UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 20, 2019

 

 

NEXPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST, INC.

(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   001-36663   47-1881359

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

300 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 628-4100

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 8.01.

Other Events.

At the Market Offering

On February 20, 2019, NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (the “Company”), its operating partnership, NexPoint Residential Trust Operating Partnership, L.P., and its adviser, NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P., entered into separate equity distribution agreements (the “Equity Distribution Agreements”) with each of Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (“Raymond James”) and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., pursuant to which the Company may issue and sell from time to time shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, having an aggregate sales price of up to $100,000,000. The Company refers to these entities, when acting in their capacity as sales agents, individually as a “sales agent” and collectively as “sales agents.” The Equity Distribution Agreements with Jefferies and Raymond James provide that, in addition to the issuance and sale of common stock by the Company through a sales agent acting as a sales agent or directly to the sales agent acting as principal for its own account at a price agreed upon at the time of sale, the Company may enter into forward sale agreements with each of Jefferies and Raymond James, or their respective affiliates. The Company refers to Jefferies and Raymond James, when acting as agents for forward purchasers, individually as a “forward seller” and collectively as “forward sellers.”

Sales of shares of common stock, if any, may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings, as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including, without limitation, sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, to or through a market maker at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices based on prevailing market prices.

In addition to the issuance and sale of shares of common stock through the sales agents, the Equity Distribution Agreements with Jefferies and Raymond James provide that the Company also may enter into forward sale agreements under separate master forward sale agreements and related supplemental confirmations between the Company and a forward seller or its affiliate. The Company refers to these entities, when acting in this capacity, individually as a “forward purchaser” and collectively as “forward purchasers.” In connection with each particular forward sale agreement, the applicable forward purchaser will borrow from third parties and, through the applicable forward seller, sell a number of shares of common stock equal to the number of shares of common stock underlying the particular forward sale agreement.

The Company will not initially receive any proceeds from the sale of borrowed shares of common stock by a forward seller. The Company expects to fully physically settle each particular forward sale agreement with the applicable forward purchaser on one or more dates specified by the Company on or prior to the maturity date of that particular forward sale agreement, in which case the Company will expect to receive aggregate net cash proceeds at settlement equal to the number of shares underlying the particular forward sale agreement multiplied by the applicable forward sale price. However, the Company may also elect to cash settle or net share settle a particular forward sale agreement, in which case the Company may not receive any proceeds from the issuance of shares, and the Company will instead receive or pay cash (in the case of cash settlement) or receive or deliver shares of its common stock (in the case of net share settlement).

Each sales agent will be entitled to compensation that will not exceed, but may be lower than, 2.0% of the gross sales price per share for any shares of common stock sold through it as sales agent from time to time under the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement. In connection with each forward sale, the Company will pay the applicable forward seller, in the form of a reduced initial forward sale price under the related forward sale agreement with the related forward purchaser, commissions at a mutually agreed rate that shall not be more than 2.0% of the gross sales price of all borrowed shares of common stock sold by it as a forward seller.

The shares of common stock will be offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated February 20, 2019, and a base prospectus, dated April 24, 2017, relating to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-216697). This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of shares of common stock in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. Forms of the Equity Distribution Agreement and master forward sale agreement are filed herewith as Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. The summary of the Equity Distribution Agreements and master forward sale agreements set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2.


Majority Voting Policy

On February 13, 2019, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company adopted a majority voting policy by amending and restating the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. The policy provides that any director nominee who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” his or her election in an uncontested election is expected to tender his or her resignation as a director of the Board promptly following the certification of the election results. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider each resignation tendered under this policy and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it. The policy requires the Board to act on each tendered resignation, taking into account the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation, within 90 days following the certification of the election results. The policy also requires the Board to promptly disclose (1) its decision whether to accept or reject the director’s tendered resignation and (2) if rejected, the reasons for rejecting the tendered resignation. Any director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to the policy will not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommendation or Board action regarding whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Exhibit Description

  1.1    Form of Equity Distribution Agreement
  1.2    Form of Master Forward Sale Agreement
  5.1    Opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP
  8.1    Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP
23.1    Consent of Ballard Spahr LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2    Consent of Winston & Strawn LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)


SIGNATURES

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

 

NEXPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST, INC.
By:  

/s/ Brian Mitts

Name:   Brian Mitts

Title:

  Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Secretary and Treasurer

Date: February 20, 2019

Exhibit 1.1

 

 

 

NEXPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST, INC.

Shares of Common Stock

(Par Value $0.01 Per Share)

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Dated: February [●], 2019

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

SECTION 1

  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     1  

SECTION 2

  

PLACEMENTS

     7  

SECTION 3

  

SALE OF SECURITIES

     9  

SECTION 4

  

SUSPENSION OF SALES

     11  

SECTION 5

  

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP

     12  

SECTION 6

  

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE ADVISER

     28  

SECTION 7

  

SALE AND DELIVERY; SETTLEMENT

     30  

SECTION 8

  

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP

     34  

SECTION 9

  

PAYMENT OF EXPENSES

     43  

SECTION 10

  

CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE AGENT, THE FORWARD SELLER AND THE FORWARD PURCHASER

     43  

SECTION 11

  

INDEMNIFICATION

     46  

SECTION 12

  

CONTRIBUTION

     48  

SECTION 13

  

REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY

     50  

SECTION 14

  

TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

     50  

SECTION 15

  

NOTICES

     51  

SECTION 16

  

PARTIES

     53  

SECTION 17

  

ADJUSTMENTS FOR SHARE SPLITS

     53  

SECTION 18

  

GOVERNING LAW AND TIME

     53  

SECTION 19

  

EFFECT OF HEADINGS

     53  

SECTION 20

  

RESEARCH ANALYST INDEPENDENCE

     53  

SECTION 21

  

PERMITTED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES

     54  

SECTION 22

  

ABSENCE OF FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP

     54  

SECTION 23

  

CONSENT TO JURISDICTION

     55  

SECTION 24

  

PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY

     55  

SECTION 25

  

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     56  

SECTION 26

  

COUNTERPARTS

     56  

SECTION 27

  

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

     56  

SECTION 28

  

RECOGNITION OF THE U.S. SPECIAL RESOLUTION REGIMES

     56  


EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A       Form of Placement Notice
Exhibit B       Authorized Individuals for Placement Notices and Acceptances
Exhibit C       Compensation
Exhibit D       Officers’ Certificates
Exhibit E       Form of Corporate Opinion and Negative Assurance Letter of Winston & Strawn LLP
Exhibit F       Form of Tax Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP
Exhibit G       Form of Opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP
Exhibit H       Permitted Free Writing Prospectus


NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

(a Maryland corporation)

Shares of Common Stock

(Par Value $0.01 Per Share)

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

February [●], 2019

[    ]

As Forward Seller, Manager and Forward Purchaser

Ladies and Gentlemen:

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), which is externally managed and advised by NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Adviser ”), and NexPoint Residential Trust Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and the Company’s operating partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”), each confirms its agreement (this “ Agreement ”) with [    ] (in its capacity as purchaser under any Forward Contract (as defined below), the “ Forward Purchaser ”) and [    ] (in its capacity as agent for the Company and/or principal in connection with the offering and sale of any Issuance Securities (as defined below) hereunder, “ Manager ,” and in its capacity as agent for the Forward Purchaser in connection with the offering and sale of any Forward Hedge Securities (as defined below) hereunder, the “ Forward Seller ”), as follows:

SECTION 1 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES .

Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company may issue and sell, in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, shares (the “ Securities ”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000 (the “ Maximum Amount ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 regarding the aggregate offering price of the Securities issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of the Securities through the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) that was filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) thereunder, the “ Securities Act ”).


The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, with the Commission a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-216697) as amended on April 24, 2017, including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Securities to be issued from time to time by the Company, which shelf registration statement, including any amendments thereto, was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “ Exchange Act ”). The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement. The Company will furnish to the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, for use by the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, copies of the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Securities. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, on each date and time that such registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto became or becomes effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act (the “ Rule 430B Information ”), is herein called the “ Registration Statement .” The base prospectus included in the Registration Statement, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, is herein called the “ Prospectus .” The Company may file one or more additional registration statements (which shall be the Registration Statement) from time to time that will contain a base prospectus and related prospectus or prospectus supplement, if applicable (which shall be the Prospectus Supplement), with respect to the Securities. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”); all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Securities by the Manager or the Forward Seller outside of the United States. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

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As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

Actual Sold Forward Amount ” means, for any Forward Hedge Selling Period for any Forward, the number of Forward Hedge Securities that the Forward Seller has sold during such Forward Hedge Selling Period.

Aggregate Forward Hedge Price ” means, with respect to a period, the product of the Actual Sold Forward Amount during such period and the Forward Hedge Price during such period.

Aggregate Sales Price ” means, with respect to a period, the sum of the Sales Prices for all Issuance Securities or Forward Hedge Securities, as applicable, sold during such period.

Applicable Time ” means the time of each sale of any Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

Capped Number ” with respect to any Forward Contract has the meaning set forth in such Forward Contract.

Commitment Period ” means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and expiring on the date this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 14.

Forward ” means the transaction resulting from each Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) specifying that it relates to a “Forward” and requiring the Forward Seller to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell, as specified in such Placement Notice and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the applicable Forward Contract, the Forward Hedge Securities.

Forward Contract ” means, for each Forward, the contract evidencing such Forward between the Company and the Forward Purchaser, which shall be comprised of the Master Forward Confirmation and the related “Supplemental Confirmation” (as defined in the Master Forward Confirmation) for such Forward.

Forward Hedge Amount ” means, for any Forward, the amount specified as such in the Placement Notice for such Forward (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), which amount shall be the target Aggregate Sales Price of the Forward Hedge Securities to be sold by the Forward Seller in respect of such Forward, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Forward Hedge Price ” means, for any Forward Contract, the product of (x) an amount equal to one (1) minus the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate for such Forward Contract; and (y) the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price.

 

3


Forward Hedge Selling Commission ” means, for any Forward Contract, the product of (x) the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate for such Forward Contract and (y) the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price.

Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate ” means, for any Forward Contract, a rate mutually agreed to between the Company and the Forward Seller and recorded in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), not to exceed 2%.

Forward Hedge Selling Period ” means, subject to Section 2(c) hereof, the period of one to 20 consecutive Trading Days (as determined by the Company in the Company’s sole discretion and specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) specifying that it relates to a “Forward”) beginning on the date specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) or, if such date is not a Trading Day, the next Trading Day following such date and ending on the last such Trading Day or such earlier date on which the Forward Seller shall have completed the sale of Forward Hedge Securities in connection with the applicable Forward; provided that if, prior to the scheduled end of any Forward Hedge Selling Period (x) any event occurs that would permit the Forward Purchaser to designate a “Scheduled Trading Day” as an “Early Valuation Date” (as each such term is defined in the Master Forward Confirmation) under, and pursuant to the provisions opposite the caption “Early Valuation” in Section 2 of the Master Forward Confirmation or (y) a “Bankruptcy Termination Event” (as such term is defined in the Master Forward Confirmation) occurs, then the Forward Hedge Selling Period shall, upon the Forward Seller becoming aware of such occurrence, immediately terminate as of the first such occurrence. Any Forward Hedge Selling Period then in effect shall immediately terminate upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10 or Section 14 hereof and as set forth in Sections 2(b) and 4 hereof.

Forward Hedge Securities ” means all Common Stock borrowed by the Forward Purchaser and offered and sold by the Forward Seller in connection with any Forward that has occurred or may occur in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Where the context requires, the term “Forward Hedge Securities” as used herein shall include the definition of the same under the Alternative Distribution Agreements.

Forward Purchaser ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement. If a Forward Purchaser has not been identified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement, the Company agrees that all provisions of this Agreement related to the Forward Purchaser are not applicable hereunder.

Forward Seller ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement. If a Forward Seller has not been identified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement, the Company agrees that all provisions of this Agreement related to the Forward Seller are not applicable hereunder.

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

 

4


Issuance ” means each occasion the Company elects to exercise its right to deliver a Placement Notice that does not involve a Forward and that specifies that it relates to an “Issuance” and requires the Manager to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Issuance Securities as specified in such Placement Notice, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Issuance Selling Period ” means the period of one to 20 consecutive Trading Days (as determined by the Company in the Company’s sole discretion and specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) specifying that it relates to an “Issuance”) beginning on the date specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) or, if such date is not a Trading Day, the next Trading Day following such date.

Issuance Securities ” means all shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to an Issuance that has occurred or may occur in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Where the context requires, the term “Issuance Securities” as used herein, shall include the definition of the same under the Alternative Distribution Agreements.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, and all free writing prospectuses that are listed in Exhibit  H hereto, in each case in the form furnished (electronically or otherwise) to the Manager for use in connection with the offering of the Securities.

Manager ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Master Forward Confirmation ” means the Master Confirmation for Issuer Share Forward Sale Transactions, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Forward Purchaser, including all provisions incorporated by reference therein.

NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Rule 158 ,” “ Rule 172 ,” “ Rule 405 ,” “ Rule 415 ,” “ Rule 424(b) ,” “ Rule 430B ,” and “ Rule 433 ” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.

Sales Price ” means, for each Forward or each Issuance hereunder, the actual sale execution price of each Forward Hedge Security or Issuance Security, as the case may be, sold by the Manager or the Forward Seller on the NYSE hereunder in the case of ordinary brokers’ transactions, or as otherwise agreed by the parties in other methods of sale. Where the context requires, the term “Sales Price” as used herein shall include the definition of the same under the Alternative Distribution Agreements.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act ” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof.

 

5


Securities ” means Issuance Securities and Forward Hedge Securities, as applicable. Where the context requires, the term “Securities” as used herein shall include the definition of the same under the Alternative Distribution Agreements.

Selling Period ” means any Forward Hedge Selling Period or any Issuance Selling Period.

Settlement Date ” means, unless the Company and the Manager shall otherwise agree, any Forward Hedge Settlement Date or any Issuance Settlement Date, as applicable.

Trading Day ” means any day which is a trading day on the NYSE.

Unwind Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Master Forward Confirmation.

Volume-Weighted Hedge Price ” has the meaning set forth in the Master Forward Confirmation; provided that, for purposes of determining the Aggregate Forward Hedge Price payable to the Forward Purchaser in respect of a Trading Day on which the Forward Seller has made sales of Forward Hedge Securities hereunder pursuant to Sections 3(b) and 7(e), the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price shall be determined solely with respect to the Forward Hedge Securities sold by the Forward Seller on such Trading Day.

The Company will contribute the Net Proceeds (as defined in Section 7(b)) from the sale of the Securities and any proceeds received under the Forward Contract from time to time pursuant to this Agreement to the Operating Partnership, and in exchange therefor, at each Issuance Settlement Date (as defined in Section 7(b)) and on each day the Company is required to deliver Common Stock under any Forward Contract, the Operating Partnership will issue to the Company units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“ OP Units ”).

The Manager has been appointed by the Company as its agent to sell the Issuance Securities and agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Issuance Securities offered by the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein. The Forward Seller agrees with the Company and the Forward Purchaser to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Forward Hedge Securities to be borrowed by the Forward Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if a Forward Seller and Forward Purchaser have not been identified in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement and have not executed this Agreement, the Company agrees that all provisions of this Agreement related to the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser and Forwards are not applicable hereunder and no sales of Forward Hedge Securities shall take place pursuant to this Agreement.

The Company and the Operating Partnership have also entered into separate equity distribution agreements (each, an “ Alternative Distribution Agreement ” and, together with any other equity distribution agreement with respect to the Securities into which the Company and the Operating Partnership may enter, the “ Alternative Distribution Agreements ”), dated as of even date herewith, with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. (and, as applicable, their respective affiliates) (each, in its capacity as agent and/or principal, Forward seller and Forward purchaser thereunder, and, together with any other such agent and/or principal, Forward seller and Forward purchaser with which the Company and the Operating

 

6


Partnership enter into an Alternative Distribution Agreement, an “ Alternative Manager ”), for the issuance (in the case of the Issuance Securities) or borrowing (in the case of the Forward Hedge Securities) and sale from time to time through the applicable Alternative Managers on the terms set forth in the applicable Alternative Distribution Agreements. The aggregate offering price of the Securities that may be sold pursuant to this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreements shall not exceed the Maximum Amount.

SECTION 2 PLACEMENTS .

(a)    Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, on any Trading Day as provided in Section 2(c) hereof during the Commitment Period on which (i) the conditions set forth in Section 10 hereof have been satisfied and (ii) with respect to any Forward, no event described in clause (x) or clause (y) of the proviso contained in the definition of Forward Hedge Selling Period shall have occurred, the Company wishes to issue (in the case of an Issuance) and sell the Securities hereunder (each, a “ Placement ”), by delivery of an email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) to the Manager (in the case of an Issuance) or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser (in the case of a Forward) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Securities to be sold, which shall at a minimum specify whether it relates to an “Issuance” or a “Forward” and include the number of Securities to be issued (the “ Placement Securities ”), the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Securities that may be sold in any one day, any minimum price below which sales may not be made or a formula pursuant to which such minimum price shall be determined and, as applicable, certain specified terms of the Forward (a “ Placement Notice ”), a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary with respect to Issuances and Forwards is attached hereto as Exhibit  A . The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Exhibit  B (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, set forth on Exhibit  B , as such Exhibit  B may be amended from time to time.

(b)    If the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, wish to accept such proposed terms included in the Placement Notice (which they may decline to do for any reason in their sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company, wish to accept amended terms, the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City Time) on the business day following the business day on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, issue to the Company a notice by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, set forth on Exhibit  B ) setting forth the terms that the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, are willing to accept. Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, until the Company delivers to the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, an acceptance by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the

 

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Acceptance ”), which email shall be addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, set forth on Exhibit  B . The Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by the Company of the Manager’s or the Forward Seller’s and the Forward Purchaser’s, as applicable, acceptance of the terms of the Placement Notice or upon receipt by the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, of the Company’s Acceptance, as the case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Placement Securities has been sold, (ii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in the second sentence of the prior paragraph, the Company terminates the Placement Notice, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 14 or (v) either party shall have suspended the sale of the Placement Securities in accordance with Section 4 below. The termination of the effectiveness of a Placement Notice as set forth in the prior sentence shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Securities sold hereunder prior to such termination or any Securities sold under any Alternative Distribution Agreement (including, in the case of any Forward Hedge Securities, the obligation to enter into the resulting Forward Contract). It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Manager will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Securities unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Manager and either (i) the Manager accepts the terms of such Placement Notice or (ii) where the terms of such Placement Notice are amended, the Company accepts such amended terms by means of an Acceptance pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and herein. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the Company, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser will have no obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Securities unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser and either (i) the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser accept the terms of such Placement Notice or (ii) where the terms of such Placement Notice are amended, the Company accepts such amended terms by means of an Acceptance pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), this Agreement and the Master Forward Confirmation. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) will control.

