates – LIBOR01” (or the successor thereto) as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the related Interest Determination Date. If such rate does not appear on Thomson Reuters ICE LIBOR# Rates - LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date, LIBOR shall be the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (expressed as a percentage per annum) for deposits in U.S. dollars for a one-month period that appear on the Thomson Reuters ICE LIBOR# Rates – LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date, if at least two such offered rates so appear. If fewer than two such offered rates appear on the Thomson Reuters ICE LIBOR# Rates – LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date, Lender (or Servicer, on Lender’s behalf) shall request the principal London office of any four major reference banks in the London interbank market selected by Lender to provide such bank’s offered quotation (expressed as a percentage per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for deposits in U.S. dollars for a one-month period as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination Date for the amounts of not less than U.S. $1,000,000. If at least two such offered quotations are so provided, LIBOR shall be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are so provided, Lender (or Servicer, on Lender’s behalf) shall request any three major banks in New York City selected by Lender to provide such bank’s rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks for a one-month period as of approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time on the applicable Determination Date for amounts of not less than U.S. $1,000,000. If at least two such rates are so provided, LIBOR shall be the arithmetic mean of such rates. LIBOR shall be determined conclusively by Lender or its agent, absent manifest error. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall LIBOR be less than zero percent (0.0%) per annum.

LIBOR Loan ” means the Loan at such time as interest thereon accrues at a rate of interest based upon LIBOR.

 

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Lien ” means any mortgage, lien (statutory or other), pledge, hypothecation, assignment, preference, priority, security interest, or any other encumbrance or charge on or affecting any Collateral, JV Collateral, Mortgage Loan Collateral, or Mortgage Loan JV Collateral or any portion thereof, or any interest therein (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any sale-leaseback, any financing lease or similar transaction having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, the filing of any financing statement or similar instrument under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable law of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, and mechanics’, materialmen’s and other similar liens and encumbrances, as well as any option to purchase, right of first refusal, right of first offer or similar right).

Liquidity ” means, with respect to any Person on any date, the aggregate unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and the amounts available for draw under committed credit facilities on such date of such Person, on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries (meaning, for such purposes, that such Person would have satisfied all conditions precedent to draw under the applicable credit facility on such date other than notice); provided that (a) Liquidity shall include any cash and cash equivalents on deposit in the Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account not earmarked for a specific use and (b) undrawn amounts of the Mortgage Loan Future Advance Amount (to the extent not designated by Property Owner to fund a specified Redevelopment Project) shall count as Liquidity at all times prior to January 7, 2017, but not thereafter.

Loan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a) .

Loan Amount ” means $236,195,656.

Loan Closing ” means the closing of the funding of the Initial Advance by the Lender to the Borrower in accordance with this Agreement.

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Pledge Agreement (and related financing statements), any New Pledge (and related financing statements), the Environmental Indemnity, the Subordination of Property Management Agreement, the Cooperation Agreement, the Guaranty, the Completion Guaranty, the Assignments of Title Insurance Proceeds, each Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement and all other agreements, instruments, certificates and documents necessary to effectuate the granting to Lender of first-priority Liens on the Collateral or the JV Collateral or otherwise in satisfaction of the requirements of this Agreement or the other documents listed above or hereafter entered into by Lender and Borrower in connection with the Loan, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the date of a JV Pledgor Release Event as to the applicable Seritage JV Member, the following shall cease to constitute Loan Documents:

(i) any Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement, if executed by such Seritage JV Member; or

(ii) any agreement, instrument, certificate or document entered into by such Seritage JV Member in connection with any of the documents described in clause (i)  above.

 

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Lockout Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the first Payment Date following the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date.

Long-Lived Assets ” means all property capitalized in accordance with GAAP with an expected life of not less than fifteen (15) years as initially reflected on the books and records of the owner thereof at or about the time of acquisition thereof (and, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to property acquired by Borrower pursuant to the SHLD PSA, the books and records of SHLD at the time of acquisition thereof by SHLD or its applicable Subsidiary).

Loss Proceeds ” means amounts, awards or payments payable to Borrower, Property Owner, Lender and/or Mortgage Lender in respect of all or any portion of any Property in connection with a Casualty or Condemnation thereof (after the deduction therefrom and payment to Borrower, Property Owner, Lender and/or Mortgage Lender, respectively, of any and all reasonable expenses incurred by such Persons in the recovery thereof, including all attorneys’ fees and disbursements, the fees of insurance experts and adjusters and the costs incurred in any litigation or arbitration with respect to such Casualty or Condemnation).

Loan Pro Rata Share ” means, as of any date or time of determination, the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (i) the Principal Indebtedness as of such date or time of determination divided by (ii) the sum of the Principal Indebtedness as of such date or time of determination plus the Mortgage Loan Principal Indebtedness as of such date or time of determination.

M-1 Note(s) ” means that certain promissory note, dated as of the Closing Date, made by Borrower to the order of M-1 Lender, designated the “M-1 Note” which note, evidencing, together with the M-2 Note, the M-3 Note, the M-4 Note and the M-5 Note, evidence the Loan, as each such note may be replaced by multiple Notes or divided into multiple Note Components in accordance with Section 1.1(c) and as otherwise assigned (in whole or in part), as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

M-2 Note(s) ” means that certain promissory note, dated as of the Closing Date, made by Borrower to the order of M-2 Lender, designated the “M-2 Note” which note, together with the M-1 Note, the M-3 Note, the M-4 Note and the M-5 Note, evidence the Loan, as each such note may be replaced by multiple Notes or divided into multiple Note Components in accordance with Section 1.1(c) and as otherwise assigned (in whole or in part), as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

M-3 Note(s) ” means that certain promissory note, dated as of the Closing Date, made by Borrower to the order of M-3 Lender, designated the “M-3 Note” which note, together with the M-1 Note, the M-2 Note, the M-4 Note and the M-5 Note, evidence the Loan, as each such note may be replaced by multiple Notes or divided into multiple Note Components in

 

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accordance with Section 1.1(c) and as otherwise assigned (in whole or in part), as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

M-4 Note(s) ” means that certain promissory note, dated as of the Closing Date, made by Borrower to the order of M-4 Lender, designated the “M-4 Note” which note, together with the M-1 Note, the M-2 Note, the M-3 Note and the M-5 Note, evidence the Loan, as each such note may be replaced by multiple Notes or divided into multiple Note Components in accordance with Section 1.1(c) and as otherwise assigned (in whole or in part), as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

M-5 Note(s) ” means that certain promissory note, dated as of the Closing Date, made by Borrower to the order of M-5 Lender, designated the “M-5 Note” which note, together with the M-1 Note, M-2 Note, the M-3 Note and the M-4 Note, evidence the Loan, as each such note may be replaced by multiple Notes or divided into multiple Note Components in accordance with Section 1.1(c) and as otherwise assigned (in whole or in part), as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Macerich ” means Macerich SJV LLC.

Macerich JV ” means MS Portfolio LLC.

Macerich JV Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of MS Portfolio LLC dated as of April 30, 2015 as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Macerich JV Collateral ” means 100% of the equity interests in Macerich JV Pledgor and all Pledged Collateral relating thereto.

Macerich JV Documents ” means, collectively, the Macerich JV Agreement and the Macerich JV Master Lease.

Macerich JV Interests ” means the “JV Interest” as defined in the Macerich JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Macerich JV Master Lease ” means that certain Master Lease and Sublease by and among MS Portfolio LLC as Landlord and Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Tenant, dated as April 30, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Macerich JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Macerich JV Pledgor ” means Seritage MS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

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Major Lease ” means (i) the SHLD Master Lease, (ii) the Lands’ End Master Lease, (iii) any Free-Standing SAC Lease (as defined in the SHLD Master Lease), (iv) any Lease that, when aggregated with all other Leases at any Property with the same Tenant (or Affiliated Tenants), and assuming the exercise of all expansion rights contained in such Lease, is expected to cover more than 35,000 rentable square feet, (v) any Lease that contains an option or preferential right to purchase all or any portion of the fee or leasehold interest, as applicable, in a Property, (vi) any Affiliate Lease (including, without limitation, any Lease with SHLD or any Broad Affiliate of SHLD) or (vii) any Lease during the continuance of an Event of Default; provided that with respect to clause (vii) , any Lease that is not otherwise a Major Lease pursuant to clauses (i)   through (vi)  above shall cease to be a Major Lease at any time no Event of Default is continuing.

Major Redevelopment Land Use Matters ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(b)(vii) .

Major Redevelopment Project ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(a) .

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect upon (i) the ability of the Properties, taken as a whole, to generate net cash flow sufficient to service the Loan and the Mortgage Loan, (ii) the ability of Borrower, Property Owner or Guarantor to perform any material provision of any of the Loan Documents or Mortgage Loan Documents, as the case may be, (iii) the rights and remedies of the Mortgage Lender under the Mortgages and other Loan Documents, taken as a whole, (iv) the rights and remedies of Lender under the Pledge Agreement and the other the Loan Documents, taken as a whole or (v) the value of the Collateral, or the value, use or enjoyment, or the operation or occupancy, of the Properties, in each case, taken as a whole.

Material Agreements ” means (i) the SHLD PSA, (ii) the SHLD TSA, (iii) the SHLD Master Lease Guaranty, (iv) the Property Agreements, (v) the other agreements listed on Schedule G to the Mortgage Loan Agreement and (vi) each contract and agreement (other than Leases) relating to any of the Properties that imposes obligations on Borrower or Property Owner, (a) under which Borrower or Property Owner would have the obligation to pay more than $2,500,000 per annum and that cannot be terminated by Borrower or Property Owner without cause upon 60 days’ notice or less without payment of a termination fee or (b) that is with an Affiliate of Borrower or Property Owner.

Material Alteration ” means any Alteration to be performed by or on behalf of Borrower or Property Owner at any of the Properties that (i) is reasonably expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect, (ii) is reasonably expected to cost in excess of the $7,500,000, as determined by a duly licensed architect (except for Alterations in connection with (a) Tenant Improvements under and pursuant to Leases existing as of the Closing Date (pursuant to the terms thereof in existence as of the Closing Date) or Leases thereafter entered into in accordance with this Agreement, (b) the remediation of any Deferred Maintenance Condition or Environmental Condition in accordance with the Mortgage Loan Agreement and (c) restoration of such Property following a Material Casualty Event or a Material Condemnation Event in accordance with the Mortgage Loan Agreement), or (iii) is reasonably expected to permit (or is reasonably likely to induce) any Tenant to terminate its Lease or abate rent.

 

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Material Casualty Event ” means, with respect to any Property, the occurrence of a Casualty for which the cost of repairing such Casualty is reasonably expected to be in excess of $500,000.

Material Condemnation Event ” means, with respect to any Property, the occurrence of a Condemnation for which (i) the cost of restoring such Property following such Condemnation is reasonably expected to be in excess of $500,000 or (ii) such Condemnation materially interferes with the current use and operation of such Property.

Maturity Date ” means the Payment Date in June 2019, as same may be extended in accordance with Section 1.1(d) , or such earlier date as may result from acceleration of the Loan in accordance with this Agreement.

Maximum Leverage Ratio ” has the meaning specified in the Guaranty.

Maximum Management Fee ” means 3.0% of the gross Revenues of the Properties.

Mezzanine Loan Permitted Encumbrances ” means, collectively, the Liens created by the Loan Documents.

Minimum Cash Equity ” means $1,131,195,656, plus the amount necessary to purchase the JV Interests, plus amounts (other than amounts funded by Lender and Mortgage Lender) required to fund actual, documented, third-party and Lender-related closing costs of the Approved Separation Transaction, the Loan and the Mortgage Loan.

Minimum Purchase Price ” means the sum of (i) $2,262,391,312 for the Properties plus (ii) $429,012,486 for the GGP JV Interests, the Simon JV Interests and the Macerich JV Interests.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

Mortgage ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Lender ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and H/2 SO III Funding I LLC, and their respective successors and assigns as “Lender” under and as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement identified to Lender in writing.

Mortgage Loan ” means that certain mortgage loan made on the date hereof by Mortgage Lender to Property Owner.

Mortgage Loan Agreement ” means that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Mortgage Lender, Property Owner and JV Pledgor, pursuant to which the Mortgage Loan was made, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Amount ” means the sum of (i) the Mortgage Loan Initial Advance plus (ii) the maximum Mortgage Loan Future Advance Amount.

 

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Mortgage Loan Collateral ” means the “Collateral” and the “JV Collateral”, each, as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Collateral Accounts ” means the “Collateral Accounts” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Completion Guaranty ” means the “Completion Guaranty” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Completion Guaranty Payments ” means “Completion Guaranty Payments” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Documents ” means the “Loan Documents” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Event of Default ” means an “Event of Default” under and as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Future Advance Amount ” means the “Future Advance Amount” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Indebtedness ” means the “Indebtedness” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Initial Advance ” means the “Initial Advance” under and as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan JV Collateral ” means the “JV Collateral” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Permitted Encumbrances ” means “Permitted Encumbrances” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement (except that any approval by and/or satisfaction of Mortgage Lender required under the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances” in the Mortgage Loan Agreement shall for purposes hereof also require the approval by and/or satisfaction of Lender).

Mortgage Loan Principal Indebtedness ” means the “Principal Indebtedness” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equityholder ” means a “Single-Purpose Equityholder” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Mortgage Loan Spread ” means the “Mortgage Loan Spread” as such term is defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement on the Closing Date.

Mortgage Loan Release Price ” means the “Release Price” as such term is defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

 

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Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date ” means, with respect to any Property at any time during the term of the SHLD Master Lease, the earliest date (including as of the commencement date thereunder) on which any of the following shall occur with respect to such Property: (a) such Property shall be subject to a Third Party Lease as to which the SHLD Master Tenant relinquished occupancy of the space to be occupied by such Tenant or (b) Property Owner shall have recaptured all or any portion of the Property in accordance with terms of the SHLD Master Lease (including in connection with the exercise by SHLD Master Tenant of its termination option thereunder).

Net Operating Income ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the difference of (i) Operating Income for such Test Period minus (ii) Operating Expenses for such Test Period.

Net Sales Proceeds ” means the total cash consideration received by or on behalf of Property Owner in connection with the sale of the applicable Release Property or JV Release Property, less the sum of, without duplication, (i) third-party, out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by Property Owner in connection with the negotiation and consummation of the applicable sale of the related Release Property or JV Release Property (including without limitation, transfer taxes, attorneys’ fees, brokerage fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, related search and recording charges) and (ii) any distributions required to be made by Seritage REIT (and ratable distributions by Seritage OP) in order to avoid taxation on the profits or gains earned in connection with such sale, all of which costs and expenses and distributions described in clause (i)  and clause (ii) , in the aggregate, shall not exceed 10.0% of the gross sale proceeds and shall be substantiated to Lender’s reasonable satisfaction.

New Borrower ” means a newly-formed Special Purpose Entity that is wholly-owned and Controlled, directly or indirectly, by Seritage OP and is formed for the purposes described in, and in accordance with, the provisions of Section 9.30 .

New Pledge ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.30 .

Nonconsolidation Opinion ” means the opinion letter, dated the Closing Date, delivered by Borrower’s counsel to Lender and addressing issues relating to substantive consolidation in bankruptcy.

Note(s) ” means, individually or collectively, as the context may require, the M-1 Notes, the M-2 Notes, the M-3 Notes, the M-4 Notes and/or the M-5 Notes.

Note Component ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(c) .

Obligor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.30 (a).

OFAC List ” means the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons subject to financial sanctions that is maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control and any other similar list maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control pursuant to any applicable governmental statutes, laws, rules, orders, regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees and injunctions of Governmental Authorities, including trade embargo, economic sanctions, or other prohibitions imposed by Executive Order of the President of the United States. The OFAC List currently is accessible at http://www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/t11sdn.pdf.

 

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Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate delivered to Lender that is signed by an authorized officer of Borrower and certifies the information therein.

One-Year Forward LIBOR ” means, as of any date of determination, the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded up to the next nearest 1/1000 of 1%) that appears on Bloomberg MCFR Screen as 1 Month LIBOR on a one (1) year forward basis, as determined by Lender as of 11:00 am New York City time on such date, which determination by Lender shall be binding absent manifest error.

Operating Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Operating Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Operating Income ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Overpaying Obligor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.30 .

PATRIOT Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001), as amended from time to time.

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(b)

Participation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7(b) .

Payment Date ” means, with respect to each Interest Accrual Period, the ninth (9 th ) day of the calendar month in which such Interest Accrual Period ends; provided , that prior to a Securitization, Lender shall have the right to change the Payment Date so long as a corresponding change to the Interest Accrual Period is also made. Whenever a Payment Date is not a Business Day, the entire amount that would have been due and payable on such Payment Date shall instead be due and payable on the immediately preceding Business Day.

Permits ” means all licenses, permits, variances and certificates used in connection with the ownership, operation, use or occupancy of any of the Properties (including certificates of occupancy, business licenses, state health department licenses, licenses to conduct business and all such other permits, licenses, consents, approvals and rights, obtained from any Governmental Authority or private Person concerning ownership, operation, use or occupancy of any of the Properties).

Permitted Debt ” means:

(a) with respect to Property Owner, the “Permitted Debt” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement as in effect on the date hereof; and

(b) with respect to Borrower, the Indebtedness and reasonable and customary administrative expenses and state franchise taxes.

 

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Permitted Encumbrances ” means collectively, the Mortgage Loan Permitted Encumbrances and the Mezzanine Loan Permitted Encumbrances.

Permitted Equity Distribution Amount ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Permitted Investments ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement (except that any consent of Mortgage Lender required thereunder shall for purposes hereof also require the consent of Lender and shall include any other security, obligation or investment which has been approved as a Permitted Investment by Lender and with respect to which the Rating Condition is satisfied).

Permitted JV ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii) .

Permitted JV Agreement ” means, with respect to any Permitted JV, the joint venture (or similar) agreement entered into between the applicable Seritage JV Member and the applicable Permitted JV Member with respect to such Permitted JV, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Permitted JV Collateral ” means, with respect to any Permitted JV, the “Collateral” as defined in the applicable Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Permitted JV Documents ” means, with respect to any Permitted JV, the Permitted JV Agreement and any other material documents entered into by the applicable Seritage JV Member and/or its affiliates and the Permitted JV Member and/or its affiliates in connection with the Permitted JV, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Permitted JV Interests ” means, with respect to any Permitted JV, has the meaning set forth in the applicable Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Permitted JV Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii) .

Permitted JV Mortgage Pledge and Security Agreement ” means “Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C , as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Permitted Preferred Equity ” means (i) exchange-listed, perpetual non-voting preferred equity issued by Seritage REIT or Seritage OP or (ii) subject to compliance with the Maximum Leverage Ratio, preferred equity issued by Seritage REIT or Seritage OP that does not comply with clause (i) .

 

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Permitted Transfer ” means each of the following:

(i) Transfers of direct and indirect equity interests in Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor that do not result in a Prohibited Change of Control;

(ii) Transfers of Equity Interests that are traded on a nationally-recognized public stock exchange in Seritage REIT that do not result in a Prohibited Change of Control;

(iii) Transfers of any Property to (a) a Release Entity in connection with the substantially simultaneous release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 and (b) a New Borrower in accordance with Section 9.30 ;

(iv) Transfers that have been approved by Lender in accordance with the Loan Documents;

(v) Permitted Encumbrances;

(vi) Transfers of worn-out, defective or obsolete furnishings, fixtures or equipment that are promptly replaced with property of equivalent value and functionality if reasonably necessary;

(vii) Leases that either have been approved by Lender in accordance with this Agreement or do not require the approval of Lender in accordance with this Agreement;

(viii) Transfers by a natural person of equity interests owned by such transferor to such transferor’s immediate family members or trusts established for the benefit of such family members for estate planning purposes;

(ix) subject to compliance with Section 5.24(a) hereof, and so long as no Event of Default exists, the Transfer, but not pledge, of any JV Interests (or any direct or indirect Equity Interests in JV Pledgor) to any Person (other than an Affiliate or an Embargoed Person) solely for cash consideration; or

(x) Transfers in accordance with Section 2.4(e) hereof.

Permitted Variance ” means expenditures by Borrower that result in a variance from an Approved Annual Budget or an Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, as the case may be, for (i) non-discretionary items, (ii) expenditures required to be made by reason of the occurrence of any emergency ( i.e. , an unexpected event that threatens harm to persons or property at any of the Properties) and with respect to which it would be impracticable, under the circumstances, to obtain Lender’s prior consent thereto, (iii) with respect to the Approved Annual Budget, an increase of up to 5.0% of the total budget for any Property, and increase of up to 2.5% of the total Approved Annual Budget for all Properties and (iv) with respect to any Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, an increase of up to 5.0% with respect to any line-item in such budget, and an increase of up to 2.5% of such total budget.

 

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Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, unincorporated association or Governmental Authority and any fiduciary acting in such capacity on behalf of any of the foregoing.

Plan Assets ” means assets of any (i) employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Part 4, Subtitle B, Title I of ERISA, (ii) plan (as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code) subject to Section 4975 of the Code, or (iii) governmental plan (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA) subject to federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations substantially similar to Part 4, Subtitle B, Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

Pledge Agreement ” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, executed by Borrower in favor of Lender, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance herewith.

Pledged Collateral ” has the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

Policies ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Primary Servicing Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.22 .

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest published in The Wall Street Journal from time to time as the “Prime Rate.” If more than one “Prime Rate” is published in The Wall Street Journal for a day, the average of such “Prime Rates” shall be used, and such average shall be rounded up to the nearest 1/100th of one percent (0.01%). If The Wall Street Journal ceases to publish the “Prime Rate,” Lender shall select an equivalent publication that publishes such “Prime Rate,” and if such “Prime Rates” are no longer generally published or are limited, regulated or administered by a governmental or quasigovernmental body, then Lender shall select a comparable interest rate index.

Prime Rate Loan ” means the Loan at such time as interest thereon accrues at a rate of interest based upon the Prime Rate.

Prime Rate Spread ” means, in connection with any conversion of the Loan to a Prime Rate Loan, the difference (expressed as the number of basis points) of (a) the sum of LIBOR, determined as of the Interest Determination Date for which LIBOR was last available, plus the Spread, minus (b) the Prime Rate on such Interest Determination Date; provided, however, that if such difference is a negative number, then the Prime Rate Spread shall be zero.

Principal Indebtedness ” means the principal balance of the Loan outstanding from time to time.

Prohibited Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) the failure of Borrower or Property Owner to be directly or indirectly 100% owned and Controlled by Seritage OP;

(ii) the failure of Seritage REIT to be the general partner of and to Control Seritage OP;

 

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(iii) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended, but excluding any employee benefit plan of Seller and its subsidiaries, and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), other than ESL or Fairholme (a) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of Equity Interests of Seritage REIT accounting for 35% or more of the aggregate voting power of all outstanding Equity Interests of Seritage REIT with respect to the election of members of the Board of Trustees of Seritage REIT, (b) shall have obtained the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees of Seritage REIT, (c) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of Equity Interests of Seritage REIT and/or Seritage OP constituting, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of the aggregate economic interest in Seritage OP (calculated in light of the economic ownership of Seritage REIT in Seritage OP as it may appear from time to time) or (d) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of a majority of the Equity Interests of Seritage OP (excluding any such Equity Interests held by Seritage REIT);

(iv) the majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of trustees of Seritage REIT shall cease to be occupied by Persons who either (a) were members of the board of trustees of Seritage REIT as of the Closing Date or (b) were nominated for election (or whose appointment to the board of trustees was otherwise approved) by the board of trustees of Seritage REIT, a majority of whom were directors as of the Closing Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of such trustees;

(v) any Transfer, whether directly or indirectly through its direct or indirect subsidiaries, of all or substantially all of the assets of Seritage REIT or Seritage OP to a Person that is not 100% owned and Controlled by Seritage OP; or

(vi) the common Equity Interests of Seritage REIT shall, for a period of two (2) consecutive trading days, cease to be traded on a nationally-recognized public stock exchange; or

(vii) Seritage REIT or Seritage OP consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, Seritage REIT, in any such event pursuant to a transaction where the holders of voting Equity Interests in Seritage REIT or Seritage OP, as the case may be, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after such consolidation or merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, Equity Interests in Seritage REIT or Seritage OP, as the case may be, representing in the aggregate more than 50% of the combined voting Equity Interests of Seritage REIT or Seritage OP, as the case may be, or the applicable surviving company.

provided that “ Prohibited Change of Control ” shall exclude any such event resulting from the exercise by Lender of its rights and/or remedies under the Loan Documents to the extent permitted under any intercreditor agreement between Lender and Mortgage Lender.

Prohibited Pledge ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(f) .

 

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Prohibited Transferee ” means any Person that has, or has an Affiliate that Controls or is Controlled by such Person that, (i) has, within the past seven years, defaulted or is now in default (beyond any applicable cure periods) with respect to its material obligations under any written commercial loan agreement with Lender or Mortgage Lender, (ii) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding for a felony, (iii) has at any time filed a voluntary petition under the Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency law as a borrower or obligor in a commercial lending transaction, (iv) has at any time been subject to the filing of an involuntary petition under the Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency law, which petition was not dismissed within 90 days of filing, (v) has within the past seven years filed or been an adverse party to a claim, petition or cause of action in any municipal, state or federal court or other administrative or regulatory agency in a commercial loan transaction with Lender or Mortgage Lender, or (vi) is an Embargoed Person or is listed on the OFAC List.

Properties ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Property Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Property Business Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21 .

Property Material Adverse Effect ” means, as to any Property, a material adverse effect upon (i) Property Owner’s title to such Property, (ii) enforcement or validity of the Mortgage with respect to such Property, or (iii) the value, use or enjoyment of such Property or the operation or occupancy thereof.

Property Owner ” means, collectively, Seritage KMT Finance LLC and Seritage SRC Finance LLC, together with their permitted successors and assigns (including any New Borrower).

Property Release Threshold ” means an amount equal to the difference of (i) $70,858,696.80 minus (ii) any amounts required to be deducted therefrom in accordance with Section 2.1(b)(ii) minus (ii) any Designated Net Sales Proceeds deposited in the TI/LC Reserve Account and/or the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account in accordance with Section 2.2(a)(iv) .

Proportional Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.30(a) .

Proprietary Information ” means occupancy and leasing pipeline reports, tenant-by-tenant rental revenue by Property, individual property-level SHLD EBITDAR information and individual property-level store sales information for individual tenants.

Qualified Lease ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Qualified Replacement Lease ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

 

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Rating Agency ” shall mean, prior to the final Securitization of the Loan, each of S&P, Moody’s, DBRS and Fitch, or any other nationally-recognized statistical rating agency that has been designated by Lender and, after the final Securitization of the Loan, shall mean any of the foregoing that have rated and continue to rate any of the Certificates (excluding unsolicited ratings).

Rating Condition ” means, with respect to any proposed action, the receipt by Lender of confirmation in writing from each of the Rating Agencies that such action shall not result, in and of itself, in a downgrade, withdrawal, or qualification of any rating then assigned to any outstanding Certificates. No Rating Condition shall be regarded as having been satisfied unless and until any conditions imposed on the effectiveness of any confirmation from any Rating Agency shall have been satisfied. Lender shall waive a Rating Condition requirement with respect to any Rating Agency that has declined to review the applicable proposal.

Recapture Plans ” means the preliminary plans of Property Owner and SHLD Master Tenant with respect to physical separation of any space at a Property recaptured by Property Owner which have been approved by Lender as of the Closing Date and copies of which are appended to the SHLD Master Lease and are attached as Schedule G , as the same may be amended, updated, replaced or supplemented in accordance with the terms of the SHLD Master Lease and/or this Agreement, including Section 5.23 .

Recapture Threshold ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(g) .

Redevelopment Costs ” means hard and soft costs set forth in a Redevelopment Plan and Budget, including Capital Expenditures and costs of Tenant Improvements and Leasing Commissions.

Redevelopment Date of Coverage ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(g) .

Redevelopment Plan and Budget ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(a) .

Redevelopment Project ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(a) .

Redevelopment Project Reserve Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Redevelopment Reconciliation Report ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(d) .

Reference Banks ” means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by Lender.

Regulatory Change ” means any change after the Closing Date in federal, state or foreign laws or regulations or the adoption or the making, after such date, of any interpretations, directives or requests applying to a class of banks or companies controlling banks, including Lender, of or under any federal, state or foreign laws or regulations (whether or not having the force of law) by any court or governmental or monetary authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the

 

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Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Regulatory Change”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Release ” with respect to any Hazardous Substance means any release, deposit, discharge, emission, leaking, leaching, spilling, seeping, migrating, injecting, pumping, pouring, emptying, escaping, dumping, disposing or other movement of Hazardous Substances into the indoor or outdoor environment (including the movement of Hazardous Substances through ambient air, soil, surface water, ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata), and “ Released ” has the meaning correlative thereto.

Release Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

Release Entity ” means a newly-formed Special Purpose Entity that is wholly-owned and Controlled, directly or indirectly, by Seritage OP and is formed for the purpose of facilitating the substantially simultaneous release of Property in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 , subject to satisfaction of the respective requirements therein.

Release Price ” means:

(i) with respect to the release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 , the greater of (a) 120% of the applicable Allocated Loan Amount and (b) the Loan Pro Rata Share of the applicable Net Sales Proceeds received by Property Owner; and

(ii) with respect to the release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.3 , the greater of (a) 130% of the applicable Allocated Loan Amount and (b) the Loan Pro Rata Share of the applicable Net Sales Proceeds (excluding the Permitted JV Interest established in connection with such release, and the proceeds thereof) received by Property Owner in connection with formation of the applicable Permitted JV.

Release Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

REMIC ” means a “real estate mortgage investment conduit” as defined in Section 860D of the Code.

Rental Revenues ” means, with respect to the Properties, all actual in-place base rents and expense reimbursements under bona fide Qualified Leases.

Required SPE ” means Borrower, JV Pledgor and any Single-Purpose Equityholder.

Required Title Update ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22(g) .

Restricted Party ” means, collectively (a) Property Owner, Borrower, JV Pledgor, or any respective Subsidiary thereof and (b) any shareholder, partner, member, non-member

 

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manager, any direct or indirect legal or beneficial owner of Property Owner or Borrower, but excluding any shareholder, partner, member, non-member manager, any direct or indirect legal or beneficial owner of Seritage OP or Seritage REIT.

Revenues ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Sears Hometown License Agreement ” means, solely to the extent related to a Property, that certain License Agreement dated as of November 20, 2008 by and between Sears Holdings Management Corporation, as agent for Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation, as licensor, and Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Securitization ” means a transaction in which all or any portion of the Loan is deposited into one or more trusts or entities that issue Certificates to investors, or a similar transaction; and the term “ Securitize ” and “ Securitized ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Securitization Vehicle ” means the issuer of Certificates in a Securitization of the Loan.

Seller Estoppel ” means an estoppel delivered by SHLD to the Lender on the Closing Date in order for Borrower to satisfy one or more of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 8.1(k)(i) and/or Section 8.1(k)(ii) , in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Seritage JV Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)(ii) .

Seritage OP ” means Seritage Growth Properties, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

Seritage REIT ” means Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust.

Servicer ” means Strategic Asset Services LLC or such other entity or entities appointed by Lender from time to time to serve as servicer and/or special servicer of the Loan. If at any time no entity is so appointed, the term “Servicer” shall be deemed to refer to Lender.

Severed Loan Documents ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(e) .

SHLD ” means Sears Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

SHLD EBITDAR ” means, with respect to any Test Period and the Properties, the aggregate net income (which for the purposes of this calculation shall exclude all rents collected by the SHLD Master Tenant from any Affiliate of SHLD Master Tenant unless such Affiliate is a

 

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Tenant at the applicable Properties and also a tenant at similar properties owned or leased by SHLD and/or its subsidiaries under a master agreement in connection with a national or regional roll-out by such Tenant at Sears stores and/or Kmart stores) or loss for such Test Period calculated with respect to the operations of the Properties on a Property-by-Property or “four wall” basis, determined in accordance with GAAP and adjusted by excluding (1) income tax expense, (2) consolidated interest expense (net of interest income), (3) depreciation and amortization expense, (4) any income, gains or losses attributable to the early extinguishment or conversion of indebtedness or cancellation of indebtedness, (5) gains or losses on discontinued operations and asset sales, disposals or abandonments, (6) impairment charges or asset write-offs, including, without limitation, those related to goodwill or intangible assets, Long-Lived Assets, and investments in debt and equity securities, in each case, in accordance with GAAP, (7) any noncash items of expense (other than to the extent such noncash items of expense require or result in an accrual or reserve for future cash expenses), (8) extraordinary gains or losses, (9) unusual or nonrecurring gains or items of income or loss and (10) SHLD Master Lease Rent for such Test Period; provided that each of net income and the foregoing adjustments shall be determined using the methodologies and practices of SHLD in effect as of the Closing Date as shown on Schedule K to the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

SHLD EBITDAR Rent Ratio ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the quotient of (i) SHLD EBITDAR for such Test Period divided by (ii) the SHLD Master Lease Rent for such Test Period.

SHLD Master Guaranty ” means the Lease Guaranty, as defined in the SHLD Master Lease, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

SHLD Master Lease ” means that certain Master Lease and side letter entered into in connection therewith, each dated as of the Closing Date, by and among Property Owner, as Landlord, and SHLD Master Tenant, as Tenant, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

SHLD Master Lease Rent ” means, with respect to any Test Period, the aggregate annualized base rent obligations under the SHLD Master Lease as of the end of such Test Period.

SHLD Master Tenant ” means, collectively, Kmart Operations, LLC and Sears Operations, LLC.

SHLD PSA ” means that certain Subscription, Distribution and Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of June 8, 2015 by and between SHLD and Seritage REIT, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

SHLD TSA ” means that certain Transition Services Agreement by and between SHMC and Seritage OP, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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SHMC ” means Sears Holdings Management Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Simon ” means SPG Portfolio Member, LLC.

Simon JV ” means SPS Portfolio Holdings LLC.

Simon JV Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SPS Portfolio Holdings LLC, dated as of April 13, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Simon JV Collateral ” means 100% of the equity interests in Simon JV Pledgor and all Pledged Collateral relating thereto.

Simon JV Documents ” means, collectively, the Simon JV Agreement and the Simon JV Master Lease.

Simon JV Interests means the “JV Interest” as defined in the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

Simon JV Master Lease ” means that certain Master Lease by and among SPS Portfolio Holdings LLC as Landlord and Sears, Roebuck and Co. as Tenant, dated as April 13, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Simon JV Pledgor ” means Seritage SPS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Single Member LLC ” means a limited liability company that either (x) has only one member, or (y) has multiple members, none of which is a Single-Purpose Equityholder.

