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): September 8, 2020

 

 

 

LOGO

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Commission file number 000-55430

 

Maryland   80-0854717

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19103

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(215) 231-7050

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

 

 

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

 

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

symbol

 

Name of each

exchange on which registered

n/a   n/a   n/a

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 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement

On September 8, 2020, Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc. (the “Registrant” or “REIT II”) entered into merger agreements (as described herein) to acquire each of Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. (“REIT I”) and Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc. (“REIT III”). As described in greater detail herein, both mergers are stock-for-stock transactions whereby each of REIT I and REIT III will be merged into a wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II. The consummation of REIT II’s merger with REIT I is not contingent upon the completion of the merger with REIT III, and the consummation of REIT II’s merger with REIT III is not contingent upon completion of the merger with REIT I.

REIT I Merger

On September 8, 2020, REIT II, RRE Opportunity OP II, LP (“OP II”), Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II (“Merger Sub I”), REIT I, and Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP (“OP I”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “REIT I Merger Agreement”).

Subject to the terms and conditions of the REIT I Merger Agreement, (i) REIT I will merge with and into Merger Sub I, with Merger Sub I surviving as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II (the “REIT I Company Merger”) and (ii) OP I will merge with and into OP II, with OP II surviving (the “REIT I Partnership Merger” and, together with the REIT I Company Merger, the “REIT I Merger”). At such time, the separate existence of REIT I and OP I shall cease.

At the effective time of the REIT I Company Merger, each issued and outstanding share of REIT I’s common stock (or fraction thereof), $0.01 par value per share (the “REIT I Common Stock”), will be converted into the right to receive 1.22423 shares of common stock of REIT II, $0.01 par value per share (the “REIT II Common Stock”), and each issued and outstanding share of REIT I’s convertible stock, $0.01 par value (the “REIT I Convertible Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive $0.02 in cash (without interest).

In addition, each share of REIT I Common Stock or REIT I Convertible Stock, if any, then held by any REIT I wholly owned subsidiary or held by REIT II or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be retired and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be paid, nor will any other payment or right inure or be made with respect to such shares of REIT I Common Stock and REIT I Convertible Stock in connection with or as a consequence of the REIT I Company Merger.

At the effective time of the REIT I Partnership Merger, each common unit of partnership interests in OP I (“OP I Common Units”) outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the REIT I Partnership Merger will convert into the right to receive 1.22423 common units of partnership interest in OP II (“OP II Common Units”) and each Series A Cumulative Participating Redeemable Preferred Unit in OP I (“OP I Series A Preferred Units”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the REIT I Partnership Merger will convert into the right to receive one Series A Cumulative Participating Redeemable Preferred Unit in OP II (“OP II Series A Preferred Units”).

The REIT I Merger Agreement contains customary covenants, including covenants prohibiting REIT I and its subsidiaries and representatives from soliciting, providing information or entering into discussions concerning proposals relating to alternative business combination transactions, subject to certain limited exceptions. The REIT I Merger Agreement also provides that prior to the approval by REIT I’s stockholders of the REIT I Company Merger, the board of directors of REIT I may in certain circumstances make a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change (as such term is defined in the REIT I Merger Agreement), subject to complying with certain conditions set forth in the REIT I Merger Agreement.


The REIT I Merger Agreement may be terminated under certain circumstances, including by either REIT II or REIT I (in each case, with the prior approval of the special committee of their respective board of directors) (i) if the REIT I Company Merger has not been consummated on or before 11:59 p.m. New York time on June 8, 2021, (ii) if the approval of the stockholders of REIT I (“REIT I Stockholder Approval”) has not been obtained at the meeting of the stockholders of REIT I to consider the REIT I Merger, or (iii) upon a material uncured breach of the respective obligations, covenants or agreements by the other party that would cause the closing conditions in the REIT I Merger Agreement not to be satisfied.

REIT I may terminate the REIT I Merger Agreement if REIT I has properly accepted a “Superior Proposal” (as defined in the REIT I Merger Agreement) at any time prior to receipt by REIT I of the REIT I Stockholder Approval pursuant to the terms of the REIT I Merger Agreement. REIT II may terminate the REIT I Merger Agreement at any time prior to receipt by REIT I of the REIT I Stockholder Approval upon (i) a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change or the failure of REIT I’s board of directors to include its recommendation in favor of the REIT I Company Merger in the Joint Proxy Statement and Prospectus to be distributed to REIT I’s stockholders, (ii) a tender offer or exchange offer for any shares of REIT I Common Stock that constitutes a Competing Proposal (other than by REIT II or any of its affiliates) is commenced and the REIT I board of directors fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by the REIT I stockholders and to publicly reaffirm the REIT I board recommendation within ten business days of being requested to do so by REIT II, or (iii) upon REIT I’s material violation of the non-solicit provisions of the REIT I Merger Agreement.

If the REIT I Merger Agreement is terminated in certain circumstances, including in connection with REIT I’s acceptance of a Superior Proposal or making a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change, then REIT I must pay to REIT II a termination fee of $22,989,657 plus reimburse up to $2,000,000 for REIT II’s expenses. Additionally, if the REIT I Merger Agreement is terminated because the closing conditions have been satisfied or waived but either REIT II or REIT I have failed to close, then such party must reimburse the other party up to $2,000,000 for that other party’s expense.

The REIT I Merger Agreement contains certain representations and warranties made by the parties thereto. The representations and warranties of the parties contained in the REIT I Merger Agreement are subject to certain important qualifications and limitations set forth in confidential disclosure letters delivered by each of REIT II and REIT I. Moreover, the representations and warranties are subject to a contractual standard of materiality that may be different from what may be viewed as material to stockholders.

The parties have agreed to limits on the conduct of their businesses between the signing of the REIT I Merger Agreement and the closing of the REIT I Merger. Generally, transactions that are not in the ordinary course of business require the consent of the other party. Ordinary distributions will also require the other party’s consent unless the distributions are needed for REIT qualification purposes, which is not expected.

The obligation of each party to consummate the REIT I Merger is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt by REIT I of the REIT I Stockholder Approval, delivery of certain documents and consents, the truth and correctness of the representations and warranties of the parties (subject to the materiality standards contained in the REIT I Merger Agreement), the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by REIT II to register the shares of the REIT II Common Stock to be issued as consideration in the REIT I Company Merger, and the absence of certain material adverse effects with respect to either REIT II or REIT I.


The foregoing description of the REIT I Merger Agreement is only a summary, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the REIT I Merger Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the REIT I Merger Agreement has been included to provide stockholders with information regarding its terms and is not intended to provide any factual information about REIT II or REIT I. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the REIT I Merger Agreement have been made solely for the benefit of the parties to the REIT I Merger Agreement, and are not intended as statements of fact to be relied upon by REIT II’s stockholders, but rather as a way of allocating the risk between the parties to the REIT I Merger Agreement in the event the statements therein prove to be inaccurate. Statements made in the REIT I Merger Agreement have been modified or qualified by certain confidential disclosures that were made between the parties in connection with the negotiation of the REIT I Merger Agreement, which disclosures are not reflected in the REIT I Merger Agreement attached hereto. Moreover, such statements may no longer be true as of a given date and may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material by stockholders. Accordingly, stockholders should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of REIT II or REIT I. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the REIT I Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in REIT II’s public disclosures. REIT II acknowledges that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, it is responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosures of material information regarding material contractual provisions are required to make the statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K not misleading.

REIT I Voting Agreement

Concurrently with the execution of the REIT I Merger Agreement, as an inducement to REIT II to enter into the REIT I Merger Agreement, Resource Real Estate, LLC (“Resource Real Estate”) and Alan F. Feldman, solely in their capacity as holders of REIT I Convertible Stock, entered into voting agreements with REIT II. Pursuant to the terms of the voting agreements they have agreed, among other things, to vote all shares of REIT I Convertible Stock owned by such holder in favor of the approval of the REIT I Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. The shares of REIT I Convertible Stock held by Resource Real Estate and Mr. Feldman represent more than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of REIT I Convertible Stock and as such they can approve the REIT I Merger Agreement on behalf of the holders of REIT I Convertible Stock. The voting agreements will terminate automatically in the event that the merger agreement is terminated for any reason in accordance with its terms. The foregoing summary of the material terms of the voting agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the voting agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 and incorporated by reference herein.

Amended and Restated Operating Partnership Agreement

On September 8, 2020, in connection with the REIT I Partnership Merger, the board of directors of REIT II approved an Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of OP II (the “OP II Operating Partnership Agreement”), which shall become effective effective at the time of the REIT I Partnership Merger. The OP II Operating Partnership Agreement amends and supersedes the Limited Partnership Agreement of OP II dated January 16, 2014. Pursuant to the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement, REIT II is the general partner of OP II, RRE Opportunity Holdings II, LLC is the initial limited partner of OP II and C-III Capital Partners LLC (“C-III Capital Partners”) and Resource Real Estate are limited partners of OP II.


Operations

The OP II Operating Partnership Agreement requires that OP II be operated in a manner that will enable it to (1) satisfy the requirements for being classified as a REIT for tax purposes, (2) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability, and (3) ensure that OP II will not be classified as a “publicly-traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which classification could result in OP II being taxed as a corporation, rather than as a partnership.

Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Units

The general partner is authorized to cause OP II to issue such additional units of partnership interest with such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties as shall be determined by the general partner in its sole discretion, subject to Delaware law and any consent rights expressly provided to holders of preferred units of limited partnership interest (“OP II Preferred Units”). Each issuance of equity securities by REIT II shall be accompanied by a contribution of the proceeds to REIT II from such issuance of equity securities to OP II in exchange for units of partnership interests having designations, preferences and other rights such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the REIT II equity securities. In addition, the general partner is authorized to cause OP II to issue units of partnership interests for less than fair market value if the general partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of REIT II and OP II.

Distributions and Allocations of Profits and Losses

The OP II Operating Partnership Agreement provides that, subject to priority allocations with respect to OP II Preferred Units, OP II generally will distribute cash available for distribution to its partners in accordance with their relative percentage interests on at least a quarterly basis in amounts as the general partner shall determine. The effect of these distributions will be that a holder of one OP II Common Unit will receive the same amount of cash distributions as the amount of cash distributions made to the holder of one share of REIT II common stock.

Similarly, the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement provides that profits and taxable income are allocated to the partners of OP II in accordance with their relative percentage interests. Subject to compliance with the provisions of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and corresponding Treasury Regulations, the effect of these allocations will be that a holder of one operating partnership unit will be allocated, to the extent possible, taxable income for each taxable year in an amount equal to the amount of taxable income to be recognized by a holder of one of our shares. Losses, if any, will generally be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests in OP II.

If OP II liquidates, OP II’s debts and other obligations must be satisfied before the partners may receive any distributions. Any distributions to partners then will be made to holders of OP II Preferred Units in order to satisfy any liquidation preference held by them, and then to the holders of OP II Common Units partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests in OP II.

Rights, Obligations and Powers of the General Partner

As OP II’s general partner, REIT II generally has complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control OP II’s business and to make all decisions affecting its assets. This authority generally includes, among other things, the authority to:

 

 

acquire, purchase, own, operate, lease and dispose of any real property and any other property;


 

construct buildings and make other improvements on owned or leased properties;

 

 

authorize, issue, sell, redeem or otherwise purchase any debt or other securities;

 

 

borrow or lend money, or guarantee indebtedness;

 

 

make or revoke any tax election;

 

 

maintain insurance coverage in amounts and types as the general partner determines is necessary;

 

 

retain employees or other service providers;

 

 

form or acquire interests in joint ventures; and

 

 

merge, consolidate or combine OP II with another entity.

In addition to the administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by OP II in acquiring and operating real properties, OP II will pay or reimburse REIT II for administrative and operating costs and expenses, and such expenses will be treated as expenses of OP II. Such expenses will include:

 

 

all expenses relating to the formation and continuity of OP II’s existence;

 

 

all expenses relating to any offering or repurchase of securities of REIT II;

 

 

all expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic reports by REIT II under federal, state or local laws or regulations;

 

 

all expenses associated with compliance by REIT II with applicable laws, rules and regulations;

 

 

all costs and expenses associated with any 401(k) plan, incentive plan, bonus plan or other plan providing for compensation of the employees of REIT II;

 

 

all costs and expenses relating to any issuance or redemption of partnership interests; and

 

 

all of our other operating or administrative costs incurred in the ordinary course of our business on behalf of OP II.

Exchange Rights

The holders of OP II Common Units, including C-III Capital Partners and Resource Real Estate, have the right to cause their operating partnership units to be redeemed by OP II or purchased by REIT II for cash. In either event, the cash amount to be paid will be equal to the cash value of the number of REIT II shares that would be issuable if the OP II Common Units were exchanged for shares of REIT II common stock based on the conversion ratio set forth in OP II Operating Partnership Agreement. Alternatively, at REIT II’s sole discretion, REIT II may elect to purchase the Common Units by issuing shares of REIT II common stock for the Common Units exchanged based on the conversion ratio set forth in the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement. The conversion ratio is initially one to one, but may be adjusted based on certain events including: (i) if REIT II declares or pays a distribution on its outstanding shares in shares of REIT II common stock, (ii) if REIT II subdivides its outstanding shares of common


stock, or (iii) if REIT II combines its outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller number of shares of common stock. These exchange rights may not be exercised, however, if and to the extent that the delivery of shares upon exercise would (1) result in any person owning shares of REIT II common stock in excess of REIT II’s aggregate stock ownership limit, (2) result in REIT II’s shares of common stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons, (3) cause OP II to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, (4) cause REIT II to own, directly or constructively, 9.9% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code, (5) cause REIT II to violate the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (6) require REIT II to register shares of its common stock pursuant to the Securities Act, (7) REIT II believes that OP II will be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code, or if REIT II no longer qualifies as a REIT.

In general, holders of OP II Common Units may exercise their exchange rights at any time after one year following the date of issuance of their OP II Common Units; however, Resource Real Estate and C-III Capital Partners may not exercise their exchange rights with respect to the OP II Common Units they hold until such OP II Common Units have been outstanding for at least two years. A holder of OP II Common Units may not deliver more than two exchange notices each calendar year and may not exercise an exchange right for less than 1,000 OP II Common Units, unless such limited partner holds less than 1,000 units, in which case, such limited partner must exercise its exchange right for all of its OP II Common Units.