(c)    No Placement Notice may be delivered hereunder other than on a Trading Day during the Commitment Period; no Placement Notice may be delivered hereunder if the Selling Period specified therein may overlap in whole or in part with any Selling Period specified in a Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) delivered hereunder or under any Alternative Distribution Agreement unless the Securities to be sold under all such previously delivered Placement Notices have all been sold; no Placement Notice may be delivered hereunder or under any Alternative Distribution Agreement if any Selling Period specified therein may overlap in whole or in part with any Unwind Date under any Forward Contract entered into between the Company and the Forward Purchaser or any Alternative Manager; and no Placement Notice specifying that it relates to a “Forward” may be delivered if either (x) an ex-dividend date or ex-date, as applicable, for any dividend or distribution payable

 

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by the Company on the Common Stock is scheduled to occur during the period from, and including, the first scheduled Trading Day of the related Forward Hedge Selling Period to, and including, the last scheduled Trading Day of such Forward Hedge Selling Period or (y) such Placement Notice, together with all prior Placement Notices (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) delivered by the Company relating to a “Forward” hereunder and under any Alternative Distribution Agreements, would result in the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock issued under all Forward Contracts (whether with a Forward Purchaser or any Alternative Manager) that have settled, plus the Capped Numbers under all Forward Contracts then outstanding or to be entered into between the Company and the Forward Purchaser and any Forward Contracts then outstanding between the Company and any Alternative Manager exceeding 19.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.

(d)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any notice required to be delivered by the Company or by the Manager (in the case of an Issuance) or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser (in the case of a Forward) pursuant to this Section 2 may be delivered by telephone (confirmed promptly by facsimile or email addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and the Manager (in the case of an Issuance) or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser (in the case of a Forward) set forth on Exhibit  B , which confirmation will be promptly acknowledged by the receiving party) or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties. For the avoidance of doubt, notices delivered by telephone shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company or the Manager (in the case of an Issuance) or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser (in the case of a Forward) set forth on Exhibit  B .

SECTION 3 SALE OF SECURITIES .

(a)    Subject to the provisions of Sections 2(b) and 7(a), upon the delivery of a Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) specifying that it relates to an “Issuance,” the Manager will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Issuance Securities at market prevailing prices up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). The Manager will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Issuance Securities hereunder setting forth the number of Issuance Securities sold on such day, the corresponding Aggregate Sales Price, the compensation payable by the Company to the Manager pursuant to this Section 3(a) with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds payable to the Company, with an itemization of deductions made by the Manager (as set forth in Section 7(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. The amount of any commission, discount or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Manager, when the Manager is acting as agent, in connection with the sale of the Issuance Securities shall be determined in accordance with the terms set forth in Exhibit  C . The amount of any commission, discount or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Manager, when the Manager is acting as principal, in connection with the sale of the Issuance Securities shall be as separately agreed among the parties hereto at the time of any such sales.

 

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(b)    Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b), 7(d) and the Master Forward Confirmation, upon the delivery of a Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) specifying that it relates to a “Forward,” the Forward Purchaser will use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow, offer and sell Forward Hedge Securities through the Forward Seller to hedge the Forward, and the Forward Seller will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Forward Hedge Securities at market prevailing prices up to the Forward Hedge Amount specified in such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). The Forward Seller will provide written confirmation by email to all of the individuals from the Company set forth on Exhibit  B (as such Exhibit  B may be amended from time to time) and to the Forward Purchaser no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following each Trading Day on which it has made sales of Forward Hedge Securities hereunder setting forth the number of Forward Hedge Securities sold on such day, the Forward Hedge Selling Commission in respect of such Forward Hedge Securities, the corresponding Aggregate Sales Price and the Aggregate Forward Hedge Price payable to the Forward Purchaser in respect thereof.

(c)    No later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the last Trading Day of each Forward Hedge Selling Period (or, if earlier, no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the date on which any Forward Hedge Selling Period is suspended or terminated pursuant to Section 4 or the Forward Contract or this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 or Section 14 hereof), the Forward Purchaser shall execute and deliver to the Company a “Supplemental Confirmation” in respect of the Forward for such Forward Hedge Selling Period, which “Supplemental Confirmation” shall set forth the “Trade Date” for such Forward (which shall, subject to the terms of the Master Forward Confirmation, be the last Trading Day of such Forward Hedge Selling Period), the “Effective Date” for such Forward (which shall, subject to the terms of the Master Forward Confirmation, be the date one Settlement Cycle (as such term is defined in the Master Forward Confirmation) immediately following the last Trading Day of such Forward Hedge Selling Period), the initial “Number of Shares” for such Forward (which shall be the Actual Sold Forward Amount for such Forward Hedge Selling Period), the “Maturity Date” for such Forward (which shall, subject to the terms of the Master Forward Confirmation, be the date that follows the last Trading Day of such Forward Hedge Selling Period by the number of days or months set forth opposite the caption “Term” in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) for such Forward, which number of days or months shall in no event be less than three months nor more than two years), the “Initial Forward Price” for such Forward, the “Spread” for such Forward (as set forth in the related Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable)), the “Volume-Weighted Hedge Price” for such Forward, the “Threshold Price” for such Forward, the “Initial Stock Loan Rate” for such Forward (as set forth in the related Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable)), the “Maximum Stock Loan Rate” for such Forward (as set forth in the related Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable)), the “Forward Price Reduction Dates” for such Forward (which shall be each of the dates set forth below the caption “Forward Price Reduction Dates” in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) for such Forward) and the “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” corresponding to such Forward Price Reduction Dates (which shall be each amount set forth opposite each

 

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“Forward Price Reduction Date” and below the caption “Forward Price Reduction Amounts” in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) for such Forward) and the “Regular Dividend Amounts” for such Forward (which shall be each of the amount(s) set forth below the caption “Regular Dividend Amounts” in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) for such Forward).

(d)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Forward Purchaser’s obligation to use its commercially reasonable efforts to borrow all or any portion of the Forward Hedge Securities (and the Forward Seller’s obligation to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell such portion of the Forward Hedge Securities) for any Forward hereunder shall be subject in all respects to the last paragraph of Section 3 of the Master Forward Confirmation.

(e)    The Securities may be offered and sold by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the NYSE, on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker, or subject to the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), by any other method permitted by law, including but not limited to, privately negotiated transactions.

 

  SECTION

4 SUSPENSION OF SALES .

The Company, the Manager or the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser may, upon notice to the other parties in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Exhibit  B , if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Exhibit  B ), suspend any sale of Securities, and the applicable Selling Period shall immediately terminate; provided , however , that such suspension and termination shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Securities sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice or any Securities sold under any Alternative Distribution Agreement (including, in the case of any Forward Hedge Securities, the obligation to enter into the resulting Forward Contract). The Company agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Exhibit  B hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time. Each of the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser agrees that no such notice shall be effective against the Company unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Exhibit  B hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time; provided that the failure by Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser to deliver such notice shall in no way effect such party’s right to suspend the sale of Securities hereunder.

 

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  SECTION

5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP .

The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and covenant to the Manager as of the date hereof and as of each Representation Date (as defined below) on which certificates are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8(o) of this Agreement, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date, and agrees with the Manager, as follows:

(a)    The Company satisfies all of the requirements of the Securities Act for use of Form S-3 for the offering of Shares contemplated hereby. At the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Common Stock, on the date hereof and on each Representation Date, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date, the Company was not, is not and will not be an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

(b)    The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conformed, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects on the date hereof and on each Representation Date, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date, as applicable, to the requirements of the Securities Act.

(c)    The Registration Statement does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Manager or the Forward Seller specifically for inclusion therein.

(d)    Any documents incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 (the “ Incorporated Documents ”) heretofore filed, when they were filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any further Incorporated Documents so filed will, when they are filed, conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; no such Incorporated Document when it was filed (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and no such further Incorporated Document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

(e)    The Prospectus will not, as of its date and on each Representation Date, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Manager or the Forward Seller specifically for inclusion therein.

 

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(f)    Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433 under the Securities Act) did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(g)    Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with all of its prospectus delivery and any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Manager. The Company has retained in accordance with the Securities Act all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Securities Act.

(h)    The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of each Settlement Date and completion of the distribution of the Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Manager has consented, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, or that is required by applicable law or the listing maintenance requirements of the NYSE.

(i)    A number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Capped Number (as defined in the Forward Contract) have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon settlement of the Forward Contract and, when issued and delivered by the Company to the Forward Purchaser pursuant thereto, against payment of any consideration required to be paid by the Forward Purchaser pursuant to the terms of the Forward Contract, the shares of Common Stock so issued and delivered will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law, under the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any one of its subsidiaries or under any agreement to which the Company or any one of its subsidiaries is a party or otherwise, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(j)    The capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been, and as of each Representation Date, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date, as the case may be, will be, duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are free of any preemptive or similar rights, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to or bound by any outstanding options, warrants or similar rights to subscribe for, or contractual obligations to issue, sell, transfer or acquire, any of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of such capital stock.

(k)    Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries is duly formed or organized and validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or other organization in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, formation or organization with full corporate or organizational power

 

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and authority to own, lease and operate its properties (“ Properties ”) and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure to so register or qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties, assets, net worth, results of operations or prospects of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(l)    The Securities to be sold through the Manager, as principal or agent, or Forward Seller, as applicable, have been duly and validly authorized and conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Forward Contract against payment of the consideration set forth herein or therein, will be fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company is not subject to any preemptive, co-sale right, registration right, right of first refusal or similar rights, other than as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(m)    All of the issued and outstanding OP Units have been duly authorized for issuance by the Operating Partnership and its general partner and validly issued. The terms of the OP Units conform in all material respects to the descriptions related thereto in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus: (i) no OP Units are reserved for any purpose, (ii) there are no outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for any OP Units and (iii) there are no outstanding options, rights (preemptive or otherwise) or warrants to purchase or subscribe for OP Units or any other securities of the Operating Partnership. Any prior offers and sales of the OP Units described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, have been offered and sold in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and applicable state securities, real estate syndication and blue sky laws. None of the OP Units were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any holder of the Operating Partnership.

(n)    With respect to stock options, share awards (including restricted common stock and restricted stock units), stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance awards, annual incentive cash awards and/or other equity-based awards (the “ Equity Incentive Awards ”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries, including without limitation the Company’s 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ Company Stock Plans ”), (i) each Equity Incentive Award intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) so qualifies, (ii) each grant of an Equity Incentive Award was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Equity Incentive Award was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each

 

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such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Securities Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the NYSE and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Equity Incentive Awards prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Equity Incentive Awards with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

(o)    There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened, against the Company, the Operating Partnership or their subsidiaries or to which the Company or its subsidiaries or any of their properties are subject, that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) but are not described as required. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits, inquiries, proceedings or investigations by or before any court or governmental or other regulatory or administrative agency or commission pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened, against or involving the Company, the Operating Partnership or their subsidiaries, which might individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent or adversely affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Forward Contract, nor to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, is there any basis for any such action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation. There are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not described, filed or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as required by the Securities Act. All such contracts to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable subsidiary, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable subsidiary and are enforceable against the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought. None of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable subsidiary has received notice or been made aware that any other party is in breach of or default to the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable subsidiary under any of such contracts.

(p)    None of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries is (i) in violation of (A) its articles of incorporation or bylaws, or other organizational documents, (B) any federal, state or foreign law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries, or (C) any decree of any federal, state or foreign court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction

 

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over the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries, except, in the case of (B) and (C), for violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) in default in any material respect in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in (A) any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or (B) any agreement, contract, indenture, lease or other instrument (each of (A) and (B), an “ Existing Instrument ”) to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their properties may be bound, except for such defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and there does not exist any state of facts that constitutes an event of default on the part of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries as defined in such documents or that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event of default, except for such events of default which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q)    Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (i) the Company and the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries and the Properties have been and are in compliance with, and none of the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries has any liability under, applicable Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) none of the Company and the Operating Partnership, their subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, the prior owners or occupants of the property at any time or any other person or entity (including adjacent landowners or lessees) has at any time released (as such term is defined in Section 101(22) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601-9675 (“ CERCLA ”)) or otherwise disposed of Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) on, to or from the Properties owned by the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries, except for such releases or dispositions which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and which would not require disclosure pursuant to Environmental Laws, (iii) the Company and the Operating Partnership do not intend to use the Properties owned by any of the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries or any subsequently acquired properties, other than in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) none of the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries knows of any seepage, leak, discharge, release, emission, spill, or dumping of Hazardous Materials into waters (including, but not limited to, groundwater and surface water) on, beneath or adjacent to the Properties, or onto lands owned by the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries from which Hazardous Materials might seep, flow or drain into such waters, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (v) none of the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries has received any notice of, or has any knowledge of any occurrence or circumstance which, with notice or passage of time or both, would give rise to a claim under or pursuant to any Environmental Law or common law by any governmental or quasi-governmental body or any third party with respect to the Properties described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or arising out of the conduct of the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries, except for such claims which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and which would not require disclosure pursuant to Environmental Laws and (vi) neither the Properties nor any

 

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other land currently owned by any of the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries is included or, to the best of the Company and the Operating Partnership’ and the subsidiaries’ knowledge, proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List issued pursuant to CERCLA by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “ EPA ”) or, to the best of the Company and the Operating Partnership’ and the subsidiaries’ knowledge, proposed for inclusion on any similar list or inventory issued pursuant to any other applicable Environmental Law or issued by any other Governmental Authority. To the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries, there have been no and are no (i) aboveground or underground storage tanks, (ii) polychlorinated biphenyls (“ PCBs ”) or PCB-containing equipment, (iii) asbestos or asbestos containing materials, (iv) lead based paints, (v) dry-cleaning facilities, or (vi) wet lands, in each case in, on, under, or adjacent to any Property owned by the Company and the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries the existence of which has had, or is reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

As used herein, “ Hazardous Material ” shall include, without limitation, any flammable explosives, radioactive materials, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, toxic substances, including asbestos or any hazardous material as defined by any applicable federal, state or local environmental law, ordinance, statute, rule or regulation including, without limitation, CERCLA, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. §§ 5101-5128, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901-6992k, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001-11050, the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601-2692, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 136-136y, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401-7671q, the Clean Water Act (Federal Water Pollution Control Act), 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1387, the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300f-300j-26, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651-678, as any of the above statutes may be amended from time to time, and in the regulations promulgated pursuant to any of the foregoing (including environmental statutes not specifically defined herein) (individually, an “ Environmental Law ” and collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”) or by any federal, state or local governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over the Properties and other assets described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (a “ Governmental Authority ”).

(r)    The Company’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Forward Contract and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement and the Forward Contract have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and this Agreement and the Forward Contract have been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

(s)    The Operating Partnership’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Forward Contract and the performance by the Operating Partnership of its obligations under this Agreement and the Forward Contract have been duly and validly authorized by the Operating Partnership and this Agreement and the Forward Contract have been duly executed and delivered by the Operating Partnership.

(t)    This Agreement and the Forward Contract constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company and the Operating Partnership in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity, and except to the extent that any indemnification and contribution provisions thereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws or public policy considerations in respect thereof.

 

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(u)    The Advisory Agreement, dated March 16, 2015 between the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Adviser, as amended and renewed for a term set to expire on March 16, 2020 (the “ Advisory Agreement ”), which among other things, provides for the management of the Company by the Adviser, remains in full force and effect. The Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Operating Partnership and constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Company and the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by (i) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.

(v)    None of the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement and the Forward Contract by the Company nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (i) requires any consent, approval, authorization or other order of or registration or filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, agency or official (except such as may be required for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, the listing of the Securities for trading on the NYSE, and compliance with the securities or Blue Sky laws of various jurisdictions, all of which will be, or have been, effected in accordance with this Agreement and the Forward Contract and except for clearance by FINRA of the terms of the offering contemplated hereby as required under FINRA’s Rules of Fair Practice), (ii) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, the Company’s articles of incorporation or the Company’s bylaws, the certificate of formation or limited partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, (iii) constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, any agreement, contract, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound, (iv) violates any statute, law, regulation, ruling, filing, judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (v) results in a breach of, or default or Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or results in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries pursuant to, or requires the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except, with respect to clauses (i), (iii), (iv) and (v), such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries.

 

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(w)    Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, none of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries has outstanding, and at each Representation Date, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date, as the case may be, will have outstanding, any options to purchase, or any warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of Common Stock or any such warrants or convertible securities or obligations other than equity awards granted pursuant to the Company’s 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan. No holder of securities of the Company has rights to the registration of any securities of the Company as a result of or in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby that have not been satisfied or heretofore waived in writing.

(x)    The Securities have been, or prior to the first Settlement Date will be, approved for listing on the NYSE.

(y)    KPMG LLP, who has certified the consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “ PCAOB ”).

(z)    Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, since the date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), (i) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of their subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations, indirect, direct or contingent, or entered into any transaction, in each case that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is not in the ordinary course of business; (ii) except for regular quarterly dividends on the Common Stock in amounts per share that are consistent with past practice, neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of their subsidiaries has paid or declared any dividends or other distributions with respect to its capital stock and the Company is not in default under the terms of any class of capital stock of the Company or any outstanding debt obligations, (iii) there has not been any change in the authorized or outstanding capital stock of the Company or the Operating Partnership or any material change in the indebtedness of the Company or the Operating Partnership (other than in the ordinary course of business) and (iv) there has not been any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa)    All offers and sales of the Company’s capital stock and other debt or other securities prior to the date hereof were made in compliance with or were the subject of an available exemption from the Securities Act and all other applicable state and federal laws or regulations.

(bb)    The Common Stock (including the Securities) is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed for trading on the NYSE, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the NYSE, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the NYSE is contemplating terminating such registrations or listings.

 

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(cc)    Other than excepted activity pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership has taken, and neither will take, directly or indirectly, any action that constituted, or any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in or constitute, under the Securities Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or the Operating Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or for any other purpose.

(dd)    The shares of Common Stock are “actively traded securities” exempted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.