Single-Purpose Entity ” means a Person that:

(1) with respect to Property Owner, JV Pledgor or any Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equityholder, a “Single-Purpose Entity” as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement;

(2) with respect to Borrower, a Person that:

(a) was formed under the laws of the State of Delaware solely for the purpose of acquiring and holding an ownership interest in JV Pledgor, Property Owner and/or a Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equityholder or in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, an ownership interest in Borrower;

 

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(b) does not engage in any business unrelated to its ownership interest in JV Pledgor, Property Owner and/or a Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equity holder or in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, its ownership interest in Borrower;

(c) does not own any assets other than those related to its ownership interest in JV Pledgor, Property Owner and/or a Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equityholder or in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, its ownership interest in Borrower (and in the case of Borrower, does not and will not own any assets on which Lender does not have a Lien, other than excess cash that has been released to Borrower by Property Owner and/or a Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equityholder in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage Loan Agreement);

(d) does not have any Debt other than (i) in the case of Borrower or JV Pledgor, Permitted Debt, or (ii) in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, reasonable and customary administrative expenses and state franchise taxes;

(e) maintains (or will cause Property Owner’s Approved Property Manager to maintain) books, accounts, records, financial statements, stationery, invoices and checks that are separate and apart from those of any other Person (except that such Person’s financial position, assets, results of operations and cash flows may be included in the consolidated financial statements of an Affiliate of such Person in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i) appropriate notations should be made on any such consolidated financial statements to indicate that such Person’s assets and credit are not available to satisfy the claims of its Affiliate’s creditors and (ii) such assets shall also be listed on such Person’s own separate balance sheet);

(f) is subject to and complies with all of the limitations on powers and separateness requirements set forth in the organizational documentation of such Person as of the Closing Date;

(g) holds itself out as being a Person separate and apart from each other Person and not as a division or part of another Person;

(h) conducts its business in its own name;

(i) exercises reasonable efforts to correct any known misunderstanding actually known to it regarding its separate identity, and maintains an arm’s-length relationship with its Affiliates (other than capital contributions and distributions permitted under the terms of such Person’s organizational documents), and only enters into a contract or agreement with an Affiliate upon terms and conditions that are commercially reasonable and comparable to those that would be available on an arm’s length basis with unaffiliated third parties;

(j) except as contemplated by the Loan Documents with respect to any co-borrower hereunder, pays its own liabilities out of its own funds (provided that the foregoing shall not require any holder of any Equity Interests to make any additional capital contributions to such Person) and reasonably allocates any overhead that is shared with an Affiliate, including paying for shared office space and services performed by any officer or employee of an Affiliate;

 

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(k) does not have any employees;

(l) conducts its business so that the assumptions made with respect to it that are contained in the Nonconsolidation Opinion shall at all times be true and correct in all material respects;

(m) maintains its assets in such a manner that it will not be costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or identify its individual assets from those of any other Person;

(n) observes all applicable entity-level formalities necessary to maintain its separate existence;

(o) except as contemplated by the Loan Documents with respect to any co-borrower hereunder (including, without limitation, in a Collateral Account or an Operating Account), does not commingle its assets with those of any other Person, and holds its assets in its own name;

(p) does not assume, guarantee or become obligated for the debts of any other Person, and does not hold out its credit as being available to satisfy the obligations or securities of others, except as contemplated by the Loan Documents with respect to any co-borrower hereunder;

(q) does not acquire obligations or securities of its direct or indirect equityholders;

(r) does not pledge its assets to secure the obligations of any other Person and does not make any loans or advances to any other Person, except as contemplated by the Loan Documents with respect to any co-borrower hereunder;

(s) maintains adequate capital in light of its contemplated business operations (provided that the foregoing shall not require such Person’s partners, members or shareholders to make any additional capital contributions to such Person);

(t) has two Independent Managers on its board of directors or board of managers, or has a Single-Purpose Equityholder with two Independent Managers on such Single-Purpose Equityholder’s board of directors or board of managers, and has organizational documents that (i) provide that the Independent Managers consider only the interests of the Required SPE, including its creditors, and shall have no fiduciary duties to the Required SPE’s equityholders (except to the extent of their respective interests in the Required SPE), and (ii) prohibit the replacement of any Independent Manager without Cause and without giving at least five Business Days’ prior written notice to Lender and the Rating Agencies (except in the case of the death, legal incapacity, or voluntary non-collusive resignation of an Independent Manager, in which case no prior notice to Lender or the Rating Agencies shall be required in connection with the replacement of such Independent Manager with a new Independent Manager that is provided by any of the companies listed in the definition of “Independent Manager”);

(u) if such entity is a Single Member LLC, has organizational documents that provide that upon the occurrence of any event that causes its sole member to cease to be a

 

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member while the Loan is outstanding, at least one of its Independent Managers shall automatically be admitted as the sole member of the Single Member LLC and shall preserve and continue the existence of the Single Member LLC without dissolution; and

(v) files its own tax returns separate from those of any other Person, except to the extent it is treated as a “disregarded entity” for tax purposes and is not required to file tax returns under applicable law, and pays any taxes required to be paid under applicable law only from its own funds (provided that the foregoing shall not require such Person’s partners, members or shareholders to make any additional capital contributions to such Person);

(w) except to the extent expressly permitted by the Loan Documents, shall not dissolve, liquidate, consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of its assets;

(x) has by-laws or an operating agreement, or has a Single-Purpose Equityholder with by-laws or an operating agreement, which provides that, for so long as the Loan is outstanding, such Person shall not take or consent to any of the following actions except to the extent expressly permitted in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents:

(i) the dissolution, liquidation, consolidation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of its assets (and, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, the assets of the Required SPE);

(ii) the engagement by such Person (and, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, the engagement by the Required SPE) in any business other than (x) in the case of Borrower, activities incidental to the acquisition and ownership of its interest in JV Pledgor, Property Owner and/or a Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equityholder and (y) in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, activities incidental to the acquisition and ownership of its interest in Borrower;

(iii) the filing, or consent to the filing, of a bankruptcy or insolvency petition, any general assignment for the benefit of creditors or the institution of any other insolvency proceeding, the seeking or consenting to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator, custodian or any similar official in respect of such Person, admitting in writing such Person’s inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing, in each case, in respect of itself or, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, in respect of Borrower, without the affirmative vote of both of its Independent Managers; and

(iv) any amendment or modification of any provision of its (and, in the case of a Single-Purpose Equityholder, Borrower’s) organizational documents relating to qualification as a “Single-Purpose Entity” without the prior written consent of the Lender.

Single-Purpose Equityholder ” means, with respect to any the Required SPE that is a limited partnership, a Single-Purpose Entity that (x) is a limited liability company or corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, (y) owns at least a 1% direct equity interest in the Required SPE, and (z) serves as the general partner or managing member of the Required SPE.

 

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Spread ” means:

(i) initially, 7.25%; and

(ii) following the bifurcation of any Note into multiple Note Components pursuant to Section 1.1(c) , the weighted average of the Component Spreads of such Note Components at the time of determination, weighted on the basis of the corresponding outstanding principal balances of such Note Components at the time of determination.

Spread Maintenance Expiration Date ” shall mean with respect to any prepayment of the Loan:

(i) with respect to a payment in full of the Loan after the end of the Lockout Period, January 9, 2018;

(ii) with respect to any permitted partial prepayment of the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, up to an aggregate principal amount equal to 35.0% of the Loan Amount, January 9, 2018;

(iii) with respect to any permitted partial prepayment of the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in excess of the threshold provided in clause (ii) above, up to an aggregate principal amount equal to 15.0% of the Loan Amount, July 9, 2019;

(iv) with respect to any principal payment on the Loan during the continuance of an Event of Default, January 9, 2018; or

(v) if a prepayment permitted pursuant to Section 2.1(c) would cause the aggregate principal prepayments of the Loan to exceed 50% of the Loan Amount, July 9, 2019.

Spread Maintenance Premium ” means (i) with respect to any prepayment of the Loan permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (ii) during the continuance of an Event of Default, an amount equal to the product of (a) the principal amount so prepaid, times (b) the Spread, times (c) 1/360, times (d) the number of days from (but excluding) the conclusion of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made through and including the applicable Spread Maintenance Expiration Date; provided that no Spread Maintenance Premium shall be payable with respect to Excluded Prepayments.

Strike Rate ” means (i) with respect to the initial term of the Loan, 3.5% and (ii) with respect to any Extension Term, the greater of (a) 3.5% and (b) the strike rate necessary to produce a debt service coverage ratio equal to 1.20x (determined based on, as of any date of determination, (1) the weighted average of the Spread and the Mortgage Loan Spread as of such date, (2) the sum of (A) the Principal Indebtedness plus (B) the Mortgage Loan Principal Indebtedness as of such date and (3) In-Place NOI for the most recently ended Test Period).

Subordination of Property Management Agreement ” means (i) that certain consent and agreement of manager and subordination of management agreement executed by

 

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Borrower and Seritage Management LLC as of the Closing Date and (ii) that certain consent and agreement of manager and subordination of transition services agreement executed by Borrower and SHMC as of the Closing Date and (iii) any other agreement executed by Borrower and any Approved Property Manager from time to time pursuant to which the applicable Approved Management Agreement and all fees thereunder (including any incentive fees) are subject and subordinate to the Indebtedness, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Subsidiary ” of any Person shall mean and include (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose capital stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any limited liability company, partnership, association, joint venture or other entity of which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50% equity interest at the time.

Survey ” means, with respect to each Property, a current land title survey of such Property, certified to Property Owner, the title company issuing the Title Insurance Policies and Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Taxes ” means all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments, fees, taxes on rents or rentals, water rates or sewer rents, facilities and other governmental, municipal and utility district charges or other similar taxes or assessments now or hereafter levied or assessed or imposed against any Property or Property Owner with respect to the Property or rents therefrom or that may become Liens upon any Property, without deduction for any amounts reimbursable to Property Owner by third parties.

Tenant ” means any Person liable by contract or otherwise to pay monies (including a percentage of gross income, revenue or profits) pursuant to a Lease.

Tenant Improvements ” means, collectively, (i) tenant improvements to be undertaken for any Tenant that are required to be completed by or on behalf of Property Owner pursuant to the terms of such Tenant’s Lease, and (ii) tenant improvements paid or reimbursed through allowances to a Tenant pursuant to such Tenant’s Lease.

Test Period ” means each 12-month period ending on the last day of any Fiscal Quarter.

Third Party In-Place NOI ” means, with respect to any Test Period, In-Place NOI, as adjusted to reflect solely Operating Income generated by Third Party Leases.

Third Party In-Place NOI Threshold ” means, with respect to any Test Period, an amount equal to the product of (i) 1.10 multiplied by (ii) annual debt service on the aggregate Principal Indebtedness and Mortgage Loan Principal Indebtedness as of the end of such Test Period assuming an interest rate equal to the sum of (a) the One-Year Forward LIBOR Rate as of the applicable date of determination plus (b) the weighted average of the Spread and the Mortgage Loan Spread.

 

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Third Party Lease ” means each Lease entered into in accordance with the terms of this Agreement other than the SHLD Master Lease and any Affiliate Lease.

Title Insurance Policy ” means, as the context may require, (i) the Title Insurance Policy, as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement, (ii) a UCC insurance policy insuring Lender’s first-priority perfected security interest in 100% of the limited liability company interest in Property Owner pledged by Borrower to Lender pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, and otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lender, and (iii) to the extent available in the applicable jurisdiction, an owner’s title insurance policy in favor of Property Owner with a “Mezzanine Lender’s Financing Endorsement”, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Transaction ” means, collectively, the transactions contemplated and/or financed by the Loan Documents.

Transfer ” means (i) the whole or partial sale or other conveyance of all or any portion of the Mortgage Loan Collateral or the Mortgage Loan JV Collateral or any direct or indirect interest therein to a third party, including granting of any purchase options, rights of first refusal, rights of first offer or similar rights in respect of any portion of the Mortgage Loan Collateral or the Mortgage Loan JV Collateral or the subjecting of any portion of the Mortgage Loan Collateral or the Mortgage Loan JV Collateral to restrictions on transfer; except that the conveyance of a space lease at the Property in accordance herewith shall not constitute a Transfer or (ii) the sale or other whole or partial conveyance of all or any portion of the Collateral or the JV Collateral or any direct or indirect interest therein to a third party, including granting of any purchase options, rights of first refusal, rights of first offer or similar rights in respect of any portion of the Collateral or the JV Collateral or the subjecting of any portion of the Collateral or the JV Collateral to restrictions on transfer

Unfunded Obligations Account ” has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Use ” means, with respect to any Hazardous Substance, the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, handling, possession, use, discharge, placement, treatment, disposal, disposition, removal, abatement, recycling or storage of such Hazardous Substance or transportation of such Hazardous Substance.

U.S. Tax ” means any present or future tax, assessment or other charge or levy imposed by or on behalf of the United States of America or any taxing authority thereof.

Waste ” means any material physical abuse or destructive physical use (whether by action or inaction) of any Property.

(b) Rules of Construction . Unless otherwise specified, (i) all references to sections, schedules and exhibits are to sections, schedules and exhibits in or to this Agreement, (ii) all meanings attributed to defined terms in this Agreement shall be equally applicable to both

 

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the singular and plural forms of the terms so defined, (iii) “including” means “including, but not limited to”, (iv) “mortgage” means a mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt or similar instrument, as applicable, and “mortgagee” means the secured party under a mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt or similar instrument, (v) the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “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, article, section or other subdivision of this Agreement, (vi) unless otherwise indicated, all references to “this Section” shall refer to the Section of this Agreement in which such reference appears in its entirety and not to any particular clause or subsection or such Section, (vii) the use of the phrases “an Event of Default exists”, “during the continuance of an Event of Default” or similar phrases in the Loan Documents shall not be deemed to grant Borrower any right to cure an Event of Default except as expressly provided herein, (viii) terms used herein and defined by cross-reference to another agreement or document shall have the meaning set forth in such other agreement or document as of the Closing Date, notwithstanding any subsequent amendment or restatement of or modification to such other agreement or document, except that if the definition set forth in such other agreement or document contains any requirement that a matter be approved or consented to by Mortgage Lender then for purposes hereof the consent of Lender shall also be required and to the extent that Mortgage Lender’s consent may not be unreasonably withheld, Lender’s consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and (ix) any capitalized term used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement. Except as otherwise indicated, all accounting terms not specifically defined in this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as the same may be modified in this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any provisions in this Agreement cross-referencing provisions of the Mortgage Loan Documents shall (x) mean the Mortgage Loan Documents in effect as of the date hereof, unless otherwise specified, as the same may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented in accordance herewith, provided, however, Lender shall not be bound by any amendments, restatements, modifications, supplements or waivers of any Mortgage Loan Document unless Lender has consented thereto and (y) to the extent the context requires, be effective notwithstanding the termination of the Mortgage Loan Agreement by payment in full of the Mortgage Loan Indebtedness or otherwise. Whenever in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, it is provided (i) that Borrower shall cause Property Owner or JV Pledgor to take or refrain from taking any actions, such statements shall also mean that Borrower shall cause any applicable Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equityholder to cause Property Owner or JV Pledgor to take or refrain from taking any actions and (ii) that Borrower shall not permit Property Owner or JV Pledgor to take or refrain from taking any actions, such statements shall also mean that Borrower shall not permit any applicable Mortgage Loan Single-Purpose Equityholder to permit Property Owner to, take or refrain from taking any actions, as the case may be. Any provision contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents to the effect that Borrower shall cause, permit or allow Property Owner or JV Pledgor to act or to refrain from acting in any manner, or to the effect that Borrower shall itself act or refrain from acting in any manner with respect to the Property or any Mortgage Loan JV Collateral or Borrower represents or warrants on behalf or, or covenants on behalf of, Property Owner or JV Pledgor, or with respect to the Property or any Mortgage Loan JV Collateral, shall be construed as meaning that Borrower shall do so in Borrower’s capacity as the owner of the equity interests in Property Owner or JV Pledgor in accordance with Legal Requirements and applicable organizational documents and not directly with respect to the Property Owner or the Property or JV Pledgor or any Mortgage

 

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Loan JV Collateral in any other matter that would violate the covenants contained in Section 4.17 of this Agreement, any other similar covenants contained in the Borrower’s, Property Owner’s or JV Pledgor’s organizational documents, or any other similar covenants contained in the Mortgage Loan Documents.

ARTICLE 1

GENERAL TERMS

Section 1.1 The Loan; Term .

(a) On the Closing Date, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender shall make a loan to Borrower (the “ Loan ”) in an amount equal to the Loan Amount. The Loan shall initially be represented by the M-1 Note, the M-2 Note, the M-3 Note, the M-4 Note and the M-5 Note that shall bear interest as described in this Agreement at a per annum rate as provided in Section 1.2(a) . Each of the Notes and the interests of each Lender in the Loan and the Loan Documents shall be pari passu, of equal rank and dignity without priority or preference of one over the other. Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that the obligations of each Lender hereunder are several and not joint. Interest payable hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the related Interest Accrual Period.

(b) The Loan shall be secured by the Collateral and the JV Collateral pursuant to the Pledge Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(c) Upon written notice from Lender to Borrower, any Note will be deemed to have been subdivided into multiple components (“ Note Components ”). Each Note Component shall have such notional balance as Lender shall specify in such notice and an interest rate equal to the sum of LIBOR plus such amount as Lender shall specify in such notice (“ Component Spread ”); provided that the sum of the notional balances of all Note Components shall equal the then-current Principal Indebtedness, and the weighted average of the Component Spreads, weighted on the basis of their respective principal balances, shall initially equal the percentage set forth in clause (i) of the definition of “ Spread ”. Borrower shall be treated as the obligor with respect to each of the Note Components, and Borrower acknowledges that each Note Component may be individually beneficially owned by a separate Person. The Note Components need not be represented by separate physical Notes, but if requested by Lender and subject in each case to the return to Borrower of the Note that is being replaced by the Note Components, each Note Component shall be represented by a separate physical Note, in which case Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender each such Note promptly following Borrower’s receipt of an execution copy thereof.

(d) Borrower shall have two successive options to extend the scheduled Maturity Date of the Loan to the Payment Date in the month containing the one-year anniversary of the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect (the period of each such extension, an “ Extension Term ”); provided that, as a condition to each Extension Term (i) Borrower shall deliver to Lender written notice of such extension at least 30 days and not more than 90 days prior to the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect; (ii) no Event of Default shall be continuing on either the

 

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date of such notice or the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect; (iii) the Debt Yield for the Properties for the Test Period ending immediately prior to the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect shall be no less than the applicable Debt Yield Threshold; provided that if the Debt Yield is less than the applicable Debt Yield Threshold, Borrower shall be permitted to prepay the Loan (together with a simultaneous pro rata prepayment by Property Owner of the Mortgage Loan) in the amount required to cause the Debt Yield to equal the applicable Debt Yield Threshold, which prepayment shall be made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 2.1(e) but without the notice required thereunder; (iv) on the Maturity Date theretofore in effect, the percentage of Rental Revenues generated by the SHLD Master Lease shall be less than the applicable Extension Rental Revenue Threshold; (v) on or before the Maturity Date theretofore in effect, Borrower shall have obtained an Interest Rate Cap Agreement for the applicable Extension Term and collaterally assigned such Interest Rate Cap Agreement to Lender pursuant to an Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement; (vi) on or before the Maturity Date theretofore in effect, Borrower shall have paid the Extension Fee; (vii) provided that Lender shall have delivered to Borrower reasonably detailed invoices therefor not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date as theretofore in effect, Borrower shall have reimbursed Lender for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender in connection with such extension; and (viii) the Mortgage Loan maturity date shall have been simultaneously extended to the same date as the new Maturity Date of the Loan. If Borrower fails to exercise any extension option in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, such extension option, and any subsequent extension option hereunder, will automatically cease and terminate.

Section 1.2 Interest and Principal .

(a) On each Payment Date Borrower shall pay to Lender (to be applied to each Note on a pro rata, pari passu basis interest) on the Principal Indebtedness evidenced by each of the Notes for the applicable Interest Accrual Period at a rate per annum equal to (i) at any time the Loan is a LIBOR Loan, the sum of LIBOR, determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding such Interest Accrual Period, plus the Spread and (ii) at any time the Loan is a Prime Rate Loan, the sum of the Prime Rate, determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding such Interest Accrual Period, plus the Prime Rate Spread (except that in each case, interest shall be payable on the Indebtedness, including due but unpaid interest, at the Default Rate with respect to any portion of such Interest Accrual Period falling during the continuance of an Event of Default). As of the Closing Date, the Loan is a LIBOR Loan, and except as provided in Section 1.2(e) , the Loan shall at all times be a LIBOR Loan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, on the Closing Date, Borrower shall pay interest from and including the Closing Date through the end of the first Interest Accrual Period, in lieu of making such payment on the first Payment Date following the Closing Date.

(b) The entire outstanding Principal Indebtedness, together with all interest thereon through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which the Maturity Date falls (calculated as if such Principal Indebtedness were outstanding for the entire Interest Accrual Period) and all other amounts then due under the Loan Documents shall be due and payable by Borrower to Lender on the Maturity Date. The payment by Borrower of the Principal Indebtedness on the Maturity Date and any other prepayments of the Loan permitted under this Agreement shall be applied to the Notes on a pro rata, pari passu basis.

 

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(c) If all or any portion of the Principal Indebtedness is paid to Lender prior to the initial Maturity Date during the continuance of an Event of Default, Borrower shall pay to Lender an amount equal to the applicable Spread Maintenance Premium. Amounts received in respect of the Indebtedness during the continuance of an Event of Default shall be applied toward interest, principal and other components of the Indebtedness (in such order as Lender shall determine) before any such amounts are applied toward payment of Spread Maintenance Premium, with the result that Spread Maintenance Premium shall accrue as the Principal Indebtedness is repaid but no amount received from Borrower shall constitute payment of a Spread Maintenance Premium until the remainder of the Indebtedness shall have been paid in full. Borrower acknowledges that (i) a prepayment prior to the initial Maturity Date will cause damage to Lender; (ii) the Spread Maintenance Premium is intended to compensate Lender for the loss of its investment and the expense incurred and time and effort associated with making the Loan, which will not be fully repaid if the Loan is prepaid; (iii) it will be extremely difficult and impractical to ascertain the extent of Lender’s damages caused by a prepayment after an acceleration or any other prepayment prior to the initial Maturity Date; and (iv) the Spread Maintenance Premium represents Lender’s and Borrower’s reasonable estimate of Lender’s damages from the prepayment and is not a penalty.

(d) Any payments of interest and/or principal not paid when due hereunder shall bear interest at the applicable Default Rate and, in the case of all payments due hereunder other than the repayment of the Principal Indebtedness on the Maturity Date, when paid shall be accompanied by a late fee in an amount equal to the lesser of 3.0% of such unpaid sum and the maximum amount permitted by applicable law, in order to defray a portion of the expense incurred by Lender in handling and processing such delinquent payment and to compensate Lender for the loss of the use of such delinquent payment.

(e) In the event that Lender shall reasonably determine that by reason of circumstances affecting the interbank Eurodollar market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR in accordance with the definition thereof, then the Loan shall be converted to a Prime Rate Loan effective as of the commencement of the Interest Accrual Period following the date of such determination, and Lender shall give notice thereof to Borrower by telephone at least one day prior to the applicable Interest Determination Date (which notice shall thereafter be promptly confirmed by Lender in writing). If, pursuant to this Section, any portion of the Loan has been converted to a Prime Rate Loan and Lender thereafter reasonably determines that the events or circumstances that resulted in such conversion are no longer applicable, the Loan shall be converted to a LIBOR Loan effective as of the commencement of the Interest Accrual Period following the date of such determination, and Lender shall give notice thereof to Borrower by telephone at least one day prior to the applicable Interest Determination Date (which notice shall thereafter be promptly confirmed by Lender in writing). Borrower shall pay to Lender, within five (5) Business Days following written demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate Lender for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred by Lender in making any conversion in accordance with this Section, including interest or fees payable by Lender to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to maintain a LIBOR Loan hereunder. In the event any Note has been divided into multiple Notes or Note Components pursuant to Section 1.1(c) , upon any conversion of the Loan pursuant to this Section the interest rate applicable to such Notes or Note Components shall be proportionately adjusted to reflect such conversion. Except as provided in this Section, the Loan shall at all times be a LIBOR Loan. In no event shall Borrower have the right to convert a LIBOR Loan to a Prime Rate Loan.

 

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(f) In the event of a Transfer (including a foreclosure sale), refinancing, or other disposition or liquidation of any or all of the Mortgage Loan Collateral and/or Mortgage Loan JV Collateral, in each case, during the continuance of, or resulting in, an Event of Default, Borrower shall cause to be paid to Lender as a mandatory prepayment of the Loan, all amounts paid to and actually received by or on behalf of Property Owner, JV Pledgor, Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates in connection therewith (and to the extent such amounts are not paid to or deposited with Mortgage Lender), less any amounts required or permitted to be deducted therefrom and paid to Mortgage Lender pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Documents.

(g) In the event that (i) proceeds are realized by Borrower, Property Owner or any of their respective Affiliates under Property Owner’s policy of title insurance with respect to a claim made thereunder and (ii) such proceeds are not required to be paid to or deposited with Mortgage Lender, then Borrower shall cause to be remitted to Lender the amount of such proceeds, less any amount required to cure the applicable title defect or pay any applicable Lien or claim and Borrower’s or Property Owner’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with effectuating such claim, curing such title defect and paying such Lien or claim, and such amount shall be held by Lender in an Eligible Account as additional Collateral for the Loan.

Section 1.3 Method and Place of Payment . Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, all payments and prepayments under this Agreement and the Notes shall be made to Lender not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due and shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by wire transfer in federal or other immediately available funds to the account specified from time to time by Lender. Any funds received by Lender after such time shall be deemed to have been paid on the next succeeding Business Day. Lender shall notify Borrower in writing of any changes in the account to which payments are to be made. If the amount received from Borrower (or from the Cash Management Account pursuant to Section 3.2(b) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement) is less than the sum of all amounts then due and payable hereunder, such amount shall be applied, at Lender’s sole discretion, either toward the components of the Indebtedness ( e.g. , interest, principal and other amounts payable hereunder) and the Notes and Note Components, in such sequence as Lender shall elect in its sole discretion, or toward the payment of Property expenses. Whenever any payment to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

Section 1.4 Taxes; Regulatory Change .

(a) Borrower shall indemnify Lender and hold Lender harmless from and against any present or future stamp, documentary, transfer, excise, property or other similar taxes or other similar charges now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority by reason of the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents or any Notes issued thereunder and any consents, waivers, amendments and enforcement of rights under the Loan Documents.

 

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(b) Reasonably promptly following Borrower’s request, any Lender at the time the initial advance is made shall complete and deliver to Borrower a duly executed Form W-9 certifying that is not subject to backup withholding or an appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable. If Borrower is required by law to withhold or deduct any amount from any payment hereunder in respect of any Borrower Tax, Borrower shall withhold or deduct the appropriate amount, remit such amount to the appropriate Governmental Authority and pay to the Lender and each Person to whom there has been an Assignment or Participation of a Loan (Lender and all such Persons, collectively, “ Lender Parties ” and each individually, a “ Lender Party ”) such additional amounts as are necessary in order that the net payment of any amount due hereunder, after deduction for or withholding in respect of any Borrower Tax imposed with respect to such payment, will not be less than the amount stated in this Agreement to be then due and payable; except that the foregoing obligation to pay such additional amounts shall not apply to (i) Inapplicable Taxes; (ii) any amount of U.S. Tax in effect and applicable to payments to Lender on the date of this Agreement, provided that Borrower requests from Lender, if necessary to prevent the imposition of such U.S. Tax, a Form W-9 or W-8, as applicable, reasonably in advance of when withholding in respect of such U.S. Tax would be required absent the receipt of such form; (iii) with respect to payments made under this Agreement to any Lender Party to whom there has been an Assignment or Participation, any amount of U.S. Tax imposed, to the extent that the receipt of additional amounts in respect of such U.S. Tax would entitle the Lender Party to receive greater payment than the assignor would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights assigned, unless such assignment shall have been made at a time when the circumstances giving rise to such greater payment did not exist; (iv) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA; or (v) any amount of Borrower Taxes imposed solely by reason of the failure by an assignee to comply with Section 9.7(c) . If Borrower shall fail to pay any Borrower Taxes or other amounts that Borrower is required to pay pursuant to this Section, and Lender or any Person to whom there has been an Assignment or Participation of a Loan pays the same, Borrower shall reimburse Lender or such Person promptly following demand therefore in the currency in which such taxes or other amounts are paid, whether or not such taxes were correctly or legally asserted, together with interest thereon from and including the date of payment to but excluding the date of reimbursement at a rate per annum equal to the Default Rate.

(c) Within 30 days after paying any amount from which it is required by law to make any deduction or withholding, and within 30 days after it is required by law to remit such deduction or withholding to any relevant Governmental Authority, Borrower shall deliver to Lender satisfactory evidence of such deduction, withholding or payment (as the case may be).

(d) If, as a result of any Regulatory Change, any reserve, special deposit or similar requirements relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with, Lender or any holder of all or a portion of the Loan is imposed, modified or deemed applicable and the result is to increase the cost to such Lender or such holder of making or holding the Loan, or to reduce the amount receivable by Lender or such holder hereunder in respect of any portion of the Loan by an amount deemed by Lender or such holder to be material (such increases in cost and reductions in amounts receivable, but excluding any reserve requirement that is reflected in LIBOR, “ Increased Costs ”), then Borrower agrees that it will pay to Lender or such holder upon Lender’s or such holder’s request such additional amount or amounts as will compensate Lender and/or such holder for such Increased Costs to the extent that such Increased

 

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Costs are reasonably allocable to the Loan. Lender will notify Borrower in writing of any event occurring after the Closing Date that will entitle Lender or any holder of the Loan to compensation pursuant to this Section as promptly as practicable after it obtains knowledge thereof and determines to request such compensation. If such Lender shall fail to notify Borrower of any such event within nine months following the end of the month during which such event occurred, then Borrower’s liability for any amounts described in this Section incurred by such Lender as a result of such event shall be limited to those attributable to the period occurring subsequent to the date that is nine months prior to the date upon which such Lender actually notified Borrower of the occurrence of such event. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1.4 to the contrary, in no event shall Borrower be required to compensate Lender or any holder of the Loan for any Inapplicable Taxes or for any portion of the income or franchise taxes of Lender or such holder, whether or not attributable to payments made by Borrower. If a Lender requests compensation under this Section, Borrower may, by notice to Lender, require that such Lender furnish to Borrower a statement setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such compensation and the method for determining the amount thereof.

Section 1.5 Interest Rate Cap Agreements .

(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, Borrower shall obtain, and thereafter maintain in effect, an Interest Rate Cap Agreement, which shall be coterminous with the initial term of the Loan and have a notional amount equal to the Loan Amount. Any initial Interest Rate Cap Agreement shall have a strike rate equal to or less than the Strike Rate.

(b) If Borrower exercises any of its options to extend the term of the Loan pursuant to Section 1.1(d) , on or prior to the commencement of the applicable Extension Term, Borrower shall obtain, and thereafter maintain in effect, an Interest Rate Cap Agreement having (x) a term coterminous with such Extension Term, (y) a notional amount at least equal to the Principal Indebtedness as of the first day of such Extension Term, and (z) a strike rate equal to or less than the Strike Rate.

(c) Borrower shall collaterally assign to Lender pursuant to an Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement all of its right, title and interest in any and all payments under each Interest Rate Cap Agreement and shall deliver to Lender an executed counterpart of such Interest Rate Cap Agreement and obtain the consent of the Acceptable Counterparty to such collateral assignment (as evidenced by the Acceptable Counterparty’s execution of such Collateral Assignment of Interest Rate Cap Agreement).

(d) Borrower shall comply, in all material respects, with all of Borrower’s obligations under the terms and provisions of each Interest Rate Cap Agreement. All amounts paid under an Interest Rate Cap Agreement shall be deposited directly into the Cash Management Account. Borrower shall take all actions reasonably requested by Lender to enforce Lender’s rights under the Interest Rate Cap Agreement in the event of a default by the counterparty thereunder and shall not waive, amend or otherwise modify any of its rights thereunder without Lender’s consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld).

(e) If, at any time during the term of the Loan, the counterparty to the Interest Rate Cap Agreement then in effect ceases to be an Acceptable Counterparty and thereafter fails

 

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to abide by the requirements set forth in such Interest Rate Cap Agreement with respect to ratings downgrades, then Borrower shall promptly after notice from Lender demanding such replacement, obtain a replacement Interest Rate Cap Agreement satisfying the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) or (b) above, as applicable, with a counterparty that is an Acceptable Counterparty.

(f) At Closing and at any time that Borrower obtains a replacement Interest Rate Cap Agreement pursuant to this Section, Borrower shall deliver to Lender a customary legal opinion or opinions from counsel to the applicable Acceptable Counterparty (which counsel may be internal counsel) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

Section 1.6 Release . Upon payment of the Indebtedness in full when permitted or required hereunder, Lender shall execute instruments prepared by Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to Lender, which, at Borrower’s election and at Borrower’s sole cost and expense either (a) release and discharge all Liens on all Collateral or the JV Collateral securing payment of the Indebtedness (subject to Borrower’s obligation to pay any associated fees and expenses), including all balances in the Collateral Accounts (if Collateral Accounts are being maintained hereunder rather than under the Mortgage Loan Agreement); or (b) assign such Liens (and the Loan Documents) to a new lender designated by Borrower. Any release or assignment provided by Lender pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse, representation or warranty of any kind, except for, solely to the extent required by the applicable assignee, customary representations and warranties by Lender as to Lender’s due authorization, execution and delivery of the assignment and Lender’s ownership of the Lien and any assigned Loan Documents free and clear of any Liens or prior assignments, in each case, granted by Lender. In addition, upon payment of the Indebtedness in full when permitted or required hereunder, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, if Lender then holds the Collateral Accounts Lender shall execute and deliver Lender’s written consent to the rescission of the Tenant Notices required pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT; RELEASE; TRANSFERS

Section 2.1 Voluntary Prepayment .

(a) Borrower shall be prohibited from prepaying the Loan, in whole or in part, during the Lockout Period except in connection with (i) the application of Loss Proceeds following a Casualty or Condemnation with respect to a Property in accordance with Section 5.16 or (ii) in connection with the release of one or more Properties in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 . After the expiration of the Lockout Period, Borrower shall have the right, at its option, upon not less than 5 Business Days’ prior written notice to Lender (or such other notice period as specified), to prepay the Loan in whole or, to the extent provided in Section 1.1(d)(iii) , Section 2.1(b) , Section 2.1(c) , Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 in part; provided that (x) Borrower shall pay to Lender simultaneously with such prepayment the applicable Spread Maintenance Premium, if any, (y) there is a simultaneous and pro rata prepayment of the Mortgage Loan with the result that, after giving effect to such prepayments, the Loan Pro Rata Share remains unchanged and (z) each prepayment of the Loan shall be accompanied by the

 

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amount of interest theretofore accrued but unpaid in respect of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount so prepaid had it remained outstanding through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made. Borrower’s notice of prepayment may be rescinded with one (1) Business Days’ written notice by Borrower to Lender (subject to payment of any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by Lender, including breakage costs actually incurred by Lender, resulting from such rescission).

(b) After the expiration of the Lockout Period, on not less than 15 Business Days’ prior written notice to Lender, and without limitation of Borrower’s right pursuant to Section 2.1(e) to prepay, in whole or in part, on or after the initial Maturity Date, Borrower may prepay up to 50% of the Loan Amount in part (not in connection with the release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 ), subject to payment of Spread Maintenance Premium through and including the applicable Spread Maintenance Expiration Date; provided that (i) any prepayments of the Loan made pursuant to Section 2.1(c) , Section 2.2 , Section 2.3 shall reduce on a dollar-for-dollar basis the foregoing 50% threshold and (ii) any prepayments of the Loan made in accordance with this Agreement (not in connection with the release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 and other than Excluded Prepayments) in excess of 5% of the Loan Amount shall reduce on a dollar-for-dollar basis (but without duplication of such reduction) the Property Release Threshold and/or the JV Release Threshold, as may be elected by Borrower in its sole discretion in the applicable prepayment notice delivered in accordance with Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(b) , as applicable.