Amendment of the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement

The consent of REIT II, as the general partner of OP II, is required for any amendment to the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement. Subject to any consent rights expressly provided to holders of OP II Preferred Units, REIT II, as the general partner of OP II, without the consent of any limited partner, may amend the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement in any respect or merge or consolidate OP II with or into any other partnership or business entity as set forth in the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement, provided, however, that the following amendments shall require the consent of a majority in interest of the OP II Common Units (a majority of which are owned indirectly by REIT II):

 

 

any amendment affecting the operation of the exchange right in a manner adverse to the limited partners;

 

 

any amendment that would adversely affect the rights of the limited partners to receive the distributions payable to them pursuant to the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement (other than the issuance of additional limited partnership interests);

 

 

any amendment that would alter the allocations of profit and loss to the limited partners (other than the issuance of additional limited partnership interests); and

 

 

any amendment that would impose on the limited partners any obligation to make additional capital contributions to OP II.

Term and Dissolution

OP II will have perpetual duration, unless it is dissolved earlier upon the first to occur of the following:

 

 

the general partner declares bankruptcy or withdraws from the partnership, provided, however, that the remaining partners may decide to continue the business of OP II;


 

90 days after the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of OP II;

 

 

the exchange of all limited partnership interests (other than such interests held by the general partner or affiliates of the general partner); or

 

 

the election by the general partner that OP II should be dissolved.

Transferability of Interests

In general, REIT II may not transfer all or any portion of its general partnership interest in OP II (except to a wholly owned subsidiary). In addition REIT II, as general partner of OP II, may not engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination, or sell all or substantially all of its assets unless (i) the holders of a majority of the Common Units approve such transaction, (ii) as a result of the transaction, the limited partners will receive for each Common Unit an amount of cash, securities or other property equal in value to the amount a holder of one share of REIT II common stock paid in the transaction, (iii) REIT II is the surviving entity in the transaction and either the holders of shares of REIT II common stock receive no consideration in the transaction or the limited partners receive for each Common Unit an amount of cash, securities or other property equal in value to the amount a holder of one share of REIT II common stock is paid in the transaction, or (iv) the surviving entity agrees to assume all obligations of the general partner set forth in the OP II Operating Partnership Agreement. Limited partners have no right to remove REIT II as general partner.

Series A Cumulative Participating Redeemable Preferred Units

The OP II Operating Partnership Agreement sets forth the rights, powers, privileges, restrictions, qualifications and limitations of the OP II Series A Preferred Units.

With respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, distribution or winding up of OP II, the OP II Series A Preferred Units rank senior to all classes and series of OP II Common Units and any other class or series of OP II Preferred Units. Each OP II Series A Preferred Unit is entitled to a 7.00% per annum preferred priority return on the stated value of each OP II Series A Preferred Unit commencing on the date of issuance and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance, and thereafter a 10.00% per annum preferred priority return on the stated value of each OP II Series A Preferred Unit (the “Priority Return”), as well as, with respect to such distribution period, the amount of distributions a holder of such OP II Series A Preferred Unit would be entitled to receive if such OP II Series A Preferred Units were treated as part of a single class of units with the Common Units with the right to participate in distributions pari passu with the Common Units (the “Preferred Return”). In addition, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of OP II, the holders of OP II Series A Preferred Units are entitled to be paid out of the assets of OP II legally available for distribution, after payment or provision for OP II’s debts and other liabilities, a liquidation preference equal to the state value per unit plus any accrued but unpaid Priority Return and any accrued but unpaid Preferred Return. Such liquidation preference shall be paid before OP II may pay any liquidating distributions to any holders of OP II Common Units.

Except as described below, the OP II Series A Preferred Units are not redeemable by OP II prior to the first anniversary of the date of issuance. Following such date, the holders of OP II Series A Preferred Units may elect to have up to 25% of the number of Series A Preferred Units originally issued to such holder redeemed by OP II each year for the following four years. Such redemption right shall be suspended at such time as REIT II applies to list its shares of common stock on a national securities exchange, and shall terminate at such time as the national securities exchange approves the REIT II common stock for listing. Upon the occurrence of a listing of the REIT II common stock on a national


securities exchange, a change of control of REIT II, or the second anniversary of the date of issuance, OP II may at its option redeem for cash all or a portion of the then-outstanding OP II Series A Preferred Units. The redemption price to be paid in respect of a redemption of one OP II Series A Preferred Unit shall be an amount of cash equal to the stated value of such OP II Series A Preferred Unit, plus the value as of such date of one share of REIT II common stock (as may be adjusted), plus any accrued but unpaid Priority Return and any accrued but unpaid Preferred Return (the “Redemption Price”).

In the event that the redemption right described above is terminated in connection with a listing of the shares of REIT II common stock on a national securities exchange, beginning 180 days after the date of such listing, the holders of OP II Series A Preferred Units shall have the right to require REIT II to purchase the OP II Series A Preferred Units in exchange for a number of listed shares of REIT II common stock determined by dividing (i) the number of OP II Series A Preferred Units multiplied by the Redemption Price as of the date of the exchange by (ii) the volume-weighted average price of such listed shares over the 30-day period prior to the date of the exchange.

The OP II Series A Preferred Units generally will not have any voting rights; however, unless (i) fewer than 12.5% of the number of OP II Series A Preferred Units originally issued remain outstanding, (ii) the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding OP II Series A Preferred Units consent, or (iii) an additional class or series of OP II Preferred Units is being issued in connection with the full redemption of the OP II Series A Preferred Units, OP II shall not issue any class or series of OP II Preferred Units with distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, distribution or winding up of OP II senior to the OP II Series A Preferred Units.

The foregoing summary of the material terms of OP II Operating Partnership Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to OP II Operating Partnership Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated by reference herein.

REIT III Merger

On September 8, 2020, REIT II, OP II, Revolution III Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II (“Merger Sub III”), REIT III, and Resource Apartment OP III, LP (“OP III”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “REIT III Merger Agreement”).

Subject to the terms and conditions of the REIT III Merger Agreement, (i) REIT III will merge with and into Merger Sub III, with Merger Sub III surviving as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II (the “REIT III Company Merger”) and (ii) OP III will merge with and into OP II, with OP II surviving (the “REIT III Partnership Merger” and, together with the REIT III Company Merger, the “REIT III Merger”). At such time, the separate existence of REIT III and OP III shall cease.

At the effective time of the REIT III Company Merger, each issued and outstanding share of REIT III’s common stock (or fraction thereof), $0.01 par value per share (the “REIT III Common Stock”), will be converted into the right to receive 0.925862 shares of common stock of REIT II, $0.01 par value per share (the “REIT II Common Stock”).

In addition, each share of REIT III Common Stock, if any, then held by any REIT III wholly owned subsidiary or held by REIT II or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be retired and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be paid, nor will any other payment or right inure or be made with respect to such shares of REIT III Common Stock in connection with or as a consequence of the REIT III Company Merger.


At the effective time of the REIT III Partnership Merger, each unit of partnership interests in OP III outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the REIT III Partnership Merger will be retired and will cease to exist. In addition, for each share of REIT II Common Stock issued in the REIT III Company Merger, a common partnership unit will be issued by OP II to REIT II.

The REIT III Merger Agreement contains customary covenants, including covenants prohibiting REIT III and its subsidiaries and representatives from soliciting, providing information or entering into discussions concerning proposals relating to alternative business combination transactions, subject to certain limited exceptions. The REIT III Merger Agreement also provides that prior to the approval by REIT III’s stockholders of the REIT III Company Merger, the board of directors of REIT III may in certain circumstances make a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change (as such term is defined in the REIT III Merger Agreement), subject to complying with certain conditions set forth in the REIT III Merger Agreement.

The REIT III Merger Agreement may be terminated under certain circumstances, including by either REIT II or REIT III (in each case, with the prior approval of the special committee of their respective board of directors) (i) if the REIT III Company Merger has not been consummated on or before 11:59 p.m. New York time on June 8, 2021, (ii) if the approval of the stockholders of REIT III (“REIT III Stockholder Approval”) has not been obtained at the meeting of the stockholders of REIT III to consider the REIT III Merger, or (iii) upon a material uncured breach of the respective obligations, covenants or agreements by the other party that would cause the closing conditions in the REIT III Merger Agreement not to be satisfied.

REIT III may terminate the REIT III Merger Agreement if REIT III has properly accepted a “Superior Proposal” (as defined in the REIT III Merger Agreement) at any time prior to receipt by REIT III of the REIT III Stockholder Approval pursuant to the terms of the REIT III Merger Agreement. REIT II may terminate the REIT III Merger Agreement at any time prior to receipt by REIT III of the REIT III Stockholder Approval upon (i) a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change or the failure of REIT III’s board of directors to include its recommendation in favor of the REIT III Company Merger in the Joint Proxy Statement and Prospectus to be distributed to REIT III’s stockholders, (ii) a tender offer or exchange offer for any shares of REIT III Common Stock that constitutes a Competing Proposal (other than by REIT II or any of its affiliates) is commenced and the REIT III board of directors fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by the REIT III stockholders and to publicly reaffirm the REIT III board recommendation within ten business days of being requested to do so by REIT II, or (iii) upon REIT III’s material violation of the non-solicit provisions of the REIT III Merger Agreement.

If the REIT III Merger Agreement is terminated in connection with REIT III’s acceptance of a Superior Proposal or making a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change, then REIT III must pay to REIT II a termination fee of $3,123,459 plus reimburse up to $1,000,000 for REIT II’s expenses. Additionally, if the REIT III Merger Agreement is terminated because the closing conditions have been satisfied or waived but either REIT II or REIT III have failed to close, then such party must reimburse the other party up to $2,000,000 for that other party’s expense.

The REIT III Merger Agreement contains certain representations and warranties made by the parties thereto. The representations and warranties of the parties contained in the REIT III Merger Agreement are subject to certain important qualifications and limitations set forth in confidential disclosure letters delivered by each of REIT II and REIT III. Moreover, the representations and warranties are subject to a contractual standard of materiality that may be different from what may be viewed as material to stockholders.

The parties have agreed to limits on the conduct of their businesses between the signing of the REIT III Merger Agreement and the closing of the REIT III Merger. Generally, transactions that are not in the ordinary course of business require the consent of the other party. Ordinary distributions will also require the other party’s consent unless the distributions are needed for REIT qualification purposes, which is not expected.


The obligation of each party to consummate the REIT III Merger is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt by REIT III of the REIT III Stockholder Approval, delivery of certain documents and consents, the truth and correctness of the representations and warranties of the parties (subject to the materiality standards contained in the REIT III Merger Agreement), the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by REIT II to register the shares of the REIT II Common Stock to be issued as consideration in the REIT III Company Merger, and the absence of certain material adverse effects with respect to either REIT II or REIT III.

The foregoing description of the REIT III Merger Agreement is only a summary, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the REIT III Merger Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.2 and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the REIT III Merger Agreement has been included to provide stockholders with information regarding its terms and is not intended to provide any factual information about REIT II or REIT III. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the REIT III Merger Agreement have been made solely for the benefit of the parties to the REIT III Merger Agreement, and are not intended as statements of fact to be relied upon by REIT II’s stockholders, but rather as a way of allocating the risk between the parties to the REIT III Merger Agreement in the event the statements therein prove to be inaccurate. Statements made in the REIT III Merger Agreement have been modified or qualified by certain confidential disclosures that were made between the parties in connection with the negotiation of the REIT III Merger Agreement, which disclosures are not reflected in the REIT III Merger Agreement attached hereto. Moreover, such statements may no longer be true as of a given date and may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material by stockholders. Accordingly, stockholders should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of REIT II or REIT III. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may change after the date of the REIT III Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in REIT II’s public disclosures. REIT II acknowledges that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, it is responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosures of material information regarding material contractual provisions are required to make the statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K not misleading.

Combined Company

The combined company following either or both of the REIT I Merger and the REIT III Merger (the “Combined Company”) will be renamed “Resource REIT, Inc.” Each of the REIT I Merger and REIT III Merger is intended to qualify as a “reorganization” under, and within the meaning of, Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement

On September 8, 2020, in connection with the proposed mergers, REIT II entered into the Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement (the “Amended Advisory Agreement”) with Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor II, LLC (the “Advisor”). The terms of the Amended Advisory Agreement are identical to those of the advisory agreement that was previously in effect, except for the following changes. The Advisor agreed to waive an acquisition fee and debt financing fee in connection with the REIT III Merger. No such waiver was sought with respect to the REIT I Merger because, if owed, it would be paid with OP II funds to an entity that would then be wholly owned by OP II. In addition, the limitations on an internalization transaction and the restriction on REIT II’s ability to solicit employees from the Advisor were removed.


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

Director and Officer Resignations and Appointments

On September 8, 2020, George Carleton resigned from the board of directors and as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Registrant. In addition, on September 8, 2020, David Spoont submitted an irrevocable letter of resignation from the board of directors effective upon the closing of the REIT I Merger.

The board of directors increased the size of the board to six, effective upon the date necessary to accommodate the appointments of the following directors: Andrew Ceitlin and Robert Lieber to the board of directors effective upon the closing of the REIT I Merger and Lee Shlifer to the board of directors effective upon the closing of the REIT III Merger. Messrs. Ceitlin, Lieber and Shlifer currently serve as directors of REIT I and Mr. Shlifer also serves as a director of REIT III. Messrs. Shlifer and Ceitlin satisfy the independent director standards applicable to REIT II and as independent directors, each will receive the same compensation and reimbursement of expenses that REIT II pays to each of its independent directors. Information about Messrs. Ceitlin, Lieber and Shlifer is included below.

Andrew Ceitlin, 46, has served as a director of REIT I since February 2014. Mr. Ceitlin has served as the Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Tishman Construction Corporation, an AECOM company, since June 2017 and previously served as its Senior Corporate Counsel from June 2010 to June 2017. Prior to joining Tishman Construction Corporation, Mr. Ceitlin served as legal counsel for Bovis Lend Lease Holdings, Inc. from May 2007 to June 2010. Prior to joining Bovis Lend Lease Holdings, Inc., Mr. Ceitlin was an associate attorney at Peckar & Abramson, P.C., a law firm specializing in construction law. Mr. Ceitlin served as a director of Resource IO REIT from March 2015 to May 2018. Mr. Ceitlin is a licensed member of the New York State Bar and has practiced law for over 19 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science from The Ohio State University and a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School.

Robert C. Lieber, 65, has served as a director of REIT I since February 2017. Mr. Lieber has served as an Executive Managing Director of both C-III Capital Partners LLC (“C-III”), the entity that controlled the Advisor and owned the property manager prior to the Self-Management Transaction described in Item 8.01 below, and Island Capital Group, LLC since July 2010 and as Chief Executive Officer of Exantas Capital Corp., a publicly-traded mortgage REIT, since September 2016 and served as its President from September 2016 to May 2017. Mr. Lieber has also served as a director of Resource Income Opportunity REIT, Inc. (“Resource IO REIT”) since September 2016. Mr. Lieber served under New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development from January 2007 to July 2010. Prior to joining the Bloomberg administration, Mr. Lieber was employed by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. for 23 years, serving most recently as a Managing Director of a real estate private equity fund and previously as the Global Head of Real Estate Investment Banking. From January 2015 to April 2018, Mr. Lieber also served as a director of ACRE Realty Investors Inc., a publicly-traded commercial real estate company, and currently serves as a director of Tutor Perini Corporation, a publicly-traded general contracting and construction management company. He served as a board member and secretary of the board as well as a trustee for the Urban Land Institute and formerly served as chairman of the Zell-Lurie Real Estate Center at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Lieber received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado and a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.


