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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 2018

Registration No. 333-          

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

DDR Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ohio   34-1723097

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

(216) 755-5500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

David R. Lukes

President and Chief Executive Officer

DDR Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

(216) 755-5500

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Kimberly J. Pustulka

Jones Day

901 Lakeside Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Phone: (216) 586-3939

Fax: (216) 579-0212

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☒

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this form is a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
  Amount
to be
Registered (1)
 

Amount of

Registration Fee (2)

Debt Securities

       

Preferred Shares without par value

       

Depositary Shares Representing Preferred Shares, without par value

       

Common Shares, $0.10 par value

       

Common Share Warrants

       

Total

       

 

 

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units.
(2) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

 

LOGO

DDR Corp.

Debt Securities

Preferred Shares

Depositary Shares Representing Preferred Shares

Common Shares

Common Share Warrants

 

 

We may offer and sell from time to time our debt securities, preferred shares, depositary shares representing preferred shares, common shares and common share warrants. We may sell any combination of these securities in one or more offerings with an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price.

We will provide the specific terms of the securities to be offered in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those offered securities.

We may sell the securities directly or to or through underwriters or dealers, and also to other purchasers or through agents. The names of any underwriters or agents that are included in a sale of securities to you, and any applicable commissions or discounts, will be stated in an accompanying prospectus supplement. In addition, the underwriters, if any, may over-allot a portion of the securities.

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DDR.” Our depositary shares representing Class A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Class J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares and Class K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “DDR-PA,” “DDR-PJ” and “DDR-PK,” respectively.

 

 

Investing in any of our securities involves risks. Please read carefully the section titled “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 1 of this prospectus.

Our executive offices are located at 3300 Enterprise Parkway, Beachwood, Ohio 44122, and our telephone number is (216) 755-5500.

To assist us in maintaining our qualification as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes, our articles of incorporation contain certain restrictions on ownership of our common shares. See “Description of Common Shares — Restrictions on Ownership.”

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is June 14, 2018.


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We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus as if we had authorized it. This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate. Nor do this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference and any applicable free writing prospectus is correct on any date after their respective dates, even though this prospectus, an applicable prospectus supplement or an applicable free writing prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may have changed since those dates.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     1  

THE COMPANY

     1  

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     2  

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     4  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     7  

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

     7  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     9  

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES

     31  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES REPRESENTING PREFERRED SHARES

     39  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES

     43  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARE WARRANTS

     45  

CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS OF OHIO LAW

     46  

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     46  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     65  

LEGAL MATTERS

     67  

EXPERTS

     67  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     67  

INFORMATION WE INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE

     67  

 

-i-


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may from time to time sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings of an indeterminate number and amount of securities.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information We Incorporate by Reference.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus that we may provide you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any document incorporated by reference or any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date, other than the date of the applicable document. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company” or “DDR” mean DDR Corp. and all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and consolidated joint ventures of DDR Corp.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and, if applicable, in our most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference and may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows could suffer. In that case, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or a part of your investment.

THE COMPANY

We are an Ohio corporation and are a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or a REIT, in the business of acquiring, owning, developing, redeveloping, expanding, leasing, financing and managing shopping centers.

Our executive offices are located at 3300 Enterprise Parkway, Beachwood, Ohio 44122, and our telephone number is (216) 755-5500. Our website is located at http://www.ddr.com. Information on, or accessible through, our website is not part of, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus other than the documents that we file with the SEC and incorporate by reference into this prospectus.

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial data included in the following table has been derived from our historical consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

You should read the following selected financial data together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our historical consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The following selected financial data is not intended to replace our historical consolidated financial statements, except that share and per share information for all periods presented have been revised to reflect the 1-for-2 reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common shares that became effective as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 18, 2018.

 

(In thousands, except per share data)   For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
    2018     2017     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
    (unaudited)     (audited)  

Operating Data:

             

Revenues

  $ 215,068     $ 240,421     $ 921,588     $ 1,005,805     $ 1,028,071     $ 985,675     $ 829,935  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

             

Rental operations

    61,780       67,320       250,917       277,084       293,693       281,107       239,179  

Impairment charges

    30,444       21,973       340,480       110,906       279,021       29,175       19,044  

Hurricane casualty and impairment loss

    750       —         5,930       —         —         —         —    

General and administrative

    16,115       31,072       89,854       76,101       73,382       84,484       79,556  

Depreciation and amortization

    74,424       90,884       346,204       389,519       402,045       402,825       296,560  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    183,513       211,249       1,033,385       853,610       1,048,141       797,591       634,339  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest income

    5,341       8,392       28,364       37,054       29,213       15,927       23,541  

Interest expense

    (44,040     (51,827     (188,647     (217,589     (241,727     (237,120     (214,370

Other income (expense), net

    (61,607     (4     (68,003     3,322       (1,739     (12,262     (6,408
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (100,306     (43,439     (228,286     (177,213     (214,253     (233,455     (197,237
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before earnings from equity method investments and other items

    (68,751     (14,267     (340,083     (25,018     (234,323     (45,371     (1,641

Equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures

    8,786       (1,665     8,837       15,699       (3,135     10,989       6,819  

Reserve of preferred equity interests

    (3,961     (76,000     (61,000     —         —         —         —    

Impairment of joint venture investments

    —         —         —         —         (1,909     (30,652     (980

Gain (loss) on sale and change in control of interests, net

    —         —         368       (1,087     7,772       87,996       19,906  

Tax benefit (expense) of taxable REIT subsidiaries and state franchise and income taxes

    18       (223     (12,418     (1,781     (6,286     (1,855     (2,685
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations

    (63,908     (92,155     (404,296     (12,187     (237,881     21,107       21,419  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

    —         —         —         —         —         89,398       (31,267
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before gain on disposition of real estate

    (63,908     (92,155     (404,296     (12,187     (237,881     110,505       (9,848

Gain on disposition of real estate, net of tax

    10,011       38,127       161,164       73,386       167,571       3,060       467  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (53,897   $ (54,028   $ (243,132   $ 61,199     $ (70,310   $ 113,565     $ (9,381
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests, net

    (256     (213     1,447       (1,187     (1,858     3,717       (794
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income attributable to DDR

  $ (54,153   $ (54,241   $ (241,685   $ 60,012     $ (72,168   $ 117,282     $ (10,175
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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(In thousands, except per share data)   For the Three
Months Ended
March 31,
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
    2018     2017     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
    (unaudited)     (audited)  

Earnings per share data – Basic:

             

(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders

  $ (0.34   $ (0.33   $ (1.48   $ 0.20     $ (0.53   $ (0.01   $ (0.08

Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to DDR shareholders

    —         —         —         —         —         0.51       (0.19
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders

  $ (0.34   $ (0.33   $ (1.48   $ 0.20     $ (0.53   $ 0.50     $ (0.27
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares

    184,560       183,215       183,681       182,647       180,473       179,061       163,213  

Earnings per share data – Diluted:

             

(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders

  $ (0.34   $ (0.33   $ (1.48   $ 0.20     $ (0.53   $ (0.01   $ (0.08

Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to DDR shareholders

    —         —         —         —         —         0.51       (0.19
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders

  $ (0.34   $ (0.33   $ (1.48   $ 0.20     $ (0.53   $ 0.50     $ (0.27
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares

    184,560       183,215       183,681       182,781       180,473       179,061       163,213  

Dividends declared

    0.38       0.38       1.52       1.52       1.38       1.24       1.08  

 

(In thousands)   March 31,     December 31,  
    2018     2017     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
    (unaudited)     (audited)  

Balance Sheet Data:

             

Real estate (at cost)

  $ 8,074,030     $ 9,185,537     $ 8,248,003     $ 9,244,058     $ 10,128,199     $ 10,335,785     $ 10,228,061  

Real estate, net of accumulated depreciation

    6,110,603       7,181,124       6,294,524       7,247,882       8,065,300       8,426,200       8,401,082  

Investments in and advances to joint ventures

    333,659       395,362       383,813       454,131       467,732       414,848       448,008  

Total assets

    6,910,446       8,092,866       7,170,073       8,197,518       9,097,088       9,519,412       9,662,992  

Total indebtedness

    3,741,520       4,520,926       3,849,312       4,493,968       5,139,537       5,212,224       5,264,593  

Total equity

    2,772,323       3,127,247       2,897,438       3,246,012       3,463,469       3,797,528       3,927,879  

 

(In thousands)   For the Three
Months Ended
March 31,
    For the Year Ended December 31,  
    2018     2017     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  
    (unaudited)     (audited)  

Cash Flow Data:

             

Cash flow provided by (used for):

             

Operating activities

  $ 57,761     $ 91,907     $ 410,407     $ 460,663     $ 433,476     $ 413,222     $ 370,423  

Investing activities

    153,534       (19,435     478,608       473,033       (54,648     138,155       (884,490

Financing activities

    (240,201     (45,396     (833,516     (926,992     (378,772     (638,635     579,319  

 

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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference contain “forward-looking” information, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that is based on current expectations, estimates and projections. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements related to acquisitions (including any related pro forma financial information) and other business development activities, future capital expenditures, financing sources and availability and the effects of environmental and other regulations. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be achieved. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact should be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “will,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “potential,” “forecasts” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond our control and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and could materially affect our actual results, performance or achievements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. We expressly state that we have no current intention to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law.

Factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

    We are subject to general risks affecting the real estate industry, including the need to enter into new leases or renew leases on favorable terms to generate rental revenues, and any economic downturn may adversely affect the ability of our tenants, or new tenants, to enter into new leases or the ability of our existing tenants to renew their leases at rates at least as favorable as their current rates;

 

    We could be adversely affected by changes in the local markets where our properties are located, as well as by adverse changes in national economic and market conditions;

 

    We may fail to anticipate the effects on our properties of changes in consumer buying practices, including sales over the Internet and the resulting retailing practices and space needs of our tenants, or a general downturn in our tenants’ businesses, which may cause tenants to close stores or default in payment of rent;

 

    We are subject to competition for tenants from other owners of retail properties, and our tenants are subject to competition from other retailers and methods of distribution. We are dependent upon the successful operations and financial condition of our tenants, in particular our major tenants, and could be adversely affected by the bankruptcy of those tenants;

 

    We rely on major tenants, which makes us vulnerable to changes in the business and financial condition of, or demand for our space by, such tenants;

 

    We may not realize the intended benefits of acquisition or merger transactions. The acquired assets may not perform as well as we anticipated, or we may not successfully integrate the assets and realize improvements in occupancy and operating results. The acquisition of certain assets may subject us to liabilities, including environmental liabilities;

 

    We may fail to identify, acquire, construct or develop additional properties that produce a desired yield on invested capital, or may fail to effectively integrate acquisitions of properties or portfolios of properties. In addition, we may be limited in our acquisition opportunities due to competition, the inability to obtain financing on reasonable terms or any financing at all, and other factors;

 

   

We may fail to dispose of properties on favorable terms, especially in regions experiencing deteriorating economic conditions. In addition, real estate investments can be illiquid, particularly as

 

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prospective buyers may experience increased costs of financing or difficulties obtaining financing due to local or global conditions, and could limit our ability to promptly make changes to our portfolio to respond to economic and other conditions;

 

    We may abandon a development or redevelopment opportunity after expending resources if we determine that the development opportunity is not feasible due to a variety of factors, including a lack of availability of construction financing on reasonable terms, the impact of the economic environment on prospective tenants’ ability to enter into new leases or pay contractual rent, or our inability to obtain all necessary zoning and other required governmental permits and authorizations;

 

    We may not complete development or redevelopment projects on schedule as a result of various factors, many of which are beyond our control, such as weather, labor conditions, governmental approvals, material shortages or general economic downturn, resulting in limited availability of capital, increased debt service expense and construction costs and decreases in revenue;

 

    Our financial condition may be affected by required debt service payments, the risk of default and restrictions on our ability to incur additional debt or to enter into certain transactions under our credit facilities and other documents governing our debt obligations. In addition, we may encounter difficulties in obtaining permanent financing or refinancing existing debt. Borrowings under our revolving credit facilities are subject to certain representations and warranties and customary events of default, including any event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition;

 

    Changes in interest rates could adversely affect the market price of our common shares, as well as our performance and cash flow;

 

    Debt and/or equity financing necessary for us to continue to grow and operate our business may not be available or may not be available on favorable terms;

 

    Disruptions in the financial markets could affect our ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms and have other adverse effects on us and the market price of our common shares;

 

    We are subject to complex regulations related to our status as a REIT and would be adversely affected if we failed to qualify as a REIT;

 

    We must make distributions to shareholders to continue to qualify as a REIT, and if we must borrow funds to make distributions, those borrowings may not be available on favorable terms or at all;

 

    Joint venture investments may involve risks not otherwise present for investments made solely by us, including the possibility that a partner or co-venturer may become bankrupt, may at any time have interests or goals different from ours and may take action contrary to our instructions, requests, policies or objectives, including our policy with respect to maintaining our qualification as a REIT. In addition, a partner or co-venturer may not have access to sufficient capital to satisfy its funding obligations to the joint venture. The partner could cause a default under the joint venture loan for reasons outside of our control. Furthermore, we could be required to reduce the carrying value of our equity investments if a loss in the carrying value of the investment is realized;

 

    Our decision to dispose of real estate assets, including undeveloped land and construction in progress, would change the holding period assumption in the undiscounted cash flow impairment analyses, which could result in material impairment losses and adversely affect our financial results;

 

    The outcome of pending or future litigation, including litigation with tenants or joint venture partners, may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition;

 

   

We may not realize anticipated returns from real estate assets we may own outside the continental United States, which may carry risks in addition to those we face with our continental U.S. properties and operations. To the extent we pursue opportunities that may subject us to different or greater risks than those associated with our operations in the continental U.S., including cultural and consumer

 

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differences and differences in applicable laws and political and economic environments, these risks could significantly increase and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition;

 

    Property damage, expenses related thereto, and other business and economic consequences (including the potential loss of revenue) resulting from extreme weather conditions in locations where we own properties;

 

    Sufficiency and timing of any insurance recovery payments related to damages and lost revenues from extreme weather conditions;

 

    We are subject to potential environmental liabilities;

 

    We may incur losses that are uninsured or exceed policy coverage due to our liability for certain injuries to persons, property or the environment occurring on our properties;

 

    We could incur additional expenses to comply with or respond to claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act or otherwise be adversely affected by changes in government regulations, including changes in environmental, zoning, tax and other regulations; and

 

    Our Board of Directors, which regularly reviews our business strategy and objectives, may change our strategic plan based on a variety of factors and conditions, including in response to changing market conditions.

These factors and the other risk factors described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference, are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on us.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities offered under this prospectus for working capital and general corporate purposes including, but not limited to: the repayment of our indebtedness; the redemption of outstanding securities; the acquisition or development of properties (including using the net proceeds for possible portfolio or asset acquisitions or in business combinations or joint ventures) as suitable opportunities arise; and the expansion and improvement of certain properties in our portfolio.

Pending any specific application, we may initially invest funds in short-term marketable securities or apply them to the reduction of short-term indebtedness.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth our ratios of earnings to fixed charges and our ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends for the periods indicated. For this purpose, “earnings” consist of earnings from continuing operations, excluding income taxes, minority interest share in earnings and fixed charges, other than capitalized interest, and “fixed charges” consist of interest on borrowed funds, including amounts that have been capitalized, and amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs, debt premiums and debt discounts.

 

     Three
Months
Ended
March 31,

2018
    Year Ended December 31,  
       2017     2016      2015     2014      2013  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     (a     (c     1.3        (e     1.1        1.1  

Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends

     (b     (d     1.2        (f     1.0        1.0  

 

(a) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $58.8 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, includes consolidated impairment charges of $30.4 million, a reserve of preferred equity interests of $4.0 million and debt extinguishment costs of $56.4 million, which together aggregated $90.8 million that are discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
(b) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $67.2 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, includes consolidated impairment charges of $30.4 million, a reserve of preferred equity interests of $4.0 million and debt extinguishment costs of $56.4 million, which together aggregated $90.8 million that are discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
(c) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $224.3 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes consolidated impairment charges of $345.6 million and a reserve of preferred equity interests of $61.0 million, which together aggregated $406.6 million that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
(d) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $253.1 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes consolidated impairment charges of $345.6 million and a reserve of preferred equity interests of $61.0 million, which together aggregated $406.6 million that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

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(e) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $49.7 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes consolidated impairment charges of $279.0 million and impairment charges of joint venture investments of $1.9 million, which together aggregated $280.9 million that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
(f) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $72.0 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, includes consolidated impairment charges of $279.0 million and impairment charges of joint venture investments of $1.9 million, which together aggregated $280.9 million that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

Our senior securities will be issued under a senior indenture dated as of May 1, 1994, as amended or supplemented from time to time, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee. Our subordinated securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture dated as of May 1, 1994, as amended or supplemented from time to time, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the indentures including references to the applicable section of the indentures. It does not restate the indentures in their entirety. We urge you to read the indentures because they, and not this description, define the rights of holders of debt securities. Except as otherwise defined herein, terms used in this description but not otherwise defined herein are used as defined in the indentures. When we refer to “DDR,” “we,” “our,” “us,” and “the Company” in this section, we are referring to DDR Corp. excluding its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires or as otherwise expressly stated herein.

The indentures have been incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indentures are available for inspection at the corporate trust offices of the applicable Trustee as follows: (i) U.S. Bank National Association, 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10005, and (ii) The Bank of New York Mellon, 500 Ross Street, 12 th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15262. The indentures are subject to, and are governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. All section references appearing in this description are to sections of the applicable indenture.

General

Our debt securities will be direct, unsecured obligations. The debt securities issued under each indenture are not limited as to aggregate principal amount and may be issued in one or more series. The principal amount and series will be established from time to time in or pursuant to authority granted by a resolution of our board of directors. The principal amount and series also may be established in one or more indentures supplemental to the applicable indenture. All debt securities of one series need not be issued at the same time (section 301 of the indentures). Unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional debt securities of such series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series (section 301 of the indentures). Either Trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture, and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series.

Reference is made to each prospectus supplement for the specific terms of the series of debt securities being offered thereby, including:

(1) the title of such debt securities;

(2) the aggregate principal amount of such debt securities and any limit on such aggregate principal amount;

(3) the percentage of the principal amount at which such debt securities will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of such debt securities, or (if applicable) the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities which is convertible into our common shares or other equity securities, or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;

(4) if such debt securities are convertible, any limitation on the ownership or transferability of our common shares or other equity securities into which such debt securities are convertible in connection with the preservation of our status as a REIT;

(5) the date(s), or the method for determining the date(s), on which the principal of such debt securities will be payable;

 

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(6) the rate(s) (which may be fixed or variable) at which such debt securities will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate(s) shall be determined;

(7) the date(s), or the method for determining the date(s), from which interest, if any, will accrue;

(8) the date(s) on which any interest will be payable;

(9) the record date(s) for an interest payment, or the method by which such record date(s) shall be determined (the record date for an interest payment is the date on which a Person must be a holder in order to receive the interest payment);

(10) the Person to whom any interest shall be payable;

(11) the basis upon which any interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

(12) the place(s) where:

a. the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such debt securities will be payable;

b. such debt securities may be surrendered for conversion or registration of transfer or exchange; and

c. notices or demands in respect of such debt securities and the applicable indenture may be served;

(13) the period(s) within which, the price(s) at which, and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities may be redeemed at our option, as a whole or in part, if we are to have the option to redeem such debt securities;

(14) our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase such debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder thereof, and the period(s) within which, the price(s) at which, and the terms and conditions upon which we are obligated, if at all, to redeem, repay or purchase such debt securities, as a whole or in part, pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder thereof;

(15) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which such debt securities are denominated and payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and the terms and conditions relating thereto;

(16) whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined (the index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies);

(17) any additions to, modifications of or deletions from the terms of such debt securities with respect to the Events of Default or covenants set forth in the applicable indenture;

(18) whether such debt securities will be issued in certificated or book-entry form;

(19) whether such debt securities will be in registered or bearer form or both and, if and to the extent in registered form, the denominations thereof if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and, if and to the extent in bearer form, the denominations thereof and terms and conditions relating thereto;

(20) the applicability, if any, of the defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of the applicable indenture;

(21) the terms, if any, upon which such debt securities may be convertible into our common shares or other equity securities (and the class thereof) and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion will be effected, including, without limitation, the initial conversion price or rate and the conversion period;

 

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(22) whether and under what circumstances we will pay Additional Amounts on such debt securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem such debt securities in lieu of making such payment; and

(23) any other terms of such debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the applicable indenture.

The debt securities may provide for the payment of less than the entire principal amount upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities. Such debt securities are known as “Original Issue Discount Securities.” Any material U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable to Original Issue Discount Securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Except as set forth under the captions “Material Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Debt” and “—Maintenance of Unencumbered Real Estate Assets,” which relate solely to the senior indenture and the senior securities, or as may be contained in a supplemental indenture relating to a series of debt securities, neither indenture contains any additional provision that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of debt securities protection in a highly leveraged or similar action involving DDR or in the event of a change of control of DDR. However, certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of our common shares and other equity securities designed to preserve our status as a REIT may act to prevent or hinder a change of control. See “Description of Common Shares,” “Description of Preferred Shares” and “Description of Depositary Shares Representing Preferred Shares.” Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for information with respect to any deletion from, modification of or addition to the Events of Default or our covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

Denominations, Interest, Registration and Transfer

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of any series will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof (section 302 of the indentures).

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on any series of debt securities will be made at the corporate trust office of the applicable Trustee as follows: (i) U.S. Bank National Association, 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10005 and (ii) The Bank of New York Mellon, 500 Ross Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15262. However, we may elect to pay interest by check mailed to the address of the holder as it appears in the register for debt securities of such series or by wire transfer of funds to the holder at an account maintained within the United States (sections 301, 305, 306, 307 and 1002 of the indentures).

Any interest with respect to a debt security that is not punctually paid or duly provided for on the date the interest is due and payable will cease to be payable thereafter to the holder on the applicable record date. The interest may be paid to the holder at the close of business on a special record date fixed by the applicable Trustee for the payment of the interest. Notice of such payment must be given to the holder of such debt security not less than 10 days prior to the special record date. Such interest may also be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more completely described in the applicable indenture (section 307 of the indentures).

Subject to certain limitations applicable to debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of different authorized denominations upon surrender of such debt securities at the corporate trust office of the applicable Trustee. In addition, subject to certain limitations applicable to debt securities issued in book-entry form, the debt securities of any series may be surrendered for conversion or registration of transfer thereof at the corporate trust office of the applicable Trustee. Every debt security surrendered for conversion, registration of transfer or exchange must be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer.

 

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No service charge will be incurred for any registration of transfer or exchange of any debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith (section 305 of the indentures). If the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agent (in addition to the Trustee) that we initially designated with respect to any series of debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location at which any such transfer agent acts; however, we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place where principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities of such series are payable. We may designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of debt securities at any time (section 1002 of the indentures).

Neither DDR nor any Trustee will be required:

 

    to issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption;

 

    to register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion thereof, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part; or

 

    to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security that has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of such debt security not to be repaid (section 305 of the indentures).

Merger, Consolidation or Sale

Each indenture provides that we may consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or merge with or into, any other corporation, provided that:

(1) we are the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation expressly assumes payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest on, all of the outstanding debt securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions contained in the applicable indenture;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes our or our subsidiaries’ obligation as a result thereof as having been incurred by us or our subsidiaries at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default under the applicable indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become such an Event of Default, occurs and is continuing; and

(3) an officer’s certificate and legal opinion confirming the satisfaction of the conditions are delivered to the applicable Trustee (sections 801 and 803 of the indentures).

Material Covenants

The subordinated indenture does not contain the covenants described in this section. It also does not contain any limitation on the amount of Debt (as defined below) of any kind that we may incur or on the amount of dividends or other distributions that we may pay our shareholders. The senior indenture contains the following covenants:

Limitation on Incurrence of Debt . We will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to, incur any Debt if, immediately after the incurrence of such additional Debt, the aggregate principal amount of all our outstanding Debt on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles is greater than 65% of the sum of:

(1) our Undepreciated Real Estate Assets (as defined below) as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in our Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q most recently filed with the SEC (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, filed with the applicable Trustee) prior to the incurrence of such additional Debt; and

 

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(2) the purchase price of all real estate assets acquired by us or our subsidiaries since the end of such calendar quarter, including those obtained in connection with the incurrence of such additional Debt (section 1004 of the senior indenture).

We will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to, incur any Debt if Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service (as defined below) for any 12 consecutive calendar months within the 15 calendar months immediately preceding the date on which such additional Debt is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5 times the Maximum Annual Service Charge (as defined below) on our consolidated Debt to be outstanding immediately after the incurrence of such additional Debt (section 1004 of the senior indenture).

In addition to the foregoing limitations on the incurrence of Secured Debt, in connection with the issuance of our 4.625% Notes Due 2022, 3.375% Notes Due 2023, 3.900% Notes Due 2024, 3.625% Notes Due 2025, 4.250% Notes Due 2026 and 4.700% Notes Due 2027 we have added a covenant providing that, as long as any of our 4.625% Notes Due 2022, 3.375% Notes Due 2023, 3.900% Notes Due 2024, 3.625% Notes Due 2025, 4.250% Notes Due 2026 and 4.700% Notes Due 2027 remain outstanding, we will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to, incur any Secured Debt, if immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Secured Debt and the application of the proceeds from such Secured Debt, the aggregate amount of all of our and our subsidiaries’ outstanding Secured Debt on a consolidated basis is greater than 40% of the sum of our Total Assets as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in our Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, with the Trustee) prior to the incurrence of such additional Secured Debt and the increase, if any, in Total Assets from the end of such quarter, including, without limitation, any increase in Total Assets caused by the application of the proceeds of additional Secured Debt.

Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions . We will not:

 

    declare or pay any dividends (other than dividends payable in our capital stock) on any shares of our capital stock;

 

    apply any of our property or assets to the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of any shares of our capital stock;

 

    set apart any sum for the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement of any shares of our capital stock; or

 

    make any other distribution on any shares of our capital stock, by reduction of capital or otherwise;

if, immediately after such declaration or other such action, the aggregate of all such declarations and other actions since the date on which the indenture was originally executed exceeds the sum of (a) Funds from Operations from December 31, 1993 until the end of the latest calendar quarter covered in our Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q most recently filed with the SEC (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, with the applicable Trustee) prior to such declaration or other action and (b) $20,000,000.

This limitation does not apply to any declaration or other action referred to above which is necessary to maintain our status as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, if the aggregate principal amount of all our and our subsidiaries’ outstanding Debt at such time is less than 65% of our Undepreciated Real Estate Assets as of the end of the latest calendar quarter covered in our Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q most recently filed with the SEC (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, with the applicable Trustee) prior to such declaration or other action (section 1005 of the senior indenture).

Notwithstanding the provisions described above, we will not be prohibited from making the payment of any dividend within 30 days after the declaration thereof if, at the date of declaration, such payment would have complied with those provisions (section 1005 of the senior indenture).

 

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Existence . Except as permitted under the provisions of the senior indenture described under the caption “Merger, Consolidation or Sale,” we must preserve and keep in full force and effect our corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises. We will not be required to preserve any right or franchise if we determine that the preservation of that right or franchise is no longer desirable in the conduct of our business and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the senior securities (section 1006 of the senior indenture).

Maintenance of Properties . All of our properties that are used or useful in the conduct of our business or the business of our subsidiaries must be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment. We also are required to make all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements to our properties. We must do these things as necessary in our judgment to conduct the business carried on in connection therewith in a proper and advantageous manner at all times. However, we and our subsidiaries will not be prevented from selling or otherwise disposing of properties for value in the ordinary course of business (section 1007 of the senior indenture).

Insurance . We will, and will cause each of our subsidiaries to, keep all of our or their respective insurable properties insured against loss or damage at least equal to the properties’ then full insurable value with insurers of recognized responsibility having a rating of at least A:VIII in Best’s Key Rating Guide (section 1008 of the senior indenture).

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims . We must pay or discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same become delinquent:

(1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon us or any of our subsidiaries or upon our or any of our subsidiaries’ income, profits or property; and

(2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies that, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon our property or the property of any of our subsidiaries.

However, we will not be required to pay or discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged, any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings (section 1009 of the senior indenture).

Provision of Financial Information . Whether or not we are subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, we must, to the extent permitted under the Exchange Act, file with the SEC the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which we would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to such Section 13 or 15(d) if we were so subject, on or prior to the respective dates by which we would have been required to file such documents. We must also in any event:

(1) within 15 days after such document would have been required to be filed:

a. mail to all holders of senior securities, as their names and addresses appear in the register for debt securities of each series, without cost to such holders, copies of such annual reports and quarterly reports which we would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if we were subject to those sections; and

b. file with the applicable Trustee copies of such annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents which we would have been required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if we were subject to those Sections; and

(2) if we are not permitted to file such documents with the SEC under the Exchange Act, we must supply copies of such documents to any prospective holder of senior securities promptly upon written request and payment of the reasonable cost of duplication and delivery of such documents (section 1010 of the senior indenture).

 

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Maintenance of Unencumbered Real Estate Assets . We must maintain an Unencumbered Real Estate Asset Value of not less than 135% of the aggregate principal amount of all our and our subsidiaries’ outstanding unsecured Debt (section 1011 of the senior indenture).

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Each indenture provides that the following events are “Events of Default” with respect to any series of debt securities issued thereunder:

(1) default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest, Additional Amounts or coupons on any debt security of such series;

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any debt security of such series at the time such payment becomes due and payable;

(3) default in making any sinking fund payment as required for any debt security of such series;

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any other covenant or warranty contained in the applicable indenture continued for 60 days after written notice as provided in such indenture; however, default in the performance, or breach, of a covenant or warranty added to such indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities issued thereunder other than such series is not an Event of Default;

(5) default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness of the Company or under any mortgage, indenture or other instrument of the Company under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness of the Company (or by any subsidiary, the repayment of which the Company has guaranteed or for which the Company is directly responsible or liable as obligor or guarantor), which results in the acceleration of indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000, but only if such indebtedness is not discharged or such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled as provided in the applicable indenture;

(6) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee, of the Company or of any significant subsidiary of the Company as defined in Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or of the respective property of either; and

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to that series of debt securities (section 501 of the indentures).

If an Event of Default occurs under either indenture with respect to Outstanding debt securities of any series issued thereunder and is continuing, then the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by written notice to us. If the holders give notice to us, they must also give notice to the applicable Trustee. If the debt securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, the amount declared to be due and payable will be such portion of the principal amount as specified in the terms thereof. However, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of such series (or of all debt securities then Outstanding under such indenture, as the case may be) has been made, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series or of each series of debt securities then Outstanding under such indenture, as the case may be, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) we have deposited with the applicable Trustee all required payments of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts payable on the debt securities of such series or of all debt securities then Outstanding under such indenture, as the case may be, plus certain fees, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee; and

(2) all Events of Default have been cured or waived as provided in such indenture (except for the nonpayment of accelerated principal (or specified portion thereof) with respect to debt securities of such series or of all debt securities then Outstanding under such indenture) (section 502 of the indentures).

 

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The indentures also provide that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series or of each series of debt securities then Outstanding under the applicable indenture, as the case may be, may waive any past default with respect to such series and its consequences.

However, holders may not waive a default:

 

    in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security of such series; or

 

    in respect of a covenant or provision contained in such indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Outstanding debt security affected thereby (section 513 of the indentures).

Each indenture provides that the applicable Trustee is required to give notice to the holders of debt securities issued thereunder within 90 days of a default under such indenture. However, the Trustee may withhold notice of any default to the holders of any such series of debt securities if certain officers of such Trustee consider such withholding to be in the interest of the holders. The Trustee may not withhold notice with respect to a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security or in the payment of any sinking installment in respect of any debt security (section 601 of the indentures).

Each indenture provides that no holder of debt securities of any series issued thereunder may institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to such indenture or for any remedy thereunder. However, a holder of debt securities may institute a proceeding if the applicable Trustee fails to act for 60 days after it has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an Event of Default from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of such series, as well as an offer of reasonable indemnity (section 507 of the indentures). However, this provision will not prevent any holder of debt securities from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities held by that holder at the respective due dates thereof (section 508 of the indentures).

Subject to provisions in the applicable indenture relating to its duties in case of default and unless holders of any series of debt securities then Outstanding under such indenture have offered reasonable security or indemnity to the Trustee, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of the holders (section 602 of the indentures). The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of any series (or of each series of debt securities then Outstanding under such indenture, as the case may be) shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to such Trustee. They also have the right to direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust or power conferred upon such Trustee. However, such Trustee may refuse to follow any direction which is in conflict with such indenture or any law which may involve the Trustee in personal liability or which may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of debt securities of such series not joining therein (section 512 of the indentures).

Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, we must deliver to each Trustee a certificate signed by one of several specified officers. The certificate must state whether such officer has knowledge of any default under the applicable indenture and, if so, specify each such default and the nature and status thereof (section 1012 of the senior indenture and section 1004 of the subordinated indenture).

Modification of the Indentures

Modifications and amendments to either indenture may be made only with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding debt securities issued thereunder which are affected by such modification or amendment. However, unless the consent of the holder of each affected debt security is obtained, no modification or amendment may:

 

    change the date specified in any such debt security as the fixed date on which the principal thereof is due and payable;

 

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    change the date specified in any such debt security as the fixed date on which any installment of interest (or premium, if any) is due and payable;

 

    reduce the principal amount of any such debt security;

 

    reduce the rate or amount of interest on any such debt security;

 

    reduce the premium payable on redemption of any such debt security;

 

    reduce any Additional Amount payable in respect of any such debt security;

 

    reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or would be provable in bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment of the holder of any such debt security;

 

    change the place of payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any such debt security;

 

    change the currency or currencies for payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on such debt security;

 

    change our obligation to pay Additional Amounts;

 

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any such debt security;

 

    reduce the percentage of Outstanding debt securities of any series necessary to modify or amend the applicable indenture, to waive compliance with certain provisions thereof or certain defaults and consequences thereunder, or to reduce the quorum or voting requirements set forth in such indenture; or

 

    modify any of the foregoing provisions or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of certain past defaults or certain covenants, except to increase the required percentage to effect such action or to provide that certain other provisions may not be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of such debt security (section 902 of the indentures).

The senior indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of Outstanding debt securities issued thereunder have the right to waive our compliance with certain covenants in the senior indenture, including those described in the section of this prospectus captioned “Material Covenants” (section 1014 of the senior indenture).

DDR and the applicable Trustee may modify and amend either indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities issued thereunder for any of the following purposes:

 

    to evidence the succession of another Person to our obligations under such indenture;

 

    to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities issued thereunder or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in such indenture;

 

    to add Events of Default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities issued thereunder;

 

    to add or change any provisions of such indenture to facilitate the issuance of, or to liberalize certain terms of, debt securities issued thereunder in bearer form, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of such debt securities in uncertificated form, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of such debt securities of any series in any material respect;

 

    to change or eliminate any provision of such indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there are no debt securities Outstanding of any series issued thereunder which are entitled to the benefit of such provision;

 

    to secure the debt securities issued thereunder;

 

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    to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series issued thereunder, including the provisions and procedures, if applicable, for the conversion of such debt securities into our common shares or preferred shares;

 

    to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee;

 

    to facilitate the administration of the trusts under such indenture by more than one Trustee;

 

    to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in such indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of holders of debt securities of any series issued thereunder; or

 

    to supplement any of the provisions of such indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities issued thereunder; however, such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of any series issued thereunder (section 901 of the indentures).

Each indenture provides that in determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding debt securities of a series issued thereunder have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver thereunder or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of holders of such debt securities:

 

    the principal amount of an Outstanding Original Issue Discount Security shall be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the security;

 

    the principal amount of an Outstanding debt security denominated in a foreign currency shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on the issue date for such debt security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent on the issue date of such debt security in the amount determined as provided above);

 

    the principal amount of an Outstanding Indexed Security shall be the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Indexed Security pursuant to section 301 of such indenture; and

 

    debt securities owned by us, any other obligor upon the debt securities, any of our Affiliates or of such other obligor shall be disregarded (section 101 of the indentures).

Each indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of an issued series of debt securities (section 1501 of the indentures). The applicable Trustee may call a meeting at any time. DDR or the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of such series may also call a meeting upon request. Notice of a meeting must be given as provided in the applicable indenture (section 1502 of the indentures). Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each debt security affected by certain modifications and amendments of such indenture, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series. However, except as referred to above, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage which is less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any duly held meeting of holders of debt securities of any series will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be the persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of a series.

 

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However, if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of such series will constitute a quorum (section 1504 of the indentures).

Notwithstanding the provisions described above, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of holders of debt securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that the applicable indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding debt securities affected thereby, or of the holders of such series and one or more additional series:

(1) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

(2) the principal amount of the Outstanding debt securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under such indenture (section 1504 of the indentures).

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the applicable Trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with such Trustee, in trust, funds in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on such debt securities in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit if such debt securities have become due and payable or to the date specified in such debt securities as the fixed date on which the payment of principal and interest on such debt securities is due and payable or the date fixed for redemption of such debt securities, as the case may be (section 401 of the indentures). Funds shall be deposited in such currency or currencies, currency unit(s) or composite currency or currencies in which such debt securities are payable.

Each indenture provides that, if the provisions of Article Fourteen thereof (relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance) are made applicable to the debt securities of or within any series issued thereunder, we may elect either:

(1) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to such debt securities. However, we will not be discharged from the obligation to pay Additional Amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of certain events of tax, assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on such debt securities. In addition, we will not be discharged from the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such debt securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of such debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust (“defeasance”) (section 1402 of the indentures); or

(2) to be released from our obligations relating to (a) sections 1004 to 1011, inclusive, of the senior indenture (being the restrictions described under the caption “Material Covenants”) and, if provided under the senior indenture, our obligations with respect to any other covenant contained in the senior indenture, and (b) if provided under the subordinated indenture, our obligations with respect to any covenant contained in the subordinated indenture, and any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default with respect to such debt securities (“covenant defeasance”) (section 1403 of the indentures).

Defeasance or covenant defeasance will occur upon our irrevocable deposit with the applicable Trustee, in trust, of an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments, on their scheduled due dates. The amount deposited will be in Government Obligations (as defined below) or such currency or currencies, currency unit(s) or composite currency or currencies in which such debt securities are payable at maturity, or both.

 

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Such a trust may be established only if, among other things, we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the applicable indenture) to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. In the case of defeasance, the opinion of counsel must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable United States federal income tax law occurring after the date of such indenture (section 1404 of the indentures).

Government Obligations ” means securities that are

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America or the government which issued the foreign currency in which the debt securities of a particular series are payable, and for which the full faith and credit of the applicable government is pledged; or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such government which issued the foreign currency in which the debt securities of such series are payable. The payment of these obligations must be unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government, and the obligations may not be callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof. Such obligations also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt (section 101 of the indentures).

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if after we have deposited funds and/or Government Obligations to effect defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series:

(1) the holder of a debt security of such series is entitled to, and does, elect under the applicable indenture or the terms of such debt security to receive payment in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than that in which such deposit has been made in respect of such debt security; or

(2) a Conversion Event (as defined below) occurs in respect of the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such deposit has been made;

the indebtedness represented by such debt security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded by converting the amount deposited in respect of such debt security into the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such debt security becomes payable as a result of such election or such cessation of usage based on the applicable market exchange rate (section 1405 of the indentures).