(c) If the Debt Yield is less than the applicable 11.0% as of the end of any Test Period at any time, Borrower shall be permitted to (but not obligated to) prepay a portion of the Loan (together with a simultaneous pro rata prepayment by Property Owner of the Mortgage Loan) in the amount required to cause the Debt Yield to equal 11.0%, which prepayment shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount so prepaid through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made plus Spread Maintenance Premium through and including the applicable Spread Maintenance Expiration Date.

(d) [Intentionally Omitted]

(e) Other than as permitted by Section 1.1(d)(iii) , Section 2.1(b) , Section 2.1(c) , Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 and in connection with the application of Loss Proceeds following a Casualty or Condemnation with respect to a Property in accordance with Section 5.16 , no partial prepayments of the Loan shall be permitted prior to the initial Maturity Date. On or after the initial Maturity Date, the Loan may be prepaid in whole or in party at any time without penalty or premium, but otherwise subject to the provisions of Section 2.1(a) .

Section 2.2 Property Releases .

(a) Provided no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall have the right to permit Property Owner to obtain one or more times during the term of the Loan a release or assignment of the lien of the applicable Mortgage (and related Loan Documents) as to any of the Properties (the “ Release Property ”) upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(i) not less than 10 Business Days, nor more than 90 days, prior to the date on which Property Owner proposes a release or assignment (including under this Section 2.2 or under Section 2.3 ) to occur (each, a “ Release Date ”), Borrower shall provide to Lender a notice specifying the proposed Release Date, which notice shall be revocable without penalty by Borrower at any time on or prior to the Release Date (subject to payment by Borrower of any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including breakage costs, actually incurred by Lender in connection with such revocation); provided that Borrower shall have the right to adjourn the Release Date for a period of up to 60 days by delivering notice of such adjournment to Lender on or prior to the then-scheduled Release Date;

 

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(ii) such release or assignment shall be in connection with a bona fide sale of the Release Property to a third party that is not a Broad Affiliate of Property Owner, Borrower, Guarantor or SHLD for cash consideration (i.e., no seller financing) and on arm’s-length terms;

(iii) after giving effect to such release, the aggregate principal amount of the Loan prepaid in connection with release of Properties pursuant to this Section 2.2 will not exceed the Property Release Threshold;

(iv) (A) Borrower shall make a principal payment to be applied against the principal balance of the Loan in accordance with Section 2.1 in an aggregate amount equal to the applicable Release Price, together with the amount of interest theretofore accrued but unpaid in respect of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount so prepaid had it remained outstanding through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made and, if applicable, the Spread Maintenance Premium and (B) Property Owner shall make a principal payment to be applied against the principal balance of the Mortgage Loan in an aggregate amount equal to the Mortgage Loan Release Price, together with any other amounts then due and payable under the Mortgage Loan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Property Owner may, with respect to any Release Property, deposit a portion of the Net Sales Proceeds thereof in excess of 150% of the Allocated Loan Amount of such Release Property into the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account or the TI/LC Reserve Account (any such Net Sales Proceeds so deposited, “ Designated Net Sales Proceeds ”); provided that (1) the aggregate amount of the Designated Net Sales Proceeds deposited pursuant to this sentence shall not exceed $75,000,000 during the life of the Loan and (ii) not more than $50,000,000 in the aggregate of such Net Sales Proceeds shall remain in the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account and/or the TI/LC Reserve Account at any one time.

(v) Borrower shall have caused Property Owner to have complied in all material respects with all requirements of and obtained all approvals, if any, required under any Ground Leases, Leases (including the SHLD Master Lease) and/or Material Agreements applicable to the release or assignment of the Release Property, and the release shall not violate any of the provisions of any of the foregoing (except to the extent such provisions have been waived or otherwise amended in such a manner that Property Owner is no longer in violation thereof), and except as to all of the foregoing, if any non-compliance or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(vi) Lender shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Property Owner shall have satisfied all of the conditions to the proposed release set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement (including written confirmation from the Mortgage Lender that satisfactory escrow arrangements in connection with the release of such Property have been established) and Mortgage Lender shall have simultaneously effected a release under the Mortgage Loan Documents of the Release Property; and

(vii) [reserved];

(viii) if the Loan has been Securitized and the Securitization Vehicle is a grantor trust, Borrower shall deliver to Lender an opinion of counsel in form and substance which would be acceptable to a prudent lender of securitized commercial mezzanine loans acting reasonably, stating, among other things, (subject to customary assumptions of fact) that any grantor trust formed pursuant to a Securitization will not fail to maintain its status as a “grantor trust” under Section 301.7701-4(c) of the Treasury Regulations;

(ix) Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the requirements set forth in this Section 2.2 (except as to clause (vii)  above) have been satisfied; and

(x) provided that Lender shall have delivered to Borrower reasonably detailed invoices therefor not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Release Date (but without limiting Borrower’s obligations to pay such costs and expenses), Borrower shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Lender actually incurred in connection with the release of the Release Property, including without limitation Lender’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.

(b) In connection with a release or assignment of the Release Property in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(a) , Borrower shall submit to Lender, not less than three Business Days prior to the Release Date, a copy of the release or assignment of Lien (and related Loan Documents) prepared by Property Owner for execution by the Mortgage Lender with respect to the Release Property. Such release or assignment shall be in a form appropriate in the jurisdiction in which the Release Property is located and shall comply with the provisions of Section 1.6 . In addition, Borrower shall promptly deliver to Lender such other documentation as Lender may reasonably request in connection with such release or assignment. In connection with such property release, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, if Lender then holds the Collateral Accounts Lender shall execute and deliver Lender’s written consent to the rescission of the Tenant Notices required pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

(c) In connection with a release or assignment of the Release Property in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(a) , at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, Lender shall reasonably cooperate with Borrower to structure such release or assignment in a manner requested by Borrower (including interim transfers to a Release Entity) provided the same does not impair Lender’s remaining Collateral, the continued validity of any of the Loan Documents or result in a waiver of any of the requirements of Section 2.2(a) or any of Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

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Section 2.3 JV Releases .

(a) Provided no monetary Default, material non-monetary Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall have the right to permit Property Owner to obtain one or more times during the term of the Loan a release or assignment of the lien of the applicable Mortgage (and related Loan Documents) as to any of the Properties (the “ JV Release Property ”) upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(i) not less than 15 Business Days, nor more than 90 days, prior to the Release Date, Borrower shall provide to Lender a notice specifying the proposed Release Date, which notice shall be revocable without penalty by Borrower at any time on or prior to the Release Date (subject to payment by Borrower of any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by Lender in connection with the release); provided that Borrower shall have the right to adjourn the Release Date for a period of up to 60 days by delivering notice of such adjournment to Lender on or prior to the then-scheduled Release Date;

(ii) such release or assignment shall be in connection with a bona fide transfer of the JV Release Property to a joint venture (a “ Permitted JV ”) between a Single-Purpose Entity wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by Seritage OP (the “ Seritage JV Member ”) and a third party that is not a Broad Affiliate of Property Owner, Borrower, Guarantor or SHLD (a “ Permitted JV Member ”);

(iii) after giving effect to such release, the aggregate principal amount of the Loan prepaid in connection with release of Properties pursuant to this Section 2.3 will not exceed the JV Release Threshold;

(iv) (A) Borrower shall make a principal payment to be applied against the principal balance of the Loan in accordance with Section 2.1 in an aggregate amount equal to the applicable Release Price, together with the amount of interest theretofore accrued but unpaid in respect of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount so prepaid had it remained outstanding through the end of the Interest Accrual Period in which such prepayment is made and, if applicable, the Spread Maintenance Premium and (B) Property Owner shall make a principal payment to be applied against the principal balance of the Mortgage Loan in an aggregate amount equal to the Mortgage Loan Release Price, together with any other amounts then due and payable under the Mortgage Loan;

(v) Borrower shall have caused Property Owner to have complied in all material respects with all requirements of and obtained all approvals, if any, required under any Ground Leases, Leases, the SHLD Master Lease and/or Material Agreements applicable to the release or assignment of the JV Release Property, and the release shall not violate any of the provisions of any of the foregoing (except to the extent such provisions have been waived or otherwise amended in such a manner that Property

 

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Owner is no longer in violation thereof), and except as to all of the foregoing, if any non-compliance or violation would not reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect;

(vi) not less than ten (10) Business Days’ prior to the expected Release Date, Borrower shall have delivered to Lender true and correct copies of all related Permitted JV Documents, which Permitted JV Documents shall expressly permit the direct or indirect pledge to Lender of, and during the continuance of an Event of Default the foreclosure on or assignment-in-lieu of foreclosure of, the related Permitted JV Collateral;

(vii) (A) 100% of the equity interests in the Permitted JV or in the Seritage JV Member (as applicable pursuant to Section 2.3 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement) shall be pledged to Mortgage Lender as additional collateral for the Mortgage Loan pursuant to a Permitted JV Mortgage Pledge and Security Agreement, (B) 100% of the equity interests in either the Seritage JV Member or the sole member of Seritage JV Member, as applicable, shall be held by Borrower and pledged to Lender as additional collateral for the Loan pursuant to a Permitted JV Pledge and Security Agreement and (C) the sole member of Seritage JV Member shall have delivered to Lender such organizational documents and opinions (including with respect to authority, enforceability and, if required by the Rating Agencies, non-consolidation) in substantially the same forms as delivered by the JV Pledgors on the Closing Date;

(viii) the Permitted JV Member shall have sufficient expertise and experience in the development, ownership and operation of similar properties, as reasonably determined by Lender;

(ix) Lender shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Property Owner shall have satisfied all of the conditions to the proposed release set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement (including written confirmation from the Mortgage Lender that satisfactory escrow arrangements in connection with the release of such Property have been established) and Mortgage Lender shall have simultaneously effected a release under the Mortgage Loan Documents of the JV Release Property;

(x) [reserved];

(xi) if the Loan has been Securitized and the Securitization Vehicle is a grantor trust, Borrower shall deliver to Lender an opinion of counsel in form and substance which would be acceptable to a prudent lender of securitized commercial mezzanine loans acting reasonably, stating, among other things, (subject to customary assumptions of fact) that any grantor trust formed pursuant to a Securitization will not fail to maintain its status as a “grantor trust” under Section 301.7701-4(c) of the Treasury Regulations;

(xii) Borrower shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the requirements set forth in this Section 2.3 (except as to clause (xi)  above) have been satisfied; and

(xiii) provided that Lender shall have delivered to Borrower reasonably detailed invoices therefor not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Release Date (but without limiting Borrower’s obligations to pay such costs and expenses), Borrower shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Lender actually incurred in connection with the release of the JV Release Property, including without limitation Lender’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

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(b) In connection with a release or assignment of the JV Release Property in accordance with the provisions of Section

2.3(a) , Borrower shall submit to Lender, not less than five Business Days prior to the Release Date, a copy of the release or assignment of Lien (and related Loan Documents) delivered for execution by the Mortgage Lender with respect to the JV Release Property. Such release or assignment shall be in a form appropriate in the jurisdiction in which the JV Release Property is located and shall comply with the provisions of Section 1.6 . Borrower shall promptly deliver to Lender such other documentation as Lender may reasonably request in connection with such release or assignment. In connection with such property release, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, if Lender then holds the Collateral Accounts Lender shall execute and deliver Lender’s written consent to the rescission of the Tenant Notices required pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

(c) In connection with a release or assignment of the JV Release Property in accordance with the provisions of Section

2.3(a) , at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, Lender shall reasonably cooperate with Borrower to structure such release or assignment in a manner requested by Borrower (including interim transfers to a Release Entity) provided the same does not impair Lender’s remaining Collateral, the continued validity of any of the Loan Documents or result in a waiver of any of the requirements of Section 2.3(a) or any of Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

Section 2.4 Transfers of Equity Interests in Borrower .

(a) No direct or indirect Equity Interests in a Restricted Party shall be Transferred to any Person, unless the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) no Event of Default shall be continuing at the time of such conveyance or transfer;

(ii) no Prohibited Change of Control or Prohibited Pledge shall occur as a result thereof, and such Person shall not be a Prohibited Transferee;

(iii) if such conveyance or transfer results in any Person acquiring more than 49% of the direct or indirect equity interest in any Required SPE (even if not constituting a Prohibited Change of Control), Borrower shall have delivered to Lender with respect to such Person an Additional Non-Consolidation Opinion;

(iv) provided that Lender shall have delivered to Borrower reasonably detailed invoices therefor not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the date of the applicable Transfer (but without limiting Borrower’s obligations to pay such costs and expenses), Borrower shall have paid the costs and expenses (if any) of the Rating Agencies and Servicer and reimbursed Lender for its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred in connection with any such conveyance or transfer;

 

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(v) Lender shall have received 10 days advance written notice of such Transfer;

(vi) Lender shall have received copies of all instruments effecting such proposed Transfer (which instruments are subject to Lender’s reasonable approval) and any other information that Lender may reasonably request in connection with the proposed Transfer;

(vii) to the extent any transferee shall own twenty percent (20%) or more of the direct or indirect ownership interests in Borrower or JV Pledgor immediately following such Transfer (provided such transferee owned less than twenty percent (20%) of the direct or indirect ownership interests in Borrower or JV Pledgor as of the Closing Date), Borrower shall deliver (and Borrower shall be responsible for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection therewith) all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act which shall include customary searches reasonably requested by Lender in writing (which may include, without limitation, credit, judgment, lien, litigation, bankruptcy, criminal and watch list searches) reasonably acceptable to Lender with respect to such transferee; and

(viii) Lender shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Property Owner shall have satisfied all of the conditions to the proposed Transfer set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

(b) A Transfer shall include, but not be limited to, (i) if a Restricted Party is a corporation, any merger, consolidation or sale or pledge of such corporation’s stock or the creation or issuance of new stock; (ii) if a Restricted Party is a limited or general partnership or joint venture, any merger or consolidation or the change, removal, resignation or addition of a general partner or the sale or pledge of the partnership interest of any general partner or any profits or proceeds relating to such partnership interest, or the sale or pledge of limited partnership interests or any profits or proceeds relating to such limited partnership interest or the creation or issuance of new limited partnership interests; (iii) if a Restricted Party is a limited liability company, any merger or consolidation or the change, removal, resignation or addition of a managing member or non-member manager (or if no managing member, any member) or the sale or pledge of the membership interest of a managing member (or if no managing member, any member) or any profits or proceeds relating to such membership interest, or the sale or pledge of non-managing membership interests or the creation or issuance of new non-managing membership interests; or (iv) if a Restricted Party is a trust or nominee trust, any merger, consolidation or the sale or pledge of the legal or beneficial interest in such Restricted Party or the creation or issuance of new legal or beneficial interests.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i)  Section 2.4(a) shall not apply to Transfers of Equity Interests in Seritage OP unless the Transfer constitutes (A) a

 

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Prohibited Change of Control, (B) a Prohibited Pledge or (C) a Transfer to which Section 2.4(a)(iii) or (vii)  applies and (ii) Transfers of Equity Interests in Seritage REIT that are traded on a nationally-recognized public stock exchange shall not constitute a Transfer for any purposes of this Section 2.4 so long as such Transfer does not result in a Prohibited Change of Control.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, so long as no Event of Default exists, the Transfer, but not pledge, of any JV Interests (or any direct or indirect Equity Interests in JV Pledgor) to any Person (other than an Affiliate or a Embargoed Person) solely for cash consideration shall be permitted at any time upon not less than 10 Business Days’ prior notice to Lender, and, subject to compliance by JV Pledgor with the provisions of Section 5.24(a) , Lender shall release its Lien on the JV Interests being Transferred, on the date of such Transfer, subject to the terms of the applicable JV Pledge and Security Agreement.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, following the Loan Closing, Lender agrees that all of the indirect Equity Interests in each of Borrower and JV Pledgor may be Transferred to Seritage OP in accordance with the SHLD PSA (the “ Separation Transfer ”) in connection with consummation of the Approved Separation Transaction Closing; provided that the following conditions (to the extent not already satisfied in connection with the Loan Closing) shall have been satisfied simultaneously or immediately thereafter, as the case may be (or waived in accordance with Section 9.3 ):

(i) Transfer of Additional Properties and Simon JV Interests . Immediately following the Approved Separation Transaction Closing (A) Property Owner shall have purchased the Additional Properties and (B) the Simon JV Pledgor shall have purchased the Simon JV Interests, in each case, in accordance with the SHLD PSA.

(ii) Loan Documents . (A) Property Owner shall have duly executed and delivered to Mortgage Lender a Mortgage with respect to each Additional Property, (B) Simon JV Pledgor shall have duly executed and delivered the Simon JV Pledge and Security Agreement and (C) each of Seritage REIT and Seritage OP shall have duly executed and delivered to Lender, the Guaranty.

(iii) Approved Management Agreements . Lender shall have received duly executed copies of each Approved Management Agreement, the SHLD TSA and the Subordination of Property Management Agreement, and each of Seritage Management LLC and SHMC shall have duly executed and delivered the related Subordination of Management Agreement.

(iv) Opinions . Lender shall have received, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, (i) a New York legal opinion with respect to the Guaranty (ii) a Maryland law opinion with respect to the Seritage REIT, (iii) a Delaware law opinion with respect to the Borrower, JV Pledgor and Seritage OP and (iv) a bankruptcy nonconsolidation opinion with respect to each Person owning at least a 49% direct or indirect equity interest in any Required SPE, and any Affiliated property manager.

(v) Mortgage Loan . The conditions precedent to Separation Transfer in the Mortgage Loan Agreement shall be satisfied.

 

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ARTICLE 3

ACCOUNTS

Section 3.1 Cash Management Account . On or prior to the Closing Date, Borrower shall cause the Clearing Account, the Cash Management Account, the Operating Account and each of the other Mortgage Loan Collateral Accounts to be established and thereafter maintained, each in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Mortgage Loan Documents.

Section 3.2 Distributions from Cash Management Account . Borrower and Lender acknowledge that, subject to, and in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage Loan Agreement, during the continuance of a Mortgage Loan Event of Default, Mortgage Lender may elect to remit no amount to Lender, but the same shall not excuse Borrower from any of its obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents.

Section 3.3 Mortgage Loan Covenants; Replacement of Mortgage Loan Collateral Accounts .

(a) Borrower hereby covenants that it shall cause Property Owner to fully comply with each of the covenants of Property Owner set forth in Article III of the Mortgage Loan Agreement, as in effect as of the date hereof, notwithstanding any waiver or future amendment of such covenants (unless Lender shall have given its prior written consent, in its sole discretion, to any such waiver or amendment). Borrower shall not permit Property Owner to accept any remittance from the TI/LC Reserve Account, the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account, the Cash Flow Sweep Reserve Account, the Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Escrow Account, the Unfunded Obligations Account or the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account in each case unless and until Lender has received copies of all materials required to be delivered to Mortgage Lender under Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10 or 3.11 (as the case may be) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement in respect thereof. During the continuance of a Cash Flow Sweep Period, Borrower shall not accept any remittance from the Cash Management Account other than the Permitted Equity Distribution Amount.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if at any time and for any reason (including repayment of the Mortgage Loan Indebtedness), Mortgage Lender is no longer maintaining one or more of the Mortgage Loan Collateral Accounts in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage Loan Documents (i) Borrower shall immediately establish and maintain, with an Eligible Institution selected by Lender, reserves in Eligible Accounts in replacement and substitution of such Mortgage Loan Collateral Accounts for the benefit of Lender, which substitute reserves and accounts shall be subject to all of the same terms and conditions applicable under the Mortgage Loan Documents with respect to the Mortgage Loan Collateral Account(s) being replaced mutatis mutandis , it being the intent of Lender and Borrower that such substitute reserves and accounts replicate in purpose and function the Mortgage Loan Collateral Account(s) no longer held by the Mortgage Lender and (ii) Borrower shall remit, or cause Property Owner to remit, to such Eligible Accounts for the benefit

 

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of Lender any funds from the Mortgage Loan Collateral Accounts that were remaining in such reserves or accounts at the time of the termination thereof for the purpose of funding the equivalent substitute reserves and accounts. All accounts established pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall constitute Collateral Accounts.

(c) Borrower shall, and shall cause Property Owner to, execute any and all documents reasonably necessary for the implementation or furtherance of the actions contemplated in this Section 3.3 , including an amendment to this Agreement incorporating into this Agreement, mutatis mutandis , the cash management provisions in the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Section 3.4 Account Collateral .

(a) Borrower hereby pledges the Account Collateral to Lender as security for the Indebtedness, together with all rights of a secured party with respect thereto, it being the intention of the parties that such pledge shall be a perfected first-priority security interest. Each Collateral Account shall be an Eligible Account under the sole dominion and control of Lender. Borrower shall have no right to make withdrawals from any of the Collateral Accounts other than any Collateral Account established pursuant to Section 3.3 as a replacement for the Operating Account. Funds in the Collateral Accounts shall not be commingled with any other monies at any time. Borrower shall execute any additional documents that Lender in its reasonable discretion may require and shall provide all other evidence reasonably requested by Lender to evidence or perfect its first-priority security interest in the Account Collateral. Funds in the Collateral Accounts shall be invested only in Permitted Investments, which Permitted Investments shall be credited to the related Collateral Account. All income and gains from the investment of funds in the Collateral Accounts other than the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account shall be retained in the Collateral Accounts from which they were derived. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, all income and gains from the investment of funds in any Collateral Account established pursuant to Section 3.3 in substitution of the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account shall be for the account of Lender in consideration of its administration of such Collateral Account, and Lender shall have the right at any time to withdraw such amounts from such Collateral Account. All fees of any Eligible Institution at which any Collateral Account shall be established pursuant to the terms hereof shall be paid by Borrower. After the Loan and all other Indebtedness have been paid in full, the Collateral Accounts shall be closed and the balances therein, if any, shall be paid to Borrower.

(b) The insufficiency of amounts contained in the Collateral Accounts shall not relieve Borrower from its obligation to fulfill all covenants contained in the Loan Documents.

(c) During the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may, in its sole discretion, apply funds in the Collateral Accounts, and funds resulting from the liquidation of Permitted Investments contained in the Collateral Accounts, either toward the components of the Indebtedness ( e.g. , interest, principal and other amounts payable hereunder), the Loan, the Note Components and the Notes in such sequence as Lender shall elect in its sole discretion, and/or toward the payment of Property expenses.

 

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Section 3.5 Bankruptcy . Borrower and Lender acknowledge and agree that upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition by or against Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, the Account Collateral shall be deemed not to be property of Borrower’s bankruptcy estate within the meaning of Section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code. If, however, a court of competent jurisdiction determines that, notwithstanding the foregoing characterization of the Account Collateral and the Revenues by Borrower and Lender, the Account Collateral does constitute property of Borrower’s bankruptcy estate, then Borrower and Lender further acknowledge and agree that all funds deposited therein are and shall be cash collateral of Lender. Borrower acknowledges that Lender does not consent to Borrower’s use of such cash collateral and that, in the event Lender elects (in its sole discretion) to give such consent, such consent shall only be effective if given in writing signed by Lender. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, Borrower shall not have the right to use or apply or require the use or application of such cash collateral (i) unless Borrower shall have received a court order authorizing the use of the same, and (ii) Borrower shall have provided such adequate protection to Lender as shall be required by the bankruptcy court in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code.

ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS

Borrower represents to Lender that, as of the Closing Date, except as set forth in the Exception Report:

Section 4.1 Mortgage Loan Representations . Each and every representation and warranty made by Property Owner and JV Pledgor in the Mortgage Loan Agreement is true, complete and correct as of the date hereof. A true, correct and complete copy of the Mortgage Loan Agreement together with all schedules and exhibits thereto is attached hereto as Annex I .

Section 4.2 Organization .

(a) Each Required SPE is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction where ownership of its assets or the conduct of its business requires it to be so, and each Required SPE has all power and authority under such laws and its organizational documents and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

(b) The organizational chart contained in Exhibit A is true and correct as of the date hereof.

Section 4.3 Authorization . Borrower has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and has by proper action duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents.

Section 4.4 No Conflicts . Neither the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents by Borrower, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will (i) violate or conflict with any

 

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provision of its formation and governance documents, (ii) violate any material Legal Requirement, regulation (including Regulation U, Regulation X or Regulation T), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (iii) violate or conflict with contractual provisions of, or cause an event of default under, any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, contract (including Ground Leases, Leases (including the SHLD Master Lease), the JV Documents and/or Material Agreements), to which Borrower or Guarantor, as applicable, is a party or may be bound, or (iv) result in or require the creation of any Lien or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to the Collateral or the JV Collateral in favor of any Person other than Lender.

Section 4.5 Consents . No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by Borrower of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for any of the foregoing that have already been obtained.

Section 4.6 Enforceable Obligations . This Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by Borrower and constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The Loan Documents are not subject to any right of rescission, offset, abatement, counterclaim or defense by Borrower or Guarantor, including the defense of usury or fraud.

Section 4.7 No Default . No Default or Event of Default will exist immediately following the making of the Loan.

Section 4.8 Payment of Taxes . Borrower has filed, or caused to be filed, all tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid all amounts of taxes due (including interest and penalties) except for taxes that are not yet delinquent and has paid all other taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangible taxes) owing by it necessary to preserve the Liens in favor of Lender.

Section 4.9 Compliance with Law . Borrower, the Collateral, and the use thereof comply with all Legal Requirements, except in each case where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Borrower is not in default or violation of any order, writ, injunction, decree or demand of any Governmental Authority the violation of which could adversely affect the Collateral, any Property or the condition (financial or otherwise) or business of Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor. There has not been committed by or on behalf of Borrower or Property Owner any act or omission affording any federal Governmental Authority or any state or local Governmental Authority the right of forfeiture as against any Property or the Collateral or any portion thereof or any monies paid in performance of its obligations under any of the Loan Documents. Borrower has not purchased any portion of any of the Collateral or JV Collateral with proceeds of any illegal activity.

 

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Section 4.10 ERISA .

(a) Neither Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate of Borrower has incurred or could be subjected to any liability under Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or maintains or contributes to, or is or has been required to maintain or contribute to, any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not constitute or result in any non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or substantially similar provisions under federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.

(b) Borrower is not and is not acting on behalf of (i) an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, (ii) a “plan” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or (iii) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. §2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, of any such employee benefit plan or plan.

Section 4.11 Investment Company Act . Borrower is not an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 4.12 No Bankruptcy Filing . Borrower is not contemplating either the filing of a petition by it under any state or federal bankruptcy or insolvency laws or the liquidation of all or a major portion of its assets or property. Borrower does not have any knowledge of any Person contemplating the filing of any such petition against it. During the ten year period preceding the Closing Date, no petition in bankruptcy has been filed by or against any Required SPE, Guarantor, any of their respective Subsidiaries and no such Persons have been convicted of a felony. As of the Closing Date, Borrower has not received notice of and is not otherwise aware of any Tenant under a Major Lease contemplating or having filed any of the foregoing actions.

Section 4.13 Other Debt . Borrower has no outstanding any Debt other than Permitted Debt.

Section 4.14 Litigation . There are no actions, suits, proceedings, arbitrations or governmental investigations by or before any Governmental Authority or other court or agency now filed or otherwise pending, and to the knowledge Borrower there are no such actions, suits, proceedings, arbitrations or governmental investigations threatened in writing, against or affecting Borrower, Guarantor or any of the Collateral or the JV Collateral, in each case, except for (i) matters covered by insurance and (ii) matters that would not reasonably be expected to either have a Material Adverse Effect, a Property Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the condition (financial or otherwise) or business of Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor.

Section 4.15 Full and Accurate Disclosure . All written information, other than projections, other forward looking information and information of a general economic or industry nature, that has been made available to Lender by or on behalf of Borrower prior to the date of this Agreement in connection with the Loan and the other transactions contemplated hereby, when taken as a whole, was, when furnished, true and correct in all material respects and did not, when furnished, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a

 

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material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made (giving effect to all supplements and updates provided thereto). There is no fact, event or circumstance presently known to Borrower that has not been disclosed to Lender that has had or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.16 Financial Condition and Projections . Borrower has heretofore delivered to Lender (i) cash basis property-by-property 12-month pro forma operating statements with respect to the Properties and (ii) the list of Unfunded Obligations attached as Schedule E-1 to the Mortgage Loan Agreement, and all such materials have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are believed by the preparer thereof to be reasonable at the time such materials were prepared (it being understood that the materials described in clause (i)  and clause (ii)  hereof are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and actual results may vary materially from the information contained in such materials).

Section 4.17 Single-Purpose Requirements .

(a) Each Required SPE is now, and has always been since its formation, a Single-Purpose Entity and has conducted its business in substantial compliance with the provisions of its organizational documents. Borrower has never (i) owned any assets other than the Collateral and the JV Collateral, (ii) engaged in any business, except the owning, holding, selling and transferring the Collateral and the JV Collateral or (iii) had any material contingent or actual obligations or liabilities unrelated to the Collateral and the JV Collateral.

(b) Borrower has provided Lender with true, correct and complete copies of Borrower’s current operating agreement or partnership agreement, as applicable, together with all amendments and modifications thereto.

(c) Any and all of the stated facts and assumptions made in any Nonconsolidation Opinion, including, but not limited to, any exhibits attached thereto, will have been and shall be true and correct in all respects, and Borrower will have complied and will comply with all of the stated facts and assumptions made with respect to it in any Nonconsolidation Opinion. Each entity other than Borrower with respect to which an assumption is made or a fact stated in any Nonconsolidation Opinion will have complied and will comply with all of the assumptions made and facts stated with respect to it in any such Nonconsolidation Opinion. Borrower covenants that in connection with any Additional Nonconsolidation Opinion delivered in connection with this Agreement it shall provide an updated certification regarding compliance with the facts and assumptions made therein.

Section 4.18 Use of Loan Proceeds . No part of the proceeds of the Loan will be used for the purpose of purchasing or acquiring any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or for any other purpose that would be inconsistent with such Regulations T, U or X or any other Regulations of such Board of Governors, or for any purpose prohibited by Legal Requirements or by the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents.

 

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Section 4.19 Not Foreign Person . Borrower is not a “foreign person” within the meaning of Section 1445(f)(3) of the Code.

Section 4.20 Labor Matters . Borrower has no employees and is not a party to any collective bargaining agreements.

Section 4.21 Title . Borrower owns insurable title to the Collateral and owns good title to the JV Collateral, in each case free and clear of all Liens whatsoever except the Mezzanine Loan Permitted Encumbrances. The Pledge Agreement and the other Loan Documents, upon the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in the appropriate jurisdiction and the delivery to Lender of the membership certificates evidencing the Collateral and the JV Collateral, create and constitute a valid and perfected first priority Lien on the Collateral and the JV Collateral, respectively, free and clear of all Liens other than the Mezzanine Loan Permitted Encumbrances. No creditor of Borrower other than Lender has in its possession any certificates or other documents the possession of which would be required to perfect a security interest in the Collateral or the JV Collateral.

Section 4.22 Fraudulent Conveyance . Borrower has not entered into the Transaction or any of the Loan Documents with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor. Borrower has received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for its obligations under the Loan Documents. On the Closing Date, the fair salable value of Borrower’s aggregate assets (as applicable) is and will, immediately following the making of the Loan and the use and disbursement of the proceeds thereof, be greater than its probable aggregate liabilities (including subordinated, unliquidated, disputed and Contingent Obligations). The aggregate assets of Borrower do not and, immediately following the making of the Loan and the use and disbursement of the proceeds thereof will not, constitute unreasonably small capital to carry out its business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted. Borrower does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts and liabilities (including Contingent Obligations and other commitments) beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts to be payable on or in respect of obligations of Borrower).

Section 4.23 Management . Except for any Approved Management Agreement, no property management agreements are in effect with respect to the Properties to which Property Owner or SHLD Master Tenant is a party. As of the Closing Date, the Approved Management Agreement is in full force and effect and there is no event of default thereunder by any party thereto and no event has occurred that, with the passage of time and/or the giving of notice would constitute a default thereunder.

Section 4.24 Federal Trade Embargos . Guarantor and each Required SPE is in compliance with all Federal Trade Embargos in all material respects. No Embargoed Person owns any direct or indirect equity interest in any Required SPE. To Borrower’s knowledge, no Tenant at any of the Properties is identified on the OFAC List. Borrower has implemented procedures, and will consistently apply those procedures throughout the term of the Loan, to ensure that the foregoing representations and warranties remain true and correct during the term of the Loan.

 

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Section 4.25 Ground Leased Parcel . Taking into account the estoppel letter delivered to Lender by the related ground lessor, each of the following is true with respect to each Ground Lease:

(i) Borrower has made available to Lender true and complete copies of all Ground Leases, including all modifications and amendments thereto;

(ii) The Ground Lease or a memorandum thereof has been duly recorded or submitted for recordation in a form that is acceptable for recording in the applicable jurisdiction. The Ground Lease or ground lease estoppel letter permits the interest of the lessee to be encumbered by the Mortgage and does not restrict the use of any Property by Property Owner, its successors or assigns in a manner that would adversely affect the security provided by the Mortgage;

(iii) The lessor has agreed in writing in the Ground Lease or such estoppel letter that the Ground Lease may not be amended, modified, canceled or terminated without the prior written consent of Lender and that any such action without such consent is not binding on Lender;

(iv) The Ground Lease has an original term (or an original term plus one or more optional renewal terms, which, under all circumstances, may be exercised, and will be enforceable, by Borrower or Lender) that extends not less than 20 years beyond the scheduled Maturity Date;

(v) The Ground Lease is not subject to any interests, estates, liens or encumbrances superior to, or of equal priority with, the Mortgage, except for the related fee interest of the ground lessor and the Mortgage Loan Permitted Encumbrances;

(vi) The mortgagee protections contained in the Ground Lease inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns. The Ground Lease permits the pledge or assignment of the equity interests in Property Owner (together with such Property Owner’s rights as lessee under the Ground Leases) to Lender pursuant to the Loan Documents, and Lender and anyone whose title derives directly or indirectly from Lender, including a purchaser at a foreclosure sale, may acquire the equity interests in the Property Owner through foreclosure or assignment in lieu of foreclosure and transfer or assign such equity interests, either in its own name or through a nominee (in each case, without the consent of the lessor under the Ground Lease);

(vii) There is no default under the Ground Lease and no condition that, but for the passage of time or giving of notice, would result in a default under the terms of the Ground Lease, and the Ground Lease is in full force and effect as of the Closing Date;

(viii) The Ground Lease or such estoppel letter requires the lessor to give to Lender written notice of any default, and provides that no notice of default or termination is effective unless such notice is given to Lender;

(ix) Lender is permitted a reasonable opportunity (including, where necessary, sufficient time to gain possession of the interest of the equity interests in Property Owner

 

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through legal proceedings) to cure any default under the Ground Lease which is curable after Lender’s receipt of notice of any default before the lessor may terminate the Ground Lease;

(x) The Ground Lease does not impose any restrictions on subletting that would be viewed as commercially unreasonable by a prudent commercial mezzanine lender;

(xi) The Ground Lease or such estoppel letter does not prohibit or otherwise prevent Loss Proceeds from being held by Mortgage Lender in the “Loss Proceeds Account” (as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement) and applied either to the repair or restoration the applicable Property or to the payment of the Indebtedness in accordance herewith; and without limiting the foregoing, in the case of a total or substantially total loss or taking, the Ground Lease does not prohibit or prevent the application of the Loss Proceeds to the payment of the Indebtedness; and

(xii) Subject to the rights of Mortgage Lender, provided that the lender cures any defaults which are susceptible to being cured, the lessor has agreed to enter into a new lease with Lender upon termination of the Ground Lease for any reason, including rejection of the Ground Lease in a bankruptcy proceeding.