Lee F. Shlifer, 71, has served as a director of REIT I since September 2009 and as a director of REIT III since January 2016. Mr. Shlifer has served as founder, President and broker for Signature Investment Realty, Inc., an investment brokerage and management/consulting firm that emphasizes the acquisition and management of multifamily apartment buildings, since 1985. Prior to founding Signature Investment Realty, Inc., he served as Vice President of Marketing for Spencer Industries from 1979 to 1981. In addition, Mr. Shlifer served as a psychotherapist for the Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute from 1978 to 1979. Mr. Shlifer is a member of the board of directors of ELIT, a non-profit organization that operates schools in India and Pakistan to teach impoverished women basic computer skills. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his Masters of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research.

Officer Transitions and Appointments

In connection with the proposed transactions, on September 20, 2020, the board of directors made certain changes to the officers of the Registrant. Alan Feldman was appointed President following the resignation of George Carleton and will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer. Steven Saltzman was appointed Chief Accounting Officer and Vice President and Thomas Elliott was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Shelle Weisbaum continues as Chief Legal Officer, Senior Vice President and Secretary. Information about Mr. Elliott, the newly appointed officer of the Registrant, is included below.

Thomas Elliott, 47. In addition to serving as the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of REIT II, Mr. Elliott was appointed to the same positions for REIT I and REIT III effective September 8, 2020. Since June 2020, he also serves on the board of directors of Exantas Capital Corp. Mr. Elliott has previously held various officer positions at Resource America, Inc., all of which he resigned effective as of September 8, 2020: Chief Financial Officer since December 2009, Executive Vice President since September 2016 and Senior Vice President since 2005. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President—Finance and Operations of Resource America from 2006 to December 2009; Senior Vice President—Finance from 2005 to 2006 and Vice President—Finance from 2001 to 2005. Since February 2017, Mr. Elliott was Executive Vice President—Finance and Operations of Exantas Capital Corp. and was its Senior Vice President—Finance and Operations from September 2006 to February 2017 and, prior to that, was its Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer from September 2005 to June 2006. He was also Senior Vice President—Assets and Liabilities Management of Exantas Capital Corp. from June 2005 until September 2005 and, before that, served as its Vice President—Finance from March 2005. Prior to joining Resource America in 2001, Mr. Elliott was a Vice President at Fidelity Leasing, Inc., a former equipment leasing subsidiary of Resource America, where he managed all capital market functions, including the negotiation of all securitizations and credit and banking facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Mr. Elliott also oversaw the financial controls and budgeting departments.

2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan

On September 8, 2020, the board approved, effective as of the effective time of the REIT I Merger, the assumption and continuation of the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan of REIT I (the “2020 LTIP”) and the outstanding restricted stock awards thereunder, as adjusted to be awards with respect to REIT II common stock, all as provided for in the REIT I Merger Agreement.

The purpose of the 2020 LTIP is to advance the interests of the company and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain, and reward certain eligible persons performing services for the company and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the company. The 2020 LTIP allows for grants to the company’s employees, consultants, and directors of stock options


(non-statutory and incentive), restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, cash-based awards, and other stock-based awards. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock of REIT II that may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2020 LTIP (as assumed by REIT II) is 3,500,000.

The 2020 LTIP will be administered by the conflicts committee of the board of directors. Subject to the terms of the 2020 LTIP, the conflicts committee has the authority to determine the individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, awards are made, the size of each award, and the other terms and conditions of each award. The board of directors also has the authority to make all determinations that are in the board’s judgment necessary or desirable for the administration of the plan. The board’s construction and interpretation of the terms and provisions of the 2020 LTIP are final and conclusive.

The board of directors may at any time modify or amend the 2020 LTIP in any respect, provided that no such modification or amendment may materially adversely affect the rights of a participant under an existing stock award that has been previously granted except as expressly provided in the 2020 LTIP. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with its terms, the 2020 LTIP will terminate on the date that is ten years following the date on which the 2020 LTIP was adopted by the Board.

A copy of the 2020 LTIP as adopted by REIT I, and to be assumed by REIT II, is attached as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. The foregoing is a summary of the 2020 LTIP, does not purport to be complete, and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the 2020 LTIP.

Initial Grants by REIT I to be Assumed by REIT II

On September 8, 2020, the board of REIT I granted awards of restricted stock (the “REIT I Restricted Stock”) under the 2020 LTIP to the executives of REIT I in the chart below with respect to the number of shares next to their name in the chart below. The grant of REIT I Restricted Stock is subject to vesting in two tranches – 40% of the total number of shares will vest upon the consummation of the REIT I Merger and 60% of the total number of shares will vest upon a “Liquidity Event” (as defined below) so long as the executive remains continuously employed through each such vesting date. If the executive’s employment terminates for any reason before the vesting date, all unvested shares will be immediately forfeited.

 

Executive Officer of REIT I

   Number of Shares of REIT I
Restricted Stock Subject to Award
 

Alan F. Feldman, Chief Executive Officer and President

     250,912  

Thomas C. Elliott, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Treasurer

     141,423  

Steven R. Saltzman, Chief Accounting Officer and Senior Vice President

     27,372  

Michele R. Weisbaum, Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President

     45,620  


For purposes of these awards:

“Liquidity Event” means (i) a listing of the common stock of REIT II, on a national securities exchange, (ii) a sale, merger or other transaction in which the stockholders of REIT II either receive, or have the option to receive, cash, securities redeemable for cash, and/or securities of a publicly traded company, or (iii) the sale of all or substantially all of REIT II’s assets where stockholders either receive, or have the option to receive, cash or the securities of a publicly traded company.

Pursuant to the terms of the REIT I Merger Agreement each share of REIT I Restricted Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the REIT I Company Merger will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive 1.22423 shares of REIT II Common Stock and will continue to have and be subject to the same terms and conditions (including vesting terms) set forth in the 2020 LTIP and the related restricted stock agreements.

A copy of the form of restricted stock agreement to be assumed by REIT II is attached as Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. The foregoing is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the award agreement.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

On September 11, 2020, REIT II, along with REIT I and REIT III, is sending a letter to its stockholders regarding the proposed transactions. A copy of the stockholder letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 7.01 disclosure.

In addition, on September 11, 2020, the Registrant posted to its website (http://www.resourcereit2.com/) an investor presentation prepared by REIT I, REIT II and REIT III containing certain information related to the REIT I Merger and the REIT III Merger. A copy of the investor presentation is filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 7.01 disclosure.

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the information in this Item 7.01 disclosure, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 and information set forth therein, is deemed to have been furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 8.01. Other Events

Suspension of Share Redemption Program

In connection with the transactions contemplated herein, on September 8, 2020, the board of directors of the Registrant approved the full suspension of its share redemption program (“SRP”), which has been suspended since March 20, 2020, with exception for redemptions sought upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or “confinement to a long-term care facility” (collectively, “special redemptions”) until the later of (a) the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 related to the REIT I Merger (the “REIT I S-4”) and (b) the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 related to the REIT III Merger (the “REIT III S-4”), or such later time as the board of directors may determine. The SRP suspension will take effect immediately. While the SRP is suspended, currently pending and new redemption requests submitted in connection with a special redemption will be retained and considered upon the determination by the board of directors to resume the SRP with respect to special redemptions, all other redemption requests will not be retained, but will be cancelled with the ability to resubmit when the SRP is open to redemptions other than special redemptions. Following the later of the filing of the REIT I S-4 and the REIT III S-4, the Registrant intends to resume processing special redemptions.


Change in Sponsor of REIT II

Prior to the execution of the REIT I Merger Agreement, on September 8, 2020, REIT I entered into a series of transactions and became self-managed (the “Self-Management Transaction”) and succeeded to the advisory, asset management and property management arrangements formerly in place for REIT I, REIT II and REIT III. Accordingly, the sponsor of REIT II has changed from Resource Real Estate, LLC to OP I until the REIT I Company Merger is consummated. Following the consummation of the REIT I Merger, REIT II will be self-managed.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGERS

In connection with the REIT I Merger and the REIT III Merger, REIT II will prepare and file with the SEC two registration statements on Form S-4. One registration statement will contain a Joint Proxy Statement and Prospectus jointly prepared by REIT II and REIT I, and other related documents. The other registration statement will contain a Joint Proxy Statement and Prospectus jointly prepared by REIT II and REIT III, and other related documents. The applicable Joint Proxy Statement and Prospectus will be mailed to REIT I’s and REIT III’s respective stockholders and will contain important information about the respective mergers and related matters. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE APPLICABLE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY REIT I, REIT II AND REIT III WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT REIT I, REIT II, REIT III AND THE PROPOSED MERGERS. Investors and stockholders of REIT I, REIT II and REIT III may obtain free copies of the respective registration statement, the respective Joint Proxy Statement and Prospectus and other relevant documents filed by REIT I, REIT II and REIT III with the SEC (if and when they become available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, these materials will also be available free of charge by accessing REIT I’s website (http://www.resourcereit.com/), by accessing REIT II’s website (http://www.resourcereit2.com/), or by accessing REIT III’s website (http://www.resourcereit3.com/).

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

PARTICIPANTS IN SOLICITATION RELATING TO THE MERGERS

REIT I, REIT II and REIT III and their respective directors and officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed mergers. Information regarding REIT I’s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2020 and its proxy statement filed with the SEC by REIT I on April 29, 2020 in connection with its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders; information regarding REIT II’s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2020 and its proxy statement filed with the SEC by REIT II on April 29, 2020 in connection with its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders; information regarding REIT III’s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2020


and its proxy statement filed with the SEC by REIT III on April 29, 2020 in connection with its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. Certain directors and executive officers of REIT I and/or REIT II and/or REIT III and other persons may have direct or indirect interests in the merger due to securities holdings, pre-existing or future indemnification arrangements and rights to severance payments and retention bonuses if their employment is terminated prior to or following the merger. If and to the extent that any of the participants will receive any additional benefits in connection with the merger, the details of those benefits will be described in the applicable Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the applicable merger. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of REIT I, REIT II, and REIT III and their respective executive officers and directors in the applicable merger by reading the applicable Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the merger when it becomes available. These documents are available free of charge on the SEC’s website and from REIT I, REIT II or REIT III, as applicable, using the sources indicated above.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements; no assurance can be given that these expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk that the proposed mergers will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreements; the inability of REIT I or REIT III to obtain stockholder approval of the respective mergers or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to completion of the mergers; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from the ongoing business operations due to the proposed mergers; the potential adverse impact of the ongoing pandemic related to COVID-19 and the related measures put in place to help control the spread of the virus on the operations of the REITs and their tenants, which impact remains highly uncertain; availability of suitable investment opportunities; changes in interest rates; the availability and terms of financing; general economic conditions; market conditions; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of REIT I, REIT II and REIT III; and other factors, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of REIT I’s, REIT II’s and REIT III’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as updated by the subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and filed with the SEC, and other reports filed by REIT I, REIT II and REIT III with the SEC, copies of which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. REIT I, REIT II and REIT III undertake no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this communication, except as required by law.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  2.1    Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 8, 2020, by and among REIT II, OP II, Merger Sub I, REIT I and OP I*
  2.2    Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 8, 2020, by and among REIT II, OP II, Merger Sub III, REIT III and OP III*
10.1    Voting Agreement dated September 8, 2020, between REIT II and Resource Real Estate
10.2    Voting Agreement dated September 8, 2020, between REIT II and Alan Feldman
10.3    Form of Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of RRE Opportunity OP II, LP
10.4    Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement dated September 8, 2020 between REIT II and the Advisor
10.5    Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.6    Form of Restricted Stock Agreement
99.1    Stockholder Letter
99.2    Investor Presentation dated September 11, 2020

 

*

Schedules omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. REIT II agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request.


SIGNATURE

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

 

   RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.
Dated: September 11, 2020    By:    /s/ Alan F. Feldman
      Alan F. Feldman
     

Chief Executive Officer and President

(Principal Executive Officer)

EXHIBIT 2.1

EXECUTION COPY

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND AMONG

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.,

RRE OPPORTUNITY OP II, LP,

REVOLUTION I MERGER SUB, LLC,

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC.

AND

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY OP, LP

DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2020


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

     4  

Section 1.1

 

Definitions

     4  

Section 1.2

 

Interpretation and Rules of Construction

     15  

ARTICLE II

 

THE MERGERS

     17  

Section 2.1

 

The Mergers

     17  

Section 2.2

 

Closing

     17  

Section 2.3

 

Effective Times

     17  

Section 2.4

 

Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity and the Surviving Partnership

     18  

Section 2.5

 

Managers of the Surviving Entity

     18  

Section 2.6

 

Tax Treatment of Mergers

     18  

Section 2.7

 

Subsequent Actions

     19  

ARTICLE III

 

EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS

     19  

Section 3.1

 

Effects of the Mergers

     19  

Section 3.2

 

Exchange Procedures; Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares

     21  

Section 3.3

 

Withholding Rights

     22  

Section 3.4

 

Dissenters Rights

     22  

Section 3.5

 

General Effects of the Mergers

     23  

ARTICLE IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE REIT I PARTIES

     23  

Section 4.1

 

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries

     24  

Section 4.2

 

Authority; Approval Required

     25  

Section 4.3

 

No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

     26  

Section 4.4

 

Capital Structure

     27  

Section 4.5

 

SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws

     28  

Section 4.6

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

     30  

Section 4.7

 

No Undisclosed Liabilities

     31  

Section 4.8

 

Permits; Compliance with Law

     31  

Section 4.9

 

Litigation

     31  

Section 4.10

 

Properties

     32  

Section 4.11

 

Environmental Matters

     32  

Section 4.12

 

Material Contracts

     33  

Section 4.13

 

Taxes

     36  

Section 4.14

 

Intellectual Property

     39  

Section 4.15

 

Information Privacy & Security

     39  

Section 4.16

 

Insurance

     40  

Section 4.17

 

Employee Matters

     40  

 

i


Section 4.18

 

Related-Party Transactions

     43  

Section 4.19

 

Brokers

     43  

Section 4.20

 

Opinion of Financial Advisor

     43  

Section 4.21

 

Takeover Statutes

     43  

Section 4.22

 

Information Supplied

     43  

Section 4.23

 

No Other Representations and Warranties

     44  

ARTICLE V

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE REIT II PARTIES

     44  

Section 5.1

 

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries

     45  

Section 5.2

 