(ee)    The Company, the Operating Partnership and each of their subsidiaries have filed, or are within legal extension periods with respect to, all tax returns required to be filed (other than certain state or local tax returns, as to which the failure to file, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect), which filed returns are complete and correct in all material respects, and none of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries is in default in the payment of any taxes that were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all tax deficiencies asserted as a result of any federal, state, local or foreign tax audits have been paid or finally settled and no issue has been raised in any such audit that, by application of the same or similar principles, reasonably could be expected to result in a proposed deficiency for any other period not so audited. There are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, local or foreign tax return for any period. On each Representation Date, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date, as the case may be, all stock transfer and other taxes that are required to be paid in connection with the sale of the Securities to be sold by the Company through the Manager, as principal or agent, or Forward Seller, as applicable, will have been fully paid by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will have been complied with.

(ff)    Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no transactions with “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or any officer, director or security holder of the Company or the Operating Partnership (whether or not an affiliate) that are required by the Securities Act to be disclosed in the Registration Statement.

(gg)    Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership is, or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus, will be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(hh)    The Company, or its subsidiaries, as applicable, has good and marketable title to the Properties, and the Properties are not subject to any liens or encumbrances except for monetary liens, which include mortgages and deeds of trust, as set forth in the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, non-delinquent property taxes, utility easements and other immaterial

 

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non-monetary liens or encumbrances of record, except as would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All liens, charges, encumbrances, claims or restrictions on or affecting the Properties which are required to be disclosed in the Prospectus are disclosed therein. Except as is disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and except as would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries has valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with its tenants for the properties described in the Prospectus as leased by it, (ii) no tenant under any of the leases pursuant to which the Company or any subsidiary leases its properties has an option or right of first refusal to purchase the premises demised under such lease, (iii) the use and occupancy of each of the properties of the Company and its subsidiaries complies in all material respects with all applicable codes and zoning laws and regulations, (iv) the Company has no knowledge of any pending or threatened condemnation or zoning change that will in any material respect affect the size of, use of, improvements of, construction on, or access to any of the properties of the Company or its subsidiaries, and (v) the Company has no knowledge of any pending or threatened proceeding or action that will in any manner affect the size of, use of, improvements on, construction on, or access to any of the properties of the Company or its subsidiaries.

(ii)    Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the mortgages and deeds of trust encumbering the Properties are not convertible nor will the Company or any of its subsidiaries hold a participating interest therein and such mortgages and deeds of trust are not cross-defaulted or cross-collateralized to any property not owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

(jj)    Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries has all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, consents and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (hereinafter “ permit ” or “ permits ”) as are necessary to own its properties and to conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to have obtained any such permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries has operated and is operating its business in material compliance with and not in material violation of its obligations with respect to each such permit and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination of any such permit or result in any other material impairment of the rights of any such permit, except when the revocation, termination or impairment would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(kk)    The financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes thereto, set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects (i) the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated and (ii) the results of operations, stockholders’ equity and changes in cash flows of the Company for the periods therein specified; and such financial statements and related notes thereto have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein and subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end adjustments) and the other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement and

 

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the Prospectus is accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company. There are no other financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, other than those that will be filed by the Company during any applicable grace period. The Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), that are not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable, and present fairly in the information shown therein and the Company’s basis for using such measures. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly present the information called for in all material respects and have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(ll)    The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company’s independent auditors have been advised of (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses, if any, in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Since the date of the most recent evaluation of such controls and procedures, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there have been no significant changes in internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect internal control over financial reporting, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

(mm)    The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s

 

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management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(nn)    The principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission of which the Company is required to comply, and the statements contained in each such certification were complete and correct as of the date of their execution. The Company and its subsidiaries are, and the Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that the Company’s directors and officers in their capacities as such are, each in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and the NYSE promulgated thereunder.

(oo)    Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “ Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ”), and the rules and regulations thereunder or any similar anti-corruption law (collectively, “ Anti-Corruption Laws ”), including, without limitation, taking any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Laws; and the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance in all material respects therewith.

(pp)    Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”); and the Company and the Operating Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC (a “ Sanctioned Person ”). In addition, none of the Company, the Operating Partnership, any of the their subsidiaries, or any director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries, is an individual or entity currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of comprehensive Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Crimea (each, a “ Sanctioned Country ”).

 

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The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country, in each case, in any manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as Manager, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. Since its inception, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have knowingly engaged in, or are now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was a Sanctioned Person or with any Sanctioned Country.

(qq)    The operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, as amended, or the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company conducts business (the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”), the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency.

(rr)    No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, is threatened or imminent, except for such problems or disputes which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Operating Partnership are not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries plans to terminate employment with the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of their subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor practice, and except for matters which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is (A) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened, (B) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries and (C) no union representation dispute currently existing concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, (A) no union organizing activities are currently taking place concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries and (B) there has been no violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, any applicable wage or hour laws or any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ ERISA ”) or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries.

 

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(ss)    Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, threatened costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for investigation, clean up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(tt)    The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance (including title insurance) covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are prudent and customary to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received from any insurance company notice of any material defects or deficiencies affecting the insurability of any of the Properties.

(uu)    Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries owns or has the valid right, title and interest in and to, or has valid licenses to use, each material trade name, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, patent, patent applications copyright, licenses, inventions, technology, know-how, approval, trade secret and other similar rights (collectively “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership or their subsidiaries as now conducted or as proposed in the Prospectus to be conducted, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership have created any lien or encumbrance on, or granted any right or license with respect to, any such Intellectual Property, except where the failure to own or obtain such licenses or rights to use any such Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no claim pending against the Company, the Operating Partnership or their subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property and the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries have not received notice or otherwise become aware that any Intellectual Property that it uses or has used in the conduct of its business infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party. None of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries has become aware that any material Intellectual Property that it uses or has used in the conduct of its business infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party.

(vv)    The Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries own or have a valid right to access and use all computer systems, networks, hardware, software, databases, websites, and equipment used to process, store, maintain and operate data, information, and functions used in connection with the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries (the “ Company IT Systems ”). The Company IT Systems are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries as currently conducted, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable backup, security and disaster recovery technology consistent in all material respects with applicable regulatory standards and customary industry practices.

 

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(ww)    Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under ERISA) established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA and all other applicable state and federal laws; (B) no “reportable event” (as defined in 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries; (C) no “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined in ERISA); (D) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor their subsidiaries has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code; and (E) each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, that would cause the loss of such qualification.

(xx)    The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(yy)    Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of their subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement and the Forward Contract) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries or any Manager for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(zz)    The statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the headings “Our Advisory Agreement,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and Bylaws,” “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Plan of Distribution,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings in all material respects.

(aaa)    Nothing has come to the attention of the Company or the Operating Partnership that has caused the Company or the Operating Partnership to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

 

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(bbb)    No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(ccc)    Commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2015, the Company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (“ REIT ”) under the Code, and its planned method of operation will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. All statements regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and descriptions of the Company’s organization and method of operation set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are true, complete and correct in all material respects.

(ddd)    Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership is a party to or otherwise bound by any instrument or agreements that limits or prohibits (whether with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both), directly or indirectly, the Company or the Operating Partnership from paying any dividends or making other distributions on its capital stock or membership interests.

(eee)    No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or similar ownership interest, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(fff)    To the Company’s knowledge, all of the information provided to the Manager or to counsel for the Manager by the Company, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities of the Company in connection with letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 or 5121 is true, correct and complete.

(ggg)    Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company does not (i) have any material lending or other relationship with any Manager or any affiliate of any Manager or (ii) intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to any Manager or any affiliate of any Manager.

(hhh)    From the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged, directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf, in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date of this Agreement and the Forward Contract, the Company has been and is an Emerging Growth Company. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.

 

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Any certificate signed by any officer or any authorized representative of the Company or the Operating Partnership and delivered to the Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser or to counsel for the Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, to the Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser as to the matters covered thereby as of the date or dates indicated on such certificate.

SECTION 6 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE ADVISER.

The Adviser represents and warrants to the Manager as of the date hereof and as of each Representation Date on which certificates are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8(o) of this Agreement, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date, and agrees with the Manager, as follows:

(a)    The information regarding the Adviser, set forth under the headings “Our Adviser,” “Our Advisory Agreement,” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is true and correct in all material respects.

(b)    The Adviser has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the limited partnership power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Advisory Agreement; and the Adviser is duly qualified as a foreign limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)    This Agreement and the Forward Contract have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser.

(d)    The Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Adviser, enforceable against the Adviser in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought.

(e)    The limited partnership interests of the Adviser are owned by NexPoint Advisors, L.P., free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

 

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(f)    The Adviser is not (i) in violation of its organizational documents or (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any agreements to which it is bound, or which any of its property or assets is subject, except, in the case of (ii) above, for such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and compliance by the Adviser with its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Debt Repayment Triggering Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Adviser pursuant to any agreement to which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Debt Repayment Triggering Event or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the limited partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the Adviser or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Adviser or any of its assets, properties or operations.

(g)    Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (i) there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, threatened, against or affecting the Adviser that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Adviser of its obligations hereunder; and (ii) the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Adviser is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(h)    Neither the Adviser nor any partner, officer, or employee of the Adviser nor, to the knowledge of the Adviser, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Adviser has taken any action directly or indirectly that would result in a violation of the Anti-Corruption Laws. The Adviser has instituted, maintains and enforces, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with the Anti-Corruption Laws.

(i)    The operations of the Adviser are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(j)    No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Adviser of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the Securities Act or state securities laws or as are described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

 

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(k)    The Adviser has not been notified that any executive officer of the Company or the Adviser plans to terminate his, her or their employment with his, her or their current employer. Neither the Adviser nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any executive officer or key employee of the Company or the Adviser, is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company or the Adviser as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, unless a waiver in writing has been obtained.

(l)    The Adviser operates a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions that may be effectuated by it on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership pursuant to its duties set forth in the Advisory Agreement will be executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (B) access to the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization.

(m)    The duties of the Adviser set forth in the Advisory Agreement and disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are not prohibited by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the rules and regulations thereunder.

(n)    The Adviser has not taken, and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action that constituted, or any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in or constitute, under the Securities Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or the Operating Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or for any other purpose.

Any certificate signed by any officer or any authorized representative of the Adviser and delivered to the Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser or to counsel for the Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Adviser to the Manager, Forward Seller or Forward Purchaser as to the matters covered thereby as of the date or dates indicated on such certificate.

SECTION 7 SALE AND DELIVERY; SETTLEMENT .

(a)     Sale of Issuance Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Manager’s acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice specifying that it relates to an “Issuance” or upon receipt by the Manager of an Acceptance, as the case may be, and unless the sale of the Issuance Securities described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Manager will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Issuance Securities at market prevailing prices up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Manager will be successful in selling Issuance Securities, (ii) the Manager will incur no liability or obligation to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other person or entity if it does not sell Issuance Securities for any reason other than a failure by the Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to

 

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sell such Issuance Securities as required under this Section 7 and (iii) the Manager shall be under no obligation to purchase Issuance Securities on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by the Manager in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).

(b)     Settlement of Issuance Securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), settlement for sales of Issuance Securities will occur on the second (2nd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, an “ Issuance Settlement Date ”). The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on an Issuance Settlement Date against receipt of the Issuance Securities sold will be equal to the aggregate offering price received by the Manager at which such Issuance Securities were sold, after deduction for (i) the Manager’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 3 hereof, (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to the Manager hereunder pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales (the “ Net Proceeds ”).

(c)     Delivery of Issuance Securities . On or before each Issuance Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Issuance Securities being sold by crediting the Manager’s or its designee’s account (provided the Manager shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Issuance Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Issuance Settlement Date, the Manager will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company prior to the Issuance Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Issuance Securities on an Issuance Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 11(a) and Section 12 hereto, it will (i) hold the Manager harmless against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense whatsoever (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) and (ii) pay to the Manager any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default. If the Manager breaches this Agreement by failing to deliver the applicable Net Proceeds on any Settlement Date for Issuance Securities delivered by the Company, the Manager will pay the Company interest based on the effective overnight federal funds rate until such proceeds, together with interest, have been fully paid.

(d)     Sale of Forward Hedge Securities . On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions in this Agreement and the Master Forward Confirmation, upon the Forward Purchaser’s and the Forward Seller’s acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice specifying that it relates to a “Forward” or upon receipt by the Forward Purchaser and Forward Seller of an Acceptance, as the case may be, and unless the sale of the Forward Hedge Securities described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the Master Forward Confirmation (including without limitation as a result of any event described in clause (x) or (y)

 

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of the proviso contained in the definition of Forward Hedge Selling Period), the Forward Purchaser will use its commercially reasonable efforts to borrow a number of Forward Hedge Securities sufficient to have an Aggregate Sales Price as close as reasonably practicable to the Forward Hedge Amount specified in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and the Forward Seller will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Forward Hedge Securities at market prevailing prices, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable). Each of the Company and the Forward Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Forward Purchaser will be successful in borrowing or that the Forward Seller will be successful in selling Forward Hedge Securities, (ii) the Forward Seller will incur no liability or obligation to the Company, the Forward Purchaser, or any other person or entity if it does not sell Forward Hedge Securities borrowed by the Forward Purchaser for any reason other than a failure by the Forward Seller to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Forward Hedge Securities as required under this Section 7, and (iii) the Forward Purchaser will incur no liability or obligation to the Company, the Forward Seller, or any other person or entity if it does not borrow Forward Hedge Securities for any reason other than a failure by the Forward Purchaser to use its commercially reasonable efforts to borrow such Forward Hedge Securities as required under this Section 7. In acting hereunder, the Forward Seller will be acting as agent for the Forward Purchaser and not as principal.

(e)     Delivery of Forward Hedge Securities . Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), settlement for sales of Forward Hedge Securities will occur on the second (2nd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “ Forward Hedge Settlement Date ”). On or before each Forward Hedge Settlement Date, the Forward Purchaser will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Forward Hedge Securities being sold by crediting the Forward Seller or its designee’s account (provided Forward Seller shall have given the Forward Purchaser written notice of such designee prior to the Forward Hedge Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Forward Hedge Settlement Date, the Forward Seller will deliver the related Aggregate Forward Hedge Price to the Forward Purchaser in same day funds to an account designated by the Forward Purchaser prior to the relevant Forward Hedge Settlement Date.

(f)     Denominations; Registration. The Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, may request in writing at least one full business day before the Settlement Date. The Company or the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, shall deliver the Securities, if any, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company as described in the preceding paragraphs unless the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, shall otherwise instruct.

 

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(g)     Limitations on Offering Size . Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Securities, if after giving effect to the sale of such Securities, the aggregate offering price of the Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with (i) all sales of Issuance Securities under this Agreement and each of the Alternative Distribution Agreements and (ii) all Forward Hedge Securities sold under this Agreement and each of the Alternative Distribution Agreements, the Maximum Amount, (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement, and (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Company and notified to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Securities pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company and notified to the Manager in writing. Further, under no circumstances shall the aggregate offering price of Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreements, including any separate underwriting or similar agreement covering principal transactions described in Section 1 of this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreements, exceed the Maximum Amount.

(h)     Limitation on Managers. The Company agrees that any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy or any sales of Securities shall only be effected by or through only one of the Manager or the Forward Seller, as the case may be, or the respective Alternative Manager on any single given day, but in no event more than one, and the Company shall in no event request that the Manager or the Forward Seller, as the case may be, or one or more of the Alternative Managers sell Securities on the same day; provided , however , that (a) the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) the exercise of any option, warrant, right or any conversion privilege set forth in the instrument governing such security or (ii) sales solely to employees or security holders of the Company or its subsidiaries, or to a trustee or other person acquiring such securities for the accounts of such persons, (b) such limitation shall not apply on any day during which no sales are made pursuant to this Agreement and (c) such limitation shall not apply if, prior to any such request to sell Securities, all Securities the Company has previously requested the Manager, the Forward Seller or any Alternative Managers to sell have been sold.

(i)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not offer, sell or deliver, or request the offer or sale of, any Securities and, by notice to the Manager (in the case of an Issuance) or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser (in the case of a Forward) given by telephone (confirmed promptly by facsimile transmission or email), shall cancel any instructions for the offer or sale of any Securities, and the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, shall not be obligated to offer or sell any Securities, (i) during any period in which the Company is, or reasonably could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information, (ii) at any time during the period commencing on the 10th business day prior to the date (each, an “ Announcement Date ”) on which the Company issues a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (each, an “ Earnings Announcement ”), (iii) except as provided in Section 7(j) below, at any time from and including an Announcement Date through and including the time that the Company files (a “ Filing Time ”) a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement; provided that, unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, for purposes of (i) and (ii) above, such period shall be deemed to end at the relevant Filing Time.

 

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(j)    If the Company wishes to offer, sell or deliver Securities at any time during the period from and including an Announcement Date through and including time that is 24 hours after the corresponding Filing Time, the Company shall (i) prepare and deliver to the Manager (in the case of an Issuance) or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser (in the case of a Forward) (with a copy to their counsel) a Current Report on Form 8-K which shall include substantially the same financial and related information as was set forth in the relevant Earnings Announcement (other than any earnings projections, similar forward-looking data and officers’ quotations) (each, an “ Earnings 8-K ”), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, (ii) provide the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, with the officers’ certificate, opinions/letters of counsel and accountants’ letters called for by Sections 8(o), (p), (q), (r), and (s) hereof; respectively, (iii) afford the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, the opportunity to conduct a due diligence review in accordance with Section 8(m) hereof and (iv) file such Earnings 8-K with the Commission. The provisions of clause (ii) of Section 7(i) shall not be applicable for the period from and after the time at which the foregoing conditions shall have been satisfied (or, if later, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the relevant Earnings Announcement was first publicly released) through and including the Filing Time of the relevant Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, as the case may be. For purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that (A) the delivery of any officers’ certificate, opinions/letters of counsel and accountants’ letters pursuant to this Section 7(j) shall not relieve the Company from any of its obligations under this Agreement with respect to any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be, including, without limitation, the obligation to deliver officers’ certificates, opinions/letters of counsel and accountants’ letters as provided in Section 8 hereof and (B) other than as set forth in this Section 7(j), this Section 7(j) shall in no way affect or limit the operation of the provisions of clauses (i) and (iii) of Section 7(j), which shall have independent application.

SECTION 8 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP .

Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally covenants with the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser as follows:

(a)     Registration Statement Amendments . After the date of this Agreement and during any Selling Period or period in which a Prospectus relating to any Securities is required to be delivered by the Manager under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will promptly notify the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference therein, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any comment letter from the Commission or any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the request of the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the reasonable opinion of the Manager or the

 

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Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Securities by the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be ( provided , however , that the failure of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Manager’s, the Forward Seller’s or the Forward Purchaser’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company and the Operating Partnership in this Agreement); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, relating to the Securities or a security convertible into the Securities unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser have not reasonably objected thereto ( provided , however , that the failure of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Manager’s, the Forward Seller’s or the Forward Purchaser’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company and the Operating Partnership in this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)).

(b)     Notice of Commission Stop Orders . The Company will advise the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any other order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement or if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of any qualification of the Securities for offering or sale and any loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification, and if any such stop order is issued or any such suspension or loss occurs, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(c)     Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser and their respective counsel (at the expense of the Company), on or before their respective due dates, copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, that are filed with the Commission during any Selling Period or period in which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act,

 

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in such quantities and at such locations as the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser to the extent such document is available on EDGAR. The copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto furnished to the Manager will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d)     Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If at any time during any Selling Period or period when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be delivered in connection with a pending sale of the Securities (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 172), any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, to suspend the offering of Securities during such period and the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, may reasonably request. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted, conflicts or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or included, includes or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, to suspend the offering of Securities during such period and the Company will, subject to Section 8(a) hereof, promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(e)     Blue Sky and Other Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Manager and the Forward Seller, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale, or to obtain an exemption for the Securities to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Manager and the Forward Seller may designate and to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Securities (but in no event for less than one year from

 

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the date of this Agreement); provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Securities (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement).

(f)     Rule 158. The Company will make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Manager and the Forward Seller the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158.

(g)     Use of Proceeds . The Company and the Operating Partnership will use the Net Proceeds received by them from the sale of the Securities and the net proceeds received under each Forward Contract in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(h)     Listing. During any Selling Period or any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered by the Manager or the Forward Seller under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Securities (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Securities to be listed on the NYSE.

(i)     Filings with the NYSE . The Company will timely file with the NYSE all material documents and notices required by the NYSE of companies that have or will issue securities that are traded on the NYSE.

(j)     Reporting Requirements. The Company, during any Selling Period or period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

(k)     Notice of Other Sales . During any Selling Period, the Company shall provide the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser notice as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in any event, at least two (2) business days) before it offers to sell, contracts to sell, sells, grants any option to sell or otherwise disposes of any shares of Common Stock (other than Securities offered pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or the Alternative Distribution Agreements) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock; provided , that such notice shall not be required in connection with the (i) issuance, grant or sale of Common Stock, options to purchase shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or other equity awards pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock or compensatory plan or arrangement described in the Prospectus, including shares of Common Stock issuable upon redemption of OP Units, (ii) the issuance of securities in

 

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connection with an acquisition, merger or sale or purchase of assets described in the Prospectus, or (iii) the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan that the Company may adopt from time to time, provided the implementation of such dividend reinvestment plan is disclosed to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser in advance.

(l)     Change of Circumstances . The Company will, at any time during a fiscal quarter in which the Company intends to tender a Placement Notice or sell Securities, advise the Manager or Forward Seller, as applicable, promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided to the Manager or Forward Seller, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement.

(m)     Due Diligence Cooperation . The Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, or its respective agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as the Manager or the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser may reasonably request.

(n)     Disclosure of Sales. The Company will disclose in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in its Annual Report on Form 10-K in respect of any quarter in which sales of Securities were made under this Agreement, and/or, at the Company’s option, in a Current Report on Form 8-K, the number of Securities sold under this Agreement and any Alternative Distribution Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company with respect to such sales.

(o)     Representation Dates; Certificates . On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each time Securities are delivered to the Manager as principal on a Settlement Date and each time the Company:

(i)    files the Prospectus relating to the Securities or amends or supplements the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Securities by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Securities;

(ii)    files an Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act;

(iii)    files a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or

(iv)    files a Current Report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than an Earnings Announcement, to “furnish” information pursuant to Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassifications of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act (each such date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) and any time of request pursuant to this Section 8(o) shall be a

 

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Representation Date ”), each of the Company, for itself and in its capacity as the sole member of the general partner of the Operating Partnership and the Advisor, shall furnish the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser with certificates, in the form attached hereto as Exhibits D-1 and D-2 as promptly as possible and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days of any Representation Date. The requirement to provide certificates under this Section 8(o) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date; provided, however, that such waiver shall not apply for any Representation Date on which the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Securities following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Manager with certificates under this Section 8(o), then before the Company delivers the Placement Notice or the Manager or the Forward Seller sells any Securities, the Company shall provide the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser with certificates, in the form attached hereto as Exhibits D-1 and D-2 , dated the date of the Placement Notice.

(p)     Opinion of Counsel for Company and the Operating Partnership . On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each time Securities are delivered to the Manager as principal on a Settlement Date, and as promptly as possible and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver certificates in the form attached hereto as Exhibits D-1 and D-2 for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser a written opinion and to the Manager and the Forward Seller a 10b-5 statement of Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel for the Company and the Operating Partnership, or other counsel satisfactory to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion and 10b-5 statement is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit  E , modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided , however , that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent Representation Dates, any such counsel may furnish the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser with a letter (a “ Reliance Letter ”) to the effect that the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 8(p) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

(q)     Opinion of Tax Counsel . On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each time Securities are delivered to the Manager as principal on a Settlement Date, and as promptly as possible and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver certificates in the form attached hereto as Exhibits  D-1 and D-2 for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser a written opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP, tax counsel for the Company and the Operating Partnership, or other counsel satisfactory to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, in form and substance satisfactory to the

 

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Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser and its counsel, dated the date by which the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit  F , modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided , however , that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent Representation Dates, any such counsel may furnish the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser with a Reliance Letter to the effect that the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 8(q) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

(r)     Maryland Counsel Legal Opinion . On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each time Securities are delivered to the Manager as principal on a Settlement Date, and as promptly as possible and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver certificates in the form attached hereto as Exhibits D-1 and D-2 for which no waiver is applicable, the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall have received the favorable opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP, Maryland counsel for the Company dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit  G , modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided , however , that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent Representation Dates, any such counsel may furnish the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser with a Reliance Letter to the effect that the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 8(r) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

(s)     Comfort Letters . On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each time Securities are delivered to the Manager as principal on a Settlement Date, and as promptly as possible and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver certificates in the form attached hereto as Exhibits D-1 and D-2 for which no waiver is applicable, the Company (a) shall cause its independent accountants to furnish the Manager and the Forward Seller a letter (a “ Comfort Letter ”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager and the Forward Seller, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “ Initial Comfort Letter ”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter, and (b) shall cause any accounting firm

 

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that has audited any financial statements with respect to real estate operations acquired or to be acquired prepared in accordance with Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X (“ 3-14 Financial Statements”) included, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, to furnish the Manager and the Forward Seller a letter (a “ 3-14 Comfort Letter ”), dated the date the 3-14 Comfort Letter is delivered, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager and the Forward Seller, (i) if applicable, confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to 3-14 Financial Statements in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “ Initial 3-14 Comfort Letter ”) and (iii) updating the Initial 3-14 Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial 3-14 Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter; provided , however , that no such 3-14 Comfort Letter shall be required to be delivered with respect to any 3-14 Financial Statements prepared for the Company’s acquired real estate operations that have been consolidated by the Company for all of the years for which audited financial statements are included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(t)     Market Activities . Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership will, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Securities to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Securities to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement other than the Manager; provided , however , that the Company may bid for and purchase shares of its Common Stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act. In connection with entering into any Forward Contract, the Company will not acquire any long position (either directly or indirectly, including through an Affiliate or through a derivative transaction) with respect to shares of Common Stock. For purposes of the foregoing, Affiliate means, with respect to any person or entity, any other person or entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such person or entity. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any person or entity means ownership of 50% or more of the voting power or value of such person or entity.

(u)     Compliance with Laws . The Company, the Operating Partnership and each of their subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, all material environmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and the Company and each of its subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations and with applicable Environmental Laws, except where the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(v)     Securities Act and Exchange Act . The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.

(w)     No Offer to Sell . Other than a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) approved in advance in writing by the Company and the Manager in its capacity as principal or agent hereunder or the Forward Seller as agent hereunder, as applicable, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Manager or the Forward Seller, in their respective capacities as such) will not, directly or indirectly, make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any free writing prospectus relating to the Securities to be sold by the Manager as principal or agent hereunder or by the Forward Seller as agent hereunder.

(x)     Regulation M. If the Company has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Company or the Common Stock, it shall promptly notify the other parties to this Agreement and sales of the Securities under this Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of all parties to this Agreement.

(y)     Qualification and Taxation as a REIT . The Company will use its best efforts to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code and will not take any action to revoke or otherwise terminate the Company’s REIT election, unless the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to be so qualified.

(z)     Renewal of Registration Statement. The date of this Agreement is not more than three years subsequent to the initial effective date of the Registration Statement (the “ Renewal Date ”). If, immediately prior to the Renewal Date, this Agreement has not terminated and a prospectus is required to be delivered or made available by the Manager or the Forward Seller under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in connection with the sale of such Securities, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Date, file, if it has not already done so, a new shelf registration statement or, if applicable, an automatic shelf registration statement relating to such Securities, and, if such registration statement is not an automatic shelf registration statement, will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Date, and will take all other reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to permit the public offer and sale of such Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to such Securities. References herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new shelf registration statement or automatic shelf registration statement, as the case may be.

(aa)     Rights to Refuse Purchase. If, to the knowledge of the Company, all filings required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities shall not have been made or the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership in Section 5 hereof shall not be true and correct on any applicable Settlement Date, the Company will offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Securities from the Company as a result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Securities.

 

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(bb)     Reservation of Shares . In respect of any Forward, a number of shares of Common Stock at least equal to the Capped Number will be reserved for issuance by the Company’s board of directors.

SECTION 9 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES .

(a)     Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the Manager, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Manager, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (iv) the qualification or exemption of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 8(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Manager in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of a state securities law or “blue sky” survey and any supplements thereto up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000, (v) the printing and delivery to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser of copies of any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Manager or the Forward Seller to investors, (vi) the fees and expenses of the custodian and the transfer agent and registrar for the Securities, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Manager in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000 and (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the NYSE.

(b)     Termination of Agreement . If this Agreement is terminated by the Manager in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 or Section 14(a) (i) or (iii) (with respect to the first clause only) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchasers and the Alternative Managers for all reasonable out of pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchasers and the Alternative Managers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreements, unless Securities having an aggregate offering price of $10,000,000 or more have previously been offered and sold under this Agreement and/or the Alternative Distribution Agreements; provided, however that the expenses shall not exceed an aggregate amount under this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreements of $100,000.

SECTION 10 CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE AGENT, THE FORWARD SELLER AND THE FORWARD PURCHASER .

The obligations of each of the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership contained in this Agreement or in certificates of any officer of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Operating Partnership of their covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

 

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(a)     Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for (i) all sales of Securities issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices (each as amended by a corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and (ii) the sale of all Securities contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).

(b)     No Material Notices . None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c)     No Misstatement or Material Omission . None of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser shall have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains a material untrue statement of fact or omits to state a material fact that is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(d)     Material Changes . Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change to the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the properties, earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, the Operating Partnership and each of their subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

(e)     Opinion of Counsel for Company and the Operating Partnership. The Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall have received the favorable opinions of Winston & Strawn LLP, required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8(p) on the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 8(p).

 

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(f)     Opinion of Tax Counsel for Company and the Operating Partnership. The Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall have received the favorable opinions of Winston & Strawn LLP, tax counsel for the Company and the Operating Partnership, required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8(q) on the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 8(q).

(g)     Opinion of Maryland Counsel for the Company . The Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall have received the favorable opinions of the Company’s Maryland Counsel, required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8(r) on the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 8(r).

(h)     Opinion of Counsel for the Manager . On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and each time Securities are delivered to the Manager as principal on the Settlement Date, as promptly as possible and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which no waiver is applicable, the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall have received the favorable opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Manager, dated the date the opinion is required to be delivered, in customary form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. In rendering such opinion, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP may rely as to matter involving the laws of the State of Maryland upon the opinion of Ballard Spahr LLP referred to in Section 8(r).

(i)     Representation Certificate. The Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8(o) on the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 8(o).

(j)     Accountant’s Comfort Letters. The Manager and the Forward Seller shall have received the Comfort Letters required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8(s) on the date on which such delivery of such Comfort Letters are required pursuant to Section 8(s).

(k)     Approval of Listing . The Securities shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(l)     No Suspension . Trading in the Securities shall not have been suspended on the NYSE.

(m)     Additional Documents. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver certificates pursuant to Section 8(o), counsel for the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained.

(n)     Securities Act Filings Made . All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

 

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(o)     Effectiveness of Master Forward Confirmation . In respect of any Placement Notice delivered in respect of any Forward, the Master Forward Confirmation shall be in full force and effect.

(p)     Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section 10 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, by notice to the Company, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 10 hereof and except that, in the case of any termination of this Agreement, Sections 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 22 and 23 hereof, as well as the obligation to enter into any Forward Contract pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof as a result of sales of Forward Hedge Securities occurring prior to such termination, shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect. For the avoidance of doubt, any such termination shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Securities sold hereunder prior to the occurrence thereof or any Securities sold under any Alternative Distribution Agreement (including, in the case of any Forward Hedge Securities, the obligation to enter into the resulting Forward Contract).

SECTION 11 INDEMNIFICATION .

(a)     Indemnification by the Company. The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, each of their respective affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act (each an “ Affiliate ”)), each of their respective selling agents and each person, if any, who controls the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and any director, officer, employee or affiliate thereof as follows:

(i)    against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii)    against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 11(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

 

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(iii)    against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as applicable) reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above, provided , however , that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

(b)     Indemnification by the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser . Each of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Operating Partnership, the Company’s directors, each of the Company’s officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Operating Partnership to the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, contained in subsection (a) of this Section 11, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser expressly for use therein.

(c)     Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 11(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 11(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided , however , that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental

 

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agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 11 or Section 12 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless (x) such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party and (y) the indemnifying party confirms in writing its indemnification obligations hereunder with respect to such settlement, compromise or judgment.

(d)     Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse . If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 11(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

SECTION 12 CONTRIBUTION .

If the indemnification provided for in Section 11 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and of the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as (a) in the case of the Company and the Operating Partnership, (x) the total net proceeds from the offering of the Issuance Securities for each Issuance under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Operating Partnership bear to the Aggregate Sales Price of the Issuance Securities, or (y) the Actual Sold Forward Amount for each Forward under this Agreement, multiplied by the Forward Hedge Price for such Forward (the “ Net Forward Proceeds ”), bear to the sum of the Net Forward Proceeds and the Actual Forward Commission (as defined below) (such sum, the “Gross Forward Amount”), (b) in the case of Manager, the total commissions received by the Manager

 

48


bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Issuance Securities, (c) in the case of the Forward Seller, the Actual Sold Forward Amount for each Forward under this Agreement, multiplied by the Forward Hedge Selling Commission for such Forward (the “ Actual Forward Commission ”), bear to the Gross Forward Amount, and (d) in the case of the Forward Purchaser, the net Spread (as such term is defined in the Master Forward Confirmation and net of any related stock borrow costs or other costs or expenses actually incurred) for all Forward Contracts executed in connection with this Agreement, bear to the Gross Forward Amount.

The relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership, on the one hand, and the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by each such party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership, the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 12 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 12. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 12 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 12, none of the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall in any event be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which, in the case of the Manager, the total price at which the Issuance Securities sold by such Manager, or in the case of the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, the total price of the Forward Hedge Securities sold by the Forward Seller, in each case pursuant to this Agreement, exceeds the amount of any damages which the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 12, each person, if any who controls the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Manager’s, the Forward Seller’s and the Forward Purchaser’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as the case may be, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company or the Operating Partnership, subject in each case to the preceding two paragraphs.

 

49


For purposes of this Section 12, the Company and the Operating Partnership shall be deemed one party, jointly and severally liable for any obligations hereunder.

SECTION 13 REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY .

All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, the Operating Partnership or each of their subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser or any of their Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser or their respective officers or directors, or by or on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership or any person controlling the Company or the Operating Partnership, and shall survive delivery of the Securities to the Manager and shall survive delivery and acceptance of the Securities and payment therefor and the settlement of any Forward Contract or any termination of this Agreement or the Master Forward Confirmation and any “Supplemental Confirmation” executed in connection with the Master Forward Confirmation.

SECTION 14 TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT .

(a)     Termination; General. Each of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as applicable may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the properties, earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, the Operating Partnership and each of their subsidiaries whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof, any acts of terrorism involving the United States or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Manager, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, (iii) if trading in the Securities has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NYSE, or (iv) if trading generally on the NYSE or the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

(b)     Termination by the Company. Subject to Section 14(f) hereof, the Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.

 

50


(c)     Termination by the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser. Subject to Section 14(f) hereof, each of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser, as applicable, shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.

(d)     Automatic Termination. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 14, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of Securities through the Manager or the Alternative Managers on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein or the Alternative Distribution Agreements, as applicable, with an aggregate Sales Price equal to the Maximum Amount.

(e)     Continued Force and Effect. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 14(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties.

(f)     Effectiveness of Termination. Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided , however , that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Securities, such Securities shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the obligation to enter into any Forward Contract pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof as a result of sales of Forward Hedge Securities occurring prior to such termination, shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect. For the avoidance of doubt, any such termination shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Securities sold hereunder prior to the occurrence thereof or any Securities sold under any Alternative Distribution Agreement (including, in the case of any Forward Hedge Securities, the obligation to enter into the resulting Forward Contract).

(g)     Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 14, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 9 hereof, and except that, in the case of any termination of this Agreement, Section 5, Section 11, Section 12, Section 13, and Section 22 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

  SECTION

15 NOTICES .

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.

(a)    Notices to the Company or the Operating Partnership shall be directed to:

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

300 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, TX 75201

Attention: Brian Mitts

 

51


with a copy to:

Winston & Strawn LLP

2121 North Pearl Street, Suite 900

Dallas, TX 75201

Attention: Charles T. Haag

(b)    Notices to the Adviser shall be directed to:

NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P.