Section 4.26 Survival . All of the representations of Borrower set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall survive for so long as any portion of the Indebtedness is outstanding. All representations, covenants and agreements made by Borrower in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to have been relied upon by Lender notwithstanding any investigation heretofore or hereafter made by Lender or on its behalf. On the date of any Securitization, on not less than three Business Days’ prior written notice, Borrower shall deliver to Lender a certification (x) confirming that all of the representations contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such Securitization, or (y) otherwise specifying any changes in or qualifications to such representations as of such date as may be necessary to make such representations consistent with the facts as they exist on such date.

ARTICLE 5

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Borrower and, to the extent provided in this Article V , JV Pledgor, covenants and agrees as follows:

Section 5.1 Existence; Licenses . Each Required SPE shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to remain in existence. Borrower shall cause Property Owner to do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect all rights, licenses, Permits, franchises, certificates of occupancy, consents, approvals and other agreements necessary for the continued use and operation of the Properties. Each Required SPE shall deliver to Lender a copy of each amendment or other modification to any of its organizational documents promptly after the execution thereof. No party hereto shall take any action

 

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inconsistent with the classification of each Required SPE as a “disregarded entity” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and Seritage OP, or any other person qualified to make a check-the-box election for such Required SPE, shall make any election necessary to effect such classification.

Section 5.2 Maintenance of Property .

(a) Borrower shall cause Property Owner to cause each Property to be maintained in good and safe working order and repair, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and in keeping with the condition and repair of properties of a similar use, value, age, nature and construction. Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, use, maintain or operate any Property in any manner that constitutes a public or private nuisance or that makes void, voidable, or cancelable, or increases the premium of, any insurance then in force with respect thereto. Subject to Section 6.13 , no improvements or equipment located at or on any Property shall be removed, demolished or materially altered without the prior written consent of Lender (except for any Permitted Transfers and except for replacement of equipment in the ordinary course of business with items of the same utility and of equal or greater value and sales of obsolete equipment no longer needed for the operation of the applicable Property), and Borrower shall from time to time cause Property Owner to make, or cause to be made, all reasonably necessary and desirable repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements to the Properties in each such case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect. Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, make any change in the use of any Property that would materially increase the risk of fire or other hazard arising out of the operation of any Property, or do or permit to be done thereon anything that may in any way impair the value of any Property in any material respect or the Liens of the Mortgages or the Pledge Agreement, where in any such case the same would cause or reasonably be expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect. Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, install or permit to be installed on any Property any underground storage tank. Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, without the prior written consent of Lender, permit any drilling or exploration for or extraction, removal, or production of any minerals from the surface or the subsurface of any Property, regardless of the depth thereof or the method of mining or extraction thereof.

(b) Borrower shall cause Property Owner to remediate the Deferred Maintenance and Environmental Conditions within the time periods set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement, subject to Force Majeure and to the extensions of the deadline as set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement, and upon request from Lender after the expiration of such period shall deliver to Lender an Officer’s Certificate confirming that such remediation has been completed and that all associated expenses have been paid. Borrower shall cause Property Owner to comply with all material terms of any asbestos operating and maintenance program in effect as of the Closing Date or otherwise required to be implemented by Borrower.

Section 5.3 Compliance with Legal Requirements . Borrower shall comply with and shall cause Property Owner to comply with and cause the Properties to comply with and be operated, maintained, repaired and improved in compliance with, all Legal Requirements, Insurance Requirements and all material contractual obligations by which Borrower or Property Owner is legally bound.

 

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Section 5.4 Impositions and Other Claims . Borrower shall (with respect to its own obligations), and shall cause Property Owner to (with respect to its own obligations), pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied upon it, its income and its assets as and when such taxes, assessments and charges are due and payable, as well as, with respect to Borrower, all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise, subject to any rights to contest contained in the definition of Permitted Encumbrances (as set forth herein and as set forth in the Mortgage Loan Agreement, as applicable). Borrower shall and shall cause Property Owner and JV Pledgor to file all federal, state and local tax returns and other reports that it is required by law to file. If any law or regulation applicable to Lender, any Note, any of the Collateral or the Pledge Agreement is enacted that deducts from the value of the Collateral for the purpose of taxation any Lien thereon, or imposes upon Lender the payment of the whole or any portion of the taxes or assessments or charges or Liens required by this Agreement to be paid by Borrower, or changes in any way the laws or regulations relating to the taxation of security agreements or debts secured by security agreements or the interest of the secured party in the property or collateral covered thereby, or the manner of collection of such taxes, so as to affect the Pledge Agreement, the Indebtedness or Lender, then Borrower, upon demand by Lender, shall pay such taxes, assessments, charges or Liens, or reimburse Lender for any amounts paid by Lender. Following any such demand, Borrower shall have the right, upon 30 days advance written notice to Lender, to repay the Indebtedness in full (but not in part) without the payment of any prepayment premium or prepayment fee. In addition, if in the opinion of Lender’s counsel it might be unlawful to require Borrower to make such payment or the making of such payment might result in the imposition of interest beyond the maximum amount permitted by applicable law, Lender may elect to declare all of the Indebtedness to be due and payable 90 days from the giving of written notice by Lender to Borrower. Borrower shall not be required to pay any taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or satisfy any Liens on the Collateral or JV Collateral which Borrower, in good faith disputes and which Borrower, at its own expense, is currently and diligently contesting, so long as (i) no Event of Default is then continuing, (ii) Borrower diligently prosecutes such dispute or contest in accordance with all applicable Legal Requirements to a prompt determination in a manner not prejudicial to Lender and promptly pays all amounts ultimately determined to be owing, (iii) any applicable Lien is not in imminent danger of foreclosure and (iv) Borrower causes any applicable Lien (a) to be released or discharged of record or fully insured over by the title insurance company issuing the Title Insurance Policies within 30 days of its creation, or (b) Borrower deposits with Lender, by the expiration of such 30-day period, an amount equal to 120% of the dollar amount of such Lien or a bond in the aforementioned amount from such surety, and upon such terms and conditions, as is reasonably satisfactory to Lender, as security for the payment or release of such Lien.

Section 5.5 Inspection . Borrower shall cause Property Owner to permit agents, representatives and employees of Lender and the Servicer to enter and inspect any of the Properties or any portion thereof, and/or inspect, examine, audit (including audit of the calculation of any tests required under this Agreement) and Borrower shall cause Property Owner to permit agents, representatives and employees of Lender and the Servicer to copy the books and records of Borrower, Property Owner and JV Pledgor (including all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording), at such reasonable times during normal business hours as may be requested by Lender upon reasonable advance notice. If an Event of Default is continuing, the cost of such inspections, examinations, copying or audits shall be borne by Borrower, including the cost of all follow up or additional investigations,

 

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audits or inquiries deemed reasonably necessary by Lender. The cost of such inspections, examinations, audits and copying, if not paid for by Borrower within ten (10) Business Days following demand, may be added to the Indebtedness and shall bear interest after such 10 th Business Day until paid at the Default Rate.

Section 5.6 Cooperate in Legal Proceedings . Borrower shall, and shall cause Property Owner and JV Pledgor to, cooperate fully with Lender with respect to any proceedings before any Governmental Authority that may in any way affect the rights of Lender hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents and, in connection therewith, Lender may, at its election, participate or designate a representative to participate in any such proceedings.

Section 5.7 Leases .

(a) Borrower shall furnish Lender with copies of all executed Leases. All new Leases and renewals or amendments which Borrower is obligated to enter into, all renewals or amendments of Leases must (i) be entered into on an arm’s-length basis with Tenants that are not Affiliates of Borrower and whose identity and creditworthiness is appropriate for tenancy in property of comparable quality, (ii) provide for rental rates and other economic terms that, taken as a whole, are at least equivalent to then-existing market rates, based on the applicable market, and otherwise contain terms and conditions that are commercially reasonable, (iii) have an initial term of not more than 10 years and (iv) not reasonably be expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Any Lease that does not conform to the standards set forth in Section 5.7(a) shall be subject to the prior written consent of Lender, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. In addition, all new Major Leases, and all terminations, renewals (other than as to which Borrower is obligated pursuant to the applicable Lease) and amendments of Major Leases, and any surrender of rights under any Major Lease, shall be subject to the prior written consent of Lender (not to be unreasonably withheld); provided that, in connection with the transfer of a Property to a New Borrower or in connection with the release of a Property in accordance with this Agreement, administrative and technical modifications to the SHLD Master Lease and modifications to any Major Lease to modify the landlord thereunder will not require the consent of Lender.

(c) Borrower shall cause Property Owner to (i) observe and punctually perform all obligations imposed upon the lessor under the Leases, including satisfaction of all Unfunded Obligations, in each case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect; (ii) enforce all terms, covenants and conditions contained in the Leases on the part of the lessee thereunder to be observed or performed, short of termination thereof, in each case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Property Material Adverse Effect, except that Borrower may permit Property Owner to terminate any Lease following a material default thereunder by the respective Tenant; (iii) not collect any of the rents thereunder more than one month in advance; (iv) not execute any assignment of lessor’s interest in the Leases or associated rents other than the assignment of rents and leases under the Mortgage; (v) not cancel or terminate any guarantee (including, without limitation, the SHLD Master Lease Guaranty) of any of the Major Leases without the prior written consent of Lender (not to be unreasonably withheld); and (vi) not permit any subletting

 

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of any space covered by a Lease or an assignment of the Tenant’s rights under a Lease, except in strict accordance with the terms of such Lease. Borrower shall cause Property Owner to deliver to each new Tenant a “Tenant Notice” as defined in, and to the extent required under, the Mortgage Loan Agreement, and promptly thereafter deliver to Lender a copy thereof and evidence of such Tenant’s receipt thereof.

(d) Security deposits of Tenants under all Leases shall be held in compliance with Legal Requirements and any provisions in Leases relating thereto. Borrower shall cause Property Owner to maintain books and records of sufficient detail to identify all security deposits of Tenants separate and apart from any other payments received from Tenants. Subject to Legal Requirement, any bond or other instrument held by Property Owner in lieu of cash security shall name Mortgage Lender (or if the Mortgage Loan has been repaid in full, Lender) as payee or mortgagee thereunder or be fully assignable to Lender. Borrower hereby pledges to Lender each such bond or other instrument (to the extent the Mortgage Loan has been repaid in full) as security for the Indebtedness. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Borrower shall cause Property Owner to deposit with Mortgage Lender (or if the Mortgage Loan has been repaid in full, Lender) in an Eligible Account pledged to Mortgage Lender (or if the Mortgage Loan has been repaid in full, Lender) all security deposits of the Tenants (and any interest theretofore earned on such security deposits and actually received by Borrower or Property Owner), and any such bonds, that Borrower had not returned to the applicable Tenants or applied in accordance with the terms of the applicable Lease; (and failure to do so shall constitute a misappropriation of funds pursuant to Section 9.19(b) ); provided that Lender shall hold, or cause Servicer to hold, any such security deposited in an Eligible Account pledged to Lender in accordance with the applicable Leases and the applicable Legal Requirements.

(e) Borrower shall promptly deliver to Lender a copy of each written notice from a Tenant under any Major Lease claiming that Property Owner is in default in the performance or observance of any of the material terms, covenants or conditions thereof to be performed or observed by Property Owner. Borrower shall cause Property Owner to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide in each Major Lease executed after the Closing Date to which Property Owner is a party that any Tenant delivering any such notice shall send a copy of such notice directly to Lender.

(f) [reserved].

(g) Borrower is expressly permitted to permit Property Owner to exercise any and all recapture rights under the SHLD Master Lease (including 50% recaptures and 100% lease terminations, so long as Borrower complies with this Section 5.7(g) ); provided , however , that such exercise of recapture rights will not be permitted (i) unless the Debt Yield (after giving effect to such recapture or lease termination) as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period is at least 12% (the “ Recapture Threshold ”), or (ii) without consent of Lender, at any time prior to delivery of the Business Plans, if recapture would require payments to SHLD Master Tenant and/or investments in recaptured properties in an aggregate amount in excess of $37,500,000 (it being agreed that, prior to delivery of the Business Plans, Borrower shall nevertheless consult with Lender on any recapture not requiring Lender’s consent), or (iii) without the prior written consent of Lender in its sole discretion, if such recapture is not in substantial compliance with

 

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the applicable Recapture Plan previously approved by Lender to the extent required by Section 5.23 or, with respect to any Designated Property, the related Approved Designated Property Redevelopment Plan (as amended consistent with Section 5.22(h) ) or (iv) without the prior written consent of Lender in its sole discretion if an Event of Default is then continuing. If the Debt Yield is below the Recapture Threshold as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, exercise of any recapture rights by Borrower shall be conditioned on execution and delivery of a Qualified Replacement Lease or the consent of Lender. If the Debt Yield is below the Recapture Threshold and Lender shall not consent to any proposed recapture, the Borrower will be permitted to obtain a release of the applicable Property upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.2(a) , except that the Release Price with respect to such Property shall be equal to 200% of the applicable Allocated Loan Amount plus any otherwise applicable Spread Maintenance Premium (and any such release shall be deemed a release of a Property in accordance with Section 2.2 for all purposes of this Agreement). Unless otherwise approved as part of a Redevelopment Project, Lease termination fees payable by Property Owner to the SHLD Master Tenant under the SHLD Master Lease in connection with the exercise of Borrower’s recapture rights shall only be paid from (y) Excess Cash Flow released to Property Owner in accordance with Section 3.2(b) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement and/or termination fees received by Property Owner from Tenant and deposited in the TI/LC Reserve Account in accordance with Section 3.5(d) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement or (z) equity contributions from Guarantor.

(h) Whenever Lender’s approval or consent is required pursuant to the provisions of this Section, Lender’s consent and approval shall be deemed given if:

(i) the first correspondence from Borrower to Lender requesting such approval or consent contains a bold-faced, conspicuous legend at the top of the first page thereof stating “FIRST NOTICE: THIS IS A REQUEST FOR CONSENT TO A [ NEW LEASE ] [ LEASE MODIFICATION ] . FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS REQUEST WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS MAY RESULT IN THE REQUEST BEING DEEMED GRANTED,” and is accompanied by such information and documents as is reasonably required for Lender to adequately evaluate such request and as requested by Lender in writing prior to the expiration of such 5 Business Day period, and

(ii) if Lender fails to respond to such request for approval or consent in writing within such 5 Business Day period (and in the case of withholding of consent, stating the grounds therefor), a second notice requesting approval is delivered to Lender from Borrower containing a bold-faced, conspicuous legend at the top of the first page thereof stating that “SECOND AND FINAL NOTICE: THIS IS A REQUEST FOR CONSENT TO A [ NEW LEASE ] [ LEASE MODIFICATION ] . FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS REQUEST IN WRITING WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPROVAL BEING DEEMED GRANTED,” and is accompanied by such information and documents as is reasonably required for Lender to adequately evaluate such request and as requested by Lender in writing prior to the expiration of such 5 Business Day period, and

(iii) Lender fails to respond to such request (and in the case of withholding of consent, stating the grounds therefor) prior to the expiration of such second period.

 

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Section 5.8 Plan Assets, etc . Borrower will do, and will cause Property Owner and JV Pledgor, as applicable, to do or cause to be done, all things necessary to cause the representations set forth in Section 4.10 to remain true and correct at all times.

Section 5.9 Further Assurances . Borrower shall, and shall cause Property Owner and JV Pledgor to, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, from time to time as reasonably requested by Lender, execute, acknowledge, record, register, file and/or deliver to Lender such other instruments, agreements, certificates and documents (including any documents required to effectuate the provisions of Article III hereof), and Borrower hereby authorizes and consents to the filing by Lender of any Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, and hereby authorizes Lender to use the collateral description “all personal property” or “all assets” in any such financing statements, in each case as Lender may reasonably request to evidence, confirm, perfect and maintain the Liens securing or intended to secure the obligations of Borrower and the rights of Lender under the Loan Documents and do and execute all such further lawful and reasonable acts, conveyances and assurances for the better and more effective carrying out of the intents and purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as Lender shall reasonably request from time to time. Upon foreclosure, the appointment of a receiver or any other relevant action, Borrower shall, at its sole cost and expense, cooperate fully and completely to effect the assignment or transfer of any license, permit, agreement or any other right necessary or useful to the operation of the Collateral, the JV Collateral, the Properties or the Mortgage JV Collateral, as applicable. Upon receipt of a reasonably satisfactory affidavit of Lender as to the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which affidavit shall include an indemnification of Borrower that is reasonably satisfactory to Borrower), Borrower will issue, in lieu thereof, a replacement Note in the same principal amount thereof and in the form thereof. Borrower hereby authorizes and appoints Lender as its attorney-in-fact to, during the continuance of an Event of Default, execute, acknowledge, record, register and/or file such instruments, agreements, certificates and documents, and to do and execute such acts, conveyances and assurances, should Borrower fail to do so itself in violation of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents following written request from Lender, in each case without the signature of Borrower. The foregoing grant of authority is a power of attorney coupled with an interest and such appointment shall be irrevocable for the term of this Agreement. Borrower hereby ratifies all actions that such attorney shall lawfully take or cause to be taken in accordance with this Section.

Section 5.10 Management of Properties .

(a) Each Property shall be managed at all times by an Approved Property Manager pursuant to an Approved Management Agreement; provided that prior to the Multi-Tenant Occupancy Date with respect to any Property, no Approved Property Manager shall be required with respect to such Property. Borrower may from time to time cause Property Owner to appoint one or more Approved Property Managers to manage one or more of the Properties pursuant to an Approved Management Agreement; provided that (i) no Event of Default is then continuing, (ii) Lender receives at least 30 days prior written notice of same, (iii) such manager shall execute and deliver to Lender for Lender’s benefit a Subordination of Property Management Agreement containing customary terms and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, provided, if such Approved Property Manager is not an Affiliate of Borrower, such subordination of Management Agreement shall not, in any event,

 

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require that Borrower shall not be bound by cancellation or termination fees and (iv) if such Approved Property Manager is an Affiliate of Borrower, Borrower shall deliver to Lender a new nonconsolidation opinion reasonably acceptable to Lender with respect to such Approved Property Manager and new management agreement. The per annum base fees of any Approved Property Manager shall not, at any time, exceed the Maximum Management Fee without the prior approval of Lender in its reasonable discretion.

(b) Borrower shall cause Property Owner to cause each Approved Management Agreement to require that the applicable Approved Property Manager (including any successor Approved Property Manager) maintain at all times worker’s compensation insurance as required by Governmental Authorities.

(c) Borrower shall notify Lender in writing of any material default of Property Owner or the Approved Property Manager under the Approved Management Agreement, after the expiration of any applicable cure periods, of which Borrower has actual knowledge. Lender shall have the right, after reasonable notice to Borrower and in accordance with the Subordination of Management Agreement, to cure defaults of Property Owner under the Approved Management Agreement. Any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by Lender to cure any such default shall constitute a part of the Indebtedness and shall be due from Borrower within ten (10) Business Days after demand by Lender.

(d) In the event that (i) an Event of Default shall be continuing, (ii) any foreclosure, conveyance in lieu of foreclosure or other similar transaction following an Event of Default shall have occurred, (iii) a material default by the Approved Property Manager under the Approved Management Agreement (after the expiration of any applicable notice and/or cure periods) shall be continuing, (iv) the Approved Property Manager files or is the subject of a petition in bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceeding, (v) a trustee or receiver is appointed for the Approved Property Manager’s assets or the Approved Property Manager makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (vi) the Approved Property Manager is adjudicated insolvent or (vii) the Approved Property Manager engages in fraud, misappropriation of funds, intentional misrepresentation or willful misconduct in the course of managing any of the Properties, then, in any such case, Lender may, in its sole discretion, terminate or require Borrower to cause Property Owner to terminate the Approved Management Agreement and engage an Approved Property Manager selected by Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to Lender (or, during the continuance of an Event of Default, selected by Lender with notice to Borrower) to serve as replacement Approved Property Manager pursuant to an Approved Management Agreement.

Section 5.11 Notice of Material Event . Upon Borrower becoming aware of same, Borrower shall give Lender prompt notice (containing reasonable detail) of (i) any material change in the financial or physical condition of any of the Properties, as reasonably determined by Borrower, including the termination or cancellation of any Major Lease (or the closure of a SHLD store) and the termination or cancellation of terrorism or other insurance required by this Agreement or the Mortgage Loan Agreement, (ii) any notice from the Approved Property Manager, to the extent such notice relates to a matter that could reasonably be expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect, (iii) any litigation or governmental proceedings pending or threatened in writing against Borrower, Property Owner, Guarantor or any Property that is

 

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reasonably expected to result in a Property Material Adverse Effect, (iv) the insolvency or bankruptcy filing of any Required SPE, Guarantor or a Subsidiary of any of the foregoing, (v) any Mortgage Loan Event of Default, (vi) any material change in the scope of, or termination of, any services provided by SHMC under the SHLD TSA or the Subordination of Property Management Agreement and (vii) any other circumstance or event that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or Property Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.12 Annual Financial Statements; Format for Statements .

(a) As soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, Borrower shall furnish to Lender annual financial statements of Borrower, including a balance sheet and operating statement of Borrower and Property Owner as of the end of such year, together with related statements of operations and equityholders’ capital and cash flow for such Fiscal Year, audited by a “Big Four” accounting firm (or other independent accounting firm reasonably satisfactory to Lender) whose opinion shall be to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis and shall not be qualified as to the scope of the audit or as to the status of Borrower or Property Owner as a going concern. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year (to the extent prior year financial statements for the applicable period exist). Together with Borrower’s and Property Owner’s audited annual financial statements, Borrower shall furnish to Lender a comparison of Borrower’s and Property Owner’s applicable audited financial results against the corresponding figures in the Approved Annual Budget for such Fiscal Year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Diversification Date, in lieu of the audited financial statements described above, as soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, Borrower shall furnish to Lender unaudited annual financial statements of Borrower and Property Owner, including a balance sheet and operating statement of Borrower and Property Owner as of the end of such year, together with related statements of operations and equityholders’ capital and cash flow for such Fiscal Year, which statements shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the same are true, correct and complete in all material respects and were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year (to the extent prior year financial statements for the applicable period exist). Together with Borrower’s and Property Owner’s unaudited annual financial statements, Borrower shall furnish to Lender comparison of Borrower’s and Property Owner’s applicable audited financial results against the corresponding figures in the Approved Annual Budget for such Fiscal Year. Such annual financial statements shall be accompanied by the reports set forth in Sections 5.13(i) and (iii) for the Fiscal Year then ended.

(b) All financial and other reports required to be delivered hereunder, including pursuant to Section 5.12 through 5.14 , shall be delivered in an Excel spreadsheet file in electronic format to the extent reasonably available, or, in the case of predominantly text documents, in Adobe pdf format to the extent reasonably available. All such reports may be delivered via an intralinks site at Borrower’s sole cost and expense.

Section 5.13 Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available, and in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter (and, subject to the limitation below,

 

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including year-end), Borrower shall furnish to Lender, quarterly and year-to-date unaudited financial statements, prepared for such fiscal quarter with respect to Borrower and Property Owner, including a balance sheet and operating statement of Borrower and Property Owner as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, together with related statements of operations, equityholders’ capital and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Fiscal Year ending with such Fiscal Quarter, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the same period(s) for the preceding Fiscal Year (to the extent prior year financial statements for the applicable period exist), which statements shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the same are true, correct and complete in all material respects and were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments. Each such quarterly report shall be accompanied by the following:

(i) a statement in reasonable detail that calculates each of Debt Yield, In-Place NOI, Third Party In-Place NOI and the SHLD EBITDAR Rent Ratio for the Test Period ending in such Fiscal Quarter;

(ii) (a) a comparison of Borrower’s and Property Owner’s quarterly unaudited financial results against the corresponding figures in the Approved Annual Budget for such period and year-to-date, (b) a comparison of Property-by-Property quarterly operating results against the corresponding figures in the Approved Annual Budget for such Fiscal Quarter and year-to-date and (c) a statement of Borrower’s and Property Owner’s unaudited operating results (on a Property-by-Property basis) for the trailing twelve-month period ending in such Fiscal Quarter;

(iii) SHLD EBITDAR (on a portfolio and store-by-store basis);

(iv) a report on the status of implementation of the Corporate Business Plan; and

(v) such other information as Lender shall reasonably request.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the year-end delivery pursuant to this Section 5.13 shall be limited to a good faith, preliminary draft income statement, draft calculation of In-Place NOI, Third Party In-Place NOI, Debt Yield and, to the extent the SHLD Master Tenant has delivered the necessary supporting information to Borrower or Property Owner, the SHLD EBITDAR Rent Ratio.

Section 5.14 Monthly Financial Statements; Other Reporting .

(a) Borrower shall furnish within 30 days after the end of each calendar month (other than the final calendar month of any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Quarter), monthly and year-to-date unaudited operating statements (on a Property-by-Property basis) as of the end of such month, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the same period(s) in the preceding Fiscal Year (to the extent prior year financial statements for the applicable period exist). Each monthly report shall also include the following (whether or not operating statements are required to be delivered in accordance with this Section 5.14 ):

(i) then current rent roll, aged payables and aged receivables reports (on a Property-by-Property basis);

 

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(ii) Tenant sales reports (on a Property-by-Property basis, including SHLD Master Tenant store-level sales, and as to other Leases, to the extent reasonably available);

(iii) occupancy and leasing pipeline reports (on a Property-by-Property basis);

(iv) details regarding any termination and/or recapture rights exercised under the SHLD Master Lease in the prior calendar month or expected to be exercised in the subsequent 90-day period (on a Property-by-Property basis);

(v) a report of Capital Expenditures, Tenant Improvements and Leasing Commissions incurred on a cash basis in the such calendar month, year-to-date and for the trailing twelve-month period (on a Property-by-Property basis);

(vi) a statement of Borrower’s operating results (on a Property-by-Property basis) for the trailing twelve-month period ending in such calendar month; and

(vii) such other information as Lender shall reasonably request.

(b) Borrower shall cause Property Owner to promptly, and in any event within five Business Days following delivery or receipt thereof, provide Lender copies of: (i) any reports provided to Property Owner pursuant to Section 21.24 of the SHLD Master Lease; (ii) all notices of exercise of any termination or recapture rights under the SHLD Master Lease; (iii) notices with respect to any change to the base rent and/or monthly installment expenses payable under the SHLD Master Lease; (iv) notices with respect to proposed modifications to the SHLD Master Lease; (v) notices with respect to any default or dispute under the SHLD Master Lease; and (vi) copies of all other reports, notices or other information relating to the SHLD Master Lease not provided pursuant to the preceding clauses (i)   through (v)  as Lender shall reasonably request.

Section 5.15 Insurance . Borrower shall cause Property Owner to obtain and maintain or cause to be obtained and maintained with respect to the Property, the Policies of insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.15 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement. Borrower shall cause (or shall cause Property Owner to cause) Lender at all times to be named as an additional insured under the Policies and shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Lender evidence, reasonably satisfactory to Lender, of the insurance described in this Section and Section 5.15 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement. No termination of the Mortgage Loan Agreement (including in connection with any payment of the Mortgage Loan Indebtedness) shall affect the requirements set forth in this Section 5.15. No waiver or amendment of the provisions of Section 5.15 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement shall be effective without the prior written consent of Lender.

 

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Section 5.16 Casualty and Condemnation .

(a) Borrower shall give, or cause to be given, prompt notice to Lender of any Material Casualty Event or Material Condemnation Event. In the event there is a Casualty or Condemnation following which Mortgage Lender applies Loss Proceeds toward the prepayment of the Mortgage Loan in accordance with the Mortgage Loan Agreement, all excess Loss Proceeds remaining after the Mortgage Loan has been paid in full shall be applied toward the prepayment of the Loan and shall be accompanied by interest through the end of the applicable Interest Accrual Period (calculated as if the amount prepaid were outstanding for the entire Interest Accrual Period during which the prepayment is applied).

(b) Borrower shall provide, or cause Property Owner to provide in respect of a Material Casualty Event, to Lender copies of all insurance claims and settlement notices, and in any case where Loss Proceeds are applied towards restoration of the Property under the Mortgage Loan Agreement, copies of the plans and specifications, architect’s certificates, waivers of lien, contractor’s sworn statements, plans, bonds, plats of survey and such other documents as Lender may reasonably request.

(c) In the event the Mortgage Loan is paid in full, the provisions of Section 5.16 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement as in effect on the date hereof (subject to any amendments approved in writing by Lender) shall be deemed to have been incorporated herein, and Borrower and Lender shall each have the same rights and obligations with respect to Loss Proceeds, availability of funds, claims adjustments and the restoration of the Property, as previously existed between Property Owner and Mortgage Lender.

(d) Borrower shall give prompt notice to Lender of any Material Casualty Event or a Material Condemnation Event or of the actual or threatened commencement of proceedings that would result in a Material Condemnation Event.

Section 5.17 Annual Budget . At least 30 days prior to the commencement of each Fiscal Year during the term of the Loan, Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Lender an Annual Budget for the Properties for the ensuing Fiscal Year for informational purposes only so long as no Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default is continuing. During the continuance of any Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default, each Annual Budget will require the prior written consent of Lender, not to be unreasonably withheld so long as no Event of Default is then continuing. Within 30 days after the commencement of any Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default, to the extent the Annual Budget then in effect was not otherwise approved by Lender, Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Lender an update to the Capital Expenditure portion of the then existing Annual Budget for the remainder of the applicable Fiscal Year, which update will require the prior written consent of Lender, not to be unreasonably withheld so long as no Event of Default is then continuing. Promptly following preparation thereof, Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Lender subsequent revisions to any Approved Annual Budget, which shall be for informational purposes except that (i) if no Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, Lender’s prior written consent shall be required with respect to any such revisions that result in variances (other than Permitted Variances) from the Approved Annual Budget most recently delivered to Lender that, individually or in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the total amount of such budget or (ii) if an Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, Lender’s prior written consent shall be required in connection with any such revisions that result in variances (other than

 

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Permitted Variances). Borrower shall not amend, or permit Property Owner to amend, any Approved Annual Budget more than once in any 60-day period. To the extent Lender’s approval is required with respect to any Annual Budget (or amendment thereto) in accordance with this Section 5.17 , for so long as Lender shall have not yet approved such Annual Budget (or amendment thereto), the Approved Annual Budget in effect prior to any such request for approval shall remain in effect.

Section 5.18 Venture Capital Operating Companies; Nonbinding Consultation . Solely to the extent that Lender or any direct or indirect holder of an interest in the Loan must qualify as a “venture capital operating company” (as defined in Department of Labor Regulation 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101), Lender shall have the right to consult with and advise Borrower regarding significant business activities and business and financial developments of Borrower, provided that any such advice or consultation or the result thereof shall be completely nonbinding on Borrower.

Section 5.19 Compliance with Encumbrances and Material Agreements .

(i) Borrower shall, and shall cause Property Owner to, comply with all terms, conditions and covenants of each Material Agreement and each material Permitted Encumbrance, including any reciprocal easement agreement, ground lease, declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions, and any condominium arrangements, in each case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) Borrower shall promptly deliver to Lender a true and complete copy of each and every notice of default received by Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor, as applicable, with respect to any obligation of Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor, as applicable, under the provisions of any Material Agreement, JV Document and/or Permitted Encumbrance.

(iii) Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Lender copies of any written notices of default or event of default relating to any Material Agreement, JV Document and/or Permitted Encumbrance served by Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor.

(iv) Without the prior written consent of Lender, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, grant or withhold any material consent, approval or waiver under any Material Agreement or Permitted Encumbrance unless no Event of Default is continuing and the same would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each other party to any Permitted Encumbrance and any Material Agreement notice of the identity of Lender and each assignee of Lender of which Borrower is aware if such notice is required in order to protect Lender’s interest thereunder. Borrower shall cause JV Pledgor to deliver to each other party to the JV Documents, as applicable, notice of the identity of Lender and each assignee of Lender of which JV Pledgor is aware if such notice is required in order to protect Lender’s interest thereunder.

(vi) Borrower shall, and shall cause Property Owner to, enforce, short of termination thereof and without being required to commence or maintain any litigation, the performance and observance of each and every material term, covenant and provision of each Material Agreement and Permitted Encumbrance to be performed or observed, if any, in each case where the failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 5.20 Prohibited Persons . No Required SPE nor any of its direct or indirect equityholders (excluding (i) any holders of Equity Interests that are traded on a nationally recognized public stock exchange and (ii) any indirect holders of Equity Interests in Seritage OP) shall (i) knowingly conduct any business, or engage in any transaction or dealing, with any Embargoed Person, including the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods, or services, to or for the benefit of a Embargoed Person, or (ii) knowingly engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any Federal Trade Embargo. Borrower shall cause the representation set forth in Section 4.39 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement to remain true and correct at all times.

Section 5.21 Business Plans . Borrower shall cause Property Owner to deliver business plans to Lender in a form satisfying the requirements set forth on Schedule C hereto on the following schedule:

(i) on or before January 7, 2016, business plans for each individual Property (the “ Property Business Plans ”) as well as the plans of Seritage REIT with respect to senior management and development of infrastructure (including a timeline with major milestones) necessary to operate Seritage REIT without reliance on the SHLD TSA (the “ Corporate Business Plan ” and collectively with the Property Business Plans, the “ Business Plans ”);

(ii) annually thereafter, within 30 days prior to the commencement of each calendar year, updates to the Business Plans; and

(iii) from time to time, updates to any Business Plan promptly following any material change to such plan.

Section 5.22 Redevelopment Plans .