Authority; Approval Required

     46  

Section 5.3

 

No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

     47  

Section 5.4

 

Capital Structure

     48  

Section 5.5

 

SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws

     49  

Section 5.6

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

     52  

Section 5.7

 

No Undisclosed Liabilities

     52  

Section 5.8

 

Permits; Compliance with Law

     52  

Section 5.9

 

Litigation

     53  

Section 5.10

 

Properties

     53  

Section 5.11

 

Environmental Matters

     54  

Section 5.12

 

Material Contracts

     55  

Section 5.13

 

Taxes

     57  

Section 5.14

 

Intellectual Property

     60  

Section 5.15

 

Information Privacy & Security

     61  

Section 5.16

 

Insurance

     61  

Section 5.17

 

Benefit Plans

     62  

Section 5.18

 

Related-Party Transactions

     62  

Section 5.19

 

Brokers

     62  

Section 5.20

 

Opinion of Financial Advisor

     62  

Section 5.21

 

Takeover Statutes

     62  

Section 5.22

 

Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities

     63  

Section 5.23

 

Information Supplied

     63  

Section 5.24

 

No Other Representations and Warranties

     63  

ARTICLE VI

 

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGERS

     64  

Section 6.1

 

Conduct of Business by REIT I

     64  

Section 6.2

 

Conduct of Business by REIT II

     68  

Section 6.3

 

No Control of Other Parties’ Business

     73  

ARTICLE VII

 

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

     73  

Section 7.1

 

Preparation of the Form S-4 and the REIT I Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approval

     73  

Section 7.2

 

Access to Information; Confidentiality

     75  

Section 7.3

 

No Solicitation of Transactions; Change in Recommendation

     76  

 

ii


Section 7.4

 

Public Announcements

     80  

Section 7.5

 

Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings

     80  

Section 7.6

 

Notification of Certain Matters; Transaction Litigation

     82  

Section 7.7

 

Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance

     82  

Section 7.8

 

Dividends

     84  

Section 7.9

 

Takeover Statutes

     85  

Section 7.10

 

Obligations of the Parties

     85  

Section 7.11

 

Certain Transactions

     85  

Section 7.12

 

Tax Matters

     86  

Section 7.13

 

REIT II Board

     86  

Section 7.14

 

REIT II Share Redemption Program

     86  

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONDITIONS

     87  

Section 8.1

 

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Mergers

     87  

Section 8.2

 

Conditions to Obligations of the REIT I Parties

     87  

Section 8.3

 

Conditions to Obligations of the REIT II Parties

     89  

ARTICLE IX

 

TERMINATION, FEES AND EXPENSES, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     90  

Section 9.1

 

Termination

     90  

Section 9.2

 

Effect of Termination

     92  

Section 9.3

 

Fees and Expenses

     93  

Section 9.4

 

Amendment

     95  

ARTICLE X

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

     96  

Section 10.1

 

Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties and Certain Covenants

     96  

Section 10.2

 

Notices

     96  

Section 10.3

 

Severability

     97  

Section 10.4

 

Counterparts

     97  

Section 10.5

 

Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries

     97  

Section 10.6

 

Extension; Waiver

     97  

Section 10.7

 

Governing Law; Venue

     98  

Section 10.8

 

Assignment

     98  

Section 10.9

 

Specific Performance

     98  

Section 10.10

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     99  

Section 10.11

 

Authorship

     99  

 

iii


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of September 8, 2020 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and among Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT II”), RRE Opportunity OP II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of REIT II (“REIT II Operating Partnership”), Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II (“Merger Sub”), Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT I”) and Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of REIT I (“REIT I Operating Partnership”). Each of REIT II, REIT II Operating Partnership, Merger Sub, REIT I and REIT I Operating Partnership is sometimes referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in Article I.

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to effect a business combination in which (i) REIT I will be merged with and into Merger Sub (the “REIT Merger”), with Merger Sub being the surviving company, and each share of REIT I Common Stock (as defined herein) and REIT I Convertible Stock (as defined herein) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time (as defined herein) will be converted into the right to receive the REIT Merger Consideration (as defined herein), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) and the Maryland Limited Liability Company Act (“MLLCA”), and (ii) REIT I Operating Partnership will be merged with and into REIT II Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Merger” and, together with the REIT Merger, the “Mergers”), with REIT II Operating Partnership being the surviving entity, and each REIT I OP Unit (as defined herein) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time (as defined herein) will be converted into the right to receive the Partnership Merger Consideration (as defined herein), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “DRULPA”);

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, REIT II, REIT II Operating Partnership and Revolution III Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into a merger agreement with Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT III”), and Resource Apartment REIT III OP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, pursuant to which REIT III will merge into Revolution III Merger Sub, LLC and Resource Apartment REIT III OP, LP will merge into REIT II Operating Partnership (collectively, the “REIT III Merger”);

WHEREAS, the Mergers are not conditioned on the REIT III Merger or vice versa;

WHEREAS, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, REIT I Operating Partnership entered into and consummated a contribution and exchange agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, REIT I acquired REIT I Advisor, REIT II Advisor (as defined herein) and REIT III Advisor (as defined herein) such that REIT I has become self-managed and REIT II and REIT III have become indirectly managed by REIT I (the “REIT I Internalization Transaction”);

 

1


WHEREAS, prior to the REIT I Internalization Transaction, REIT I and Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and external adviser to REIT I (the “REIT I Advisor”), entered into an amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement between REIT I and REIT I Advisor (the “REIT I Advisory Agreement Amendment”) providing for, among other things, the elimination of any limitations on REIT I becoming self-managed;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, REIT II and Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and external adviser to REIT II (the “REIT II Advisor”) entered into an amended and restated advisory agreement (the “Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement”) providing for, among other things, the elimination of any limitations on REIT II becoming self-managed;

WHEREAS, the Parties have conditioned the Merger on approval by the stockholders of REIT I of an amendment of the charter of REIT I, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “REIT I Charter Amendment”), which provides for the elimination of limitations on “roll-up transactions”;

WHEREAS, the Parties desire an amendment and restatement of the limited partnership agreement of REIT II Operating Partnership, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement”), which shall become effective upon the REIT Merger Effective Time;

WHEREAS, the REIT Merger is conditioned upon the receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval (as defined herein), which includes the approval of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of REIT I Convertible Stock;

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the REIT I Internalization Transaction, Resource Real Estate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“RRE”), acquired all of the REIT I Convertible Stock then held by the REIT I Advisor;

WHEREAS, the shares of REIT I Convertible Stock held by RRE, coupled with the shares held by Mr. Alan Feldman, represent more than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of REIT I Convertible Stock;

WHEREAS, RRE and Mr. Feldman have each agreed to enter into a voting agreement (collectively, the “Voting Agreements”) whereby they will vote their shares of REIT I Convertible Stock in favor of the REIT Merger;

WHEREAS, on the recommendation of the special committee (the “REIT I Special Committee”) of the Board of Directors of REIT I (the “REIT I Board”), the REIT I Board has (a) determined that this Agreement, the Mergers, the Contribution Agreement, the REIT I Advisory Agreement Amendment, the REIT I Charter Amendment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of REIT I and that this Agreement, the Mergers, the Contribution Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to REIT I and are on terms and conditions no less favorable to REIT I than those available from unaffiliated third parties, (b) authorized and approved this

 

2


Agreement, the Mergers, the Contribution Agreement, the REIT I Advisory Agreement Amendment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (c) directed that the REIT Merger and the REIT I Charter Amendment be submitted for consideration at the REIT I Stockholders Meeting (as defined herein) and (d) recommended the approval of the REIT Merger and the REIT I Charter Amendment by the REIT I stockholders;

WHEREAS, on the recommendation of the special committee (the “REIT II Special Committee”) of the Board of Directors of REIT II (the “REIT II Board”), the REIT II Board has (a) determined that this Agreement, the Mergers, the Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement, the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of REIT II and that this Agreement, the Mergers, the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to REIT II and are on terms and conditions no less favorable to REIT II than those available from unaffiliated third parties and (b) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Mergers, the Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement, the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that (i) the REIT Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” under, and within the meaning of, Section 368(a) of the Code, and this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for the REIT Merger for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code and (ii) the Partnership Merger shall be treated as a transfer by REIT I Operating Partnership of its assets and liabilities to REIT II Operating Partnership in exchange for REIT II OP Units followed by the distribution of such units to REIT II and REIT I Operating Partnership Minority Owner in a complete liquidation of REIT I Operating Partnership, the exchange and distribution being respectively described in Section 721 of the Code and Section 731 of the Code pursuant to the REIT Merger; and

WHEREAS, each of the Parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Mergers, and to prescribe various conditions to the Mergers.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

3


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this Agreement:

Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means a confidentiality agreement that contains provisions that are no less favorable in the aggregate to REIT I than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement.

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, mediation, interference, audit, assessment, hearing, or other legal proceeding (whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise, whether civil or criminal and whether brought, conducted, tried or heard by or before any Governmental Authority).

Affiliate” of a specified Person means a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the REIT II Parties and their respective subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the REIT I Parties and (ii) the REIT I Parties and their respective subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the REIT II Parties.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means (i) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) any anti-bribery, anti-corruption or similar applicable Law of any other jurisdiction.

Book-Entry Share” means, with respect to any Party, a book-entry share registered in the transfer books of such Party.

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

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Confidentiality Agreement” means the non-disclosure agreement dated as of January 9, 2020 between REIT I and REIT II.

Contract” means any written or oral contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, instrument, lease, conditional sales contract, mortgage, license, guaranty, binding commitment or other agreement.

Debt Facilities” means, with respect to REIT I, any Contract set forth in Section 4.12(a)(vi) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter and with respect to REIT II, any Contract set forth in Section 5.12(a)(vi) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter.

 

4


Employee Benefit Plan” means any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), nonqualified deferred compensation plan (as defined in Section 409A of the Code), or employment, severance, change-in-control, bonus, incentive, equity or equity-based compensation, health, welfare, fringe benefit, retirement, and any other compensatory or employee benefit plan, contract or arrangement of any kind (whether or not subject to ERISA, written or oral, qualified or nonqualified, funded or unfunded, foreign or domestic, currently effective or terminated).

Environmental Law” means any Law (including common law) relating to the pollution (or cleanup thereof) or protection of the natural resources, endangered or threatened species, or environment (including ambient air, soil, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface land), or human health or safety (as such matters relate to Hazardous Substances), including Laws relating to the use, handling, presence, transportation, treatment, generation, processing, recycling, remediation, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Substances.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, license, exemption, action, consent or other authorization issued, granted, given, authorized by or required under any applicable Environmental Law.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to an entity (the “Referenced Entity”), any other entity, which, together with the Referenced Entity, would be treated as a single employer under Code Section 414 or ERISA Section 4001.

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

Expense Reimbursement Payment” means payment in an amount equal to the documented Expenses of the Party that is entitled to receive such payment pursuant to Section 9.3; provided, that such payment shall not exceed $2,000,000.

Expenses” means all expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a Party and its Affiliates) incurred by a Party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the other agreements and documents contemplated hereby, the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the REIT I Proxy Statement (with respect to REIT I), the preparation, printing and filing of the Form S-4 and all SEC and other regulatory filing fees incurred in connection with the REIT I Proxy Statement, the solicitation of stockholder approval, engaging the services of the Transfer Agent, obtaining any third-party consents, making any other filings with the SEC and all other matters related to the Closing and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.1 (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries); Section 4.2 (Authority; Approval Required); Section 4.3(a) (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents); Section 4.4(a) (Capital

 

5


Structure); Section 5.1 (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries); Section 5.2 (Authority; Approval Required); Section 5.3(a) (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents) and Section 5.4(a) (Capital Structure).

GAAP” means the United States generally accepted accounting principles.

Governmental Authority” means the United States (federal, state or local) government or any foreign government, or any other governmental or quasi-governmental regulatory, judicial or administrative authority, instrumentality, board, bureau, agency, commission, self-regulatory organization, arbitration panel or similar entity.

Hazardous Substances” means (i) those materials, substances, chemicals, wastes, products, compounds, solid, liquid, gas, minerals in each case, whether naturally occurred or man-made, that is listed in, defined in or regulated under any Environmental Law, including the following federal statutes and their state and local counterparts, as each may be amended from time to time, and all regulations thereunder, including: the Comprehensive, Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001 et seq.; the Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq.; and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq.; (ii) petroleum and petroleum-derived products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; and (iii) polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, mold, methane, asbestos in any form, radioactive materials or wastes and radon.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person and without duplication, (i) the principal of and premium (if any) of all indebtedness, notes payable, accrued interest payable or other obligations for borrowed money, whether secured or unsecured, (ii) all obligations under conditional sale or other title retention agreements, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to property acquired by such Person, (iii) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price for any property or assets, (iv) all obligations under capital leases, (v) all obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or letters of credit, (vi) all obligations under interest rate cap, swap, collar or similar transaction or currency hedging transactions (valued at the termination value thereof), (vii) any guarantee of any of the foregoing, whether or not evidenced by a note, mortgage, bond, indenture or similar instrument and (viii) any agreement to provide any of the foregoing.

Information Privacy and Security Laws” means applicable legal requirements concerning the use, ownership, maintenance, storage, collection, transfer, processing, controlling, privacy and/or security of Personal Information.

Intellectual Property” means all United States and foreign (i) patents, patent applications, invention disclosures, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-

 

6


examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof, (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, corporate names, Internet domain names, design rights and other source identifiers, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, (iii) registered and unregistered copyrights and copyrightable works, (iv) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, know-how, ideas, formulae, models, algorithms and methodologies, (v) all rights in the foregoing and in other similar intangible assets and (vi) all applications and registrations for the foregoing.

Intervening Event” means a change in circumstances or development occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that materially affects the business, assets or operations of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that was not known to or reasonably foreseeable by the REIT I Board prior to the execution of this Agreement, which change in circumstances or development becomes known to the REIT I Board prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time; provided, however, that in no event shall (i) the receipt, existence or terms of a Competing Proposal or any matter relating thereto or consequence thereof constitute an Intervening Event and (ii) any event, change, effect, development or occurrence that would fall within any of the exceptions to the definition of a “REIT I Material Adverse Effect” be deemed to contribute to or otherwise be taken into account in determining whether there has been an Intervening Event.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor agency.

IT Asset” means any company-owned information, system or hardware that is used in the course of business activities.

Knowledge” means (i) with respect to any REIT I Party, the actual knowledge, after reasonable investigation, of the persons named in Schedule A to the REIT I Disclosure Letter and (ii) with respect to any REIT II Party, the actual knowledge, after reasonable investigation, of the persons named in Schedule A to the REIT II Disclosure Letter.

Law” means any and all domestic (federal, state or local) or foreign laws, rules, regulations and Orders promulgated by any Governmental Authority.

Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, claim, condition, covenant, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, preferential arrangement, option or other third party right (including right of first refusal or first offer), restriction, right of way, easement, or title defect or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, including any restriction on the use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or other exercise of any attributes of ownership, excluding any restrictions on transfer of equity securities arising under applicable securities Laws.

Material Contract” means any REIT II Material Contract or any REIT I Material Contract, as applicable.

 

7


Merger Sub Governing Documents” means the articles of organization and limited liability company operating agreement of Merger Sub, as in effect on the date hereof.

Order” means a judgment, injunction, order or decree of any Governmental Authority.

Permitted Encumbrances” means any of the following: (i) Encumbrances for Taxes or governmental assessments, charges or claims of payment not yet due, being contested in good faith or for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established; (ii) mechanics and materialmen’s Encumbrances for amounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith or such Encumbrances which have been filed of record but which have been bonded over or otherwise insured against; (iii) with respect to any real property, post-closing escrow agreements, leases, license agreements and similar occupancy agreements, contribution and tax protection agreements, bottom dollar guarantees, terms and provisions of any joint venture agreements existing at the date of this Agreement, Encumbrances that are zoning regulations, entitlements (including associated security instruments encumbering any land for which REIT I or REIT II has an option to purchase) or other land use or environmental regulations by any Governmental Authority; (iv) with respect to REIT II, Encumbrances that are disclosed on Section 1.1(b) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter (together with associated documentation which evidences or secures such Encumbrances, including, without limitation, notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, assignments of leases and rents, guarantees, pledge agreements and similar documentation), and with respect REIT I, Encumbrances that are disclosed on Section 1.1(a) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter (together with associated documentation which evidences or secures such Encumbrances, including, without limitation, notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, assignments of leases and rents, guarantees, pledge agreements and similar documentation); (v) with respect to REIT II, Encumbrances that are disclosed on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of REIT II, or notes thereto (or securing liabilities reflected on such balance sheet), and with respect to REIT I, Encumbrances that are disclosed on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of REIT I, or notes thereto (or securing liabilities reflected on such balance sheet); (vi) with respect to REIT II or REIT I, Encumbrances arising pursuant to any Material Contracts of such Party; (vii) with respect to any real property of REIT II or REIT I, Encumbrances that are disclosed on existing title policies made available to the other Party prior to the date hereof; or (viii) with respect to REIT II or REIT I, Encumbrances that were incurred in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2019, and that do not materially interfere with the use, operation or transfer of, or any of the benefits of ownership of, the property of such Party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Person” or “person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, group (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or other entity or organization (including any Governmental Authority or a political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a Governmental Authority).

Personal Information” means data or other information relating, directly or indirectly, to an identified or identifiable natural person.

REIT” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

 

8


REIT I Benefit Plan” means each Employee Benefit Plan which is sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates or with respect to which REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary has or may have any liability or obligation.

REIT I Bylaws” means the Bylaws of REIT I, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.

REIT I Charter” means the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of REIT I dated January 20, 2010, as amended or supplemented and in effect on the date hereof.

REIT I Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of REIT I.

REIT I Common OP Units” means REIT I OP Units that are not REIT I Preferred OP Units.

REIT I DRP” means the distribution reinvestment plan of REIT I.

REIT I Governing Documents” means the REIT I Bylaws, the REIT I Charter, the certificate of limited partnership of REIT I Operating Partnership and the REIT I Partnership Agreement.

REIT I Holdco” means RRE Opportunity Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

REIT I Long-Term Incentive Plan” means the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan of REIT I, as amended.

REIT I Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that individually or in the aggregate, (i) would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) would prevent or materially impair the ability of the REIT I Parties to consummate the Mergers before the Outside Date; provided, that, for purposes of the foregoing clause (i), “REIT I Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence to the extent arising out of or resulting from (A) any changes in economic, market or business conditions generally in the U.S. or any other jurisdiction in which REIT I or the REIT I Subsidiaries operate or in the U.S. or global financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, and including (for the avoidance of doubt) any such conditions related to or resulting from any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus) or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, (B) changes in general economic conditions in the industries in which REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries operate, (C) any changes in the legal, regulatory or political conditions in the United States or in any other country or region of the world, (D) the commencement, escalation or worsening of a war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage occurring after the date hereof, (E) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or the public announcement of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (F) the taking of any action expressly required by this Agreement, or the taking of any action at the written request or with the prior written consent

 

9


of REIT II, (G) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters, (H) changes in Law or GAAP (or the interpretation thereof), (I) pandemics, disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus) or other natural or manmade disasters or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, or (J) any Action made or initiated by any holder of REIT I Common Stock, including any derivative claims, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which in the case of each of clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (G) and (H) do not disproportionately affect REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies in the industry in which REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries operate.

REIT I Operating Partnership Minority Owner” means, collectively, (i) C-III Capital Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and (ii) RRE.

REIT I OP Units” means the units of partnership interests in REIT I Operating Partnership.

REIT I Parties” means REIT I and REIT I Operating Partnership.

REIT I Partnership Agreement” means the Limited Partnership Agreement of REIT I Operating Partnership, dated as of September 1, 2009, as amended through the date hereof.

REIT I Preferred OP Units” means the REIT I OP Units designated as Series A Cumulative Participating Redeemable Preferred Units in the REIT I Partnership Agreement.

REIT I Properties” means each real property owned, or leased (including ground leased) as lessee or sublessee, by REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (including all buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under such real property and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such real property).

REIT I Proxy Statement” means the proxy statement relating to the REIT I Stockholders Meeting, together with any amendments or supplements thereto.

REIT I Restricted Stock” means any shares of REIT I Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time that are unvested. For purposes of this Agreement, a share of REIT I Common Stock shall be deemed “unvested” if such share is not vested or is subject to a repurchase option, risk of forfeiture or other condition under any applicable stock restriction agreement or other agreement with REIT I.

REIT I Share Redemption Program” means the Second Amended and Restated Share Redemption Program of REIT I dated March 28, 2018, as amended and in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

REIT I Stockholder Approval” means the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of REIT I Common Stock entitled to vote at the REIT I Stockholders Meeting on the REIT Merger and the REIT I Charter Amendment and the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of REIT I Convertible Stock entitled to vote at the REIT I Stockholders Meeting on the REIT Merger.

 

10


REIT I Stockholders Meeting” means the meeting of the holders of shares of REIT I Common Stock for the purpose of seeking the REIT I Stockholder Approval, including any postponement or adjournment thereof.

REIT I Subsidiary” means (a) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities is, directly or indirectly, owned by REIT I, and (b) any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity of which more than 50% of the total equity interest is, directly or indirectly, owned by REIT I or of which REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is a general partner, manager, managing member or the equivalent, including the REIT I Operating Partnership.

REIT II Advisor” means Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

REIT II Bylaws” means the Bylaws of REIT II, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.

REIT II Charter” means the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of REIT II dated December 17, 2013, as amended or supplemented and in effect on the date hereof.

REIT II Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of REIT II.

REIT II Common OP Units” means the REIT II OP Units that are not designated as REIT II Preferred OP Units.

REIT II DRP” means the distribution reinvestment plan of REIT II.

REIT II Governing Documents” means the REIT II Bylaws, the REIT II Charter, the certificate of limited partnership of REIT II Operating Partnership, and the REIT II Partnership Agreement.

REIT II Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) would prevent or materially impair the ability of the REIT II Parties to consummate the Mergers before the Outside Date; provided, that, for purposes of the foregoing clause (i), “REIT II Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence to the extent arising out of or resulting from (A) any changes in economic, market or business conditions generally in the U.S. or any other jurisdiction in which REIT II or the REIT II Subsidiaries operate or in the U.S. or global financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates and including (for the avoidance of doubt) any such conditions related to or resulting from any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus) or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, (B) changes in general economic conditions in the industries in which REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries operate, (C) any changes in the legal, regulatory or political conditions in the United States or in any other country or region of the world, (D) the commencement, escalation or worsening of a war or armed

 

11


hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage occurring after the date hereof, (E) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or the public announcement of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (F) the taking of any action expressly required by this Agreement, or the taking of any action at the written request or with the prior written consent of REIT I, (G) the consummation of the REIT III Merger, (H) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters, (H) changes in Law or GAAP (or the interpretation thereof), (I) pandemics, disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus) or other natural or manmade disasters or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, or (J) any Action made or initiated by any holder of REIT II Common Stock, including any derivative claims, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which in the case of each of clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (H) and (I) do not disproportionately affect REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies in the industry in which REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries operate.

REIT II OP Units” means the units of partnership interests in REIT II Operating Partnership.

REIT II Parties” means REIT II, Merger Sub and REIT II Operating Partnership.

REIT II Partnership Agreement” means the Limited Partnership Agreement of the REIT II Operating Partnership, dated as of January 16, 2014, as amended through the date hereof.

REIT II Preferred OP Units” means the REIT II OP Units designated as Series A Cumulative Participating Redeemable Preferred Units in the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement.

REIT II Properties” means each real property owned, or leased (including ground leased) as lessee or sublessee, by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (including all buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under such real property and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such real property).

REIT II Share Redemption Program” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Share Redemption Program of REIT II, as amended and in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

REIT II Subsidiary” means (a) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities is, directly or indirectly, owned by REIT II, and (b) any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity of which more than 50% of the total equity interest is, directly or indirectly, owned by REIT II or of which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a general partner, manager, managing member or the equivalent, including REIT II Operating Partnership.

REIT III Advisor” means Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and external adviser to REIT III.

REIT III Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the date hereof among REIT II, the REIT II Operating Partnership, Revolution III Merger Sub, LLC, Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc. and Resource Apartment REIT III OP, LP.

 

12


Representative” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, advisors (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, investment bankers, and financial advisors), agents and other representatives.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including the staff thereof).

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

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes filed or required to be filed with a Governmental Authority, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

Tax” or “Taxes” means any United States federal, state, local and foreign income, gross receipts, capital gains, withholding, property, recording, stamp, transfer, sales, use, abandoned property, escheat, franchise, employment, payroll, excise, environmental and any other taxes, duties, assessments or similar governmental charges, together with penalties, interest or additions imposed with respect to such amounts by the U.S. or any Governmental Authority, whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or any other basis.

Termination Payment” means $22,989,657, plus an amount (capped at $2 million) equal to the Expenses of REIT II.

Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary” means any directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of REIT I.

Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary” means any directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II.

(b) In addition to the terms defined in Section 1.1(a), the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth in the sections set forth below opposite such term:

 

Defined Term

  

Location of Definition

Acquisition Agreement    Section 7.3(d)
Agreement    Preamble
Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement    Recitals
Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement    Recitals
Articles of Merger    Section 2.3(a)
Charter Restrictions    Section 7.9
Closing    Section 2.2
Closing Date    Section 2.2
Competing Proposal    Section 7.3(h)(i)
Contribution Agreement    Recitals
Contribution Documents    Section 8.3(g)
DE SOS    Section 2.3(b)
DRULPA    Recitals

 

13


Encumbrances    Section 4.10(a)
Escrow Agreement    Section 9.3(f)
Exchange Ratio    Section 3.1(a)(i)
FLSA    Section 4.17(i)
Form S-4    Section 7.1(a)
Indemnified Parties    Section 7.7(a)
Interim Period    Section 6.1(a)
IRCA    Section 4.17(m)
Merger Effective Time    Section 2.3(a)
Merger Sub    Preamble
Mergers    Recitals
MGCL    Recitals
MLLCA    Recitals
Outside Date    Section 9.1(b)(i)
Partnership Certificate of Merger    Section 2.3(b)
Partnership Merger    Recitals
Partnership Merger Consideration    Section 3.1(b)(i)
Partnership Merger Effective Time    Section 2.3(b)
Party(ies)    Preamble
Qualified REIT Subsidiary    Section 4.1(c)
Registered Securities    Section 7.1(a)
REIT Merger Consideration    Section 3.1(a)(i)
REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change    Section 7.3(d)
REIT I Advisor    Recitals
REIT I Advisory Agreement Amendment    Recitals
REIT I Board    Recitals
REIT I Board Recommendation    Section 4.2(c)
REIT I Charter Amendment    Recitals
REIT I Convertible Stock    Section 4.4(a)
REIT I Designees    Section 7.13
REIT I Disclosure Letter    Article IV
REIT I Insurance Policies    Section 4.16
REIT I Internalization Transaction    Recitals
REIT I Management Agreement Documents    Section 4.12(d)
REIT I Material Contract    Section 4.12(b)
REIT I Operating Partnership    Preamble
REIT I Permits    Section 4.8(a)
REIT I Preferred Stock    Section 4.4(a)
REIT I SEC Documents    Section 4.5(a)
REIT I Special Committee    Recitals
REIT I Subsidiary Partnership    Section 4.13(h)
REIT I Tax Protection Agreements    Section 4.13(h)

 

14


REIT I Terminating Breach    Section 9.1(d)(i)
REIT I Voting Debt    Section 4.4(e)
REIT II    Preamble
REIT II Board    Recitals
REIT II Convertible Stock    Section 5.4(a)
REIT II Disclosure Letter    Article V
REIT II Insurance Policies    Section 5.16
REIT II Management Agreement Documents    Section 5.12(d)
REIT II Material Contract    Section 5.12(b)
REIT II Operating Partnership    Preamble
REIT II Permits    Section 5.8(a)
REIT II Preferred Stock    Section 5.4(a)
REIT II Related Party Agreements    Section 5.18
REIT II SEC Documents    Section 5.5(a)
REIT II Special Committee    Recitals
REIT II Subsidiary Partnership    Section 5.13(h)
REIT II Tax Protection Agreements    Section 5.13(h)
REIT II Terminating Breach    Section 9.1(c)(i)
REIT II Voting Debt    Section 5.4(d)
REIT III    Recitals
REIT III Advisor    Recitals
REIT III Merger    Recitals
REIT Merger    Recitals
REIT Merger Effective Time    Section 2.3(a)
RRE    Recitals
Sarbanes-Oxley Act    Section 4.5(a)
SDAT    Section 2.3(a)
Superior Proposal    Section 7.3(g)(ii)
Surviving Entity    Section 2.1(a)
Surviving Partnership    Section 2.1(b)
Takeover Statutes    Section 4.21
Taxable REIT Subsidiary    Section 4.1(c)
Transfer Agent    Section 3.2(a)
Transfer Taxes    Section 7.12(d)
Voting Agreements    Recitals
WARN Act    Section 4.17(l)

 

15


Section 1.2 Interpretation and Rules of Construction. In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

(a) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

(b) the table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;

(c) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limiting the generality of the foregoing” unless expressly provided otherwise;

(d) “or” shall be construed in the inclusive sense of “and/or”;

(e) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise specified;

(f) all references herein to “$” or dollars shall refer to United States dollars;

(g) no specific provision, representation or warranty shall limit the applicability of a more general provision, representation or warranty;

(h) it is the intent of the Parties that each representation, warranty, covenant, condition and agreement contained in this Agreement shall be given full, separate, and independent effect and that such provisions are cumulative;

(i) the phrase “ordinary course of business” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “consistent with past practice” and, as used in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2, similar in nature and magnitude to actions customarily taken without any authorization by the board of directors in the course of normal day-to-day operations, whether or not such words actually follow such phrase;

(j) references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns;

(k) any reference in this Agreement to a date or time shall be deemed to be such date or time in the City of New York, New York, U.S.A., unless otherwise specified;

(l) all terms defined in this Agreement have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto, unless otherwise defined therein; and

(m) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

 

16


ARTICLE II

THE MERGERS

Section 2.1 The Mergers.