Conversion Event ” means the cessation of use of:

(1) a currency, currency unit or composite currency both by the government of the country which issued such currency and for the settlement of actions by a central bank or other public institution of or within the international banking community;

(2) the ECU both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Communities; or

(3) any currency unit or composite currency other than the ECU for the purposes for which it was established (section 101 of the indentures).

 

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Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, all payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any debt security that is payable in a foreign currency that ceases to be used by its government of issuance shall be made in U.S. dollars.

In the event we effect covenant defeasance with respect to any debt securities and such debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, other than:

(1) with respect to senior securities, the Event of Default described in clause (4) under “Events of Default, Notice and Waiver”; or

(2) with respect to all debt securities, the Event of Default described in clause (7) under “Events of Default, Notice and Waiver” with respect to any other covenant as to which there has been covenant defeasance;

the amount in such currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such debt securities are payable, and Government Obligations on deposit with the applicable Trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the fixed date on which they become due and payable but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. In any such event, we would remain liable to make payment of such amounts due at the time of acceleration.

The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting such defeasance or covenant defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions described above, with respect to the debt securities of or within a particular series.

Senior Securities and Senior Indebtedness

Each series of senior securities will constitute Senior Indebtedness (as described below) and will rank equally with each other series of senior securities and other Senior Indebtedness. All subordinated indebtedness will be subordinated to the senior securities and other Senior Indebtedness. Subordinated indebtedness includes, but is not limited to, all subordinated securities issued under the subordinated indenture.

Senior Indebtedness is defined in the subordinated indenture to mean:

(1) the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on indebtedness for money borrowed;

(2) purchase money and similar obligations;

(3) obligations under capital leases;

(4) guarantees, assumptions or purchase commitments relating to indebtedness of others, or other transactions as a result of which we are responsible for the payment of indebtedness of others;

(5) renewals, extensions and refunding of any such indebtedness;

(6) interest or obligations in respect of any indebtedness accruing after the commencement of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings; and

(7) obligations associated with derivative products such as interest rate and currency exchange contracts, foreign exchange contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements.

The indebtedness or obligations described above are not Senior Indebtedness to the extent the instrument by which we incurred, assumed or guaranteed the indebtedness or obligations provides that such indebtedness or obligation is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any of our other indebtedness or obligations.

Subordination of Subordinated Securities

Subordinated Indenture . The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest payments on the subordinated securities will be subordinated as set forth in the subordinated indenture to our Senior Indebtedness whether

 

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outstanding on the date of the subordinated indenture or thereafter incurred (section 1701 of the subordinated indenture).

Ranking . No class of subordinated securities is subordinated to any other class of subordinated debt securities. See “Subordination Provisions” below.

Subordination Provisions . In the event:

(1) of any distribution of our assets upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceeding or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of our assets and liabilities or otherwise, except a distribution in connection with a merger or consolidation or a conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of our properties which complies with the requirements of Article Eight of the subordinated indenture;

(2) that a default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness; or

(3) that the principal of the subordinated securities of any series issued under the subordinated indenture (or in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the portion of the principal amount thereof referred to in section 502 of the subordinated indenture) shall have been declared due and payable pursuant to section 502 of the subordinated indenture, and such declaration has not been rescinded and annulled, then:

a. in a circumstance described in clause (1) or (2) above, the holders of all Senior Indebtedness, and in the circumstance described in clause (3) above, the holders of all Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the time the principal of such issued subordinated securities (or in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount) has been declared due and payable, shall first be entitled to receive payment of the full amount due thereon in respect of principal, premium (if any) and interest, or provision shall be made for such payment in money or money’s worth, before the holders of any of the subordinated securities are entitled to receive any payment on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the subordinated securities;

b. any payment by us, or distribution of our assets, of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than certain subordinated securities issued in a reorganization or readjustment), to which the holder of any of the subordinated securities would be entitled except for the provisions of Article Seventeen of the subordinated indenture shall be paid or delivered by the Person making such payment or distribution directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (as provided in clause (a) above), or on their behalf, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as provided in clause (a) above) before any payment or distribution is made to or in respect of the holders of the subordinated securities. Such payment or distribution will be made ratably according to the aggregate amount remaining unpaid on account of such Senior Indebtedness. The amount of Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid shall be calculated after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution (or provisions therefor) to the holders of Senior Indebtedness; and

c. in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by us, or distribution of our assets, of any kind or character is received by the holders of any of the subordinated securities issued under the subordinated indenture before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or on their behalf, ratably as stated above, for application to the payment of all such Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full. The amount of Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid shall be calculated after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution (or provisions therefor) to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

Because of subordination in favor of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in the event of insolvency, certain of our general creditors, including holders of Senior Indebtedness, may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the subordinated securities.

 

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Convertible Debt Securities

The following provisions will apply to debt securities that will be convertible into our common shares or other equity securities (“Convertible debt securities”) unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement for such Convertible debt securities.

Our board of directors will determine the terms and conditions of any Convertible debt securities, if any, issued pursuant to the senior indenture (“Senior Convertible debt securities”). Such terms and conditions may include whether the Senior Convertible debt securities are convertible into our common or preferred shares (including, without limitation, the initial conversion price or rate, the conversion period, any adjustment of the applicable conversion price and any requirements relative to the reservation of such shares for purposes of conversion) (section 301 of the senior indenture).

The holder of any Convertible debt securities issued pursuant to the subordinated indenture (“Subordinated Convertible debt securities”) will have the right to convert those Subordinated Convertible debt securities into our common shares or other equity securities at the conversion price or rate for each $1,000 principal amount of Subordinated Convertible debt securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. This conversion right is exercisable at any time during the time period specified in the applicable prospectus supplement unless the Subordinated Convertible debt security has been previously redeemed. The holder of any Subordinated Convertible debt security may convert a portion thereof, which is $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 (section 1602 of the subordinated indenture). In the case of Subordinated Convertible debt securities called for redemption, conversion rights will expire at the close of business on the date fixed for the redemption specified in the prospectus supplement. However, in the case of repayment at the option of the applicable holder, conversion rights will terminate upon our receipt of written notice of the exercise of such option (section 1602 of the subordinated indenture).

In certain events, the conversion price or rate will be subject to adjustment as contemplated in the subordinated indenture. For debt securities convertible into common shares, such events include:

 

    the issuance of our common shares as a dividend;

 

    subdivisions and combinations of common shares;

 

    the issuance to all holders of rights or warrants entitling such holders of common shares to subscribe for a purchase of common shares at a price per share less than the current market price per common share; and

 

    the distribution to all holders of common shares of shares of our capital stock (other than common shares), evidences of our indebtedness or assets (excluding cash dividends or distributions paid from our retained earnings or subscription rights or warrants other than those referred to above).

The conversion price or rate is not required to be adjusted if the adjustment would require a cumulative increase or decrease in price or rate of less than 1% (section 1605 of the subordinated indenture). Fractional common shares will not be issued upon conversion; instead, we will pay cash adjustments (section 1606 of the subordinated indenture). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Subordinated Convertible debt securities convertible into common shares surrendered for conversion between any record date for an interest payment and the related interest payment date (except such Subordinated Convertible debt securities called for redemption on a redemption date during such period) must be accompanied by the interest payment that the holder thereof is entitled to receive (section 1604 of the subordinated indenture).

To protect our status as a REIT, a Person may not own or convert any Subordinated Convertible debt security if as a result of such ownership or upon such conversion such Person would then be deemed to Beneficially Own more than 5.0% of our outstanding capital stock (section 1601 of the subordinated indenture). For purposes of determining the percentage ownership of our common shares or other equity securities held by

 

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an investor, common shares or other equity securities that may be acquired upon the conversion of Convertible debt securities directly or constructively held by such investor, but not common shares or other equity securities issuable with respect to the conversion of Convertible debt securities held by others, are deemed to be outstanding (a) at the time of purchase of the Convertible debt securities, and (b) prior to the conversion of the Convertible debt securities.

The adjustment provisions for debt securities convertible into our equity securities other than common shares will be determined at the time of issuance of such debt securities and will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, any Convertible debt securities called for redemption, unless surrendered for conversion on or before the close of business on the redemption date, are subject to being purchased from the holder of such Convertible debt securities by one or more investment bankers or other purchasers who may agree with us to purchase such Convertible debt securities and convert them into our common shares or other equity securities, as the case may be (section 1108 of the indentures).

Reference is made to the sections captioned “Description of Common Shares,” “Description of Preferred Shares” and “Description of Depositary Shares Representing Preferred Shares” for a general description of securities to be acquired upon the conversion of Convertible debt securities, including a description of certain restrictions on the ownership of the common shares and the preferred shares.

The Trustees

U.S. Bank National Association serves as Trustee for our senior securities pursuant to the senior indenture. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as Trustee for our subordinated securities pursuant to the subordinated indenture.

Definitions

Set forth below are defined terms used in the indentures. Reference is made to the indentures for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

Additional Amounts ” means any additional amounts which are required by a debt security or by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by us in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain holders and which are owing to such holders.

Affiliate ” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. Control means the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Beneficially Own ” means the ownership of our common shares by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such common shares either directly or through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(b)(1)(B) of the Code.

Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service ” for any period means Consolidated Net Income (as defined below) of DDR and its subsidiaries:

(1) plus amounts which have been deducted for:

a. interest on our and our subsidiaries’ Debt;

b. provision for our and our subsidiaries’ taxes based on income;

 

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c. amortization of debt discount;

d. depreciation and amortization; and

(2) adjusted, as appropriate, for:

a. the effect of any noncash charge resulting from a change in accounting principles in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period; and

b. the effect of equity in net income or loss of joint ventures in which we own an interest to the extent not providing a source of, or requiring a use of, cash, respectively.

Consolidated Net Income ” for any period means the amount of our and our subsidiaries’ net income (or loss) for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Debt ” means any of our or our subsidiaries’ indebtedness, whether or not contingent, in respect of:

(1) borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;

(2) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on property owned by us or our subsidiaries;

(3) letters of credit or amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

(4) any lease of property by us or our subsidiaries as lessee which is reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as a capitalized lease in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, in the case of items of indebtedness under (1) through (3) above to the extent that any such items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability on our Consolidated Balance Sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Debt also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of ours or our subsidiaries to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise (other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business), indebtedness of another Person (other than us or our subsidiaries). Debt shall be deemed to be incurred by us or our subsidiaries whenever we or any such subsidiary shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof.

Funds from Operations ” for any period means the Consolidated Net Income of us and our subsidiaries for such period without giving effect to depreciation and amortization, gains or losses from extraordinary items, gains or losses on sales of real estate (except for real estate sold through our or our subsidiaries’ merchant building program), gains or losses on investments in marketable securities and any provision/benefit for income taxes for such period, plus funds from operations of unconsolidated joint ventures, all determined on a consistent basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Holder ” means the Person in whose name a debt security is registered in the register for each series of debt securities.

Indexed Security ” means a debt security for which the principal amount payable on the date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which the principal of such security is due and payable may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

Maximum Annual Service Charge ” as of any date means the maximum amount which may become payable in a period of 12 consecutive calendar months from such date for interest on, and required amortization of, Debt. The amount payable for amortization will include the amount of any sinking fund or other analogous fund for the retirement of Debt. It will also include the amount payable on account of principal of any such Debt which matures serially other than at the final maturity date of such Debt.

 

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Outstanding ,” when used with respect to debt securities, means, as of the date of determination, all debt securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under the indenture, except:

(1) debt securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(2) debt securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment at the option of the holder money in the necessary amount has been deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than by us) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by us (if we shall act as our own paying agent) for the holders of such debt securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, provided that, if such debt securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to the indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(3) debt securities, except to the extent provided in sections 1402 and 1403 of the indenture, with respect to which we have effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance;

(4) debt securities which have been paid pursuant to section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other debt securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the indenture, other than any such debt securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such debt securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such debt securities are our valid obligations; and

(5) debt securities converted into common shares or preferred shares in accordance with or as contemplated by the indenture, if the terms of such debt securities provide for convertibility pursuant to section 301;

provided, however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent of waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended:

(1) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

(2) the principal amount of any debt security denominated in a foreign currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined pursuant to section 301 as of the date such debt security is originally issued by us, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (1) above) of such debt security;

(3) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Indexed Security pursuant to section 301; and

(4) debt securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the debt securities or any Affiliate of ours or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only debt securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to any such debt securities and that the pledgee is not us or any other obligor upon the debt securities or any Affiliate of ours or of such other obligor.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

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Secured Debt ” means, without duplication, Debt that is secured by a mortgage, trust deed, deed of trust, deed to secure Debt, security agreement, pledge, conditional sale or other title retention agreement, capitalized lease, or other like agreement granting or conveying security title to or a security interest in real property or other tangible asset(s). Secured Debt shall be deemed to be incurred (i) on the date the obligor thereon creates, assumes, guarantees or otherwise becomes liable in respect thereof if it is secured in the manner described in the preceding sentence on such date or (ii) on the date the obligor thereon first secures such Debt in the manner described in the preceding sentence if such Debt was not so secured on the date it was incurred.

Subsidiary ” means an entity a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by us or by one or more of our other subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Total Assets ” as of any date means the sum of (i) Undepreciated Real Estate Assets and (ii) all other assets of the Company and its subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (but excluding intangibles and trade receivables related to rent and other charges derived from leases with tenants) after eliminating intercompany accounts and transactions.

Undepreciated Real Estate Assets ” as of any date means the amount of our and our subsidiaries’ real estate assets on such date, before depreciation and amortization and determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Unencumbered Real Estate Asset Value ” as of any date means the sum of:

(1) our Undepreciated Real Estate Assets, which are not encumbered by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge or security interest, as of the end of the latest calendar quarter covered in our Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the SEC (or, if that filing is not required under the Exchange Act, with the Trustee) prior to such date; and

(2) the purchase price of any real estate assets that are not encumbered by any mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, or security interest and were acquired by us or any subsidiary after the end of such calendar quarter.

Book-Entry Debt Securities

We may issue debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities. We will deposit such global securities with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue global securities in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities that are represented by a global security will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. We will make payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on debt securities represented by a global security to the applicable trustee under the applicable indenture, which will then forward such payments to the depository.

We anticipate that any global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”), and that such global securities will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee. We further anticipate that the following provisions will apply to the depository arrangements with respect to any such global securities. We will describe any additional or differing terms of the depository arrangements in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities issued in the form of global securities.

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole holder of the debt securities represented by such global security for all

 

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purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

(1) will not be entitled to have debt securities represented by such global security registered in their names;

(2) will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in certificated form; and

(3) will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture.

The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in certificated form; accordingly, such laws may limit the transferability of beneficial interests in a global security.

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, each global security representing book-entry notes will be exchangeable for certificated notes only if:

(1) DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository or DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act (if so required by applicable law or regulation) and, in either case, a successor depository is not appointed by us within 90 days after we receive such notice or become aware of such unwillingness, inability or ineligibility;

(2) we, in our sole discretion, determine that the global securities shall be exchangeable for certificated notes; or

(3) there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default under an indenture with respect to the notes and beneficial owners representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the book-entry notes represented by global securities advise DTC to cease acting as depository. Upon any such exchange, owners of a beneficial interest in the global security or securities representing book-entry notes will be entitled to physical delivery of individual debt securities in certificated form of like tenor and rank, equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest, and to have such debt securities in certificated form registered in the names of the beneficial owners, which names shall be provided by DTC’s relevant participants (as identified by DTC) to the applicable trustee.

Unless we describe otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities so issued in certificated form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof, and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.

DTC will act as securities depository for the debt securities. The debt securities will be issued as fully-registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One fully-registered debt security certificate will be issued for each issue of the debt securities, each in the aggregate principal amount of such issue, and will be deposited with DTC. If, however, the aggregate principal amount of any issue exceeds $500 million, one certificate will be issued with respect to each $500 million of principal amount, and an additional certificate will be issued with respect to any remaining principal amount of such issue.

The following is based on information furnished to us by DTC.

DTC, the world’s largest securities depository, is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments (from over 100 countries) that DTC’s participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales

 

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and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The DTC rules applicable to its Participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com. Information contained on, or accessible through, these websites is not part of, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.

Purchases of debt securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each debt security (“Beneficial Owner”) is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in debt securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the debt securities is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the debt securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identities of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Beneficial Owners of Securities may wish to take certain steps to augment the transmission to them of notices of significant events with respect to the Securities, such as redemptions, tenders, defaults, and proposed amendments to the Security documents. For example, Beneficial Owners of Securities may wish to ascertain that the nominee holding the Securities for their benefit has agreed to obtain and transmit notices to Beneficial Owners. In the alternative, Beneficial Owners may wish to provide their names and addresses to the registrar and request that copies of notices be provided directly to them.

Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the debt securities within an issue are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to debt securities unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s MMI Procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts debt securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

 

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Redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments on the debt securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the applicable Trustee, on the payment date in accordance with the respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the applicable Trustee, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

A Beneficial Owner shall give notice to elect to have its debt securities purchased or tendered, through its Participant, to the tender agent, and shall effect delivery of such debt securities by causing the Direct Participant to transfer the Participant’s interest in the debt securities, on DTC’s records, to the tender agent. The requirement for physical delivery of debt securities in connection with an optional tender or a mandatory purchase will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the debt securities are transferred by Direct Participants on DTC’s records and followed by a book-entry credit of tendered debt securities to the tender agent’s DTC account.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository with respect to the debt securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the applicable Trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depository is not obtained, debt security certificates are required to be printed and delivered.

We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, debt security certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

Unless stated otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the underwriters or agents with respect to a series of debt securities issued as global securities will be Direct Participants in DTC.

Neither we, the applicable Trustee nor any applicable tender or paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interest.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES

Capitalization

Our articles of incorporation authorize us to issue up to:

 

    750,000 Class A Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class A Shares, of which 350,000 shares have been designated as 6.375% Class A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

    750,000 Class B Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class B Shares;

 

    750,000 Class C Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class C Shares;

 

    750,000 Class D Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class D Shares;

 

    750,000 Class E Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class E Shares;

 

    750,000 Class F Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class F Shares;

 

    750,000 Class G Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class G Shares;

 

    750,000 Class H Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class H Shares;

 

    750,000 Class I Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class I Shares;

 

    750,000 Class J Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class J Shares, of which 400,000 shares have been designated as 6.50% Class J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

    750,000 Class K Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the Class K Shares, of which 300,000 shares have been designated as 6.250% Class K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares;

 

    750,000 Noncumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, or the noncumulative shares; and

 

    2,000,000 Cumulative Voting Preferred Shares, without par value, or the cumulative voting preferred shares.

General

We refer to the Class A Shares, the Class B Shares, the Class C Shares, the Class D Shares, the Class E Shares, the Class F Shares, the Class G Shares, the Class H Shares, the Class I Shares, the Class J Shares, the Class K Shares and the noncumulative shares collectively as the nonvoting preferred shares.

The outstanding nonvoting preferred shares are represented by depositary shares. Each depositary share represents a fractional interest in the respective preferred share. The preferred shares have been deposited with a depositary, under a deposit agreement between us, the depositary and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. The depositary receipts evidence the depositary shares. Each holder of a depositary receipt evidencing a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of a fractional interest in a corresponding preferred share, including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights and preferences.

The following description summarizes certain general terms and provisions of each class of nonvoting preferred shares and the cumulative voting preferred shares. This summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you. For more detail, you should refer to the applicable provisions of our articles of incorporation and code of regulations that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Except as discussed below, the nonvoting preferred shares rank on a parity with each other and are identical to each other. The cumulative voting preferred shares rank equally, except with respect to voting rights, with all of the nonvoting preferred shares. Dividends on the Class A Shares, the Class B Shares, the Class C Shares, the

 

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Class D Shares, the Class E Shares, the Class F Shares, the Class G Shares, the Class H Shares, the Class I Shares, the Class J Shares, the Class K Shares and the cumulative voting preferred shares will be cumulative, while dividends on the noncumulative shares will not be cumulative.

Prior to the issuance of shares of each series of each class of nonvoting preferred shares, our board of directors may, under our articles of incorporation and Ohio law, fix:

 

    the designation of the series;

 

    the authorized number of shares of the series. Our board of directors may, except when otherwise provided in the creation of the series, increase or decrease the authorized number of shares before or after issuance of the series (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding);

 

    the dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

 

    the date(s) from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and, with respect to all nonvoting preferred shares, the date on which and the period(s) for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such date(s) and period(s) may be established;

 

    redemption rights and prices, if any;

 

    the terms and amounts of the sinking fund, if any;

 

    the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs;

 

    whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into common shares or shares of any other class;

 

    if the shares are convertible, the conversion rate(s) or price(s), any adjustments to the rate or price and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

 

    restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same or any other class or series.

Rank

All preferred shares will be equal to all other preferred shares with respect to dividend rights (subject to dividends on noncumulative shares being noncumulative) and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

The preferred shares will:

 

    rank prior to all classes of common shares and to all other equity securities ranking junior to such preferred shares with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up;

 

    be equal to all of our equity securities the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities are equal to the preferred shares with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up; and

 

    be junior to all of our equity securities the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank prior to the preferred shares with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

Dividends

The holders of each series of each class of preferred shares are entitled to receive, if, when and as declared, out of funds legally available for payment, dividends in cash at the rate determined for such series in preference to the holders of common shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the preferred shares.

 

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Dividends shall be payable on the date fixed for such series. Dividends with respect to each series of Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and the cumulative voting preferred shares will be cumulative from the dates fixed for the series. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear on our stock transfer books on the record dates fixed by our board of directors. Any dividend payment made on the preferred shares that have been designated under the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares and Class K Shares, which we refer to collectively as the designated preferred shares, will first be credited against the earliest accumulated but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable.

Dividends on our preferred shares will accumulate whether or not we have earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are declared.

Accumulated but unpaid dividends on the designated preferred shares will not bear interest.

If preferred shares are outstanding, dividends may not be paid or declared or set apart for any series of preferred shares for any dividend period unless at the same time:

 

    a proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date for all issued and outstanding shares of all series of such class entitled to receive such dividend (but, if such series are series of noncumulative shares, then only with respect to the current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, have been paid or declared or set apart; and

 

    the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date for all other classes of issued and outstanding preferred shares entitled to receive such dividends (but, with respect to noncumulative shares, only with respect to the then-current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, have been paid or declared and set apart.

If any series of preferred shares is outstanding, a dividend shall not be paid or declared or any distribution made in respect of the common shares or any other shares ranking junior to such series of preferred shares, and common shares or any other shares ranking junior to such series of preferred shares shall not be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by us unless:

 

    all accrued and unpaid dividends on all classes of outstanding preferred shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods for the nonvoting preferred shares (except, with respect to noncumulative shares, for the then-current dividend period only), have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart; and

 

    with respect to the nonvoting preferred shares, there are no arrearages with respect to the redemption of any series of any class of preferred shares from any sinking fund provided for such class in accordance with our articles of incorporation. However, common shares and any other shares ranking junior to such series of preferred shares may be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired using the proceeds of a sale of common shares or other shares junior to such preferred shares received subsequent to the first date of issuance of such preferred shares. In addition, we may pay or declare or distribute dividends payable in common shares or other shares ranking junior to such preferred shares.

The preceding restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of, common shares or any other shares ranking equal to or junior to any class of preferred shares generally will be inapplicable to:

 

    any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares, upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise in the case of the nonvoting preferred shares;

 

    the conversion of preferred shares into common shares; or

 

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    the exercise of our rights to repurchase shares of capital stock in order to preserve our status as a REIT under the Code.

When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for full payment is not set apart) upon the preferred shares of any series and the shares of any other series of preferred shares ranking on a parity as to dividends with such series, all dividends declared upon preferred shares of such series and any other series of preferred shares ranking on a parity as to dividends with such preferred shares shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on the shares of such series of preferred shares shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the preferred shares of such series (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods for noncumulative shares) and such other series bear to each other.

Redemption

If our board of directors so provides, a series of preferred shares will be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at our option, as a whole or in part, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the redemption prices determined by our board of directors. The redemption price per share will include an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends on such preferred shares as of the date of redemption; however, the redemption price of noncumulative shares will include only unpaid dividends for the current dividend period. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property.

We may not purchase or redeem, for sinking fund purposes or otherwise, less than all of a class of outstanding preferred shares except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of such class, unless all dividends on that class of outstanding preferred shares for previous and current dividend periods (except, in the case of noncumulative shares, dividends for the current dividend period only) have been declared and paid or funds set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto have been complied with. However, we may repurchase shares of capital stock in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Code.

If fewer than all of our outstanding shares of any class of preferred shares are to be redeemed, we will determine the number of shares to be redeemed. Our board of directors will determine the manner for selecting by lot the shares to be redeemed.

We will mail notice of redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of a preferred share to be redeemed at the address shown on our stock transfer books. If fewer than all the preferred shares of any series are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption will also specify the number of preferred shares to be redeemed from each holder. If notice of redemption of any preferred shares has been given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by us in trust for the benefit of the holders of the preferred shares to be redeemed, dividends will cease to accrue on such preferred shares. In addition, the holders of preferred shares to be redeemed will cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares and will have no right or claim against us with respect to such shares as of the redemption date. However, such holders will have the right to receive the redemption price without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexercised privileges of conversion.

The terms of redemption, if any, for the existing classes of preferred shares are included in our articles of incorporation that are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of our voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of any series of any class of preferred shares shall be entitled to receive in full out of our assets, including our capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the common shares or any other shares ranking junior to such

 

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series, the amounts fixed by our board of directors with respect to such series. In addition, each holder will receive an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid on that series of preferred shares to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. However, holders of noncumulative shares will only receive dividends for the current dividend period. After holders of the preferred shares are paid the full preferential amounts to which they are entitled, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.

If liquidating distributions are made in full to all holders of preferred shares, our remaining assets will be distributed among the holders of any other classes or series of capital stock ranking junior to the preferred shares upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. The distributions will be made according to the holders’ respective rights and preferences and, in each case, according to their respective number of shares. Our merger or consolidation into or with any other corporation, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of our assets, shall not constitute a dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

Voting Rights

Nonvoting Preferred Shares

Holders of nonvoting preferred shares have only the voting rights described below that apply to all preferred shares, whether nonvoting or voting, and as from time to time required by law.

If and when we are in default in the payment of (or, with respect to noncumulative shares, have not paid or declared and set aside a sum sufficient for the payment of) dividends on any series of any class of outstanding nonvoting preferred shares, for dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of shares of such class, voting separately as a class, together and combined with all other preferred shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, will be entitled to elect a total of two members to our board of directors. This voting right shall be vested and any additional directors shall serve until all accrued and unpaid dividends (except, with respect to noncumulative shares, only dividends for the then-current dividend period) on such outstanding preferred shares have been paid or declared and a sufficient sum set aside for payment thereof.

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of a class of outstanding nonvoting preferred shares, voting separately as a class, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

 

    The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, ranking prior to such class of nonvoting preferred shares; or

 

    Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of our articles of incorporation or our code of regulations which adversely and materially affects the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such class of nonvoting preferred shares which are set forth in our articles of incorporation. However, the amendment of our articles of incorporation to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of a class of such preferred shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to such class of preferred shares does not adversely and materially affect preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such class of preferred shares. In addition, amending the code of regulations to change the number or classification of our directors does not adversely or materially affect preferences or voting rights or other rights. Voting shall be done in person at a meeting called for one of the above purposes or in writing by proxy.

The preceding voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time of the action with respect to which such vote would be required, all outstanding shares of such series of preferred shares have been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

 

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Cumulative Voting Preferred Shares.

If and when we are in default in the payment of dividends on the cumulative voting preferred shares, for at least six dividend payment periods, whether or not consecutive, all holders of shares of such class, voting separately as a class, together and combined with all other preferred shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, will be entitled to elect a total of two members to our board of directors. This voting right shall be vested and any additional directors shall serve until all accrued and unpaid dividends (except, with respect to noncumulative shares, only dividends for the then-current dividend period) on such outstanding preferred shares have been paid or declared and a sufficient sum set aside for payment thereof.

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding cumulative voting preferred shares, voting separately as a class, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

 

    Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any of the provisions of, or the addition of any provisions to, our articles of incorporation or code of regulations, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, which we refer to as an event, that materially adversely affects the voting powers, rights or preferences of the holders of the cumulative voting preferred shares; provided, however, that the amendment of the provisions of the articles of incorporation (a) so as to authorize or create, or to increase the authorized amount of, or issue, any shares ranking junior to the cumulative voting preferred shares or any shares of any class or series of shares ranking on a parity with the cumulative voting preferred shares or (b) with respect to the occurrence of any event, so long as the cumulative voting preferred shares remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that upon the occurrence of the event, we may not be the surviving entity, shall not in either case be deemed to materially adversely affect the voting power, rights or preferences of the holders of cumulative voting preferred shares; or

 

    the authorization, creation of, increase in the authorized amount of, or issuance of any shares of any class or series of shares ranking prior to the cumulative voting preferred shares or any security convertible into shares of any class or series of shares ranking prior to the cumulative voting preferred shares (whether or not such class or series of shares ranking prior to the cumulative voting preferred shares is currently authorized).

The preceding voting provisions will not apply, if at or prior to the time of the action with respect to which such vote would be required, all outstanding shares of such series of cumulative voting preferred shares have been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

In addition to the foregoing, the holders of cumulative voting preferred shares shall be entitled to vote on all matters on which holders of our common shares may vote and shall be entitled to one vote for each cumulative voting preferred share entitled to vote at such meeting.

General

Without limiting the provisions described above, under Ohio law, holders of each class of preferred shares will be entitled to vote as a class on any amendment to our articles of incorporation, whether or not they are entitled to vote thereon by our articles of incorporation, if the amendment would:

 

    increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class;

 

    change the issued shares of such class into a lesser number of shares of such class or into the same or different number of shares of another class;

 

    change or add to the express terms of the shares of the class in any manner substantially prejudicial to the holders of such class;

 

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    change the express terms of any class of issued shares ranking prior to the particular class in any manner substantially prejudicial to the holders of shares of the particular class;

 

    authorize shares of another class that are convertible into, or authorize the conversion of shares of another class into, shares of the particular class, or authorize the directors to fix or alter conversion rights of shares of another class that are convertible into shares of the particular class;

 

    reduce or eliminate our stated capital;

 

    substantially change our purposes; or

 

    change the Company into a nonprofit corporation.

If, and only to the extent that:

 

    a class of preferred shares is issued in more than one series; and

 

    Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class;

the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of such class of outstanding preferred shares, voting separately as a class, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of our articles of incorporation or our code of regulations which adversely and materially affects the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series as set forth in our articles of incorporation. However, the amendment of our articles of incorporation so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of a class of preferred shares or of any shares ranking equal to or junior to such class of preferred shares does not adversely and materially affect the preference or voting or other rights of the holders of such series. In addition, the amendment of our code of regulations to change the number or classification of our directors does not adversely and materially affect the preference or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Restrictions on Ownership

In order to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals during the last half of a taxable year. “Individual” is defined in the Code to include certain entities. In addition, our capital stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. We also must satisfy certain other requirements. For more information on restrictions on ownership, see “Description of Common Shares—Restrictions on Ownership.”

To help ensure that five or fewer individuals do not own more than 50% in value of our outstanding preferred shares, our articles of incorporation provide that, subject to certain exceptions, no one may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8%, which we refer to as the preferred shares ownership limit, of any series of any class of our outstanding preferred shares. In addition, because rent from a related party tenant (any tenant 10% of which is owned, directly or constructively, by a REIT, including an owner of 10% or more of a REIT) is not qualifying rent for purposes of the gross income tests under the Code, our articles of incorporation provide that no individual or entity may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code (which differ from the attribution provisions applied to the preferred shares ownership limit), in excess of 9.8%, which we refer to as the preferred shares related party limit, of our outstanding preferred shares. Our board of directors may exempt a person from the preferred shares ownership limit if the person would not be deemed an “individual” and may exempt a person from the preferred shares related party limit. As a condition of any exemption, our board of directors will require appropriate representations and undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving our REIT status.

The preceding restrictions on transferability and ownership of preferred shares may not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.

 

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Even if the REIT provisions of the Code are changed so as to no longer contain any ownership concentration limitation or if the ownership concentration limitation is increased, the preferred shares ownership limit and the preferred shares related party limit will not be automatically removed. Any change in the preferred shares ownership limit or the preferred shares related party limit would require an amendment to our articles of incorporation, even if our board of directors determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in our best interests. Amendments to our articles of incorporation require the affirmative vote of holders owning not less than a majority of our outstanding common shares. If it is determined that an amendment would materially and adversely affect the holders of any class of preferred shares, such amendment would also require the affirmative vote of holders of not less than two-thirds of such class of preferred shares.

If preferred shares in excess of the preferred shares ownership limit or the preferred shares related party limit are issued or transferred to any person absent a waiver of such limit, such issuance or transfer will be null and void to the intended transferee, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to the shares. In addition, if an issuance or transfer would cause our shares to be beneficially or constructively owned by fewer than 100 persons or would result in our being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, such issuance or transfer will be null and void to the intended transferee, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to the shares. Preferred shares transferred or proposed to be transferred in excess of the preferred shares ownership limit or the preferred shares related party limit or which would otherwise jeopardize our REIT status will be subject to repurchase by us. The purchase price of such preferred shares will be equal to the lesser of:

 

    the price in such proposed transaction; and

 

    the fair market value of such shares reflected in the last reported sales price for the shares on the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we or our designee determine to exercise our repurchase right if the shares are listed on a national securities exchange, or such price for the shares on the principal exchange if the shares are then listed on more than one national securities exchange.

If the shares are not listed on a national securities exchange, the purchase price will be equal to the lesser of:

 

    the price in such proposed transaction; and

 

    the latest bid quotation for the shares if the shares are then traded over the counter, or, if such quotation is not available, the fair market value as determined by our board of directors in good faith, on the last trading day immediately preceding the day on which notice of such proposed purchase is sent by us.

From and after the date fixed for our purchase of such preferred shares, the holder will cease to be entitled to distributions, voting rights and other benefits with respect to such shares except the right to payment of the purchase price for the shares. Any dividend or distribution paid to a proposed transferee on such preferred shares must be repaid to us upon demand. If the foregoing transfer restrictions are determined to be void or invalid by virtue of any legal decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the intended transferee of any such preferred shares may be deemed, at our option, to have acted as our agent in acquiring such preferred shares and to hold such preferred shares on our behalf.

All certificates for preferred shares will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

Our articles of incorporation provide that all persons who own, directly or by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 5% of the preferred shares must give written notice to us stating the name and address of such person, the number of shares owned, and a description of how such shares are held each year by January 31. In addition, each of those shareholders must provide supplemental information that we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our status as a REIT.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES REPRESENTING PREFERRED SHARES

General

We may issue receipts for depositary shares representing preferred shares, or depositary receipts. Each depositary receipt will represent a fractional interest or a share of a particular series of a class of nonvoting preferred shares, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Preferred shares of each series of each class represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement among us, the depositary named therein and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary receipt will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred shares represented by such depositary shares including dividend, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights. Such rights and preferences will be proportionate to the fractional interest of a share of the particular series of preferred shares represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipt. As of the date of this prospectus:

 

    depositary shares, each representing 1/20 of a share of the 6.375% Class A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DDR-PA;

 

    depositary shares, each representing 1/20 of a share of the 6.50% Class J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DDR-PJ; and

 

    depositary shares, each representing 1/20 of a share of the 6.250% Class K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DDR-PK.

See “Description of Preferred Shares.”

The depositary shares representing preferred shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement. Immediately after we issue and deliver the preferred shares to the depositary, we will cause the depositary to issue the depositary receipts on our behalf. Copies of the applicable form of deposit agreement and depositary receipt may be obtained from us upon request.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on behalf of the preferred shares proportionately to the record holders of the related depositary receipts owned by such holder. Such distributions are subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the depositary.

In the event of a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property it receives to the record holders of depositary receipts entitled to the property unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds of such sale to holders. Such distributions by the depositary are subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the depositary.

Withdrawal of Shares

Unless the related depositary shares representing preferred shares have previously been called for redemption, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary, the holders thereof will be entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon such holder’s order, of the number of whole or fractional preferred shares and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts. Holders of depositary receipts will be entitled to receive whole or fractional shares of the related preferred shares on the basis of the proportion of preferred shares represented by each depositary share as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, but holders of such preferred shares will not

 

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thereafter be entitled to receive depositary shares representing preferred shares therefor. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the preferred shares to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing such excess number of depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares Representing Preferred Shares

Whenever we redeem preferred shares held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the preferred shares so redeemed, provided we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred shares to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption. With respect to noncumulative shares, dividends will be paid for the current dividend period only. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable with respect to the preferred shares. If less than all the depositary shares representing preferred shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares representing preferred shares to be redeemed will be selected by the depositary by lot.

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares representing preferred shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares representing preferred shares called for redemption will cease. However, the holders will have the right to receive any moneys payable upon redemption and any money or other property that the holders of such depositary receipts were entitled to at the time of redemption when they surrender their depositary receipts to the depositary.

Voting of the Underlying Preferred Shares

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred shares are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in such notice to the record holders of the depositary receipts related to such preferred shares. Each record holder of depositary receipts on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights of the preferred shares related to such holder’s depositary receipts. The record date for depositary receipts will be the same date as the record date for preferred shares. The depositary will vote the preferred shares related to such depositary receipts in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action that the depositary deems necessary to enable it to vote the preferred shares. The depositary will abstain from voting preferred shares represented by such depositary shares to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, each holder of a depositary receipt will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each preferred share represented by the depositary share evidenced by such depositary receipt, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Conversion of Preferred Shares

The depositary shares representing preferred shares, as such, are not convertible into common shares or any of our other securities or property. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of depositary shares representing preferred shares, the depositary receipts may be surrendered by holders thereof to the depositary with written instructions to the depositary to instruct us to cause conversion of the preferred shares represented by the depositary shares into whole common shares, other preferred shares or other shares of capital stock. We have agreed that upon receipt of such instructions and any amounts payable in respect thereof, we will cause the conversion thereof utilizing the same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred shares to effect such conversion. If the depositary shares representing preferred shares evidenced by

 

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a depositary receipt are to be converted in part only, one or more new depositary receipts will be issued for any depositary shares not to be converted. No fractional common shares will be issued upon conversion. If conversion will result in a fractional share being issued, we will pay in cash an amount equal to the value of the fractional interest based upon the closing price of the common shares on the last business day prior to the conversion.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares which represent the preferred shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between the depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary receipts will not be effective unless it has been approved by the existing holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares evidenced by outstanding depositary receipts.

We may terminate the deposit agreement upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to the depositary if (1) such termination is to preserve our status as a REIT or (2) a majority of each class of preferred shares affected by such termination consents to such termination. Upon termination of the deposit agreement, the depositary shall deliver or make available to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of the depositary receipts held by such holder, such number of whole or fractional preferred shares as are represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

(1) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed;

(2) there has been a final distribution in respect of the related preferred shares in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares representing such preferred shares; or

(3) each related preferred share shall have been converted into capital stock that is not represented by depositary shares.

Charges of Preferred Shares Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the deposit agreement. In addition, we will pay the fees and expenses of the depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement. However, holders of depositary receipts will pay the depositary’s fees and expenses for any duties that holders request to be performed which are outside those expressly provided for in the deposit agreement.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its resignation, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary. A successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal. A successor depositary must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000.

Miscellaneous

The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts any reports and communications from us which it receives with respect to the related preferred shares.

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if it is prevented from or delayed, by law or any circumstances beyond its control, in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the Company

 

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and the depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performing our respective duties thereunder in good faith and without negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct. DDR and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary receipts, depositary shares or preferred shares represented thereby unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. DDR and the depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred shares represented thereby for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent to give such information, and on documents believed to be genuine and signed by a proper party.