300 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, TX 75201

Attention: Brian Mitts

with a copy to:

Winston & Strawn LLP

2121 North Pearl Street, Suite 900

Dallas, TX 75201

Attention: Charles T. Haag

(c)    Notices to the Manager shall be directed to:

[    ]

with a copy to:

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Riverfront Plaza, East Tower

951 E. Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Attention: James V. Davidson

(d)    Notices to the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall be directed to

[    ]

with a copy to:

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Riverfront Plaza, East Tower

951 E. Byrd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Attention: James V. Davidson

 

52


  SECTION

16 PARTIES .

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser, the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser, the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers, directors, employees or affiliates referred to in Sections 11 and 12 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser, the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers, directors, employees or affiliates and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from the Manager or the Forward Seller shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

 

  SECTION

17 ADJUSTMENTS FOR SHARE SPLITS .

The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any share split, share dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Securities.

 

  SECTION

18 GOVERNING LAW AND TIME .

THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS. UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

 

  SECTION

19 EFFECT OF HEADINGS .

The Section and Exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

  SECTION

20 RESEARCH ANALYST INDEPENDENCE .

The Company acknowledges that (a) the Manager’s research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies and (b) the Manager’s research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company, the value of the Common Stock and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Manager with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Manager’s independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by the Manager’s investment banking division. The Company acknowledges that the

 

53


Manager is a full service securities firm and as such, from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that are the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

  SECTION

21 PERMITTED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES .

Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership represent, warrant and agree that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, and the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Manager or the Forward Seller, as applicable, or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit  H hereto are Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

 

  SECTION

22 ABSENCE OF FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP .

Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership, severally and not jointly, acknowledges and agrees that:

(a)    Each of the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser is acting solely as agent and/or principal in connection with the public offering of the Securities and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship among the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of their respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser have advised or is advising the Company and/or the Operating Partnership on other matters, and none of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser has any obligation to the Company or the Operating Partnership with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement;

(b)    the public offering price of the Securities set forth in this Agreement was not established by the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser;

(c)    it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

54


(d)    none of the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser has provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;

(e)    it is aware that the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser and their respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Operating Partnership and the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company or the Operating Partnership by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise;

(f)    the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser and their respective affiliates may engage in trading in the Common Stock for their own account or for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Securities occur pursuant to this Agreement; and

(g)    it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Manager, the Forward Seller or the Forward Purchaser for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company, the Operating Partnership, employees or creditors of the Company or the Operating Partnership.

 

  SECTION

23 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION .

Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “ Specified Courts ”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

  SECTION

24 PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY .

The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

55


  SECTION

25 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .

Each of the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates), the Operating Partnership, the Manager, the Forward Seller and the Forward Purchaser hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

  SECTION

26 COUNTERPARTS .

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

  SECTION

27 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS .

Any provision or requirement of this Agreement may be waived or amended in any respect by a writing signed by the parties hereto. No waiver or amendment shall be enforceable against any party hereto unless in writing and signed by the party against which such waiver is claimed. A waiver of any provision or requirement of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any other term and shall not affect the other provisions of this Agreement. A waiver of a provision or requirement of this Agreement will apply only to the specific circumstances cited therein and will not prevent a party from subsequently requiring compliance with the waived provision or requirement in other circumstances.

 

  SECTION

28 RECOGNITION OF THE U.S. SPECIAL RESOLUTION REGIMES

(a)    In the event that the Manager is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from the Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b)    In the event that the Manager is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For purposes of this Section 28, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and

 

56


interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).  “ Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

57


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Adviser a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Manager, the Forward Seller, the Forward Purchaser, the Adviser, the Operating Partnership and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
NEXPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

Brian Mitts

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice

President, Secretary and Treasurer

NEXPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST

OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

By:  

NexPoint Residential Trust Operating

Partnership GP, LLC

By:  

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc., as sole

member

By:  

 

Name:  

Brian Mitts

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice

President, Secretary and Treasurer

NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE ADVISORS, L.P.
By:  

 

Name:   Brian Mitts
Title:   Executive Vice President

 

[Equity Distribution Agreement]


CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:

 

[    ], as Manager
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

[    ], as Forward Seller
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

[    ], as Forward Purchaser
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

[Equity Distribution Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE

                , 20    

[Bank Name]

[Address]

 

Attention:    [                                             ]
   (facsimile number: [                                         ])
Email:    [                                         ]

Reference is made to the Equity Distribution Agreement among NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, NexPoint Residential Trust Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership, [    ] (the “ Forward Purchaser ”) and [    ] (in its capacity as agent for the Company in connection with the offering and sale of any Issuance Securities thereunder, “ Manager ,” and in its capacity as agent for the Forward Purchaser in connection with the offering and sale of any Forward Hedge Securities thereunder, the “ Forward Seller ”), dated as of February [    ], 2019 (the “ Equity Distribution Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used in this Placement Notice without definition shall have the respective definitions ascribed to them in the Equity Distribution Agreement. This Placement Notice relates to [an “Issuance”] 1 [a “Forward”] 2 . The Company confirms that all conditions to the delivery of this Placement Notice are satisfied as of the date hereof.

[The Company confirms that it has not declared and will not declare any dividend, or caused or cause there to be any distribution, on the Common Stock if the ex-dividend date or ex-date, as applicable, for such dividend or distribution will occur during the period from, and including, the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period to, and including, the last Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period.] 3

The Company represents and warrants that each representation, warranty, covenant and other agreement of the Company contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement [and the Master Forward Confirmation] 4 is true and correct on the date hereof, and that the Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any applicable Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of the date hereof, do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 

1  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to an “Issuance.”

2  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward.”

3  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward.”

4  

Insert for Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward.”


Number of Days in [Issuance] 5 [Forward Hedge] 6 Selling Period:

First Date of [Issuance] 7 [Forward Hedge] 8 Selling Period:

Maximum Number of Securities to be Sold:

[Issuance] 9 [Forward Hedge] 10 Amount: $

[Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate: %

 

Forward Price Reduction Dates    Forward Price Reduction Amounts  
   $            
   $            

Spread:

Initial Stock Loan Rate: [    ] per annum

Maximum Stock Loan Rate: [    ] per annum

Regular Dividend Amounts:

 

For any calendar month ending on or prior to [December 31,  20[    ]]:

   $[            ]           

For any calendar month ending after [December 31, 20[    ]]:

   $[            ] ] 11      

[Term: [Days][Months]] 12 :

Floor Price (Adjustable by Company during the [Issuance] 13 [Forward Hedge] 14 Selling Period, and in no event less than $1.00 per share): $            per share

 

 

5  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to an “Issuance.”

6  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward.”

7  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to an “Issuance.”

8  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward.”

9  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to an “Issuance.”

1 0  

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward.”

11

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward.” Regular Dividend Amounts shall not exceed the Forward Price Reduction Amount for the Forward Price Reduction Date occurring in the relevant month (or, if none, shall not exceed zero).

12

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward” to be not less than three months and not more than 2 years.

13

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to an “Issuance.”

14

Insert for a Placement Notice that relates to a “Forward.”


EXHIBIT B

AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS FOR PLACEMENT NOTICES AND ACCEPTANCES

[      ], as Manager

 

Name

  

Email

      
      

[      ], as Forward Seller

 

Name

  

Email

      
      
      

[      ], as Forward Purchaser

 

Name

  

Email

      
      
      

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

 

Name

  

Email

      
      
      


EXHIBIT C

COMPENSATION

The Manager shall be paid compensation at a mutually agreed rate, not to exceed 2.0% of the gross sales price of Issuance Securities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.


EXHIBIT D-1


EXHIBIT D-2


EXHIBIT E

FORM OF CORPORATE OPINION OF

WINSTON & STRAWN LLP


EXHIBIT F

FORM OF TAX OPINION OF

WINSTON & STRAWN LLP


EXHIBIT G

FORM OF OPINION OF BALLARD SPAHR LLP


EXHIBIT H

PERMITTED FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS

None.

Exhibit 1.2

Opening Transaction

 

To:

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

From:

[DEALER]

Re:

Issuer Share Forward Sale Transactions

Date:

February [    ], 2019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “ Master Confirmation ”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the transactions to be entered into from time to time between [DEALER] (“ Dealer ”) and NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (“ Counterparty ”) in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement dated February [    ], 2019 among Dealer, [            ], NexPoint Residential Trust Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “ Operating Partnership ”), NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P. (the “ Adviser ”) and Counterparty (the “ Equity Distribution Agreement ”) on the Trade Dates specified herein (collectively, the “ Transactions ” and, each, a “ Transaction ”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below. Each Transaction will be evidenced by a supplemental confirmation (each, a “ Supplemental Confirmation ”, and each such Supplemental Confirmation, together with this Master Confirmation, a “ Confirmation ” for purposes of the Agreement specified below) substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

1.    Each Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “ Equity Definitions ”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ ISDA ”). For purposes of the Equity Definitions, each Transaction will be deemed to be a Share Forward Transaction.

Each Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of and be subject to an agreement (the “ Agreement ”) in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “ ISDA Form ”), as published by ISDA, as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed the ISDA Form on the date hereof (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of New York law (without regard to New York’s choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law (the “ General Obligations Law ”)) as the governing law and US Dollars (“ USD ”) as the Termination Currency and (ii) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) shall apply to Dealer and Counterparty with a “Threshold Amount” in respect of Dealer of 3% of the stockholders’ equity of Dealer and a “Threshold Amount” in respect of Counterparty of USD $75 million (including its equivalent in another currency); provided that (x) the words “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” shall be deleted from clause (1) thereof, (y) “Specified Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section 14 of the Agreement, except that such term shall not include obligations in respect of deposits received in the ordinary course of Dealer’s banking business, if any, and (z) the following language shall be added to the end of such Section 5(a)(vi): “Notwithstanding the foregoing, a default under subsection (2) hereof shall not constitute an Event of Default if (X) the default was caused solely by error or omission of an administrative or operational nature; (Y) funds were available to enable the party to make the payment when due; and (Z) the payment is made within two Local Business Days of such party’s receipt of written notice of its failure to pay;”).

All provisions contained in the Agreement are incorporated into and shall govern each Confirmation except as expressly modified below. Each Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the relevant Transaction and replaces any previous agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

The Transactions hereunder shall be the sole Transactions under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty or any confirmation or other agreement between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Dealer or any of its Affiliates and Counterparty, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Dealer or such other Affiliates and Counterparty are parties, the Transactions shall not be considered Transactions under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency among the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail in the order of precedence indicated: (i) such Supplemental Confirmation; (ii) this Master Confirmation; (iii) the Equity Definitions; and (iv) the Agreement.


2.    The terms of the particular Transactions to which this Master Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

General Terms:     
Trade Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be, subject to the provisions opposite the caption “Early Valuation” below, the last Trading Day (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) of the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for such Transaction.
Effective Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the date that is one Settlement Cycle following the Trade Date for such Transaction, or such later date on which the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this Master Confirmation shall have been satisfied or waived by Dealer.
Buyer:    Dealer
Seller:    Counterparty
Maturity Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the date that follows the Trade Date for such Transaction by the number of days or months set forth in the Placement Notice (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement and amended by any corresponding Acceptance (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), if applicable (the “ Accepted Placement Notice ”)) for such Transaction (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day).
Shares:    The shares of common stock, par value USD $0.01 per Share, of Counterparty (Ticker: “NXRT”)
Number of Shares:    For each Transaction, initially, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the number of Shares equal to the Actual Sold Forward Amount (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction, as reduced on each Relevant Settlement Date (as defined under “Settlement Terms” below) by the number of Settlement Shares to which the related Valuation Date relates.
Settlement Currency:    USD
Exchange:    The New York Stock Exchange
Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Prepayment:    Not Applicable
Variable Obligation:    Not Applicable

 

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Forward Price:   

For each Transaction, on the Effective Date for such Transaction, the Initial Forward Price for such Transaction, and on any day thereafter, the product of the Forward Price for such Transaction on the immediately preceding calendar day and

 

1 + the Daily Rate * (1/365);

 

provided that the Forward Price for such Transaction on each Forward Price Reduction Date for such Transaction shall be the Forward Price for such Transaction otherwise in effect on such date minus the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent Counterparty delivers

Shares hereunder on or after a Forward Price Reduction Date and at or before the record date for an ordinary cash dividend with an ex-dividend date corresponding to such Forward Price Reduction Date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the related dividend will be paid on such Shares), the Calculation Agent shall reverse the reduction to the Forward Price on such Forward Price Reduction Date for purposes of the related Settlement Date.

Initial Forward Price:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the product of (i) an amount equal to 1 minus the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) applicable to such Transaction; and (ii) the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.
Volume-Weighted Hedge Price:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the volume-weighted average of the Sales Prices (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) per share of Forward Hedge Securities (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) sold on each Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction, as determined by the Calculation Agent; provided that, solely for the purposes of calculating the Initial Forward Price, each such Sales Price (other than, with respect to the application of the Daily Rate, the Sales Price for the last day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period) shall be subject to adjustment by the Calculation Agent (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by application of the Daily Rate and any Forward Price Reduction Amount), in the same manner as the Forward Price pursuant to the definition thereof during the period from, and including, the date one Settlement Cycle immediately following the first Trading Day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period on which the Forward Hedge Securities related to such Sales Price are sold to, and including, the Effective Date of such Transaction.
Daily Rate:    For any day, the Overnight Bank Rate (or if the Overnight Bank Rate is no longer available, a successor rate selected by the Calculation Agent in its commercially reasonable discretion) minus the Spread.
Spread:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

 

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Overnight Bank Rate:    For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Overnight bank funding rate” as displayed on the page “OBFR01 <Index> <GO>“ on the BLOOMBERG Professional Service, or any successor page; provided that, if no such rate appears for such day on such page, Overnight Bank Rate for such day shall be such rate for the immediately preceding day for which such a rate appears.
Forward Price Reduction Dates:    For each Transaction, as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be each date after the last Scheduled Trading Day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period set forth under the heading “Forward Price Reduction Dates” in the Accepted Placement Notice for such Transaction.
Forward Price Reduction Amount:    For each Forward Price Reduction Date of a Transaction, as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date in the Accepted Placement Notice for such Transaction.
Valuation:   
Valuation Date:    For any Settlement (as defined below) with respect to any Transaction, if Physical Settlement is applicable, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice (as defined below); or if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement is applicable, the last Unwind Date for such Settlement. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date.
Unwind Dates:    For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, each day on which Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) purchases Shares in the market in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement and ending on the Unwind Date on which such hedge position is unwound.
First Unwind Date:    For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, as designated in the relevant Settlement Notice.
Unwind Period:    For any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement with respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, the period starting on the First Unwind Date for such Settlement and ending on the Valuation Date for such Settlement.
Cash Settlement Valuation Disruption:    If Cash Settlement is applicable with respect to any Transaction and any Unwind Date during the related Unwind Period is a Disrupted Day, the Calculation Agent shall determine (except in the case of a Disrupted Day that occurs as a result of a Regulatory Disruption, which shall always be a Disrupted Day in full) whether (i) such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day in full, in which case the 10b-18 VWAP for such Disrupted Day shall not be included in the calculation of the Settlement Price, or (ii) such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case the 10b-18 VWAP for such Disrupted Day shall be determined by the Calculation Agent based on Rule 10b-18 eligible transactions (as defined below) in the Shares on such Disrupted Day, taking into account the nature and duration of the

 

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   relevant Market Disruption Event, and the weightings of the 10b-18 VWAP and the Forward Prices for each Unwind Date during such Unwind Period shall be adjusted in a commercially reasonable manner by the Calculation Agent for purposes of determining the Settlement Price and the Relevant Forward Price, as applicable, to account for the occurrence of such partially Disrupted Day, with such adjustments based on, among other factors, the duration of any Market Disruption Event and the volume, historical trading patterns and price of the Shares.
Market Disruption Event:   

The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one- hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” and inserting the words “at any time on any Exchange Business Day during the Unwind Period” after the word “material,” in the third line thereof.

Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

Settlement Terms:   
Settlement:    With respect to any Transaction, any Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of all or any portion of such Transaction.
Settlement Notice:    For any Transaction, subject to “Early Valuation” below, Counterparty may elect to effect a Settlement of all or any portion of such Transaction by designating one or more Scheduled Trading Days following the Effective Date for such Transaction and on or prior to the Maturity Date for such Transaction to be Valuation Dates (or, with respect to Cash Settlements or Net Share Settlements of such Transaction, First Unwind Dates, each of which First Unwind Dates shall occur no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date for such Transaction) in a written notice to Dealer (a “ Settlement Notice ”) delivered no later than the applicable Settlement Method Election Date for such Transaction, which notice shall also specify (i) the number of Shares (the “ Settlement Shares ”) for such Settlement (not to exceed the number of Undesignated Shares for such Transaction as of the date of such Settlement Notice) and (ii) the Settlement Method applicable to such Settlement; provided that (A) Counterparty may not designate a First Unwind Date for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement of any Transaction if, as of the date of such Settlement Notice, any Shares have been designated as Settlement Shares for a Cash Settlement or a Net Share Settlement of such Transaction for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred; and (B) if the number of Undesignated Shares as of the Maturity Date for such Transaction is not zero, then the Maturity Date for such Transaction shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement of such Transaction and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Undesignated Shares for such Transaction as of the Maturity Date for such Transaction ( provided that if such Maturity Date occurs during the period from

 

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   the time any Settlement Notice is given for a Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of such Transaction until the related Relevant Settlement Date, inclusive, then the provisions set forth below opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply to such Transaction as if the Maturity Date for such Transaction were the Early Valuation Date for such Transaction).
Undesignated Shares:    For any Transaction, as of any date, the Number of Shares for such Transaction minus the number of Shares designated as Settlement Shares for Settlements of such Transaction for which the related Relevant Settlement Date has not occurred.
Settlement Method Election:   

For any Transaction, applicable; provided that:

(i) Net Share Settlement shall be deemed to be included as an additional settlement method under Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions;

 

(ii) Counterparty may elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement for any Settlement of any Transaction only if Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer in the Settlement Notice containing such election that, as of the date of such Settlement Notice: (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares; (B) Counterparty is electing the settlement method and designating the First Unwind Date specified in such Settlement Notice in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 (“ Rule 10b-5 ”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or any other provision of the federal securities laws; (C) Counterparty is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”)); (D) Counterparty would be able to purchase a number of Shares equal to the greater of (x) the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice and (y) a number of Shares with a value as of the date of such Settlement Notice equal to the product of (I) such number of Settlement Shares and (II) the applicable Relevant Forward Price for such Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in compliance with the laws of Counterparty’s jurisdiction of organization; and (E) such election, and settlement in accordance therewith, does not and will not violate or conflict with any law or regulation applicable to Counterparty, or any order or judgment of any court or other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets, and any governmental consents that are required to have been obtained by Counterparty with respect to such election or settlement have been obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been complied with; and

 

(iii) Notwithstanding any election to the contrary in any Settlement Notice, Physical Settlement shall be applicable for any Settlement of any Transaction:

  

(A)  to all of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, at any time from the date such Settlement Notice is received by Dealer until the related First Unwind Date, inclusive, (I) the trading price per Share on the Exchange

 

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(as determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner) is below the Threshold Price or (II) Dealer determines, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, that it would, after using commercially reasonable efforts, be unable to purchase a number of Shares in the market sufficient to unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of the portion of the Transaction represented by such Settlement Shares and satisfy its delivery obligation hereunder, if any, by the Maturity Date (x) in a manner that (A) would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty and taking into account any other Transactions hereunder or any Similar Dealer Transactions (as defined herein) with an overlapping Unwind Period, be in compliance with the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18(b) under the Exchange Act and (B) based on advice of counsel, would not raise material risks under applicable securities laws, other than as a result of activities by Dealer unrelated to any Transaction or any Similar Dealer Transaction, or (y) due to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares (each, a “ Trading Condition ”); or

 

(B)  to all or a portion of the Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice if, on any day during the relevant Unwind Period, (I) the trading price per Share on the Exchange (as determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner) is below the Threshold Price or (II) Dealer determines, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment or based on advice of counsel, as applicable, that a Trading Condition has occurred with respect to such Transaction, in which case the provisions set forth below in the fourth paragraph opposite “Early Valuation” shall apply as if such day were the Early Valuation Date for such Transaction and (x) for purposes of clause (i) of such paragraph, such day shall be the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period and the “Unwound Shares” shall be calculated to, and including, such day and (y) for purposes of clause (ii) of such paragraph, the “Remaining Shares” shall be equal to the number of Settlement Shares designated in such Settlement Notice minus the Unwound Shares determined in accordance with clause (x) of this sentence.