(a) In connection with the redevelopment, re-tenanting or re-positioning of any Property (a “ Redevelopment Project ”), Borrower shall deliver or cause Property Owner to deliver to Lender a redevelopment plan and budget (a “ Redevelopment Plan and Budget ”), including details with respect to Redevelopment Costs of such Redevelopment Project, expected timeline with respect to such Redevelopment Project and Property Owner’s source of funds (including any expected draws from the Mortgage Loan Future Advance Amount) and, promptly after preparation thereof, any subsequent revisions to any Redevelopment Plan and Budget, which delivery shall be for informational purposes so long as no Event of Default is continuing or the applicable Redevelopment Plan and Budget is not otherwise subject to approval by Lender

 

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in accordance with this Section 5.22 . Each Redevelopment Plan and Budget with respect to a Redevelopment Project shall be subject to review and approval by Lender, in its reasonable discretion if either (i) the aggregate amount of the budget for such Redevelopment Project exceeds $7,500,000 (or, during a Cash Flow Sweep Period, $5,000,000) or (ii) as to any calendar year, such Redevelopment Project would cause the aggregate budgeted amount of Redevelopment Projects for such year to exceed $25,000,000 and the aggregate amount of the budget for such Redevelopment Project exceeds $5,000,000 (each of (i) and (ii), a “ Major Redevelopment Project ”). In addition, during the continuance of any Event of Default or a Cash Flow Sweep Period each Redevelopment Plan and Budget with respect to a Redevelopment Project not then commenced will require the prior written consent of Lender. Submission and/or approval of a Redevelopment Plan and Budget by Borrower or Property Owner shall not obligate Property Owner to commence the applicable Redevelopment Project. Promptly following preparation thereof, Borrower shall deliver to Lender subsequent revisions to any Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, which shall be subject to Lender’s prior written consent (y) if no Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, with respect to any such revisions that result in variances (other than Permitted Variances) from the Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget most recently delivered to Lender that, individually or in the aggregate, exceed 10% of the total amount of such budget or (z) if an Event of Default or Cash Flow Sweep Period is then continuing, Lender’s prior written consent shall be required in connection with any such revisions that result in variances (other than Permitted Variances). Each Redevelopment Plan and Budget may include payment of a construction management fee payable to the Approved Property Manager equal to up to six percent (6%) of the hard and soft costs of the Redevelopment Project actually incurred by Property Owner (payable as and when the cost of the work on which such fee is based is due and payable) and, if applicable, up to two percent (2%) of the hard and soft costs incurred by tenants in connection with redevelopment of the Properties.

(b) Not less than 30 days prior to the commencement of any development that involves more than 15,000 square feet of ground-up or substantially equivalent new build construction, and not less than 15 days prior to the commencement of any other Redevelopment Project, Borrower shall have delivered (or caused Property Owner to deliver) the following (as applicable):

(i) [Reserved].

(ii) Borrower shall have demonstrated to Lender’s reasonable satisfaction that Property Owner has access to funds in an amount not less than the Approved Redevelopment Costs (or, in the case of any Redevelopment Project to be funded in whole or in part with the proceeds of Mortgage Loan Future Advances, 105% of the Approved Redevelopment Costs) set forth in the applicable Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, whether from debt and/or equity.

(iii) Lender shall have received copies of the plans and specifications for the Redevelopment Project.

(iv) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender an Officer’s Certificate (or an Officer’s Certificate of Property Owner) certifying that Property Owner has made all

 

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necessary filings and obtained all necessary approvals to commence the Redevelopment Project, including all applicable building permits, and containing copies of material approvals and Permits.

(v) Lender shall have received a copy of the construction contract for such Redevelopment Project.

(vi) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender and, if applicable, its construction consultant a copy of any architect contract and any other material service provider agreements entered into by Property Owner or any Affiliate thereof in connection with such Redevelopment Project.

(vii) (a) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender an Officer’s Certificate (or an Officer’s Certificate of Property Owner) certifying Property Owner’s compliance in all material respects with all requirements of, and that Property Owner has obtained all approvals, if any, required under, any Ground Leases, Leases (including the SHLD Master Lease) and/or Material Agreements applicable to the Redevelopment Project, and that the Redevelopment Project does not violate any of the provisions of any of the foregoing (except to the extent such provisions have been waived or otherwise amended, in accordance with terms of this Agreement, in such a manner that Property Owner is no longer in violation thereof) and, and (b) with respect to each Major Redevelopment Project, Lender shall have approved, in its reasonable discretion, all material modifications to existing zoning, entitlements and other in-place approvals relating to the use and operations of the Property and all parking and ingress/egress specifications (“ Major Redevelopment Land Use Matters ”).

(c) Borrower shall or shall cause Property Owner to deliver to Lender a copy of any deliverable provided to Mortgage Lender pursuant to Section 5.22(c) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

(d) With respect to each Major Redevelopment Project that has been commenced until final completion thereof, Borrower shall deliver to Lender, or cause Property Owner to deliver to Lender, on a monthly basis, a reconciliation report of the actual Redevelopment Costs incurred and/or paid in the prior calendar month against such costs included in the Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget (each such report, an “ Redevelopment Reconciliation Report ”), which report shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate (or an Officer’s Certificate of Property Owner) certifying that such report is true, complete and correct in all material respects. In addition, with respect to all Redevelopment Projects, Borrower shall deliver to Lender, or cause Property Owner to deliver to Lender, on a monthly basis, an Officer’s Certificate certifying the availability of adequate funds to complete such Redevelopment Projects or, as the case may be, the Property Owner’s plan to obtain such funds.

(e) Once commenced by Property Owner, Borrower shall cause Property Owner use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly and diligently perform to completion in a workmanlike fashion and in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements all work in connection with any Redevelopment Project substantially within the timelines set forth in the

 

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Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget (subject to Force Majeure). For any Major Redevelopment Project, Lender may retain a construction consultant to review the Redevelopment Plan and Budget, to review any submissions made to Lender pursuant to Section 5.22(b) and/or Section 5.22(c) and to perform site inspections; provided, that if Lender elects to retain a consultant and Mortgage Lender retains a consultant, then, unless an Event of Default shall then be continuing, the same consultant must be retained by Lender that is retained by Mortgage Lender. Borrower shall, within ten (10) Business Days’ demand by Lender, reimburse Lender for the reasonable fees and expenses of such consultant for the applicable Major Redevelopment Project.

(f) Promptly upon completion of all work contemplated under an Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget, Borrower shall deliver or cause Property Owner to deliver to Lender a certificate of substantial completion issued by an architect reasonably satisfactory to Lender with respect to the applicable Redevelopment Project. Borrower shall promptly deliver or cause Property Owner to deliver evidence to Lender of the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy or the equivalent thereof, if required by law, and an Officer’s Certificate certifying compliance in all material respects of the applicable Redevelopment Project with all Legal Requirements. In addition, to the extent contemplated under the applicable Redevelopment Plan and Budget, a reciprocal easement agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, including cost-sharing arrangements, shall have been recorded in the applicable real property records.

(g) [reserved].

(h) As of the Closing Date, the Lender has approved the redevelopment plans attached hereto as Schedule F for each Designated Property (the “ Approved Designated Property Redevelopment Plans ”). Any Redevelopment Project with respect to a Designated Property that is funded in its entirety from sources other than proceeds of the Future Advance and other than amounts on deposit in the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account (a “ Designated Redevelopment Project ”) shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement to be a Major Redevelopment Project except as provided in this Section 5.22(h) . Provided that the Designated Redevelopment Project proposed in a Redevelopment Plan and Budget submitted by Borrower or Property Owner to Lender (and any subsequent revisions thereof) in accordance with Section 5.22(a) is substantially consistent with the proposed uses and overall density described in the applicable Approved Designated Property Redevelopment Plan (i) the Redevelopment Plan and Budget with respect to such Designated Redevelopment Project (and subsequent revisions thereof) will be subject to review by Lender in accordance with Section 5.22(a) , but will not be subject to approval by Lender and (ii) Lender’s approval will not be required in connection with any Major Redevelopment Land Use Matters related to such Designated Redevelopment Project.

(i) Borrower shall cause Property Owner to include commercially reasonable retainage provisions in each such contract.

Section 5.23 Recapture Plans . Lender agrees that the Recapture Plans attached to the SHLD Master Lease and attached as Schedule G hereto have been approved by Lender. Borrower shall, or shall cause Property Owner to, promptly provide to Lender copies of any subsequent amendments, replacements or additions to any Recapture Plan (including all

 

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Recapture Plans with respect to Properties as to which no Recapture Plan is attached to the SHLD Master Lease), together with a narrative description highlighting changes from the prior Recapture Plan delivered to Lender; provided that Borrower shall not and shall not permit Property Owner to, without the prior written consent of Lender (not to be unreasonably withheld), modify, amend, supplement or replace any Recapture Plan (i) with respect to a Redevelopment Project that is not a Major Redevelopment Project if the effect of such modification, amendment or supplement would be to: (1) leave the portion of the applicable Property to be recaptured by Property Owner without adequate ingress or egress; (2) deprive the portion of the applicable Property to be recaptured by Property Owner of vertical transport, unless provision for such shall be made in the applicable Redevelopment Plan and Budget; (3) alter the allocations of horizontal and vertical space between SHLD Master Tenant and Property Owner by more than 10.0%; (4) cause the Tenant under the Land’s End Lease to terminate the Land’s End Lease with respect to such Property; (ii) with respect to any Major Redevelopment Project; or (iii) that is funded from disbursements from the Unfunded Obligations Account.

Section 5.24 Joint Ventures .

(a) Borrower shall cause JV Pledgor to cause any JV Profits distributed in respect of its JV Interests to be remitted directly to either (i) the TI/LC Reserve Account or (ii) at the sole election of Borrower from time to time on or prior to the date of each such remittance of such JV Profits, the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account.

(b) Borrower shall cause JV Pledgor to deliver, or cause to be delivered, all quarterly and annual financial reports received by JV Pledgor pursuant to the applicable JV Documents and such other information in respect of JV Pledgor and its assets and each Applicable JV as Lender may reasonably request.

(c) Borrower shall cause JV Pledgor not to permit any JV Documents or any Debt incurred by any Applicable JV or any subsidiary of any Applicable JV to prohibit, restrict or otherwise impair (i) the ability of Borrower to grant a first priority security interest in the applicable JV Collateral to Lender pursuant to the Pledge Agreement or (ii) other than the satisfaction of one or more conditions that are substantially the same as those contained in the JV Documents as of the Closing Date, the ability of Lender to exercise its rights and remedies under the Pledge Agreement, including, without limitation, the foreclosure sale, or assignment-in-lieu of foreclosure, of the JV Interests and the other JV Collateral to Lender or any other Person; provided , however , that customary restrictions in any such Debt (including, without limitation, restriction based on Embargoed Person; “Know your customer”, absence of adverse ligation or foreclosures, absence of bankruptcy or similar filings, and other customary restrictions as to a Person holding 50% of the direct or indirect Equity Interests in the Applicable JV) shall not be affected by the restriction in this Section 5.24 .

ARTICLE 6

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Section 6.1 Liens on the Collateral . No Required SPE shall permit or suffer the existence of any Lien on any of its assets, other than, in the case of Borrower, Mezzanine Loan Permitted Encumbrances, and in the case of Property Owner and JV Pledgor, Mortgage Loan Permitted Encumbrances.

 

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Section 6.2 Ownership . Borrower shall not own any assets other than the equity interests in Property Owner and JV Pledgor. Borrower shall not permit Property Owner to own any assets other than the Properties and incidental personal property necessary for the ownership and operation of the Properties. Borrower shall not permit JV Pledgor to own any assets other than the applicable JV Interest and incidental personal property necessary for the ownership and operation of the applicable JV Interest.

Section 6.3 Transfer . Borrower shall not convey any interest in the Collateral other than a Permitted Transfer. Borrower shall not permit Property Owner to convey a fee interest or ground leasehold interest in any of the Properties other than a Permitted Transfer (as defined in the Mortgage Loan Agreement), and Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner, hereafter file a declaration of condominium with respect to any Property without Lender’s consent in its sole discretion. Borrower shall not make any direct or indirect transfer of the JV Interests except for any Transfer in compliance with Section 2.4(d) . Borrower shall not permit JV Pledgor to make any direct or indirect transfer of the JV Interests except for any Transfer in compliance with Section 2.4(d) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Section 6.4 Debt . None of Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor shall have any Debt, other than Permitted Debt.

Section 6.5 Dissolution; Merger or Consolidation . No Required SPE shall dissolve, terminate, liquidate, merge with or consolidate into another Person.

Section 6.6 Change in Business . Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner or JV Pledgor to make any material change in the scope or nature of its business objectives, purposes or operations or undertake or participate in activities other than (i) in the case of Borrower, the continuance of owning, holding, selling and transferring the Collateral and the JV Collateral, (ii) in the case of Property Owner, the continuance of owning, holding, developing, selling, transferring, leasing, managing and operating the Properties and (ii) in the case of a JV Pledgor, owning, holding, selling, transferring and managing the applicable JV Interests.

Section 6.7 Debt Cancellation . Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, cancel or otherwise forgive or release any material claim or Debt owed to it by any Person, except for adequate consideration or in the ordinary course of its business without Lender’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Section 6.8 Affiliate Transactions . None of Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor shall enter into, or be a party to, any transaction with any Affiliate of Borrower or Property Owner, as the case may be, except as expressly permitted under this Agreement or otherwise on arm’s-length terms and approved by Lender in its reasonable discretion.

Section 6.9 Misapplication of Funds . Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, (a) distribute any Revenue or Loss Proceeds in violation of the provisions of this Agreement or the Mortgage Loan Agreement (and shall promptly cause the reversal of any

 

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such distributions made in error of which Borrower becomes aware), (b) fail to cause the amounts required to be remitted to any Mortgage Loan Collateral Account or Collateral Account to be so remitted, (c) make any distributions to equityholders during the continuance of a Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default unless expressly permitted hereunder, or (d) misappropriate any security deposit or portion thereof. Borrower shall not permit JV Pledgor to fail to remit JV Profits (as determined by JV Pledgor in good faith), to the TI/LC Reserve Account or the Redevelopment Project Reserve Account, as applicable, as required by Section 5.24(a) .

Section 6.10 Jurisdiction of Formation; Name . None of Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor shall change its jurisdiction of formation, its jurisdiction of fiscal residence or name without receiving Lender’s prior written consent and promptly providing Lender such information and replacement Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and legal opinions as Lender may reasonably request in connection therewith.

Section 6.11 Modifications and Waivers . Unless otherwise consented to in writing by Lender in Lender’s reasonable discretion (provided that if any of the following matters would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect, Lender’s consent in its sole discretion shall be required):

(i) Borrower shall not permit Property Owner to terminate, renew, surrender, or materially modify, amend or waive any rights or remedies under, any Lease (including, without limitation, the SHLD Master Lease, it being understood that any change or update to any schedule to the SHLD Master Lease shall constitute a modification to the Master Lease), or enter into any Lease, in each case except in compliance with Section 5.7 ;

(ii) No Required SPE shall terminate, amend or modify its organizational documents (including any operating agreement, limited partnership agreement, by-laws, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or certificate of incorporation);

(iii) Borrower shall not permit Property Owner to terminate or surrender, or materially amend, modify or waive any rights or remedies under, any Approved Management Agreement;

(iv) Borrower shall not and shall not permit Property Owner to (x) enter into any Material Agreement, or amend, modify, surrender or waive any material rights or remedies under any Material Agreement, (y) terminate any Material Agreement (z) where such default would reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect, default in its obligations under the SHLD Master Lease or any Material Agreement; or

(v) Borrower shall not permit JV Pledgor to amend or modify, and Borrower shall not permit JV Pledgor to terminate, the GGP JV Agreement, the Simon JV Agreement, the Macerich JV Agreement or the Permitted JV Agreement.

 

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Section 6.12 ERISA .

(a) Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner or JV Pledgor to, maintain or contribute to, or agree to maintain or contribute to, or permit any ERISA Affiliate to maintain or contribute to or agree to maintain or contribute to, any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

(b) Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner or JV Pledgor to, engage in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code, or substantially similar provisions under federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations or in any transaction that would cause any obligation or action taken or to be taken hereunder (or the exercise by Lender of any of its rights under the Notes, this Agreement, the Pledge Agreement or any other Loan Document) to be a non-exempt prohibited transaction under such provisions.

Section 6.13 Alterations and Expansions . During the continuance of any Cash Flow Sweep Period or Event of Default, Borrower shall not and shall not permit Property Owner to incur or contract to incur any capital improvements requiring Capital Expenditures that are not consistent with the Approved Annual Budget or an Approved Redevelopment Plan and Budget. Borrower shall not permit Property Owner to perform, undertake, contract to perform or consent to any Material Alteration without the prior written consent of Lender, which consent (in the absence of a continuing Event of Default) shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, but may be conditioned on the deposit by Borrower into the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account of an amount equal to the remaining budgeted Capital Expenditures in respect of any such Material Alteration in excess of $7,500,000 from time to time. If Lender’s consent is requested hereunder with respect to a Material Alteration, Lender may retain a construction consultant to review such request and, if such request is granted, Lender may retain a construction consultant to inspect the work from time to time. Borrower shall, on demand by Lender, reimburse Lender for the reasonable fees and disbursements of such consultant.

Section 6.14 Advances and Investments . Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, lend money or make advances to any Person, or purchase or acquire any stock, obligations or securities of, or any other interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any Person, except for (i) Permitted Investments, (ii) Borrower’s ownership of the limited liability company membership interests in Property Owner and JV Pledgor and, if applicable, any New Borrower and (iii) capital contributions by Borrower to Property Owner, JV Pledgor and, if applicable, any New Borrower in accordance with the applicable organizational documents.

Section 6.15 Single-Purpose Entity . No Required SPE shall cease to be a Single-Purpose Entity; provided, however , that from and after a JV Pledgor Release Event as to any Seritage JV Member, such Seritage JV Member shall cease to be a Required SPE. No Required SPE shall remove or replace any Independent Manager without Cause and without providing at least five Business Days’ advance written notice thereof to Lender and the Rating Agencies.

 

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Section 6.16 Zoning and Uses . Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, do any of the following without the prior written consent of Lender, in the case of clause (iii)  below not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed:

(i) initiate or consent to any limiting change in the permitted uses of any of the Properties (or to the extent applicable, zoning reclassification of any of the Properties) or any portion thereof, seek any variance under existing land use restrictions, laws, rules or regulations (or, to the extent applicable, zoning ordinances) applicable to any of the Properties, or use or permit the use of any of the Properties in a manner that would result in the use of such Property becoming a nonconforming use under applicable land-use restrictions or zoning ordinances or that would violate the terms of any Lease (including, without limitation, the SHLD Master Lease), Material Agreement, Ground Lease or Legal Requirement (and if under applicable zoning ordinances the use of all or any portion of any of the Properties is a nonconforming use, Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, cause or permit such nonconforming use to be discontinued or abandoned);

(ii) impose or consent to the imposition of any restrictive covenants, easements or encumbrances upon any of the Properties in any manner that is reasonably likely to have a Property Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) execute or file any subdivision plat affecting any of the Properties, or institute, or permit the institution of, proceedings to alter any tax lot comprising any of the Properties; or

(iv) permit or consent to the use of any of the Properties by the public or any Person in such manner as might make possible a claim of adverse usage or possession or of any implied dedication or easement.

Section 6.17 Waste . Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, commit any Waste on any of the Properties, nor knowingly take any actions that could reasonably be expected to invalidate any insurance carried on any of the Properties (and Borrower shall, or shall cause Property Owner to, promptly correct any such actions of which Borrower becomes aware).

Section 6.18 Ground Lease .

(i) Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, without Lender’s written consent, fail to exercise any option or right to renew or extend the term of any Ground Lease, and shall give immediate written notice to Lender and shall and shall cause Property Owner to execute, acknowledge, deliver and record any document requested by Lender to evidence the lien of the related Mortgage on such extended or renewed lease term. If Borrower shall fail to exercise or to cause Property Owner to exercise any such option or right to renew or extend, Lender may exercise the option or right as Borrower’s and/or Property Owner’s agent and attorney-in-fact as provided herein in Lender’s own name or in the name of and on behalf of a nominee of Lender, as Lender may determine in the exercise of its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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(ii) Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, waive, excuse, condone or in any way release or discharge any Ground Lessor under any Ground Lease of or from such Ground Lessor’s obligations, covenant and/or conditions under the related Ground Lease without the prior written consent of Lender.

(iii) Borrower shall not, and shall not permit Property Owner to, without Lender’s prior written consent, surrender, terminate, forfeit, or suffer or permit the surrender, termination or forfeiture of, or change, modify or amend any Ground Lease, other than an expiration of the Ground Lease pursuant to its terms. Consent to one amendment, change, agreement or modification by Lender shall not be deemed to be a waiver of the right to require consent to other, future or successive amendments, changes, agreements or modifications. Any acquisition of Ground Lessor’s interest in any Ground Lease by Borrower, Property Owner or any Affiliate of Borrower or Property Owner shall be accomplished by Borrower or Property Owner in such a manner so as to avoid a merger of the interests of lessor and lessee in such Ground Lease, unless consent to such merger is granted by Lender.

ARTICLE 7

DEFAULTS

Section 7.1 Event of Default . The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall be, and shall constitute the commencement of, an “ Event of Default ” hereunder (any Event of Default that has occurred shall continue unless and until waived by Lender in writing in its sole discretion):

(a) Payment .

(i) Borrower shall default in the payment when due of any principal or interest owing hereunder or under the Notes (including any mandatory prepayment required hereunder) provided that no default shall exist under this clause (i) if and to the extent that on the applicable Payment Date the amount in the Cash Management Account is sufficient to make all of the remittances and deposits required under Section 3.2(c) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement; or

(ii) Borrower shall default, and such default shall continue for at least five Business Days after written notice to Borrower that such amounts are owing, in the payment when due of fees, expenses or other amounts owing hereunder, under the Notes or under any of the other Loan Documents (other than principal and interest owing hereunder or under the Notes); provided , however , that no default shall exist under this clause (ii) if and to the extent that the amount in the applicable Collateral Account is sufficient to make such payment and Borrower is entitled to the application of such amounts to such payments pursuant to the Loan Documents.

(b) Representations . Any representation made by Property Owner in the Mortgage Loan Agreement or by Borrower or Guarantor in any of the Loan Documents, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other instrument, agreement or document furnished

 

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to Lender shall have been false or misleading in any material respect (or, with respect to any representation that itself contains a materiality qualifier, in any respect) as of the date such representation was made or deemed made; provided that as to any such breach of any representation or warranty which was unintentionally made to Lender if such representation or warranty can either be made true and correct in all material respects or may otherwise be cured, Borrower shall have a period of 5 Business Days in the event such cure can be effectuated by the payment of money, or otherwise 30 days, after Borrower receives written notice thereof, to undertake and complete any required action to make such representation or warranty either true and correct in all material respects or otherwise to cure the same.

(c) Other Agreements . A default by Borrower, Property Owner, Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall occur under any Material Agreement, Ground Lease, or Approved Management Agreement, in each case, beyond the expiration of any applicable cure period, and in each case if such default would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or a Property Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Bankruptcy, etc .

(i) Any Required SPE or Guarantor shall commence a voluntary case concerning itself under the Bankruptcy Code;

(ii) any Required SPE or Guarantor shall commence any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of creditors, dissolution, insolvency or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to such Required SPE or Guarantor, or shall dissolve or otherwise cease to exist;

(iii) there is commenced against any Required SPE or Guarantor an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code, or any such other proceeding, which remains undischarged, unstayed and undismissed for a period of 90 days after commencement;

(iv) any Required SPE or Guarantor is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt;

(v) any Required SPE or Guarantor suffers appointment of any custodian or the like (other than a custodian or the like appointed by or at the direction of Lender) for it or for any substantial portion of its property and such appointment continues unchanged or unstayed for a period of 90 days after commencement of such appointment;

(vi) any Required SPE or Guarantor makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

(vii) any Required SPE or Guarantor takes any action with the intent of effecting any of the foregoing.

(e) Prohibited Change of Control . A Prohibited Change of Control shall occur.

 

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(f) Equity Pledge; Preferred Equity . (i) Any direct or indirect equity interest in or right to distributions from any Restricted Party shall be subject to a Lien in favor of any Person, or (ii) Property Owner, Borrower, JV Pledgor, Seritage REIT, Seritage OP or any other holder of a direct or indirect interest in any of Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor that is a Subsidiary of Seritage REIT or Seritage OP shall issue preferred equity (or debt granting the holder thereof rights substantially similar to those generally associated with preferred equity); except that the following shall be permitted:

(i) any pledge of direct or indirect equity interests in and rights to distributions from Seritage REIT and Seritage OP (other than equity interests in and rights to distributions from Seritage OP held by Seritage REIT);

(ii) the pledge of direct or indirect equity interests in Property Owner and/or JV Pledgor securing the Loan or the refinancing thereof; and

(iii) the issuance of Permitted Preferred Equity by Seritage REIT and Seritage OP.

Any act, action or state of affairs that would result in an Event of Default pursuant to this subsection shall be referred to in this Agreement as a “ Prohibited Pledge ”.

(g) Insurance . Borrower shall fail to cause Property Owner to maintain in full force and effect all Policies required hereunder; provided , however , that no default shall exist under this clause (g) if and to the extent that (i) sufficient amounts are then reserved in the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account and designated for the payment of insurance premiums, (ii) Property Owner is entitled to the application of same to such payment pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Documents and has requested such payment from Mortgage Lender and (iii) Mortgage Lender fails to release such payment from the Basic Carrying Costs Escrow Account.

(h) ERISA; Negative Covenants . A default shall occur in the due performance or observance by Borrower of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.8 or in Article VI .

(i) Legal Requirements . Borrower shall fail to cause Property Owner to cure properly any violations of Legal Requirements affecting all or any portion of any Property within 30 days after Property Owner first receives written notice of any such violations, and such violations result in a Property Material Adverse Effect; provided , however , if any such violation is reasonably susceptible of cure, but not within such 30 day period, then Property Owner shall be permitted up to an additional 30 days to cure such violation provided that Property Owner commences a cure within such initial 30 day period and thereafter diligently and continuously pursues such cure.

(j) Business Plans . Borrower shall have failed to cause Property Owner to deliver the Business Plans in accordance with Section 5.21 to Lender on or before January 7, 2017.

(k) Other Covenants . A default shall occur in the due performance or observance by Borrower of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in any

 

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other subsection of this Section) contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents, except that in the case of a default that can be cured by the payment of money, such default shall not constitute an Event of Default unless and until it shall remain uncured for 10 Business Days after Borrower receives written notice thereof; and in the case of a default that cannot be cured by the payment of money but is susceptible of being cured within 30 days, such default shall not constitute an Event of Default unless and until it remains uncured for 30 days after Borrower receives written notice thereof, provided that promptly following its receipt of such written notice, Borrower delivers written notice to Lender of its intention and ability to effect such cure within such 30 day period; and if such non-monetary default is not cured within such 30 day period despite diligent efforts of Borrower, but is susceptible of being cured within 120 days of receipt of Lender’s original notice, then Borrower shall have such additional time as is reasonably necessary to effect such cure, but in no event in excess of 120 days from receipt of Lender’s original notice; provided that Borrower is diligently pursuing such cure.

(l) Any Loan Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or to convey the material Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby and Borrower shall fail to promptly comply with Section 5.9 to remedy such failure.

(m) Borrower shall fail to provide to Lender the financial statements and other information specified in Sections 5.12 , 5.13 or 5.14 within the respective time periods specified therein, or Guarantor fails to provide the financial statements and other information specified in the Guaranty within the respective time period specified therein, and such failure is not cured within ten (10) Business Days of notice thereof by Lender.

(n) Any Property shall be transferred in violation of Section 6.3 .

(o) Certificates of Pledged Collateral . If at any time the equity interests pledged by Borrower pursuant to the Pledge Agreement shall be evidenced by new, replacement or additional certificates and Borrower shall fail to deliver such certificates to Lender, together with an executed membership power, in blank.

(p) Mortgage Loan Event of Default . A Mortgage Loan Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(q) Express Events of Default . Any event shall occur that is expressly identified as an “Event of Default” under any provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document.

Section 7.2 Remedies .

(a) During the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may by written notice to Borrower and JV Pledgor, in addition to any other rights or remedies available pursuant to this Agreement, the Notes, the Pledge Agreement and the other Loan Documents, at law or in equity, declare by written notice to Borrower all or any portion of the Indebtedness to be immediately due and payable, whereupon all or such portion of the Indebtedness shall so become due and payable, and Lender may enforce or avail itself of any or all rights or remedies provided in the Loan Documents against Borrower and the Collateral and the JV Collateral (including all rights or remedies available at law or in equity); provided , however , that, notwithstanding the

 

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foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 7.1(d) shall occur, then (except as specified in Section 7.2(f) ) the Indebtedness shall immediately become due and payable without the giving of any notice or other action by Lender. Any actions taken by Lender shall be cumulative and concurrent and may be pursued independently, singly, successively, together or otherwise, at such time and in such order as Lender may determine in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law, without impairing or otherwise affecting the other rights and remedies of Lender permitted by law, equity or contract or as set forth in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents.

(b) If Lender forecloses on any Collateral or any of the JV Collateral, Lender shall apply all net proceeds of such foreclosure to repay the Indebtedness, the Indebtedness shall be reduced to the extent of such net proceeds and the remaining portion of the Indebtedness shall remain outstanding and secured by the remaining Collateral and the remaining JV Collateral. At the election of Lender, the Notes shall be deemed to have been accelerated only to the extent of the net proceeds actually received by Lender with respect to the Collateral and applied in reduction of the Indebtedness.

(c) During the continuance of any Event of Default (including an Event of Default resulting from a failure to satisfy the insurance requirements specified herein), Lender may, but without any obligation to do so and without notice to or demand on Borrower and without releasing Borrower from any obligation hereunder, take any action to cure such Event of Default. Lender may enter upon any or all of the Properties upon reasonable notice to Borrower for such purposes or appear in, defend, or bring any action or proceeding to protect its interest in the Collateral or the JV Collateral or to foreclose Lender’s security interest under the Pledge Agreement or collect the Indebtedness. The costs and expenses incurred by Lender in exercising rights under this Section (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), with interest at the Default Rate for the period after notice from Lender that such costs or expenses were incurred to the date of payment to Lender, shall constitute a portion of the Indebtedness, shall be secured by the Pledge Agreement and other Loan Documents and shall be due and payable to Lender upon demand therefor.

(d) Interest shall accrue on any judgment obtained by Lender in connection with its enforcement of the Loan at a rate of interest equal to the Default Rate.

(e) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender shall have the right from time to time to sever the Notes and the other Loan Documents into one or more separate notes, mortgages and other security documents (the “ Severed Loan Documents ”) in such denominations as Lender shall determine in its sole discretion for purposes of evidencing and enforcing its rights and remedies provided hereunder; provided that the terms of such separate notes, mortgages, and other security documents are identical to the original Notes and Loan Documents and do not increase Borrower’s liability under the Notes and the other Loan Documents in any manner. Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender from time to time, promptly after the request of Lender, a severance agreement and such other documents as Lender shall request in order to effect the severance described in the preceding sentence, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender. Borrower hereby absolutely and irrevocably appoints Lender as its true and lawful attorney, coupled with an interest, in its name and stead to execute the Severed Loan Documents (Borrower ratifying all that its said attorney

 

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shall do by virtue thereof); provided, however, that Lender shall not make or execute any such Severed Loan Documents under such power until the expiration of five days after written notice has been given to Borrower by Lender of Lender’s intent to exercise its rights under the aforesaid power. Borrower shall be obligated to pay any costs or expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution, recording or filing of the Severed Loan Documents. The Severed Loan Documents shall not contain any representations, warranties or covenants not contained in the Loan Documents, and any such representations and warranties contained in the Severed Loan Documents will be given by Borrower only as of the Closing Date.

(f) Notwithstanding the availability of legal remedies, Lender will be entitled to obtain specific performance, mandatory or prohibitory injunctive relief, or other equitable relief requiring Borrower to cure or refrain from repeating any Default.

(g) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an event specified in Section 7.1(d) occurs solely in respect of Guarantor and not any Required SPE, then such event shall not constitute an Event of Default or result in an acceleration of the Loan unless, in each case, Lender so determines in its sole discretion by written notice to Borrower; and unless and until Lender sends such notice, a Cash Flow Sweep Period shall be deemed to have commenced for all purposes hereunder and under the Mortgage Loan Agreement, which Cash Flow Sweep Period shall continue until the Loan is repaid in full.

Section 7.3 Application of Payments after an Event of Default . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, during the continuance of an Event of Default, all amounts received by Lender in respect of the Loan shall be applied at Lender’s sole discretion either toward the components of the Indebtedness ( e.g. , Lender’s expenses in enforcing the Loan, interest, principal and other amounts payable hereunder) and the Notes or Note Components in such sequence as Lender shall elect in its sole discretion, or toward the payment of Property expenses.

ARTICLE 8

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 8.1 Conditions Precedent to Loan Closing . This Agreement shall become effective on the date that all of the following conditions (except for items to be delivered in connection with the Approved Separation Transaction Closing in accordance with Section 2.4(e) ) shall have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.3 ),:

(a) Loan Documents . Lender shall have received a duly executed copy of each Loan Document. Each Loan Document that is to be recorded in the public records shall be in form suitable for recording.

(b) Collateral Accounts . Each of the Collateral Accounts shall have been established and funded to the extent required under Article III of the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

(c) Opinions . Lender shall have received, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, (i) New York and Delaware legal opinions, (ii) a bankruptcy nonconsolidation opinion with respect to each Person owning at least a 49% direct or indirect

 

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equity interest in any Required SPE, and any Affiliated property manager, 1 (iii) a Delaware legal opinion regarding matters related to Single Member LLC’s, (iv) a solvency opinion with respect to SHLD, (v) a satisfactory true sale opinion with respect to the Approved Separation Transaction, (vi) a copy of a satisfactory fairness opinion delivered to SHLD’s board of directors with respect to the Approved Separation Transaction and (viii) a satisfactory true lease opinion with respect to the SHLD Master Lease.

(d) Mortgage Loan . The conditions precedent to the closing of the Mortgage Loan shall be satisfied and the Mortgage Loan shall close simultaneously with the Loan.

(e) Organizational Documents . Lender shall have received all documents reasonably requested by Lender relating to the existence of Borrower, the validity of the Loan Documents and the Mortgage Loan Documents and other matters relating thereto, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, including:

(i) A uthorizing Resolutions . To the extent the required authorizations are not contained directly in the organizational documents of any Required SPE and Guarantor, certified copies of the resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents by Guarantor and Borrower.

(ii) Organizational Documents . Certified copies of the organizational documents of Guarantor and each Required SPE (including any certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, certificate of incorporation, operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or by-laws), in each case together with all amendments thereto.

(iii) Certificates of Good Standing or Existence . Certificates of good standing or existence for Guarantor and each Required SPE issued as of a recent date by its state of organization and, with respect to Property Owner, by the state in which the Properties are located.

(f) Lease; Material Agreements . Lender shall have received true, correct and complete copies of the SHLD PSA and all “Ancillary Agreements” (as defined in the SHLD PSA), including without limitation, the SHLD Master Lease and the SHLD Master Lease Guaranty, all Leases, Ground Leases, JV Documents and all Material Agreements.

(g) Lien Search Reports . Lender shall have received satisfactory reports of Uniform Commercial Code, tax lien, bankruptcy and judgment searches conducted by a search firm acceptable to Lender with respect to the Properties, Guarantor, each Required SPE any such Required SPE’s immediate predecessor, if any, such searches to be conducted in such locations as Lender shall have requested.

(h) No Default or Event of Default . (i) No Default, Event of Default or Mortgage Loan Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date either before or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and (ii) no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date under any Lease, including without limitation the SHLD Master Lease.

 

1   NTD: At Loan Closing, non-con will cover SHC.

 

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(i) No Injunction . No Legal Requirement shall exist, and no litigation shall be pending or threatened, which in the good faith judgment of Lender would enjoin, prohibit or restrain, or impose or result in the imposition of any material adverse condition upon, the making or repayment of the Loan or the consummation of the Transaction.