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the MGCL and MLLCA, at the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT I shall be merged with and into Merger Sub, whereupon the separate existence of REIT I will cease, with Merger Sub surviving the REIT Merger (Merger Sub, as the surviving entity in the REIT Merger, sometimes being referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”), such that following and as a result of the REIT Merger, the Surviving Entity will be a wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II. The REIT Merger shall have the effects provided in this Agreement and the Articles of Merger, and as specified in the applicable provisions of the MGCL and MLLCA.

(b) Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DRULPA, at the Partnership Merger Effective Time, REIT I Operating Partnership shall be merged with and into REIT II Operating Partnership, with REIT II Operating Partnership surviving the Partnership Merger (the “Surviving Partnership”). The Partnership Merger shall have the effects set forth in the applicable provisions of the DRULPA and this Agreement.

Section 2.2 Closing. The closing of the Mergers (the “Closing”) will take place (a) by electronic exchange of documents and signatures at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time on the third Business Day after all the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or valid waiver of such conditions at the Closing) shall have been satisfied or validly waived by the Party entitled to the benefit of such condition (subject to applicable Law), or (b) such other place or date as may be agreed in writing by REIT II and REIT I. The date on which the Closing actually takes place is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

Section 2.3 Effective Times.

(a) On the Closing Date, REIT II, REIT I and Merger Sub shall (i) cause articles of merger with respect to the REIT Merger to be duly executed and filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) in accordance with the MGCL and the MLLCA (the “Articles of Merger”) and (ii) make any other filings, recordings or publications required to be made by REIT I or the Surviving Entity under the MGCL or MLLCA in connection with the REIT Merger. The REIT Merger shall become effective at such time as the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT or on such other date and time (not to exceed 30 days after the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT) as specified in the Articles of Merger (such date and time, the “REIT Merger Effective Time” and together with the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the “Merger Effective Time”), it being understood and agreed that the Parties shall cause the REIT Merger Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date and before the Partnership Merger Effective Time. The Articles of Merger shall provide that the name of the Surviving Entity shall be “Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC.”

 

17


(b) On the Closing Date, REIT II Operating Partnership and REIT I Operating Partnership shall (i) cause a certificate of merger with respect to the Partnership Merger to be duly executed and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State (the “DE SOS”) in accordance with the DRULPA (the “Partnership Certificate of Merger”) and (ii) make any other filings, recordings or publications required to be made by REIT II Operating Partnership, REIT I Operating Partnership or the Surviving Partnership under the DRULPA in connection with the Partnership Merger. The Partnership Merger shall become effective at the time set forth in the Partnership Certificate of Merger (such date and time, the “Partnership Merger Effective Time”), it being understood and agreed that the Parties shall cause the Partnership Merger Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date after the REIT Merger Effective Time.

Section 2.4 Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity and the Surviving Partnership.

(a) From and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, the charter of REIT II shall remain in effect as the charter of REIT II until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of the charter of REIT II.

(b) At the REIT Merger Effective Time and by virtue of the REIT Merger, the articles of organization and operating agreement of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, shall be the articles of organization and operating agreement of the Surviving Entity, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of such articles of organization and operating agreement.

(c) At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, (i) the certificate of limited partnership of REIT II Operating Partnership shall be the certificate of limited partnership of the Surviving Partnership and (ii) the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement will be the limited partnership agreement of the Surviving Partnership, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of such agreement.

Section 2.5 Managers of the Surviving Entity. At the REIT Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger, the member of Merger Sub shall manage the Surviving Entity.

Section 2.6 Tax Treatment of Mergers

(a) The Parties intend that, for United States federal income tax purposes (and, where applicable, state and local income tax purposes), the REIT Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and this Agreement shall be, and is hereby adopted as, a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Section 354 and 361 of the Code. Unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state of local Law), all Parties shall file all United States federal, state and local Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the intended tax treatment of the REIT Merger described in this Section 2.6(a), and no Party shall take a position inconsistent with such treatment.

(b) The Parties intend that, for United States federal income tax purposes (and, where applicable, state and local income tax purposes), the Partnership Merger shall be treated as a

 

18


transfer by REIT I Operating Partnership of all of its assets and liabilities to REIT II Operating Partnership in exchange for REIT II OP Units followed by the distribution of such units to REIT II and REIT I Operating Partnership Minority Owner in a complete liquidation of REIT I Operating Partnership, the exchange and distribution being respectively described in Section 721 of the Code and Section 731 of the Code pursuant to the REIT Merger. Unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state of local Law), all Parties shall file all United States federal, state and local Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the intended tax treatment of the Partnership Merger described in this Section 2.6(b), and no Party shall take a position inconsistent with such treatment.

Section 2.7 Subsequent Actions. If at any time after the Partnership Merger Effective Time the Surviving Partnership shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, that any actions are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Partnership its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights or properties of REIT I Operating Partnership acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Partnership as a result of, or in connection with, the Partnership Merger or otherwise to carry out the intent of this Agreement, then the partners and officers of the Surviving Partnership shall be authorized to take all such actions as may be necessary or desirable to vest all right, title or interest in, to or under such rights or properties in the Surviving Partnership or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS

Section 3.1 Effects of the Mergers.

(a) The REIT Merger. At the REIT Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the REIT Merger and without any further action on the part of REIT I or Merger Sub or the holders of any securities of REIT II, REIT I or Merger Sub:

(i) Except as noted below, each share of (A) REIT I Common Stock, or fraction thereof, issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement 1.22423 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) (upon the proper surrender of such Book-Entry Share) of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of REIT II Common Stock and (B) REIT I Convertible Stock, or fraction thereof, issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive $0.02 in cash (without interest) (upon the proper surrender of such Book-Entry Share) (collectively, the “REIT Merger Consideration”) in accordance with Section 3.2 and subject to Section 3.1(a)(ii), Section 3.1(a)(iii), Section 3.1(c), Section 3.3 and the next sentence of this Section 3.1(a)(i). The REIT Merger Consideration payable to each holder of REIT I Common Stock with respect to their shares of REIT I Common Stock will be aggregated and each such holder shall be entitled to receive such number of shares of REIT II Common Stock, including any fraction thereof (which fraction shall be rounded up to the nearest 1/1,000th of a share), consistent with the Exchange Ratio. From and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, all shares of REIT I Common Stock and REIT I Convertible Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist,

 

19


and each holder of a share of REIT I Common Stock or REIT I Convertible Stock shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except for the right to receive the REIT Merger Consideration therefor in accordance with Section 3.2.

(ii) Each share of REIT I Restricted Stock that is issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and extinguished and shall be converted automatically into the right to receive, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement a number of shares of REIT II Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of REIT II Common Stock (upon the proper surrender of such Book-Entry Share). Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, each share of REIT II Common Stock issued pursuant to this Section 3.1(a)(ii) shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions (including vesting terms) set forth in the REIT I Long-Term Incentive Plan, if applicable, and the restricted stock agreements relating thereto, as in effect immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time.

(iii) Each share of REIT I Common Stock or REIT I Convertible Stock, if any, then held by any REIT I Subsidiary shall automatically be retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be paid, nor shall any right inure or be made with respect thereto in connection with or as a consequence of the REIT Merger.

(iv) Each share of REIT I Common Stock or REIT I Convertible Stock, if any, then held by REIT II or any Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be paid, nor shall any right inure or be made with respect thereto in connection with or as a consequence of the REIT Merger.

(v) Each membership interest of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time shall remain the only issued and outstanding membership interests of Merger Sub, and REIT II shall remain the sole member of Merger Sub.

(b) The Partnership Merger. At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without any further action on the part of REIT II Operating Partnership or REIT I Operating Partnership or the holders of any securities of REIT II Operating Partnership or REIT I Operating Partnership:

(i) Each REIT I OP Unit outstanding and held by Merger Sub and REIT I Holdco as of immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time (which will occur after the REIT Merger Effective Time as specified in Section 2.3) will be converted in the aggregate into the right to receive, in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement (upon the proper surrender of such REIT I OP Unit) the number of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable REIT II OP Units specified in the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement as being held by Merger Sub and REIT I Holdco as of the Partnership Merger Effective Time.

(ii) Each REIT I Common OP Unit outstanding and held by REIT I Operating Partnership Minority Owner as of immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,

 

20


the Exchange Ratio (upon the proper surrender of such REIT I Common OP Unit) of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable REIT II Common OP Units, and each REIT I Preferred OP Unit outstanding and held by REIT I Operating Partnership Minority Owner as of immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (upon the proper surrender of such REIT I Preferred OP Unit), one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable REIT II Preferred OP Unit (collectively, the “Partnership Merger Consideration”). The REIT II Common OP Units payable to REIT I Operating Partnership Minority Owner will be aggregated and REIT I Operating Partnership Minority Owner shall be entitled to receive such number of REIT II Common OP Units, including any fraction thereof (which fraction shall be rounded up to the nearest 1/1,000th of a unit), consistent with the Exchange Ratio. From and after the Partnership Merger Effective Time, all such REIT I OP Units shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and REIT I Operating Partnership Minority Owner shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except for the right to receive the Partnership Merger Consideration therefor in accordance with Section 3.2; and

(iii) REIT II will be the general partner of the Surviving Partnership.

(c) Adjustment of the REIT Merger Consideration and Partnership Merger Consideration. Between the date of this Agreement and the applicable Merger Effective Time, if any of REIT I, REIT I Operating Partnership, REIT II or REIT II Operating Partnership should split, combine or otherwise reclassify the REIT I Common Stock, the REIT I OP Units, the REIT II Common Stock or the REIT II OP Units, or make a dividend or other distribution in shares of the REIT I Common Stock, the REIT I OP Units, the REIT II Common Stock or the REIT II OP Units (including any dividend or other distribution of securities convertible into REIT I Common Stock, REIT I OP Units, REIT II Common Stock or REIT II OP Units), or engages in a reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or exchange or other like change, then (without limiting any other rights of the Parties hereunder), the Exchange Ratio shall be ratably adjusted to reflect fully the effect of any such change, and thereafter all references to the Exchange Ratio shall be deemed to be the Exchange Ratio as so adjusted.

(d) Transfer Books. From and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, the share transfer books of REIT I and REIT I Operating Partnership shall be closed, and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of REIT I Common Stock, REIT I Convertible Stock or REIT I OP Units. From and after the Merger Effective Time, Persons who held REIT I Common Stock, REIT I Convertible Stock or REIT I OP Units outstanding immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time shall cease to have rights with respect to such shares or units, except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement or by applicable Law.

Section 3.2 Exchange Procedures; Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares.

(a) As soon as practicable following the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT II shall cause its transfer agent, DST Systems (or any successor transfer agent for REIT II, the “Transfer Agent”) to record the issuance on the stock records of REIT II of the amount of REIT II Common Stock that is issuable to each holder of shares of REIT I Common Stock (including any fractional shares thereof), pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(i). Shares of REIT II Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Section 3.2(a) in exchange for shares of REIT I Common Stock shall be in book-entry form.

 

21


(b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT II shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to provide the former holders of REIT I Convertible Stock with the REIT Merger Consideration therefor, subject to the receipt of such evidence of surrender or transfer as REIT II shall reasonably require.

(c) After the REIT Merger Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of REIT I Common Stock or REIT I Convertible Stock. If, after the REIT Merger Effective Time, shares are presented to the Surviving Entity or the Transfer Agent, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the REIT Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article III.

(d) None of REIT II, REIT II Operating Partnership, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Transfer Agent or any other Person shall be liable to any holder of REIT I Common Stock or REIT I Convertible Stock for any REIT Merger Consideration or other amounts delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or other similar Law. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of shares of REIT I Common Stock or REIT I Convertible Stock immediately prior to the time at which such amounts would otherwise escheat to, or become property of, any Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of REIT II free and clear of any claims or interest of such holders or their successors, assigns or personal representatives previously entitled thereto.

(e) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Partnership Merger Effective Time, REIT II and the Surviving Partnership shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to provide the former holders of REIT I OP Units with the Partnership Merger Consideration therefor, subject to the receipt of customary representations from such holders.

Section 3.3 Withholding Rights. Each and any REIT I Party, REIT II Party, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Transfer Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the REIT Merger Consideration, the Partnership Merger Consideration and any other amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of REIT I Common Stock, REIT I Convertible Stock or REIT I OP Units, such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to such payments under the Code or any other provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. Any such amounts so deducted and withheld shall be paid over to the applicable Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

Section 3.4 Dissenters Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

22


Section 3.5 General Effects of the Mergers.

(a) At the REIT Merger Effective Time, the effect of the REIT Merger shall be as set forth in this Agreement and as provided in the applicable provisions of the MGCL and MLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the REIT Merger Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of REIT I and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities and duties of REIT I and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Entity.