Threshold Price:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be 50% of the Initial Forward Price for such Transaction.
Electing Party:    Counterparty
Settlement Method Election Date:                    With respect to any Settlement of any Transaction, the 2 nd Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding (x) the Valuation Date for such Transaction, in the case of Physical Settlement, or (y) the First Unwind Date for such Transaction, in the case of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement.

 

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Default Settlement Method:    Physical Settlement
Physical Settlement:    Notwithstanding Section 9.2(a)(i) of the Equity Definitions, on the Settlement Date for any Physical Settlement of any Transaction, Dealer shall pay to Counterparty an amount equal to the Forward Price for such Transaction on the relevant Settlement Date multiplied by the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement, and Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer such Settlement Shares.
Settlement Date:    For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Physical Settlement is applicable, the Valuation Date for such Settlement.
Net Share Settlement:    On the Net Share Settlement Date for any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, if the Net Share Settlement Amount for such Settlement is greater than zero, Counterparty shall deliver a number of Shares equal to such Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Dealer, and if such Net Share Settlement Amount is less than zero, Dealer shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the absolute value of such Net Share Settlement Amount (rounded down to the nearest integer) to Counterparty, in either case, in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with such Net Share Settlement Date deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4, and, in either case, plus cash in lieu of any fractional Shares included in such Net Share Settlement Amount but not delivered due to rounding required hereby, valued at the relevant Settlement Price.
Net Share Settlement Date:    For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, the date that follows the Valuation Date for such Settlement by one Settlement Cycle.
Net Share Settlement Amount:    For any Settlement of any Transaction to which Net Share Settlement is applicable, an amount equal to the Forward Cash Settlement Amount for such Settlement divided by the Settlement Price for such Settlement.
Forward Cash Settlement Amount:    Notwithstanding Section 8.5(c) of the Equity Definitions, the Forward Cash Settlement Amount for any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction shall be equal to (i) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement multiplied by (ii) an amount equal to (A) the Settlement Price for such Settlement minus (B) the Relevant Forward Price for such Settlement.
Relevant Forward Price:   

For any Cash Settlement of any Transaction, subject to “Cash Settlement Valuation Disruption” above, the arithmetic average of the Forward Prices for such Transaction on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement.

 

For any Net Share Settlement of any Transaction, the weighted average of the Forward Prices for such Transaction on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement (weighted based on the number of Shares purchased by Dealer or its agent or affiliate on each such Unwind Date in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent).

 

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Settlement Price:

  

For any Cash Settlement of any Transaction, subject to “Cash Settlement Valuation Disruption” above, the arithmetic average of the 10b-18 VWAP on each Unwind Date relating to such Settlement, plus a commercially reasonable amount determined by the Calculation Agent that in no event will exceed USD 0.05.

 

For any Net Share Settlement of any Transaction, the weighted average price of the purchases of Shares made by Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) during the Unwind Period for such Settlement in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position relating to such Settlement (weighted based on the number of Shares purchased by Dealer or its agent or affiliate on each Unwind Date in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in connection with such Settlement, as determined by the Calculation Agent), plus a commercially reasonable amount determined by the Calculation Agent that in no event will exceed USD 0.03.

10b-18 VWAP:

   For any Exchange Business Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent based on the 10b-18 Volume Weighted Average Price per Share as reported in the composite transactions for United States exchanges and quotation systems for the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof) of the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day (without regard to pre-open or after hours trading outside of such regular trading session for such Exchange Business Day), as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m. New York time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session) on such Exchange Business Day, on Bloomberg page “ADC <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such Exchange Business Day for any reason or is, in the Calculation Agent’s reasonable determination, erroneous, such 10b-18 VWAP shall be as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent. For purposes of calculating the 10b-18 VWAP for such Exchange Business Day, the Calculation Agent will include only those trades that are reported during the period of time during which Counterparty could purchase its own shares under Rule 10b-18(b)(2) and are effected pursuant to the conditions of Rule 10b-18(b)(3), each under the Exchange Act (such trades, “ Rule 10b-18 eligible transactions ”).

Unwind Activities:

   The times and prices at which Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) purchases any Shares during any Unwind Period in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of each Transaction shall be determined by Dealer in a commercially reasonable manner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Dealer concludes, in its reasonable discretion based on advice of counsel, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self- regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer) (a “ Regulatory Disruption ”), for it to refrain from purchasing Shares in connection with unwinding its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of such Transaction on any Scheduled Trading Day that would have been an Unwind Date but for the occurrence of

 

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   a Regulatory Disruption, Dealer may (but shall not be required to) notify Counterparty in writing that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred on such Scheduled Trading Day with respect to such Transaction, in which case Dealer shall, to the extent practicable in its good faith discretion, specify the nature of such Regulatory Disruption. In such an instance, the Regulatory Disruption shall be deemed to be a Market Disruption Event and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Scheduled Trading Day shall be a Disrupted Day in full. Dealer may exercise its right in respect of any Regulatory Disruption only in good faith in relation to events or circumstances that are not the result of actions of it or any of its Affiliates that are taken with the intent to avoid its obligations under the Transactions.

Relevant Settlement Date:

   For any Settlement of any Transaction, the Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date for such Settlement, as the case may be.

Other Applicable Provisions:

   To the extent Dealer is obligated to deliver Shares under any Transaction, the provisions of Sections 9.2 (last sentence only), 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to such Transaction; provided that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws that exist as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the issuer of the Shares.

Share Adjustments:

  

Potential Adjustment Events:

   An Extraordinary Dividend shall not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event. For the avoidance of doubt, a cash dividend on the Shares that differs from expected dividends as of the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction shall not be a Potential Adjustment Event under Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions with respect to such Transaction.

Extraordinary Dividend:

   For any Transaction, any dividend or distribution on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring on any day following the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction (other than (i) any dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions or (ii) a regular, quarterly cash dividend in an amount equal to or less than the Regular Dividend Amount for such calendar quarter for such Transaction that has an ex-dividend date no earlier than the Forward Price Reduction Date occurring in the relevant month for such Transaction).

Regular Dividend Amount:

   For each Transaction and for each calendar quarter from and including the calendar quarter in which the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction occurs to and including the calendar quarter in which the Maturity Date occurs, the amount set forth under the heading “Regular Dividend Amounts” in the Accepted Placement Notice for such Transaction and for such calendar quarter (or, if no such amount is specified, zero), as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such

 

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   Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, Counterparty may not specify a Regular Dividend Amount in an Accepted Placement Notice for a particular calendar quarter that exceeds the Forward Price Reduction Amount for the Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs in such calendar quarter (or, if none, that exceeds zero).

Method of Adjustment:

   Calculation Agent Adjustment

Extraordinary Events:

  

Extraordinary Events:

   The consequences that would otherwise apply under Article 12 of the Equity Definitions (as modified herein) to any applicable Extraordinary Event (excluding any Failure to Deliver, Increased Cost of Hedging, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow, Loss of Stock Borrow or any Extraordinary Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, but including, for the avoidance of doubt, any other applicable Additional Disruption Event) shall not apply.
Tender Offer:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing the reference therein to “10%” with a reference to “20%”.

Delisting:

   In addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re- traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange.

Additional Disruption Events:

  

Change in Law:

   Applicable; provided that (A) any determination as to whether (i) the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any tax law) or (ii) the promulgation of or any change in or announcement or statement of the formal or informal interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in each case, constitutes a “Change in Law” shall be made without regard to Section 739 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (B) Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended (i) by adding the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof and (ii) by replacing the words “the interpretation” with the words “or announcement or statement of any formal or informal interpretation” in the third line thereof and (C) the words “, unless the illegality is due to an act or omission of the party seeking to elect termination of the Transaction with the intent to avoid its obligations under the terms of the

 

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   Transaction” are added immediately following the word “Transaction” in the fifth line thereof; and provided further that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the phrase “and/or Hedge Position” after the word “Shares” in clause (X) thereof and (iii) by immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date”.

Failure to Deliver:

   Applicable with respect to a Transaction if Dealer is required to deliver Shares under such Transaction; otherwise, Not Applicable.

Hedging Disruption:

   Applicable

Increased Cost of Hedging:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) adding “or” before clause (B) of the second sentence thereof, (ii) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof and (iii) deleting the third and fourth sentences thereof.

Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) adding “or” before clause (B) of the second sentence thereof, (ii) deleting clause (C) of the second sentence thereof and (iii) deleting the third, fourth and fifth sentences thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the announcement of any event that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event or Tender Offer, the term “rate to borrow Shares” as used in Section 12.9(a)(viii) of the Equity Definitions shall include any commercially reasonable cost borne or amount payable by the Hedging Party in respect of maintaining or reestablishing its hedge position with respect to the relevant Transaction, including, but not limited to, any assessment or other amount payable by the Hedging Party to a lender of Shares in respect of any merger or tender offer premium, as applicable.

Initial Stock Loan Rate:

   For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

Loss of Stock Borrow:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting clause (A) of the first sentence thereof in its entirety and (ii) replacing the words “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends” with “the Lending Party does not lend” in the second sentence thereof. The Lending Party may not be the Issuer or an affiliate of the Issuer.

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

   For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

Hedging Party:

   For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer.

Determining Party:

   For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer.

Early Valuation:

  

Early Valuation:

   For any Transaction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement, in any Supplemental Confirmation or in

 

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the Equity Definitions, at any time (x) following the occurrence of (1) a Hedging Event with respect to such Transaction, (2) the declaration by Issuer of an Extraordinary Dividend, or (3) an ISDA Event with respect to such Transaction or (y) if an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position exists, Dealer (or, in the case of such an ISDA Event that is an Event of Default or Termination Event, the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date in respect of such event pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) shall have the right to designate any Scheduled Trading Day to be the “ Early Valuation Date ” for such Transaction, in which case the provisions set forth in this “Early Valuation” section shall apply to such Transaction, which right shall be, other than in the case of an Event of Default under Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the sole Defaulting Party, in lieu of those specified in Section 6 of the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any amount calculated pursuant to this “Early Valuation” section as a result of an Extraordinary Dividend shall not be adjusted by the value associated with such Extraordinary Dividend.

 

Dealer represents and warrants to and agrees with Counterparty that (i) based upon advice of counsel, Dealer (A) does not know of the existence on the first Trading Day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (B) based on reasonable internal inquiry in the ordinary course of Dealer’s business does not know on the first Trading Day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period of any event or circumstance that will cause the occurrence of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of such Transaction; and (ii) Dealer will not knowingly cause the occurrence of an Excess Section 13 Ownership Position, an Excess NYSE Ownership Position or an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position on any day during the term of any Transaction for the purpose, in whole or in part, of causing the occurrence of an Early Valuation Date.

 

If an Early Valuation Date for a Transaction occurs on a date that is not during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, then such Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for a Physical Settlement of such Transaction, and the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the Number of Shares on such Early Valuation Date; provided that Dealer may in its sole discretion permit Counterparty to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of such Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation, the Agreement or the Equity Definitions, if Dealer designates an Early Valuation Date with respect to a Transaction (1) following the occurrence of an ISDA Event and such Early Valuation Date is to occur before the date that is one Settlement Cycle after the last day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction or (2) prior to the Counterparty’s execution of the Supplemental Confirmation relating to such Transaction, then, for purposes of such Early Valuation Date, (i) a Supplemental Confirmation relating to such Transaction reasonably completed by

 

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Dealer shall, notwithstanding the provisions under Section 3 below, be deemed to be effective; and (ii) in the case of (1), the Forward Price shall be deemed to be the Initial Forward Price (calculated assuming that the last Trading Day of such Forward Hedge Selling Period were the day immediately following the date Dealer so notifies Counterparty of such designation of an Early Valuation Date for purposes of such Early Valuation Date).

 

If an Early Valuation Date for a Transaction occurs during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, then (i) (A) the last Unwind Date of such Unwind Period shall be deemed to be such Early Valuation Date, (B) a Settlement shall occur in respect of such Unwind Period, and the Settlement Method elected by Counterparty in respect of such Settlement shall apply, and (C) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement shall be the number of Unwound Shares for such Unwind Period on such Early Valuation Date, and (ii) (A) such Early Valuation Date shall be a Valuation Date for an additional Physical Settlement of such Transaction ( provided that Dealer may in its sole discretion elect that the Settlement Method elected by Counterparty for the Settlement described in clause (i) of this sentence shall apply) and (B) the number of Settlement Shares for such additional Settlement shall be the number of Remaining Shares on such Early Valuation Date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Nationalization or Merger Event, if at the time of the related Relevant Settlement Date the Shares have changed into cash or any other property or the right to receive cash or any other property, the Calculation Agent shall adjust the nature of the Shares as it determines appropriate to account for such change such that the nature of the Shares is consistent with what shareholders receive in such event.

ISDA Event:

   (i) Any Event of Default or Termination Event, other than an Event of Default or Termination Event that also constitutes a Bankruptcy Termination Event, that gives rise to the right of either party to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement or (ii) the announcement of any event or transaction on or after the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction that, if consummated, would result in a Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Delisting or Change in Law, in each case, as determined by the Calculation Agent; provided that, in the case of a Merger Event, only an announcement of such event or transaction by Counterparty will constitute an ISDA Event.

Amendment to Merger Event:

   Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of such Section beginning with the words “in each case if the Merger Date is on or before” in the fourth to last line thereof.

Hedging Event:

   In respect of any Transaction, the occurrence or existence of any of the following events on or following the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period: (i) (x) a Loss of Stock Borrow in connection with which Counterparty does not refer the Hedging Party to a satisfactory Lending Party that lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares within the required time period as provided in Section 12.9(b) (iv) of the Equity Definitions or (y) a Hedging

 

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   Disruption, (ii) (A) an Increased Cost of Stock Borrow or (B) an Increased Cost of Hedging in connection with which, in the case of sub-clause (A) or (B), Counterparty does not elect, and so notify the Hedging Party of its election, in each case, within the required time period to either amend such Transaction pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(A) or Section 12.9(b)(vi) (A) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or pay an amount determined by the Calculation Agent that corresponds to the relevant Price Adjustment pursuant to Section 12.9(b)(v)(B) or Section 12.9(b)(vi)(B) of the Equity Definitions, as applicable, or (iii) a Market Disruption Event during an Unwind Period for such Transaction and the continuance of such Market Disruption Event for at least eight Scheduled Trading Days. In respect of any Transaction, if a Hedging Event occurs or exists with respect to such Transaction on or after the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as each such term is defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for such Transaction and prior to the Trade Date for such Transaction, the Calculation Agent may reduce the Initial Forward Price to account for such Hedging Event and any costs or expenses reasonably incurred by Dealer as a result of such Hedging Event.

Remaining Shares:

   For any Transaction, on any day, the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of such day (or, if such day occurs during an Unwind Period for such Transaction, the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of such day minus the Unwound Shares for such Transaction for such Unwind Period on such day).

Unwound Shares:

   For any Transaction, for any Unwind Period in respect of such Transaction on any day, the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Dealer has unwound its commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of such Transaction in connection with the related Settlement as of such day.

Acknowledgements:

  

Non-Reliance:

   Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgements Regarding Hedging Activities:

   Applicable

Additional Acknowledgements:

   Applicable

Transfer:

   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, Dealer may assign, transfer and set over all rights, title and interest, powers, privileges and remedies of Dealer under any Transaction to an affiliate of Dealer, with the prior written consent of Counterparty, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

Calculation Agent:

   Dealer; provided that, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the sole Defaulting Party, Counterparty shall have the right to select a leading dealer in the market for U.S. corporate equity derivatives reasonably acceptable to Dealer to replace Dealer as Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent.