(j) Representations . The representations in this Agreement, the Mortgage Loan Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on such date.

(k) Estoppel Letters . Borrower shall have received and delivered to Lender estoppel certificates (i) from Tenants under Third Party Leases that generate at least 75% of the Net Operating Income from Third Party Leases as of the Closing Date and from the Tenant under the Land’s End Master Lease, (ii) from each counterparty to a Property Agreement listed on Schedule E-1 hereto and from at least 50% the counterparties to a Property Agreement listed on Schedule E-2 hereto and (iii) from each ground lessor under each Ground Lease, in each case, in such form and substance as shall be satisfactory to Lender, and each of which shall specify, unless otherwise agreed by Lender, that Lender and its successors and assigns may rely thereon; provided that Borrower may deliver to Lender a Seller Estoppel with respect to any estoppels required under clause (i) or clause (ii) of this Section 8.1(k) in order to meet the applicable threshold.

(l) No Material Adverse Effect . No event or series of events shall have occurred since May 27, 2015 that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) Transaction Costs . Borrower shall have paid all transaction costs (or provided for the direct payment of such transaction costs by Lender from the proceeds of the Loan), to the extent invoiced not fewer than three days prior to the Closing Date.

(n) Insurance . Lender shall have received certificates of insurance on ACORD Form 25 for liability insurance and ACORD Form 28 for casualty insurance demonstrating insurance coverage in respect of the Properties of types, in amounts, with insurers and otherwise in compliance with the terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Such certificates shall indicate that Lender and its successors and assigns are named as additional insured on each liability policy, and that each casualty policy and rental interruption policy contains a loss payee and mortgagee endorsement in favor of Lender, its successors and assigns.

(o) Title . Lender shall have received a marked, signed commitment to issue, or a signed pro-forma version of (i) a UCC insurance policy insuring Lender’s first-priority perfected security interest in 100% of the limited liability company interests in Property Owner pledged by Borrower to Lender pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, and otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lender and (ii) an owner’s title insurance policy in favor of Property Owner with (A) to the extent available in the applicable jurisdiction, a “Mezzanine

 

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Lender’s Financing Endorsement”, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender or (B) if not available, on assignment of title insurance proceeds (“ Assignment of Title Insurance Proceeds ”) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender. If the Title Policy is to be issued by, or if disbursement of the proceeds of the Loan are to be made through, an agent of the actual insurer under the Title Policy (as opposed to the insurer itself), the actual insurer shall have issued to Lender for Lender’s benefit a so-called “Insured Closing Letter.”

(p) Zoning . Lender shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lender that each Property is in compliance with all applicable zoning requirements (including a zoning report, a zoning endorsement if obtainable and a letter from the applicable municipality if obtainable).

(q) Permits; Certificate of Occupancy . Lender shall have received a copy of all Permits necessary for the use and operation of each Property and the certificate(s) of occupancy, if required, for each Property, all of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

(r) Engineering Report . Lender shall have received a current Engineering Report with respect to each Property, which report shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

(s) Environmental Report . Lender shall have received an Environmental Report (not more than six months old) with respect to each Property that discloses no material environmental contingencies with respect to any Property.

(t) Survey . Lender shall have received a Survey with respect to each Property in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

(u) Appraisal . Lender shall have obtained an Appraisal of each Property satisfactory to Lender.

(v) Consents, Licenses, Approvals, etc . Lender shall have received copies of all consents, licenses and approvals, if any, required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Borrower, and the validity and enforceability, of the Loan Documents, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect.

(w) Annual Budget . Lender shall have received the Annual Budget for the current calendar year.

(x) Know Your Customer Rules . At least 10 days prior to the Closing Date, the Lender shall have received all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.

(y) Approved Separation Transaction . The Approved Separation Transaction shall be consummated simultaneously with the closing of the Loan on the terms set forth in the SHLD PSA and the Form S-11 of Seritage REIT filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as of May 27, 2015.

 

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(z) Underwritten NOI . Pro forma net operating income on the Closing Date shall be at least $162,265,584, consistent with Lender’s underwritten net operating income of the Properties based upon historical and pro forma operating expenses.

(aa) Additional Matters . Lender shall have received such other certificates, opinions, documents and instruments relating to the Loan as may have been reasonably requested by Lender. All corporate and other proceedings, all other documents (including all documents referred to in this Agreement and not appearing as exhibits to this Agreement) and all legal matters in connection with the Loan shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Lender.

ARTICLE 9

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.1 Successors . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, whenever in this Agreement any of the parties to this Agreement is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. All covenants, promises and agreements in this Agreement contained, by or on behalf of Borrower or JV Pledgor, shall inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns.

Section 9.2 GOVERNING LAW .

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST LENDER OR BORROWER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN ANY ACTION IN RESPECT OF THE CREATION, PERFECTION OR ENFORCEMENT OF A LIEN OR SECURITY INTEREST CREATED PURSUANT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS NOT GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK) MAY BE INSTITUTED IN ANY FEDERAL OR STATE COURT IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, NEW YORK. BORROWER AND LENDER HEREBY (i) IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, (ii) IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, AND (iii) IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS BY MAIL, PERSONAL SERVICE OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 9.4 (AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE AT SUCH ADDRESS IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER ITSELF IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT).

 

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Section 9.3 Modification, Waiver in Writing, Approval of Lender . Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated, unless such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing signed by Lender and Borrower. No consent or approval of Lender shall be granted hereunder unless such consent or approval is in writing signed by Lender. Any provision in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents that requires the reasonable consent or approval of Lender shall be deemed to require that such reasonable consent or approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Section 9.4 Notices .

(a) All notices, consents, approvals and requests required or permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be given in writing by expedited prepaid delivery service, either commercial or United States Postal Service, with proof of delivery or attempted delivery, addressed as follows (or as a pdf attachment to an e-mail address to the respective addressees specified below, immediately followed by delivery in one of the other methods provided). Any party hereto may change its address and other contact information for purposes hereof at any time by sending a written notice to the other parties to this Agreement in the manner provided for in this Section). A notice shall be deemed to have been given when delivered or upon refusal to accept delivery (or in the case of any email delivered after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time or on a day that is not a Business Day, the Business Day next following such date of delivery, provided that there is immediately following delivery as aforesaid).

 

If to Lender:
H/2 Special Opportunities III Corp.
c/o H/2 Capital Partners LLC
680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Attention: Daniel Ottensoser
DOttensoser@h2cp.com
and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Attention: Joseph E. Geoghan
Joseph.Geoghan@jpmorgan.com
with copies to:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Attention: Nancy Alto
nancy.s.alto@jpmorgan.com

 

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and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
One World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
Attention: William P. McInerney, Esq.
William.McInerney@cwt.com
and Strategic Asset Services LLC
375 Park Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10152
Attention: David Katz
dkatz@h2sas.com
and H/2 Capital Partners LLC
680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Attention: William Stefko, Esq.
wstefko@h2sas.com
and H/2 Capital Partners LLC
680 Washington Boulevard, Seventh Floor
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Attention: Maury Apple
mapple@h2cp.com
and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
Attention: Kimberly B. Blacklow, Esq.
kblacklow@cgsh.com
If to Borrower:
c/o Seritage Growth Properties, L.P.
54 W. 40th Street, Suite 10N
New York, NY 10018
Attention: Matthew Fernand
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
mfernand@seritage.com
and
Mary Rottler
Executive Vice President, Operations and Leasing
mrottler@seritage.com

 

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with copies to:
Mayer Brown LLP
71 S. Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60606
Attention: Heather Adkerson
HAdkerson@mayerbrown.com
and:
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 W. 52 nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Josh Feltman
jafeltman@wlrk.com

(b) Borrower hereby appoints Seritage SRC Mezzanine Finance LLC (the “ Borrower Representative ”) to serve as agent on behalf of all Borrowers to receive any notices required to be delivered to any or all Borrowers hereunder or under the other Loan Documents and to be the sole party authorized to deliver notices on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder and under each of the other Loan Documents. Any notice delivered to the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have been delivered to all Borrowers, and any notice received from the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have been received from all Borrowers. The Borrower shall be entitled from time to time to appoint a replacement Borrower Representative by written notice delivered to Lender and signed by both the new Borrower Representative and the Borrower Representative being so replaced.

Section 9.5 TRIAL BY JURY . LENDER AND BORROWER, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THAT THEY MAY LAWFULLY DO SO, HEREBY AGREE NOT TO ELECT A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY ISSUE TRIABLE OF RIGHT BY JURY, AND WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY FULLY TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY SUCH RIGHT SHALL NOW OR HEREAFTER EXIST WITH REGARD TO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER ACTION ARISING IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. THIS WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IS GIVEN KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY BY LENDER AND BORROWER AND IS INTENDED TO ENCOMPASS INDIVIDUALLY EACH INSTANCE AND EACH ISSUE AS TO WHICH THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY WOULD OTHERWISE ACCRUE. LENDER, BORROWER AND JV PLEDGOR ARE EACH HEREBY INDIVIDUALLY AUTHORIZED TO FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH IN ANY PROCEEDING AS CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF THIS WAIVER.

 

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Section 9.6 Headings . The Article and Section headings in this Agreement are included in this Agreement for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.

Section 9.7 Assignment .

(a) Neither Borrower nor JV Pledgor may sell, assign or otherwise transfer any rights, obligations or other of its interest in or under the Loan Documents.

(b) Lender and each assignee of all or a portion of the Loan shall have the right from time to time in its discretion and without the consent of Borrower to sell, assign, syndicate, Securitize, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise transfer one or more of the Notes or any interest therein (in each case, an “ Assignment ”) and/or sell a participation interest in one or more of the Notes (a “ Participation ”); provided that, so long as no Event of Default is then continuing, Borrower’s consent in its sole discretion will be required in connection with any such Assignment (other than transfers of securities backed by the Loan) or Participation to any Person listed on Schedule D-1 hereto. Borrower shall and shall cause Guarantor to reasonably cooperate with Lender, at Lender’s request, in order to effectuate any such Assignment or Participation, and Borrower shall promptly provide such information, legal opinions and documents relating to each Required SPE, Guarantor, the Properties, the Approved Property Manager and any Tenants as Lender may reasonably request in connection with such Assignment; provided , Borrower and Guarantor shall not be required to incur out-of-pocket costs pursuant to this sentence in respect of cooperation provided pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, other than in respect of their own legal costs. In the case of an Assignment, (i) each assignee shall have, to the extent of such Assignment, the rights, benefits and obligations of the assigning Lender as a “Lender” hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (ii) the assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to an Assignment, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement, and (iii) one Lender shall serve as agent for all Lenders and shall be the sole Lender to whom notices, requests and other communications shall be addressed and the sole party authorized to grant or withhold consents hereunder on behalf of the Lenders (subject, in each case, to appointment of a Servicer, pursuant to Section 9.22 , to receive such notices, requests and other communications and/or to grant or withhold consents, as the case may be). Lender or, upon the appointment of a Servicer, such Servicer, shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, as non-fiduciary agent for Borrower, a register on which it shall enter the name or names of the registered owner or owners from time to time of the Notes. Upon effectiveness of any Assignment of any Note in part, Borrower will promptly provide to the assignor and the assignee separate Notes in the amount of their respective interests (but, if applicable, with a notation thereon that it is given in substitution for and replacement of an original Note or any replacement thereof), and otherwise in the form of such Note, upon return of the Note then being replaced. Each potential or actual assignee, participant or investor in a Securitization, and each Rating Agency, shall be entitled to receive all information received by Lender under this Agreement, except that, without Borrower’s consent in its sole discretion, no assignee or participant that is a Person listed on Schedule D-2 hereto, and no agent, attorney, advisor or representative of any such Person, shall be entitled to receive any Proprietary Information; provided that the foregoing shall not apply in connection with any Securitization of the Loan. After the effectiveness of any Assignment, the party conveying the Assignment shall provide notice to Borrower and each Lender of the identity and address of the

 

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assignee. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, after an Assignment, the assigning Lender (in addition to the assignee) shall continue to have the benefits of any indemnifications contained in this Agreement that such assigning Lender had prior to such assignment with respect to matters occurring prior to the date of such assignment. Each Lender that sells a Participation shall, or upon appointment of a Servicer, such Servicer shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loan under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant’s interest in the Loan) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Loan is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

(c) If, pursuant to this Section, any interest in this Agreement or any Note is transferred to any transferee, such transferee shall, promptly upon receipt of written request from Borrower, furnish to Borrower an IRS Form W-9, or an appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable, or any successor form thereof having substantially the same effect.

Section 9.8 Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or condition exists.

Section 9.9 Preferences; Waiver of Marshalling of Assets . Lender shall have no obligation to marshal any assets in favor of Borrower or any other party or against or in payment of any or all of the obligations of Borrower pursuant to the Loan Documents. Lender shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply or reverse and reapply any and all payments by Borrower to any portion of the obligations of Borrower hereunder and under the Loan Documents. If any payment to Lender is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then the obligations hereunder or portion thereof intended to be satisfied by such payment shall be revived and continue in full force and effect, as if such payment had not been made. Borrower hereby waives any legal right otherwise available to Borrower that would require the sale of any Collateral or JV Collateral either separate or apart from the other, or require Lender to exhaust its remedies against any Collateral or the JV Collateral before proceeding against the other. Without limiting the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Borrower hereby waives and shall not assert any rights in respect of a marshalling of Collateral or JV Collateral, a sale in the inverse order of alienation, any homestead exemption, the administration of estates of decedents, or any other matters whatsoever to defeat, reduce or affect the right of Lender under the Loan Documents to a sale of the Collateral or the JV Collateral or any portion thereof in any sequence and any combination as determined by Lender in its sole discretion.

 

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Section 9.10 Remedies of Borrower . If a claim is made that Lender or its agents have unreasonably delayed acting or acted unreasonably in any case where by law or under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents any of such Persons has an obligation to act promptly or reasonably, Borrower agrees that no such Person shall be liable for any monetary damages, and Borrower’s sole remedy shall be limited to commencing an action seeking specific performance, injunctive relief and/or declaratory judgment; provided , however, that the forgoing shall not prevent Borrower from obtaining a monetary judgment against Lender if it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Lender acted with gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against Lender and/or its Affiliates, directors, employees, attorneys, agents or sub-agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (whether or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or duty imposed by any applicable Legal Requirement) arising out of, as a result of, or in any way related to, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim for any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

Section 9.11 Offsets, Counterclaims and Defenses . All payments made by Borrower hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall be made irrespective of, and without any deduction for, any offsets, counterclaims or defenses. Borrower waives the right to assert a counterclaim, other than a mandatory or compulsory counterclaim, in any action or proceeding brought against it by Lender arising out of or in any way connected with the Notes, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the Indebtedness. Any assignee of Lender’s interest in the Loan shall take the same free and clear of all offsets, counterclaims or defenses against the assigning Lender.

Section 9.12 No Joint Venture . Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create a joint venture, partnership, tenancy-in-common or joint tenancy relationship between Borrower and Lender, nor to grant Lender any interest in the Collateral other than that of pledgee or lender.

Section 9.13 Conflict; Construction of Documents . In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. The parties acknowledge that they were each represented by competent counsel in connection with the negotiation, drafting and execution of the Loan Documents and that the Loan Documents shall not be subject to the principle of construing their meaning against the party that drafted same.

Section 9.14 Brokers and Financial Advisors . Borrower represents that neither it nor Guarantor has dealt with any financial advisors, brokers, underwriters, placement agents, agents or finders in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold Lender harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, costs and

 

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expenses of any kind in any way relating to or arising from a claim by any Person that such Person acted on behalf of Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement. The provisions of this Section shall survive the expiration and termination of this Agreement and the repayment of the Indebtedness.

Section 9.15 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Any counterpart delivered by facsimile, pdf or other electronic means shall have the same import and effect as original counterparts and shall be valid, enforceable and binding for the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 9.16 Estoppel Certificates .

(a) Borrower shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Lender, within five days after receipt of Lender’s written request therefor at any time from time to time, a statement in writing setting forth (A) the Principal Indebtedness, (B) the date on which installments of interest and/or principal were last paid, (C) any offsets or defenses to the payment of the Indebtedness, (D) that the Notes, this Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the other Loan Documents are valid, legal and binding obligations and have not been modified or if modified, giving particulars of such modification, (E) that neither Borrower nor, to Borrower’s knowledge, Lender, is in default under the Loan Documents (or specifying any such default), (F) that all Leases are in full force and effect and have not been modified (except in accordance with the Loan Documents), (G) whether or not any of the Tenants under the Leases or any of the counterparties under the Property Agreements are in material default under the Leases or Property Agreements, as applicable (setting forth the specific nature of any such material defaults) and (H) such other matters as Lender may reasonably request. Any prospective purchaser of any interest in a Loan shall be permitted to rely on such certificate.

(b) Upon Lender’s written request, Borrower shall cause Property Owner to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from each Tenant and Property Agreement counterparty and thereafter promptly deliver to Lender duly executed estoppel certificates from any one or more Tenants or Property Agreement counterparties specified by Lender, attesting to such facts regarding the Leases or Property Agreements as Lender may reasonably require or in the form and/or substance required to be provided by such Tenant or counterparty pursuant to its Lease or Property Agreement, as applicable, including attestations that each Lease or Property Agreement, as applicable, covered thereby is in full force and effect with no material defaults thereunder on the part of any party, that rent has not been paid more than one month in advance, except as security, and that the Tenant or Property Agreement counterparty, as applicable, claims no defense or offset against the full and timely performance of its obligations under the Lease or Property Agreement. Borrower shall not be required to deliver such certificates more frequently than one time in any 12-month period, other than the 12-month period during which a Securitization occurs or is attempted, and if any such certificates were required at any time under the Mortgage Loan Agreement and were addressed to, and delivered to, Lender, then such certificates shall, for purposes of this paragraph, be treated as having been required under this Agreement.

 

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Section 9.17 General Indemnity; Payment of Expenses .

(a) Borrower, at its sole cost and expense, shall protect, indemnify, reimburse, defend and hold harmless Lender and its officers, partners, members, directors, trustees, advisors, employees, agents, sub-agents, Affiliates, successors, participants and assigns of any and all of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Indemnified Parties ”) for, from and against any and all Damages of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any of the Indemnified Parties, in any way relating to or arising out of Lender’s interest in the Loan; provided , however , that no Indemnified Party shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder to the extent that such Damages have been found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party.

(b) If for any reason (including violation of law or public policy) the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section are unenforceable in whole or in part or are otherwise unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold it harmless, then Borrower shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of any Damages the maximum amount Borrower is permitted to pay under Legal Requirements. The obligations of Borrower under this Section will be in addition to any liability that Borrower may otherwise have hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

(c) To the extent any Indemnified Party has notice of a claim for which it intends to seek indemnification hereunder, such Indemnified Party shall give prompt written notice thereof to Borrower, provided that failure by Lender to so notify Borrower will not relieve Borrower of its obligations under this Section, except to the extent that Borrower suffers actual prejudice as a result of such failure. In connection with any claim for which indemnification is sought hereunder, Borrower shall have the right to defend the applicable Indemnified Party (if requested by the applicable Indemnified Party, in the name of such Indemnified Party) from such claim by attorneys and other professionals reasonably approved by the applicable Indemnified Party. Upon assumption by Borrower of any defense pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, Borrower shall have the right to control such defense, provided that the Applicable Indemnified Party shall have the right to reasonably participate in such defense and Borrower shall not consent to the terms of any compromise or settlement of any action defended by Borrower in accordance with the foregoing without the prior consent of the applicable Indemnified Party, unless such compromise or settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of the applicable Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the applicable Indemnified Party. The applicable Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel if (i) Borrower shall have failed to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the applicable Indemnified Party in a timely manner, or (ii) the applicable Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there are actual or potential material conflicts of interest between Borrower and the applicable Indemnified Party, including situations in which there are one or more legal defenses available to the applicable Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to Borrower. So long as Borrower is conducting the defense of any action defended by Borrower in accordance with the foregoing in a prudent and commercially reasonable manner, Lender and the applicable Indemnified Party shall not

 

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compromise or settle such action defended without Borrower’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Upon demand, Borrower shall pay or, in the sole discretion of the applicable Indemnified Party, reimburse the applicable Indemnified Party for the payment of reasonable fees and disbursements of attorneys, engineers, environmental consultants, laboratories and other professionals retained by the Applicable Indemnified Party in accordance with this Section in connection with defending any claim subject to indemnification hereunder.

(d) Any amounts payable to Lender by reason of the application of this Section shall be secured by the Pledge Agreement and shall become immediately due and payable and shall bear interest at the Default Rate from the date Damages are sustained by the Indemnified Parties until paid.

(e) The provisions of and undertakings and indemnification set forth in this Section shall survive the satisfaction and payment in full of the Indebtedness and termination of this Agreement.

(f) Borrower shall reimburse Lender upon receipt of written notice from Lender for (i) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with the origination of the Loan, including legal fees and disbursements, accounting fees, and the costs of the Appraisals, the Engineering Reports, the Title Insurance Policies, the Surveys, the Environmental Reports and any other third-party diligence materials; (ii) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with (A) monitoring Borrower’s ongoing performance of and compliance with Borrower’s agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on its part to be performed or complied with after the Closing Date, including confirming compliance with environmental and insurance requirements, (B) the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and administration of any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents or matters relating hereto (including Leases, Material Agreements, JV Documents, Ground Leases and Permitted Encumbrances), (C) filing, registration and recording fees and expenses and other similar expenses incurred in creating and perfecting the Liens in favor of Lender pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including the filing, registration or recording of any instrument of further assurance) and all federal, state, county and municipal, taxes (including, if applicable, intangible taxes), search fees, title insurance premiums, duties, imposts, assessments and charges arising out of or in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, any mortgage supplemental thereto, any security instrument with respect to the Collateral or the JV Collateral or any instrument of further assurance, (D) enforcing or preserving any rights, in response to third party claims or the prosecuting or defending of any action or proceeding or other litigation, in each case against, under or affecting Borrower, Guarantor, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any Collateral or any JV Collateral (including, for avoidance of doubt, reasonable, periodic monitoring of any litigation related to the Approved Separation Transaction) and (E) the satisfaction of any Rating Condition in respect of any matter required or requested by Borrower hereunder, and (iii) all actual out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees and, if the Loan has been Securitized, special servicing fees) incurred by Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in connection with the enforcement of any obligations of Borrower, or a Default by Borrower, under the Loan Documents, including any actual or attempted foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, refinancing, restructuring,

 

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settlement or workout and any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings (including any applicable transfer taxes). Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower shall pay all costs, expenses and fees of Lender and its Servicer, operating advisor and securitization trustee resulting from Defaults or reasonably imminent Defaults or requests by Borrower (including enforcement expenses and any liquidation fees, workout fees, special servicing fees, operating advisor consulting fees or any other similar fees and interest payable on advances made by the Servicer or the securitization trustee with respect to delinquent debt service payments or expenses of curing Borrower’s defaults under the Loan Documents, and any expenses paid by Servicer or a trustee in respect of the protection and preservation of any Property, such as payment of taxes and insurance premiums) and the costs of all property inspections and/or appraisals (or any updates to any existing inspection or appraisal) that Servicer may be required to obtain due to a request by Borrower or the occurrence of a Default.

Section 9.18 No Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are solely for the benefit of Lender and Borrower, and nothing contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to confer upon anyone other than Lender, Borrower and Indemnified Parties any right to insist upon or to enforce the performance or observance of any of the obligations contained herein or therein. All conditions to the obligations of Lender to make the Loan hereunder are imposed solely and exclusively for the benefit of Lender, and no other Person shall have standing to require satisfaction of such conditions in accordance with their terms or be entitled to assume that Lender will refuse to make the Loan in the absence of strict compliance with any or all thereof, and no other Person shall under any circumstances be deemed to be a beneficiary of such conditions, any or all of which may be freely waived in whole or in part by Lender if, in Lender’s sole discretion, Lender deems it advisable or desirable to do so.

Section 9.19 Recourse .

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, but subject to the qualifications set forth in this Section 9.19 , Lender shall not enforce Borrower’s obligation to pay the Indebtedness by any action or proceeding wherein a deficiency judgment or other judgment establishing personal liability shall be sought against Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any Exculpated Person, except for foreclosure actions or any other appropriate actions or proceedings in order to fully exercise Lender’s remedies in respect of, and to realize upon, the Collateral and the JV Collateral, and except for any actions to enforce any obligations expressly assumed or guaranteed by any guarantor, indemnitor or similar party (whether or not such party is an Exculpated Person) under the Loan Documents.

(b) Borrower shall indemnify Lender and hold Lender harmless from and against any and all Damages to Lender (including the legal and other expenses of enforcing the obligations of Borrower under this Section and Guarantor under the Guaranty) resulting from or arising out of any of the following (the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”), which Indemnified Liabilities shall be guaranteed by Guarantor pursuant to the Guaranty:

(i) any wrongful Waste or wrongful removal at any of the Properties of any Personal Property or other Collateral committed or permitted by Borrower, Property Owner, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates;

 

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(ii) any fraud or material misrepresentation committed by Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor, SHLD, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates;

(iii) any willful misconduct by Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates that results in any adverse effect on the Collateral or the JV Collateral, the ability of Borrower to pay the Loan or the ability of Lender to enforce its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents (including any criminal acts and wrongful contest to the validity of the Loan documents or bad faith acts to interfere, hinder delay or obstruct the efforts of Lender to exercise any rights and remedies available to Lender as provided herein and in the other Loan Documents during the continuance of an Event of Default; and Borrower’s bad faith refusal to comply with Section 5.9 hereof) other than, in each case, defenses raised in good faith;

(iv) the misappropriation or misapplication by Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates of any Loss Proceeds, Revenues, security deposits and/or other amounts in violation of the Loan Documents or the Mortgage Loan Documents;

(v) any voluntary incurrence of Debt by Borrower, Property Owner or JV Pledgor if and to the extent the continued existence of such Debt is prohibited hereunder;

(vi) any breach by Borrower, Property Owner or Guarantor of any representation or covenant regarding environmental matters contained in this Agreement, in the Mortgage Loan Documents or in the Environmental Indemnity;

(vii) the failure to, or to cause Property Owner to, apply available funds from cash flow at the Properties (after such cash flow has been disbursed from the Cash Management Account in accordance with Section 3.2 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement ) to pay or maintain, or to cause Property Owner to pay or maintain, the Policies or to pay or cause Property Owner to pay the amount of any deductible required thereunder following a Casualty or other insurance claim, excluding any such failure resulting from Lender’s or Mortgage Lender’s failure to disburse funds from reserves maintained for such purpose under the Loan Documents or Mortgage Loan Documents if required to be disbursed in accordance with this Agreement or the Mortgage Loan Agreement;

(viii) the failure to apply or cause Property Owner to apply available funds from cash flow at the Properties (after such cash flow has been disbursed from the Cash Management Account in accordance with Section 3.2 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement ) to pay Taxes, excluding any such failure resulting from Lender’s or Mortgage Lender’s failure to disburse funds from reserves maintained for such purpose under the Loan Documents or Mortgage Loan Documents if required to be disbursed in accordance with this Agreement or the Mortgage Loan Agreement;

(ix) the failure to cause Property Owner to apply available funds from cash flow at the Properties (after such cash flow has been disbursed from the Cash Management Account in accordance with Section 3.2 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement) to pay charges (including charges for labor and materials) that results in a Lien on any Property, unless contested by Property Owner in good faith and otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

 

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(x) any material breach of Section 4.17 and/or 6.15 , or of Section 4.17 and/or 6.15 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement, in each case excluding any breach resulting solely from a failure of the Properties to generate sufficient cash flow or a failure of Guarantor to contribute additional capital;

(xi) any fees or commissions paid by Borrower or Property Owner to any Affiliate in violation of the terms of the Loan Documents; and

(xii) any termination or modification of the SHLD Master Lease, the SHLD Master Lease Guaranty, the SHLD PSA, the SHLD TSA, any Approved Management Agreement, any JV Documents or any Ground Lease in violation of the Loan Documents or the Mortgage Loan Documents.

(c) In addition to the foregoing, the Loan shall be fully recourse to Borrower and Guarantor, jointly and severally, if (i) Borrower or Property Owner Transfers any of the Properties, the Collateral, the JV Collateral or Mortgage Loan Collateral or there is a Prohibited Change of Control (as defined in this Agreement or the Mortgage Loan Agreement), in each case, in violation of the Loan Documents or the Mortgage Loan Documents and without Lender’s prior written consent in its sole discretion, (ii) Borrower creates a voluntary Lien on any of the Properties or any other Mortgage Loan Collateral, the Mortgage Loan JV Collateral, the Collateral or the JV Collateral to secure additional financing or Borrower’s, Property Owner’s or a JV Pledgor’s equityholders create a Prohibited Pledge (as defined in this Agreement or the Mortgage Loan Agreement), in each case in violation of the Loan Documents or the Mortgage Loan Documents and without Lender’s prior written consent in its sole discretion; (iii) any petition for bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution or liquidation under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal or state law is filed by, consented to, or acquiesced in by, any Required SPE, (iv) any Required SPE or any of their respective Affiliates (including Guarantor) shall have colluded with other creditors to cause an involuntary filing under the Bankruptcy Code or similar federal or state law with respect to any Required SPE, or (v) any Required SPE fails to be, and to at all times have been, a Single-Purpose Entity, which failure results in a substantive consolidation of Borrower with any Affiliate in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding (or the filing of a motion for substantive consolidation in bankruptcy citing any such breach), except, in each case with respect to any action taken by any Person (other than by Borrower, Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof) after the foreclosure or assignment-in-lieu of foreclosure by Lender on the Equity Interests in Borrower in connection with the exercise of remedies by Lender. All of Borrower’s liabilities under this Section 9.19 shall be guaranteed by Guarantor pursuant to the Guaranty.

(d) The foregoing limitations on personal liability shall in no way impair or constitute a waiver of the validity of the Notes, the Indebtedness secured by the Collateral or the JV Collateral, or the Liens on the Collateral or the JV Collateral, or the right of Lender, as secured party, to foreclose and/or enforce its rights with respect to the Collateral or the JV Collateral after an Event of Default. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any right which Lender may have under the Bankruptcy Code to file a claim for the full

 

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amount of the debt owing to Lender by Borrower or to require that all Collateral or the JV Collateral shall continue to secure all of the Indebtedness owing to Lender in accordance with the Loan Documents. Lender may seek a judgment on the Notes (and, if necessary, name Borrower in such suit) as part of judicial proceedings to foreclose on any Collateral or the JV Collateral or as a prerequisite to any such foreclosure or to confirm any foreclosure or sale pursuant to power of sale thereunder, and in the event any suit is brought on the Notes, or with respect to any Indebtedness or any judgment rendered in such judicial proceedings, such judgment shall constitute a Lien on and may be enforced on and against the Collateral or the JV Collateral and the rents, profits, issues, products and proceeds thereof. Nothing in this Agreement shall impair the right of Lender to accelerate the maturity of the Notes upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, nor shall anything in this Agreement impair or be construed to impair the right of Lender to seek personal judgments, and to enforce all rights and remedies under applicable law, jointly and severally against any indemnitors and guarantors to the extent allowed by any applicable Loan Documents. The provisions set forth in this Section are not intended as a release or discharge of the obligations due under the Notes or under any Loan Documents, but are intended as a limitation, to the extent provided in this Section, on Lender’s right to sue for a deficiency or seek a personal judgment.

Section 9.20 Right of Set-Off . In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, during the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may from time to time, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind (all of such rights being hereby expressly waived), set-off and appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by Lender (including branches, agencies or Affiliates of Lender wherever located) to or for the credit or the account of Borrower against the obligations and liabilities of Borrower to Lender hereunder, under the Notes, the other Loan Documents or otherwise, irrespective of whether Lender shall have made any demand hereunder and although such obligations, liabilities or claims, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured, and any such set-off shall be deemed to have been made immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default even though such charge is made or entered on the books of Lender subsequent thereto.

Section 9.21 Exculpation of Lender . Lender neither undertakes nor assumes any responsibility or duty to Borrower or any other party to select, review, inspect, examine, supervise, pass judgment upon or inform Borrower or any third party of (a) the existence, quality, adequacy or suitability of appraisals of the Properties, the Collateral or the JV Collateral, (b) any environmental report, or (c) any other matters or items, including engineering, soils and seismic reports that are contemplated in the Loan Documents. Any such selection, review, inspection, examination and the like, and any other due diligence conducted by Lender, is solely for the purpose of protecting Lender’s rights under the Loan Documents, and shall not render Lender liable to Borrower or any third party for the existence, sufficiency, accuracy, completeness or legality thereof.

Section 9.22 Servicer .

(a) Lender may delegate any and all rights and obligations of Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents to the Servicer upon notice by Lender to Borrower, whereupon any notice or consent from the Servicer to Borrower, and any action by

 

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Servicer on Lender’s behalf, shall have the same force and effect as if Servicer were Lender. As of the Closing Date, Lender has appointed Strategic Asset Services LLC (“ SAS ”) as Servicer. Servicer will be the primary point of contact with Borrower responsible for processing all Borrower requests and implementing all other servicing decisions (including, without limitation and to the extent applicable, approval of advances of the Future Advance Amount, approval of any Redevelopment Plan and Budget and approval of any Major Lease) with respect to the Loan.

(b) On each Payment Date, Borrower shall pay Servicer a primary servicing fee at a rate of 0.03% per annum, computed on the basis of the same principal amount, on the same interest accrual basis, and for the same interest accrual period respecting which any related interest payment on the Loan is (or would have been) computed (the “ Primary Servicing Fee ”). The Primary Servicing Fee shall be paid in accordance with Section 3.2(b) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

Section 9.23 No Fiduciary Duty .

(a) Borrower acknowledges that, in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Transaction, Lender has relied upon and assumed the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial, legal, regulatory, accounting, tax and other information provided to, discussed with or reviewed by Lender for such purposes, and Lender does not assume any liability therefor or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or independent verification thereof. Lender, its Affiliates and their respective equityholders and employees (for purposes of this Section, the “ Lending Parties ”) have no obligation to conduct any independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities (including any contingent, derivative or off-balance sheet assets and liabilities) of Guarantor, Borrower or any other Person or any of their respective Affiliates or to advise or opine on any related solvency or viability issues.

(b) It is understood and agreed that (i) the Lending Parties shall act under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as an independent contractor, (ii) the Transaction is an arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lending Parties, on the one hand, and Borrower, on the other, (iii) each Lending Party is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of Borrower, Guarantor or their respective Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors or any other Person and (iv) nothing in this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Transaction or otherwise shall be deemed to create (A) a fiduciary duty (or other implied duty) on the part of any Lending Party to Guarantor, Borrower, any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors, or any other Person or (B) a fiduciary or agency relationship between Guarantor, Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors, on the one hand, and the Lending Parties, on the other. Borrower agrees that neither it nor Guarantor nor any of their respective Affiliates shall make, and hereby waives, any claim against the Lending Parties based on an assertion that any Lending Party has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to Borrower, Guarantor of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors. Nothing in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is intended to confer upon any other Person (including Affiliates, stockholders, employees or creditors of Borrower and Guarantor) any rights or remedies by reason of any fiduciary or similar duty.