If the depositary shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any holders of depositary receipts, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand, the depositary shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from us.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES

Capitalization

Our articles of incorporation authorize us to issue up to 300,000,000 common shares, $0.10 par value per share.

General

The following description summarizes certain general terms and provisions of our common shares. This summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you. For more detail, you should refer to the applicable provisions of our articles of incorporation and our code of regulations that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Holders of our common shares are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available therefor. Any payment and declaration of dividends by us on our common shares and purchases thereof will be subject to certain restrictions if we fail to pay dividends on any outstanding preferred shares. See “Description of Preferred Shares—Dividends.” If we are liquidated, dissolved or involved in any winding-up, the holders of our common shares are entitled to receive ratably any assets remaining after we have fully paid all of our liabilities, including the preferential amounts we owe with respect to any preferred shares. Holders of our common shares possess ordinary voting rights, with each share entitling the holder to one vote. Holders of our common shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Holders of our common shares do not have preemptive rights, which means that they have no right to acquire any additional common shares that we may subsequently issue.

Restrictions on Ownership

In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, not more than 50% in value of our outstanding capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals during the last half of a taxable year. “Individual” is defined in the Code to include certain entities. In addition, our capital stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Additionally, certain other requirements must be satisfied.

To help ensure that five or fewer individuals do not own more than 50% in value of our outstanding common shares, our articles of incorporation provide that, subject to certain exceptions (including those set forth below), no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 5%, which we refer to as the ownership limit, of our outstanding common shares. The “existing holder,” which includes, collectively, (a) Iris Wolstein and/or all descendants of Iris Wolstein (which includes Scott A. Wolstein (our former Chief Executive Officer and former director)), (b) trusts or family foundations established for the benefit of the individuals named in (a) above and (c) other entities controlled by the individuals named in (a) above (or trusts or family foundations established for the benefit of those individuals) may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, no more than 5.1% of our outstanding common shares. The “exempt holder,” which includes, collectively, (x) Professor Werner Otto, his wife Maren Otto and/or all descendants of Professor Werner Otto, including, without limitation, Alexander Otto (a current director), (y) trusts or family foundations established for the benefit of the individuals named in (x) above and (z) other entities controlled by the individuals named in (x) above (or trusts or family foundations established for the benefit of those individuals) may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, no more than 29.8% of our outstanding common shares.

In addition, because rent from a related party tenant (any tenant 10% of which is owned, directly or constructively, by a REIT, including an owner of 10% or more of a REIT) is not qualifying rent for purposes of the gross income tests under the Code, our articles of incorporation provide that no individual or entity may own,

 

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or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code (which differ from the attribution provisions applied to the ownership limit), in excess of 9.8% of our outstanding common shares, which we refer to as the related party limit. Our board of directors may exempt a person from the ownership limit if the person would not be deemed an “individual” and may exempt a person from the related party limit if an opinion of counsel or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, is provided to our board of directors to the effect that the ownership will not then or in the future jeopardize our status as a REIT. Our board of directors may also exempt the exempt holder and any person who would constructively own common shares constructively owned by the exempt holder from the ownership limit in its sole discretion. As a condition of any exemption, our board of directors will require appropriate representations and undertakings from the applicant with respect to preserving our REIT status.

Additionally, our articles of incorporation prohibit any transfer of common shares that would cause us to cease to be a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” as defined in Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

The preceding restrictions on transferability and ownership of common shares may not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT. The ownership limit and the related party limit will not be automatically removed even if the REIT provisions of the Code are changed to no longer contain any ownership concentration limitation or if the ownership concentration limitation is increased. In addition to preserving our status as a REIT, the effects of the ownership limit and the related party limit are to prevent any person or small group of persons from acquiring unilateral control of us. Any change in the ownership limit, other than modifications that may be made by our board of directors as permitted by our articles of incorporation, requires an amendment to the articles of incorporation, even if our board of directors determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in our best interests. Amendments to the articles of incorporation require the affirmative vote of holders owning a majority of our outstanding common shares. If it is determined that an amendment would materially and adversely affect the holders of any class of preferred shares, that amendment also would require the affirmative vote of holders of two-thirds of the affected class of preferred shares.

Our articles of incorporation provide that upon a transfer or non-transfer event that results in a person beneficially or constructively owning common shares in excess of the applicable ownership limits or that results in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, the person, which we refer to as a prohibited owner, will not acquire or retain any rights or beneficial economic interest in the shares that would exceed such applicable ownership limits or result in us being closely held, which we refer to as excess shares. Instead, the excess shares will be automatically transferred to a person or entity unaffiliated with and designated by us to serve as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of a charitable beneficiary to be designated by us within five days after the discovery of the transaction that created the excess shares. The trustee will have the exclusive right to designate a person who may acquire the excess shares without violating the applicable restrictions, which we refer to as a permitted transferee, to acquire all of the shares held by the trust. The permitted transferee must pay the trustee an amount equal to the fair market value (determined at the time of transfer to the permitted transferee) for the excess shares. The trustee will pay to the prohibited owner the lesser of (a) the value of the shares at the time they became excess shares and (b) the price received by the trustee from the sale of the excess shares to a permitted transferee. The beneficiary will receive the excess of (x) the sale proceeds from the transfer to a permitted transferee over (y) the amount paid to the prohibited owner, if any, in addition to any dividends paid with respect to the excess shares.

All certificates representing our common shares bear a legend referring to the preceding restrictions.

Our articles of incorporation provide that all persons who own, directly or by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 5% of our outstanding common shares must give written notice to us stating the name and address of such person, the number of shares owned, and a description of how such shares are held each year by January 31. In addition, each of those shareholders must provide supplemental information that we may request, in good faith, in order to determine our status as a REIT.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARE WARRANTS

We may issue common share warrants for the purchase of common shares. We may issue common share warrants independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement. The common share warrants we issue may be attached to or separate from such offered securities. Each series of common share warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the common share warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of common share warrants. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the common share warrants that may be offered under this Registration Statement. Further terms of the common share warrants and the applicable warrant agreements will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the common share warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, where applicable, the following:

(1) the title of such common share warrants;

(2) the aggregate number of such common share warrants;

(3) the price or prices at which such common share warrants will be issued;

(4) the number of common shares purchasable upon exercise of such common share warrants;

(5) the designation and terms of the other offered securities with which such common share warrants are issued and the number of such common share warrants issued with each such offered security;

(6) the date, if any, on and after which such common share warrants and the related common shares will be separately transferable;

(7) the price at which each common share purchasable upon exercise of such common share warrants may be purchased;

(8) the date on which the right to exercise such common share warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

(9) the minimum or maximum amount of such common share warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

(10) information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

(11) a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and

(12) any other terms of such common share warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such common share warrants.

You should also read the section captioned “Description of Common Shares” for a general description of the common shares to be acquired upon the exercise of the common share warrants, including a description of certain restrictions on the ownership of common shares. We will treat as outstanding any common shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of common share warrants, directly or constructively held by an investor, at the following times:

(1) at the time of acquisition of the common share warrants; and

(2) prior to the exercise of the common share warrants, for purposes of determining the percentage ownership of common shares held by such investor.

 

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CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS OF OHIO LAW

Certain provisions of Ohio law may have the effect of discouraging or rendering more difficult an unsolicited acquisition of a corporation or its capital stock to the extent the corporation is subject to those provisions. We have opted out of one such provision. We remain subject to the remaining provisions, which are described below.

Chapter 1704 of the Ohio Revised Code prohibits certain transactions, including mergers, sales of assets, issuances or purchases of securities, liquidation or dissolution, or reclassifications of the then-outstanding shares of an Ohio corporation with 50 or more shareholders involving, or for the benefit of, certain holders of shares representing 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation (any such shareholder, a “10% Shareholder”), unless:

(1) the transaction is approved by the directors before the 10% Shareholder becomes a 10% Shareholder;

(2) the acquisition of 10% of the voting power is approved by the directors before the 10% Shareholder becomes a 10% Shareholder; or

(3) the transaction involves a 10% Shareholder who has been a 10% Shareholder for at least three years and is approved by the directors before the 10% Shareholder becomes a 10% Shareholder, is approved by holders of two-thirds of our voting power and the holders of a majority of the voting power not owned by the 10% Shareholder, or certain price and form of consideration requirements are met.

Chapter 1704 of the Ohio Revised Code may have the effect of deterring certain potential acquisitions of us which might be beneficial to shareholders.

Section 1707.041 of the Ohio Revised Code regulates certain “control bids” for corporations in Ohio with certain concentrations of Ohio shareholders and permits the Ohio Division of Securities to suspend a control bid if certain information is not provided to offerees.

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to our qualification and taxation as a REIT and the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the common shares and debt securities offered by this prospectus. If we offer one or more additional series of common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, debt securities or warrants to acquire common shares, the prospectus supplement would include information about additional material U.S. federal income tax considerations to holders of any of the offered securities.

The information in this section is based on the Code, current, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS (including its practices and policies as expressed in certain private letter rulings which are not binding on the IRS except with respect to the particular taxpayers who requested and received such rulings), and court decisions, all as of the date of this prospectus. Future legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations and practices and court decisions may adversely affect, perhaps retroactively, the tax considerations described herein. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, any rulings from the IRS concerning our tax treatment and the statements in this prospectus are not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, we can provide no assurance that these statements will not be challenged by the IRS or sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS.

This summary assumes that the securities offered by this prospectus will be held as a capital asset (generally, property held for investment) within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This summary is for

 

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general information only, and does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of its investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of holders subject to special tax rules, such as financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations (except to the extent discussed under the subheading “—Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares,” below), broker-dealers, partnerships and other pass-through entities, shareholders holding our common shares as part of a conversion transaction, or a hedge or hedging transaction or as a position in a straddle for tax purposes, and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) (except to the extent discussed under the subheading “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares,” below).

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of holders of our common shares and holders of our debt securities offered by this prospectus depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. In addition, the tax consequences to any particular shareholder of holding our common shares or debt securities offered by this prospectus will depend on the shareholder’s particular tax circumstances.

You are urged to consult with your tax advisors regarding the specific tax consequences to you of the acquisition, ownership and sale of our common shares and debt securities, including the federal, state, local, foreign and other tax consequences of such acquisition, ownership and sale and of potential changes in applicable tax laws.

Taxation of the Company

General . We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1993. We believe that we have been organized and have operated in a manner that has allowed us to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1993, and we intend to continue to operate in this manner.

The law firm of Jones Day has acted as our tax counsel in connection with the filing of this prospectus. We have received the opinion of Jones Day to the effect that we have qualified as a REIT under the Code, for our taxable years ended December 31, 1993 through December 31, 2017, and our current and proposed method of operation will enable us to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for our taxable year ending December 31, 2018 and for future taxable years. The opinion of Jones Day is based on current law, which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. It must be emphasized that the opinion of Jones Day is based upon certain assumptions and representations as to factual matters made by us, including representations made by us in a representation letter and certificate provided by one of our officers and our factual representations set forth in this prospectus. Any variation from the factual statements set forth herein or in the representation letter and certificate we have provided to Jones Day may affect the conclusions upon which its opinion is based. While we intend to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of certain determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given by Jones Day or by us that we will qualify as a REIT for any particular year.

Furthermore, an opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or any court and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our qualification as a REIT. Moreover, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability, through actual annual operating results and methods of operation, to satisfy the various qualification tests imposed under the Code discussed below, including income types, asset composition and distribution levels, the results of which have not been and will not be reviewed or verified by Jones Day. In addition, our qualification and taxation as a REIT also depend on the satisfaction of certain requirements imposed under the Code discussed below with regard to the diversity of ownership of our shares, which Jones Day has not reviewed or verified and will not review or verify. Furthermore, our ability to qualify as a REIT also depends in part upon the operating results, organizational structure and entity classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes of certain affiliated entities, including affiliates that have made elections to be taxed as

 

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REITs and for whom the actual results of the various REIT qualification tests are not being reviewed by Jones Day. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operation or the diversity of our share ownership for any particular year have satisfied or will satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

Similarly, we have significant subsidiaries that have elected to be taxed as REITs and are therefore subject to the same qualification tests.

Provided we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income taxes on our taxable income that is distributed currently to our shareholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (once at the corporate level when earned and once again at the shareholder level when distributed) that generally results from investment in a C corporation. However, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as follows:

First , we will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.

Second , if we have (a) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” (defined generally as property we acquired through foreclosure or after a default on a loan secured by the property or a lease of the property) which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (b) other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate on this income.

Third , we will be subject to a 100% tax on any net income from prohibited transactions (which are, in general, certain sales or other dispositions of property (other than foreclosure property) held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business).

Fourth , if we fail to satisfy the 75% or 95% gross income tests (as discussed below), but have maintained our qualification as a REIT because we satisfied certain other requirements, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to (a) the gross income attributable to the greater of the amounts by which we fail the 75% or 95% gross income tests multiplied by (b) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

Fifth , if we fail to satisfy any of the REIT asset tests (as described below) by more than a de minimis amount, due to reasonable cause and we nonetheless maintain our REIT qualification because of specified cure provisions, we will be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets that caused us to fail such test.

Sixth , if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year (other than certain long-term capital gains for which we make a capital gains designation (described below) and on which we pay the tax), and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.

Seventh , if we acquire any asset from a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which the basis of the asset in our hands is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of the C corporation, and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the five-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then we will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate tax rate on the excess of (a) the fair market value of the asset over (b) our adjusted basis in the asset, in each case determined as of the date we acquired the asset. The results described in this paragraph with respect to the recognition of gain assume that we will not make an election pursuant to existing Treasury Regulations to recognize such gain at the time we acquire the asset.

Eighth , we will be required to pay a 100% tax on any “redetermined rents,” “redetermined deductions” or “excess interest.” In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished to any of our tenants by a “taxable REIT subsidiary” of ours. Redetermined deductions and excess interest generally represent amounts that are deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours for

 

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amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations.

Ninth , if we fail to satisfy any provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT (other than a violation of the REIT gross income tests or certain violations of the asset tests described below) and the violation is due to reasonable cause, we may retain our REIT qualification but we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT . The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

(1) that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

(2) that issues transferable shares or transferable certificates to evidence its beneficial ownership;

(3) that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for the special provisions of the Code applicable to REITs;

(4) that is not a financial institution or an insurance company within the meaning of the Code;

(5) that is beneficially owned by 100 or more persons;

(6) not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of each taxable year;

(7) that meets certain other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions;

(8) that elects to be a REIT, or has made such election for a previous year, and satisfies the applicable filing and administrative requirements to maintain qualification as a REIT; and

(9) that adopts a calendar year accounting period.

The Code provides that conditions (1) to (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. Conditions (5) and (6) do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. For purposes of condition (6), certain pension funds and other tax-exempt entities are treated as individuals, subject to a “look-through” exception with respect to certain pension funds. We believe that we have satisfied, or will satisfy, each of the above conditions. In addition, our articles of incorporation and code of regulations provide for restrictions regarding ownership and transfer of shares. These restrictions are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. In general, if we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, our status as a REIT will terminate. However, if we comply with the rules in applicable Treasury Regulations that require us to ascertain the actual ownership of our shares, and we do not know, or would not have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that we failed to meet the requirement described in condition (6) above, we will be treated as having met this requirement.

Ownership of Interests in Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies . In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership or a member in a limited liability company treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Treasury Regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership or limited liability company, based on its capital interest in the partnership or limited liability company, subject to special rules relating to the 10% REIT asset test (described below). Also, the REIT will be deemed to be entitled to its proportionate share of the income of that entity. The assets and items of gross income of the partnership or limited liability company retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income of partnerships and limited liability companies taxed as

 

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partnerships, in which we are, directly or indirectly through other partnerships or limited liability companies taxed as partnerships, a partner or member, are treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the REIT qualification requirements described in this prospectus (including the income and asset tests described below).

Ownership of Interests in Qualified REIT Subsidiaries . We own 100% of the stock of a number of corporate subsidiaries that are qualified REIT subsidiaries (each, a “QRS”) and may acquire stock of one or more new subsidiaries. A corporation qualifies as a QRS if 100% of its outstanding stock is held by us, and we do not elect to treat the corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary, as described below. A QRS is not treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of a QRS are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit for all purposes of the Code, including the REIT qualification tests. For this reason, references to our income and assets include the income and assets of any QRS. A QRS is not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and our ownership of the voting stock of a QRS is ignored for purposes of determining our compliance with the ownership limits described below under the subheading “— Asset Tests.”

Ownership of Interests in Taxable REIT Subsidiaries . REITs may own more than 10% of the voting power and value of securities in a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). A TRS is a corporation other than a REIT in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock, and that has made a joint election with the REIT to be treated as a TRS. A TRS also includes any corporation other than a REIT with respect to which a TRS owns securities possessing more than 35% of the total voting power or value of the outstanding securities of such corporation. Other than some activities relating to lodging and health care facilities, a TRS may generally engage in any business, including the provision of customary or non-customary services to tenants of its parent REIT. A TRS is subject to income tax as a regular C corporation. A REIT’s ownership of securities of a TRS will not be subject to the 10% or 5% asset tests described below, and its operations will be subject to the provisions described above.

Income Tests . We must satisfy two gross income requirements annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT. First, in each taxable year at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages secured by real property, including “rents from real property,” dividends from other REITs, interest income derived from mortgage loans secured by real property and gains from the sale of real estate assets (other than gain from the sale or other disposition of a Non-Qualified Publicly Offered REIT Debt Instrument, as defined below), as well as certain types of temporary investment income. Second, in each taxable year at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) must be derived directly or indirectly from income from the real property investments described above or dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities (or from any combination of the foregoing).

Rents we receive will qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of satisfying the gross income tests for a REIT described above only if all of the following conditions are met:

 

    The amount of rent must not be based in any way on the income or profits of any person, although rents generally will not be excluded solely because they are based on a fixed percentage or percentages of gross receipts or gross sales.

 

   

We, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the value of our outstanding shares, must not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the interests in the tenant, or, if the tenant is a corporation, 10% or more of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the tenant. Rents received from such tenant that is our TRS, however, will not be excluded from the definition of “rents from real property” as a result of this condition if at least 90% of the space at the property to which the rents relate is leased to third parties, and the rents paid by the TRS are comparable to rents paid by our other tenants for comparable space. Whether rents paid by a TRS are substantially comparable to rents

 

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paid by other tenants is determined at the time the lease with the TRS is entered into, extended, and modified, if such modification increases the rents due under such lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if a lease with a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is modified and such modification results in an increase in the rents payable by such TRS, any such increase will not qualify as “rents from real property.” For purposes of this rule, a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is a TRS in which we own shares possessing more than 50% of the voting power or more than 50% of the total value of outstanding shares of such TRS.

 

    Rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is not greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease. If this condition is not met, then the portion of the rent attributable to personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property.”

 

    For rents received to qualify as “rents from real property,” the REIT generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of the property (subject to a 1% de minimis exception), other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT derives no revenue or through a TRS. The REIT may, however, directly perform certain services that are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant” of the property. Any amounts we receive from a TRS with respect to the TRS’s provision of non-customary services will, however, be nonqualifying income under the 75% gross income test and, except to the extent received through the payment of dividends, the 95% gross income test.

We do not intend to charge rent for any property that is based in whole or in part on the net income or profits of any person (except by reason of being based on a percentage of gross receipts or sales, as heretofore described), and we do not intend to rent any personal property (other than in connection with a lease of real property where less than 15% of the total rent is attributable to personal property). We directly perform services under certain of our leases, but such services are not rendered to the occupant of the property. Furthermore, these services are usual and customary management services provided by landlords renting space for occupancy in the geographic areas in which we own property. To the extent that the performance of any services provided by us would cause amounts received from our tenants to be excluded from rents from real property, we intend to hire a TRS, or an independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue, to perform such services.

On February 23, 2009, we entered into a stock purchase agreement with Mr. Alexander Otto to issue and sell to him, Katharina Otto-Bernstein, Dr. Michael Otto and Janina Otto, whom we refer to collectively as the Otto Family, our common shares representing in excess of 20% of our outstanding common shares. In connection therewith, we entered into a waiver agreement pursuant to which we agreed to waive the related party limit contained in our articles of incorporation that would otherwise have prohibited the Otto Family (and other persons who may be deemed to have constructive ownership of common shares owned by the Otto Family) from constructively owning more than 9.8% of our outstanding common shares.

The waiver agreement contains provisions for monitoring and restricting ownership by the Otto Family of our tenants. These provisions, however, may not ensure that rents from our tenants will qualify as “rents from real property.”

For purposes of these gross income tests, the term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued (directly or indirectly) if the determination of some or all of the amount depends in any way on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.

From time to time, we enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities.

Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Except to the extent determined by the IRS, income from a

 

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hedging transaction, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, that is clearly identified as such as specified in the Code and that hedges indebtedness incurred or to be incurred by us to acquire or carry real estate as specified in the Code (for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015, or that hedges existing hedging positions after any portion of the hedged indebtedness or property is extinguished or disposed of) will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (for hedging transactions entered into on or after January 1, 2005) and the 75% gross income test (for hedging transactions entered into after July 30, 2008) and therefore will be exempt from these gross income tests. Gross income from such hedging transactions entered into prior to July 30, 2008 is treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. The term “hedging transaction,” as used above, generally means any transaction we enter into in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate changes or fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made by us (and for transactions entered into after July 30, 2008, it also includes a transaction entered into to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.). To the extent that we hedge with other types of financial instruments, the income from those transactions is not likely to be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT.

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for the year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. Commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, we generally may make use of the relief provisions if:

 

    following our identification of the failure to meet the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we file a schedule with the IRS setting forth each item of our gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for such taxable year in accordance with Treasury Regulations; and

 

    our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.

It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests because nonqualifying income that we intentionally accrue or receive exceeds the limits on nonqualifying income, the IRS could conclude that our failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. If these relief provisions do not apply to a particular set of circumstances, we will not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above, even if these relief provisions apply, and we retain our status as a REIT, a tax would be imposed with respect to our nonqualifying income. We may not always be able to comply with the gross income tests for REIT qualification despite periodic monitoring of our income.

Prohibited Transaction Income . Any gain we realize on the sale of any property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, other than foreclosure property and certain property for which a safe harbor is met, will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax. Whether property is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. We do not intend to engage in prohibited transactions.

Penalty Tax . Any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions or excess interest we generate will be subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of any services furnished to any of our tenants by one of our TRSs, and redetermined deductions and excess interest represent any amounts that are deducted by a TRS for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s-length negotiations. Rents we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for certain safe harbor provisions contained in the Code. These determinations are inherently factual, and the IRS has broad discretion to assert that amounts paid between related parties should be reallocated to clearly reflect their respective incomes. If the IRS successfully made such an assertion, we would be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on the excess of an arm’s-length fee for tenant services over the amount actually paid.

 

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Asset Tests . At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we also must satisfy certain tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items and government securities. For purposes of this test, real estate assets include real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property) and common stock (or transferable certificates of beneficial interest) in other REITs, debt instruments issued by REITs that are required to file annual and periodic reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act (“Publicly Offered REITs”), as well as any stock or debt instruments that are purchased with the proceeds of a stock offering or public offering of debt with a maturity date of at least five years, but only for the one-year period beginning on the date we receive such proceeds. Second, not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities, other than those securities includable in the 75% asset test. Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, and except for investments in another REIT, a QRS or a TRS, the value of any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets, and we may not own more than 10% of the total vote or value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer except, in the case of the 10% value test, securities satisfying the “straight debt” safe-harbor. Certain types of securities we may own are disregarded as securities solely for purposes of the 10% value test, including, but not limited to, any loan to an individual or an estate, any obligation to pay rents from real property and any security issued by a REIT. In addition, commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, solely for purposes of the 10% value test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or limited liability company, excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Code. Fourth, no more than 20% (25% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009 and ending on or before December 31, 2017 and 20% for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009) of the value of our assets may be comprised of securities of one or more TRSs. Fifth, no more than 25% of the value of our assets may be represented by debt issued by Publicly Offered REITs unless the debt instrument would otherwise be treated as a real estate asset (a “Non-Qualified Publicly Offered REIT Debt Instrument”). After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If we fail to satisfy an asset test because we acquire securities or other property during a quarter, we can cure this failure by disposing of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We believe we have maintained and intend to continue to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests. If we failed to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests within the 30-day cure period, we would cease to qualify as a REIT unless we are eligible for certain relief provisions discussed below.

Commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, certain relief provisions may be available to us if we fail to satisfy the asset tests described above after the 30-day cure period. Under these provisions, we will be deemed to have met the 5% and 10% REIT asset tests if the value of our nonqualifying assets (i) does not exceed the lesser of (a) 1% of the total value of our assets at the end of the applicable quarter or (b) $10,000,000, and (ii) we dispose of the nonqualifying assets or otherwise satisfy such tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued. For violations due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect that are in excess of the de minimis exception described above, we may avoid disqualification as a REIT under any of the asset tests, after the 30-day cure period, by taking steps including (i) the disposition of sufficient nonqualifying assets, or the taking of other actions, which allow us to meet the asset test within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, (ii) paying a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets and (iii) disclosing certain information to the IRS.

Although we expect to satisfy the asset tests described above and plan to take steps to ensure that we satisfy such tests for any quarter with respect to which retesting is to occur, there can be no assurance we will always be successful. If we fail to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests in a timely manner, and the relief provisions described above are not available, we would cease to qualify as a REIT.

 

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Annual Distribution Requirements . To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends (other than capital gain dividends) to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to (i) the sum of (a) 90% of our “REIT taxable income” (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain) and (b) 90% of our net income (after tax), if any, from foreclosure property minus (ii) the excess of (a) the sum of certain items of non-cash income (i.e., income attributable to leveled stepped rents, original issue discount on purchase money debt, or a like-kind exchange that is later determined to be taxable) over (b) 5% of “REIT taxable income” as described above.

In addition, if we dispose of any asset we acquired from a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of that C corporation, within the five-year period following our acquisition of such asset, we would be required to distribute at least 90% of the after-tax gain, if any, we recognized on the disposition of the asset, to the extent that gain does not exceed the excess of (a) the fair market value of the asset on the date we acquired the asset over (b) our adjusted basis in the asset on the date we acquired the asset.

We must pay the distributions described above in the taxable year to which they relate (“current distributions”), or in the following taxable year if they are either (i) declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration (“throwback distributions”) or (ii) paid during January to shareholders of record in October, November or December of the prior year (“deemed current distributions”). Throwback distributions are taxable to our shareholders for the year in which they are paid, even though the distributions relate to the prior year for purposes of our 90% distribution requirement. Current distributions are taxable for the year they are paid and deemed current distributions, although distributed in January are taxable for the year of their record date. For distributions in taxable years beginning before 2015 by Publicly Offered REITs, the amount distributed must not be preferential—i.e., every shareholder of the class of equity securities to which a distribution is made must be treated the same as every other shareholder of that class, and no class of equity securities may be treated otherwise than in accordance with its dividend rights as a class. We believe we are a Publicly Offered REIT. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax thereon at regular ordinary and capital gain corporate tax rates. We believe we have made and intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy these annual distribution requirements.

We generally expect that our REIT taxable income will be less than our cash flow because of the allowance of depreciation and other non-cash charges in computing REIT taxable income. Accordingly, we anticipate that we will generally have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the distribution requirements described above. However, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet these distribution requirements because of timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses, the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in arriving at our taxable income. If these timing differences occur, in order to meet the distribution requirements, we may need to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings or need to pay dividends in the form of taxable share dividends.

Under certain circumstances, we may be able to rectify a failure (due to, for example, an IRS adjustment such as an increase in our taxable income or a reduction in reported expenses) to meet the 90% distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to shareholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. However, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

In addition, we would be subject to a 4% excise tax to the extent we fail to distribute during each calendar year (or in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, by the end of January immediately following such year) at least the sum of 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, 95% of our REIT capital gain income for the year (other than certain long-term

 

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capital gains for which we make a Capital Gains Designation (as defined below) and on which we pay the tax), and any undistributed taxable income from prior periods. Any REIT taxable income and net capital gain on which a REIT-level corporate income tax is imposed for any year is treated as an amount distributed during that year for purposes of calculating the excise tax.

Earnings and Profits Distribution Requirement . In order to qualify as a REIT, we cannot have at the end of any taxable year any undistributed “earnings and profits” that are attributable to a “C corporation” taxable year (i.e., a year in which a corporation is neither a REIT nor an S corporation).

We intend to make timely distributions to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.

Failure To Qualify . Commencing with our taxable year beginning January 1, 2005, specified cure provisions are available to us in the event that we violate a provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT. These cure provisions would reduce the instances that could lead to our disqualification as a REIT for violations due to reasonable cause and would instead generally require the payment of a monetary penalty. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to shareholders in any year in which we fail to qualify will not be deductible by us, and we will not be required to distribute any amounts to our shareholders. As a result, our failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce the cash available for distribution by us to our shareholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, all distributions to shareholders will be taxable as ordinary income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, and, subject to certain limitations of the Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost our qualification. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to this statutory relief.

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares

The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to taxable U.S. Holders (as defined below) with respect to an investment in our common shares. Certain U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to tax-exempt shareholders are described under the subheading “—Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares,” below and certain U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to Non-U.S. Holders are described under the subheading “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares,” below.

As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our securities who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

    is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

    is a corporation or other entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof or in the District of Columbia;

 

    is an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

    is a trust (1) whose administration is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and that has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) that has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

If a partnership, including for this purpose any arrangement or entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our common shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our common shares, you are urged to consult with your own tax advisors about the consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common shares by the partnership.

 

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Distributions Generally . As long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, other than capital gain dividends discussed below, generally will constitute dividends taxable to our taxable U.S. Holders as ordinary income. For purposes of determining whether distributions to holders of our common shares are out of current or accumulated earnings and profits, our earnings and profits will be allocated first to our outstanding preferred shares and then to our common shares. These distributions will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of U.S. Holders that are corporations.

Because we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of our REIT taxable income distributed to our shareholders, our ordinary dividends generally are not eligible for the reduced rate on qualifying dividend income currently available to most non-corporate taxpayers. However, U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts and estates generally may deduct up to 20% of the ordinary dividends (e.g., dividends that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income) received from us for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. Although this deduction reduces the effective tax rate applicable to certain dividends paid by us (generally to 29.6% assuming the shareholder is subject to the 37% maximum rate), such tax rate is still higher than the tax rate applicable to corporate dividends that constitute qualified dividend income.

To the extent that we make distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, these distributions will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to each U.S. Holder. This treatment will reduce the adjusted basis that each U.S. Holder has in its common shares for tax purposes by the amount of the distribution (but not below zero). Distributions in excess of a U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in its common shares will be taxable as capital gains (provided that the common shares have been held as a capital asset) and will be taxable as long-term capital gain if the common shares have been held for more than one year. Dividends we declare in October, November, or December of any year and payable to a shareholder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the shareholders on December 31 of that year, provided we actually pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the following calendar year. Shareholders may not include in their own income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.

Capital Gain Distributions . Distributions that we properly designate as capital gain dividends (and undistributed amounts for which we properly make a capital gains designation) will be taxable to U.S. Holders as gains (to the extent that they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year) from the sale or disposition of a capital asset. Depending on the period of time we have held the assets which produced these gains, and on certain designations, if any, which we may make, these gains may be taxable to non-corporate U.S. Holders at preferential rates, depending on the nature of the asset giving rise to the gain. Corporate U.S. Holders may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

Passive Activity Losses and Investment Interest Limitations . Distributions we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. Holder of our common shares will be treated as portfolio income. As a result, U.S. Holders generally will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against this income or gain. A U.S. Holder may elect to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of common shares and qualified dividend income as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation, but in such case, the shareholders will be taxed at ordinary income rates on such amount. Other distributions we make (to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital) generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation. Gain arising from the sale or other disposition of our common shares, however, will not be treated as investment income under certain circumstances.

Retention of Net Long-Term Capital Gains . We may elect to retain, rather than distribute as a capital gain dividend, our net long-term capital gains. If we make this election (a “Capital Gains Designation”) we would pay

 

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tax on our retained net long-term capital gains. In addition, to the extent we make a Capital Gains Designation, a U.S. Holder generally would:

 

    include its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gains in computing its long-term capital gains in its income tax return for its taxable year in which the last day of our taxable year falls (subject to certain limitations as to the amount that is includable);

 

    be deemed to have paid the capital gains tax imposed on us on the designated amounts included in the U.S. Holder’s long-term capital gains;

 

    receive a credit or refund for the amount of tax deemed paid by it;

 

    increase the adjusted basis of its common shares by the difference between the amount of includable gains and the tax deemed to have been paid by it; and

 

    in the case of a U.S. Holder that is a corporation, appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gains in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be promulgated.

Dispositions of Common Shares . Generally, if you are a U.S. Holder and you sell or dispose of your common shares, you will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property you receive on the sale or other disposition and your adjusted basis in the common shares for tax purposes. This gain or loss will be capital if you have held the common shares as a capital asset and, except as provided below, will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the common shares for more than one year. However, if you are a U.S. Holder and you recognize loss upon the sale or other disposition of common shares that you have held for six months or less (after applying certain holding period rules), the loss you recognize will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent you received distributions from us that were required to be treated as long-term capital gains. Certain non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) may be eligible for reduced rates of taxation in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding . We report to our U.S. Holders of our common shares and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of any tax withheld. Under the backup withholding rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends paid unless the holder is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A U.S. Holder that does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status. See “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares.”

Medicare Tax . Certain U.S. Holders of our common shares that are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on, among other things, dividends on and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, unless such dividends or gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). If you are a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in our common shares.

Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares

The IRS has ruled that amounts distributed as dividends by a qualified REIT do not constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) when received by a tax-exempt entity. Based on that ruling, and provided that

 

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(i) a tax-exempt U.S. shareholder has not held our common shares as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code (i.e., where the acquisition or ownership of common shares is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt shareholder) and (ii) our common shares are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business, dividend income from us and income from the sale of our common shares generally will not be UBTI to a tax-exempt shareholder.

Tax-exempt shareholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Code, respectively, are subject to different UBTI rules, that generally will require them to characterize distributions from us as UBTI.

Notwithstanding the above, a pension trust (i) that is described in Section 401(a) of the Code and is tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code and (ii) that owns more than 10% of the value of our common shares could be required to treat a percentage of the dividends from us as UBTI if we are a pension-held REIT. We will not be a pension-held REIT unless (i) either (a) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our common shares or (b) a group of pension trusts, each individually holding more than 10% of the value of our common shares, collectively owns more than 50% of our outstanding common shares and (ii) we would not have qualified as a REIT without relying upon the “look through” exemption for certain trusts under Section 856(h)(3) of the Code to satisfy the requirement that not more than 50% in value of our outstanding common shares is owned by five or fewer individuals. We do not expect to be classified as a pension held REIT, but because our common shares are publicly traded, we cannot guarantee this will always be the case.

Tax-exempt shareholders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in our common shares.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares

The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) with respect to an investment in our common shares. As used herein, a “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our securities that is not a U.S. Holder and is not a partnership or other entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For purposes of this discussion, the term “Non-U.S. Holder does not include foreign sovereigns and their controlled entities nor does the term include “qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in the Code, each of which are subject to special rules. The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of our common shares are complex and no attempt is made herein to provide more than a brief summary of such rules. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them of an acquisition of our common shares, including tax return filing requirements and the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax treatment of dispositions of interests in, and the receipt of distributions from, us.

Distributions Generally . Distributions that are neither attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests nor designated by us as capital gain dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, unless the distributions are treated as effectively connected with the conduct by you of a U.S. trade or business. Under some treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from REITs. Dividends that are treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business will be subject to tax on a net basis (that is, after allowance for deductions) at graduated rates, in the same manner as dividends paid to U.S. Holders are subject to tax, and are generally not subject to withholding. Any such dividends received by a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

 

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We expect to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on any distributions made to you unless:

 

    a lower treaty rate applies and you file with us an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate; or

 

    you file an IRS Form W-8ECI with us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with your U.S. trade or business.

Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to you to the extent that such distributions do not exceed your adjusted basis in our common shares. Instead, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of such common shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed your adjusted basis in our common shares, they will give rise to gain from the sale or exchange of such common shares. The tax treatment of this gain is described below. Because we generally cannot determine at the time we make a distribution whether the distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we expect to treat all distributions as made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits and we therefore expect to withhold tax on the entire amount of any distribution at the same rate as we would withhold on a dividend. However, amounts withheld should generally be refundable if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

Capital Gain Dividends and Distributions Attributable to a Sale or Exchange of U.S. Real Property Interests . Distributions to you that we properly designate as capital gain dividends, other than those arising from the disposition of a U.S. real property interest, generally should not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation, unless (1) the investment in our common shares is treated as effectively connected with your U.S. trade or business, in which case you will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. Holders with respect to such gain, except that a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, as discussed above; or (2) you are a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met, in which case you will be subject to a 30% tax on your capital gains.

Distributions that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of “U.S. real property interests” by us are taxable to a Non-U.S. Holder under special provisions of the Code known as the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (“FIRPTA”). The term “U.S. real property interests” includes interests in U.S. real property. Under FIRPTA, subject to the 10% Exception (discussed below), a distribution attributable to gain from sales of U.S. real property interests is considered effectively connected with a U.S. business of the Non-U.S. Holder and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. Holders (subject to a special alternative minimum tax adjustment in the case of nonresident alien individuals), without regard to whether the distribution is designated as a capital gain dividend. In addition, we will generally be required to withhold tax equal to 21% of the amount of distribution attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of the U.S. real property interest.

However, any distribution with respect to any class of equity securities which is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States is not subject to FIRPTA, and therefore, not subject to the 21% U.S. withholding tax described above, if you did not own more than 10% of such class of equity securities at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution (the “10% Exception”). Instead, such distributions will be treated as ordinary dividend distributions and, as a result, Non-U.S. Holders generally would be subject to withholding tax on such distributions in the same manner as they are subject to ordinary dividends.

Retention of Net Capital Gains . Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts designated by us as retained capital gains in respect of the common shares held by Non-U.S. Holders generally should be treated in the same manner as actual distributions by us of capital gain dividends. Under this approach, you would be able to offset as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability resulting from your proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such retained capital gains, and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent your proportionate share of such tax paid by us exceeds your actual U.S. federal income tax liability.

 

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Sale of Common Shares . Gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Holder upon the sale or exchange of our common shares generally will not be subject to United States taxation unless such common shares constitute a U.S. real property interest. Our common shares will not constitute a U.S. real property interest if we are a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity, which includes a REIT. A REIT is domestically-controlled if, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of its common shares are held directly or indirectly by Non-U.S. Holders. We believe that we are, and expect to continue to be, a domestically-controlled REIT. However, because our common shares are publicly traded, no assurance can be given that we are or will be a domestically-controlled REIT.

Even if we do not qualify as a domestically-controlled REIT at the time you sell or exchange our common shares, gain arising from such a sale or exchange would not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a U.S. real property interest provided that (i) such common shares are of a class of our common shares that is regularly traded, as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market such as the New York Stock Exchange; and (ii) you owned, actually and constructively, 10% or less in value of such class of our common shares throughout the shorter of the period during which you held such common shares or the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange.

If gain on the sale or exchange of our common shares were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, you would be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax with respect to such gain in the same manner as a taxable U.S. Holder (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax adjustment in the case of nonresident alien individuals) and the purchaser of the common shares would be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 15% of the purchase price.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain from the sale or exchange of our common shares not otherwise subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to you if either (i) the investment in our common shares is effectively connected with your U.S. trade or business or (ii) you are a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met.