(b) At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the effect of the Partnership Merger shall be as set forth in this Agreement and as provided in the applicable provisions of the DRULPA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Partnership Merger Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of REIT II Operating Partnership and REIT I Operating Partnership shall vest in the Surviving Partnership, and all debts, liabilities and duties of REIT II Operating Partnership and REIT I Operating Partnership shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Partnership.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE REIT I PARTIES

Except (a) as set forth in the disclosure letter prepared by the REIT I Parties and delivered by the REIT I Parties to the REIT II Parties at or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “REIT I Disclosure Letter”) (it being acknowledged and agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the REIT I Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds and any other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent the applicability of such disclosure to such other section or subsection of this Agreement is reasonably apparent on its face (it being understood that to be so reasonably apparent on its face, it is not required that the other section or subsection of this Agreement be cross-referenced), provided, that no disclosure shall qualify any Fundamental Representation unless it is set forth in the specific section or subsection of the REIT I Disclosure Letter corresponding to such Fundamental Representation, provided, further, that nothing in the REIT I Disclosure Letter is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the REIT I Parties made herein) or (b) as disclosed in the REIT I SEC Documents publicly available, filed with, or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC on or after December 31, 2019 and prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any information or documents incorporated by reference therein, or filed as exhibits thereto, and excluding any disclosures contained in such documents under the headings “Risk Factors” or “Forward Looking Statements” or any other disclosures contained or referenced therein to the extent they are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), and then only to the extent that the relevance of any disclosed event, item or occurrence in such REIT I SEC Documents to a matter covered by a representation or warranty set forth in this Article IV is reasonably apparent on its face, provided, that the disclosures in the REIT I SEC Documents shall not be deemed to qualify (i) any Fundamental Representations, which matters shall only be qualified by specific disclosure in the respective corresponding section of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, and (ii) the representations and warranties made in Section 4.3 (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents), Section 4.5(a) through (c) (SEC Documents;

 

23


Financial Statements), Section 4.6 (Absence of Certain Changes or Events), Section 4.7 (No Undisclosed Liabilities), Section 4.19 (Brokers) and Section 4.20 (Opinion of Financial Advisor), the REIT I Parties hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date (in which case as of such other date)), to the REIT II Parties that:

Section 4.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

(a) REIT I is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. REIT I is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each REIT I Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has the requisite organizational power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each REIT I Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Section 4.1(c) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the REIT I Subsidiaries and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the jurisdictions in which REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries are qualified or licensed to do business, and the type of and percentage of interest held, directly or indirectly, by REIT I in each REIT I Subsidiary, including a list of each REIT I Subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(i)(2) of the Code (each a “Qualified REIT Subsidiary”) or a “taxable REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code (each, a “Taxable REIT Subsidiary”) and each REIT I Subsidiary that is an entity taxable as a corporation which is neither a Qualified REIT Subsidiary nor a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.

(d) Except as set forth in Section 4.1(d) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns any equity interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any Person (other than in the REIT I Subsidiaries and investments in short-term investment securities).

(e) REIT I has made available to REIT II complete and correct copies of the REIT I Governing Documents. Each of REIT I and REIT I Operating Partnership is in compliance with the terms of its REIT I Governing Documents in all material respects. True and complete copies of REIT I’s minute book have been made available by REIT I to REIT II.

 

24


(f) REIT I has not exempted any “Person” from the “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” or the “Common Stock Ownership Limit” or established or increased an “Excepted Holder Limit,” as such terms are defined in the REIT I Charter, which exemption or Excepted Holder Limit is currently in effect.

Section 4.2 Authority; Approval Required.

(a) Each of the REIT I Parties has the requisite corporate or limited partnership power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject to receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT I Parties and the consummation by the REIT I Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate and limited partnership action, and no other corporate or limited partnership proceedings on the part of the REIT I Parties are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Mergers or to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject, (i) with respect to the REIT Merger, to receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval, the filing of Articles of Amendment relating to the REIT I Charter Amendment with, and acceptance for record of such Articles of Amendment, by the SDAT and the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT and (ii) with respect to the Partnership Merger, to the filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Partnership Certificate of Merger by, the DE SOS.

(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the REIT I Parties, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the REIT II Parties, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the REIT I Parties enforceable against the REIT I Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c) On the recommendation of the REIT I Special Committee, the REIT I Board (including a majority of directors not otherwise interested in the Mergers) has (i) determined that the terms of this Agreement, the Mergers, the Contribution Agreement, the REIT I Advisory Agreement Amendment, the REIT I Charter Amendment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interest of REIT I and that this Agreement, the Mergers, the Contribution Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to REIT I and are on terms and conditions no less favorable to REIT I than those available from unaffiliated third parties, (ii) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Contribution Agreement, the REIT I Advisory Agreement Amendment, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) directed that the REIT Merger and the REIT I Charter Amendment be submitted to a vote of the holders of REIT I Common Stock and (iv) except as may be permitted pursuant to Section 7.3, resolved to include in the REIT I Proxy Statement the recommendation of the REIT I Board to holders of REIT I Common Stock and REIT I Convertible Stock to vote in favor of approval of the REIT Merger and the recommendation of the REIT I Board to holders of REIT I Common Stock to vote in favor of the REIT I Charter

 

25


Amendment (such recommendation, the “REIT I Board Recommendation”), which resolutions remain in full force and effect and have not been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way, except as may be permitted after the date hereof by Section 7.3.

(d) The REIT I Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of securities of REIT I or REIT I Operating Partnership required to approve the Mergers.

Section 4.3 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT I Parties do not, and the performance of this Agreement and its obligations hereunder will not, (i) assuming receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval, conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the REIT I Governing Documents or (B) any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other REIT I Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 4.3(b) have been obtained, all filings and notifications described in Section 4.3(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is bound, or (iii) except as set forth in Section 4.3(a)(iii) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, require any consent or approval (except as contemplated by Section 4.3(b)) under, result in any breach of any obligation or any loss of any benefit or material increase in any cost or obligation of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary under, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to any other Person any right of termination, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice or the lapse of time or both) of, or give rise to any right of purchase, first offer or forced sale under or result in the creation of a Lien on any property or asset of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary pursuant to, any Contract or Permit to which REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is a party, except, as to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT I Parties do not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of the REIT I Parties will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority by such REIT I Parties, except (i) the filing with the SEC of (A) the REIT I Proxy Statement, (B) the Form S-4 and the declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, and (C) such reports under, and other compliance with, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT pursuant to the MGCL and the MLLCA, (iii) the filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Partnership Certificate of Merger by, the DE SOS pursuant to the DRULPA, (iv) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws, (v) the consents, authorizations, orders or approvals of each Governmental Authority or Agency listed in Section 8.1(a) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, and (vi) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

 

26


Section 4.4 Capital Structure.

(a) The authorized capital stock of REIT I consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of REIT I Common Stock, 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (“REIT I Preferred Stock”), and 50,000 shares of convertible stock, $0.01 par value per share (“REIT I Convertible Stock”). As of the date hereof, (i) 69,919,882 shares of REIT I Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of REIT I Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding and (iii) 49,935 shares of REIT I Convertible Stock were issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of REIT I are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section 4.4, there is no other outstanding capital stock of REIT I.

(b) Section 4.4(b) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter sets forth for all holders of REIT I Restricted Stock, the name of the holder thereof, the date of the issuance thereof and the vesting schedule therefor (including whether the vesting of such REIT I Restricted Stock is subject to acceleration as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other events).

(c) Except as set forth on Section 4.4(c) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, all the REIT I OP Units are held by REIT I or a Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances and free of preemptive rights. All of the REIT I OP Units are duly authorized and validly issued.

(d) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the REIT I Subsidiaries that is a corporation are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All equity interests in each of the REIT I Subsidiaries that is a partnership or limited liability company are duly authorized and validly issued. All shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) each of the REIT I Subsidiaries which may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options or exchange rights are duly authorized and, upon issuance will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. REIT I or REIT I Operating Partnership owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the REIT I Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances, and free of preemptive rights.

(e) There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights (or convertible into securities having such rights) of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary (“REIT I Voting Debt”) issued and outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 4.4(a) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding subscriptions, securities options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities (other than REIT I OP Units and REIT I Convertible Stock), preemptive rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments of any kind to which REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound obligating REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries to (i) issue, transfer or sell or create, or cause to be issued, transferred or sold or created any additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests or phantom stock or other contractual rights the value of which is determined in whole or in part by the value of any equity security of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, (ii) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation

 

27


rights, phantom stock, convertible securities or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments or (iii) except as provided under the REIT I Share Redemption Program or the Contribution Documents, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock, REIT I Voting Debt or other equity interests.

(f) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Contracts concerning the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) of any capital stock of REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries. Except as set forth at Section 4.4(f) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has granted any registration rights on any of its capital stock. No REIT I Common Stock is owned by any REIT I Subsidiary.

(g) REIT I does not have a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan.

(h) All dividends or other distributions on the shares of REIT I Common Stock and any material dividends or other distributions on any securities of any REIT I Subsidiary which have been authorized or declared prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends have been publicly announced and are not yet due and payable).

Section 4.5 SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) REIT I has timely filed with, or furnished (on a publicly available basis) to, the SEC all forms, documents, statements, schedules and reports required to be filed by REIT I under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (together with all certifications required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”)) since December 31, 2016 (the forms, documents, statements and reports filed with the SEC since December 31, 2016 and those filed with the SEC since the date of this Agreement, if any, including any amendments thereto, the “REIT I SEC Documents”). As of their respective filing dates (or the date of their most recent amendment, supplement or modification, in each case, to the extent filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement), the REIT I SEC Documents (i) complied, or with respect to REIT I SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will comply, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and (ii) did not, or with respect to REIT I SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the REIT I SEC Documents is, to the Knowledge of REIT I, the subject of ongoing SEC review and REIT I does not have any outstanding and unresolved comments from the SEC with respect to any REIT I SEC Documents. There are no internal investigations, any SEC inquiries or investigations or other governmental inquiries or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT I, threatened. None of the REIT I SEC Documents is the subject of any confidential treatment request by REIT I.

(b) REIT I has made available to REIT II complete and correct copies of all written correspondence between the SEC, on one hand, and REIT I, on the other hand, since December 31, 2016. At all applicable times, REIT I has complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

28


(c) The consolidated audited and unaudited financial statements of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries included, or incorporated by reference, in the REIT I SEC Documents, including the related notes and schedules (as amended, supplemented or modified by later REIT I SEC Documents, in each case, to the extent filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement), (i) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared from, are in accordance with, and accurately reflect the books and records of REIT I and REIT I Subsidiaries in all material respects, (ii) complied or will comply, as the case may be, as of their respective dates in all material respects with the then-applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (iii) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto, or, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments and as may be permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q, Form 8-K, Regulation S-X or any successor or like form under the Exchange Act, which such adjustments are not, in the aggregate, material to REIT I) and (iv) fairly present, in all material respects (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments, none of which is material), the consolidated financial position of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as of their respective dates and the consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein. There are no internal investigations, any SEC inquiries or investigations or other governmental inquiries or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT I, threatened, in each case regarding any accounting practices of REIT I.

(d) Since December 31, 2016, (A) REIT I has designed and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by REIT I in the reports that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to REIT I’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of REIT I required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports, and (B) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting REIT I’s management to material information required to be included in REIT I’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act (if REIT I was required to file such reports). REIT I and REIT I Subsidiaries have designed and maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances (i) regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (ii) that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (iii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements and to maintain asset accountability, (iv) that access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (v) that the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (vi) accounts, notes and other

 

29


receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis. REIT I has disclosed to REIT I’s auditors and audit committee (and made summaries of such disclosures available to REIT II) (1) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect REIT I’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (2) any fraud, to the Knowledge of REIT I, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal control over financial reporting.

(e) REIT I is not and none of the REIT I Subsidiaries are, a party to, and none of REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract, including any Contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC), where the result, purpose or effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, REIT I, any REIT I Subsidiary or REIT I’s or such REIT I Subsidiary’s audited financial statements or other REIT I SEC Documents.

(f) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(g) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of REIT I, any director, officer or Representative of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or (iii) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, in each case, in violation in any material respect of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law. Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has received any written communication that alleges that REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, or any of their respective Representatives, is, or may be, in violation of, or has, or may have, any liability under, any Anti-Corruption Law.

Section 4.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth in Section 4.6 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, since December 31, 2019 through the date of this Agreement, (a) REIT I and all REIT I Subsidiaries have conducted their respective business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business, (b) neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has taken any action that would have been prohibited by Section 6.1(b) (Conduct of Business by REIT I) if taken from and after the date of this Agreement and (c) there has not been any REIT I Material Adverse Effect or any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with all other events, circumstances, changes, effects, developments, conditions or occurrences, would reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

 

30


Section 4.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (a) as disclosed, reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of REIT I dated as of June 30, 2020 (including the notes thereto), (b) for liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (c) for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2020, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has any liabilities or obligations or Indebtedness (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above, has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.8 Permits; Compliance with Law.

(a) REIT I and each REIT I Subsidiary is in possession of all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances of any Governmental Authority necessary for REIT I and each REIT I Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted (the “REIT I Permits”), and all such REIT I Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the REIT I Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred with respect to any of the REIT I Permits which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such REIT I Permits. To the Knowledge of REIT I, there is not pending any applicable petition, objection or other pleading with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction or authority over the operations of REIT I or the REIT I Subsidiaries that impairs the validity of any REIT I Permit or which would reasonably be expected, if accepted or granted, to result in the revocation of any REIT I Permit, except where the impairment or revocation of any such REIT I Permit, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary is, and for the past three years has been, in conflict with, or in default or violation of (i) any Law applicable to REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of REIT I or any other REIT I Subsidiary is bound, or (ii) any REIT I Permits, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that have been cured, or that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.9 Litigation. There is no material Action or investigation to which REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is a party (either as plaintiff or defendant) pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT I, threatened before any Governmental Authority, and, to the Knowledge of REIT I, there is no basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation. None of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by any Order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority from engaging in or continuing to conduct the business of REIT I or the REIT I Subsidiaries. No Order of any Governmental Authority has been issued in any proceeding to which REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries is or was a party, or, to the Knowledge of REIT I, in any other proceeding, that enjoins or requires REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries to take action of any kind with respect to its businesses, assets or properties. Since

 

31


December 31, 2019, none of REIT I, any REIT I Subsidiary or any Representative of the foregoing has received or made any settlement offer for any Action to which REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is a party or potentially could be a party (in each case, either as plaintiff or defendant), other than settlement offers that do not exceed $100,000 individually.

Section 4.10 Properties.

(a) Section 4.10(a) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter lists the REIT I Properties, and sets forth the REIT I Party or applicable REIT I Subsidiary owning such property. Except as disclosed in title insurance policies and reports (and the documents or surveys referenced in such policies and reports) copies of which policies and reports were made available for review to REIT II: (A) REIT I or a REIT I Subsidiary owns fee simple title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the REIT I Properties, free and clear of Liens, mortgages or deeds of trust, claims against title, charges which are liens, security interests or other encumbrances on title (“Encumbrances”), except for Permitted Encumbrances; (B) except as has not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has received written notice of any violation of any Law affecting any portion of any of the REIT I Properties issued by any Governmental Authority; and (C) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has received notice to the effect that there are (1) condemnation or rezoning proceedings that are pending or threatened with respect to any of the REIT I Properties or (2) zoning, building or similar Laws, codes, ordinances, orders or regulations that are or will be violated by the continued maintenance, operation or use of any buildings or other improvements on any of the REIT I Properties or by the continued maintenance, operation or use of the parking areas.