 

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(c) Borrower acknowledges that it has been advised that the Lending Parties include full service financial services firms and/or asset management firms engaged, either directly or through Affiliates in various activities, including securities trading, investment banking and financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities and financial planning and benefits counseling for both companies and individuals. In the ordinary course of these activities, the Lending Parties may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and/or financial instruments (including loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and/or instruments. Such investment and other activities may involve securities and instruments of Affiliates of Borrower, including Guarantor, as well as of other Persons that may (i) be involved in transactions arising from or relating to the Transaction, (ii) be customers or competitors of Borrower, Guarantor and/or their respective Affiliates, or (iii) have other relationships with Borrower, Guarantor and/or their respective Affiliates. In addition, the Lending Parties may provide investment banking, underwriting and financial advisory services to such other Persons. The Lending Parties may also co-invest with, make direct investments in, and invest or co-invest client monies in or with funds or other investment vehicles managed by other parties, and such funds or other investment vehicles may trade or make investments in securities of Affiliates of Borrower, including Guarantor, or such other Persons. The Transaction may have a direct or indirect impact on the investments, securities or instruments referred to in this paragraph. Although the Lending Parties in the course of such other activities and relationships may acquire information about the Transaction or other Persons that may be the subject of the Transaction, the Lending Parties shall have no obligation to disclose such information, or the fact that the Lending Parties are in possession of such information, to Borrower, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates or to use such information on behalf of Borrower, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates

(d) Borrower acknowledges and agrees that Borrower has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Transaction and the process leading thereto.

Section 9.24 Borrower Information .

(a) Borrower shall make (and shall cause Property Owner to make) available to Lender all information concerning its business and operations that Lender may reasonably request. Subject to Section 9.24(b) , Lender shall have the right to disclose any and all information provided to Lender by Borrower, Property Owner or Guarantor regarding Borrower, Property Owner, Guarantor, the Loan and the Properties (i) to Affiliates of Lender and to Lender’s agents and advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such confidential information and instructed to keep such confidential information confidential), (ii) to any actual or potential assignee, transferee or participant in connection with the contemplated Assignment or Securitization of all or any portion of the Loan or any participations therein, and to any investors or prospective investors in the Certificates, and their respective advisors and agents, including the operating advisor, or to any direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to Borrower and its obligations, or to any

 

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Person that is a party to a repurchase agreement with respect to the Loan; provided that any potential assignee, transferee, participant or investor shall be informed of the confidential nature thereof and that, by accepting any such confidential information, it shall be deemed to be bound to keep such information confidential subject to the exceptions set forth in this Section 9.24(a) (it being agreed that, in connection with a Securitization of all or any portion of the Loan, Lender will have satisfied such obligation if it includes the applicable legend set forth on Schedule I , or Lender otherwise has in place or enters into a confidentiality agreement on customary terms with such potential assignee, transferee, participant or investor that, with respect to any such information provided to such potential assignee, transferee, participant or investor, does not expire earlier than one year from the date such information is provided (Lender agreeing to use good faith efforts (but having no obligation) to obtain a two-year sunset in any new confidentiality agreements entered into in connection with the Securitization of all or any part of the Loan), (iii) to any Rating Agency in connection with a Securitization or as otherwise required in connection with a disposition of the Loan, (iv) to any Person necessary or desirable in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document following an Event of Default, (v) to any governmental agency, including the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the FDIC, the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority that may exercise authority over Lender or any investor in the Certificates (including the Servicer, the Securitization trustee and their respective agents and employees) or any representative thereof, and to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, in each case if requested by such governmental agency or otherwise required to comply with the applicable rules and regulations of such governmental agency or if required pursuant to legal or judicial process, and (vi) in any Disclosure Document (as defined in the Cooperation Agreement). In addition, Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the Mortgage Loan Agreement and customary information about this Agreement and the Mortgage Loan Agreement to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to Lender in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each party hereto (and each of their respective Affiliates, employees, representatives or other agents) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions and other tax analyses) that are provided to any such party relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For the purpose of this Section, “tax structure” means any facts relevant to the federal income tax treatment of the Transaction but does not include information relating to the identity of any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Affiliates. Except as expressly set forth above, Lender shall hold all information regarding Borrower and Property Owner disclosed by Borrower and Property Owner in connection with this Agreement, whether prior to or following the date of this Agreement, confidential, except such information that (i) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of disclosure by Lender or (ii) is or becomes available to the Lender from a source other than the Borrower, provided that such source is not known by Lender to be subject to a confidentiality obligation to the Borrower or (iii) is independently developed by the Lender without reference to the information received from Borrower.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.24(a) , without Borrower’s consent in its sole discretion, no Person listed on Schedule D-2 hereto, and no agent, attorney, advisor or representative of any such Person, shall be entitled to receive, and no Lender shall disclose to any such Person, any Proprietary Information; provided that the foregoing shall not apply in connection with any Securitization of the Loan.

 

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Section 9.25 PATRIOT Act Records . Lender hereby notifies Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor and Guarantor, which information includes the name and address of Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor and Guarantor and other information that will allow Lender to identify Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor or Guarantor in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.

Section 9.26 Prior Agreements . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS CONTAIN THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY, AND ALL PRIOR AGREEMENTS AMONG OR BETWEEN SUCH PARTIES, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, INCLUDING ANY TERM SHEETS, CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENT LETTERS, ARE SUPERSEDED BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (EXCEPT THAT ANY ORIGINATION FEE SPECIFIED IN ANY TERM SHEET, COMMITMENT LETTER OR FEE LETTER SHALL BE AN OBLIGATION OF BORROWER AND SHALL BE PAID AT CLOSING, AND ANY INDEMNIFICATIONS, FLEX PROVISION, EXIT FEES AND THE LIKE PROVIDED FOR THEREIN SHALL SURVIVE THE CLOSING).

Section 9.27 Publicity . If the Loan is made, Lender may, with the prior written approval of Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld, issue press releases, advertisements and other promotional materials describing in general terms or in detail Lender’s participation in such transaction, and may utilize photographs of the Properties in such promotional materials. Borrower shall not make any references to Lender in any press release, advertisement or promotional material issued by Borrower, Property Owner or Guarantor, unless Lender shall have approved of the same in writing prior to the issuance of such press release, advertisement or promotional material.

Section 9.28 Delay Not a Waiver . Neither any failure nor any delay on the part of Lender in insisting upon strict performance of any term, condition, covenant or agreement, or exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege hereunder, under any other Loan Document or under any other instrument given as security therefor, shall operate as or constitute a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other future exercise, or the exercise of any other right, power, remedy or privilege. In particular, and not by way of limitation, by accepting payment after the due date of any amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, Lender shall not be deemed to have waived any right either to require prompt payment when due of all other amounts due under this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents, or to declare a default for failure to effect prompt payment of any such other amount.

Section 9.29 Schedules and Exhibits Incorporated . The Schedules and Exhibits annexed hereto are hereby incorporated herein as a part of this Agreement with the same effect as if set forth in the body hereof.

 

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Section 9.30 New Pledge . At the Borrower’s election, Borrower may cause Property Owner to Transfer one or more Properties to one or more New Borrowers upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to Lender, to effectuate a one-time restructuring of the ownership of some or all of the Properties; provided that the Transfer of any Property to a New Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.30 shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) such New Borrower and Property Owner shall have complied with the requirements of Section 9.30 of the Mortgage Loan Agreement;

(b) no Event of Default shall be continuing and such Transfer shall not result in a default under any applicable Lease (including the SHLD Master Lease) or any Material Agreement;

(c) each of Seritage REIT and Seritage OP shall have duly executed and delivered to Lender a reaffirmation of the Guaranty;

(d) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender such Uniform Commercial Code financing statements as may be reasonably requested by Lender;

(e) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender legal opinions of counsel reasonably acceptable to Lender that are equivalent to the opinions delivered to Lender on the Closing Date, including new nonconsolidation opinions that are reasonably satisfactory to Lender and (following a Securitization of the Loan) satisfactory to each of the Rating Agencies; and Borrower and the New Borrower shall have delivered such other documents, certificates and legal opinions, including relating to REMIC or grantor trust matters, as applicable, as Lender shall reasonably request;

(f) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender all documents reasonably requested by it relating to the existence of such New Borrower and the due authorization of the New Borrower to assume the Mortgage Loan and to execute and deliver the documents described in this Section 9.30 , each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, including a certified copy of the applicable resolutions from all appropriate persons, certified copies of the organizational documents of the New Borrower, together with all amendments thereto, and certificates of good standing or existence for the New Borrower issued as of a recent date by its state of organization and each other state where such entity, by the nature of its business, is required to qualify or register;

(g) Borrower shall have delivered to Lender new Title Insurance Policies, or updates to existing Title Insurance Policies, in either case, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender with respect to such New Borrower and the related Transfer of the applicable Property(ies);

(h) Borrower, New Borrower and Guarantor shall have executed and/or delivered such additional Loan Documents, amendments to Loan Documents, amendments to the SHLD Master Lease and any other Lease or Material Agreement, organizational documents, certificates, evidence of authority, lien searches and other documentation as Lender shall reasonably request and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Lender (and following a Securitization of the Loan, acceptable to the Rating Agencies);

 

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(i) 100% of the equity interest in such New Borrower shall be pledged to Lender as additional collateral for the Loan pursuant to a pledge and security agreement (the “ New Pledge ”) in substantially the form of the Pledge Agreement; and

(j) Borrower shall have reimbursed Lender for its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with such Transfer (including any costs required for review of such Transfer by the Rating Agencies).

Section 9.31 Joint and Several Liability; Waivers .

(a) The representations, covenants, warranties and obligations of Borrower hereunder are joint and several. In the event of (a) any payment by any one or more of the Borrowers of any amount in excess of its respective Proportional Amount, or (b) the foreclosure of, or the delivery of assignments in lieu of foreclosure relating to, any of the Collateral or JV Collateral owned by one or more of the Borrowers (each, an “ Obligor ” and collectively, the “ Obligors ”), each Obligor (the “ Overpaying Obligor ”) that has paid more than its Proportional Amount or whose Collateral or assets have been utilized to satisfy obligations under the Loan or otherwise for the benefit of one or more other Obligors shall be entitled, after payment in full of the Notes and the satisfaction of all the other obligations of the Obligors to the Lender under the Loan Documents, to contribution from each of the benefited Obligors (i.e., the Obligors, other than the Overpaying Obligor, who have paid less than their respective Proportional Amount or whose Collateral or JV Collateral or assets have not been so utilized to satisfy obligations under the Loan) for the amounts so paid, advanced or benefited, up to such benefited Obligor’s then current Proportional Amount. Such right to contribution shall be subordinate in all respects to the Loan. As used herein, the “Proportional Amount” with respect to any Obligor shall equal the amount derived as follows: (a) the ratio of the value of the Collateral or JV Collateral, as applicable, in which such Obligor has an interest to the then aggregate value of all Collateral and JV Collateral; times (b) the aggregate amount of the Indebtedness under the Loan Documents.

Section 9.32 Senior Loan .

(a) Lender shall have the right to cure any Mortgage Loan Event of Default, regardless of whether such Mortgage Loan Event of Default results from the breach of a monetary or non-monetary covenant; and the costs and expenses incurred by Lender in doing so, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, with interest thereon at the Default Rate, shall constitute a portion of the Indebtedness, shall be secured by the Pledge Agreement and other Loan Documents, and shall be due and payable to Lender within five Business Days following written demand therefor.

(b) Lender shall have the right without notice or demand on Borrower or Property Owner to purchase all or any portion of the Mortgage Loan or any interest therein without notice to or consent of Borrower, in which event Lender shall have and may exercise all rights of Mortgage Lender thereunder; provided , however , that notice to Property Owner, and Property Owner’s consent in its sole discretion, shall be required to the extent specified in Section 9.7(b) of the Mortgage Loan Agreement.

 

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(c) If, on account of the subordination of the Loan to the Mortgage Loan, Lender is required to remit to Mortgage Lender any amount theretofore paid to Lender hereunder, then such amount shall continue to be owing pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as part of the Indebtedness, notwithstanding the prior receipt of such payment by Lender; provided , however , that (i) Lender shall give prompt notice to Borrower of any such remittance to Mortgage Lender, (ii) Borrower shall have notice and opportunity to cure any Default in connection with such remittance, pursuant to Section 7.1 and (iii) without limiting the generality of clause (ii)  above, any monetary Default related to such remittance shall be subject to notice and cure pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(ii) .

(d) Lender shall have the right at any time to discuss matters regarding the Property, the Collateral, the Mortgage Loan, the Loan or any other matter directly with Mortgage Lender or its consultants, agents or representatives, without notice to or permission from Borrower, Property Owner or any of their affiliates. Lender shall have no obligation to disclose such discussions or the contents thereof with Borrower, Property Owner or any of their affiliates.

(e) If any action, proposed action or other decision is consented to or approved by Mortgage Lender, such consent or approval shall not be binding or controlling on Lender. Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the risks of Mortgage Lender in making the Mortgage Loan are different from the risks of Lender in making the Loan, (ii) in determining whether to grant, deny, withhold or condition any requested consent or approval, Mortgage Lender and Lender may reasonably reach different conclusions and (iii) Lender has an absolute independent right to grant, deny, withhold or condition any requested consent or approval based on its own point of view, but subject to the standards of consent applicable to Lender in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except, as to all of the foregoing, for any action, proposed action or decision that is required under the Mortgage Loan Documents (as in effect on the date hereof). In addition, the reasonable denial by Lender of a requested consent or approval shall not result in any liability or other obligation of Lender, if such denial results directly or indirectly in a default under the Mortgage Loan, and Borrower hereby waives any claim of liability against Lender arising from any such reasonable denial.

(f) Borrower shall cause Property Owner to (a) pay all principal, interest and other sums required to be paid by Property Owner under and pursuant to the provisions of the Mortgage Loan Documents unless such performance or observance shall be waived in writing by Mortgage Lender, (b) diligently perform and observe all of the terms, covenants and conditions of the Mortgage Loan Documents on the part of Property Owner to be performed and observed (including, without limitation, with respect to funding reserves and escrows), unless such performance or observance shall be waived in writing by Mortgage Lender, (c) promptly notify Lender of the giving of any notice of breach or default by Mortgage Lender to Property Owner or Borrower, and (d) not enter into any material amendment or modification of any Mortgage Loan Document, or any material additional Mortgage Loan Documents, without Lender’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), except for those amendments, modifications or additional Mortgage Loan Documents that are required under the Mortgage Loan Documents (as in effect on the date hereof) or that Property Owner is required to consent to thereunder pursuant to the express terms of the Mortgage Loan Documents (as in effect on the date hereof).

 

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(g) Borrower shall not, without Lender’s consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), permit Property Owner to, except as expressly permitted or required by the Mortgage Loan Documents, make any partial or full prepayment of amounts owing under the Mortgage Loan.

(h) Borrower shall, from time to time, upon reasonable request by Lender, furnish to Lender an estoppel executed by Borrower expressly representing to Lender (i) to the knowledge of Borrower, the outstanding principal balance of the Mortgage Loan and (ii) whether Mortgage Lender, Borrower, Property Owner or any Sponsor has sent or received a default notice or Event of Default notice (and if so, attaching a copy of each such notice).

(i) Neither Borrower, Property Owner, Guarantor nor any Subsidiary of Guarantor shall acquire or agree to acquire the Mortgage Loan, or any portion thereof or any interest therein, or any direct or indirect ownership interest in the holder of the Mortgage Loan, via purchase, transfer, exchange or otherwise, and any breach or attempted breach of this provision shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder. If, solely by operation of applicable subrogation law, Borrower, Property Owner, Guarantor or any Subsidiary of Guarantor shall have failed to comply with the foregoing, then Borrower: (i) shall immediately notify Lender of such failure; (ii) shall cause any and all such prohibited parties acquiring any interest in the Mortgage Loan Documents not to enforce the Mortgage Loan Documents; provided , however , the foregoing shall not require Borrower, Property Owner, Guarantor or any Subsidiary of Guarantor to hinder, delay, contest or otherwise interfere with Mortgage Lender’s rights or remedies under the Mortgage Loan Documents.

Section 9.33 Intercreditor Agreement . Lender and Mortgage Lender are, or may hereafter become, parties to an intercreditor agreement memorializing their relative rights and obligations with respect to, among other things, the Loan, the Mortgage Loan, Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor and the Properties. Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) such intercreditor agreement is, and will be, intended solely for the benefit of Lender and Mortgage Lender and (ii) none of Borrower, Property Owner, JV Pledgor and/or Guarantor are, and will not be, intended third-party beneficiaries of any of the provisions therein and shall not be, and will not be, entitled to rely on any of the provisions contained therein. Lender and Mortgage Lender shall have no obligation to disclose to Borrower, Property Owner or any of their affiliates the contents of such intercreditor agreement. Borrower’s obligations hereunder are, and shall be, independent of such intercreditor agreement and shall remain unmodified by the terms and provisions thereof.

 

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Lender and Borrower are executing this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

LENDER :
H/2 SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES III CORP.
By:

/s/ Daniel Ottensoser

Name: Daniel Ottensoser
Title: Authorized Signatory
By:

/s/ Ben Doramus

Name: /s/ Ben Doramus
Title: Authorized Signatory
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:

/s/ Jennifer Lewin

Name: Jennifer Lewin
Title: Vice President
BORROWER :
SERITAGE SRC MEZZANINE FINANCE LLC
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President
SERITAGE KMT MEZZANINE FINANCE LLC
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Title: President

 

Exhibit 10.6

SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES

RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT

 

Name of Grantee:

Benjamin Schall

(the “ Grantee ”)
No. of Restricted Shares:

67,613.25

Issuance Date:

July 7, 2015

(the “ Issuance Date ”)

WHEREAS, the Grantee currently provides services to Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”) and its Subsidiaries as defined in the Seritage Growth Properties 2015 Share Plan (the “ Plan ”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires to (i) provide the Grantee with an incentive to remain in the employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries and (ii) increase the Grantee’s interest in the success of the Company by granting restricted Shares (the “ Restricted Shares ”);

WHEREAS, reference is made herein to the Grantee’s employment agreement with the Company dated April 17, 2015 (the “ Employment Agreement ”), as this issuance of Restricted Shares constitutes the “Restricted Stock” contemplated as a “Sign-On Award” for purposes of the Company satisfying its obligations to grant such an award pursuant to the Employment Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the issuance of the Restricted Shares is made pursuant to the Plan; and made subject to the terms and conditions of this Seritage Growth Properties Restricted Share Agreement (the “ Agreement ”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions; Incorporation of Plan Terms . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan. This Agreement and the Restricted Shares shall be subject to the Plan and the terms of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by reference. In the event of any difference between the provisions of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of this Agreement will control. The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

2. Grant of Restricted Shares . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the Company hereby grants and issues to the Grantee the Restricted Shares specified above. The Grantee agrees that within thirty days of the Issuance Date, the Grantee shall give notice to the Company as to whether the Grantee has made an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

3. Vesting of Restricted Shares .

(a) All Restricted Shares shall be subject to the vesting requirements set forth on Schedule A of this Agreement.

 

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(b) If the Grantee’s employment terminates due to the Grantee’s death or Disability, or the Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Grantee resigns with Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the treatment of the Grantee’s Restricted Shares will be provided under the applicable terms of in the Employment Agreement.

(c) Upon a Change in Control, the treatment of the Grantee’s Restricted Shares will determined in accordance with the terms of the Grantee’s Employment Agreement will be as provided under the applicable terms of in the Employment Agreement.

4. Forfeiture . Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement or the Employment Agreement, all unvested Restricted Shares shall be automatically cancelled and forfeited upon any termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to vesting.

5. Grantee’s Rights During the Restricted Period .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, during any period when the Restricted Shares are forfeitable, the Grantee may exercise all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote such shares and to receive any ordinary cash dividends (without regard to any vesting requirements set forth on Schedule A of this Agreement). The Grantee’s rights to a dividend other than an ordinary cash dividend shall be subject to the terms of the Plan. The Grantee will not be entitled to voting or dividend rights with respect to record dates occurring before the Issuance Date, nor with respect to record dates occurring on or after the date, if any, on which the Grantee forfeits the Restricted Shares.

(b) No rights granted under the Plan or this Agreement and no shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Share Award Agreement shall be transferable by the Grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution prior to the time the Grantee’s interest in such shares has become fully vested. The transferability of the shares shall also be limited by any legend restricting transferability on any certificates representing such shares.

(c) No physical certificates evidencing the Restricted Shares will be issued to the Grantee. Instead, the Restricted Shares will be evidenced by certificates held by or on behalf of the Company, in book-entry form, or otherwise, as determined by the Company.

6. Delivery of Vested Shares .

(a) Restricted Shares that have vested in accordance with Section 3 shall be delivered (via certificate or such other method as the Committee determines) to the Grantee as soon as practicable after vesting occurs.

(b) By accepting Restricted Shares, the Grantee agrees not to sell shares at a time when applicable laws or the Company’s rules prohibit a sale. This restriction will apply as long as the Grantee is an employee, consultant or director of the Company or a Subsidiary.

(c) To the extent that Grantee does not vest in any Restricted Shares, all interest in such shares shall be forfeited. The Grantee has no right or interest in Restricted Shares that are forfeited.

(d) The Company shall have the right to refuse to issue or transfer any shares under this Agreement if the Company acting in its absolute discretion determines that the issuance or transfer of such shares might violate any applicable law or regulation.

 

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7. Taxes .

(a) This Section 7(a) applies only to (a) all Grantees who are U.S. employees, and (b) to those Grantees who are employed by a Subsidiary of the Company that is obligated under applicable local law to withhold taxes with respect to the settlement of the Restricted Shares. Such Grantee shall pay to the Company or a designated Subsidiary, promptly upon request, and in any event at the time the Grantee recognizes taxable income with respect to the Restricted Shares, an amount equal to the taxes the Company determines it is required to withhold under applicable tax laws with respect to the Restricted Shares. The Grantee may satisfy the foregoing requirement by making a payment to the Company in cash or by delivering already owned unrestricted Shares or by having the Company withhold a number of Shares in which the Grantee would otherwise become vested under this Agreement, in each case, having a value equal to the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date as of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

(b) The Grantee acknowledges that the tax laws and regulations applicable to the Restricted Shares and the disposition of the shares following the settlement of Restricted Shares are complex and subject to change.

8. Protections Against Violations of Agreement . No purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any of the Restricted Shares by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of this Agreement or the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws of the Company, will be valid, and the Company will not transfer any shares resulting from the settlement of Restricted Shares on its books nor will any of such shares be entitled to vote, nor will any dividends be paid thereon, unless and until there has been full compliance with such provisions to the satisfaction of the Company. The foregoing restrictions are in addition to and not in lieu of any other remedies, legal or equitable, available to enforce such provisions.

9. Survival of Terms . This Agreement shall apply to and bind the Grantee and the Company and their respective permitted assignees and transferees, heirs, legatees, executors, administrators and legal successors.

10. Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the Grantee, to the Grantee’s attention at the mailing address set forth at the foot of this Agreement (or to such other address as the Grantee shall have specified to the Company in writing) and, if to the Company, to the Company’s office at 333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179, Attention: General Counsel (or to such other address as the Company shall have specified to the Grantee in writing). All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective, if sent by hand delivery, upon receipt, or if sent by registered or certified mail, on the fifth day after the day on which such notice is mailed.

11. Waiver . The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this Agreement.

 

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12. Authority of the Administrator . In accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority to interpret and construe the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. The determination of the Committee as to any such matter of interpretation or construction shall be final, binding and conclusive.

13. Representations . The Grantee has reviewed with her own tax advisors the applicable tax (U.S., foreign, state, and local) consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Grantee is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Grantee understands that he (and not the Company) shall be responsible for any tax liability imposed on him that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

14. Entire Agreement; Governing Law . This Agreement and the Plan and the other related agreements expressly referred to herein set forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland.

15. Severability . Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, or enforceable only if modified, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties hereto with any such modification (if any) to become a part hereof and treated as though contained in this original Agreement. Moreover, if one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to scope, activity, subject or otherwise so as to be unenforceable, in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision, such provision or provisions shall be construed by the appropriate judicial body by limiting or reducing it or them, so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear, and such determination by such judicial body shall not affect the enforceability of such provisions or provisions in any other jurisdiction.

16. Amendments; Construction . The Committee may amend the terms of this Agreement prospectively or retroactively at any time, but no such amendment shall impair the rights of the Grantee hereunder without his consent. Headings to Sections of this Agreement are intended for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall have no effect on the interpretation hereof.

17. Acceptance . The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee has read and understand the terms and provision thereof, and accepts the shares of Restricted Shares subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under this Agreement.

18. Miscellaneous .

(a) No Rights to Grants or Continued Employment . The Grantee acknowledges that the award granted under this Agreement is not an employment right. Neither the Plan nor this Agreement, nor any action taken or omitted to be taken hereunder or thereunder, shall be deemed to create or confer on the Grantee any right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or to interfere with or to limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof to terminate the employment of the Grantee at any time.

 

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(b) No Restriction on Right of Company to Effect Corporate Changes . Neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its Shareholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of Share or of options, warrants or rights to purchase Share or of bonds, debentures, preferred, or prior preference Shares whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Share or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Share, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(c) Assignment . The Company shall have the right to assign any of its rights and to delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its affiliates.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE BY THE GRANTEE UNLESS SIGNED AND DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY NOT LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS SUBSEQUENT TO THE ISSUANCE DATE.

BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE GRANTEE IS HEREBY CONSENTING TO THE PROCESSING AND TRANSFER OF THE GRANTEE’S PERSONAL DATA BY THE COMPANY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER AND PROCESS THE AWARDS GRANTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Grantee has executed this Agreement, both as of the day and year first above written.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Restricted Share Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY
SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES
By:

/s/ Matthew Fernand

Name: Matthew Fernand
Title: General Counsel and Executive Vice President
GRANTEE
By:

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Name: Benjamin Schall
Address:

 

 

 


SCHEDULE A

(TIME-VESTING RESTRICTED SHARES)

The Restricted Shares shall vest on the corresponding date(s) set forth in the vesting schedule set forth below (each, a “ Vesting Date ”) and provided that, subject to Sections 3 and 4 of the Restricted Share Agreement, on each Vesting Date, the Grantee is an active employee of the Company from the Issuance Date through such Vesting Date (without consideration of any severance-related salary continuation period, if applicable).

 

Vesting Date

  

Vesting of Restricted

Shares

 

Issuance Date

     25

July 6, 2016

     25 %

July 6, 2017

     25 %

July 6, 2018

     25 %

 

7

Exhibit 10.7

FORM OF SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES

SIGN-ON P-RSU

RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT

 

Name of Grantee:

 

(the “ Grantee ”)
Target No. of Restricted Shares:

 

(the “ Target Shares ”)
Issuance Date:

 

(the “ Issuance Date ”)

WHEREAS, the Grantee currently provides services to Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”) and its Subsidiaries as defined in the Seritage Growth Properties 2015 Share Plan (the “ Plan ”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires to (i) provide the Grantee with an incentive to remain in the employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries and (ii) increase the Grantee’s interest in the success of the Company by granting restricted Shares (the “ Restricted Shares ”);

WHEREAS, reference is made herein to the Grantee’s employment agreement with the Company dated [●] (the “ Employment Agreement ”), as this issuance of Restricted Shares constitutes the “ Sign-On P-RSU” for purposes of the Company satisfying its obligations to grant such an award pursuant to the Employment Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the issuance of the Restricted Shares is made pursuant to the Plan; and made subject to the terms and conditions of this Seritage Growth Properties Restricted Share Agreement (the “ Agreement ”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions; Incorporation of Plan Terms . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan. This Agreement and the Restricted Shares shall be subject to the Plan and the terms of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by reference. In the event of any difference between the provisions of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of this Agreement will control. The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

2. Grant of Restricted Shares . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the Company hereby grants and issues to the Grantee the Restricted Shares specified above. The Grantee agrees that within thirty days of the Issuance Date, the Grantee shall give notice to the Company as to whether the Grantee has made an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

3. Vesting of Restricted Shares .

(a) All of the Restricted Shares shall initially be unvested. All Restricted Shares shall be subject to the vesting requirements set forth on Schedule A of this Agreement.

 

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(b) If the Grantee’s employment terminates due to the Grantee’s death or Disability, or the Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Grantee resigns with Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the treatment of the Grantee’s Restricted Shares will be as provided under the terms of the Employment Agreement applicable to Sign-On P-RSUs thereunder.

(c) Upon a Change in Control, the treatment of the Grantee’s Restricted Shares will be as provided under the terms of in the Employment Agreement applicable to Sign-On P-RSUs thereunder.

4. Forfeiture . Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement or the Employment Agreement, all unvested Restricted Shares shall be automatically cancelled and forfeited upon any termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to vesting.

5. Grantee’s Rights During Restricted Period .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, during any period when the Restricted Shares are forfeitable, The Grantee may exercise all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote such Restricted Shares, but subject to the following limitation on the receipt of dividends: .

 

  (i) if and when any cash dividends are declared on Shares, on the date such dividend is paid, the Company will credit to a bookkeeping account (the “ Account ”) maintained by the Company (or a third party on behalf of the Company) for the Grantee’s benefit an amount, which shall be equal to the amount of such dividend that would have been paid on the same number of Restricted Shares that are unvested and outstanding hereunder as of the record date of such dividend. Such credited amount shall be subject to the vesting and forfeiture provisions applicable to the Restricted Shares to which such credited amount relates, as set forth in Section 3 above. Any credited amounts shall be only payable in cash and shall become vested and payable at the same time as Shares are otherwise delivered upon the vesting of the Restricted Shares as set forth in this Agreement.

 

  (ii) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, during any period when the Restricted Shares are forfeitable, if and when the company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on Shares, or there occurs a forward split of Shares, then a number of additional Restricted Shares shall be credited to the Account as of the payment date for such dividend or distribution or forward split equal to (i) the same number of Shares that would have been delivered on the same number of Restricted Shares that are unvested and outstanding hereunder as of the record date of such event, multiplied by (ii) the number of additional Shares actually paid as a dividend or distribution or issued in such split in respect of each outstanding Share. These additional Restricted Shares shall become vested and deliverable upon the vesting of the Restricted Shares to which such additional Restricted Shares relate as set forth in this Agreement.

(b) No rights granted under the Plan or this Agreement and no shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Share Award Agreement shall be transferable by the Grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution prior to the time the Grantee’s interest in such shares has become fully vested. The transferability of the shares shall also be limited by any legend restricting transferability on any certificates representing such shares.

(c) No physical certificates evidencing the Restricted Shares will be issued to the Grantee. Instead, the Restricted Shares will be evidenced by certificates held by or on behalf of the Company, in book-entry form, or otherwise, as determined by the Company.

 

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6. Delivery of Vested Shares .

(a) Restricted Shares that have vested in accordance with Section 3 shall be delivered (via certificate or such other method as the Committee determines) to the Grantee as soon as practicable after vesting occurs.

(b) By accepting Restricted Shares, the Grantee agrees not to sell shares at a time when applicable laws or the Company’s rules prohibit a sale. This restriction will apply as long as the Grantee is an employee, consultant or director of the Company or a Subsidiary.

(c) To the extent that Grantee does not vest in any Restricted Shares, all interest in such shares shall be forfeited. The Grantee has no right or interest in Restricted Shares that are forfeited.

(d) The Company shall have the right to refuse to issue or transfer any shares under this Agreement if the Company acting in its absolute discretion determines that the issuance or transfer of such shares might violate any applicable law or regulation.

7. Taxes .

(a) This Section 7(a) applies only to (a) all Grantees who are U.S. employees, and (b) to those Grantees who are employed by a Subsidiary of the Company that is obligated under applicable local law to withhold taxes with respect to the settlement of the Restricted Shares. Such Grantee shall pay to the Company or a designated Subsidiary, promptly upon request, and in any event at the time the Grantee recognizes taxable income with respect to the Restricted Shares, an amount equal to the taxes the Company determines it is required to withhold under applicable tax laws with respect to the Restricted Shares. The Grantee may satisfy the foregoing requirement by making a payment to the Company in cash or by delivering already owned unrestricted Shares or by having the Company withhold a number of Shares in which the Grantee would otherwise become vested under this Agreement, in each case, having a value equal to the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date as of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

(b) The Grantee acknowledges that the tax laws and regulations applicable to the Restricted Shares and the disposition of the shares following the settlement of Restricted Shares are complex and subject to change.

8. Exchange of Restricted Shares for LTIP Units . Within thirty (30) days after the Grant Date, the Company and the Grantee may agree to exchange the Restricted Shares for LTIP Units, which, upon any such exchange, shall be subject to the same vesting terms as set forth in this Agreement, but which shall not provide the Grantee with the rights of a Company shareholder (including as provided under this Agreement, but which shall instead entitled the Grantee with such rights as may attach to LTIP Units pursuant to the applicable terms of the limited partnership agreement of Seritage Growth Properties, L.P.

9. Protections Against Violations of Agreement . No purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any of the Restricted Shares by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of this Agreement or the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws of the Company,

 

3


will be valid, and the Company will not transfer any shares resulting from the settlement of Restricted Shares on its books nor will any of such shares be entitled to vote, nor will any dividends be paid thereon, unless and until there has been full compliance with such provisions to the satisfaction of the Company. The foregoing restrictions are in addition to and not in lieu of any other remedies, legal or equitable, available to enforce such provisions.

10. Survival of Terms . This Agreement shall apply to and bind the Grantee and the Company and their respective permitted assignees and transferees, heirs, legatees, executors, administrators and legal successors.

11. Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the Grantee, to the Grantee’s attention at the mailing address set forth at the foot of this Agreement (or to such other address as the Grantee shall have specified to the Company in writing) and, if to the Company, to the Company’s office at 333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179, Attention: General Counsel (or to such other address as the Company shall have specified to the Grantee in writing). All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective, if sent by hand delivery, upon receipt, or if sent by registered or certified mail, on the fifth day after the day on which such notice is mailed.

12. Waiver . The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this Agreement.

13. Authority of the Administrator . In accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority to interpret and construe the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. The determination of the Committee as to any such matter of interpretation or construction shall be final, binding and conclusive.

14. Representations . The Grantee has reviewed with her own tax advisors the applicable tax (U.S., foreign, state, and local) consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Grantee is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Grantee understands that he (and not the Company) shall be responsible for any tax liability imposed upon him that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

15. Entire Agreement; Governing Law . This Agreement and the Plan and the other related agreements expressly referred to herein set forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland.

16. Severability . Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, or enforceable only if modified, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties hereto with any such modification (if any) to become a part hereof and treated as though contained in this original Agreement. Moreover, if one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to scope, activity, subject or otherwise so as to be unenforceable, in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision, such provision or provisions shall be construed by the appropriate judicial body by limiting or reducing it or them, so as to be enforceable to

 

4


the maximum extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear, and such determination by such judicial body shall not affect the enforceability of such provisions or provisions in any other jurisdiction.

17. Amendments; Construction . The Committee may amend the terms of this Agreement prospectively or retroactively at any time, but no such amendment shall impair the rights of the Grantee hereunder without his consent. Headings to Sections of this Agreement are intended for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall have no effect on the interpretation hereof.