Backup Withholding Tax and Information Reporting . We will, where required, report to the IRS and to Non-U.S. Holders, the amount of dividends paid, the name and address of the recipients, and the amount, if any, of tax withheld. Pursuant to tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS may make its reports available to tax authorities in the Non-U.S. Holder’s country of residence. Payments of dividends made to a Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) unless the Non-U.S. Holder establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-United States status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a United States person.

The gross proceeds from the disposition of our common shares may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. If a Non-U.S. Holder sells common shares outside the United States through a non-United States office of a non-United States broker and the sales proceeds are paid to such Non-U.S. Holder outside the United States, then the backup withholding and information reporting requirements generally will not apply to that payment. However, information reporting, but not backup withholding, generally will apply to a payment of sales proceeds, even if that payment is made outside the United States, if the Non-U.S. Holder sells common shares through a non-United States office of a broker that has specified types of connections with the United States, unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that the Non-U.S. Holder is not a United States person and specified conditions are met, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. If a Non-U.S. Holder receives payments of the proceeds of a sale of common shares to or through a United States office of a broker, the payment will be subject to both United States backup withholding and information reporting unless such holder properly provides an IRS Form W-8BEN (or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8) certifying that such holder is not a United States person or otherwise establishes an exemption, and the broker does not know or have reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person.

 

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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules to your particular situation, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

Additional FATCA. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act provisions of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act and Treasury Regulations thereunder, commonly referred to as “FATCA,” when applicable will impose a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on certain types of payments, including payments of U.S.-source dividends and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of certain securities producing such U.S.-source dividends made to (i) “foreign financial institutions” unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders, and (ii) certain non-financial foreign entities unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. Under recently issued final Treasury Regulations, as modified by certain IRS guidance, the withholding obligations described above generally apply to payments of U.S.-source dividends made on or after July 1, 2014, and will apply to payments of gross proceeds from sales, exchanges, or other disposition of securities on or after January 1, 2019. The rules under FATCA are new and complex. Non-U.S. Holders and Holders that hold our common shares through a non-U.S. intermediary should consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of FATCA on an investment in our common shares.

Taxation of U.S. Holders of Our Debt Securities

The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined under “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares” above) with respect to an investment in our debt securities. It applies to U.S. Holders who purchase debt securities that are not original issue discount or zero coupon debt securities and that were acquired in an initial offering at the offering price. The tax consequences of owning any debt securities that are zero coupon debt securities, original issue discount debt securities, floating rate debt securities or indexed debt securities that we offer will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments of Interest . Stated interest on the debt securities will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes . Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a debt security, you generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on such disposition (other than any amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which, if not previously taxed, will be taxable as ordinary interest income) and your adjusted tax basis in the debt security. Your adjusted tax basis in a debt security generally will be your cost for the debt security. Any such gain or loss generally will be treated as capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of such disposition, your holding period for the debt security is more than one year. Certain non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) are eligible for reduced rates of taxation in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Medicare Tax . Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax. The Medicare tax will apply to interest on the debt securities and gain from the disposition of the debt securities. If you are a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate, or trust, you are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in our debt securities.

 

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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding . In general, information reporting requirements will apply to certain payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest on and the proceeds of certain sales of debt securities unless you are an exempt recipient. Backup withholding of tax will apply to such payments if you fail to provide your taxpayer identification number or certification of exempt status or have been notified by the IRS that payments to you are subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules to your particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Debt Securities

The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined under “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Our Common Shares” above) with respect to an investment in our debt securities. It applies to Non-U.S. Holders who purchase debt securities that are not original issue discount or zero coupon debt securities and that were acquired in an initial offering at the offering price. The tax consequences of owning any debt securities that are zero coupon debt securities, original issue discount debt securities, floating rate debt securities or indexed debt securities that we offer will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payments of Interest . Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, if you are a Non-U.S. Holder you will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on interest paid on the debt securities so long as that interest is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or, if an income tax treaty applies, is not attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States), provided that:

 

    you do not (directly or indirectly, actually or constructively) own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our shares that are entitled to vote;

 

    you are not a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is directly or indirectly related to us through stock ownership;

 

    you are not a bank whose receipt of interest on a debt security is described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and

 

    you provide the applicable withholding agent with, among other things, your name and address, and certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a U.S. person (which certification may be made on an IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable or successor form)).

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest generally will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed (1) IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty or (2) IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form) stating that interest paid on the debt securities is not subject to U.S. federal withholding tax because it is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (as discussed below under the heading “—Interest or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business”).

Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes . Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, you will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain recognized on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a debt security, unless:

 

    that gain is effectively connected with the conduct by you of a trade or business within the United States (and if an income tax treaty applies, such gain is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States); or

 

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    if you are an individual Non-U.S. Holder, you are present in the United States for at least 183 days in the taxable year of such sale, exchange, redemption, repurchase or other taxable disposition and certain other conditions are met.

If you are described in the first bullet point above, see “—Interest or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business” below. If you are described in the second bullet point above, you will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the amount by which your capital gains allocable to U.S. sources, including gain from such sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the debt securities, exceed capital losses allocable to U.S. sources, except as otherwise required by an applicable income tax treaty.

To the extent that the amount realized on any sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of debt securities is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, such amount generally will be treated in the same manner as payments of interest as described under the heading “—Payments of Interest” above.

Interest or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business . If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest on a debt security or gain recognized from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a debt security is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States), you will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates (but not the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax if you provide an IRS Form W-8ECI with respect to interest, as described above) on that interest or gain on a net income basis in the same manner as if you were a U.S. person as defined under the Code. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a “branch profits tax” equal to 30% (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of your earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States. For this purpose, interest on the debt securities and gain from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the debt securities that is effectively connected with your trade or business in the United States will be included in your earnings and profits.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding . We will, where required, report to the IRS and to Non-U.S. Holders, the amount of interest paid, the name and address of the recipients, and the amount, if any, of tax withheld. Pursuant to tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS may make its reports available to tax authorities in the Non-U.S. Holder’s country of residence. Payments of interest made to a Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) unless the Non-U.S. Holder establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-United States status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a United States person.

The gross proceeds from the disposition of our debt securities may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. If a Non-U.S. Holder sells our debt securities outside the United States through a non-United States office of a non-United States broker and the sales proceeds are paid to such Non-U.S. Holder outside the United States, then the backup withholding and information reporting requirements generally will not apply to that payment. However, information reporting, but not backup withholding, generally will apply to a payment of sales proceeds, even if that payment is made outside the United States, if the Non-U.S. Holder sells our debt securities through a non-United States office of a broker that has specified types of connections with the United States, unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that the Non-U.S. Holder is not a United States person and specified conditions are met, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. If a Non-U.S. Holder receives payments of the proceeds of a sale of our debt securities to or through a United States office of a broker, the payment will be subject to both United States backup withholding and information reporting unless such holder properly provides an IRS Form W-8BEN (or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8) certifying that such holder is not a United States person or otherwise establishes an exemption, and the broker does not know or have reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person.

 

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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules to your particular situation, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

Additional FATCA Withholding . FATCA generally impose a 30% withholding tax on certain payments made on interest-bearing obligations issued on or after July 1, 2014 to certain foreign financial institutions that fail to certify their FATCA status, and investment funds and non-financial foreign entities if certain disclosure requirements related to direct and indirect United States shareholders and/or United States accountholders are not satisfied. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, a withholding tax of 30% generally will be imposed, subject to certain exceptions, on payments of (a) interest (including OID, if any) on the debt securities, and (b) on or after January 1, 2019, gross proceeds from sales, exchanges, or other dispositions (including retirements and redemptions) of the debt securities. In the case of payments made to a “foreign financial institution” (generally including an investment fund), as a beneficial owner or as an intermediary, the tax generally will be imposed, subject to certain exceptions, unless such institution (i) enters into (or is otherwise subject to) and complies with an agreement with the United States government (a “FATCA Agreement”) or (ii) is required by and complies with applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign jurisdiction (an “IGA”), in either case to, among other things, collect and provide to the United States or other relevant tax authorities certain information regarding United States account holders of such institution. In the case of payments made to a foreign entity that is not a financial institution (as a beneficial owner), the tax generally will be imposed, subject to certain exceptions, unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any “substantial” United States owners (generally, any specified United States person that directly or indirectly owns more than a specified percentage of such entity) or that identifies its “substantial” United States owners. If the debt securities are held through a foreign financial institution that enters into (or is otherwise subject to) a FATCA Agreement, such foreign financial institution (or, in certain cases, a person paying amounts to such foreign financial institution) generally will be required, subject to certain exceptions, to withhold such tax on payments of interest and proceeds described above made to (x) a person (including an individual) that fails to comply with certain information requests or (y) a foreign financial institution that has not entered into (and is not otherwise subject to) a FATCA Agreement and is not required to comply with FATCA pursuant to applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an IGA. The rules under FATCA are new and complex. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of FATCA on their investment in the debt securities.

State and Local Tax Consequences

We may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which we transact business and our shareholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which they reside. Our state and local tax treatment may not conform to the federal income tax treatment discussed above. In addition, your state and local tax treatment may not conform to the federal income tax treatment discussed above. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our common shares.

Additional Tax Consequences for Holders of Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares and Warrants

See the applicable prospectus supplement for a discussion of any additional tax consequences for holders of preferred shares, depositary shares or warrants offered by such prospectus supplement.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the offered securities in and outside the United States:

 

    through underwriters or dealers;

 

    directly to purchasers, including our shareholders;

 

    in a rights offering;

 

    in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;

 

    through agents; or

 

    through a combination of any of these methods.

The prospectus supplement will include the following information:

 

    the terms of the offering;

 

    the names of any underwriters or agents;

 

    the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

 

    the purchase price or initial public offering price of the securities;

 

    the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;

 

    any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

    any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

    any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

    any commissions paid to agents.

Sale through Underwriters or Dealers

If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

If we offer securities in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with dealers, acting as standby underwriters. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the securities they commit to purchase on a standby basis. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting agreement, we may retain a dealer-manager to manage a subscription rights offering for us.

During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, which means that selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the offered securities are

 

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repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.

Some or all of the securities that we offer though this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.

If dealers are used in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at fixed prices or at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in the prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

Direct Sales and Sales through Agents

We may sell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents designated from time to time. In the prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any sales of these securities in the prospectus supplement.

Remarketing Arrangements

Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

Derivative Transactions and Hedging

We, the underwriters or other agents may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters or agents may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters or agents. The underwriters or agents may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate

 

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short sale transactions by others. The underwriters or agents may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.

General Information

We may have agreements with the agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers, underwriters or remarketing firms may be required to make. Agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

LEGAL MATTERS

Jones Day will pass upon the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The financial statements of DDR—SAU Retail Fund, L.L.C. for the year ended December 31, 2016 incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of DDR Corp. for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information about the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 . The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC (http://www.sec.gov). Information on or accessible through the SEC’s website is not part of, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, other than documents filed with the SEC that we incorporate by reference.

We have filed a registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and related exhibits with the SEC under the Securities Act. The registration statement contains additional information about us and the securities. You may inspect the registration statement and exhibits without charge at the SEC’s Public Reference Room or at the SEC’s website listed above, and you may obtain copies from the SEC at prescribed rates.

INFORMATION WE INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means:

 

    incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus;

 

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    we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents; and

 

    information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus and incorporated filings.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017;

 

    our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018;

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2018, February 28, 2018, May 9, 2018 and June 5, 2018; and

 

    the description of our common shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated January 26, 1993 and all amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description.

We also incorporate by reference each of the documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus until this offering of the securities terminates. We will not, however, incorporate by reference in this prospectus any documents or portions of any documents that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K unless, and except to the extent, specified in such Current Reports on Form 8-K.

We will provide you with a copy of any of these filings (other than an exhibit to these filings, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into the filing requested) at no cost if you submit a request to us by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:

DDR Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

Telephone number: (216) 755-5500

Attn: Investor Relations

We also maintain a website that contains additional information about us (http://www.ddr.com). The information on, or accessible through, our website is not part of, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus other than the documents that we file with the SEC and incorporate by reference into this prospectus.

Any statement contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated herein by reference, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the actual contract, agreement or other document. If we have filed or incorporated by reference any contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified by reference to the actual document.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated into this prospectus by reference is correct on any date after their respective dates, even though this prospectus is delivered, or securities are sold, on a later date.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following are the expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, all of which are payable by us.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

   $         *  

Trustee’s fees and expenses

     *  

Transfer agent and registrar fees

     *  

Printing expenses

     *  

Accountants’ fees and expenses

     *  

Legal fees and expenses

     *  

Miscellaneous

     *  

Total

   $ *  
  

 

 

 

 

* Expenses are presently not known and cannot be estimated.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Ohio Revised Code (the “Ohio Code”) authorizes Ohio corporations to indemnify officers and directors from liability if the officer or director acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by the officer or director to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal actions, if the officer or director had no reason to believe his or her action was unlawful. In the case of an action by or on behalf of a corporation, indemnification may not be made (1) if the person seeking indemnification is adjudged liable for negligence or misconduct, unless the court in which such action was brought determines such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, or (2) if liability asserted against such person concerns certain unlawful distributions. The indemnification provisions of the Ohio Code require indemnification if a director or officer has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding that he or she was a party to by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation. The indemnification authorized under Ohio law is not exclusive and is in addition to any other rights granted to officers and directors under the articles of incorporation or code of regulations of the corporation or any agreement between officers and directors and the corporation. A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection on behalf of any officer or director against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in his or her capacity, or arising out of his or her status, as an officer or director, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the Ohio Code.

The registrant’s code of regulations provides for the indemnification of directors and officers of the registrant to the maximum extent permitted by Ohio law as authorized by the board of directors of the registrant and for the advancement of expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding that he or she was a party to by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the registrant upon the receipt of an undertaking to repay such amount unless it is ultimately determined that the director or officer is entitled to indemnification.

The registrant maintains a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy which insures the directors and officers of the registrant from claims arising out of an alleged wrongful act by such persons in their respective capacities as directors and officers of the registrant, subject to certain exceptions.

The registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain officers which provide for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted under Ohio law.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits.

The following documents are exhibits to the registration statement:

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement
1.2*    Form of Sales Agency and Financing Agreement
4.1    Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended effective May 18, 2018
4.2    Amended and Restated Code of Regulations of the Company
4.3    Indenture, dated as of May  1, 1994, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on August 29, 2003 (Registration No. 333-108361))
4.4    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May  10 1995, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on August 29, 2003 (Registration No. 333-108361))
4.5    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July  18, 2003, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on August 29, 2003 (Registration No. 333-108361))
4.6    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January  23, 2004, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on June 30, 2004 (Registration No. 333-117034))
4.7    Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April  22, 2004, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to our Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on June 30, 2004 (Registration No. 333-117034))
4.8    Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April  28, 2005, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (File No. 001-11690))
4.9    Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October  7, 2005, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.17 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (File No. 001-11690))
4.10    Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August  28, 2006, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2006 (File No. 001-11690))
4.11    Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June  29, 2006, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 16, 2007 (File No. 001-11690))

 

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Exhibit

Number

  

Description

4.12    Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September  30, 2009, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on October 13, 2009 (Registration No. 333-162451))
4.13    Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March  19, 2010, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010 (File No. 001-11690))
4.14    Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August  12, 2010, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010 (File No. 001-11690))
4.15    Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November  5, 2010, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 001-11690))
4.16    Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March  7, 2011, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011 (File No. 001-11690))
4.17    Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June  22, 2012, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.17 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on October 1, 2012 (Registration No. 333-184221))
4.18    Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November  27, 2012, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (File No. 001-11690))
4.19    Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May  23, 2013, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013 (File No. 001-11690))
4.20    Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November  26, 2013, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 (File No. 001-11690))
4.21    Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January  22, 2015, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 22, 2015 (File No. 001-11690))
4.22    Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October  21, 2015, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 21, 2015 (File No. 001-11690))
4.23    Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May  26, 2017, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 26, 2017 (File No. 001-11690))

 

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Exhibit

Number

  

Description

4.24    Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August  16, 2017, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 16, 2017 (File No. 001-11690))
4.25    Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February  16, 2018, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018 (File No. 001-11690))
4.26    Indenture, dated as of May  1, 1994, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (successor to JP Morgan Chase Bank (successor to Chemical Bank)), as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on August 29, 2003 (Registration No. 333-108361))
4.27*    Form of Senior Debt Securities
4.28*    Form of Subordinated Debt Securities
4.29*    Form of Certificate for Preferred Shares
4.30    Specimen Certificate for Common Shares
4.31*    Form of Common Shares Warrant Agreement
4.32*    Form of Warrant Certificate
4.33*    Form of Deposit Agreement
4.34    Deposit Agreement, dated as of June  5, 2017, among the Company, Computershare Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., jointly as Depositary, and all holders from time to time of depositary shares relating to the Depositary Shares Representing 6.375% Class A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (including Specimen Certificate for Depositary Shares) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 5, 2017 (File No. 001-11690))
4.35    Specimen Certificate for 6.375% Class  A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on June 2, 2017 (File No.  001-11690))
4.36    Deposit Agreement, dated as of August  1, 2012, among the Company and Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, as Depositary, and all holders from time to time of depositary shares relating to the Depositary Shares Representing 6.50% Class  J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (including Specimen Certificate for Depositary Shares) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August  1, 2012 (File No. 001-11690))
4.37    Specimen Certificate for 6.50% Class  J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on August 1, 2012 (File No.  001-11690)
4.38    Deposit Agreement, dated as of April  9, 2013, among the Company and Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, as Depositary, and all holders from time to time of depositary shares relating to the Depositary Shares Representing 6.250% Class  K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (including Specimen Certificate for Depositary Shares) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 9, 2013 (File No. 001-11690))
4.39    Specimen Certificate for 6.250% Class  K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on April 8, 2013 (File No.  001-11690))

 

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Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  4.40*    Form of Depositary Receipt
  5.1    Opinion of Jones Day regarding legality
  8.1    Opinion of Jones Day regarding tax matters
12.1    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
12.2    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.2    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
23.3    Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1 to this Registration Statement)
24.1    Power of Attorney
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Trustee under the Senior Indenture
25.2    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture

 

* To be filed either by amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.

2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

4. That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and (ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be a part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is a part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

5. That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

 

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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Beachwood, State of Ohio, on June 14, 2018.

 

DDR CORP.
By:  

/s/ David R. Lukes

  David R. Lukes
  President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated as of June 14, 2018:

 

Signatures

  

Title

/s/ David R. Lukes

David R. Lukes

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

*

Matthew L. Ostrower

  

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

*

Christa A. Vesy

   Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

*

Terrance R. Ahern

   Chairman of the Board of Directors

*

Jane E. DeFlorio

   Director

*

Thomas Finne

   Director

*

Victor B. MacFarlane

   Director

*

Alexander Otto

   Director

*

Scott D. Roulston

   Director

*

Barry A. Sholem

   Director

 

* The undersigned by signing his name hereto does sign and execute this registration statement on Form S-3 pursuant to the Power of Attorney executed by the above-named directors and officers of the registrant, which is being filed herewith on behalf of such directors and officers.

 

By:  

/s/ David R. Lukes

  David R. Lukes
  Attorney-in-Fact

June 14, 2018

Exhibit 4.1

Amendment No. 2 to the

Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation

of DDR Corp.

RESOLVED, that DDR Corp.’s Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation will be amended as set forth below, effective as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 18, 2018:

The first paragraph of ARTICLE FOURTH shall be amended and restated as follows:

FOURTH: The authorized number of shares of the Corporation is 311,000,000, consisting of 300,000,000 common shares, $0.10 par value per share (hereinafter called “Common Shares”), 750,000 Class A Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class A Shares”), 750,000 Class B Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class B Shares”), 750,000 Class C Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class C Shares”), 750,000 Class D Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class D Shares”), 750,000 Class E Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class E Shares”), 750,000 Class F Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class F Shares”), 750,000 Class G Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class G Shares”), 750,000 Class H Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class H Shares”), 750,000 Class I Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class I Shares”), 750,000 Class J Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class J Shares”), 750,000 Class K Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class K Shares”), 750,000 Noncumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Noncumulative Shares”), and 2,000,000 Cumulative Voting Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Voting Preferred Shares”). The Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Voting Preferred Shares are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Cumulative Shares.”

Effective as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 18, 2018 (the “Effective Time”), each two of the Common Shares issued and outstanding or held by the Corporation as treasury stock shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the Corporation or the respective holders thereof, be combined and converted into one Common Share. Each outstanding share certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented one or more Common Share shall, thereafter, automatically and without the necessity of surrendering the same for exchange, represent the number of whole Common Shares equal to the product of (x) the number of Common Shares represented by such certificate immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) one half, rounded down to the nearest whole integer; and Common Shares held in uncertificated form shall be treated in the same manner. No fractional shares shall be issued in connection with such combination and conversion and, in lieu thereof, any holder of less than one Common Share shall, upon due surrender to the Corporation, be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to its pro rata portion of the net proceeds of the open market sale of all fractional Common Shares that would otherwise be issued, aggregated into whole Common Shares, at prevailing market prices.

At the Effective Time, the stated capital of the Common Shares shall be reduced proportionately to the reduction in the number of issued and outstanding Common Shares.

ARTICLE SEVENTH shall be amended and restated as follows:

SEVENTH: Notwithstanding any provision of Sections 1701.01 to 1701.98, inclusive, of the Ohio Revised Code, or any successor statutes now or hereafter in force, requiring for the authorization or taking of any action the vote or consent of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds or any other proportion of the voting power of the corporation or of any class or classes of shares thereof, such action, unless otherwise expressly required by law or these Articles of Incorporation, may be authorized or taken by the vote or consent of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the corporation or of such class or classes of shares thereof.


Except as provided in the Company’s code of regulations with respect to the election of a director to fill a vacancy in the Board of Directors, each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to the director at any shareholder meeting held for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that if as of the date that is ten days in advance of the date the Company files its definitive proxy statement (regardless of whether or not thereafter revised or supplemented) with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to a shareholder meeting the number of nominees for election as a director is greater than the number of directors to be elected, then the directors shall be elected at the meeting by the vote of a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at that meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. For purposes of this Section, a majority of the votes cast means the number of shares voted “for” a director exceeds the number of votes cast “against” the director. Broker non-votes and abstentions will not be considered votes cast at the shareholder meeting and will be excluded in determining the number of votes cast at the shareholder meeting.

No holder of shares of the Company of any class shall have the right to cumulate the voting power of such shares in the election of directors. The right to cumulate the voting power as provided in Section 1701.55 of the Ohio Revised Code, or any successor statute now or hereinafter in force, is hereby specifically denied to all holders of shares of any class of the Company.

 

2


Amendment No. 1 to the

Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of

DDR Corp.

RESOLVED, that DDR Corp.’s Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation will be amended as set forth below:

ARTICLE FOURTH, Division A, Item I, Section 6 shall be amended and restated as follows:

Section 6. 6.375% Class  A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares . Of the 750,000 authorized Class A Shares, 350,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “6.375% Class A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “6.375% Class A Preferred Shares”). The 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class A Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares as a series of Class A Shares:

 

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall be 6.375% of the liquidation preference of $500.00 per share.

 

(b) Dividends on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly in arrears on the fifteenth day of each January, April, July and October or, if not a Business Day (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the next succeeding Business Day (each a “Dividend Payment Date”), the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on July 15, 2017 (the “First Dividend Payment Date”). The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 6.375% Class A Preferred Share shall be $7.9688.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent with $0.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record as of the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month in which the applicable Dividend Payment Date falls or on such other date as shall be fixed by the Corporation’s Board of Directors that is no less than ten nor more than 30 days preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date (the “Dividend Record Date”), in each case whether or not such day is a Business Day.

 

(c) Dividends on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

 

  (1) with respect to shares included in the initial issue of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the Dividend Record Date for the First Dividend Payment Date, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares; and

 

  (2) with respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid Dividend Record Date, dividends shall be cumulative from the Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the Dividend Record Date for the payment of a dividend on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares and ending on the Dividend Payment Date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that Dividend Payment Date.

Accrued but unpaid dividends on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall not bear interest. Any dividend payment made on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable. All dividend payments made on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

 

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and except pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right (as defined in this Section 6(d)), the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to June 5, 2022.

At any time or from time to time on and after June 5, 2022, the Corporation, at its option upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, may redeem the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $500.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the redemption date, without interest (the “Optional Redemption Right”). Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the Corporation, at its option upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, may redeem the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, at a redemption price of $500.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the redemption date, without interest (the “Special Optional Redemption Right”).

 


If, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its exercise of any of its redemption rights with respect to the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares (whether pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or the Special Optional Redemption Right), the holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall not have the Change of Control Conversion Right (as defined in clause (e) of this Section 6) in respect of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares called for redemption.

If less than all of the outstanding 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by lot, such that, in each case, such selection will not result in the issuance of any 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit (as defined in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH).

Notice of redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, as of a date set by the Corporation not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation.

 

  (1) No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares except as to the holder to whom such notice was defective or not given.

 

  (2) A redemption notice which has been mailed in the manner provided herein shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given on the date mailed whether or not the holder received the redemption notice.

In addition to any information required by the applicable rules of any securities exchange upon which the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares may be listed or admitted to trading, each such notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the redemption price; (iii) the number of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares to be redeemed; (iv) the place or places where certificates, if any, for the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares to be redeemed are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends in respect of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date. If less than all of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice shall state the number of such 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares held by such holder to be so redeemed.

 

  (3) In the event the Corporation is exercising the Special Optional Redemption Right, the notice referred to above shall also state: (i) that the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares are being redeemed pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right in connection with the occurrence of a Change of Control and a brief description of the transaction(s) constituting such Change of Control; and (ii) that the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares to which such notice relates may not be tendered for conversion in connection with the Change of Control by the holder thereof and that each 6.375% Class A Preferred Share so tendered for conversion that is selected, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, for redemption will be redeemed on the related redemption date instead of converted on the Change of Control Conversion Date.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding and except as otherwise required by law, the holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable with respect to their 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption thereof after such Dividend Record Date and on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date or the Corporation’s default in the payment of the dividend due on such Dividend Payment Date. Except as provided in this Section 6, the Corporation will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares called for redemption.

 

(e) The 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation, except as provided in this Section 6(e) and/or except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, Section 4(d) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall have the right, unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right, to convert some or all of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares held by such holder (the “Change of Control Conversion Right”) on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of Common Shares (or equivalent value of Alternative Conversion Consideration (as defined in this Section 6(e)) per 6.375% Class A Preferred Share to be converted (the “Common Shares Conversion Consideration”) equal to the lesser of (i) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of $500.00 per share plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividends will be included in this sum) by (2) the Common Share Price (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6); and (ii) 111.60714 (the “Share Cap”), subject to the adjustments described in the following paragraph.

 

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Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding and except as otherwise required by law, the persons who are holders of record of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to receive the dividend payable on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion of those shares after such Dividend Record Date and on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date and, in such case, the full amount of such dividend shall be paid on such Dividend Payment Date to the persons who were the holders of record of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date.

The Share Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any share splits (including those effected pursuant to a distribution of Common Shares), subdivisions or combinations (in each case, a “Share Split”) with respect to Common Shares as follows: the adjusted Share Cap as the result of a Share Split will be the number of Common Shares that is equivalent to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Share Cap in effect immediately prior to such Share Split by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding after giving effect to such Share Split and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such Share Split.

For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, the aggregate number of Common Shares (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration, as applicable) issuable in connection with the exercise of the Change of Control Conversion Right shall not exceed 39,062,520 Common Shares (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration, as applicable) (the “Exchange Cap”). The Exchange Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any Share Splits on the same basis as the corresponding adjustment to the Share Cap and is subject to increase in the event that additional 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares are designated and issued in the future pursuant to an amendment to these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.

In the case of a Change of Control pursuant to which Common Shares will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) (the “Alternative Form Consideration”), a holder of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares will receive upon conversion of such 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares the kind and amount of Alternative Form Consideration that such holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the Change of Control had such holder held a number of Common Shares equal to the Common Shares Conversion Consideration immediately prior to the effective time of the Change of Control (the “Alternative Conversion Consideration”; the Common Shares Conversion Consideration or the Alternative Conversion Consideration, as may be applicable to a Change of Control, is referred to as the “Conversion Consideration”).

If the holders of Common Shares have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in the Change of Control, the consideration that the holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares will receive will be in the form and proportion of the aggregate consideration elected by the holders of Common Shares who participate in the determination (based on the weighted average of elections) and will be subject to any limitations to which all holders of Common Shares are subject, including, without limitation, pro rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in the Change of Control.

No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the conversion of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares. In lieu of fractional shares, holders shall be entitled to receive the cash value of such fractional shares based on the Common Share Price.

Within 15 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Corporation shall deliver a notice of occurrence of the Change of Control, describing the resulting Change of Control Conversion Right, to the holders of record of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation.

 

  (1) No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the conversion of any 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

 

  (2) Each such notice shall state (i) the events constituting the Change of Control; (ii) the date of the Change of Control; (iii) the last date on which the holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares may exercise their Change of Control Conversion Right; (iv) the method and period for calculating the Common Share Price; (v) the Change of Control Conversion Date; (vi) that if, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, holders of such shares will not be able to convert such shares and such shares will be redeemed on the related redemption date, even if such shares have already been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Change of Control Conversion Right; (vii) if applicable, the type and amount of Alternative Conversion Consideration entitled to be received per 6.375% Class A Preferred Share; (viii) the name and address of the paying agent and the conversion agent; (ix) the procedures that the holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares must follow to exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right; and (x) the last date on which the holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares may withdraw shares surrendered for conversion and the procedures that such holders must follow to effect such a withdrawal.

The Corporation shall issue a press release for publication on the Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Business Wire, PR Newswire or Bloomberg Business News (or, if these organizations are not in existence at the time of issuance of the press release, such other news or press organization as is reasonably calculated to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public), or post notice on the Corporation’s website, in any event prior to the opening of business on the first Business Day following any date on which the Corporation provides the Change of Control notice described above to the holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares.

 

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In order to exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right, a holder of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall be required to deliver, on or before the close of business on the Change of Control Conversion Date, the certificates, if any, evidencing the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares to be converted, duly endorsed for transfer, together with a written conversion notice completed, to the Corporation’s transfer agent.

 

  (1) Such notice shall state (i) the relevant Change of Control Conversion Date; (ii) the number of 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares to be converted; and (iii) that the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares are to be converted pursuant to the applicable provisions of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares.

 

  (2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares are held in global form, such notice shall comply with applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company or any other organization acting as depositary for the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares (the “Depositary”).

Holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares may withdraw any notice of exercise of a Change of Control Conversion Right (in whole or in part) by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Corporation’s transfer agent prior to the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date.

 

  (1) The notice of withdrawal must state: (i) the number of withdrawn 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares; (ii) if certificated 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares; and (iii) the number of 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, if any, which remain subject to the conversion notice.

 

  (2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares are held in global form, such notice of withdrawal must comply with applicable procedures of the Depositary.

The 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares as to which the Change of Control Conversion Right has been properly exercised and for which the conversion notice has not been properly withdrawn shall be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration in accordance with the Change of Control Conversion Right on the Change of Control Conversion Date, unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem such 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, whether pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right. If the Corporation elects to redeem 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares that would otherwise be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration on a Change of Control Conversion Date, such 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares shall not be so converted and the holders of such shares shall be entitled to receive on the applicable redemption date $500.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date.

The Corporation shall deliver the applicable Conversion Consideration to the applicable holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares no later than the third Business Day following the Change of Control Conversion Date.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no holder of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares will be entitled to convert such shares to the extent that receipt of Common Shares upon conversion of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares would cause such holder (or any other person) to exceed either of the ownership limits described in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH and Section 4(a) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, unless the Corporation provides an exemption from such ownership limits for such holder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions on the ability to convert the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, any conversion of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares in violation of the ownership limits described in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH and Section 4(a) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, or that causes another person to be in violation of such ownership limits, including as a result of the effect of the operation of this provision, shall be construed as causing any 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares that exceed such ownership limits to be deemed Excess Preferred Shares and subject to the provisions applicable to Excess Preferred Shares set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.

 

(f) The amount payable per 6.375% Class A Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $500.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the date of payment.

 

(g) All dividend payments made on the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Item I, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

 

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(h) Definitions . For the purposes of this Section 6 of Item I of Division A of this Article FOURTH, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“Change of Control” is when, after the original issuance of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares, the following have occurred and are continuing:

 

  (i) the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of shares of the Corporation entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in elections of directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

 

  (ii) following the closing of any transaction referred to in the foregoing clause (i), neither the Corporation nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or American Depositary Receipts representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or NASDAQ, or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or NASDAQ.

“Change of Control Conversion Date” shall mean the date the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares are to be converted which shall be a Business Day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which the Corporation provides notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (as provided for in clause (e) of this Section 6) to the holders of the 6.375% Class A Preferred Shares.

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

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“NASDAQ” shall mean the NASDAQ Stock Market.

“NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

“NYSE MKT” shall mean the NYSE MKT.

 

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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

DDR CORP.

The undersigned, desiring to form a corporation for profit under Sections 1701.01 to 1701.98, inclusive, of the Ohio Revised Code, does hereby certify:

FIRST: The name of the Corporation shall be DDR Corp.

SECOND: The place in the State of Ohio where the principal office of the Corporation is located is Beachwood, Cuyahoga County.

THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be formed under Sections 1701.01 to 1701.98, inclusive of the Ohio Revised Code.

FOURTH: The authorized number of shares of the Corporation is 611,000,000, consisting of 600,000,000 common shares, $0.10 par value per share (hereinafter called “Common Shares”), 750,000 Class A Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class A Shares”), 750,000 Class B Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class B Shares”), 750,000 Class C Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class C Shares”), 750,000 Class D Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class D Shares”), 750,000 Class E Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class E Shares”), 750,000 Class F Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class F Shares”), 750,000 Class G Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class G Shares”), 750,000 Class H Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class H Shares”), 750,000 Class I Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class I Shares”), 750,000 Class J Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class J Shares”), 750,000 Class K Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Class K Shares”), 750,000 Noncumulative Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Noncumulative Shares”), and 2,000,000 Cumulative Voting Preferred Shares, without par value (hereinafter called “Voting Preferred Shares”). The Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Voting Preferred Shares are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Cumulative Shares.”

DIVISION A

I. The Class  A Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class A Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class A Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class A Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class A Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on the Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class A Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;


(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item I) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class A Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class A Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class A Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class A Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class A Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class A Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class A Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class A Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class A Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item I.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class A Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

 

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(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class A Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class A Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class A Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item I; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class A Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item I; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class A Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item I prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class A Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class A Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class A Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class A Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class A Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class A Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class A Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class A Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class A Shares, unless all dividends on all Class A Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

 

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Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class A Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class A Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item I, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

(2) After payment to the holders of Class A Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class A Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class A Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class A Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class A Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class A Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class A Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class A Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class A Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class A Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class A Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class A Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class A Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class A Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class A Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided.

Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class A Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class A Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class A Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

 

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(c) If at any time when the holders of Class A Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such case, the holders of Class A Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class A Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class A Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class A Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class A Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class A Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class A Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class A Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class A Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class A Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class A Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class A Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class A Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 9 1 / 2 % Class  A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. Of the 750,000 authorized Class A Shares, 460,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “9 1 / 2 % Class A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares”). The 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Item I as being applicable to all Class A Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares as a series of Class A Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares shall be 9 1 / 2 % of the liquidation preference of $250.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly on or about the 15th day of March, June, September, and December each year, the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on December 15, 1995. The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Share shall be $5.94.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record on such record date, no less than 10 nor more than 30 days preceding the payment date thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

 

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(c) Dividends on 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) With respect to shares included in the initial issue of 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the record date for the payment of the first dividend on the initial issue of 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares; and

(2) With respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid record date, dividends shall be cumulative from the dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the record date for the payment of a dividend on 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares and ending on the payment date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that dividend payment date.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to November 15, 2000. At any time or from time to time on and after November 15, 2000 the Corporation, at its option upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice, may redeem all or any part of the 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $250.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the redemption date, without interest. The redemption price (other than the portion thereof consisting of accrued and unpaid dividends) is payable solely out of the sale proceeds of other capital shares of the Corporation, which may include any equity securities (including common shares and preferred shares), shares, interests, participation or other ownership interests (however designated) and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities), or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

(e) The amount payable per 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $250.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment.

(f) All dividend payments made on the 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 9 1 / 2 % Class A Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Item I, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

II. The Class  B Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class B Cumulative Preferred Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class B Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class B Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class B Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on the Cumulative Shares are cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class B Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

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(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item II) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), both inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class B Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class B Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class B Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class B Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to the Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class B Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class B Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class B Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class B Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class B Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class B Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item II.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class B Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent that it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class B Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class B Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

 

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Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class B Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item II; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class B Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item II; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class B Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item II prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class B Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class B Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class B Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class B Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class B Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class B Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class B Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class B Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class B Shares, unless all dividends on all Class B Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class B Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class B Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item II, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

 

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(2) After payment to the holders of Class B Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class B Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class B Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class B Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of Class B Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class B Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class B Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class B Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient therefor set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class B Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class B Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class B Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class B Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class B Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class B Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class B Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class B Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation nor require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class B Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class B Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class B Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such case, the holders of Class B Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such

 

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directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class B Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class B Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class B Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class B Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class B Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class B Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class B Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such Class B Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class B Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class B Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class B Shares or of any shares remaining on a parity with or junior to the Class B Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 9.44% Class  B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. Of the 750,000 authorized Class B Shares, 177,500 shares are designated as a series entitled “9.44% Class B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “9.44% Class B Preferred Shares”). The 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Item II as being applicable to all Class B Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares as a series of Class B Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares shall be 9.44% of the liquidation preference of $250.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly on or about the 15th day of March, June, September, and December each year, the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on March 15, 1996. The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 9.44% Class B Preferred Share shall be $5.90.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record on such record date, no less than 10 nor more than 30 days preceding the payment date thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

(c) Dividends on 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) With respect to shares included in the initial issue of 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the record date for the payment of the first dividend on the initial issue of 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares; and

 

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(2) With respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid record date, dividends shall be cumulative from the dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the record date for the payment of a dividend on 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares and ending on the payment date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that dividend payment date.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to December 26, 2000. At any time or from time to time on and after December 26, 2000 the Corporation, at its option upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice, may redeem all or any part of the 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $250.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the redemption date, without interest. The redemption price (other than the portion thereof consisting of accrued and unpaid dividends) is payable solely out of the sale proceeds of other capital shares of the Corporation, which may include any equity securities (including common shares and preferred shares), shares, interests, participation or other ownership interests (however designated) and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities), or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

(e) The amount payable per 9.44% Class B Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $250.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment.

(f) All dividend payments made on the 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 9.44% Class B Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Item II, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

III. The Class  C Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class C Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class C Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class C Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class C Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class C Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

 

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(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item III) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class C Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class C Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class C Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class C Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class C Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class C Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class C Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class C Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class C Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class C Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item III.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class C Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class C Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class C Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

 

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Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class C Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item III; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class C Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item III; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class C Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item III prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class C Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class C Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class C Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class C Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class C Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class C Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class C Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class C Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class C Shares, unless all dividends on all Class C Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class C Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class C Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item III, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

 

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(2) After payment to the holders of Class C Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class C Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class C Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class C Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class C Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class C Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class C Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class C Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class C Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class C Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class C Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class C Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class C Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class C Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class C Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class C Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class C Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class C Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class C Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class C Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class C Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such

 

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case, the holders of Class C Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class C Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class C Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class C Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class C Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class C Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class C Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class C Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class C Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class C Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class C Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class C Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class C Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 8 3 / 8 % Class  C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares . Of the 750,000 authorized Class C Shares, 460,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “8 3 / 8 % Class C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares”). The 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class C Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares as a series of Class C Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares shall be 8 3 / 8 % of the liquidation preference of $250.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly on or about the fifteenth day of March, June, September, and December each year, the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on September 15, 1998. The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Share shall be $5.234375.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record on such record date, no less than 10 nor more than 30 days preceding the payment date thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

(c) Dividends on 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) With respect to shares included in the initial issue of 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the record date for the payment of the first dividend on the initial issue of 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares; and

 

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(2) With respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid record date, dividends shall be cumulative from the dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the record date for the payment of a dividend on 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares and ending on the payment date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that dividend payment date.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to July 7, 2003. At any time or from time to time on and after July 7, 2003 the Corporation, at its option upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice, may redeem all or any part of the 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $250.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the redemption date, without interest. The redemption price (other than the portion thereof consisting of accrued and unpaid dividends) is payable solely out of the sale proceeds of other capital shares of the Corporation, which may include any equity securities (including common shares and preferred shares), shares, interests, participation or other ownership interests (however designated) and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities), or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

(e) The amount payable per 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $250.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment.