 

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   Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a written request by Counterparty, the Calculation Agent will, within a commercially reasonable period of time following such request, provide to Counterparty by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Counterparty in such written request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be; provided that Dealer shall not be required to disclose any proprietary or confidential models of Dealer or any information that is proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information.
Counterparty Payment/Delivery Instructions:    To be provided by Counterparty.
Dealer Payment/Delivery Instructions:    To be provided by Dealer.
Counterparty’s Contact Details for Purpose of Giving Notice:    To be provided by Counterparty.
Dealer’s Contact Details for
Purpose of Giving Notice:
   [                    ]
Office:    [                    ]

3.     Effectiveness .

The effectiveness of each Supplemental Confirmation and the related Transaction on the Effective Date for such Supplemental Confirmation shall be subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Dealer) of the following conditions:

(a)    the representations and warranties of Counterparty, the Operating Partnership and the Adviser contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement, and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Counterparty, the Operating Partnership or the Adviser shall be true and correct on such Effective Date as if made as of such Effective Date;

(b)    Counterparty shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Equity Distribution Agreement on or prior to such Effective Date;

(c)    all of the conditions set forth in Section 10 of the Equity Distribution Agreement shall have been satisfied;

(d)    the effective date of the Accepted Placement Notice (the “ Placement Date ”) shall have occurred as provided in the Equity Distribution Agreement;

(e)    all of the representations and warranties of Counterparty hereunder and under the Agreement shall be true and correct on such Effective Date as if made as of such Effective Date;

(f)    Counterparty shall have performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it hereunder and under the Agreement on or prior to such Effective Date, including without limitation its obligations under Section 6 hereof; and

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, if in respect of any Transaction (x) on or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Settlement Date (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), in connection with Dealer establishing Dealer’s commercially reasonable hedge position in respect of such Transaction Dealer, in Dealer’s sole judgment, Dealer is unable, after using commercially reasonable efforts, to borrow and deliver for sale the full number of Shares to be borrowed and sold pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement on such Settlement Date or (y) in Dealer’s sole judgment, Dealer would incur a stock loan cost of more than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction with respect to all or any portion of such full number of Shares, the effectiveness of the related Supplemental Confirmation and such Transaction shall be limited to the number of Shares Dealer is so able to borrow in connection with establishing its commercially reasonable hedge position of such Transaction at a cost of not more than a rate equal to the Maximum Stock Loan Rate for such Transaction, which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be zero.

4.     Additional Mutual Representations and Warranties . In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement, each party represents and warrants to the other party that it is an “eligible contract participant”, as defined in the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (as amended), and an “accredited investor” as defined in Section 2(a)(15)(ii) of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the “ Securities Act ”), and is entering into each Transaction hereunder as principal and not for the benefit of any third party.

5.     Additional Representations and Warranties of Counterparty, the Operating Partnership and the Adviser . The representations and warranties of Counterparty, the Operating Partnership and the Adviser set forth in Section 5 or Section 6 of the Equity Distribution Agreement, as the case may be, are true and correct as of the date hereof, each Placement Date, each Trade Date for any Transaction and each “Forward Hedge Settlement Date” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. In addition to the representations and warranties in Section 5 and Section 6 of the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer, and agrees with Dealer, that:

(a)    without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, it acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of any Transaction, including without limitation ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share , ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging , ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity , ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Liabilities & Equity Project;

(b)    Counterparty shall not take any action to reduce or decrease the number of authorized and unissued Shares below the sum of (i) the aggregate Number of Shares across all Transactions hereunder plus (ii) the total number of Shares issuable upon settlement (whether by net share settlement or otherwise) of any other transaction or agreement to which it is a party;

(c)    Counterparty will not repurchase any Shares if, immediately following such repurchase, the aggregate Number of Shares across all Transactions hereunder would be equal to or greater than 4.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares and it will notify Dealer promptly upon the announcement or consummation of any repurchase of Shares in an amount that, taken together with the amount of all repurchases since the date of the last such notice exceeds 0.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares (or, in the case of the first such notice would result in the aggregate Number of Shares across all Transactions hereunder being equal to or greater than 3.5% of the number of then-outstanding Shares);

(d)    it is not entering into this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares), or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) by others;

(e)    it is not aware of any material non-public information regarding itself or the Shares; it is entering into this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation and will provide any Settlement Notice in good

 

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faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with Rule 10b-5 or any other provision of the federal securities laws; it has not entered into or altered any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting any Transaction; and it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“ Rule 10b5-1 ”);

(f)    as of the date hereof and the Trade Date for each Transaction no state or local (including non-U.S. jurisdictions) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares; provided that Counterparty makes no such representation or warranty regarding any such requirement that is applicable generally to the ownership of equity securities by Dealer;

(g)    as of the date hereof, the Trade Date for each Transaction and the date of any payment or delivery by Counterparty or Dealer under any Transaction, it is not and will not be “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code);

(h)    it is not as of the date hereof, and on the Trade Date for each Transaction and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby and by each Supplemental Confirmation will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

(i)    as of the date hereof and the Trade Date for each Transaction, it: (i) is an “institutional account” as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c); and (ii) is capable of evaluating investment strategies involving a security or securities, and will exercise independent judgment in evaluating any recommendations of Dealer or its associated persons; and

(j)    IT UNDERSTANDS AS OF THE DATE HEREOF AND AS OF THE TRADE DATE FOR EACH TRANSACTION THAT EACH TRANSACTION IS SUBJECT TO COMPLEX RISKS WHICH MAY ARISE WITHOUT WARNING AND MAY AT TIMES BE VOLATILE AND THAT LOSSES MAY OCCUR QUICKLY AND IN UNANTICIPATED MAGNITUDE AND IS WILLING TO ACCEPT SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND ASSUME (FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE) SUCH RISKS.

6.     Additional Covenants of Counterparty .

(a)    Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer on any Settlement Date or Net Share Settlement Date for any Transaction will be (i) newly issued, (ii) approved for listing or quotation on the Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and (iii) registered under the Exchange Act, and, when delivered by Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) to securities lenders from whom Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) borrowed Shares in connection with hedging its exposure to such Transaction, will be freely saleable without further registration or other restrictions under the Securities Act in the hands of those securities lenders, irrespective of whether any such stock loan is effected by Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer. Accordingly, Counterparty agrees that any Shares so delivered will not bear a restrictive legend and will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System. In addition, Counterparty represents and agrees that any such Shares shall be, upon such delivery, duly and validly authorized, issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free of any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance.

(b)    Counterparty agrees that Counterparty shall not enter into or alter any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting any Transaction. Without limiting the generality of the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Unwind Activities” in Section 2 of this Master Confirmation, Counterparty acknowledges that it has no right to, and agrees that it will not seek to, control or influence Dealer’s decision to make any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) (i)(B)(3)) under or in connection with any Transaction, including, without limitation, Dealer’s decision to enter into any hedging transactions.

(c)    Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification or waiver of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the

 

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amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Counterparty is aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares.

(d)    Counterparty shall promptly provide notice thereof to Dealer (i) upon the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Termination Event in respect of which Counterparty is a Defaulting Party or an Affected Party, as the case may be, and (ii) upon announcement of any event that, if consummated, would constitute an Extraordinary Event or Potential Adjustment Event.

(e)    Neither Counterparty nor any of its “affiliated purchasers” (as defined by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“ Rule 10b-18 ”)) shall take any action that would cause any purchases of Shares by Dealer or any of its Affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 if such purchases were made by Counterparty. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during any Unwind Period for any Transaction, except with the prior written consent of Dealer, Counterparty will not, and will cause its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Rule 10b-18) not to, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of a derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or announce or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares.

(f)    Counterparty will not be subject to any “restricted period” (as such term is defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act (“ Regulation M ”)) in respect of Shares or any security with respect to which the Shares are a “reference security” (as such term is defined in Regulation M) during any Unwind Period for any Transaction.

(g)    Counterparty shall: (i) not, during any Unwind Period, make, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to not permit to be made to the extent within its control, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any Merger Transaction unless such public announcement is made prior to the opening or after the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange; (ii) promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) notify Dealer following any such announcement that such announcement has been made; (iii) promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) provide Dealer with written notice specifying (A) Counterparty’s average daily Rule 10b-18 Purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months immediately preceding the announcement date for the Merger Transaction that were not effected through Dealer or its affiliates and (B) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding such announcement date. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Counterparty to Dealer that such information is true and correct. In addition, Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders. Counterparty acknowledges that any such notice may result in a Regulatory Disruption, a Trading Condition or, if such notice relates to an event that is also an ISDA Event, an Early Valuation, or may affect the length of any ongoing Unwind Period. Accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 6(c) above. “ Merger Transaction ” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act. For the avoidance of doubt, a Merger Transaction or the announcement thereof shall not give either party the right to designate an Early Valuation Date for any Transaction and/or to accelerate or preclude an election by Counterparty of Physical Settlement for any Settlement of any Transaction, unless such Merger Transaction or the announcement thereof is also an ISDA Event.

(h)    Counterparty will promptly execute each properly completed Supplemental Confirmation delivered to Counterparty by Dealer.

(i)    Counterparty represents to Dealer that Dealer, solely in its capacity as “Forward Purchaser” or “Forward Seller” (each as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) and solely with respect to its entering into and consummating the transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation and the Equity Distribution

 

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Agreement (including any “Forward Contract” thereunder) either (x) will not collectively with the other Forward Purchasers or Forward Sellers under the Alternative Distribution Agreements (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) be a “Person” (as defined in Counterparty’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”)) by virtue of being a member of a “group” (as referenced in the definition of Person in the Charter) with such Forward Purchasers or Forward Sellers or both; or (y) may, to the extent necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation and the Equity Distribution Agreement (including any “Forward Contract” thereunder), have “Beneficial Ownership” and “Constructive Ownership” of Shares in excess of the related “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” (each as defined in the Charter) by virtue of entering into transactions described in Article VII of the Charter.

7.     Termination on Bankruptcy . The parties hereto agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or the Equity Definitions, each Transaction constitutes a contract to issue a security of Counterparty as contemplated by Section 365(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code and that a Transaction and the obligations and rights of Counterparty and Dealer (except for any liability as a result of breach of any of the representations or warranties provided by Counterparty in Section 4 or Section 5 above) shall immediately terminate, without the necessity of any notice, payment (whether directly, by netting or otherwise) or other action by Counterparty or Dealer, if, on or prior to the final Settlement Date, Cash Settlement Payment Date or Net Share Settlement Date, as the case may be, for such Transaction an Insolvency Filing occurs or any other proceeding commences with respect to Counterparty under the Bankruptcy Code (a “ Bankruptcy Termination Event ”).

8.     Additional Provisions .

(a)    Dealer acknowledges and agrees that Counterparty’s obligations under the Transactions are not secured by any collateral and that neither this Master Confirmation nor any Supplemental Confirmation is intended to convey to Dealer rights with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and by any Supplemental Confirmation that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Counterparty; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement; provided further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transaction other than the Transactions.

(b)    [Reserved].

(c)    The parties hereto intend for:

(i)    each Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(27), 362 (o), 546(e), 546(j), 555 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code;

(ii)    the rights given to Dealer pursuant to “Early Valuation” in Section 2 above to constitute “contractual rights” to cause the liquidation of a “securities contract” and to set off mutual debts and claims in connection with a “securities contract”, as such terms are used in Sections 555 and 362(b)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code;

(iii)    any cash, securities or other property provided as performance assurance, credit support or collateral with respect to the Transactions to constitute “margin payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code;

(iv)    all payments for, under or in connection with the Transactions, all payments for Shares and the transfer of Shares to constitute “settlement payments” and “transfers” under a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; and

(v)    any or all obligations that either party has with respect to this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement to constitute property held by or due from such party to margin, guaranty or settle obligations of the other party with respect to the transactions under the Agreement (including the Transactions) or any other agreement between such parties.

 

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(d)    Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, in no event will Counterparty be required to deliver in the aggregate in respect of all Settlement Dates, Net Share Settlement Dates or other dates on which Shares are delivered in respect of any amount owed under any Transaction a number of Shares greater than 1.5 times the Number of Shares for such Transaction as of the Trade Date for such Transaction (the “ Capped Number ”). The Capped Number shall be subject to adjustment only on account of (x) Potential Adjustment Events of the type specified in (1) Sections 11.2(e)(i) through (vi) of the Equity Definitions or (2) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions so long as, in the case of this sub-clause (2), such event is within Issuer’s control and (y) Merger Events requiring corporate action of Issuer (or any surviving entity of the Issuer hereunder in connection with any such Merger Event). Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer (which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be repeated for all Transactions on each day that any Transaction is outstanding) that the aggregate Capped Number across all Transactions hereunder is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transactions) on the date of the determination of such aggregated Capped Number. In the event Counterparty shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable under any Transaction as a result of this Section 8(d) (the resulting deficit for such Transaction, the “ Deficit Shares ”), Counterparty shall be continually obligated to deliver Shares, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, on a pro rata basis across all Transactions hereunder, when, and to the extent that, (A) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries after the date hereof (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (B) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved or (C) Counterparty additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for transactions other than the Transactions (such events as set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, collectively, the “ Share Issuance Events ”). Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the occurrence of any of the Share Issuance Events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (A), (B) or (C) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered for each Transaction) and, as promptly as reasonably practicable, deliver such Shares thereafter. Counterparty shall not, until Counterparty’s obligations under the Transactions have been satisfied in full, use any Shares that become available for potential delivery to Dealer as a result of any Share Issuance Event for the settlement or satisfaction of any transaction or obligation other than the Transactions or reserve any such Shares for future issuance for any purpose other than to satisfy Counterparty’s obligations to Dealer under the Transactions.

(e)    The parties intend for this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation to constitute a “Contract” as described in the letter dated October 6, 2003 submitted on behalf of Goldman, Sachs & Co. to Paula Dubberly of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Staff ”) to which the Staff responded in an interpretive letter dated October 9, 2003.

(f)    The parties intend for each Transaction (taking into account purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction) to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(A) under the Exchange Act and for this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation to constitute a binding contract or instruction satisfying the requirements of 10b5-1(c) and to be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).

(g)    [Reserved.]

(h)    Counterparty acknowledges that:

(i)    during the term of the Transactions, Dealer and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to the Transactions;

(ii)    Dealer and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and derivatives linked to the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transactions, including acting as agent or as principal and for its own account or on behalf of customers;

 

21


(iii)    Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Counterparty’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the Settlement Price for each Transaction;

(iv)    any market activities of Dealer and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price and the Settlement Price for each Transaction, each in a manner that may be adverse to Counterparty; and

(v)    each Transaction is a derivatives transaction; Dealer may purchase or sell shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the price received by Counterparty under the terms of the relevant Transaction.

(i)    Counterparty and Dealer agree and acknowledge that: (A) the Transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation will be entered into in reliance on the fact that this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation hereto form a single agreement between Counterparty and Dealer, and Dealer would not otherwise enter into such Transactions; (B) this Master Confirmation, together with each Supplemental Confirmation hereto, is a “qualified financial contract”, as such term is defined in Section 5-701(b)(2) of the General Obligations Law; (C) each Supplemental Confirmation hereto, regardless of whether transmitted electronically or otherwise, constitutes a “confirmation in writing sufficient to indicate that a contract has been made between the parties” hereto, as set forth in Section 5-701(b)(3)(b) of the General Obligations Law; and (D) this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation hereto constitute a prior “written contract”, as set forth in Section 5-701(b)(1) (b) of the General Obligations Law, and each party hereto intends and agrees to be bound by this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation.

(j)    Counterparty and Dealer agree that, upon the effectiveness of any Accepted Placement Notice relating to a Forward (as such term is defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), in respect of the Transaction to which such Accepted Placement Notice relates, each of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Master Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction (including, without limitation, Dealer’s right to designate an Early Valuation Date in respect of such Transaction pursuant to the provisions opposite the caption “Early Valuation” in Section 2 and the termination of such Transaction following a Bankruptcy Termination Event as described in Section 7) shall govern, and be applicable to, such Transaction as of the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction as if the Trade Date for such Transaction were such first Trading Day.

 

  (k)

Tax Matters.

 

  (i)

For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement:

 

  (A)

Dealer makes the following representations:

(1)    It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(2)    It is a [national banking association] [limited liability company] organized and existing under the laws of the [United States of America] [State of Delaware, is treated as a disregarded entity of a New York corporation for United States federal income tax purposes] and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii).]

 

  (B)

Counterparty makes the following representations:

(1)    It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

22


(2)    It is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State of Maryland, and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(J).

(ii)     Withholding Tax imposed on payments to non-US counterparties under the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act . “Indemnifiable Tax”, as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement, shall not include any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, a FATCA Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.

(iii)     871(m) Protocol . The parties agree that the definitions and provisions contained in the ISDA 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol, as published by ISDA and as may be amended, supplemented, replaced or superseded from time to time (the “871(m) Protocol”) shall apply to the Agreement as if the parties had adhered to the 871(m) Protocol as of the effective date of the Agreement.

(iv)     Tax documentation . For the purposes of Sections 4(a)(i) and 4(a)(ii) of the Agreement, Counterparty shall provide to Dealer, and Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty, a valid and duly executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or any successor thereto, (i) on or before the date of execution of this Confirmation; (ii) promptly upon reasonable demand by the other party; and (iii) promptly upon learning that any such tax form previously provided has become invalid, obsolete, or incorrect. Additionally, Counterparty or Dealer shall, promptly upon reasonable request by the other party, provide such other tax forms and documents reasonably requested by the other party.

(v)     Change of Account . Section 2(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended by the addition of the following after the word “delivery” in the first line thereof: “to another account in the same legal and tax jurisdiction”.

9.     Indemnification . Counterparty and the Operating Partnership agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and its assignees and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “ Indemnified Party ”) from and against any and all losses (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, financial losses resulting from the economic terms of the Transactions), claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to any breach of any covenant or representation made by Counterparty in this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement. Counterparty and the Operating Partnership will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Dealer’s breach of any covenant or representation made by Dealer in this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement or any willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of any Indemnified Party. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty and the Operating Partnership shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty and the Operating Partnership will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim covered by this Section 9 or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty or the Operating Partnership. Counterparty and the Operating Partnership also agree that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to Counterparty, the Operating Partnership or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of Counterparty or the Operating Partnership in connection with or as a result of any matter referred to in this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by Counterparty or the Operating Partnership result from the Dealer’s breach of any covenant or representation made by the Dealer in this Master Confirmation, any

 

23


Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement or any willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of any Indemnified Party. The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive the completion of the Transactions contemplated by this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation and any assignment and/or delegation of the Transactions made pursuant to the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments due as a result of this provision may not be used to set off any obligation of Dealer upon settlement of the Transactions.