18. Acceptance . The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee has read and understand the terms and provision thereof, and accepts the shares of Restricted Shares subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under this Agreement.

19. Miscellaneous .

(a) No Rights to Grants or Continued Employment . The Grantee acknowledges that the award granted under this Agreement is not an employment right. Neither the Plan nor this Agreement, nor any action taken or omitted to be taken hereunder or thereunder, shall be deemed to create or confer on the Grantee any right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or to interfere with or to limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof to terminate the employment of the Grantee at any time.

(b) No Restriction on Right of Company to Effect Corporate Changes . Neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its Shareholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of Share or of options, warrants or rights to purchase Share or of bonds, debentures, preferred, or prior preference Shares whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Share or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Share, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(c) Assignment . The Company shall have the right to assign any of its rights and to delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its affiliates.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE BY THE GRANTEE UNLESS SIGNED AND DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY NOT LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS SUBSEQUENT TO THE ISSUANCE DATE.

BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE GRANTEE IS HEREBY CONSENTING TO THE PROCESSING AND TRANSFER OF THE GRANTEE’S PERSONAL DATA BY THE COMPANY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER AND PROCESS THE AWARDS GRANTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Grantee has executed this Agreement, both as of the day and year first above written.

 

5


[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Restricted Share Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY
SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES
By:

 

Name:
Title:
GRANTEE
By:

 

Name:
Address:

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

FORM OF SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES

TIME-VESTING RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT

 

Name of Grantee:

 

(the “ Grantee ”)
No. of Restricted Share Units:

 

Grant Date:

 

(the “ Grant Date ”)

WHEREAS, the Grantee currently provides services to Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust or one of its Subsidiaries (the “ Company ”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires to (i) provide the Grantee with an incentive to remain in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) increase the Grantee’s interest in the success of the Company by granting restricted share units (the “ Restricted Share Units ”) payable in the form of Shares; and

WHEREAS, reference is made herein to the Grantee’s employment agreement with the Company dated [●] (the “ Employment Agreement ”), as this issuance of Restricted Share Units constitutes the “ Annual RSU ” for purposes of the Company satisfying its obligations to grant such an award pursuant to the Employment Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the issuance of the Restricted Share Units is made pursuant to the Seritage Growth Properties 2015 Share Plan (the “ Plan ”); and (ii) made subject to the terms and conditions of this Seritage Growth Properties Time-Vesting Restricted Share Unit Agreement (the “ Agreement ”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions; Incorporation of Plan Terms . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan. This Agreement and the Restricted Share Units shall be subject to the Plan and the terms of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by reference. In the event of any difference between the provisions of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of this Agreement will control. The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

2. Grant of Restricted Share Units .

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the Company hereby grants and issues to the Grantee the Restricted Share Units specified above. The Company shall credit to a bookkeeping account (the “ Account ”) maintained by the Company (or a third party on behalf of the Company) for the Grantee’s benefit the Restricted Share Units, each of which shall be deemed to be the equivalent of one Share.

(b) If and whenever any ordinary cash dividends are declared on Shares, on the date such dividend is paid, the Grantee will receive payment of a dividend equivalent in respect of the number of Restricted Stock Units that are unvested and outstanding hereunder as of the record date of such dividend.

 

1


The Grantee’s rights to any cash dividend equivalent other than an ordinary cash dividend shall be subject to the terms of the Plan. The Grantee will not be entitled to voting or dividend equivalent rights with respect to record dates occurring before the Grant Date, nor with respect to record dates occurring on or after the date, if any, on which the Grantee forfeits the Restricted Share Units.

(c) If and whenever the Company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on the Shares in the form of additional Shares, or there occurs a forward split of Shares, then a number of additional Restricted Share Units shall be credited to the Account as of the payment date for such dividend or distribution or forward split equal to (i) the same number of Shares that would have been delivered on the same number of Restricted Share Units that are unvested and outstanding hereunder as of the record date of such event, multiplied by (ii) the number of additional Shares actually paid as a dividend or distribution or issued in such split in respect of each outstanding Share. These additional Restricted Share Units shall become vested and deliverable upon the vesting of the Restricted Share Units to which such Shares relate as set forth in this Agreement.

3. Terms and Conditions .

(a) Vesting .

(i) All of the Restricted Share Units shall initially be unvested. All Restricted Share Units shall be subject to the vesting requirements set forth on Schedule A of this Agreement.

(ii) If the Grantee’s employment terminates due to the Grantee’s death or Disability, or the Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Grantee resigns with Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the treatment of the Grantee’s Restricted Share Units will be as provided under the applicable terms of the Employment Agreement.

(iii) Except as otherwise provided in the Employment Agreement, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Section 13 of the Plan shall govern.

(b) Forfeiture . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, or the Employment Agreement, upon the termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Grantee shall forfeit any and all Restricted Share Units which have not vested as of the date of such termination.

(c) Settlement . Restricted Share Units not previously forfeited shall be settled within thirty (30) days after the applicable Vesting Date (as set forth on Schedule A) under Section 3(a)(i) by delivery of one Share for each Restricted Share Unit being settled.

4. Taxes .

(a) This Section 4(a) applies only to (a) all Grantees who are U.S. employees, and (b) to those Grantees who are employed by a Subsidiary of the Company that is obligated under applicable local law to withhold taxes with respect to the settlement of the Restricted Share Units. Such Grantee shall pay to the Company or a designated Subsidiary, promptly upon request, and in any event at the time the Grantee recognizes taxable income with respect to the Restricted Share Units, an amount equal to the taxes the Company determines it is required to withhold under applicable tax laws with respect to the Restricted Share Units. The Grantee may satisfy the foregoing requirement by making a payment to the Company in cash or by delivering already owned unrestricted Shares or by having the Company withhold a number of Shares in which the Grantee would otherwise become vested under this Agreement, in each case, having a value equal to the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld. Such Shares shall be valued at their fair market value on the date as of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

(b) The Grantee acknowledges that the tax laws and regulations applicable to the Restricted Share Units and the disposition of the shares following the settlement of Restricted Share Units are complex and subject to change.

 

2


5. Protections Against Violations of Agreement . No purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any of the Restricted Share Units by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of this Agreement or the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws of the Company, will be valid, and the Company will not transfer any shares resulting from the settlement of Restricted Share Units on its books nor will any of such shares be entitled to vote, nor will any dividends be paid thereon, unless and until there has been full compliance with such provisions to the satisfaction of the Company. The foregoing restrictions are in addition to and not in lieu of any other remedies, legal or equitable, available to enforce such provisions.

6. Rights as a Shareholder . The Grantee shall not possess the right to vote the shares underlying the Restricted Share Units until the Restricted Share Units have settled in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.

7. Survival of Terms . This Agreement shall apply to and bind the Grantee and the Company and their respective permitted assignees and transferees, heirs, legatees, executors, administrators and legal successors.

8. Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the Grantee, to the Grantee’s attention at the mailing address set forth at the foot of this Agreement (or to such other address as the Grantee shall have specified to the Company in writing) and, if to the Company, to the Company’s office at 333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179, Attention: General Counsel (or to such other address as the Company shall have specified to the Grantee in writing). All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective, if sent by hand delivery, upon receipt, or if sent by registered or certified mail, on the fifth day after the day on which such notice is mailed.

9. Waiver . The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this Agreement.

10. Authority of the Administrator . The Committee shall have full authority to interpret and construe the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. The determination of the Committee as to any such matter of interpretation or construction shall be final, binding and conclusive.

11. Representations . The Grantee has reviewed with the Grantee’s own tax advisors the applicable tax (U.S., foreign, state, and local) consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Grantee is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Grantee understands that he (and not the Company) shall be responsible for any tax liability imposed upon him that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3


12. Entire Agreement; Governing Law . This Agreement and the Plan and the other related agreements expressly referred to herein set forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland.

13. Severability . Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, or enforceable only if modified, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties hereto with any such modification (if any) to become a part hereof and treated as though contained in this original Agreement. Moreover, if one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to scope, activity, subject or otherwise so as to be unenforceable, in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision, such provision or provisions shall be construed by the appropriate judicial body by limiting or reducing it or them, so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear, and such determination by such judicial body shall not affect the enforceability of such provisions or provisions in any other jurisdiction.

14. Amendments; Construction . The Committee may amend the terms of this Agreement prospectively or retroactively at any time, but no such amendment shall impair the rights of the Grantee hereunder without his consent. Headings to Sections of this Agreement are intended for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Restricted Share Unit and shall have no effect on the interpretation hereof.

15. Acceptance . The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee has read and understand the terms and provision thereof, and accepts the shares of Restricted Share Units subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under this Agreement.

16. Miscellaneous .

(a) No Rights to Grants or Continued Employment . The Grantee acknowledges that the award granted under this Agreement is not an employment right. Neither the Plan nor this Agreement, nor any action taken or omitted to be taken hereunder or thereunder, shall be deemed to create or confer on the Grantee any right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or to interfere with or to limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof to terminate the employment of the Grantee at any time.

(b) No Restriction on Right of Company to Effect Corporate Changes . Neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its Shareholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of shares or of options, warrants or rights to purchase shares or of bonds, debentures, preferred, or prior preference shares whose rights are superior to or affect the shares or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for shares, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(c) Assignment . The Company shall have the right to assign any of its rights and to delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its affiliates.

 

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17. Code Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the receipt of any benefits under this Agreement is intended to be exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) pursuant to the short-term deferral exception provided for thereunder. The Restricted Share Units granted hereunder shall not be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified in a manner that would result in the application of Section 409A of the Code to such grants.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE BY THE GRANTEE UNLESS SIGNED AND DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY NOT LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS SUBSEQUENT TO THE GRANT DATE.

BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE GRANTEE IS HEREBY CONSENTING TO THE PROCESSING AND TRANSFER OF THE GRANTEE’S PERSONAL DATA BY THE COMPANY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER AND PROCESS THE AWARDS GRANTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Grantee has executed this Agreement, both as of the day and year first above written.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Restricted Share Unit Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY
SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES
By:

 

Name:
Title:
GRANTEE
By:

 

Name:
Address:

 

 

 


SCHEDULE A

(TIME-VESTING RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS)

The Restricted Share Units shall vest in accordance with the following vesting schedule.

 

Vesting Date

   Percentage of Restricted
Share Units granted on
Grant Date to Vest
 

[DATE]

     [● ]%

[DATE]

     [● ]%

[DATE]

     [● ]%

 

7

Exhibit 10.9

FORM OF SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES

ANNUAL P-RSU

RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT

 

Name of Grantee:

 

(the “ Grantee ”)
Target No. of Restricted Shares:

 

(the “ Target Shares ”)
Issuance Date:

 

(the “ Issuance Date ”)

WHEREAS, the Grantee currently provides services to Seritage Growth Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “ Company ”) and its Subsidiaries as defined in the Seritage Growth Properties 2015 Share Plan (the “ Plan ”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires to (i) provide the Grantee with an incentive to remain in the employ of the Company or its Subsidiaries and (ii) increase the Grantee’s interest in the success of the Company by granting restricted Shares (the “ Restricted Shares ”);

WHEREAS, reference is made herein to the Grantee’s employment agreement with the Company dated [●] (the “ Employment Agreement ”), as this issuance of Restricted Shares constitutes the “ Annual P-RSU ” for purposes of the Company satisfying its obligations to grant such an award pursuant to the Employment Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the issuance of the Restricted Shares is made pursuant to the Plan; and made subject to the terms and conditions of this Seritage Growth Properties Restricted Share Agreement (the “ Agreement ”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions; Incorporation of Plan Terms . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan. This Agreement and the Restricted Shares shall be subject to the Plan and the terms of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by reference. In the event of any difference between the provisions of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of this Agreement will control. The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

2. Grant of Restricted Shares . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement and pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the Company hereby grants and issues to the Grantee the Restricted Shares specified above. The Grantee agrees that within thirty days of the Issuance Date, the Grantee shall give notice to the Company as to whether the Grantee has made an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

3. Vesting of Restricted Shares .

(a) All of the Restricted Shares shall initially be unvested. All Restricted Shares shall be subject to the vesting requirements set forth on Schedule A of this Agreement.

 

1


(b) If the Grantee’s employment terminates due to the Grantee’s death or Disability, or the Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or the Grantee resigns with Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the treatment of the Grantee’s Restricted Shares will be as provided under the terms of the Employment Agreement applicable to Annual P-RSUs thereunder.

(c) Upon a Change in Control, the treatment of the Grantee’s Restricted Shares will be as provided under the terms of in the Employment Agreement applicable to Annual P-RSUs thereunder.

4. Forfeiture . Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement or the Employment Agreement, all unvested Restricted Shares shall be automatically cancelled and forfeited upon any termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to vesting.

5. Grantee’s Rights During Restricted Period .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, during any period when the Restricted Shares are forfeitable, The Grantee may exercise all the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote such Restricted Shares, but subject to the following limitation on the receipt of dividends:

 

  (i) if and when any cash dividends are declared on Shares, on the date such dividend is paid, the Company will credit to a bookkeeping account (the “ Account ”) maintained by the Company (or a third party on behalf of the Company) for the Grantee’s benefit an amount, which shall be equal to the amount of such dividend that would have been paid on the same number of Restricted Shares that are unvested and outstanding hereunder as of the record date of such dividend. Such credited amount shall be subject to the vesting and forfeiture provisions applicable to the Restricted Shares to which such credited amount relates, as set forth in Section 3 above. Any credited amounts shall be only payable in cash and shall become vested and payable at the same time as Shares are otherwise delivered upon the vesting of the Restricted Shares as set forth in this Agreement.

 

  (ii) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this Agreement, during any period when the Restricted Shares are forfeitable, if and when the Company declares and pays a dividend or distribution on Shares, or there occurs a forward split of Shares, then a number of additional Restricted Shares shall be credited to the Account as of the payment date for such dividend or distribution or forward split equal to (i) the same number of Shares that would have been delivered on the same number of Restricted Shares that are unvested and outstanding hereunder as of the record date of such event, multiplied by (ii) the number of additional Shares actually paid as a dividend or distribution or issued in such split in respect of each outstanding Share. These additional Restricted Shares shall become vested and deliverable upon the vesting of the Restricted Shares to which such additional Restricted Shares relate as set forth in this Agreement.

(b) No rights granted under the Plan or this Agreement and no shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Share Award Agreement shall be transferable by the Grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution prior to the time the Grantee’s interest in such shares has become fully vested. The transferability of the shares shall also be limited by any legend restricting transferability on any certificates representing such shares.

(c) No physical certificates evidencing the Restricted Shares will be issued to the Grantee. Instead, the Restricted Shares will be evidenced by certificates held by or on behalf of the Company, in book-entry form, or otherwise, as determined by the Company.

 

2


6. Delivery of Vested Shares .

(a) Restricted Shares that have vested in accordance with Section 3 shall be delivered (via certificate or such other method as the Committee determines) to the Grantee as soon as practicable after vesting occurs.

(b) By accepting Restricted Shares, the Grantee agrees not to sell shares at a time when applicable laws or the Company’s rules prohibit a sale. This restriction will apply as long as the Grantee is an employee, consultant or director of the Company or a Subsidiary.

(c) To the extent that Grantee does not vest in any Restricted Shares, all interest in such shares shall be forfeited. The Grantee has no right or interest in Restricted Shares that are forfeited.

(d) The Company shall have the right to refuse to issue or transfer any shares under this Agreement if the Company acting in its absolute discretion determines that the issuance or transfer of such shares might violate any applicable law or regulation.

7. Taxes .

(a) This Section 7(a) applies only to (a) all Grantees who are U.S. employees, and (b) to those Grantees who are employed by a Subsidiary of the Company that is obligated under applicable local law to withhold taxes with respect to the settlement of the Restricted Shares. Such Grantee shall pay to the Company or a designated Subsidiary, promptly upon request, and in any event at the time the Grantee recognizes taxable income with respect to the Restricted Shares, an amount equal to the taxes the Company determines it is required to withhold under applicable tax laws with respect to the Restricted Shares. The Grantee may satisfy the foregoing requirement by making a payment to the Company in cash or by delivering already owned unrestricted Shares or by having the Company withhold a number of Shares in which the Grantee would otherwise become vested under this Agreement, in each case, having a value equal to the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date as of which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

(b) The Grantee acknowledges that the tax laws and regulations applicable to the Restricted Shares and the disposition of the shares following the settlement of Restricted Shares are complex and subject to change.

8. Exchange of Restricted Shares for LTIP Units . Within thirty (30) days after the Grant Date, the Company and the Grantee may agree to exchange the Restricted Shares for LTIP Units, which, upon any such exchange, shall be subject to the same vesting terms as set forth in this Agreement, but which shall not provide the Grantee with the rights of a Company shareholder (including as provided under this Agreement, but which shall instead entitled the Grantee with such rights as may attach to LTIP Units pursuant to the applicable terms of the limited partnership agreement of Seritage Growth Properties, L.P.

9. Protections Against Violations of Agreement . No purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any of the Restricted Shares by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of this Agreement or the Declaration of Trust or the Bylaws of the Company,

 

3


will be valid, and the Company will not transfer any shares resulting from the settlement of Restricted Shares on its books nor will any of such shares be entitled to vote, nor will any dividends be paid thereon, unless and until there has been full compliance with such provisions to the satisfaction of the Company. The foregoing restrictions are in addition to and not in lieu of any other remedies, legal or equitable, available to enforce such provisions.

10. Survival of Terms . This Agreement shall apply to and bind the Grantee and the Company and their respective permitted assignees and transferees, heirs, legatees, executors, administrators and legal successors.

11. Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the Grantee, to the Grantee’s attention at the mailing address set forth at the foot of this Agreement (or to such other address as the Grantee shall have specified to the Company in writing) and, if to the Company, to the Company’s office at 333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179, Attention: General Counsel (or to such other address as the Company shall have specified to the Grantee in writing). All such notices shall be conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective, if sent by hand delivery, upon receipt, or if sent by registered or certified mail, on the fifth day after the day on which such notice is mailed.

12. Waiver . The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of a provision of this Agreement.

13. Authority of the Administrator . In accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority to interpret and construe the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. The determination of the Committee as to any such matter of interpretation or construction shall be final, binding and conclusive.

14. Representations . The Grantee has reviewed with her own tax advisors the applicable tax (U.S., foreign, state, and local) consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Grantee is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Grantee understands that he (and not the Company) shall be responsible for any tax liability imposed upon him that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

15. Entire Agreement; Governing Law . This Agreement and the Plan and the other related agreements expressly referred to herein set forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland.

16. Severability . Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, or enforceable only if modified, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the parties hereto with any such modification (if any) to become a part hereof and treated as though contained in this original Agreement. Moreover, if one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to scope, activity, subject or otherwise so as to be unenforceable, in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision, such provision or provisions shall be construed by the appropriate judicial body by limiting or reducing it or them, so as to be enforceable to

 

4


the maximum extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear, and such determination by such judicial body shall not affect the enforceability of such provisions or provisions in any other jurisdiction.

17. Amendments; Construction . The Committee may amend the terms of this Agreement prospectively or retroactively at any time, but no such amendment shall impair the rights of the Grantee hereunder without his consent. Headings to Sections of this Agreement are intended for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall have no effect on the interpretation hereof.

18. Acceptance . The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee has read and understand the terms and provision thereof, and accepts the shares of Restricted Shares subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under this Agreement.

19. Miscellaneous .

(a) No Rights to Grants or Continued Employment . The Grantee acknowledges that the award granted under this Agreement is not an employment right. Neither the Plan nor this Agreement, nor any action taken or omitted to be taken hereunder or thereunder, shall be deemed to create or confer on the Grantee any right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or to interfere with or to limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof to terminate the employment of the Grantee at any time.

(b) No Restriction on Right of Company to Effect Corporate Changes . Neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its Shareholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of Share or of options, warrants or rights to purchase Share or of bonds, debentures, preferred, or prior preference Shares whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Share or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Share, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Company, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(c) Assignment . The Company shall have the right to assign any of its rights and to delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its affiliates.

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE BY THE GRANTEE UNLESS SIGNED AND DELIVERED TO THE COMPANY NOT LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS SUBSEQUENT TO THE ISSUANCE DATE.

BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE GRANTEE IS HEREBY CONSENTING TO THE PROCESSING AND TRANSFER OF THE GRANTEE’S PERSONAL DATA BY THE COMPANY TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER AND PROCESS THE AWARDS GRANTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Grantee has executed this Agreement, both as of the day and year first above written.

 

5


[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Restricted Share Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY
SERITAGE GROWTH PROPERTIES
By:

 

Name:
Title:
GRANTEE
By:

 

Name:
Address:

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.10

 

Seritage Growth Properties

Benjamin Schall

Chief Executive Officer

July 6, 2015

Seritage Growth Properties

3333 Beverly Road

Hoffinan Estates, Illinois 60179

Brian Dickman

### ## ### ######## ###

#### ###

########### ## #####

Dear Brian,

We are pleased to extend to you our offer to join Seritage Growth Properties (the “ Company ”) as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. Your start date will be a date to be determined but no later than August 17, 2015. Your work location will be the Company’s headquarters located in New York, NY. This letter (the “ Letter Agreement ”) serves as confirmation of our offer, subject to the terms and conditions below.

The key elements of your compensation package and the other conditions of your employment are as follows:

 

1. Base Salary . Your annual base salary will be at a rate of $425,000.

 

2. Sign-On Compensation .

 

  a. You will receive a one-time sign-on bonus of $250,000 (the “ Sign-On Bonus ”) which will be payable within thirty (30) days following your start date.

 

  b. You will also receive a one-time sign-on equity award (the “ Sign-On Award ” and, together with the Sign-On Bonus, the “ Sign-On Compensation ”) of $250,000 of common shares of beneficial interest in the Company (the “ Shares ”), with 50% of such award in the form of time-vesting restricted stock units (“ TV RSUs ”) and 50% in the form of performance-vesting restricted stock units (“ PV RSUs ”), subject to the terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) of the Board of Trustees of the Company (the “ Board ”), it being understood that, in lieu of the Shares, the Sign-On Award may be in the form of limited partnership interests in Seritage Growth Properties, L.P. (the “ OP Units ”). The Sign-On Award will be issued within sixty (60) days following the closing date of the rights offering of the Company described in the Form S-11 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Sign-On Award shall vest (including with respect to applicable performance goals) pursuant to the terms of the Company’s long-term equity incentive plan (the “ Equity Plan ”) and applicable award agreements as established by the Compensation Committee.

 

  c. In the event you voluntarily terminate your employment with the Company without Good Reason (as defined below) or are terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below) within twelve (12) months immediately following your start date, you will be required to immediately repay the Sign-On Bonus and forfeit the Sign-On Award.


Mr. Dickman

July 6, 2015

Page 2

 

3. Annual Bonus and Awards .

 

  a. As a participant in the Company’s annual incentive plan, you will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) provided threshold performance goals are achieved. Your annual target incentive opportunity will be 75% of your annual base salary and your annual maximum incentive opportunity will be 100% of your annual base salary, in each case, subject to performance goals, terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee. Your target incentive opportunity for your first year of employment will not be prorated from your start date through the last day of the Company’s fiscal year. Any Annual Bonus payable with respect to a fiscal year will be paid during the following fiscal year at the same time as the annual incentives are paid generally to other members of the executive team, provided that you are actively employed on the payment date. Your Annual Bonus for 2015 shall be guaranteed in an amount not less than $318,750, with no proration, and payable if you are actively employed on the payment date.

 

  b. As a participant in the Equity Plan, you will be eligible to receive an annual equity award in the form of either Shares or OP Units (the “ Annual Award ”) provided threshold performance goals are achieved. Your annual target equity award will be an amount of Shares equal to 75% of your annual base salary and your annual maximum equity award will be an amount of Shares equal to 125% of your annual base salary, which will be issued 50% in the form of TV RSUs and 50% in the form of PV RSUs, in each case, subject to performance goals, terms and conditions set forth in the Equity Plan and award agreements as established by the Compensation Committee. Any Annual Award issuable with respect to a fiscal year will be issued during the following fiscal year at the same time as the annual awards are issued generally to other members of the executive team, provided that you are actively employed on the award issuance date. Your Annual Award for 2015 shall be guaranteed in an amount not less than $318,750 Shares, with no proration, and issuable if you are actively employed on the award issuance date.

 

4. Termination .

 

  a.

Your employment shall be at will and you may be terminated by the Company at any time with or without Cause. “ Cause ” shall mean (i) a material breach by you (other than a breach resulting from your incapacity due to death or a Disability) of your duties and responsibilities which breach is demonstrably willful and deliberate on your part, is committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that


Mr. Dickman

July 6, 2015

Page 3

 

  such breach is in the best interests of the Company or the Company’s affiliates and is not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from the Company specifying such breach; or (ii) the conviction of you of a felony (other than vehicular-related). “ Disability ” shall mean disability as defined under the Company’s long-term disability plan (regardless of whether you are a participant under such plan) or if no such plan exists, your inability by reason of disability to perform your duties for 180 consecutive days.

 

  b. If you are terminated for Cause, you shall not be entitled to any of the benefits or amounts set forth in section 5 hereof (except with respect to section 5(c) to the extent required by law) and all Shares (and any other equity interests) granted to you prior to the date of termination will be forfeited.

 

5. Other Benefits and Compensation Matters .

 

  a. Severance .

 

  i.

In the event you are terminated by the Company without Cause or resign for Good Reason (as defined below), (A) you shall be entitled to (1) a cash severance payment equivalent to twelve (12) months of base salary (payable in equal installments over a twelve (12) month period), (2) a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination (based on performance of the Company for the full year in which the termination occurs) (but guaranteed at $318,750 if termination occurs during 2015) and (3) twelve (12) months of subsidized COBRA coverage whereby your premium costs are the active employee rate and (B) (1) the Shares (and any other equity interests) granted to you as part of the Sign-On Award shall automatically vest and (2) a pro rata portion of your Annual Awards shall vest (based on the number of days you were employed during the applicable vesting period); provided that in the case of the foregoing (B) (1) and (B) (2), vesting in respect of any performance-vesting Shares (and any other equity interests) shall be based on the performance of the Company through the date of termination. The payments and awards contemplated by (A) and (B) above shall be subject to you continuing to comply with sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof at all times and you signing a release, on the thirtieth (30 th ) day following termination of your employment, in a form satisfactory to the Company (a “ Release ”). “ Good Reason ” shall mean, without your written consent, (1) a reduction of ten percent (10%) or more of your annual base salary, annual cash bonus opportunity and annual equity grant opportunity from those in effect as of the date of this Letter Agreement or, if the reduction does not also apply to other senior executives of the Company equally, then a material reduction of the foregoing; (2) your mandatory relocation to an office more than fifty (50) miles from the primary location at which you are required to perform your duties on your start date; (3) any action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of the terms of this Letter Agreement, including failure of a successor


Mr. Dickman

July 6, 2015

Page 4

 

  company to assume or fulfill the obligations under this Letter Agreement; (4) a material reduction in your duties or adverse change in title; or (5) the Sign-On Compensation is not provided to you within the timeframes set forth in Section 2 hereof. In each case, you must provide the Company with written notice of the facts giving rise to a claim that “Good Reason” exists within ten (10) days of the occurrence of such facts, and the Company shall have a right to remedy such event within sixty (60) days after receipt of such written notice.

 

  ii. In the event your employment terminates due to your death or Disability, (A) you shall be entitled to (1) a prorated Annual Bonus for the year of termination (based on performance of the Company for the full year in which the termination occurs) (but guaranteed at $318,750 if termination occurs during 2015) and (2) solely in the case of a Disability, twelve (12) months of subsidized COBRA coverage whereby your premium costs are the active employee rate and (B) the Shares (and any other equity interests) granted to you as part of the Sign-On Award and Annual Awards shall automatically vest; provided that vesting in respect of any performance-vesting Shares (and any other equity interests) shall be based on the performance of the Company through the date of termination.

 

  b. Change of Control . In the event there is a “change in control” of the Company, the Shares (and any other equity interests) granted to you shall be treated as set forth in the Equity Plan and underlying award agreements as established by the Compensation Committee.

 

  c. Vacation . You will be eligible to receive up to four (4) weeks of paid vacation per year to be taken in accordance with Company policy at that time, which shall be prorated during your first year of service based on your start date.

 

  d. Benefits . You will be eligible to participate in all retirement, life insurance, health and welfare programs on a basis no less favorable than other senior executives of the Company, in accordance with the applicable terms, conditions and availability of those programs.

 

  e. Housing/Relocation . The Company will provide you with corporate housing in the New York, New York metropolitan area for a period of time to be agreed upon by you and the Company. Upon your permanent relocation to the New York, New York metropolitan area, the Company shall reimburse you for all reasonable and customary expenses of relocating your personal property and otherwise in accordance with the Company’s relocation policy.

 

  f. Section 409A . If you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended) (“ Section 409A ”), to the extent required by Section 409A, you will not be entitled to receive the benefits of section 5(a) hereof until the first (1 st ) day of the seventh (7 th ) month following the date of termination of your employment.


Mr. Dickman

July 6, 2015

Page 5

 

6. Non-Solicitation of Employees . During your employment with the Company and for twelve (12) months following the termination of your employment with the Company, you will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage any person to leave her/his employment with the Company or hire or assist in any way with the hiring of any Company employee by any future employer or other entity.

 

7. Non-Competition . During your employment with the Company and for twelve (12) months following the termination of your employment with the Company, you shall not, without the prior written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly, enter into the employment of, render any services to, invest in, lend money to, engage, manage, operate, own or otherwise offer other assistance to, or participate in, as an officer, director, manager, employee, principal, proprietor, representative, stockholder, member, partner, associate, consultant or otherwise, any person or entity that competes, plans to compete or is considering competing with the Company or any of its affiliates in any business of the Company or any of its affiliates existing or proposed at the time you shall cease to perform services hereunder.

 

8. Confidentiality . You will not, during the term of your employment with the Company or thereafter, and other than in the performance of your duties and obligations during your employment with the Company or as required by law or legal process, and except as the Company may otherwise consent or direct in writing, reveal or disclose, sell, use, lecture upon or publish any confidential information of the Company. You further agree that the existence and terms of this Letter Agreement, including any compensation paid to you, and discussions with the Company regarding this Letter Agreement, shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed or communicated in any manner except: (a) as required by law or legal process; (b) to your spouse or domestic partner; (c) to your financial/legal advisors, all of whom shall agree to keep such information confidential; or (d) if such Letter Agreement is hereafter publicly filed by the Company.

 

9. Irreparable Harm . You acknowledge that irreparable harm would result from any breach by you of sections 6, 7, and/or 8 hereof, and that monetary damages alone would not provide adequate relief for any such breach. Accordingly, if you breach or threaten to breach this Letter Agreement, the Company may seek injunctive relief in favor of the Company without the necessity of the Company posting a bond. Moreover, any award of injunctive relief shall not preclude the Company from seeking or recovering any lawful compensatory damages which may have resulted from a breach of this Letter Agreement.

 

10. Cooperation . You agree, without receiving additional compensation, to reasonably cooperate with the Company, both during and after the period of employment with the Company, with respect to matters that relate to your period of employment, in all investigations, potential litigation or litigation in which the Company is involved or may become involved other than any such investigations, potential litigation or litigation between the Company and you. The Company will reimburse you for reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with any such investigations, potential litigation or litigation.


Mr. Dickman

July 6, 2015

Page 6

 

11. Future Enforcement or Remedy . Any waiver, or failure to seek enforcement or remedy for any breach or suspected breach, of any provision of this Letter Agreement by the Company or you in any instance shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision in the future.

 

12. Severability . If any provision(s) of this Letter Agreement shall be found invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, in whole or in part, then such provision(s) shall be modified or restricted so as to effectuate as nearly as possible in a valid and enforceable way the provisions hereof, or shall be deemed excised from this Letter Agreement, as the case may require, and this Letter Agreement shall be construed and enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, as if such provision(s) had been originally incorporated herein as so modified or restricted or as if such provision(s) had not been originally incorporated herein, as the case may be.

 

13. Governing Law . This Letter Agreement will be governed under the internal laws of the state of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. You agree that the state and federal courts located in the state of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any action, lawsuit or proceeding based on or arising out of this Letter Agreement, and you hereby: (a) submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts; (b) consent to the service of process in connection with any action, suit, or proceeding against you; and (c) waive any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court, or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction, venue or service of process.

 

14. Right to Jury . You agree to waive any right to a jury trial on any claim contending that this Letter Agreement or any Release is illegal or unenforceable in whole or in part, and you agree to try any claims brought in a court or tribunal without use of a jury or advisory jury.

 

15. Entire Agreement . This Letter Agreement contains and comprises the entire understanding and agreement between you and the Company and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between you and the Company with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and may be amended only by a writing signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company.

 

16. Tax Withholding . Any compensation paid or provided to you under this Letter Agreement shall be subject to any applicable federal, state or local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

 

17. Assignment . The Company may assign its rights under this Letter Agreement to any successor by merger, consolidation, or sale of assets. This Letter Agreement shall be binding whether it is between the Company and you or between any such successor and you.


Mr. Dickman

July 6, 2015

Page 7

 

18. Counterparts . This Letter Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, which together shall constitute a valid and binding agreement.

 

19. Section 409A Compliance .

 

  a. To the extent that a payment or benefit under this Letter Agreement is subject to Section 409A, it is intended that this Letter Agreement as applied to that payment or benefit comply with the requirements of Section 409A, and the Letter Agreement shall be administered and interpreted consistent with this intent.

 

  b. With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses of in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A, (i) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, to be provided in any other taxable year, and (iii) such payments shall be made on or before the last day of your taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense occurred.

 

  c. For purposes of Section 409A, your right to receive any installment payments pursuant to this Letter Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Whenever a payment under this Letter Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

 

20. Employee Representation . You hereby represent to the Company that the execution and delivery of this Letter Agreement by you and the Company and the performance by you of your duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, or be prevented, interfered with or hindered by, the terms of any employment agreement or other agreement or policy to which you are a party or otherwise bound, and further that you are not subject to any limitation on your activities on behalf of the Company as a result of agreements into which you have entered except for obligations of confidentiality with former employers. To the extent this representation and warranty is not true and accurate, it shall be treated as a Cause event and the Company may terminate you for Cause or not permit you to commence employment.

 

21. Background Check . This offer, and your employment by the Company, is contingent upon completion (satisfactory to the Company) of a background reference check, employment authorization verification, and the submission of required documents.

Brian, we are looking forward to you joining the Company. We are excited about the important contributions you will make to the Company and look forward to your acceptance of our offer. If you need additional information or clarification, please call.


Mr. Dickman

July 6, 2015

Page 8

 

This offer will expire if not accepted within one week from the date of this letter. To accept, sign below and return this letter to my attention.

 

Sincerely,

/s/ Benjamin Schall

Benjamin Schall

Enclosures


Mr. Dickman

July 6, 2015

Page 9

 

I understand and am in agreement with the above terms and conditions of my prospective employment, including the employee representations set forth in the Letter Agreement. In addition, I consent to references and a background check. I acknowledge that this Letter Agreement embodies our entire employment agreement. My acceptance of this offer is made voluntarily and after careful consideration.

 

/s/ Brian Dickman

7/6/15

Brian Dickman Date

[Letter Agreement Acceptance Signature Page]