(f) All dividend payments made on the 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 8 3 / 8 % Class C Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Division A-III, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

IV. The Class  D Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class D Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class D Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class D Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class D Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class D Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

 

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(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item IV) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class D Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class D Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class D Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class D Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class D Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class D Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class D Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class D Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class D Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class D Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item IV.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class D Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class D Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class D Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

 

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Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class D Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item IV; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class D Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item IV; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class D Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item IV prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class D Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class D Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class D Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class D Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class D Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class D Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class D Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class D Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class D Shares, unless all dividends on all Class D Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class D Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class D Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item IV, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

 

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(2) After payment to the holders of Class D Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class D Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class D Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class D Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class D Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class D Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class D Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class D Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class D Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class D Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class D Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class D Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class D Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class D Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class D Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class D Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class D Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class D Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class D Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class D Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class D Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such

 

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case, the holders of Class D Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class D Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class D Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class D Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class D Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class D Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class D Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class D Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class D Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class D Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class D Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class D Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class D Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 8.68% Class  D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares . Of the 750,000 authorized Class D Shares, 230,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “8.68% Class D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “8.68% Class D Preferred Shares”). The 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class D Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares as a series of Class D Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares shall be 8.68% of the liquidation preference of $250.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly on or about the fifteenth day of March, June, September, and December each year, the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on December 15, 1998. The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 8.68% Class D Preferred Share shall be $5.425.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record on such record date, no less than 10 nor more than 30 days preceding the payment date thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

(c) Dividends on 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) With respect to shares included in the initial issue of 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the record date for the payment of the first dividend on the initial issue of 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares; and

 

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(2) With respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid record date, dividends shall be cumulative from the dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the record date for the payment of a dividend on 8.68 % Class D Preferred Shares and ending on the payment date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that dividend payment date.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to August 20, 2003. At any time or from time to time on and after August 20, 2003 the Corporation, at its option upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice, may redeem all or any part of the 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $250.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the redemption date, without interest. The redemption price (other than the portion thereof consisting of accrued and unpaid dividends) is payable solely out of the sale proceeds of other capital shares of the Corporation, which may include any equity securities (including common shares and preferred shares), shares, interests, participation or other ownership interests (however designated) and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities), or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

(e) The amount payable per 8.68% Class D Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $250.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment.

(f) All dividend payments made on the 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 8.68% Class D Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Division A-IV, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

V. The Class  E Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class E Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class E Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class E Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class E Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class E Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

 

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(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item V) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class E Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class E Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class E Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class E Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class E Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class E Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class E Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class E Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class E Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class E Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item V.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class E Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class E Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class E Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

 

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Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class E Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item V; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class E Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item V; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class E Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item V prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class E Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class E Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class E Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class E Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class E Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class E Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class E Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class E Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class E Shares, unless all dividends on all Class E Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class E Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class E Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item V, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

 

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(2) After payment to the holders of Class E Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class E Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class E Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class E Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class E Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class E Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class E Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class E Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class E Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class E Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class E Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class E Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class E Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class E Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class E Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class E Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class E Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class E Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class E Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class E Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class E Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such

 

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case, the holders of Class E Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class E Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class E Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class E Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class E Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class E Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class E Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class E Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class E Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class E Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class E Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class E Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class E Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. Class  E Series I Cumulative Preferred Shares .

(a) DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. Of the 750,000 authorized Class E Cumulative Preferred Shares, without par value, 750,000 are designated as a series designated as “Class E Series I Cumulative Preferred Shares” (the “Series I Preferred Shares”). The Series I Preferred Shares have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Preferred Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all Series I Preferred Shares as a series of Preferred Shares. The number of Series I Preferred Shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors and by the filing of a certificate of amendment pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Ohio stating that such increase or reduction has been so authorized; however, no decrease shall reduce the number of Series I Preferred Shares to a number less than that of the Series I Preferred Shares then outstanding plus the number of Series I Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the Company.

(b) DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.

(1) (i) Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred shares (or any similar shares) ranking prior to the Series I Preferred Shares with respect to dividends, the holders of Series I Preferred Shares, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other junior shares, will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the fifteenth day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a Series I Preferred Share or fraction thereof, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $10.00 or (b) subject to the provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all noncash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in Common Shares or a subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares (by

 

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reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Shares after the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, after the first issuance of any Series I Preferred Share or fraction thereof. The multiple of cash and noncash dividends declared on the Common Shares to which holders of the Series I Preferred Shares are entitled, which is 10,000 initially but which will be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided, is hereinafter referred to as the “Dividend Multiple.” If the Company at any time after May 26, 1999 (the “Rights Declaration Date”): (i) declares or pays any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or (ii) effects a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in each such case the Dividend Multiple thereafter applicable to the determination of the amount of dividends that holders of Series I Preferred Shares are entitled to receive will be the Dividend Multiple applicable immediately prior to that event multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after that event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to that event.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this paragraph (1), the Company shall, out of funds legally available for that purpose, declare a dividend or distribution on the Series I Preferred Shares as provided in this paragraph (1) immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Shares (other than a dividend payable in Common Shares); but if no dividend or distribution has been declared on the Common Shares during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $10.00 per share on the Series I Preferred Shares shall nevertheless accrue on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

(2) Dividends will begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding Series I Preferred Shares from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such Series I Preferred Shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares will begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of Series I Preferred Shares entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends will begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends will not bear interest. Dividends paid on the Series I Preferred Shares in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares will be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix in accordance with applicable law a record date for the determination of holders of Series I Preferred Shares entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date will be not more than such number of days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof as may be allowed by applicable law.

(c) REACQUIRED SHARES. Any Series I Preferred Shares purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever will be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares will upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued preferred shares and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Shares to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

(d) LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP. Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution may be made (x) to the holders of shares ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series I Preferred Shares unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series I Preferred Shares shall have received an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, plus an amount equal to the greater of (1) $10,000.00 per share or (2) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 10,000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common Shares, or (y) to the holders of shares ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series I Preferred Shares, except distributions made ratably on the Series I Preferred Shares and all other such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. If the Company at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declares or pays any dividend on Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or (ii) effects a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in each such case the aggregate amount per share to which holders of Series I Preferred Shares were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (x) of the preceding sentence will be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

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Neither the consolidation of nor merging of the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations, nor the sale or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, will be considered to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company within the meaning of this paragraph (d).

(e) CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. If the Company shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the Common Shares are exchanged for or changed into other shares, stock or securities, cash or any other property, then in any such case the Series I Preferred Shares will at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 10,000 times the aggregate amount of shares, stock, securities, or other property, as the case may be, into which or for which each Common Share is changed or exchanged, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, payable with respect to the Series I Preferred Shares. If the Company at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declares or pays any dividend on Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or (ii) effects a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of Series I Preferred Shares will be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(f) REDEMPTION. The Series I Preferred Shares are not redeemable, but the foregoing does not limit the ability of the Company to purchase or otherwise deal in the Series I Preferred Shares to the extent otherwise permitted hereby and by law.

(g) AMENDMENT. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, may not be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series I Preferred Shares so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Series I Preferred Shares, voting separately as a class.

(h) FRACTIONAL SHARES. Series I Preferred Shares may be issued in whole shares or in any fraction of a share that is one ten-thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share or any integral multiple of such fraction, which will entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series I Preferred Shares. In lieu of fractional shares, the Company may elect to make a cash payment as provided in that certain Rights Agreement dated as of May 26, 1999, between the Company and National City Bank, a national banking association, as rights agent, for fractions of a share smaller than one ten-thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share or any integral multiple thereof.

VI. The Class  F Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class F Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class F Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class F Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class F Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class F Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

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(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item VI) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class F Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class F Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class F Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class F Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class F Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class F Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class F Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class F Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class F Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class F Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VI.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class F Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class F Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class F Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

 

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Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class F Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VI; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class F Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VI; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class F Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item VI prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class F Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class F Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class F Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class F Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class F Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class F Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class F Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class F Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class F Shares, unless all dividends on all Class F Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class F Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class F Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item VI, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

 

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(2) After payment to the holders of Class F Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class F Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class F Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class F Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class F Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class F Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class F Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class F Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class F Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class F Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class F Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class F Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class F Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class F Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class F Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class F Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class F Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class F Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class F Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class F Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class F Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting

 

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rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such case, the holders of Class F Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class F Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class F Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class F Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class F Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class F Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class F Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class F Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class F Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class F Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class F Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class F Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class F Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 8.60% Class  F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. Of the 750,000 authorized Class F Shares, 690,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “8.60% Class F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “8.60% Class F Preferred Shares”). The 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class F Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares as a series of Class F Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares shall be 8.60% of the liquidation preference of $250.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly on or about the fifteenth day of March, June, September, and December each year, the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on June 15, 2002. The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares shall be $0.5375. Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record on such record date, no less than 10 nor more than 30 days preceding the payment date thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

(c) Dividends on 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) With respect to shares included in the initial issue of 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the record date for the payment of the first dividend on the initial issue of 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares; and

 

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(2) With respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid record date, dividends shall be cumulative from the dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the record date for the payment of a dividend on 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares and ending on the payment date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that dividend payment date.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to March 27, 2007. At any time or from time to time on and after March 27, 2007 the Corporation, at its option upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice, may redeem all or any part of the 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $250.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the redemption date, without interest. The redemption price (other than the portion thereof consisting of accrued and unpaid dividends) is payable solely out of the sale proceeds of other capital shares of the Corporation, which may include any equity securities (including common shares and preferred shares), shares, interests, participation or other ownership interests (however designated) and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities), or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

(e) The amount payable per 8.60% Class F Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $250.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment.

(f) All dividend payments made on the 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 8.60% Class F Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Division A-VI, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

VII. The Class  G Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class G Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class G Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class G Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class G Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class G Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section) the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

 

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(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item VII) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class G Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class G Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class G Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class G Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class G Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class G Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class G Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class G Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class G Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class G Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VII.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class G Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class G Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class G Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

 

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Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class G Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VII; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class G Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VII; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class G Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item VII prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class G Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class G Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class G Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class G Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class G Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class G Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class G Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class G Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class G Shares, unless all dividends on all Class G Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class G Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class G Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item VII, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

 

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(2) After payment to the holders of Class G Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class G Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class G Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class G Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class G Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class G Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class G Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class G Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class G Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class G Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class G Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class G Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class G Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class G Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class G Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class G Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class G Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class G Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class G Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class G Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class G Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such

 

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case, the holders of Class G Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class G Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class G Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class G Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class G Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class G Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class G Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class G Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class G Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class G Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class G Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class G Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class G Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 8% Class  G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares . Of the 750,000 authorized Class G Shares, 736,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “8% Class G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “8% Class G Preferred Shares”). The 8% Class G Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class G Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 8% Class G Preferred Shares as a series of Class G Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 8% Class G Preferred Shares shall be 8% of the liquidation preference of $250.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 8% Class G Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly in arrears on or about the fifteenth day of each March, June, September, and December or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day, the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on June 16, 2003. The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 8% Class G Preferred Shares shall be $5.00.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 8% Class G Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 8% Class G Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 8% Class G Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record on such record date, no less than 10 nor more than 30 days preceding the payment date thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

(c) Dividends on 8% Class G Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) With respect to shares included in the initial issue of 8% Class G Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the record date for the payment of the first dividend on the initial issue of 8% Class G Preferred Shares, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 8% Class G Preferred Shares; and

 

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(2) With respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid record date, dividends shall be cumulative from the dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the record date for the payment of a dividend on 8% Class G Preferred Shares and ending on the payment date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that dividend payment date.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the 8% Class G Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to March 28, 2008. At any time or from time to time on and after March 28, 2008 the Corporation, at its option upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice, may redeem all or any part of the 8% Class G Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $250.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the redemption date, without interest.

(e) The amount payable per 8% Class G Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $250.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment.

(f) All dividend payments made on the 8% Class G Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 8% Class G Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Division A-VII, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

VIII. The Class  H Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class H Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class H Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class H Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class H Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class H Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item VIII) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

 

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The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class H Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class H Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class H Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class H Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class H Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class H Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class H Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class H Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class H Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class H Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VIII.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class H Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class H Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class H Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class H Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VIII; and

 

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(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class H Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item VIII; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class H Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item VIII prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class H Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class H Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class H Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class H Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class H Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class H Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class H Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class H Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class H Shares, unless all dividends on all Class H Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class H Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class H Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item VIII, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

(2) After payment to the holders of Class H Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class H Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

 

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Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class H Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class H Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class H Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class H Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class H Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class H Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class H Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class H Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class H Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class H Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class H Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class H Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class H Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class H Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class H Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class H Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class H Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class H Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class H Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such case, the holders of Class H Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class H Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class H Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

 

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(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class H Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class H Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class H Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class H Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class H Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class H Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class H Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class H Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class H Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class H Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 7 3/8% Class  H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares . Of the 750,000 authorized Class H Shares, 410,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “7 3/8% Class H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares”). The 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class H Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares as a series of Class H Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares shall be 7 3/8% of the liquidation preference of $500.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly in arrears on or about the fifteenth day of each January, April, July, and October or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day, the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on October 15, 2003. The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares shall be $9.21875.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record on such record date, no less than 10 nor more than 30 days preceding the payment date thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors.

(c) Dividends on 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) With respect to shares included in the initial issue of 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the record date for the payment of the first dividend on the initial issue of 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares; and

(2) With respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid record date, dividends shall be cumulative from the dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the record date for the payment of a dividend on 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares and ending on the payment date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that dividend payment date.

 

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(d) Except as required to preserve the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to July 28, 2008. At any time or from time to time on and after July 28, 2008 the Company, at its option upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice, may redeem all or any part of the 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $500.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the redemption date, without interest.

(e) The amount payable per 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company shall be $500.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment.

(f) All dividend payments made on the 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Company is in default in the payment of dividends on such 7 3/8% Class H Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Division A-VIII, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Company is in default.

IX. The Class  I Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class I Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class I Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class I Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class I Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class I Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item IX) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

 

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Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class I Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class I Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class I Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class I Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

(b) So long as any Class I Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class I Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class I Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class I Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class I Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class I Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item IX.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class I Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class I Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class I Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class I Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item IX; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class I Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item IX; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class I Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item IX prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class I Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank

 

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or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class I Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class I Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class I Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

(2) If the holders of Class I Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class I Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class I Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class I Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class I Shares, unless all dividends on all Class I Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class I Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class I Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item IX, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

(2) After payment to the holders of Class I Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class I Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class I Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class I Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class I Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class I Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class I Shares are present in person or by

 

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proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class I Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class I Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class I Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class I Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class I Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class I Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class I Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class I Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class I Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class I Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class I Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class I Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class I Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class I Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such case, the holders of Class I Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class I Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class I Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class I Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class I Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class I Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class I Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class I Shares; or

 

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(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class I Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class I Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class I Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class I Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class I Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 7.50% Class  I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. Of the 750,000 authorized Class I Shares, 345,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “7.50% Class I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “7.50% Class I Preferred Shares”). The 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class I Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares as a series of Class I Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares shall be 7.50% of the liquidation preference of $500.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly in arrears on or about the fifteenth day of each January, April, July, and October or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day, the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on July 15, 2004. The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 7.50% Class I Preferred Share shall be $9.375.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record on such record date, no less than 10 nor more than 30 days preceding the payment date thereof, as shall be fixed from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors.

(c) Dividends on 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) With respect to shares included in the initial issue of 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the record date for the payment of the first dividend on the initial issue of 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares; and

(2) With respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid record date, dividends shall be cumulative from the dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the record date for the payment of a dividend on 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares and ending on the payment date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that dividend payment date.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to May 7, 2009. At any time or from time to time on and after May 7, 2009 the Company, at its option upon not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice, may redeem all or any part of the 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares at a redemption price of $500.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the redemption date, without interest.

(e) The amount payable per 7.50% Class I Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company shall be $500.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment.

(f) All dividend payments made on the 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Company is in default in the payment of dividends on such 7.50% Class I Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Division A-IX, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Company is in default.

 

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X. The Class  J Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class J Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class J Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class J Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class J Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class J Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item X) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class J Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class J Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class J Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class J Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

 

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(b) So long as any Class J Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class J Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class J Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class J Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class J Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class J Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item X.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class J Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class J Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class J Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class J Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item X; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class J Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item X; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class J Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item X prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class J Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class J Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class J Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class J Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

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(2) If the holders of Class J Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class J Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class J Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class J Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class J Shares, unless all dividends on all Class J Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class J Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class J Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item X, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

(2) After payment to the holders of Class J Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class J Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Class J Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class J Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class J Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class J Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class J Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class J Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class J Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class J Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class J Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class J Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the

 

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Class J Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class J Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class J Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class J Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class J Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class J Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class J Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class J Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class J Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class K Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such case, the holders of Class J Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class J Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class J Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class J Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class J Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class J Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class J Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class J Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class J Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class J Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class J Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these

 

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Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class J Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class J Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 6.50% Class  J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares . Of the 750,000 authorized Class J Shares, 400,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “6.50% Class J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “6.50% Class J Preferred Shares”). The 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class J Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares as a series of Class J Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall be 6.50% of the liquidation preference of $500.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly in arrears on the fifteenth day of each January, April, July and October or, if not a Business Day (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the next succeeding Business Day (each a “Dividend Payment Date”), the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on October 15, 2012 (the “First Dividend Payment Date”). The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 6.50% Class J Preferred Share shall be $8.125.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record as of the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month in which the applicable Dividend Payment Date falls or on such other date as shall be fixed by the Corporation’s Board of Directors that is no less than ten nor more than 30 days preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date (the “Dividend Record Date”), in each case whether or not such day is a Business Day.

(c) Dividends on 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) with respect to shares included in the initial issue of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the Dividend Record Date for the First Dividend Payment Date, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares; and

(2) with respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid Dividend Record Date, dividends shall be cumulative from the Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the Dividend Record Date for the payment of a dividend on 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares and ending on the Dividend Payment Date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that Dividend Payment Date.

Accrued but unpaid dividends on 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall not bear interest. Any dividend payment made on the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and except pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right (as defined in this Section 6(d)), the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to August 1, 2017.

At any time or from time to time on and after August 1, 2017, the Corporation, at its option upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, may redeem the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $500.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the redemption date, without interest (the “Optional Redemption Right”). Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the Corporation, at its option upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, may redeem the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, at a redemption price of $500.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the redemption date, without interest (the “Special Optional Redemption Right”).

 

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If, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its exercise of any of its redemption rights with respect to the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares (whether pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or the Special Optional Redemption Right), the holders of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares will not have the Change of Control Conversion Right (as defined in clause (e) of this Section 6) in respect of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares called for redemption.

If less than all of the outstanding 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares), or by any other equitable method determined by the Corporation that will not result in the issuance of any 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit (as defined in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH).

Notice of redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, as of a date set by the Corporation not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation.

(1) No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares except as to the holder to whom such notice was defective or not given.

(2) A redemption notice which has been mailed in the manner provided herein shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given on the date mailed whether or not the holder received the redemption notice.

In addition to any information required by the applicable rules of any securities exchange upon which the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares may be listed or admitted to trading, each such notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the redemption price; (iii) the number of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares to be redeemed; (iv) the place or places where certificates, if any, for the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares to be redeemed are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends in respect of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date. If less than all of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice shall state the number of such 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares held by such holder to be so redeemed.

(3) In the event the Corporation is exercising the Special Optional Redemption Right, the notice referred to above shall also state: (i) that the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares are being redeemed pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right in connection with the occurrence of a Change of Control and a brief description of the transaction(s) constituting such Change of Control; and (ii) that the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares to which such notice relates may not be tendered for conversion in connection with the Change of Control by the holder thereof and that each 6.50% Class J Preferred Share so tendered for conversion that is selected, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, for redemption will be redeemed on the related date of redemption instead of converted on the Change of Control Conversion Date.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding and except as otherwise required by law, the holders of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable with respect to their 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption thereof after such Dividend Record Date and on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date or the Corporation’s default in the payment of the dividend due on such Dividend Payment Date. Except as provided in this Section 6, the Corporation will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares called for redemption.

(e) 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation, except as provided in this Section 6(e) and/or except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, Section 4(d) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall have the right, unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right, to convert some or all of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares held by such holder (the “Change of Control Conversion Right”) on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of Common Shares (or equivalent value of Alternative Conversion Consideration (as defined in this Section 6(e)) per 6.50% Class J Preferred Share to be converted (the “Common Shares Conversion Consideration”) equal to the lesser of (i) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of $500.00 per share plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividends will be included in this sum) by (2) the Common Share Price (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6); and (ii) 66.8896 (the “Share Cap”), subject to the adjustments described in the following paragraph.

 

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Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding and except as otherwise required by law, the persons who are holders of record of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion of those shares after such Dividend Record Date and on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date and, in such case, the full amount of such dividend shall be paid on such Dividend Payment Date to the persons who were the holders of record of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date.

The Share Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any share splits (including those effected pursuant to a distribution of Common Shares), subdivisions or combinations (in each case, a “Share Split”) with respect to Common Shares as follows: the adjusted Share Cap as the result of a Share Split will be the number of Common Shares that is equivalent to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Share Cap in effect immediately prior to such Share Split by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding after giving effect to such Share Split and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such Share Split.

For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, the aggregate number of Common Shares (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration, as applicable) issuable in connection with the exercise of the Change of Control Conversion Right shall not exceed 26,756,000 Common Shares (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration, as applicable) (the “Exchange Cap”). The Exchange Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any Share Splits on the same basis as the corresponding adjustment to the Share Cap and is subject to increase in the event that additional 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares are designated and issued in the future pursuant to an amendment to these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

In the case of a Change of Control pursuant to which Common Shares will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) (the “Alternative Form Consideration”), a holder of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares will receive upon conversion of such 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares the kind and amount of Alternative Form Consideration that such holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the Change of Control had such holder held a number of Common Shares equal to the Common Shares Conversion Consideration immediately prior to the effective time of the Change of Control (the “Alternative Conversion Consideration”; the Common Shares Conversion Consideration or the Alternative Conversion Consideration, as may be applicable to a Change of Control, is referred to as the “Conversion Consideration”).

If the holders of Common Shares have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in the Change of Control, the consideration that the holders of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares will receive will be in the form and proportion of the aggregate consideration elected by the holders of Common Shares who participate in the determination (based on the weighted average of elections) and will be subject to any limitations to which all holders of Common Shares are subject, including, without limitation, pro rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in the Change of Control.

No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the conversion of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares. In lieu of fractional shares, holders shall be entitled to receive the cash value of such fractional shares based on the Common Share Price (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6).

Within 15 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Corporation shall deliver a notice of occurrence of the Change of Control, describing the resulting Change of Control Conversion Right, to the holders of record of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation.

(1) No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the conversion of any 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

(2) Each such notice shall state (i) the events constituting the Change of Control; (ii) the date of the Change of Control; (iii) the last date on which the holders of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares may exercise their Change of Control Conversion Right; (iv) the method and period for calculating the Common Share Price; (v) the Change of Control Conversion Date; (vi) that if, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, holders of such shares will not be able to convert such shares and such shares will be redeemed on the related redemption date, even if such shares have

 

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already been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Change of Control Conversion Right; (vii) if applicable, the type and amount of Alternative Conversion Consideration entitled to be received per 6.50% Class J Preferred Share; (viii) the name and address of the paying agent and the conversion agent; (ix) the procedures that the holders of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares must follow to exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right; and (x) the last date on which the holders of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares may withdraw shares surrendered for conversion and the procedures that such holders must follow to effect such a withdrawal.

The Corporation shall issue a press release for publication on the Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Business Wire, PR Newswire or Bloomberg Business News (or, if these organizations are not in existence at the time of issuance of the press release, such other news or press organization as is reasonably calculated to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public), or post notice on the Corporation’s website, in any event prior to the opening of business on the first Business Day following any date on which the Corporation provides the Change of Control notice described above to the holders of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares.

In order to exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right, a holder of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall be required to deliver, on or before the close of business on the Change of Control Conversion Date, the certificates, if any, evidencing the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares to be converted, duly endorsed for transfer, together with a written conversion notice completed, to the Corporation’s transfer agent.

(1) Such notice shall state (i) the relevant Change of Control Conversion Date; (ii) the number of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares to be converted; and (iii) that the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares are to be converted pursuant to the applicable provisions of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares are held in global form, such notice shall comply with applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company or any other organization acting as depositary for the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares (the “Depositary”).

Holders of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares may withdraw any notice of exercise of a Change of Control Conversion Right (in whole or in part) by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Corporation’s transfer agent prior to the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date.

(1) The notice of withdrawal must state: (i) the number of withdrawn 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares; (ii) if certificated 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares; and (iii) the number of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, if any, which remain subject to the conversion notice.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares are held in global form, such notice of withdrawal shall comply with applicable procedures of the Depositary.

6.50% Class J Preferred Shares as to which the Change of Control Conversion Right has been properly exercised and for which the conversion notice has not been properly withdrawn shall be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration in accordance with the Change of Control Conversion Right on the Change of Control Conversion Date, unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem such 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, whether pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right. If the Corporation elects to redeem 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares that would otherwise be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration on a Change of Control Conversion Date, such 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares shall not be so converted and the holders of such shares shall be entitled to receive on the applicable redemption date $500.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date.

The Corporation shall deliver the applicable Conversion Consideration to the applicable holders of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares no later than the third Business Day following the Change of Control Conversion Date.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no holder of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares will be entitled to convert such shares to the extent that receipt of Common Shares upon conversion of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares would cause such holder (or any other person) to exceed either of the ownership limits described in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH and Section 4(a) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, unless the Corporation provides an exemption from such ownership limits for such holder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions on the ability to convert the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, any conversion of 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares in violation of the ownership limits described in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH and Section 4(a) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, or that causes another

 

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person to be in violation of such ownership limits, including as a result of the effect of the operation of this provision, shall be construed as causing any 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares that exceed such ownership limits to be deemed Excess Preferred Shares and subject to the provisions applicable to Excess Preferred Shares set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

(f) The amount payable per 6.50% Class J Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $500.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the date of payment.

(g) All dividend payments made on the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Item X, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(h) Definitions . For the purposes of this Section 6 of Item X of Division A of this Article FOURTH, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“Change of Control” is when, after the original issuance of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares, the following have occurred and are continuing:

(i) the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (as defined in this Section 6(h)), of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of shares of the Corporation entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in elections of directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

(ii) following the closing of any transaction referred to in the foregoing clause (i), neither the Corporation nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or American Depositary Receipts representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or NASDAQ, or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or NASDAQ.

“Change of Control Conversion Date” shall mean the date the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares are to be converted which shall be a Business Day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which the Corporation provides notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (as provided for in clause (e) of this Section 6) to the holders of the 6.50% Class J Preferred Shares.

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

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“NASDAQ” shall mean the NASDAQ Stock Market.

“NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

“NYSE MKT” shall mean the NYSE MKT (formerly known as the NYSE Amex Equities).

 

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XI. The Class  K Cumulative Preferred Shares. The Class K Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Class K Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Class K Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative. All Class K Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares and Noncumulative Shares except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on Cumulative Shares shall be cumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, both inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Class K Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series and, with respect to each such series to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section), the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The date or dates from which dividends shall accrue and be cumulative and the dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item XI) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Class K Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Class K Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, and when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue and be cumulative, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Class K Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class K Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date (but, with respect to Noncumulative Shares, only with respect to the then current dividend period), ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares and Noncumulative Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

 

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(b) So long as any Class K Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Class K Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class K Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class K Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Class K Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Class K Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item XI.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class K Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares, or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Class K Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Class K Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Class K Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item XI; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Class K Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item XI; and shall in each case pay all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Class K Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item XI prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Class K Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Class K Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Class K Shares so to be redeemed, together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Class K Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

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(2) If the holders of Class K Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Class K Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Class K Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) less than all of the Class K Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Class K Shares, unless all dividends on all Class K Shares then outstanding for all previous and current dividend periods shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Class K Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Class K Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item XI, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

(2) After payment to the holders of Class K Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Class K Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting .

(a) The holders of Class K Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of dividends on any series of Class K Shares at the time outstanding, whether or not earned or declared, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, all holders of such Class K Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares and Noncumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable under the circumstances described in Subsection 5(c), shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, a total of two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Class K Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Class K Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until all accrued and unpaid dividends on such Class K Shares then outstanding shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment, whereupon the holders of such Class K Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph. All dividend payments made on the Class K Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such Class K Shares for any dividend period, shall be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

 

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(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Class K Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Class K Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Class K Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Class K Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Class K Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Class K Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Class K Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation or require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Class K Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Class K Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Class K Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares or Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with each class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such case, the holders of Class K Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Class K Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Class K Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Class K Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class K Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class K Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class K Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Class K Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such series of Class K Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Class K Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of Class K Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in

 

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these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Class K Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Class K Shares nor the Amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series.

Section 6. 6.250% Class  K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares . Of the 750,000 authorized Class K Shares, 345,000 shares are designated as a series entitled “6.250% Class K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares” (hereinafter called “6.250% Class K Preferred Shares”). The 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall have the express terms set forth in this Division as being applicable to all Class K Shares as a class and, in addition, the following express terms applicable to all 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares as a series of Class K Shares:

(a) The annual dividend rate of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall be 6.250% of the liquidation preference of $500.00 per share.

(b) Dividends on the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall be payable, if declared, quarterly in arrears on the fifteenth day of each January, April, July and October or, if not a Business Day (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the next succeeding Business Day (each a “Dividend Payment Date”), the first quarterly dividend being payable, if declared, on July 15, 2013 (the “First Dividend Payment Date”). The dividends payable for each full quarterly dividend period on each 6.250% Class K Preferred Share shall be $7.8125.

Dividends for the initial dividend period on the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, or for any period shorter or longer than a full dividend period on the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The aggregate dividend payable quarterly to each holder of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of one cent with $.00005 being rounded upward. Each dividend shall be payable to the holders of record as of the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the first day of the calendar month in which the applicable Dividend Payment Date falls or on such other date as shall be fixed by the Corporation’s Board of Directors that is no less than ten nor more than 30 days preceding the applicable Dividend Payment Date (the “Dividend Record Date”), in each case whether or not such day is a Business Day.

(c) Dividends on 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall be cumulative as follows:

(1) with respect to shares included in the initial issue of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares and shares issued any time thereafter up to and including the Dividend Record Date for the First Dividend Payment Date, dividends shall be cumulative from the date of the initial issue of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares; and

(2) with respect to shares issued any time after the aforesaid Dividend Record Date, dividends shall be cumulative from the Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, except that if such shares are issued during the period commencing the day after the Dividend Record Date for the payment of a dividend on 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares and ending on the Dividend Payment Date of that dividend, dividends with respect to such shares shall be cumulative from that Dividend Payment Date.

Accrued but unpaid dividends on 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall not bear interest. Any dividend payment made on the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable.

(d) Except as required to preserve the Corporation’s status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and except pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right (as defined in this Section 6(d)), the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares may not be redeemed prior to April 9, 2018.

At any time or from time to time on and after April 9, 2018, the Corporation, at its option upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, may redeem the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $500.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the redemption date, without interest (the “Optional Redemption Right”). Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the Corporation, at its option upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, may redeem the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred, at a redemption price of $500.00 per share plus, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the redemption date, without interest (the “Special Optional Redemption Right”).

 

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If, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6), the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its exercise of any of its redemption rights with respect to the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares (whether pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or the Special Optional Redemption Right), the holders of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares will not have the Change of Control Conversion Right (as defined in clause (e) of this Section 6) in respect of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares called for redemption.

If less than all of the outstanding 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares), or by any other equitable method determined by the Corporation that will not result in the issuance of any 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit (as defined in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH).

Notice of redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, as of a date set by the Corporation not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation.

(1) No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares except as to the holder to whom such notice was defective or not given.

(2) A redemption notice which has been mailed in the manner provided herein shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given on the date mailed whether or not the holder received the redemption notice.

In addition to any information required by the applicable rules of any securities exchange upon which the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares may be listed or admitted to trading, each such notice shall state (i) the redemption date; (ii) the redemption price; (iii) the number of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares to be redeemed; (iv) the place or places where certificates, if any, for the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares to be redeemed are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends in respect of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date. If less than all of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice shall state the number of such 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares held by such holder to be so redeemed.

(3) In the event the Corporation is exercising the Special Optional Redemption Right, the notice referred to above shall also state: (i) that the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares are being redeemed pursuant to the Special Optional Redemption Right in connection with the occurrence of a Change of Control and a brief description of the transaction(s) constituting such Change of Control; and (ii) that the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares to which such notice relates may not be tendered for conversion in connection with the Change of Control by the holder thereof and that each 6.250% Class K Preferred Share so tendered for conversion that is selected, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, for redemption will be redeemed on the related redemption date instead of converted on the Change of Control Conversion Date.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding and except as otherwise required by law, the holders of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable with respect to their 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption thereof after such Dividend Record Date and on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date or the Corporation’s default in the payment of the dividend due on such Dividend Payment Date. Except as provided in this Section 6, the Corporation will make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares called for redemption.

(e) 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Corporation, except as provided in this Section 6(e) and/or except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, Section 4(d) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall have the right, unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right, to convert some or all of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares held by such holder (the “Change of Control Conversion Right”) on the Change of Control Conversion Date into a number of Common Shares (or equivalent value of Alternative Conversion Consideration (as defined in this Section 6(e)) per 6.250% Class K Preferred Share to be

 

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converted (the “Common Shares Conversion Consideration”) equal to the lesser of (i) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of $500.00 per share plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the Change of Control Conversion Date (unless the Change of Control Conversion Date is after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid dividends will be included in this sum) by (2) the Common Share Price (as defined in clause (h) of this Section 6); and (ii) 57.1102 (the “Share Cap”), subject to the adjustments described in the following paragraph.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding and except as otherwise required by law, the persons who are holders of record of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion of those shares after such Dividend Record Date and on or prior to such Dividend Payment Date and, in such case, the full amount of such dividend shall be paid on such Dividend Payment Date to the persons who were the holders of record of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date.

The Share Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any share splits (including those effected pursuant to a distribution of Common Shares), subdivisions or combinations (in each case, a “Share Split”) with respect to Common Shares as follows: the adjusted Share Cap as the result of a Share Split will be the number of Common Shares that is equivalent to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Share Cap in effect immediately prior to such Share Split by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding after giving effect to such Share Split and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such Share Split.

For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence, the aggregate number of Common Shares (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration, as applicable) issuable in connection with the exercise of the Change of Control Conversion Right shall not exceed 17,133,000 Common Shares (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration, as applicable), subject to increase to the extent the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares in the initial public offering of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares is exercised, not to exceed 19,702,950 Common Shares in total (or equivalent Alternative Conversion Consideration, as applicable) (the “Exchange Cap”). The Exchange Cap is subject to pro rata adjustments for any Share Splits on the same basis as the corresponding adjustment to the Share Cap and is subject to increase in the event that additional 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares are designated and issued in the future pursuant to an amendment to these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

In the case of a Change of Control pursuant to which Common Shares will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) (the “Alternative Form Consideration”), a holder of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares will receive upon conversion of such 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares the kind and amount of Alternative Form Consideration that such holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the Change of Control had such holder held a number of Common Shares equal to the Common Shares Conversion Consideration immediately prior to the effective time of the Change of Control (the “Alternative Conversion Consideration”; the Common Shares Conversion Consideration or the Alternative Conversion Consideration, as may be applicable to a Change of Control, is referred to as the “Conversion Consideration”).

If the holders of Common Shares have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in the Change of Control, the consideration that the holders of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares will receive will be in the form and proportion of the aggregate consideration elected by the holders of Common Shares who participate in the determination (based on the weighted average of elections) and will be subject to any limitations to which all holders of Common Shares are subject, including, without limitation, pro rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in the Change of Control.

No fractional Common Shares will be issued upon the conversion of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares. In lieu of fractional shares, holders shall be entitled to receive the cash value of such fractional shares based on the Common Share Price.

Within 15 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Corporation shall deliver a notice of occurrence of the Change of Control, describing the resulting Change of Control Conversion Right, to the holders of record of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation.

(1) No failure to give such notice or any defect thereto or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the conversion of any 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given.

 

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(2) Each such notice shall state (i) the events constituting the Change of Control; (ii) the date of the Change of Control; (iii) the last date on which the holders of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares may exercise their Change of Control Conversion Right; (iv) the method and period for calculating the Common Share Price; (v) the Change of Control Conversion Date; (vi) that if, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, holders of such shares will not be able to convert such shares and such shares will be redeemed on the related redemption date, even if such shares have already been tendered for conversion pursuant to the Change of Control Conversion Right; (vii) if applicable, the type and amount of Alternative Conversion Consideration entitled to be received per 6.250% Class K Preferred Share; (viii) the name and address of the paying agent and the conversion agent; (ix) the procedures that the holders of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares must follow to exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right; and (x) the last date on which the holders of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares may withdraw shares surrendered for conversion and the procedures that such holders must follow to effect such a withdrawal.

The Corporation shall issue a press release for publication on the Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Business Wire, PR Newswire or Bloomberg Business News (or, if these organizations are not in existence at the time of issuance of the press release, such other news or press organization as is reasonably calculated to broadly disseminate the relevant information to the public), or post notice on the Corporation’s website, in any event prior to the opening of business on the first Business Day following any date on which the Corporation provides the Change of Control notice described above to the holders of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares.

In order to exercise the Change of Control Conversion Right, a holder of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall be required to deliver, on or before the close of business on the Change of Control Conversion Date, the certificates, if any, evidencing the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares to be converted, duly endorsed for transfer, together with a written conversion notice completed, to the Corporation’s transfer agent.

(1) Such notice shall state (i) the relevant Change of Control Conversion Date; (ii) the number of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares to be converted; and (iii) that the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares are to be converted pursuant to the applicable provisions of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares are held in global form, such notice shall comply with applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company or any other organization acting as depositary for the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares (the “Depositary”).

Holders of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares may withdraw any notice of exercise of a Change of Control Conversion Right (in whole or in part) by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Corporation’s transfer agent prior to the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date.

(1) The notice of withdrawal must state: (i) the number of withdrawn 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares; (ii) if certificated 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares; and (iii) the number of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, if any, which remain subject to the conversion notice.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares are held in global form, such notice of withdrawal shall comply with applicable procedures of the Depositary.

6.250% Class K Preferred Shares as to which the Change of Control Conversion Right has been properly exercised and for which the conversion notice has not been properly withdrawn shall be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration in accordance with the Change of Control Conversion Right on the Change of Control Conversion Date, unless, prior to the Change of Control Conversion Date, the Corporation has provided or provides notice of its election to redeem such 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, whether pursuant to the Optional Redemption Right or Special Optional Redemption Right. If the Corporation elects to redeem 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares that would otherwise be converted into the applicable Conversion Consideration on a Change of Control Conversion Date, such 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares shall not be so converted and the holders of such shares shall be entitled to receive on the applicable redemption date $500.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the redemption date.

The Corporation shall deliver the applicable Conversion Consideration to the applicable holders of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares no later than the third Business Day following the Change of Control Conversion Date.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no holder of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares will be entitled to convert such shares to the extent that receipt of Common Shares upon conversion of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares would cause such holder (or any other person) to exceed either of the ownership limits described in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH and Section 4(a) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, unless the Corporation provides an exemption from such ownership limits for such holder.

 

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions on the ability to convert the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, any conversion of 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares in violation of the ownership limits described in Section (a) of Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH and Section 4(a) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, or that causes another person to be in violation of such ownership limits, including as a result of the effect of the operation of this provision, shall be construed as causing any 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares that exceed such ownership limits to be deemed Excess Preferred Shares and subject to the provisions applicable to Excess Preferred Shares set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

(f) The amount payable per 6.250% Class K Preferred Share in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be $500.00, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon to, but not including, the date of payment.

(g) All dividend payments made on the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, at any time during which the Corporation is in default in the payment of dividends on such 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares for any dividend period, shall, for the purposes of Section 5(b)(1) of this Item X, be deemed to be made in respect of the earliest dividend period with respect to which the Corporation is in default.