10.     Beneficial Ownership . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be entitled to receive, or be deemed to receive, or, with respect to clause (y) below, have the “right to acquire” (within the meaning of NYSE Rule 312.04(g)), Shares to the extent that, upon such receipt of such Shares, (i) the “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Shares by Dealer, any of its affiliates’ business units subject to aggregation with Dealer for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and all persons who may form a “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) with Dealer with respect to “beneficial ownership” of any Shares (collectively, “ Dealer Group ”) would be equal to or greater than the lesser of (x) 4.5% of the outstanding Shares (such condition, an “ Excess Section  13 Ownership Position ”), and (y) 4.9% of the outstanding Shares as of the Trade Date for any Transaction, which shall be notified by Counterparty to Dealer on or promptly following the Trade Date and set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation (such number of Shares, the “ Threshold Number of Shares ” and such condition, the “ Excess NYSE Ownership Position ”) or (ii) Dealer, Dealer Group or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “ Dealer Person ”) under Sections 3-601 through 3-603 of the Maryland Code (Corporations and Associations) or any state or federal bank holding company or banking laws, or any federal, state or local laws, regulations or regulatory orders applicable to ownership of Shares (“ Applicable Laws ”), would own, beneficially own, constructively own, control, hold the power to vote or otherwise meet a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the lesser of (A) the maximum number of Shares that would be permitted under Applicable Laws and (B) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Laws and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received or that would give rise to any consequences under the constitutive documents of Counterparty (including, without limitation, Article VII of the Charter and any contract or agreement to which Counterparty is a party), in each case minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (such condition described in clause (ii), an “ Excess Regulatory Ownership Position ”). If any delivery owed to Dealer under any Transaction is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, (i) Counterparty’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Counterparty shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Counterparty that such delivery would not result in (x) Dealer Group directly or indirectly so beneficially owning in excess of the lesser of (A) 4.5% of the outstanding Shares and (B) the Threshold Number of Shares or (y) the occurrence of an Excess Regulatory Ownership Position and (ii) if such delivery relates to a Physical Settlement of any Transaction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer shall not be obligated to satisfy the portion of its payment obligation with respect to such Transaction corresponding to any Shares required to be so delivered until the date Counterparty makes such delivery.

11.     Non-Confidentiality . The parties hereby agree that (i) effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transactions, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transactions and all materials of any kind, including opinions or other tax analyses, provided by Dealer and its affiliates to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that the foregoing does not constitute an authorization to disclose the identity of Dealer or its affiliates, agents or advisers, or, except to the extent relating to such tax structure or tax treatment, any specific pricing terms or commercial or financial information, and (ii) Dealer does not assert any claim of proprietary ownership in respect of any description contained herein or therein relating to the use of any entities, plans or arrangements to give rise to a particular United States federal income tax treatment for Counterparty.

12.     Restricted Shares . If Counterparty is unable to comply with the covenant of Counterparty contained in Section 6 above or Dealer otherwise determines in its reasonable opinion that any Shares to be delivered to Dealer by Counterparty under any Transaction may not be freely returned by Dealer to securities lenders as described in the covenant of Counterparty contained in Section 6 above, then delivery of any such Settlement Shares (the “ Unregistered Settlement Shares ”) shall be effected pursuant to Annex A hereto, unless waived by Dealer.

 

24


13.     Use of Shares . Dealer acknowledges and agrees that, except in the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall use any Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer on any Settlement Date to return to securities lenders to close out borrowings created by Dealer in connection with Dealer’s hedging activities related to exposure under the Transactions or otherwise in compliance with applicable law.

14.     Rule 10b-18 . In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Net Share Settlement or Cash Settlement of any Transaction, Dealer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its activities, or cause its affiliates to conduct their activities, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, as if such provisions were applicable to such purchases and taking into account any applicable Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters as appropriate, and subject to any delays between the execution and reporting of a trade of the Shares on the Exchange and other circumstances beyond Dealer’s control.

15.     Governing Law . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and all matters arising in connection with the Agreement this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without reference to its choice of laws doctrine other than Title 14 of Article 5 of the New York General Obligations Law).

16.     Set-Off . Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set-off delivery or payment obligations it owes to the other party under any Transaction against any delivery or payment obligations owed to it by the other party, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise.

17.     Staggered Settlement . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer may, by prior notice to Counterparty, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “ Original Delivery Date ”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.

18.     Waiver of Trial by Jury . EACH OF COUNTERPARTY AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

19.     Jurisdiction . THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS. NOTHING IN THIS PROVISION SHALL PROHIBIT A PARTY FROM BRINGING AN ACTION TO ENFORCE A MONEY JUDGMENT IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

20.     Counterparts . This Master Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Master Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

 

25


21.     Delivery of Cash . For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Counterparty to deliver cash in respect of the settlement of the Transactions, except in circumstances where the required cash settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity , as in effect on the Trade Date (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where Counterparty elects Cash Settlement). For the avoidance of doubt, the preceding sentence shall not be construed as limiting Section 9 hereunder or any damages that may be payable by Counterparty as a result of a breach of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation.

22.     Adjustments . For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party, as applicable, shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party, assuming that the Hedging Party maintains a commercially reasonable hedge position at the time of the event.

23.     Other Forward and Similar Dealer Transactions . Counterparty agrees that (x) it shall not cause to occur, or permit to exist, any Forward Hedge Selling Period at any time there is (1) a “Forward Hedge Selling Period” (or equivalent term) relating to any other issuer forward sale or similar transaction (including, without limitation, any “Transaction” under (as and defined under) any substantially identical master forward confirmation) with any financial institution other than Dealer (an “ Other Forward Transaction ”), (2) any “Unwind Period” (or equivalent term) hereunder, under any Other Forward Transaction or under any other issuer forward sale or similar transaction with Dealer (a “ Similar Dealer Transaction ”) or (3) any other period in which Counterparty directly or indirectly issues and sells Shares pursuant to an underwriting agreement (or similar agreement including, without limitation, any equity distribution agreement) (such period, a “ Selling Period ”) that Counterparty enters into with any financial institution other than Dealer, and (y) Counterparty shall not cause to occur, or permit to exist, an Unwind Period at any time there is an “Unwind Period” (or equivalent term) under any Other Forward Transaction or any Similar Dealer Transaction, a “Forward Hedge Selling Period” (or equivalent term) relating to any Transaction, any Other Forward Transaction or any Similar Dealer Transaction, or any Selling Period.

24.     Designation by Dealer . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer’s obligations in respect of any Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty only to the extent of any such performance.

 

26


Counterparty hereby agrees (a) to check this Master Confirmation carefully and promptly upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty hereunder, by manually signing this Master Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and promptly returning an executed copy to us.

 

Yours faithfully,
[DEALER]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

Agreed and accepted by:

 

NEXPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST, INC.
By:  

                                         

Name:  
Title:  

Agreed and accepted with respect to Sections 5 and 9 hereof and

Annex A hereto by

NEXPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

 

By:   NexPoint Residential Trust
  Operating Partnership, GP, LLC,
  as the sole general partner
  By:   NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.,
    As the sole member
    By:  

                                                     

    Name:  
    Title:  

Agreed and accepted with respect to Section 5 hereof and Annex A hereto by

NEXPOINT REAL ESTATE ADVISORS, L.P.

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 


ANNEX A

PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

If Counterparty delivers Unregistered Settlement Shares pursuant to Section 12 above (a “ Private Placement Settlement ”), then:

(a)    all Unregistered Settlement Shares shall be delivered to Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a) (2) thereof;

(b)    as of or prior to the date of delivery, Dealer and any potential purchaser of any such shares from Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) identified by Dealer shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for private placements of equity securities of similar size (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them); provided that prior to receiving or being granted access to any such information, Dealer, such affiliate of Dealer or such potential purchaser, as the case may be, may be required by Counterparty to enter into a customary nondisclosure agreement with Counterparty in respect of any such due diligence investigation;

(c)    as of the date of delivery, Counterparty, the Operating Partnership and the Adviser shall enter into an agreement (a “ Private Placement Agreement ”) with Dealer (or any affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate), substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of similar size, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its affiliates and obligations to use best efforts to obtain customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters, and shall provide for the payment by Counterparty of all commercially reasonable fees and expenses in connection with such resale, including all commercially reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, and shall contain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Counterparty reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales; and

(d)    in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to Dealer (or any such affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by Dealer (or any such affiliate), Counterparty shall, if so requested by Dealer, prepare, in cooperation with Dealer, a private placement memorandum in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer.

In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall, in its good faith discretion, adjust the amount of Unregistered Settlement Shares to be delivered to Dealer hereunder in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Unregistered Settlement Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Dealer and may only be saleable by Dealer at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Unregistered Settlement Shares.

If Counterparty delivers any Unregistered Settlement Shares in respect of a Transaction, Counterparty agrees that (i) such Shares may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and (ii) after the applicable “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed after the applicable Settlement Date, Counterparty shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for the Shares to remove, any legends referring to any transfer restrictions from such Shares upon delivery by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer) to Counterparty or such transfer agent of any seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer or its affiliates in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer).

 

A-1


SCHEDULE A

SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION

 

To:

  

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

From:

  

[DEALER]

Re:

  

Issuer Share Forward Sale Transaction

Date:

  

[            ], 20[    ]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this Supplemental Confirmation is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between [DEALER] (“ Dealer ”) and NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. (“ Counterparty ”) (together, the “ Contracting Parties ”) on the Trade Date specified below. This Supplemental Confirmation is a binding contract between Dealer and Counterparty as of the relevant Trade Date for the Transaction referenced below.

1.    This Supplemental Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Master Confirmation dated as of February [    ], 2019 (the “ Master Confirmation ”) between the Contracting Parties, as amended and supplemented from time to time. All provisions contained in the Master Confirmation govern this Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified below.

2.    The terms of the Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

Trade Date:    [            ], 20[    ]
Effective Date:    [            ], 20[    ]
Maturity Date:    [            ], 20[    ]
Number of Shares:    [            ]
Initial Forward Price:    USD [    ]
Spread:    [ . ]%
Volume-Weighted Hedge Price:    USD [    ]
Threshold Price:    USD [    ]
Initial Stock Loan Rate:    [    ] basis points per annum
Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    [    ] basis points per annum
Threshold Number of Shares:    [    ]

Counterparty hereby agrees (a) to check this Supplemental Confirmation carefully and promptly upon receipt so that errors or discrepancies can be promptly identified and rectified and (b) to confirm that the foregoing (in the exact form provided by Dealer) correctly sets forth the terms of the agreement between Dealer and Counterparty hereunder, by manually signing this Supplemental Confirmation or this page hereof as evidence of agreement to such terms and providing the other information requested herein and promptly returning an executed copy to us.

 

Yours faithfully,
[DEALER]
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

A-2


Agreed and accepted by:

 

NEXPOINT RESIDENTIAL TRUST, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

A-3


Schedule I

FORWARD PRICE REDUCTION AMOUNTS

 

Forward Price Reduction Date:

   Forward Price Reduction Amount:  

[            ], 20[    ]

     USD[    ]  

[            ], 20[    ]

     USD[    ]  

[            ], 20[    ]

     USD[    ]  

[            ], 20[    ]

     USD[    ]  

REGULAR DIVIDEND AMOUNTS

For any calendar month ending on or prior to [            ]:        USD[    ]

For any calendar month ending after [            ]:                        USD[    ]

 

A-4

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

February 20, 2019

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

300 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201    

Re:        NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company having a maximum aggregate gross sales price of $100,000,000 (the “Shares”) to be sold in an at-the-market offering (the “Offering”) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-216697) originally filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about March 15, 2017, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). You have requested our opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.

In our capacity as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company and for the purposes of this opinion, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (collectively, the “Documents”):

(i)    the corporate charter of the Company (the “Charter”) represented by Articles of Amendment and Restatement filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “Department”) on June 15, 2016;

(ii)    the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof (the “Bylaws”);

(iii)    resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”), or a duly authorized committee thereof, on or as of February 13, 2019 and February 20, 2019 (collectively, the “Directors’ Resolutions”);

(iv)    the Registration Statement and the related form of prospectus and prospectus supplement included therein, in substantially the form filed or to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Act;


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NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

February 20, 2019

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(v)    fully executed copies of each Equity Distribution Agreement, each dated as of February 20, 2019 (each, an “Equity Distribution Agreement” and, collectively, the “Equity Distribution Agreements”), by and among the Company, NexPoint Residential Trust Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and each of Jefferies LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., as sales agent and principal and, in certain cases, as forward seller and forward purchaser;

(vi)    a certificate of Brian Mitts, Chief Financial Officer, Executive VP-Finance, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company, and James Dondero, President of the Company, dated as of a recent date (the “Officers’ Certificate”), to the effect that, among other things, the Charter, the Bylaws and the Directors’ Resolutions are true, correct and complete, have not been rescinded or modified and are in full force and effect on the date of the Officers’ Certificate, and certifying, among other things, as to the authorization, approval, execution and delivery of the Equity Distribution Agreements;

(vii)    a status certificate of the Department, dated as of a recent date, to the effect that the Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is duly authorized to transact business in the State of Maryland; and

(viii)    such other laws, records, documents, certificates, opinions and instruments as we have deemed necessary to render this opinion, subject to the limitations, assumptions and qualifications noted below.

In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the following:

(a)    each person executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so;

(b)    each natural person executing any of the Documents is legally competent to do so;

(c)    any of the Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic; any of the Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents; all signatures on all of the Documents are genuine; all public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete; all statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete; there has been no modification of, or amendment to, any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents by action or omission of the parties or otherwise;

(d)    the Officers’ Certificate and all other certificates submitted to us are true and correct both when made and as of the date hereof;

(e)    the Company has not, and is not required to be, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940;


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NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

February 20, 2019

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(f)    none of the Shares will be issued or transferred in violation of the provisions of Article VII of the Charter relating to restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of stock of the Company;

(g)    none of the Shares will be issued and sold to an Interested Stockholder of the Company or an Affiliate thereof, all as defined in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), in violation of Section 3-602 of the MGCL;

(h)    in no event will the aggregate offering price of the Shares and any other securities issued and sold under the Registration Statement exceed $200,000,000;

(i)    the aggregate gross sales price of all of the Shares will not exceed $100,000,000, and the aggregate number of Shares to be issued and sold pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreements will not exceed the maximum number of Shares authorized for issuance and sale in the Directors’ Resolutions;

(j)    the consideration per share to be received by the Company for each of the Shares to be issued and sold pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreements will be determined in accordance with, and will not be less than the applicable minimum consideration per share set forth in, the Directors’ Resolutions; and

(k)    upon each issuance of any of the Shares subsequent to the date hereof, the total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company issued and outstanding, after giving effect to such issuance of such Shares, will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue under the Charter.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date of this letter:

1.    The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland.

2.    The Shares to be issued in the Offering have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and when such Shares are issued and delivered by the Company in exchange for payment therefor, in accordance with the Equity Distribution Agreements and the Directors’ Resolutions, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the substantive laws of the State of Maryland, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinions are expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter.


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NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

February 20, 2019

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This opinion letter is issued as of the date hereof and is necessarily limited to laws now in effect and facts and circumstances presently existing and brought to our attention. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion letter if any applicable laws change after the date hereof, or if we become aware of any facts or circumstances that now exist or that occur or arise in the future and may change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.

We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the applications to securities commissioners for the various states of the United States for registration of the Shares. We also consent to the identification of our firm as Maryland corporate counsel to the Company in the section of the Registration Statement entitled “Legal Matters”. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Ballard Spahr LLP

Exhibit 8.1

 

LOGO

February 20, 2019

NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc.

300 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with an “at-the-market” equity offering by the Company pursuant to which the Company intends to issue and sell up to $100,000,000 of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”). The Shares are included in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-216697), in the form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on March 15, 2017 and amended on April 24, 2017 (the “Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the final prospectus supplement, dated February 20, 2019 (“Prospectus Supplement”), to the base prospectus, dated April 24, 2017 (together with the documents incorporated by reference therein, the “Base Prospectus” and together with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”), with the Prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement.

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 documents incorporated by reference therein and the information deemed to be part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act;

 

  (ii)

the Base Prospectus, in the form contained in the Registration Statement;

 

  (iii)

the prospectus supplement, dated February 20, 2019, relating to the Shares, in the form filed with the Commission on February 20, 2019 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;

 

  (iv)

the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement (the “Articles of Incorporation”) and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), in each case, as in effect on the date hereof;


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February 20, 2019

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  (v)

resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 13, 2017 and February 13, 2019;

 

  (vi)

written consent adopted by the pricing committee of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 20, 2019;

 

  (vii)

a written consent adopted by the general partner of the Adviser on February 20, 2019;

 

  (viii)

executed copy of each Equity Distribution Agreement, dated February 20, 2019, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership, the Adviser and each of Jefferies LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.;

 

  (ix)

a fully executed copy of each master forward sale agreement, dated as of February 20, 2019 (each, a “Master Forward Sale Agreement” and, collectively, the “Master Forward Sale Agreements”), by and between the Company, the Operating Partnership, the Adviser and each of Jefferies LLC and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. as forward purchasers (each, a “Forward Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Forward Purchasers”);

 

  (x)

the supplemental confirmation to be entered into by and between the Company and one or more of the Forward Purchasers, in the form attached as Schedule A to the Master Forward Sale Agreements; and

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. 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 also assumed, with your consent, that NexPoint Real Estate Opportunities, LLC (fka Freedom REIT, LLC) was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for each of its taxable years beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 2013, and through its taxable year ended December 31, 2015.

In our capacity as counsel to the Company we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. For purposes of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts


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February 20, 2019

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set forth in the above referenced documents or in the Officer’s Certificate. In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification. In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

Our opinion is based upon the current provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative rulings, judicial decisions, and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the date hereof. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change or new interpretation, both prospectively and retroactively, and such changes or interpretation, as well as changes in the facts as they have been represented to us or assumed by us, could affect our opinion. Our opinion is rendered only as of the date hereof and we undertake no responsibility to update this opinion after this date. Our opinion does not foreclose the possibility of a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or by a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a contrary position by the IRS or Treasury Department in regulations or rulings issued in the future.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

  (1)

during the period commencing with the Company’s taxable year ended December 31, 2015 through its taxable year ended December 31, 2018, 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, 2019 and for future taxable years; and

 

  (2)

the statements set forth in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement under the caption “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” (as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, dated February 20, 2019, under the caption “Supplemental 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.

The Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon the Company’s ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating and other results, the various requirements under the Code with regard to, among other things, the sources of gross income, the composition of assets, the level of distributions to stockholders, and the diversity of its stock ownership. Winston & Strawn LLP undertakes no responsibility


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February 20, 2019

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to, and has not, reviewed the Company’s compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations, the nature of its assets, the amount and types of its gross income, the level of its distributions to stockholders and the diversity of its stock ownership for any given taxable year has satisfied the requirements under the Code for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

Other than as expressly stated above, we express no opinion on any issue relating to the Company or to any investment therein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “ Supplemental 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/ Winston & Strawn LLP