(h) Definitions . For the purposes of this Section 6 of Item X of Division A of this Article FOURTH, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“Change of Control” is when, after the original issuance of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares, the following have occurred and are continuing:

(i) the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of shares of the Corporation entitling that person to exercise more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in elections of directors (except that such person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition); and

(ii) following the closing of any transaction referred to in the foregoing clause (i), neither the Corporation nor the acquiring or surviving entity has a class of common securities (or American Depositary Receipts representing such securities) listed on the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or NASDAQ, or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to the NYSE, the NYSE MKT or NASDAQ.

“Change of Control Conversion Date” shall mean the date the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares are to be converted which shall be a Business Day that is no fewer than 20 days nor more than 35 days after the date on which the Corporation provides notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (as provided for in clause (e) of this Section 6) to the holders of the 6.250% Class K Preferred Shares.

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

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“NASDAQ” shall mean the NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

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“NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

“NYSE MKT” shall mean the NYSE MKT (formerly known as the NYSE Amex Equities).

XII. The Noncumulative Preferred Shares. The Noncumulative Preferred Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Series. The Noncumulative Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series. All Noncumulative Shares shall be of equal rank and shall be identical, except in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided, and each share of a series shall be identical with all other shares of such series, except as to the dates on which and the periods for which dividends may be payable. All Noncumulative Shares shall rank on a parity with the Cumulative Shares, and shall be identical to all Cumulative Shares, except (1) in respect of the matters that may be fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in clauses (a) through (i), inclusive, of this Section 1 and (2) only dividends on the Noncumulative Shares are noncumulative as set forth herein. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 through 5, inclusive, and Item XIII of this Division, which provisions shall apply to all Noncumulative Shares, the Board of Directors hereby is authorized to cause such shares to be issued in one or more series, and with respect to each such series, to determine and fix prior to the issuance thereof (and thereafter, to the extent provided in clause (b) of this Section) the following:

(a) The designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

(b) The authorized number of shares of the series, which number the Board of Directors may (except where otherwise provided in the creation of the series) increase or decrease from time to time before or after the issuance thereof (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

(c) The dividend rate or rates of the series, including the means by which such rates may be established;

(d) The dates on which and the period or periods for which dividends, if declared, shall be payable, including the means by which such dates and periods may be established;

(e) The redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

(f) The terms and amount of the sinking fund, if any, for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

(g) The amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;

(h) Whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into Common Shares or shares of any other class and, if so, the conversion rate or rates or price or prices, any adjustments thereof and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion may be made; and

(i) Restrictions (in addition to those set forth in Subsection 5(d) or 5(e) of this Item XII) on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to adopt from time to time amendments to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, fixing, with respect to each such series, the matters described in clauses (a) through (i), both inclusive, of this Section and is authorized to take such actions with respect thereto as may be required by law in order to effect such amendments.

Section 2. Dividends.

(a) The holders of Noncumulative Shares of each series, in preference to the holders of Common Shares and of any other class of shares ranking junior to the Noncumulative Shares, shall be entitled to receive out of any funds legally available therefor, if, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends in cash at the rate or rates for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 above and no more, payable on the dates fixed for such series. Such dividends shall accrue, in the case of shares of each particular series, from and after the date or dates fixed with respect to such series; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors fails to declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any Noncumulative Shares, the holders of the Noncumulative Shares shall have no right to receive a dividend in respect of the dividend period ending on such dividend payment date, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for such period, whether or not dividends on such Noncumulative Shares are declared payable on any future dividend payment date. No dividends shall be paid upon or declared or set apart for any series of the Noncumulative Shares for any dividend period unless at the same time (i) a like proportionate dividend for the then current dividend period, ratably in proportion to the respective annual dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Noncumulative Shares of all series then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividend and (ii) the dividends payable for the dividend periods terminating on the same or any earlier date, ratably in proportion to the respective dividend rates fixed therefor, shall have been paid upon or declared or set apart for all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares and Class K Shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends.

 

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(b) So long as any Noncumulative Shares shall be outstanding no dividend, except a dividend payable in Common Shares or other shares ranking junior to the Noncumulative Shares, shall be paid or declared or any distribution be made, except as aforesaid, in respect of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Noncumulative Shares, nor shall any Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Noncumulative Shares be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except out of the proceeds of the sale of Common Shares or other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to the Noncumulative Shares received by the Corporation subsequent to the date of first issuance of Noncumulative Shares of any series, unless:

(1) All accrued and unpaid dividends on Cumulative Shares, including the full dividends for all current dividend periods, shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment thereof set apart;

(2) All unpaid dividends on Noncumulative Shares for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or a sum sufficient for payment therefor set apart; and

(3) There shall be no arrearages with respect to the redemption of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares of any series from any sinking fund provided for shares of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item XII.

(c) The foregoing restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions on, or on the purchase, redemption retirement or other acquisition of, Common Shares or any other shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Noncumulative Shares shall be inapplicable to (i) any payments in lieu of issuance of fractional shares thereof, whether upon any merger, conversion, stock dividend or otherwise, (ii) the conversion of Cumulative Shares or Noncumulative Shares into Common Shares or (iii) the exercise by the Corporation of its rights pursuant to Item XIV(d) of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized.

(d) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of stock (the “Total Dividends”), then, to the extent permissible under the Code and to the extent it does not cause any dividends to fail to qualify for the dividends paid deduction under Section 561 of the Code, the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of the Noncumulative Shares shall be the amount that the total dividends paid or made available to the holders of the Noncumulative Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends.

Section 3. Redemption.

(a) Subject to the express terms of each series, the Corporation:

(1) May, from time to time at the option of the Board of Directors, redeem all or any part of any redeemable series of Noncumulative Shares at the time outstanding at the applicable redemption price for such series fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item XII; and

(2) Shall, from time to time, make such redemptions of each series of Noncumulative Shares as may be required to fulfill the requirements of any sinking fund provided for shares of such series at the applicable sinking fund redemption price fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this Item XII; and shall, in each case, pay all unpaid dividends for the then current dividend period to the redemption date.

(b) (1) Notice of every such redemption shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the Noncumulative Shares to be redeemed at their respective addresses then appearing on the books of the Corporation, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption, or such other time prior thereto as the Board of Directors shall fix for any series pursuant to Section 1 of this Item XII prior to the issuance thereof. At any time after notice as provided above has been deposited in the mail, the Corporation may deposit the aggregate redemption price of Noncumulative Shares to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon for the then current dividend period to the redemption date, with any bank or trust company in Cleveland, Ohio, or New York, New York, having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 named in such notice and direct that there be paid to the respective holders of the Noncumulative Shares so to be redeemed amounts equal to the redemption price of the Noncumulative Shares so to be redeemed together with such accrued and unpaid dividends thereon for the then current dividend period, on surrender of the share certificate or certificates held by such holders; and upon the deposit of such notice in the mail and the making of such deposit of money with such bank or trust company, such holders shall cease to be shareholders with respect to such shares; and from and after the time such notice shall have been so deposited and such deposit of money shall have been so made, such holders shall have no rights or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, except only the right to receive such money from such bank or trust company without interest or to exercise before the redemption date any unexpired privileges of conversion. In the event less than all of the outstanding Noncumulative Shares are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall select by lot the shares so to be redeemed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

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(2) If the holders of Noncumulative Shares which have been called for redemption shall not within six years after such deposit claim the amount deposited for the redemption thereof, any such bank or trust company shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such unclaimed amounts and thereupon such bank or trust company and the Corporation shall be relieved of all responsibility in respect thereof and to such holders.

(c) Any Noncumulative Shares which are (1) redeemed by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this Section, (2) purchased and delivered in satisfaction of any sinking fund requirements provided for shares of such series, (3) converted in accordance with the express terms thereof, or (4) otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall resume the status of authorized but unissued Noncumulative Shares without serial designation.

(d) Except in connection with the exercise of the Corporation’s rights pursuant to Section (d) of Item XIV of this Division A, Section 4(d) of Division B or any similar Section hereafter contained in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with respect to any other class or series of capital stock hereafter created or authorized, the Corporation may not purchase or redeem (for sinking fund purposes or otherwise) of less than all of the Noncumulative Shares then outstanding except in accordance with a stock purchase offer made to all holders of record of Noncumulative Shares, unless all dividends on all Noncumulative Shares then outstanding for the then current dividend period shall have been declared and paid or funds therefor set apart and all accrued sinking fund obligations applicable thereto shall have been complied with.

Section 4. Liquidation.

(a) (1) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the holders of Noncumulative Shares of any series shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid or distributed among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares ranking junior to the Noncumulative Shares, the amounts fixed with respect to shares of such series in accordance with Section 1 of this Item XII, plus an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon for the then current dividend period to the date of payment of the amount due pursuant to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. In the event the net assets of the Corporation legally available therefor are insufficient to permit the payment upon all outstanding Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amount to which they are respectively entitled, then such net assets shall be distributed ratably upon all outstanding Noncumulative Shares in proportion to the full preferential amount to which each such share is entitled.

(2) After payment to the holders of Noncumulative Shares of the full preferential amounts as aforesaid, the holders of Noncumulative Shares, as such, shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(b) The merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Corporation, the merger of any other Corporation into it, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation shall not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up for the purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Voting.

(a) The holders of Noncumulative Shares shall have no voting rights, except as provided in this Section or required by law.

(b) (1) If, and so often as, the Corporation shall not have fully paid, or shall not have declared and set aside a sum sufficient for the payment of, dividends on any series of Noncumulative Shares at the time outstanding, for a number of dividend payment periods, whether consecutive or not, which in the aggregate contain at least 540 days, the holders of such Noncumulative Shares, voting separately as a class, together with all Cumulative Shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, shall be entitled to elect, as herein provided, two members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that the holders of such Noncumulative Shares shall not exercise such special class voting rights except at meetings of such shareholders for the election of directors at which the holders of not less than 50% of such Noncumulative Shares are present in person or by proxy; and provided further, that the special class voting rights provided for in this paragraph when the same shall have become vested shall remain so vested until the Corporation shall have fully paid, or shall have set aside a sum sufficient for the payment of, dividends on such Noncumulative Shares then outstanding for a number of consecutive dividend payment periods which in the aggregate contain at least 360 days, whereupon the holders of such Noncumulative Shares shall be divested of their special class voting rights in respect of subsequent elections of directors, subject to the revesting of such special class voting rights in the event above specified in this paragraph.

 

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(2) In the event of default entitling holders of Noncumulative Shares to elect two directors as specified in paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of electing such directors shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request of, or may be called by, the holders of record of at least 10% of the Noncumulative Shares upon which such default in the payment of dividends exists and notice thereof shall be given in the same manner as that required for the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to call such special meeting if the annual meeting of shareholders shall be called to be held within 90 days after the date of receipt of the foregoing written request from the holders of Noncumulative Shares. At any meeting at which such holders of Noncumulative Shares shall be entitled to elect directors, holders of 50% of such Noncumulative Shares, present in person or by proxy, shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the vote of the holders of a majority of such shares so present at any such meeting at which there shall be such a quorum shall be sufficient to elect the members of the Board of Directors which such holders of Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect as herein provided. Notwithstanding any provision of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation or any action taken by the holders of any class of shares fixing the number of directors of the Corporation, the two directors who may be elected by such holders of Noncumulative Shares pursuant to this Subsection shall serve in addition to any other directors then in office or proposed to be elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Nothing in this Subsection shall prevent any change otherwise permitted in the total number of or classifications of directors of the Corporation nor require the resignation of any director elected otherwise than pursuant to this Subsection. Notwithstanding any classification of the other directors of the Corporation, the two directors elected by such holders of Noncumulative Shares shall be elected annually for terms expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders.

(3) Upon any divesting of the special class voting rights of the holders of the Noncumulative Shares in respect of elections of directors as provided in this Subsection, the terms of office of all directors then in office elected by such holders shall terminate immediately thereupon. If the office of any director elected by such holders voting as a class becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal from office or otherwise, the remaining director elected by such holders voting as a class may elect a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

(c) If at any time when the holders of Noncumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section the holders of any Cumulative Shares are entitled to elect directors pursuant hereto by reason of any default in the payment of dividends thereon, then the voting rights of the Cumulative Shares and Noncumulative Shares then entitled to vote shall be combined (with class of shares having a number of votes proportional to the aggregate liquidation preference of its outstanding shares). In such case, the holders of Noncumulative Shares and of all such other shares then entitled so to vote, voting as a class, shall elect such directors. If the holders of any such other shares have elected such directors prior to the happening of the default or event permitting the holders of Noncumulative Shares to elect directors, or prior to a written request for the holding of a special meeting being received by the Secretary of the Corporation as required above, then a new election shall be held with all such other shares and the Noncumulative Shares voting together as a single class for such directors, resulting in the termination of the term of such previously elected directors upon the election of such new directors.

(d) The affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Noncumulative Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary to effect either of the following:

(1) Any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Noncumulative Shares which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Noncumulative Shares or of any shares ranking on a parity with or junior to the Noncumulative Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of Noncumulative Shares; or

(2) The authorization, creation or increase in the authorized number of any shares, or any security convertible into shares, in either case ranking prior to such Noncumulative Shares.

(e) In the event, and only to the extent, that (1) Noncumulative Shares are issued in more than one series and (2) Ohio law permits the holders of a series of a class of capital stock to vote separately as a class, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of each series of the Noncumulative Shares at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, given in person or by proxy either in writing or at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such matters, shall be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, of any of the

 

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provisions of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or of the Code of Regulations of the Corporation which affects adversely and materially the preferences or voting or other rights of the holders of such series which are set forth in these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended; provided, however, neither the amendment of these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, so as to authorize, create or change the authorized or outstanding number of Noncumulative Shares or of any shares remaining on a parity with or junior to the Noncumulative Shares nor the amendment of the provisions of the Code of Regulations so as to change the number or classification of directors of the Corporation shall be deemed to affect adversely and materially preferences or voting or other rights of the holder of such series.

XIII. Definitions. For the purposes of this Division:

(a) Whenever reference is made to shares “ranking prior to” Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares, Noncumulative Shares or Voting Preferred Shares, such reference shall mean and include all shares of the Corporation in respect of which the rights of the holders thereof as to the payment of dividends or as to distributions in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation are given preference over the rights of the holders of Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares, Noncumulative Shares or Voting Preferred Shares, as the case may be; and

(b) Whenever reference is made to shares “on a parity with” Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares, Noncumulative Shares or Voting Preferred Shares, such reference shall mean and include all shares of the Corporation in respect of which the rights of the holders thereof as to the payment of dividends or as to distributions in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation rank equally (except as to the amounts fixed therefor) with the rights of the holders of Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares, Noncumulative Shares or Voting Preferred Shares, as the case may be; and

(c) Whenever reference is made to shares “ranking junior to” Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares, Noncumulative Shares or Voting Preferred Shares, such reference shall mean and include all shares of the Corporation other than those defined under Subsections (a) and (b) of this Section as shares “ranking prior to” or “on a parity with” Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares, Noncumulative Shares or Voting Preferred Shares, as the case may be.

XIV. Restrictions on Transfer to Preserve Tax Benefit; Shares Subject to Redemption .

(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Preferred Shares by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such Preferred Shares either directly or constructively through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

“Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Preferred Shares by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such Preferred Shares either directly or constructively through the application of Section 318 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.

“Excess Preferred Shares” shall mean any Preferred Shares (i) acquired or proposed to be acquired by any Person pursuant to a Transfer to the extent that, if effective, such Transfer would result in the transferee either Beneficially Owning Preferred Shares or Constructively Owning Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit, or (ii) which are the subject of a Transfer that, if effective, which would result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code.

 

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“Market Price” shall mean, with respect to any series of any class of Preferred Shares, the last reported sales price of such series reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date or, if shares of such series are not then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the last reported sales price of shares of such series on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date as reported on any exchange or quotation system over which the shares of such series may be traded, or if shares of such series are not then traded over any exchange or quotation system, then the market price of shares of such series on the relevant date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

“Ownership Limit” shall mean, with respect to each series of each class of Preferred Shares, 9.8% of the outstanding shares of such series.

“Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, an association, a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, a joint stock company, other entity or a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that a “person” does not mean an underwriter which participates in a public offering of Preferred Shares, for a period of 35 days following the purchase by such underwriter of such Preferred Shares.

“Preferred Shares” shall mean, collectively, Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares, Noncumulative Shares and Voting Preferred Shares.

“REIT” shall mean a Real Estate Investment Trust under Section 856 of the Code.

“Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of Preferred Shares (including, without limitation, (i) the granting of any option or entering into any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of Preferred Shares or (ii) the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares), whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of record or beneficially and whether by operation of law or otherwise.

(b) Restrictions on Transfers .

(i) Except as provided in Section (i) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, no Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of any series of any class of Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit applicable to such series.

(ii) Except as provided in Section (i) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning shares of any series of any class of Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit applicable to such series shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Preferred Shares which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by such Person in excess of such Ownership Limit, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Preferred Shares.

(iii) Except as provided in Section (i) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person Constructively Owning shares of any series of any class of Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit applicable to such series shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Preferred Shares which would be otherwise Constructively Owned by such Person in excess of such amount, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Preferred Shares.

(iv) Notwithstanding any other provisions contained in this Item XIV, any Transfer (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange) or other event that, if effective, would result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, or would otherwise result in the Corporation failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, a Transfer or other event that would result in the Corporation owning (directly or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Corporation from such tenant would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirement of Section 856(c) of the Code) shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of the Preferred Shares or other event which would cause the Corporation to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code or would otherwise result in the Corporation failing to qualify as a REIT; and the intended transferee or owner or Constructive or Beneficial Owner shall acquire or retain no rights in such Preferred Shares.

(v) For purposes of construing the foregoing provisions, any attempt to transfer Preferred Shares in violation of the Ownership Limit applicable to the series of the class of such Preferred Shares (as such Ownership Limit may be modified by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section (h) of Item XIV) shall be construed as causing

 

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such Preferred Shares to be transferred by operation of law to the Corporation as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of the person or persons to whom such Preferred Shares can ultimately be transferred without violating the Ownership Limit and any Excess Preferred Shares while held in such trust shall not have any voting rights, shall not be considered for purposes of any shareholder vote or for determining a quorum for such a vote, and shall not be entitled to any dividends or other distributions.

(c) Remedies for Breach. If the Board of Directors or its designees shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer has taken place in violation of Section (b) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire beneficial ownership (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Preferred Shares of the Corporation in violation of Section (b) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, or that any such Transfer, intended or attempted acquisition or acquisition would jeopardize the status of the Corporation as a REIT under the Code, the Board of Directors or its designees shall take such actions as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect or to prevent such Transfer, including, but not limited to, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer and, in addition, exercising its rights under Section (d) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH.

(d) Purchase Right in Excess Preferred Shares. Beginning on the date of the occurrence of a Transfer which, if consummated, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, could result in Excess Preferred Shares, the Excess Preferred Shares, subject to such transfer shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that created such Excess Preferred Shares (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 Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer for a period of 90 days after the later of (i) the date of such Transfer and (ii) if the Corporation does not receive a notice of such Transfer pursuant to Section (e) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, the date the Board of Directors determines in good faith that such Transfer has occurred. Prompt payment of the purchase price shall be made in such reasonable manner as may be determined by the Corporation. From and after the date fixed for purchase by the Corporation, and so long as payment of the purchase price for the Excess Preferred Shares to be so purchased shall have been made or duly provided for, the holder of any Excess Preferred Shares so called for purchase shall cease to be entitled to dividends, distributions, voting rights and other benefits with respect to such Excess Preferred Shares, excepting only the right to payment of the purchase price fixed as aforesaid. Any dividend or distribution paid to a proposed transferee of Excess Preferred Shares prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the Excess Preferred Shares have been transferred in violation of Section (b) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH shall be repaid to the Corporation upon demand. If the foregoing provisions are determined to be void or invalid by virtue of any legal decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the intended transferee of such Excess Preferred Shares shall be deemed, at the option of the Corporation, to have acted as agent on behalf of the Corporation in acquiring such Excess Preferred Shares and to hold such Excess Preferred Shares on behalf of the Corporation.

(e) Notice of Restricted Transfer. Any Person who acquires or attempts to acquire Preferred Shares or other securities in violation of subparagraph (b) of this Item XIV, or any Person who owns or will own Excess Preferred Shares as a result of an event under subparagraph (b) of this Item XIV, shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(f) Owners Required to Provide Information. From and after the date of the Initial Public Offering:

(i) every Beneficial Owner of more than 5.0% (or such other percentage, between 0.5% and 5.0%, as provided in the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code) of the outstanding Preferred Shares of the Corporation shall, within 30 days after January 1 of each year, give written notice to the Corporation stating the name and address of such Beneficial Owner, the number of shares Beneficially Owned, and description of how such shares are held. Each such Beneficial Owner shall provide to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(ii) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Preferred Shares and each Person (including the shareholder of record) who is holding Preferred Shares for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information that the Corporation may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(g) Remedies Not Limited. Nothing contained in this Division A of this Article FOURTH shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its shareholders by preservation of the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

 

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(h) Ambiguity. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH, including any definition contained in Section (a) of this Item XIV, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Item XIV with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it.

(1) Exceptions.

(i) Subject to Section (b)(iv) of this Item XIV of this Division A, the Board of Directors may exempt a Person from the Ownership Limit applicable to a series of a class of Preferred Shares if such Person is not an individual (other than pension plans described in Section 856(h)(3)) for purposes of Section 542(a)(2) of the Code if the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individual’s Beneficial Ownership of such Preferred Shares will violate the Ownership Limit, and agrees that any violation or attempted violation will result in such Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit being subject to repurchase by the Corporation as set forth in Section (d) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH.

(ii) The Board of Directors may exempt a Person from the limitation on such Person Constructively Owning Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit applicable to a series of a class of such Preferred Shares if such Person does not own and represents that it will not own, directly or constructively (by virtue of the application of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code), more than a 9.8% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B)) in a tenant of any real property owned or leased by the Corporation, if the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact and agrees that any violation or attempted violation will result in such Preferred Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit being deemed to be Excess Preferred Shares and subject to repurchase by the Corporation as set forth in Section (d) of this Item XIV of this Division A of this Article FOURTH.

XV. Legend. Each certificate for Preferred Shares shall bear the following legend:

“The Preferred Shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on transfer for the purpose of the corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Subject to certain provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of any series of any class of Preferred Shares in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding Preferred Shares of such series. Any Person who attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of any series of any class of Preferred Shares in excess of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer, will be sent without charge to each shareholder who so requests. If the restrictions on transfer are violated, certain of the Preferred Shares represented hereby may be subject to repurchase by the Corporation on the terms and conditions set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.

XVI. The Voting Preferred Shares . The Voting Preferred Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. General . The Voting Preferred Shares shall rank on a parity with the Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares and shall be identical to all Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, Class D Shares, Class E Shares, Class F Shares, Class G Shares, Class H Shares, Class I Shares, Class J Shares, Class K Shares and Noncumulative Shares except as set forth in the provisions of Sections 2 through 10, both inclusive, which provisions shall apply to all of the Voting Preferred Shares.

Section 2. Definitions . For purposes of the Voting Preferred Shares, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

“Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any committee authorized by such Board of Directors to perform any of its responsibilities with respect to the Voting Preferred Shares; provided that, for purposes of paragraph (a) of Section 8, the term “Board of Directors” shall not include any such committee.

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

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

“Dividend Payment Date” shall mean March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year; provided, that if any Dividend Payment Date falls on any day other than a Business Day, the dividend payment payable on such Dividend Payment Date shall be paid on the Business Day immediately following such Dividend Payment Date and no interest shall accrue on such dividend from such Dividend Payment Date to the date such dividend is paid.

 

 

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“Dividend Periods” shall mean each quarterly dividend period commencing on and including March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year and ending on and including the day preceding the first day of the next succeeding Dividend Period, other than the Dividend Period during which any Voting Preferred Shares shall be redeemed pursuant to Section 5, which shall end on and include the Redemption Date with respect to the Voting Preferred Shares being redeemed.

“Event” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph (b) (i) of Section 8.

“Liquidation Preference” shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph (a) of Section 4.

“REIT” shall mean a Real Estate Investment Trust under Section 856 of the Code.

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

Section 3. Dividends . (a) The holders of Voting Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, cumulative dividends payable in cash in an amount per Voting Preferred Share equal to $2.3438 per annum (equivalent to 9 3/8% of the per share Liquidation Preference per annum). Such dividends shall be cumulative from the first day of the Dividend Period in which the Closing Date (as defined in that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 4, 2002 by and among the Corporation, JDN Realty Corporation and DDR Transitory Sub, Inc.) shall occur, whether or not in any Dividend Period or Periods such dividends shall be declared or there shall be funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of such dividends, and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date. Each such dividend shall be payable in arrears to the holders of record of the Voting Preferred Shares, as they appear on the stock records of the Corporation at the close of business on the fifteenth day of the calendar month in which the applicable Dividend Payment Date falls on or such other date designated by the Board of Directors for the payment of dividends that is not more than 45 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date, as the case may be, immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date. No dividends on the Voting Preferred Shares shall be declared by the Board of Directors or be paid or set apart for payment by the Corporation at such time as any agreement of the Corporation, including any agreement relating to the Corporation’s indebtedness, prohibits such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provides that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law. Accumulated, accrued and unpaid dividends for any past Dividend Periods may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any regular Dividend Payment Date, to holders of record on such date, which date shall not precede by more than 45 days the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors.

(b) Any dividend payable on the Voting Preferred Shares for any partial dividend period shall be computed ratably on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. Holders of Voting Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided, on the Voting Preferred Shares. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the Voting Preferred Shares that may be in arrears. Any dividend payment made on the Voting Preferred Shares shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable.

(c) If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects to designate as “capital gain dividends” (as defined in Section 857 of the Code) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the total distributions (as determined for federal income tax purposes) paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of capital stock (the “Total Dividends”), then the portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to holders of Voting Preferred Shares shall be in the same proportion that the Total Dividends paid or made available to the holders of Voting Preferred Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends. If, for any taxable year, the Corporation elects, as provided in Section 857(b)(3)(D) of the Code, to designate as “undistributed capital gains” any portion of the Corporation’s total net capital gains for the taxable year, then such undistributed capital gains shall be allocated between the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares and the holders of other classes or series of capital stock of the Corporation in a manner that is consistent with such allocations being considered other than a “preferential dividend” within the meaning of Section 562(c) of the Code.

 

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(d) So long as any of the Voting Preferred Shares are outstanding, except as described in the immediately following sentence, no dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment by the Corporation and no other distribution of cash or other property shall be declared or made, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation with respect to any shares ranking on a parity unless, in each case, dividends equal to the full amount of accumulated, accrued and unpaid dividends on all outstanding Voting Preferred Shares have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been or contemporaneously is set apart for payment of such dividends on the Voting Preferred Shares for all Dividend Periods ending on or prior to the date such dividend or distribution is declared, paid, set apart for payment or made, as the case may be, with respect to such shares ranking on a parity. When dividends are not paid in full or a sum sufficient for such payment is not set apart, as aforesaid, all dividends declared upon the Voting Preferred Shares and all dividends declared upon any shares ranking on a parity shall be declared ratably in proportion to the respective amounts of dividends accumulated, accrued and unpaid on the Voting Preferred Shares and accumulated, accrued and unpaid on such shares ranking on a parity.

(e) So long as any of the Voting Preferred Shares are outstanding, no dividends (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares, ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares) shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment by the Corporation and no other distribution of cash or other property shall be declared or made, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation with respect to any shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares, nor shall any shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired (other than a redemption, purchase or other acquisition of Common Shares made for purposes of an employee incentive, benefit or stock purchase plan of the Corporation or any subsidiary) for any consideration (or any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock), directly or indirectly, by the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for shares, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares, ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares), nor shall any other cash or other property otherwise be paid or distributed to or for the benefit of any holder of shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares in respect thereof, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation unless, in each case, dividends equal to the full amount of all accumulated, accrued and unpaid dividends on all outstanding Voting Preferred Shares have been declared and paid, or such dividends have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set apart for such payment, on all outstanding Voting Preferred Shares for all Dividend Periods ending on or prior to the date such dividend or distribution is declared, paid, set apart for payment or made with respect to such shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares, or the date such shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired or monies paid to or made available for any sinking fund for such redemption, or the date any such cash or other property is paid or distributed to or for the benefit of any holders of shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares in respect thereof, as the case may be.

(f) In determining the extent to which a distribution with respect to the Voting Preferred Shares constitutes a dividend for tax purposes, the earnings and profits of the Corporation will be allocated, on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the ranking of the class of capital stock or series of capital stock, constituting a class within the meaning of Code Section 562(c), of the Corporation, as described in Section 7.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3, the Corporation shall not be prohibited from (i) declaring or paying or setting apart for payment any dividend or distribution on any shares ranking junior to or on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares or (ii) redeeming, purchasing or otherwise acquiring any shares ranking junior to or on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares, in each case, if such declaration, payment, redemption, purchase or other acquisition is necessary in order to assist in maintaining the continued qualification of the Corporation as a REIT under Section 856 of the Code.

Section 4. Liquidation Preference . (a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, before any payment or distribution by the Corporation (whether of capital, surplus or otherwise) shall be made to or set apart for the holders of shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares, the holders of Voting Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) per Voting Preferred Share (the “Liquidation Preference”), plus an amount equal to all dividends accumulated, accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution to such holders; but such holders shall not be entitled to any further payment. Until the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares have been paid the Liquidation Preference in full, plus an amount equal to all dividends accumulated, accrued and unpaid thereon to the date of final distribution to such holders, no payment will be made to any holder of shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation, or proceeds thereof, distributable among the holders of Voting Preferred Shares shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount aforesaid and liquidating payments on any other shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the holders of Voting Preferred Shares and any such other shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares ratably in the same proportion as the respective amounts that would be payable on such Voting Preferred Shares and any such other shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. For the purposes of this Section 4, (i) a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into one or more other entities, (ii) a sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, or (iii) a statutory share exchange shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, of the Corporation.

 

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(b) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of Voting Preferred Shares and any shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares, as provided in this Section 4, any other shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares shall, subject to the respective terms thereof, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares and any shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to share therein.

Section 5. Redemption at the Option of the Corporation . (a) Shares of Voting Preferred Shares shall not be redeemable by the Corporation prior to September 15, 2003. On and after September 15, 2003, the Corporation, at its option, may redeem Voting Preferred Shares, in whole or from time to time in part, at a redemption price payable in cash equal to $25.00 per share, plus all accumulated, accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption (the “Redemption Date”); provided, however, that in the event of a redemption of Voting Preferred Shares, if the Redemption Date occurs after a dividend record date and on or prior to the related Dividend Payment Date, the dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date in respect of such shares called for redemption shall be payable on such Dividend Payment Date to the holders of record at the close of business on such dividend record date, and shall not be payable as part of the redemption price for such shares. In connection with any redemption pursuant to this Section 5(a), the redemption price of the Voting Preferred Shares (other than any portion thereof consisting of accumulated, accrued and unpaid dividends) shall be payable solely with the proceeds from the sale by the Corporation of other capital shares of the Corporation (whether or not such sale occurs concurrently with such redemption). For purposes of the preceding sentence, “capital shares” means any common shares, preferred shares, depositary shares, participations or other ownership interests (however designated) and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable at the option of the holder for equity securities (unless and to the extent such debt securities are subsequently converted into capital shares)) or options to purchase any of the foregoing of or in the Corporation.

(b) The Redemption Date shall be selected by the Corporation, shall be specified in the notice of redemption and shall be not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date notice of redemption is sent by the Corporation.

(c) If full cumulative dividends on all outstanding Voting Preferred Shares have not been declared and paid, or declared and set apart for payment, no Voting Preferred Shares may be redeemed unless all outstanding Voting Preferred Shares are simultaneously redeemed, and neither the Corporation nor any affiliate of the Corporation may purchase or acquire Voting Preferred Shares other than pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of Voting Preferred Shares.

(d) If the Corporation shall redeem Voting Preferred Shares pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 5, notice of such redemption shall be given to each holder of record of the shares to be redeemed. Such notice shall be provided by first class mail, postage prepaid, at such holder’s address as the same appears on the stock records of the Corporation. Neither the failure to mail any notice required by this paragraph (d), nor any defect therein or in the mailing thereof to any particular holder, shall affect the sufficiency of the notice or the validity of the proceedings for redemption with respect to the other holders. Any notice which was mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given on the date mailed whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice shall state, as appropriate: (1) the Redemption Date; (2) the number of Voting Preferred Shares to be redeemed and, if fewer than all such shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the place or places at which certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for cash; and (4) the redemption price payable on such Redemption Date, including, without limitation, a statement as to whether or not accumulated, accrued and unpaid dividends will be (x) payable as part of the redemption price, or (y) payable on the next Dividend Payment Date to the record holder at the close of business on the relevant record date as described in the next succeeding sentence.

Notice having been mailed as aforesaid, from and after the Redemption Date (unless the Corporation shall fail to make available the amount of cash necessary to effect such redemption), (i) dividends on the Voting Preferred Shares so called for redemption shall cease to accumulate or accrue on the Voting Preferred Shares called for redemption, (ii) said shares shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and (iii) all rights of the holders thereof as holders of Voting Preferred Shares of the Corporation shall cease except the rights to receive the cash payable upon such redemption, without interest thereon, upon surrender and endorsement of their certificates if so required; provided, however, that if the Redemption Date for any Voting Preferred Shares occurs after any dividend record date and on or prior to the related Dividend Payment Date, the full dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date in respect of such Voting Preferred Shares called for redemption shall be payable on such Dividend Payment Date to the holders of record of such shares at the close of business on the corresponding dividend record date notwithstanding the prior redemption of such shares. The Corporation’s obligation to make available the redemption price in accordance with the preceding sentence shall be deemed fulfilled if, on or before the applicable Redemption Date, the Corporation shall irrevocably deposit in trust with a bank or trust company (which may not be an affiliate of the Corporation) that has, or is an affiliate of a bank or trust company that has, a capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, such amount of cash as is necessary for such redemption plus, if such Redemption Date occurs after any dividend record date and on or prior to the related Dividend Payment Date, such amount of cash as is necessary to pay the dividend payable on such Dividend Payment Date in respect of such Voting Preferred Shares called for redemption, with irrevocable instructions that such cash be applied to

 

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the redemption of the Voting Preferred Shares so called for redemption and, if applicable, the payment of such dividend. No interest shall accrue for the benefit of the holders of Voting Preferred Shares to be redeemed on any cash so set aside by the Corporation. Subject to applicable escheat laws, any such cash unclaimed at the end of two years from the Redemption Date shall revert to the general funds of the Corporation, after which reversion the holders of Voting Preferred Shares so called for redemption shall look only to the general funds of the Corporation for the payment of such cash.

As promptly as practicable after the surrender in accordance with such notice of the certificates for any such Voting Preferred Shares to be so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Corporation shall so require and the notice shall so state), such certificates shall be exchanged for cash (without interest thereon) for which such shares have been redeemed in accordance with such notice. If fewer than all the outstanding Voting Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, shares to be redeemed shall be selected by the Corporation from outstanding Voting Preferred Shares not previously called for redemption by lot or, with respect to the number of Voting Preferred Shares held of record by each holder of such shares, pro rata (as nearly as may be) or by any other method as may be determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion to be equitable. If fewer than all the shares of Voting Preferred Shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, then a new certificate representing the unredeemed shares shall be issued without cost to the holders thereof.

Section 6. Status of Reacquired Shares . All Voting Preferred Shares which shall have been issued and reacquired in any manner by the Corporation shall be deemed retired.

Section 7. Ranking . The Voting Preferred Shares rank prior to, on a parity with, or junior to other shares of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Item XIII of this Division A.

Section 8. Voting . (a) If and whenever six quarterly dividends (whether or not consecutive) payable on the Voting Preferred Shares or any series or class of shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares shall be in arrears (which shall, with respect to any such quarterly dividend, mean that any such dividend has not been paid in full), the number of directors then constituting the Board of Directors shall be increased by two (if not already increased by reason of similar types of provisions with respect to shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares of any other class or series which is entitled to similar voting rights (the “Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares”)) and the holders of Voting Preferred Shares, together with the holders of shares of all other Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares then entitled to exercise similar voting rights, voting as a single class regardless of class or series, shall be entitled to elect the two additional directors to serve on the Board of Directors at any annual meeting of shareholders or special meeting held in place thereof, or at a special meeting of the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares and the Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares called as hereinafter provided. Whenever all arrearages in dividends on the Voting Preferred Shares and the Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares then outstanding shall have been paid and dividends thereon for the current quarterly dividend period shall have been declared and paid, or declared and set apart for payment, then the right of the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares and the Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares to elect such additional two directors shall cease (but subject always to the same provision for the vesting of such voting rights in the case of any similar future arrearages), and the terms of office of all persons elected as directors by the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares and the Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be reduced accordingly. At any time after such voting power shall have been so vested in the holders of Voting Preferred Shares and the Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares, if applicable, the Secretary of the Corporation may, and upon the written request of any holder of at least ten percent (10%) of Voting Preferred Shares (addressed to the Secretary at the principal office of the Corporation) shall, call a special meeting of the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares and of the Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares for the election of the two directors to be elected by them as herein provided, such call to be made by notice similar to that provided in the Code of Regulations of the Corporation for a special meeting of the shareholders or as required by law. If any such special meeting required to be called as above provided shall not be called by the Secretary within 20 days after receipt of any such request, then any holder of Voting Preferred Shares may call such meeting, upon the notice above provided, and for that purpose shall have access to the stock books of the Corporation. The directors elected at any such special meeting shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders or special meeting held in lieu thereof if such office shall not have previously terminated as above provided. If any vacancy shall occur among the directors elected by the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares and the Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares, a successor shall be elected by the Board of Directors, upon the nomination of the then-remaining director elected by the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares and the Arrearage Voting Preferred Shares or the successor of such remaining director, to serve until the next annual meeting of the shareholders or special meeting held in place thereof if such office shall not have previously terminated as provided above.

(b) So long as any Voting Preferred Shares are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of shareholders required by law or by the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares voting as a single class with the holders of all other classes or series of shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares entitled to vote on such matters, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

 

 

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(i) Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any of the provisions of, or the addition of any provision to, the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or the Code of Regulations of the Corporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise (an “Event”), that materially adversely affects the voting powers, rights or preferences of the holders of the Voting Preferred Shares; provided, however, that the amendment of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (A) so as to authorize or create, or to increase the authorized amount of, or issue, any shares ranking junior to the Voting Preferred Shares or any shares of any class or series of shares ranking on a parity with the Voting Preferred Shares or (B) with respect to the occurrence of any Event, so long as the Voting Preferred Shares remains outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that upon the occurrence of the Event, the Corporation may not be the surviving entity, shall not in either case be deemed to materially adversely affect the voting powers, rights or preferences of the holders of Voting Preferred Shares; or

(ii) The authorization, creation of, increase in the authorized amount of, or issuance of any shares of any class or series of shares ranking prior to the Voting Preferred Shares or any security convertible into shares of any class or series of shares ranking prior to the Voting Preferred Shares (whether or not such class or series of shares ranking prior to the Voting Preferred Shares is currently authorized); provided, however, that no such vote of the holders of Voting Preferred Shares shall be required if, at or prior to the time when such amendment, alteration or repeal is to take effect, or when the issuance of any such shares ranking prior to the Voting Preferred Shares or convertible or exchangeable security is to be made, as the case may be, provision is made for the redemption of all shares of Voting Preferred Shares at the time outstanding to the extent such redemption is authorized by Section 5.

(c) In addition to the foregoing, the holders of Voting Preferred Shares shall be entitled to vote on all matters (for which holders of Common Shares shall be entitled to vote thereon) at all meetings of the shareholders of the Corporation, and shall be entitled to one vote for each Voting Preferred Share entitled to vote at such meeting.

Section 9. Record Holders . The Corporation and its transfer agent may deem and treat the record holder of any Voting Preferred Shares as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Corporation nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 10. Restrictions on Ownership and Transfers . The Voting Preferred Shares are subject to the provisions of Article XIV of this Division A pertaining to restrictions on ownership and transfers, including without limitation the provisions relative to Excess Preferred Shares (as defined in Item XIV).

 

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DIVISION B

Subject to the terms of the Cumulative Shares and the Noncumulative Preferred Shares, the Common Shares shall have the following express terms:

Section 1. Dividend Rights . The holders of Common Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, out of the assets of the Corporation which are by law available therefor, dividends or distributions payable in cash, in property or in securities of the Corporation.

Section 2. Rights Upon Liquidation . In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation, each holder of Common Shares shall be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of Common Shares, that portion of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders as the number of Common Shares held by such holder bears to the total number of Common Shares then outstanding.

Section 3. Voting Rights . The holders of Common Shares shall be entitled to vote on all matters (for which holders of Common Shares shall be entitled to vote thereon) at all meetings of the shareholders of the Corporation, and shall be entitled to one vote for each Common Share entitled to vote at such meeting.

Section 4. Restrictions on Transfer to Preserve Tax Benefit; Common Shares Subject to Redemption .

(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this Section 4 of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Common Shares by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such Common Shares either directly or constructively through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

“Beneficiary” shall mean, with respect to any Trust, one or more organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code (contributions to which must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code which are named by the Corporation as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Trust, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(a) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

“Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Common Shares by a Person who would be treated as an owner of such Common Shares either directly or Constructively through the application of Section 318 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.

“Effective Date” shall mean May 8, 2009.

“Exempt Holder” shall mean, collectively, (i) Professor Werner Otto, his wife Maren Otto and/or all descendants of Professor Werner Otto (illegitimate descendants only if they have obtained the status of a legitimate descendant by legitimation or adoption by Professor Werner Otto or one of his legitimate descendants, or if they are children of a female legitimate descendant of Professor Werner Otto), (ii) any trust or any family foundation that has exclusively been established in favor of one or several of the individuals named under (i) above, and (iii) any partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity, in which the individuals or entities named under (i) and (ii) hold (either directly or indirectly) more than 50% of the voting rights or more than 50% of the equity capital of such any such partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity.

“Exempt Holder Limit” shall initially mean 29.8% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation, and after any adjustment pursuant to Section (4)(i)(i) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, shall mean such percentage of the outstanding Common Shares as so adjusted.

“Existing Holder” shall mean, collectively, Iris Wolstein and/or all descendants of Iris Wolstein, including, without limitation, Scott A. Wolstein, (ii) any trust or any family foundation that has exclusively been established in favor of one or several of the individuals named under (i) above, and (iii) any partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity, in which the individuals or entities named under (i) and (ii) hold (either directly or indirectly) more than 50% of the voting rights as well as more than 50% of the equity capital of such any such partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity.

 

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“Existing Holder Limit” shall initially mean 5.1% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation, and after any adjustment pursuant to Section 4(i)(ii) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, shall mean such percentage of the outstanding Common Shares as so adjusted. “Market Price” shall mean the last reported sales price of Common Shares reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date or, if the Common Shares are not then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the last reported sales price of the Common Shares on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date as reported on any exchange or quotation system over which the Common Shares may be traded, or if the Common Shares are not then traded over any exchange or quotation system, then the market price of the Common Shares on the relevant date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

“Non-Transfer Event” shall mean an event other than a purported Transfer that would cause any Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit (in the case of any Person other than the Exempt Holder) or the Exempt Holder Limit (in the case of the Exempt Holder), including, but not limited to, the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of any Person that Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns Common Shares.

“Non-U.S. Person” shall mean a Person other than a U.S. Person.

“Ownership Limit” shall initially mean 5.0% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation , and after any adjustment pursuant to Section (4)(j) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, shall mean such percentage of the outstanding Common Shares as so adjusted.

“Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, an association, a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, a joint stock company, other entity or a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that a “Person” does not mean an underwriter which participates in a public offering of the Common Shares, for a period of 35 days following the purchase by such underwriter of the Common Shares.

“Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 4(c) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, would own record title to Common Shares.

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

“Related Party Limit” shall mean 9.8% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation.

“Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of Common Shares (including, without limitation, (i) the granting of any option or entering into any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of Common Shares or (ii) the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares), whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of record or beneficially and whether by operation of law or otherwise.

“Trust” shall mean any separate trust created pursuant to Section 4(c) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH and administered in accordance with the terms of Section 7 of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, for the exclusive benefit of any Beneficiary.

“Trustee” shall mean any person or entity unaffiliated with both the Corporation and any Prohibited Owner, such Trustee to be designated by the Corporation to act as trustee of any Trust, or any successor trustee thereof.

“U.S. Person” shall mean (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a partnership created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or any state therein (including the District of Columbia), (iii) a corporation created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or any state therein (including the District of Columbia), and (iv) any estate or trust (other than a foreign estate or foreign trust, within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(31) of the Code).

(b) Restrictions on Transfers.

(i) Except as provided in Section 4(l) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, from and after the date of the Initial Public Offering, (A) no Person (other than the Exempt Holder and the Existing Holder) shall Beneficially Own Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit, (B) the Exempt Holder shall not Beneficially Own Common Shares in excess of the Exempt Holder Limit and (C) the Existing Holder shall not Beneficially Own Common Shares in excess of the Existing Holder Limit.

 

 

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(ii) Except as provided in Section 4(l) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person (other than the Exempt Holder or the Existing Holder) Beneficially Owning Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Shares which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by such Person in excess of the Ownership Limit, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Common Shares.

(iii) Except as provided in Section 4(l) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Exempt Holder Beneficially Owning Common Shares in excess of the Exempt Holder Limit shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Shares which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by the Exempt Holder in excess of the Exempt Holder Limit, and the Exempt Holder shall acquire no rights in such Common Shares.

(iv) Except as provided in Section 4(l) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Existing Holder Beneficially Owning Common Shares in excess of the Existing Holder Limit shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Shares which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by the Existing Holder in excess of the Existing Holder Limit, and the Existing Holder shall acquire no rights in such Common Shares.

(v) Except as provided in Section 4(l) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person Constructively Owning Common Shares in excess of the Related Party Limit shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Shares which would be otherwise Constructively Owned by such Person in excess of such amount, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Common Shares.

(vi) Except as provided in Section 4(l) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Common Shares being beneficially owned by less than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution) shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Common Shares which would be otherwise beneficially owned by the transferee, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Common Shares.

(vii) Any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of the Common Shares which would cause the Corporation to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Common Shares.

(viii) No Person shall acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Common Shares after the Effective Date if, as a result of such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership, the fair market value of the Common Shares owned directly and indirectly by Non-U.S. Persons for purposes of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code would comprise 49% or more of the fair market value of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

(c) Transfers in Trust.

(i) If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Division B of this Article FOURTH, there is a purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event such that any Person would Beneficially Own Common Shares in excess of (A) the Ownership Limit (in the case of any Person other than the Exempt Holder or the Existing Holder), (B) the Exempt Holder Limit (in the case of the Exempt Holder), or (C) the Existing Holder Limit (in the case of the Existing Holder), then, (1) except as otherwise provided in Section 4(l) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the purported transferee shall acquire no right or interest (or, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event, the person holding record title to the Common Shares Beneficially Owned by such Beneficial Owner, shall cease to own any right or interest) in such number of Common Shares which would cause such Beneficial Owner to Beneficially Own Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit, the Exempt Holder Limit or the Existing Holder Limit, as the case may be, and (2) such number of Common Shares in excess of the Ownership

Limit, the Exempt Holder Limit or the Existing Holder Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be designated Shares-in-Trust and, in accordance with Section 7 of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust. Such transfer to a Trust and the designation of the shares as Shares-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be.

(ii) If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Division B of this Article FOURTH, there is a purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event such that any Person would Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Related Party Limit, then, (A) except as otherwise provided in Section 4(l) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the purported transferee shall acquire no right or interest (or, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event, the person holding record title to the Common Shares Constructively Owned by such Constructive Owner, shall cease to own any right or interest) in such number of Common Shares which would cause such Constructive Owner to Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Related Party Limit, and (B) such number of Common Shares in excess of the Related Party Limit (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be designated Shares-in-Trust and, in accordance with Section 7 of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust. Such transfer to a Trust and the designation of the shares as Shares-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be.

 

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(iii) If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article FOURTH, there is a purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that, if effective, would cause the Corporation to become “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, then (A) the purported transferee shall not acquire any right or interest (or, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event, the person holding record title of the Common Shares with respect to which such Non-Transfer Event occurred, shall cease to own any right or interest) in such number of Common Shares, the ownership of which by such purported transferee or record holder would cause the Corporation to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, and (B) such number of Common Shares (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be designated Shares-in-Trust and, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust. Such transfer to a Trust and the designation of shares as Shares-in-Trust shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be.

(d) Remedies for Breach. If the Board of Directors or its designees shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer has taken place in violation of Section 4(b) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire beneficial ownership (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any Common Shares of the Corporation in violation of Section 4(b) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, or that any such Transfer, intended or attempted acquisition or acquisition would jeopardize the status of the Corporation as a REIT under the Code, the Board of Directors or its designees shall take such actions as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect or to prevent such Transfer, including, but not limited to, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer.

(e) Notice of Restricted Transfer. Any Person who acquires or intends to acquire shares in violation of Section 4(b) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, or any Person who owned Common Shares that were transferred to a Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 4(c) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer, intended Transfer or Non-Transfer Event, as the case may be, on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(f) Owners Required to Provide Information.

(i) Every Beneficial Owner of more than 5.0% (or such other percentage provided in the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code) of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation shall, within 30 days after January 1 of each year, give written notice to the Corporation stating the name and address of such Beneficial Owner, the number of shares Beneficially Owned, and description of how such shares are held. Each such Beneficial Owner shall provide to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(ii) Each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Common Shares and each Person (including the shareholder of record) who is holding Common Shares for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information that the Corporation may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(iii) Each Person who is a Beneficial or Constructive Owner of Common Shares and each Person (including the shareholder of record) who is holding Common Shares for a Beneficial or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information as the Corporation may require, in good faith, in order to determine the Trust’s status as a REIT or a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” (within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code) and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or to determine such compliance.

(g) Remedies Not Limited. Nothing contained in this Division B of this Article FOURTH shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its shareholders by preservation of the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(h) Ambiguity. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of Section 4 of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, including any definition contained in Section 4(a), the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 4 with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it.

(i) Modification of Exempt Holder Limit and Existing Holder Limit .

(i) Subject to the limitations provided in Section 4(k) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors may reduce the Exempt Holder Limit if: (A) based on the annual written notice delivered to the Corporation pursuant to Section 4(f)(i) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the Beneficial Ownership of the Exempt Holder is less than 17.5% of the outstanding Common Shares, then the Board of Directors may reduce the Exempt Holder Limit to 17.5%; (B) based on

 

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the annual written notice delivered to the Corporation pursuant to Section 4(f)(i) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the Beneficial Ownership of the Exempt Holder is 7.5% or less of the outstanding Common Shares, then the Board of Directors may reduce the Exempt Holder Limit to 7.5%; or (C) after the Exempt Holder Limit has been reduced to 7.5%, the Board of Directors may further reduce the Exempt Holder Limit to reflect the Beneficial Ownership of the Exempt Holder as set forth on the annual written notice delivered to the Corporation pursuant to Section 4(f)(i) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH.

(ii) Subject to the limitations provided in Section 4(k), this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors may increase the Existing Holder Limit if the Board of Directors reduces the Exempt Holder Limit pursuant to Section 4(i)(i) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH.

(j) Modification of Ownership Limit. Subject to the limitations provided in Section 4(k) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors may from time to time increase the Ownership Limit.

(k) Limitations on Modifications. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Division B of this Article FOURTH:

(i) Neither the Ownership Limit nor the Existing Holder Limit may be increased if, after giving effect to such increase, five Beneficial Owners of Common Shares (including the Exempt Holder and the Existing Holder) could Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, more than 49.9% of the outstanding Common Shares.

(ii) Prior to the modification of any Exempt Holder Limit, Existing Holder Limit or Ownership Limit pursuant to Section 4(i) or Section 4(j) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may require such opinions of counsel, affidavits, undertakings or agreements as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

(iii) The Exempt Holder Limit shall not be reduced to a percentage which is less than the Ownership Limit.

(iv) The Related Party Limit may not be increased to a percentage which is greater than 9.8%.

(l) Exceptions .

(i) The Board of Directors, with a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel, may exempt a Person from the Ownership Limit, the Exempt Holder Limit or the Existing Holder Limit, as the case may be, if such Person is not an individual for purposes of Section 542(a)(2) of the Code and the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individual’s Beneficial Ownership of such Common Shares will violate the Ownership Limit, the Exempt Holder Limit or the Existing Holder Limit, as the case may be, and agrees that any violation or attempted violation will result in such Common Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit, the Exempt Holder Limit or the Existing Holder Limit, as applicable, being transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 4(c) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH.

(ii) The Board of Directors, with a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel, may exempt a Person from the limitation on such Person Constructively Owning Common Shares in excess of the Related Party Limit if such Person does not own and represents that it will not own, directly or constructively (by virtue of the application of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code), more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) in a tenant of any real property owned or leased by the Corporation, and the Corporation obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact and agrees that any violation or attempted violation will result in such Common Shares in excess of 9.8% being transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 4(c) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH.

(iii) The Board of Directors may exempt the Exempt Holder, and any Person who would Constructively Own Common Shares Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder, from the limitation on the Exempt Holder (or such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Shares Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) Constructively Owning Common Shares in excess of the Related Party Limit in its sole discretion based on the facts and circumstances existing at the time of such proposed exemption and the information provided by the Exempt Holder, including, without limitation, information regarding a tenant of any real property owned or leased by the Corporation, of which tenant the Exempt Holder (or such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Shares Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) owns, directly or constructively (by virtue of the application of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code), more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code). As a condition to the granting of any such exemption, the Corporation may require that the Exempt Holder provide representations and undertakings as are reasonably necessary to ascertain information regarding the ownership by the Exempt Holder (or such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Shares Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) of any interest in a tenant of any real property owned or leased by the Corporation and may impose conditions upon any such exemption as the Board of Directors deems necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT, including that any exemption may terminate upon any violation or attempted violation of any such representations, undertakings, conditions or other terms of any agreement between the Company and the Exempt Holder. If, upon any termination of an exemption granted under this Section 4(l)(iii) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH, the Exempt Holder (or such other Person who would Constructively

 

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Own Common Shares Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) would Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Related Party Limit, then the number of Common Shares actually owned by the Exempt Holder (and such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Shares Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) in excess of the Related Party Limit will be transferred to a Trust in accordance with Section 4(c) of this Division B of this Article FOURTH such that the Exempt Holder (and such other Person who would Constructively Own Common Shares Constructively Owned by the Exempt Holder) will not Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Related Party Limit.

(iv) The Exempt Holder will not be deemed to have violated the Exempt Holder Limit if the Exempt Holder’s Beneficial Ownership in excess of the Exempt Holder Limit is solely the result of (A) a stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction effected by the Corporation in which all holders of Common Shares are treated equally or (B) a reduction in the number of Common Shares outstanding, unless and until, in case of either clause (A) or (B) above, such time as the Exempt Holder thereafter becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares (other than as a result of a stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction effected by the Corporation in which all holders of Common Shares are treated equally). In addition, the

Board of Directors may exempt the Exempt Holder from the Exempt Holder Limit should it determine that the Beneficial Ownership of the Exempt Holder does not result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, this paragraph (iv) shall not be interpreted as a waiver of, or exemption from, the restriction in Section 4(b)(vi).

Section 5. Legend . Each certificate for Common Shares shall bear the following legend:

“The Common Shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on transfer for the purpose of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Subject to certain provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, no Person may Beneficially Own Common Shares in excess of 5.0% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation (unless such Person is an Exempt Holder or an Existing Holder), no Person may Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation and no Person may acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Common Shares after the Effective Date if, as a result of such acquisition, the fair market value of the Shares owned directly and indirectly by Non-U.S. Persons would comprise more than 49% of the fair market value of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Any Person who attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. All capitalized items in this legend have the meanings defined in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer, will be sent without charge to each shareholder who so requests. If the restrictions on transfer are violated, certain of the Common Shares represented hereby will be transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust and shall be designated Shares-in-Trust.”

Section 7.

Shares-in-Trust .

(a) Trust . Any Common Shares transferred to a Trust and designated Shares-in-Trust pursuant to Section 4(c) of Division B of this Article FOURTH shall be held for the exclusive benefit of the Beneficiary. The Corporation shall name a beneficiary of each Trust within five (5) days after discovery of the existence of such Shares-in-Trust. Any transfer to a Trust, and subsequent designation of Common Shares as Shares-in-Trust, pursuant to Section 4(c) of Division B of this Article FOURTH shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that results in the transfer to the Trust. Shares-in-Trust shall remain issued and outstanding Common Shares and shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges on identical terms and conditions as are all other issued and outstanding Common Shares. When transferred to the Permitted Transferee in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(e) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, such Shares-in-Trust shall cease to be designated as Shares-in-Trust.

(b) Dividend Rights . The Trustee, as record holder of Shares-in-Trust, shall be entitled to receive all dividends and distributions as may be declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on such Common Shares and shall hold such dividends or distributions in trust for the benefit of the Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner with respect to Shares-in-Trust shall repay to the Trustee the amount of any dividends or distributions received by it that (i) are attributable to any Common Shares designated as Shares-in-Trust and (ii) the record date of which was on or after the date that such Common Shares became Shares-in-Trust. The Corporation shall take all measures that it determines reasonably necessary to recover the amount of any such dividend or distribution paid to a Prohibited Owner, including, if necessary, withholding any portion of future dividends or distributions payable on Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by the Person who, but for the provisions of Section 4(c) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own the Shares-in-Trust; and, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Corporation’s receipt or withholding thereof, shall pay over to the Trustee for the benefit of the Beneficiary the dividends so received or withheld, as the case may be.

 

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(c) Rights Upon Liquidation . In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation, each holder of Shares-in-Trust shall be entitled to receive, ratably with each other holder of Common Shares, that portion of the assets of the Corporation which is available for distribution to the holders of Common Shares. The Trustee shall distribute to the Prohibited Owner the amounts received upon such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, or distribution; provided, however, that the Prohibited Owner shall not be entitled to receive amounts pursuant to this Section 7(c) of Division B of this Article FOURTH in excess of, in the case of a purported Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner gave value for Common Shares and which Transfer resulted in the transfer of the shares to the Trust, the price per share, if any, such Prohibited Owner paid for the Common Shares and, in the case of a Non-Transfer Event or Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner did not give value for such shares (e.g., if the shares were received through a gift or devise) and which Non-Transfer Event or Transfer, as the case may be, resulted in the transfer of shares to the Trust, the price per share equal to the Market Price on the date of such Non-Transfer Event or Transfer. Any remaining amount in such Trust shall be distributed to the Beneficiary.

(d) Voting Rights . The Trustee shall be entitled to vote all Shares-in-Trust. Any vote by a Prohibited Owner as a holder of Common Shares prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the Common Shares are Shares-in-Trust shall, subject to applicable law, be rescinded and shall be void ab initio with respect to such Shares-in-Trust, and the Prohibited Owner shall be deemed to have given, as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported Transfer or Non-Transfer Event that results in the transfer to the Trust of the Common Shares Section 4(c) of Division B of this Article FOURTH, an irrevocable proxy to the Trustee to vote the Shares-in-Trust in the manner in which the Trustee, in its sole and absolute discretion, desires.

(e) Designation of Permitted Transferee . The Trustee shall have the exclusive and absolute right to designate a Permitted Transferee of any and all Shares-in-Trust. As reasonably practicable as possible, in an orderly fashion so as not to materially adversely affect the Market Price of the Shares-in-Trust, the Trustee shall designate any Person as Permitted Transferee, provided, however, that (i) the Permitted Transferee so designated purchases for valuable consideration (whether in a public or private sale) the Shares-in-Trust and (ii) the Permitted Transferee so designated may acquire such Shares-in-Trust without such acquisition resulting in a transfer to a Trust and the redesignation of such Common Shares so acquired as Shares-in-Trust under Section 4(c) of Division B of this Article FOURTH. Upon the designation by the Trustee of a Permitted Transferee in accordance with the provisions of this subparagraph, the Trustee of a Trust shall (i) cause to be transferred to the Permitted Transferee that number of Shares-in-Trust acquired by the Permitted Transferee, (ii) cause to be recorded on the books of the Corporation that the Permitted Transferee is the holder of record of such number of Common Shares, and (iii) distribute to the Beneficiary any and all amounts held with respect to the Shares-in-Trust after making that payment to the Prohibited Owner pursuant to Section 7(f) of Division B of this Article FOURTH.

(f) Compensation to Record Holder of Common Shares that Become Shares-In-Trust . Any Prohibited Owner shall be entitled (following discovery of the Shares-In-Trust and subsequent designation of the Permitted Transferee in accordance with Section 4(e) of Division B of this Article FOURTH) to receive from the Trustee the lesser of (i) in the case of (A) a purported Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner gave value for Common Shares and which Transfer resulted in the transfer of the Common Shares to the Trust, the price per share, if any, such Prohibited Owner paid for the Common Shares, or (b) a Non-Transfer Event or Transfer in which the Prohibited Owner did not give value for such Common Shares (e.g., if the shares were received through a gift or devise) and which Non-Transfer Event or Transfer, as the case may be, resulted in the transfer of Common Shares to the Trust, the price per share equal to the Market Price on the date of such Non-Transfer Event or Transfer, and (ii) the price per share received by the Trustee of the Trust from the sale or other disposition of such Shares-in-Trust in accordance with Section 7(e) of Division B of this Article FOURTH. Any amounts received by the Trustee in respect of such Shares-in-Trust and in excess of such amounts to be paid the Prohibited Owner pursuant to this Section 7(f) of Division B of this Article FOURTH shall be distributed to the Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(e) of Division B of this Article FOURTH. Each Beneficiary and Prohibited Owner waive any and all claims that they may have against the Trustee and the Corporation arising out of the disposition of Shares-in-Trust, except for claims arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or any failure to make payments in accordance with Section 7 of Division B of this Article FOURTH by, such Trustee or the Corporation.

(g) Purchase Right in Shares-in-Trust . Shares-in-Trust shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that created such Shares-in-Trust (or, in the case of devise, gift or Non-Transfer Event, the Market Price at the time of such devise, gift or Non-Transfer Event) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer for a period of ninety days after the later of (i) the date of the Non-Transfer Event or purported Transfer which resulted in such Shares-in-Trust and (ii) the date the Corporation determines in good faith that a Transfer or Non-Transfer Event resulting in Shares-in-Trust has occurred, if the Corporation does not receive a notice of such Transfer or Non-Transfer Event pursuant to Section 4(e) of Division B of this Article FOURTH. Prompt payment of the purchase price shall be made in such reasonable manner as may be determined by the Corporation.

FIFTH: At all times following the consummation of the Initial Public Offering (as defined in Article FOURTH), at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall, except during the period of a vacancy or vacancies therein, be Independent Directors. An “Independent Director” shall mean a person who is not (i) employed by the Corporation or (ii) an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of (A) any entity which is part of the Developers Diversified Group,

 

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including, without limitation, Developers Diversified Limited Partnership, an Ohio limited partnership, Developers Diversified, Ltd., an Ohio limited partnership, W & M Properties, an Ohio general partnership, W & Z Properties, Ltd., an Ohio limited partnership, and DE Properties Corporation, an Ohio corporation, or (B) any partnership which is an affiliate (as defined above) of any entity listed in clause (A) of this Article FIFTH.

SIXTH: No holder of shares of the corporation of any class shall be entitled as such, as a matter of right, to subscribe for or purchase shares of any class, now or hereafter authorized, or to subscribe for or purchase securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of the corporation or to which shall be attached or appertain any warrants or rights entitling the holder thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares, except such rights of subscription or purchase, if any, for such considerations and upon such terms and conditions as its Board of Directors from time to time may determine.

SEVENTH: Notwithstanding any provision of Sections 1701.01 to 1701.98, inclusive, of the Ohio Revised Code, or any successor statutes now or hereafter in force, requiring for the authorization or taking of any action the vote or consent of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds or any other proportion of the voting power of the corporation or of any class or classes of shares thereof, such action, unless otherwise expressly required by law or these Articles of Incorporation, may be authorized or taken by the vote or consent of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the corporation or of such class or classes of shares thereof.

Except as provided in the Company’s code of regulations with respect to the election of a director to fill a vacancy in the Board of Directors, each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to the director at any shareholder meeting held for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that if as of the date that is ten days in advance of the date the Company files its definitive proxy statement (regardless of whether or not thereafter revised or supplemented) with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to a shareholder meeting the number of nominees for election as a director is greater than the number of directors to be elected, then the directors shall be elected at the meeting by the vote of a plurality of the shares represented in person or by proxy at that meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. For purposes of this Section, a majority of the votes cast means the number of shares voted “for” a director exceeds the number of votes cast “against” the director. Broker non-votes and abstentions will not be considered votes cast at the shareholder meeting and will be excluded in determining the number of votes cast at the shareholder meeting.

EIGHTH: To the extent permitted by law, the corporation, by action of its Board of Directors, may purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any class issued by it at such times, for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as its Board of Directors may determine.

NINTH: The provisions of Chapter 1701.831 of the Ohio Revised Code shall not apply to the Corporation.

TENTH: The provisions of Chapter 1707.043 of the Ohio Revised Code shall not apply to the Corporation.

ELEVENTH: If any provision (or portion thereof) of these Articles of Incorporation shall be found to be invalid, prohibited, or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions (or portions thereof) of these Articles of Incorporation shall be deemed to remain in full force and effect, and shall be construed as if such invalid, prohibited, or unenforceable provision had been stricken herefrom or otherwise rendered inapplicable, it being the intent of the Corporation and its shareholders that each such remaining provision (or portion thereof) of these Articles of Incorporation remain, to the fullest extent permitted by law, applicable and enforceable as to all shareholders, notwithstanding any such finding.

TWELFTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in these Articles of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon shareholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

THIRTEENTH: These Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation shall take the place of and supersede the Corporation’s existing Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

 

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Exhibit 4.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED CODE OF REGULATIONS

OF

DDR CORP.

ARTICLE I

Meetings of Shareholders

Section 1. Annual Meetings . The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held at such time and on such date as may be fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, for the election of directors, the consideration of reports to be laid before such meeting and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the shareholders shall be called upon the written request of the president, the directors by action at a meeting, a majority of the directors acting without a meeting, or of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat. Calls for such meetings shall specify the purposes thereof. No business other than that specified in the call shall be considered at any special meeting.

Section 3. Notices of Meetings . Unless waived, written notice of each annual or special meeting stating the time, place, and the purposes thereof shall be given by personal delivery, by mail, or by other means of communication authorized by the shareholder to whom the notice is given, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at or entitled to notice of the meeting, not more than sixty (60) days nor less than seven (7) days before any such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be directed to the shareholder at his or her address as the same appears upon the records of the Corporation. If sent by any other means of communication authorized by the shareholder, the notice shall be sent to the address furnished by the shareholder for those transmissions. Any shareholder, either before or after any meeting, may waive any notice required to be given by law or under these Regulations.

Section 4. Place of Meetings . Meetings of shareholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors determines that a meeting shall be held at some other place within or without the State of Ohio and causes the notice thereof to so state.

Section 5. Quorum . The holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote at any meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business to be considered at such meeting; provided, however, that no action required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or these Regulations to be authorized or taken by the holders of a designated proportion of the shares of any particular class or of each class may be authorized or taken by a lesser proportion. The holders of a majority of the voting shares represented at a meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn such meeting from time to time, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 6. Voting . Except as expressly required by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation or this Code of Regulations, at any meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present, a majority of votes cast, whether in person or by proxy, on any matter properly brought before such meeting will be the act of the shareholders. An abstention shall not represent a vote cast.


Section 7. Record Date . The Board of Directors may fix a record date for any lawful purpose, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the determination of shareholders entitled to (i) receive notice of or to vote at any meeting, (ii) receive payment of any dividend or distribution, (iii) receive or exercise rights of purchase of or subscription for, or exchange or conversion of, shares or other securities, subject to any contract right with respect thereto, or (iv) participate in the execution of written consents, waivers or releases. Said record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days preceding the date of such meeting, the date fixed for the payment of any dividend or distribution or the date fixed for the receipt or the exercise of rights, as the case may be.

If a record date shall not be fixed, the record date for the determination of shareholders who are entitled to notice of, or who are entitled to vote at, a meeting of shareholders, shall be the close of business on the date next preceding the day on which notice is given, or the close of business on the date next preceding the day on which the meeting is held, as the case may be.

Section 8. Proxies . A person who is entitled to attend a shareholders’ meeting, to vote thereat, or to execute consents, waivers or releases, may be represented at such meeting or vote thereat, and execute consents, waivers and releases, and exercise any of his or her other rights, by proxy or proxies appointed by a writing signed by such person or appointed by a verifiable communication authorized by the person.

ARTICLE II

Directors

Section 1. Number of Directors . The number of directors of the Corporation, none of whom need be shareholders, may be fixed or changed, but in no case shall the number be fewer than three (3) or more than fifteen (15), at any annual meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Corporation on such proposal. In addition to the authority of the shareholders to fix or change the number of directors as described above, the directors of the Corporation may fix or change the number of directors by a majority vote of the directors then in office and may fill any vacancy that is created by an increase in the number of directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate number of members of the Board of Directors shall automatically increase by the number of directors elected pursuant to Section 5(b) of Item 1, Section 5(b) of Item II, Section 5(b) of Item III, Section 5(b) of Item IV, Section 5(b) of Item V, Section 5(b) of Item VI, Section 5(b) of Item VII, Section 5(b) of Item VIII, Section 5(b) of Item IX, Section 5(b) of Item X, Section 5(b) of Item XI and/or Section 5(b) of Item XII of Division A of Article FOURTH of the Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, such directors to be elected and hold office in accordance with such provisions of the Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code of Regulations.

Section 2. Nomination and Election of Directors . Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of shareholders, but when the annual meeting is not held or directors are not elected thereat, they may be elected at a special meeting called and held for that purpose. Such election shall be by ballot whenever requested by any shareholder entitled to vote at such election; but, unless such request is made, the election may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

At each meeting of shareholders for the election of directors, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be directors.

Nominations of persons for election as Directors at the annual meeting of shareholders may be made by, and only by, (i) the Board Directors or a committee thereof, (ii) one or more Eligible Shareholders (as defined below) pursuant to and in accordance with this Section 2 and (iii) any holder of shares entitled to vote for the election of directors at such meeting who otherwise complies with the requirements of these Regulations and applicable law.

 

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The Corporation shall include in its proxy statement and proxy for any annual meeting of shareholders (collectively, the “Proxy Materials”), together with any information required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and, if the Eligible Shareholder so elects, a Statement (as defined below), the name of any person nominated for election to the Board of Directors (the “Shareholder Nominee”) by a shareholder, or a group of no more than 20 shareholders, who satisfies the requirements of this Section 2 (an “Eligible Shareholder”) and who expressly elects at the time of providing the written notice required by this Section 2 to have its nominee included in the Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 2. For purposes of any representation, agreement or other undertaking required by this Section 2, the term “Eligible Shareholder” shall include each member of any group forming an Eligible Shareholder. Such written notice shall consist of a copy of Schedule 14N filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with Rule 14a-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor schedule or form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with Rule 14a-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provision, the Required Information and the other information required by this Section 2 (all such information collectively referred to as the “Proxy Notice”), and such Proxy Notice shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the procedures and at the times set forth in this Section 2.

Each Proxy Notice must set forth or include (the following, collectively referred to as the “Required Information”): (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the shareholder or group of shareholders giving such notice; (ii) a representation that the shareholder or group of shareholders giving such notice is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in such notice; (iii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially and of record by the shareholder or group of shareholders giving such notice; (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between or among any of (A) the shareholder or group of shareholders giving such notice, (B) each nominee, and (C) any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the shareholder or group of shareholders giving such notice; (v) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by the shareholder or group of shareholders giving such notice as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board of Directors; (vi) the signed consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation if so elected, and (vii) if the Eligible Shareholder so elects, a Statement.

To be timely, the Proxy Notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation no earlier than 150 calendar days and no later than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date that the Corporation issued its Proxy Materials for the previous year’s annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 calendar days before or more than 60 calendar days after the first anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting of shareholders, the Proxy Notice, to be timely, must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than (i) 150 calendar days prior to the date of such annual meeting or (i) if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 150 calendar days prior to the date of such annual meeting, 10 calendar days following the day on which public announcement is first made by the Corporation of the date of such meeting.

 

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The Corporation shall not be required to include, pursuant to this Section 2, any Shareholder Nominee in the Proxy Materials (i) whose election as a member of the Board of Directors would cause the Corporation to be in violation of these Regulations, the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, the rules and listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the common shares of the Corporation are listed, any applicable state or federal law, rule or regulation, or the Corporation’s publicly disclosed policies and procedures, (ii) who is or has been within the past three years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined in Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, (iii) who is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding or has been convicted in such a criminal proceeding within the past 10 years (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or (iv) who is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor provision.

The maximum number of Shareholder Nominees appearing in the Proxy Materials with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders shall not exceed 20% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which the Proxy Notice may be delivered or received or, if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number below 20%, and in any event, not less than two Shareholder Nominees. In the event that one or more vacancies for any reason occurs on the Board of Directors after the last day on which the Proxy Notice may be delivered or received but before or as of the annual meeting of shareholders and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith, the maximum number of Shareholder Nominees included in the Proxy Materials shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced. Shareholder Nominees that were submitted by an Eligible Shareholder for inclusion in Proxy Materials pursuant to this Section 2 but either are subsequently withdrawn after the last day on which the Proxy Notice may be delivered or received or whom the Board of Directors itself determines to nominate for election shall, for the purposes of this Section 2, count as Shareholder Nominees appearing in the Proxy Materials. Each Eligible Shareholder shall rank each Shareholder Nominee it submitted for inclusion in the Proxy Materials and in the event that the number of Shareholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Shareholders pursuant to this Section 2 exceeds this maximum number, the highest ranked Shareholder Nominee from the Eligible Shareholder owning the greatest number of shares of stock of the Corporation will be selected for inclusion in the Proxy Materials first, followed by the highest ranked Shareholder Nominee of the Eligible Shareholder holding the next greatest number of shares of stock of the Corporation, and continuing on in that manner until the maximum number of Shareholder Nominees is reached.

For purposes of this Section 2, an Eligible Shareholder shall be deemed to own only those outstanding common shares as to which the shareholder possesses both (i) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (ii) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares; provided that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) shall not include any shares (A) sold by such shareholder or any of its affiliates in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (B) borrowed by such shareholder or any of its affiliates for any purposes or purchased by such shareholder or any of its affiliates pursuant to an agreement to resell, or (C) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract, swap, contract of sale, other derivative or similar agreement entered into by such shareholder or any of its affiliates, whether any such instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of shares of outstanding common shares, in any such case which instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, such shareholder’s or its affiliates’ full right to vote or direct the voting of any such shares, or (y) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of such shares by such shareholder or affiliate. Further, for purposes of this Section 2, an Eligible Shareholder shall be deemed to own shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the shareholder retains the right to recall the shares for voting purposes on no less than five business days’ notice, represents that they will vote such shares at the applicable shareholder meeting and possesses the full economic interest in the shares. An Eligible Shareholder’s ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the shareholder has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney or other instrument or arrangement that is

 

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revocable at any time by the shareholder. The terms “owned,” “owning” and other variations of the word “own” shall have correlative meanings. Whether outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Corporation are owned for purposes of this Section 2 shall be determined by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, in its reasonable discretion. For the purposes of this Section 2, the term “affiliate” or “affiliates” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto under the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. No shares of the Corporation may be attributed to more than one group constituting an Eligible Shareholder and no shareholder or beneficial owner, alone or together with any of its affiliates, may be a member of more than one group constituting an Eligible Shareholder. Furthermore, two or more funds that are (i) under common management and investment control, (ii) under common management and funded primarily by the same employer or (iii) a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, shall be treated as one shareholder for purposes of determining Eligible Shareholder status.

An Eligible Shareholder must have owned 3% or more of the issued and outstanding common shares continuously for at least three years (the “Required Shares”) as of each of the date the Proxy Notice is delivered to or received by the Corporation, the date the Proxy Notice is required to be delivered to or received by the Corporation in accordance with this Section 2 and the record date for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and must continue to hold the Required Shares through the date of the annual meeting. Within the time period specified in this Section 2 for delivery of the Proxy Notice, an Eligible Shareholder must provide the following information in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation: (i) one or more written statements from the record holder of the shares (and from each intermediary through which the shares are or have been held during the requisite three-year holding period) verifying that, as of a date within three calendar days prior to the date the Proxy Notice is delivered to or received by the Corporation, the Eligible Shareholder owns, and has owned continuously for the preceding three years, the Required Shares, and the Eligible Shareholder’s agreement to provide, within five business days after each of the date the Proxy Notice is required to be delivered to or received by the Corporation and the record date for the annual meeting, written statements from the record holder and intermediaries verifying the Eligible Shareholder’s continuous ownership of the Required Shares through each of the date the Proxy Notice is required to be delivered to or received by the Corporation and the record date, along with a written statement that the Eligible Shareholder will continue to hold the Required Shares through the date of the annual meeting; (ii) the Required Information, together with the written consent of each Shareholder Nominee to being named in the Proxy Statement as a nominee; (iii) a representation that (A) the Eligible Shareholder acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and did not acquire any of the Required Shares with the intent to change or influence control of the Corporation, and does not presently have such intent, (B) the Eligible Shareholder has not nominated and will not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than the Shareholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 2, (C) the Eligible Shareholder has not engaged and will not engage in, and has not and will not be a “participant” in another person’s, “solicitation” within the meaning of Rule 14a-1(l) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provision, in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Shareholder Nominee or a nominee of the Board of Directors, (D) that the Shareholder Nominee(s) is or are eligible for inclusion in the Proxy Materials under this Section 2 and (E) the Eligible Shareholder will not distribute to any shareholder any proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation, (iv) an undertaking that the Eligible Shareholder agrees to (A) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Shareholder’s communications with the shareholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Shareholder provided to the Corporation, (B) comply with all other laws and regulations applicable to any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting, and (C) provide to the Corporation prior to the election of directors such additional information as requested with respect thereto, including any other certifications, representations or

 

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undertakings as the Corporation may reasonably request, (v) in the case of a nomination by a group of shareholders that together is an Eligible Shareholder, the designation by all group members of one group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all such members with respect to the nomination, (vi) an undertaking that the Eligible Shareholder agrees to immediately notify the Corporation if the Eligible Shareholder ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the date of the applicable annual meeting and (vii) in the case of a nomination by an Eligible Shareholder that includes a group of funds whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Shareholder, an undertaking that the Eligible Shareholder agrees to provide all documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Corporation to demonstrate that the funds satisfy the requirements of this Section 2. If the Eligible Shareholder does not comply with each of the applicable representation, agreements and undertakings set forth in this Section 2, or the Eligible Shareholder provides information to the Corporation regarding a nomination that is untrue in any material respect or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make a statement made, in light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, the Shareholder Nominee(s) nominated by such Eligible Shareholder shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and will not be included in the Proxy Materials.

The Eligible Shareholder may provide to the Secretary of the Corporation, at the time the information required by this Section 2 is first provided, a written statement (the “Statement”) for inclusion in the Proxy Materials, not to exceed 500 words, in support of the Shareholder Nominee’s candidacy. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2, the Corporation may omit from the Proxy Materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is materially false or misleading, omits to state any material fact or would violate any applicable law or regulation. If multiple members of a shareholder group submit a statement for inclusion, the statement received by the Eligible Shareholder owning the greatest number of shares will be selected.

On or prior to the date the Proxy Notice is required to be delivered or received by the Corporation as specified in this Section 2, a Shareholder Nominee must deliver to the Secretary of the Corporation the written questionnaire required of directors and officers. The Shareholder Nominee must also deliver to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may request to permit the Board of Directors to determine if the Shareholder Nominee is independent under the rules and listing standards of the principal U.S. exchange upon which the Corporation’s common shares are listed, any applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of its directors. If the Board of Directors determines in good faith that the Shareholder Nominee is not independent under any of these standards, the Shareholder Nominee will be deemed to have been withdrawn and will not be included in the Proxy Materials. If a Shareholder Nominee or an Eligible Shareholder fails to continue to meet the requirements of this Section 2, if the Eligible Shareholder fails to meet the all of the requirements of the notice provisions set forth in this Section 2 or if a Shareholder Nominee dies, becomes disabled or is otherwise disqualified from being nominated for election or serving as a director prior to the annual meeting of shareholders: (i) the Corporation may, to the extent feasible, remove the name of the Shareholder Nominee and the Statement from its proxy statement, remove the name of the Shareholder Nominee from its form of proxy and/or otherwise communicate to its shareholders that the Shareholder Nominee will not be eligible for nomination at the annual meeting of Shareholders; and (ii) the Eligible Shareholder may not name another Shareholder Nominee or, subsequent to the date on which the Proxy Notice is required to be delivered to or received by the Corporation, otherwise cure in any way any defect preventing the nomination of the Shareholder Nominee at the annual meeting of Shareholders. On or prior to the date the Proxy Notice is required to be delivered to or received by the Corporation as specified in this Section 2, a Shareholder Nominee must deliver to the Secretary of the Corporation a written representation and agreement that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or

 

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assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, and (iii) will comply with all the Corporation corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other the Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors. If the Shareholder Nominee fails to comply with any of the requirements included in this Section 2, the Shareholder Nominee will be deemed to have withdrawn and will not be included in the Proxy Materials.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2, unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, if (i) the Eligible Shareholder or (ii) a qualified representative of the Eligible Shareholder does not appear at the applicable annual meeting to present its Shareholder Nominee or Shareholder Nominees, such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded, and no vote on such Shareholder Nominee or Shareholder Nominees will occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2, to be considered a qualified representative of an Eligible Shareholder, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such Eligible Shareholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such Eligible Shareholder to act for such Eligible Shareholder as proxy at the applicable annual meeting and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the applicable annual meeting.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased by the Board of Directors, and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 130 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a Proxy Notice shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to Shareholder Nominees for any new positions created by such increase and only to the extent the increase in the size of the Board of Directors increases the number of Shareholder Nominees permitted under this Section 2, if it shall be delivered to or received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth calendar day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

Compliance with this Section 2 shall be the exclusive method for shareholders to include nominees for director in the Corporation’s proxy materials.

Section 3. Term of Office . Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting next succeeding his or her election and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation, removal from office or death.

Section 4. Removal . All the directors or any individual director may be removed from office, without assigning any cause, by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power entitling them to elect directors in place of those to be removed, provided that unless all the directors are removed, no individual director shall be removed in case the votes of a sufficient number of shares are cast against his or her removal which, if cumulatively voted at an election of all the directors, would be sufficient to elect at least one director. In case of any such removal, a new director may be elected at the same meeting for the unexpired term of each director removed.

 

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Section 5. Vacancies . Vacancies in the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors until an election to fill such vacancies is had. Shareholders entitled to elect directors shall have the right to fill any vacancy in the board (whether the same has been temporarily filled by the remaining directors or not) at any meeting of the shareholders called for that purpose, and any directors elected at any such meeting of shareholders shall serve until the next annual election of directors and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Section 6. Quorum and Transaction of Business . A majority of the whole authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except that a majority of the directors in office shall constitute a quorum for filling a vacancy on the board. Whenever less than a quorum is present at the time and place appointed for any meeting of the board, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present. The act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board.

Section 7. Annual Meeting . Annual meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately following annual meetings of the shareholders, or as soon thereafter as is practicable. If no annual meeting of the shareholders is held, or if directors are not elected thereat, then the annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately following any special meeting of the shareholders at which directors are elected, or as soon thereafter as is practicable. If such annual meeting of directors is held immediately following a meeting of the shareholders, it shall be held at the same place at which such shareholders’ meeting was held.

Section 8. Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places, within or without the State of Ohio, as the Board of Directors may, by resolution or by-law, from time to time, determine. The secretary shall give notice of each such resolution or by-law to any director who was not present at the time the same was adopted, but no further notice of such regular meeting need be given.

Section 9. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice president, or any two members of the Board of Directors, and shall be held at such times and places, within or without the State of Ohio, as may be specified in such call.

Section 10. Notice of Annual or Special Meetings . Notice of the time and place of each annual or special meeting shall be given to each director by the secretary or by the person or persons calling such meeting. Such notice need not specify the purpose or purposes of the meeting and may be given in any manner or method and at such time so that the director receiving it may have reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting. Such notice shall, in all events, be deemed to have been properly and duly given if mailed at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting and directed to the residence of each director as shown upon the secretary’s records and, in the event of a meeting to be held through the use of communications equipment, if the notice sets forth the telephone number at which each director may be reached for purposes of participation in the meeting as shown upon the secretary’s records and states that the secretary must be notified if a director desires to be reached at a different telephone number. The giving of notice shall be deemed to have been waived by any director who shall participate in such meeting and may be waived, in a writing, by any director either before or after such meeting.

Section 11. Compensation . The directors, as such, shall be entitled to receive such reasonable compensation for their services as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the board, and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at each annual, regular or special meeting of the board. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of the executive committee or of any standing or special committee may by resolution of the board be allowed such compensation for their services as the board may deem reasonable, and additional compensation may be allowed to directors for special services rendered.

 

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Section 12. By-Laws . For the government of its actions, the Board of Directors may adopt by-laws consistent with the Articles of Incorporation and these Regulations.

ARTICLE III

Committees

Section 1. Executive Committee . The Board of Directors may from time to time, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, create an executive committee of three or more directors, the members of which shall be elected by the Board of Directors to serve during the pleasure of the board. If the Board of Directors does not designate a chairman of the executive committee, the executive committee shall elect a chairman from its own number. Except as otherwise provided herein and in the resolution creating an executive committee, such committee shall, during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, possess and may exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, other than that of filling vacancies among the directors or in any committee of the directors. The executive committee shall keep full records and accounts of its proceedings and transactions. All action by the executive committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at its meeting next succeeding such action and shall be subject to control, revision and alteration by the Board of Directors, provided that no rights of third persons shall be prejudicially affected thereby. Vacancies in the executive committee shall be filled by the directors, and the directors may appoint one or more directors as alternate members of the committee who may take the place of any absent member or members at any meeting.

Section 2. Meetings of Executive Committee . Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, the executive committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet as provided by such rules or by resolutions of the Board of Directors, and it shall also meet at the call of the president, the chairman of the executive committee or any two members of the committee. Unless otherwise provided by such rules or by such resolutions, the provisions of Section 10 of Article II relating to the notice required to be given of meetings of the Board of Directors shall also apply to meetings of the executive committee. A majority of the executive committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The executive committee may act in a writing, or by telephone with written confirmation, without a meeting, but no such action of the executive committee shall be effective unless concurred in by all members of the committee.

Section 3. Other Committees and Subcommittees . The Board of Directors may by resolution provide for such other standing or special committees and subcommittees as it deems desirable, and discontinue the same at pleasure. Each such committee or subcommittee shall have such powers and perform such duties, not inconsistent with law, as may be delegated to it by the Board of Directors. The provisions of Section l and Section 2 of this Article shall govern the appointment and action of such committees and subcommittees so far as the same are consistent with such appointment and unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors. Vacancies in such committees and subcommittees shall be filled by the Board of Directors or as the Board of Directors may provide.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 1. General Provisions . The Board of Directors shall elect a president, such number of vice presidents as the board may from time to time determine, a secretary and a treasurer and, in its discretion, a chairman of the Board of Directors and/or a chief executive officer. The Board of Directors may from time to time create such offices and appoint such other officers, subordinate officers and assistant officers as it may determine. The chairman of the board shall be, but the other officers need not be, chosen from among the members of the Board of Directors. Any two of such offices, other than that of president and vice president, may be held by the same person, but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity.

 

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Section 2. Term of Office . The officers of the Corporation shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and, unless sooner removed by the Board of Directors, until the organization meeting of the Board of Directors following the date of their election and until their successors are chosen and qualified. The Board of Directors may remove any officer at any time, with or without cause. A vacancy in any office, however created, shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V

Duties of Officers

Section 1. Chairman of the Board . The chairman of the board, if one be elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. President; Chief Executive Officer . The president shall exercise supervision over the business of the Corporation and over its several officers, subject, however, to the control of the Board of Directors. He or she shall preside at all meetings of shareholders and, in the absence of the chairman of the board, or if a chairman of the board shall not have been elected, shall also preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. He or she shall have authority to sign all certificates for shares and all deeds, mortgages, bonds, agreements, notes, and other instruments requiring his or her signature; and shall have all the powers and duties prescribed by Chapter 1701 of the Revised Code of Ohio and such others as the Board of Directors may from time to time assign to him or her. The chief executive officer, if one be elected, shall have all the powers granted by these Regulations to the president and the president shall, subject to the powers of supervision and control conferred upon the chief executive officer, have such duties and powers as assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 3. Vice Presidents . The vice presidents shall have such powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the president. At the request of the president, or in the case of his or her absence or disability, the vice president designated by the president (or in the absence of such designation, the vice president designated by the board) shall perform all the duties of the president and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of the president. The authority of vice presidents to sign in the name of the Corporation certificates for shares and deeds, mortgages, bonds, agreements, notes and other instruments shall be coordinate with like authority of the president.

Section 4. Secretary . The secretary shall keep minutes of all the proceedings of the shareholders and Board of Directors and shall make proper record of the same, which shall be attested by him or her; shall have authority to execute and deliver certificates as to any of such proceedings and any other records of the Corporation; shall have authority to sign all certificates for shares and all deeds, mortgages, bonds, agreements, notes and other instruments to be executed by the Corporation which require his or her signature; shall give notice of meetings of shareholders and directors; shall produce on request at each meeting of shareholders a certified list of shareholders arranged in alphabetical order; shall keep such books and records as may be required by law or by the Board of Directors; and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the president.

 

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Section 5. Treasurer . The treasurer shall have general supervision of all finances; he or she shall receive and have in charge all money, bills, notes, deeds, leases, mortgages and similar property belonging to the Corporation, and shall do with the same as may from time to time be required by the Board of Directors. He or she shall cause to be kept adequate and correct accounts of the business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, stated capital and shares, together with such other accounts as may be required, and upon the expiration of his or her term of office shall turn over to his or her successor or to the Board of Directors all property, books, papers and money of the Corporation in his or her hands; and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the president.

Section 6. Assistant and Subordinate Officers . The Board of Directors may appoint such assistant and subordinate officers as it may deem desirable. Each such officer shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the president may prescribe.

The Board of Directors may, from time to time, authorize any officer to appoint and remove subordinate officers, to prescribe their authority and duties, and to fix their compensation.

Section 7. Duties of Officers May Be Delegated . In the absence of any officer of the Corporation, or for any other reason the Board of Directors may deem sufficient, the Board of Directors may delegate, for the time being, the powers or duties, or any of them, of such officers to any other officer or to any director.

ARTICLE VI

Indemnification and Insurance

Section 1. Indemnification in Non-Derivative Actions . The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 2. Indemnification in Derivative Actions . The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a

 

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manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to the Corporation unless, and only to the extent that the Court of Common Pleas, or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Court of Common Pleas or such court shall deem proper.

Section 3. Indemnification as Matter of Right . To the extent that a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

Section 4. Determination of Conduct . Any indemnification under Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI. Such determination shall be made (a) by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of the Corporation who were not and are not parties to or threatened with any such action, suit, or proceeding, or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable or if a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion by independent legal counsel, other than an attorney or a firm having associated with it an attorney who has been retained by or who has performed services for the Corporation or any person to be indemnified within the past five years, or (c) by the shareholders or (d) by the Court of Common Pleas or the court in which such action, suit, or proceeding was brought. Any determination made by the disinterested directors under Section 4(a) or by independent legal counsel under Section 4(b) of this Article VI shall be promptly communicated to the person who threatened or brought the action or suit, by or in the right of the Corporation under Section 2 of this Article VI, and within ten days after receipt of such notification, such person shall have the right to petition the Court of Common Pleas or the court in which such action or suit was brought to review the reasonableness of such determination.

Section 5. Advance Payment of Expenses . Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in defending any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI, may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding as authorized by the directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent to repay such amount, unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VI.

Section 6. Nonexclusivity . The indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles of Incorporation or the Code of Regulations or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.

 

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Section 7. Liability Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI or of Chapter 1701 of the Ohio Revised Code.

ARTICLE VII

Certificates for Shares; Uncertificated Shares

Section 1. Form and Execution of Certificates . Certificates for shares, certifying the number of fully paid shares owned, may be, but are not required to be, issued to each shareholder in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors. Such certificates shall be signed by the president or a vice president and by the secretary or an assistant secretary or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer; provided, however, that if such certificates are countersigned by a transfer agent and/or registrar, the signatures of any of said officers and the seal of the Corporation upon such certificates may be facsimiles, engraved, stamped or printed. If any officer or officers, who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature shall have been used, printed or stamped on any certificate or certificates for shares, shall cease to be such officer or officers, because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates, if authenticated by the endorsement thereon of the signature of a transfer agent or registrar, shall nevertheless be conclusively deemed to have been adopted by the Corporation by the use and delivery thereof and shall be as effective in all respects as though signed by a duly elected, qualified and authorized officer or officers, and as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon, had not ceased to be an officer or officers of the Corporation.

Section 2. Uncertificated Shares . The Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes and series of shares of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares, provided that the resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until the certificate is surrendered to the Corporation and the resolution shall not apply to a certificated security issued in exchange for an uncertificated security. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner of the shares a written notice containing the information that would be required to be set forth or stated on a share certificate in accordance with applicable law. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing shares of the same class and series shall be identical.

Section 3. Transfer and Registration of Certificates . The Board of Directors shall have authority to make such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law, the Articles of Incorporation or this Code of Regulations, as it deems expedient concerning the issuance, transfer and registration of certificates for shares and the shares represented thereby and of uncertificated shares.

Section 4. Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates . A new share certificate or certificates may be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation which is alleged to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken upon (i) the execution and delivery to the Corporation by the person claiming the certificate to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken of an affidavit of that fact, specifying whether or not, at the time of such alleged loss, destruction or taking, the certificate was endorsed, and (ii) the furnishing to the Corporation of indemnity and other assurances satisfactory to the Corporation and to all transfer agents and registrars of the class of shares represented by the certificate against any and all losses, damages, costs, expenses or liabilities to which they or any of them may be subjected by reason of the issue and delivery of such new certificate or certificates or in respect of the original certificate.

 

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Section 5. Registered Shareholders . A person in whose name shares are of record on the books of the Corporation shall conclusively be deemed the unqualified owner and holder thereof for all purposes and to have capacity to exercise all rights of ownership. Neither the Corporation nor any transfer agent of the Corporation shall be bound to recognize any equitable interest in or claim to such shares on the part of any other person, whether disclosed upon a certificate or otherwise, nor shall they be obliged to see to the execution of any trust or obligation.

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31, of each year, or on such other date as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX

Seal

The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal containing the name of the Corporation. If deemed advisable by the Board of Directors, duplicate seals may be provided and kept for the purposes of the Corporation.

ARTICLE X

Amendments

This Code of Regulations may be amended, or new regulations may be adopted, (i) at any meeting of shareholders called for such purpose by the affirmative vote of, or without a meeting by the written consent of, the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Corporation on such proposal or (ii) by the Board of Directors, to the extent permitted by Chapter 1701 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Approved: May 8, 2018

 

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Exhibit 4.30

 

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THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of CUSIP DATED COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR, FULLY-PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE COMMON SHARES, $0.10 PAR VALUE PER SHARE, OF DDR Corp. transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended by amendments thereto and restatements thereof, if any, filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Ohio, to which the holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. In Witness Whereof, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be executed by the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $0.10 COMMON STOCK SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS Certificate Number Shares . DDR CORP. INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF OHIO President and Chief Executive Officer Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary By AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE 11/20/1992 OHIO IN CO RPORAT ED DDR Corp. ZQ|CERT#|COY|CLS|RGSTRY|ACCT#|TRANSTYPE|RUN#|TRANS# 23317H 85 4 DD-MMM-YYYY * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample ** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares*** * 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares****0 00000**Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares****00 0000**Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares****000 000**Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares****0000 00**Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares****00000 0**Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 * *Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 ** Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **Shares**** 000000 **S ***ZERO HUNDRED THOUSAND ZERO HUNDRED AND ZERO*** MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE & MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE ZQ 000000 00 Certificate Numbers 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 Total Transaction Num/No. 123456 Denom. 123456 Total 1234567 MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 PO BOX 43004, Providence, RI 02940-3004 CUSIP/IDENTIFIER XXXXXX XX X Holder ID XXXXXXXXXX Insurance Value 1,000,000.00 Number of Shares 123456 DTC 12345678 123456789012345 THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN CITIES DESIGNATED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.computershare.com


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DDR CORP. The Common Shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on transfer for the purpose of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Subject to certain provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, no Person may Beneficially Own Common Shares in excess of 5.0% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation (unless such Person is an Exempt Holder or an Existing Holder), no Person may Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Corporation and no Person may acquire Beneficial Ownership of any Common Shares after the Effective Date if, as a result of such acquisition, the fair market value of the Shares owned directly and indirectly by Non-U.S. Persons would comprise more than 49% of the fair market value of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Any Person who attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. All capitalized items in this legend have the meanings defined in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer, will be sent without charge to each shareholder who so requests. If the restrictions on transfer are violated, certain of the Common Shares represented hereby will be transferred automatically and by operation of law to a Trust and shall be designated Shares-in-Trust. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT Custodian (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (State) JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship UNIF TRF MIN ACT — Custodian (until age ) and not as tenants in common (Cust) under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (Minor) (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the shares represented by the within the Certificate and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: 20 Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. Signature: Signature: Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. The IRS requires that the named transfer agent (“we”) report the cost basis of certain shares or units acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares or units are covered by the legislation, and you requested to sell or transfer the shares or units using a specific cost basis calculation method, then we have processed as you requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, then we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis. If you do not keep in contact with the issuer or do not have any activity in your account for the time period specified by state law, your property may become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state.

Exhibit 5.1

 

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June 14, 2018

DDR Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 Filed by DDR Corp.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for DDR Corp., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the authorization of the issuance and sale from time to time, on a continuous or delayed basis, by the Company of an indeterminate amount of: (i) common shares, $0.10 par value per share, of the Company (the “ Common Shares ”); (ii) preferred shares, without par value, of the Company (the “ Preferred Shares ”), in one or more series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares; (iii) debt securities of the Company (the “ Debt Securities ”), in one or more series, certain of which may be convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares; (iv) depositary shares representing fractional interests in Preferred Shares (the “ Depositary Shares ”); and (v) warrants to purchase Common Shares (the “ Warrants ”), in each case as contemplated by the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 to which this opinion is filed as an exhibit (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “ Registration Statement ”). The Common Shares, the Preferred Shares, the Debt Securities, the Depositary Shares and the Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities .” The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Securities Act ”). The Debt Securities are to be issued under the Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1994 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Senior Indenture ”), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (successor to National City Bank)), as trustee (the “ Senior Indenture Trustee ”), or the Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1994 (the “ Subordinated Indenture ” and, each of the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture, an “ Indenture ”), by and between The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to JP Morgan Chase Bank (successor to Chemical Bank)), as trustee (the “ Subordinated Indenture Trustee ” and, together with the Senior Indenture Trustee, the “ Trustees ”).

 

 

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DDR Corp.

June 14, 2018

Page 2

 

 

In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed relevant or necessary for purposes of such opinions. Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

  1. The Common Shares, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor having a value not less than the par value thereof as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  2. The Preferred Shares, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  3. The Debt Securities, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the applicable Trustee in accordance with the applicable Indenture, issued and sold in accordance with the Registration Statement and delivered to the purchaser or purchasers thereof against receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

 

  4. The Depositary Shares, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, and the depositary receipts representing the Depositary Shares will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement (as defined below) pursuant to which they are issued.

 

  5. The Warrants, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) may determine, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, will have become effective (and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder); (ii) a prospectus supplement describing each class and/or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law and relevant rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”), will be timely filed with the Commission; (iii) the definitive terms of each class and/or series of Securities will have been established in accordance with the authorizing resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) and, as applicable, the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “ Articles of Incorporation ”), and applicable law; (iv) the Company will issue and deliver the Securities in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and any Securities that consist of shares of capital stock, will have been authorized and reserved for issuance, in each case within the limits of the then remaining


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DDR Corp.

June 14, 2018

Page 3

 

 

authorized but unissued and unreserved amounts of such capital stock; (v) the resolutions authorizing the Company to issue, offer and sell the Securities will have been adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors (or an authorized committee or subcommittee thereof) and will be in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are offered or sold by the Company; (vi) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws; and (vii) any Deposit Agreement or Warrant Agreement (as defined below) will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and will constitute a valid and binding obligation of each party thereto other than the Company.

With respect to any Securities consisting of Preferred Shares, we have further assumed that the Company will issue and deliver the Preferred Shares being issued and delivered after the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio of a certificate of amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, approved by us, establishing the designations, preferences and rights of the class or series of the Preferred Shares being issued and delivered.

With respect to any Securities consisting of any series of Debt Securities, we have further assumed that: (i) the (a) Senior Indenture is, and any supplemental indenture thereto will be, a valid and binding obligation of the Senior Indenture Trustee and (b) Subordinated Indenture is, and any supplemental indenture thereto will be, a valid and binding obligation of the Subordinated Indenture Trustee; (ii) all terms of such Debt Securities not provided for in the applicable Indenture will have been established in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and reflected in appropriate documentation approved by us and, if applicable, executed and delivered by the Company and the applicable Trustee; and (iii) such Debt Securities will be executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture.

With respect to any Securities consisting of Depositary Shares, we have further assumed that the Depositary Shares will be: (i) issued and delivered after authorization, execution and delivery of the deposit agreement, approved by us, relating to the Depositary Shares to be entered into between the Company and an entity (the “ Depositary ”) selected by the Company to act as depository (the “ Deposit Agreement ”); and (ii) issued after the Company deposits with the Depositary the Preferred Shares to be represented by such Depositary Shares that are authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Deposit Agreement.

With respect to any Securities consisting of Warrants, we have further assumed that: (i) the warrant agreement, approved by us, relating to the Warrants (the “ Warrant Agreement ”) to be entered into between the Company and an entity selected by the Company to act as the warrant agent (the “ Warrant Agent ”) will have been authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent; and (ii) the Warrants will be authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement.


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DDR Corp.

June 14, 2018

Page 4

 

 

The opinions expressed herein are limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference, moratorium or other similar laws and related regulations and judicial doctrines from time to time in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles and public policy considerations, whether such principles and considerations are considered in a proceeding at law or at equity.

As to facts material to the opinions and assumptions expressed herein, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others. The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the laws of the State of Ohio, in each case as currently in effect, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Jones Day under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Jones Day

Exhibit 8.1

 

LOGO

77 WEST WACKER • SUITE 3500 • CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601.1692

TELEPHONE: +1.312.782.3939 • FACSIMILE: +1.312.782.8585

June 14, 2018

DDR Corp.

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio 44122

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by DDR Corp.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for DDR Corp., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the authorization of the issuance and sale from time to time, on a delayed basis, by the Company of an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of: (i) common shares, $0.10 par value per share, of the Company (the “ Common Shares ”); (ii) preferred shares, without par value, of the Company (the “ Preferred Shares ”); (iii) debt securities of the Company (the “ Debt Securities ”) in one or more series; (iv) depositary shares representing fractional interests in Preferred Shares (the “ Depositary Shares ”); and (v) warrants to purchase Common Shares (the “ Warrants ”), in each case as contemplated by the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to which this opinion has been filed as an exhibit (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “ Registration Statement ”), and as set forth in the prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”) constituting a part of the Registration Statement. The Common Shares, the Preferred Shares, the Debt Securities, the Depositary Shares and the Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities ”). The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”).

You have requested our opinion concerning certain federal income tax considerations relating to the Company, including with respect to its election to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (a “ REIT ”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”). In connection with our opinion, we have reviewed and are relying upon (i) the Registration Statement (including the exhibits thereto) and the Prospectus, (ii) the Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, as in effect on the date hereof, (iii) the Amended and Restated Code of Regulations of the Company as in effect on the date hereof, and (iv) such other documents, records and instruments that we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of our opinion, and have assumed their accuracy as of the date hereof. For purposes of our review, we have also assumed, with your consent, the authenticity of all documents we have examined as well as the genuineness of signatures and the validity of the indicated capacity of each party executing a document. We have assumed, with your consent, that Retail Value Inc. will be organized and operated in conformity with the requirements to be

 

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LOGO

June 14, 2018

Page 2

 

taxed as a REIT under the Code and will be taxed as a REIT under the Code at all times that it is not a qualified REIT subsidiary of the Company. In addition, we have relied upon the representations contained in a certificate, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Officer’s Certificate ”), executed by a duly appointed officer of the Company, setting forth certain representations relating to the organization and operation of the Company. We have assumed that the statements and representations presented in the Officer’s Certificate are true without regard to any qualification as to knowledge, belief, or intent.

We have made such investigations of law and fact as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for our opinion. However, for purposes of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation of the facts set forth in the Officer’s Certificate. Our opinion is conditioned on the accuracy and completeness of the assumptions set forth herein and representations made in the Officer’s Certificate and in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus) and any change or inaccuracy in the representations referred to in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus) or the Officer’s Certificate may affect our conclusions set forth herein. In particular, we note that the Company may engage in transactions in connection with which we have not provided legal advice and have not reviewed, and of which we may be unaware.

Our opinion is based upon current provisions of the Code, the legislative history thereto, the existing applicable United States federal income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, published judicial authority and currently effective published rulings, administrative pronouncements and other guidance of the Internal Revenue Service (the “ IRS ”), all of which are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect, and subject to differing interpretations.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that

(1)    during the period commencing with the Company’s taxable year ended December 31, 1993 through its taxable year ended December 31, 2017, the Company was organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and the Company’s current and proposed method of operation will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2018 and for future taxable years; and

(2)    the statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as such statements purport to summarize United States federal income tax laws or provisions of documents referred to therein, present fair summaries of such laws and documents in all material respects.


LOGO

June 14, 2018

Page 3

 

Other than as expressly stated above, we express no opinion on any issue relating to the Company or to any investment therein. The qualification and taxation of the Company as a REIT depend upon the ability of the Company to satisfy on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating and other results, the various requirements under the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and described in the Prospectus with regard to (i) organizational and operational matters, including, among other things, the sources of its income, the composition of its assets, and the level of its distributions to holders of the Company’s shares, and (ii) the diversity of ownership of the Company’s shares. Jones Day has not verified and will not review or verify the compliance of the Company with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the Company will satisfy the requirements under the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations for qualification and taxation as a REIT for 2018 and subsequent taxable years.

In rendering our opinion, we are expressing our views only as to the United States federal income tax laws. We do not undertake to advise you of the effect of changes in matters of law or fact occurring subsequent to the date hereof. This opinion is not binding upon the IRS or the courts. There can be no assurance, and none is hereby given, that the IRS will not take a position contrary to one or more of the positions reflected in the foregoing opinion or that our opinion will be upheld by the courts if challenged by the IRS.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement filed by the Company to effect registration of the Common Shares under the Securities Act and to the reference to us under the caption “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Jones Day

Exhibit 12.1

DDR Corp.

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2017     2018  

Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 24,571     $ 26,022     $ (64,024   $ 62,980     $ (230,714   $ (53,805   $ (53,915
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed charges:

              

Interest expense including amortization of deferred costs and capitalized interest

   $ 242,614     $ 255,744     $ 248,399     $ 220,648     $ 190,526     $ 52,225     $ 44,363  

Appropriate portion of rentals representative of the interest factor

     1,338       1,278       1,151       943       740       125       205  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

   $ 243,952     $ 257,022     $ 249,550     $ 221,591     $ 191,266     $ 52,350     $ 44,568  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capitalized interest during the period

     (8,789     (8,678     (6,672     (3,059     (1,879     (398     (323

Amortization of capitalized interest during the period

     9,015       9,304       9,526       9,628       9,691       2,410       2,426  

Equity Company Adjustments

     (6,819     (10,989     3,135       (15,699     (8,837     1,665       (8,786

Equity Company Adjustments Distributed Income

     15,116       10,749       8,382       8,210       7,413       1,806       1,786  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes and fixed charges

   $ 277,046     $ 283,430     $ 199,897     $ 283,651     $ (33,060   $ 4,028     $ (14,244
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings (loss) to fixed charges

     1.1       1.1       (a)       1.3       (b)       (c)       (d)  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $49.7 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes consolidated impairment charges of $279.0 million and impairment charges of joint venture investments of $1.9 million, which together aggregated $280.9 million that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
(b) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $224.3 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes consolidated impairment charges of $345.6 million and a reserve of preferred equity interests of $61.0 million, which together aggregated $406.6 million that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
(c) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $48.3 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, includes consolidated impairment charges of $22.0 million and a reserve of preferred equity interests of $76.0 million, which together aggregated $98.0 million that are discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
(d) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $58.8 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, includes consolidated impairment charges of $30.4 million, a reserve of preferred equity interests of $4.0 million and debt extinguishment costs of $56.4 million, which together aggregated $90.8 million that are discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Exhibit 12.2

DDR Corp.

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

(Amounts in Thousands)

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Quarter Ended March 31,  
     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017     2017     2018  

Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 24,571     $ 26,022     $ (64,024   $ 62,980     $ (230,714   $ (53,805   $ (53,915
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed charges:

              

Interest expense including amortization of deferred costs and capitalized interest

   $ 242,614     $ 255,744     $ 248,399     $ 220,648     $ 190,526     $ 52,225     $ 44,363  

Appropriate portion of rentals representative of the interest factor

     1,338       1,278       1,151       943       740       125       205  

Write-off of preferred share original issuance costs

     5,246       1,943       —         —         —         —         —    

Preferred Dividends

     27,721       24,054       22,375       22,375       28,759       5,594       8,383  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

   $ 276,919     $ 283,019     $ 271,925     $ 243,966     $ 220,025     $ 57,944     $ 52,951  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capitalized interest during the period

   $ (8,789   $ (8,678   $ (6,672   $ (3,059   $ (1,879   $ (398   $ (323

Write-off of preferred share original issuance costs

     (5,246     (1,943     —         —         —         —         —    

Preferred Dividends

     (27,721     (24,054     (22,375     (22,375     (28,759     (5,594     (8,383

Amortization of capitalized interest during the period

     9,015       9,304       9,526       9,628       9,691       2,410       2,426  

Equity Company Adjustments

     (6,819     (10,989     3,135       (15,699     (8,837     1,665       (8,786

Equity Company Adjustments Distributed Income

     15,116       10,749       8,382       8,210       7,413       1,806       1,786  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes and fixed charges

   $ 277,046     $ 283,430     $ 199,897     $ 283,651     $ (33,060   $ 4,028     $ (14,244
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings (loss) to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends

     1.0       1.0       (a)       1.2       (b)       (c)       (d)  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $72.0 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, includes consolidated impairment charges of $279.0 million and impairment charges of joint venture investments of $1.9 million, which together aggregated $280.9 million that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
(b) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $253.1 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes consolidated impairment charges of $345.6 million, and a reserve of preferred equity interests of $61.0 million, which together aggregated $406.6 million that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
(c) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $53.9 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, includes consolidated impairment charges of $22.0 million and a reserve of preferred equity interests of $76.0 million, which together aggregated $98.0 million that are discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
(d) Due to the pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1. We would have needed to generate additional earnings of $67.2 million to achieve a coverage of 1:1. The pretax loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, includes consolidated impairment charges of $30.4 million, a reserve of preferred equity interests of $4.0 million and debt extinguishment costs of $56.4 million, which together aggregated $90.8 million that are discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form  S-3 of DDR Corp. of our report dated February 26, 2018 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedules and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in DDR Corp.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
June 14, 2018

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of DDR Corp. of our report dated February 21, 2017 relating to the financial statements of DDR-SAU Retail Fund, L.L.C., which appears in DDR Corp.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Cleveland, Ohio

June 14, 2018

Exhibit 24.1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned directors and officers of DDR CORP., an Ohio corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby constitutes and appoints David R. Lukes, Matthew L. Ostrower and Aaron M. Kitlowski, and each of them, as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact or attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for each of the undersigned and in the name, place and stead of each of the undersigned, to sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) one or more Registration Statements on Form S-3 relating to the registration of certain securities of the Corporation, including equity and debt securities of the Corporation, with any and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto, including pre-effective and post-effective amendments or supplements and Registration Statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, with full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required, necessary or desirable to be done in the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the act of said attorneys and any of them and any such substitute.

This Power of Attorney may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original with respect to the person executing it.

Executed as of this 16th day of May 2018.

 

/s/ David R. Lukes

David R. Lukes

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

     

/s/ Matthew L. Ostrower

Matthew L. Ostrower

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Christa A. Vesy

Christa A. Vesy

Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

     

/s/ Terrance R. Ahern

Terrance R. Ahern

Director

/s/ Jane E. Deflorio

Jane E. Deflorio

Director

     

/s/ Thomas Finne

Thomas Finne

Director

/s/ Victor B. MacFarlane

Victor B. MacFarlane

Director

     

/s/ Alexander Otto

Alexander Otto

Director

/s/ Scott D. Roulston

Scott D. Roulston

Director

     

/s/ Barry A. Sholem

Barry A. Sholem

Director

 

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

N/A   31-0841368

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or

organization if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

  55402
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

K. Wendy Kumar

U.S. Bank National Association

100 Wall Street – Suite 1600

New York, NY 10005

(212) 361-8561

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

DDR Corp.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ohio   34-1723097

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, OH

  44122
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 

 


FORM T-1

 

Item 1. GENERAL INFORMATION . Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

  a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

  b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

 

Items 3-15 Items 3-15 are not applicable because, to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility.

 

  1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.*

 

  2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

 

  3. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3.

 

  4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.**

 

  5. A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

 

  6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

 

  7. Report of Condition of the Trustee as of March 31, 2018 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on Form S-4, Registration Number 333-128217 filed on November 15, 2005.

** Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to registration statement on Form S-3ASR, Registration Number 333-199863 filed on November 5, 2014.

 

2


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, State of New York on the 14th day of June, 2018.

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:   /s/ K. Wendy Kumar
  K. Wendy Kumar
  Vice President

 

3


Exhibit 2

 

LOGO

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Washington, DC 20219 CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE I, Joseph Otting, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that: 1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations. 2. “U.S. Bank National Association,” Cincinnati, Ohio (Charter No. 24), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking on the date of this certificate. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, May 8, 2018, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia Joseph Otting Comptroller of the Currency

 

4


Exhibit 3

 

LOGO

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Washington, DC 20219 CERTIFICATE OF FIDUCIARY POWERS I, Joseph Otting, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that: 1. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations. 2. “U.S. Bank National Association,” Cincinnati, Ohio (Charter No. 24), was granted, under the hand and seal of the Comptroller, the right to act in full fiduciary capacities authorized under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved September 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 668, 12 USC 92a, and that the authority so granted remains in full force and effect on the date of this certificate. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, May 8, 2018, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia. Joseph Otting Comptroller of the Currency

 

5


Exhibit 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Dated: June 14, 2018

 

By:   /s/ K. Wendy Kumar
  K. Wendy Kumar
  Vice President

 

6


Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

As of 3/31/2018

($000’s)

 

     3/31/2018  

Assets

  

Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions

   $ 19,210,762  

Securities

     110,797,912  

Federal Funds

     49,966  

Loans & Lease Financing Receivables

     278,268,217  

Fixed Assets

     4,035,404  

Intangible Assets

     13,036,496  

Other Assets

     26,856,978  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 452,255,735  

Liabilities

  

Deposits

   $ 355,061,230  

Fed Funds

     931,593  

Treasury Demand Notes

     0  

Trading Liabilities

     681,501  

Other Borrowed Money

     32,101,111  

Acceptances

     0  

Subordinated Notes and Debentures

     3,300,000  

Other Liabilities

     13,027,872  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 405,103,307  

Equity

  

Common and Preferred Stock

     18,200  

Surplus

     14,266,915  

Undivided Profits

     32,071,141  

Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

     796,172  
  

 

 

 

Total Equity Capital

   $ 47,152,428  

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

   $ 452,255,735  

 

7

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-5160382

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

225 Liberty Street

New York, New York

 

10286

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Legal Department

The Bank of New York Mellon

225 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10286

(212) 635-1270

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

DDR Corp.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ohio   34-1723097

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3300 Enterprise Parkway

Beachwood, Ohio

 

44122

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Superintendent of the Department of Financial

    Services of the State of New York

 

One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417

    and Albany, N.Y. 12203

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

  33 Liberty Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10045

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

  550 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20429

New York Clearing House Association

  New York, N.Y. 10005

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

          1.  

   -     A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York (formerly Irving Trust Company)) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed as Exhibit 25.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K of Nevada Power Company, Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) July 25, 2008 (File No. 000-52378).)

          4.  

   -     A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 with Registration Statement No. 333-155238.)

          6.  

   -     The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152856.)

          7.  

   -     A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, and State of New York, on the 14th day of June, 2018.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:   /s/ Laurence J. O’Brien
  Name:   Laurence J. O’Brien
  Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

(Page i of iii)

 

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of 225 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 2018, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

ASSETS    Dollar amounts in thousands  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     3,962,000  

Interest-bearing balances

     105,314,000  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     36,947,000  

Available-for-sale securities

     78,525,000  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     31,000  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     15,492,000  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment

     29,936,000  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     129,000  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     29,807,000  

Trading assets

     3,201,000  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     1,458,000  

Other real estate owned

     4,000  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     576,000  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  


Intangible assets:

  

Goodwill

     6,445,000  

Other intangible assets

     809,000  

Other assets

     14,536,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     297,107,000  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     124,470,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     70,622,000  

Interest-bearing

     53,848,000  

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     119,549,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     6,301,000  

Interest-bearing

     113,248,000  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices .

     11,268,000  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     444,000  

Trading liabilities

     2,002,000  

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     6,379,000  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     515,000  

Other liabilities

     4,909,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     269,536,000  
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,135,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     10,888,000  

Retained earnings

     16,499,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     -1,301,000  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Total bank equity capital

     27,221,000  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     350,000  

Total equity capital

     27,571,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     297,107,000  
  

 

 

 


I, Michael Santomassimo, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Michael Santomassimo

Chief Financial Officer

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

 

 

Charles W. Scharf

Samuel C. Scott

Joseph J. Echevarria                     

 

      

Directors