(b) REIT I has not received written notice of, nor does REIT I have any Knowledge of, any latent defects or adverse physical conditions affecting any of the REIT I Properties or the improvements thereon, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

(c) REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all material personal property owned, used or held for use by them. Neither REIT I’s, nor the REIT I Subsidiaries’, ownership of any such personal property is subject to any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

(d) A policy of title insurance has been issued for each REIT I Property insuring, as of the effective date of such insurance policy, (i) fee simple title interest held by REIT I or the applicable REIT I Subsidiary and (ii) to the Knowledge of REIT I, such insurance policies are in full force and effect, and no material claim has been made against any such policy that remains outstanding as of the date hereof.

Section 4.11 Environmental Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect: (i) no notification, demand, directive, request for information, citation, summons, notice of violation or order has been received, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been asserted or assessed and no investigation, action, suit or proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT I, is threatened relating to any of the REIT I Parties, any of the REIT I Subsidiaries or any of their respective

 

32


properties, and relating to or arising out of any Environmental Law, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Substance; (ii) the REIT I Parties, the other REIT I Subsidiaries and their respective properties are and have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws and all applicable Environmental Permits; (iii) each of the REIT I Parties and each other REIT I Subsidiary is in possession of all Environmental Permits necessary for REIT I and each REIT I Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted as of the date hereof, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect with all necessary applications for renewal thereof having been timely filed, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the Environmental Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect; (iv) any and all Hazardous Substances disposed of by REIT I and each REIT I Subsidiary was done so in accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (v) REIT I Parties, any of the REIT I Subsidiaries and their respective properties are not subject to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Laws, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Substance; and (vi) except as set forth on Section 4.11 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, there are no liabilities or obligations (and no asserted liability or obligations) of the REIT I Parties or any of the other REIT I Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise arising under or relating to any Environmental Law or any Hazardous Substance (including liability or responsibility for the costs of enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive relief) and there is no condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liability or obligation.

Section 4.12 Material Contracts.

(a) REIT I has made available to REIT II a true, correct and complete copy of each Contract (other than a REIT I Benefit Plan) in effect as of the date hereof to which REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is a party or by which any of its properties or assets are bound that:

(i) is required to be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to REIT I’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2019 or any subsequent current or periodic report;

(ii) is required to be described pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act;

(iii) obligates the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary to make non-contingent aggregate annual expenditures (other than principal or interest payments or the deposit of other reserves with respect to debt obligations) in excess of $500,000 and is not cancelable within 90 days without material penalty to the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary;

(iv) contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any line of business or geographic area that restricts the business of the REIT I Parties or any other

 

33


REIT I Subsidiary, including upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or that otherwise restricts the lines of business conducted by the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary or the geographic area in which the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary may conduct business;

(v) is a Contract that obligates the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary to indemnify any past or present directors, officers, or employees of the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary pursuant to which the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary is the indemnitor;

(vi) constitutes (A) an Indebtedness obligation of the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary with a principal amount as of the date hereof greater than $500,000 or (B) a Contract under which (1) any Person including REIT I or a REIT I Subsidiary, has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of REIT I or REIT I Subsidiary or (2) REIT I or a REIT I Subsidiary has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of any Person, including REIT I or another REIT I Subsidiary (in each case other than endorsements for the purpose of collection in the ordinary course of business);

(vii) requires the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary to dispose of or acquire assets or properties that (together with all of the assets and properties subject to such requirement in such Contract) have a fair market value in excess of $500,000, or involves any pending or contemplated merger, consolidation or similar business combination transaction;

(viii) constitutes an interest rate cap, interest rate collar, interest rate swap or other Contract relating to a swap or other hedging transaction of any type;

(ix) constitutes a loan to any Person (other than a Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary) by REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary in an amount in excess of $500,000;

(x) sets forth the operational terms of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company or strategic alliance of the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary with a third party;

(xi) prohibits the pledging of the capital stock of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary or prohibits the issuance of guarantees by any REIT I Subsidiary;

(xii) contains covenants expressly limiting, in any material respect, the ability of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any material assets or business of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary;

(xiii) contains restrictions on the ability of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions (other than pursuant to the organizational documents of REIT I and REIT I Subsidiaries);

(xiv) is with a Governmental Authority;

 

34


(xv) has continuing “earn-out” or other similar contingent purchase price payment obligations, in each case that could result in payments, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $500,000;

(xvi) is an employment Contract or consulting Contract;

(xvii) is a collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor organization, union or association;

(xviii) is a Contract with any professional employer organization, staffing agency, temporary employee agency, or similar company or service provider;

(xix) provides severance, retention, or transaction bonus payments, change-of-control payments, or similar compensation;

(xx) is a settlement agreement or release of claims with any current employee or with any former employee within the past five years;

(xxi) is a lease, sublease, license or other rental agreement or occupancy agreement (written or verbal) which grants any possessory interest in and to any space situated on or in the REIT I Properties or otherwise gives rights with regard to use of the REIT I Properties, other than third-party residential tenant leases or ancillary retail leases; or

(xxii) is both (A) not made in the ordinary course of business and (B) material to REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) Each Contract in any of the categories set forth in Section 4.12(a) to which the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound as of the date hereof is referred to herein as a “REIT I Material Contract.”

(c) Each REIT I Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable on the REIT I Parties and each other REIT I Subsidiary that is a party thereto and, to the Knowledge of REIT I, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). The REIT I Parties and each other REIT I Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by it prior to the date hereof under each REIT I Material Contract and, to the Knowledge of REIT I, each other party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under such REIT I Material Contract prior to the date hereof. None of the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary, nor, to the Knowledge of REIT I, any other party thereto, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any REIT I Material Contract, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a violation, breach or default under any REIT I Material Contract, except where in each case such breach, violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect. None of the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary has received notice of any violation or default under, or currently owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages with respect to,

 

35


any REIT I Material Contract, except for violations, defaults, fees or damages that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 2019, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has received any written notice of the intention of any party to cancel, terminate, materially change the scope of rights under or fail to renew any REIT I Material Contract.

(d) Section 4.12(d) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter lists each management agreement pursuant to which any third party manages or operates any of the REIT I Properties on behalf of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, and describes the property that is subject to such management agreement, REIT I or the applicable REIT I Subsidiary that is a party, the date of such management agreement and each material amendment, guaranty or other agreement binding on REIT I or the applicable REIT I Subsidiary and relating thereto (collectively, the “REIT I Management Agreement Documents”). The true, correct and complete copies of all REIT I Management Agreement Documents have been made available to REIT II. Each REIT I Management Agreement Document is valid, binding and in full force and effect as against REIT I or the applicable REIT I Subsidiary and, to the Knowledge of REIT I, as against the other party thereto. Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages to any third-party manager or operator.

Section 4.13 Taxes.

(a) Each REIT I Party and each other REIT I Subsidiary has timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority all United States federal income Tax Returns and all other material Tax Returns required to be filed, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file such Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns were complete and correct in all material respects. Each REIT I Party and each other REIT I Subsidiary has duly paid (or there has been paid on its behalf), or made adequate provisions in accordance with GAAP for, all material Taxes required to be paid by them, whether or not shown on any Tax Return. True and materially complete copies of all United States federal income Tax Returns that have been filed with the IRS by REIT I and each REIT I Subsidiary with respect to the taxable years ending on or after REIT I’s formation have been made available to REIT II. No written claim has been proposed by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary do not file Tax Returns that REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction.

(b) Beginning with its initial taxable year ending on December 31, 2010, and through and including the Closing Date (determined as if REIT I’s current taxable year ended immediately prior to Closing), REIT I (i) has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements to qualify as a REIT under the Code and the current and proposed method of operation for REIT I is expected to enable REIT I to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT through and including the Closing Date, and (ii) has not taken or omitted to take any action which would reasonably be expected to result in REIT I’s failure to qualify as a REIT, and no challenge to REIT I’s status as a REIT is pending or threatened in writing. No REIT I Subsidiary is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, other than a corporation that qualifies as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary. REIT I’s dividends paid deduction, within the meaning of Section 561 of the Code, for each taxable year, taking into account any dividends subject to Sections 857(b)(8) or 858 of the Code, has not been less than the

 

36


sum of (i) REIT I’s REIT taxable income, as defined in Section 857(b)(2) of the Code, determined without regard to any dividends paid deduction for such year and (ii) REIT I’s net capital gain for such year.

(c) (i) There are no audits, investigations by any Governmental Authority or other proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT I, threatened with regard to any material Taxes or Tax Returns of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary; (ii) no material deficiency for Taxes of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary has been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing or, to the Knowledge of REIT I, threatened, by any Governmental Authority, which deficiency has not yet been settled except for such deficiencies which are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to pay, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has, waived any statute of limitations with respect to the assessment of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to any material Tax assessment or deficiency for any open tax year; (iv) neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return; and (v) neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has entered into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law).

(d) Each REIT I Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company and that has not elected to be a Taxable REIT Subsidiary has been since its formation treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a partnership, disregarded entity, or a Qualified REIT Subsidiary, as the case may be, and not as a corporation, an association taxable as a corporation whose separate existence is respected for federal income tax purposes, or a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 7704(a) of the Code. At all times since its formation through and including the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT I Holdco is and will be disregarded as an entity separate from REIT I for federal tax purposes.

(e) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7, nor have they disposed of any such asset during its current taxable year.

(f) Since its inception, REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries have not incurred (i) any liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b)(1), 857(b)(4), 857(b)(5), 857(b)(6)(A), 857(b)(7), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code, (ii) any liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b)(5) (for income test violations), 856(c)(7)(C) (for asset test violations), or 856(g)(5)(C) (for violations of other qualification requirements applicable to REITs) and (iii) REIT I has not, and none of the REIT I Subsidiaries have, incurred any material liability for Tax other than (A) in the ordinary course of business, or (B) transfer or similar Taxes arising in connection with sales of property. No event has occurred, and to the Knowledge of REIT I no condition or circumstances exists, which presents a material risk that any material liability for Taxes described in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence or any liability for Taxes described in clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence will be imposed upon REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary.

 

37


(g) REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, and to the Knowledge of REIT I, any predecessor employers of the foregoing, have complied, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any state and foreign Laws) and have duly and timely withheld and, in each case, have paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.

(h) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(h) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, there are no REIT I Tax Protection Agreements (as hereinafter defined) in force at the date of this Agreement, and, as of the date of this Agreement, no person has raised in writing, or to the Knowledge of REIT I threatened to raise, a material claim against REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary for any breach of any REIT I Tax Protection Agreements. As used herein, “REIT I Tax Protection Agreements” means any written agreement to which REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (i) any liability to holders of limited partnership interests in a REIT I Subsidiary Partnership (as hereinafter defined) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (ii) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a holder of limited partnership interests or limited liability company in a REIT I Subsidiary Partnership, REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary has agreed to (A) maintain a minimum level of debt, continue a particular debt or provide rights to guarantee debt, (B) retain or not dispose of assets, (C) make or refrain from making Tax elections, or (D) only dispose of assets in a particular manner. As used herein, “REIT I Subsidiary Partnership” means a REIT I Subsidiary that is a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

(i) There are no Tax Encumbrances upon any property or assets of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary except Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

(j) There are no Tax allocation or sharing agreements or similar arrangements with respect to or involving REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, and after the Closing Date neither REIT I nor any other REIT I Subsidiary shall be bound by any such Tax allocation agreements or similar arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date.

(k) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(k) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has requested or received any written ruling of a Governmental Authority or entered into any written agreement with a Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, and neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary is subject to written ruling of a Governmental Authority.

(l) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any REIT I Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract, or otherwise.

 

38


(m) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has participated in any “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b).

(n) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (i) in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(o) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(o) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, no written power of attorney that has been granted by REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary (other than to REIT I or a REIT I Subsidiary) currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to Taxes.

(p) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has taken any action or failed to take any action which action or failure would reasonably be expected to jeopardize, nor to the Knowledge of REIT I is there any other fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent, the REIT Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(q) REIT I is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

Section 4.14 Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Section 4.14 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary: (a) owns any registered trademarks, patents or copyrights, or (b) has any pending applications or registrations for any trademarks, patents or copyrights. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, (i) no Intellectual Property owned by REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary infringes or is alleged to infringe any Intellectual Property rights of any third party, (ii) to the Knowledge of REIT I, no Person is misappropriating, infringing or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, and (iii) REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries own or are licensed to use, or otherwise possess valid rights to use, all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted. To the Knowledge of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, since December 31, 2019, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has received any written or verbal complaint, claim or notice alleging misappropriation, infringement or violation of any Intellectual Property rights of any third party.

Section 4.15 Information Privacy & Security. REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary has adopted written policies and procedures with respect to privacy, data protection, security and the collection and use of Personal Information gathered or accessed in the course of the operations of REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary, those policies and procedures are commercially reasonable and comply with applicable Information Privacy and Security Laws and contracts, and REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary is in compliance with such policies and procedures. REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary has disaster recovery plans, procedures and facilities in place that are appropriate to minimize the disruption of its business in the event of any material failure of any of the IT Assets

 

39


in accordance with applicable legal requirements and customer contracts. REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary has not experienced any data security breach of any IT Assets, that would constitute a breach for which notification to individuals, third parties and/or any Governmental Authority. REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary has taken reasonable actions and measures to protect the confidentiality, integrity and security of its Personal Information and all of its IT Assets, against any unauthorized use, access, interruption, modification or corruption.

Section 4.16 Insurance. Section 4.16 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all material insurance policies and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance Contracts providing coverage for REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries (the “REIT I Insurance Policies”), which REIT I Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting businesses or owning assets similar to those of REIT I and REIT I Subsidiaries and sufficient to allow each to replace any of its assets that might be damaged or destroyed. Each REIT I Insurance Policy is in full force and effect. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect, all premiums due and payable under all REIT I Insurance Policies have been paid, and REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries have otherwise complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all REIT I Insurance Policies and all claims, events and occurrences that may be covered under any REIT I Insurance Policy have been noticed pursuant to the conditions in such policy. No written notice of cancellation, termination or increase in premium has been received by REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation. REIT I has made available to REIT II true and correct copies of all REIT I Insurance Policies. No REIT I Insurance Policies are written on retrospective, audited or similar premium basis.

Section 4.17 Employee Matters.

(a) Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has ever (i) been a party to any collective bargaining agreement; (ii) had any application or petition for an election, or for certification, of a collective bargaining agent pending; (iii) had pending, existing, or threatened, any strike, slowdown, picketing or work stoppage or employee grievance process involving REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary; or (iv) been subject to any Action or threatened Action relating to the alleged violation of any Law pertaining to labor relations, including any charge or complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board. REIT I, and the REIT I Subsidiaries are, and in the three years preceding the date of this Agreement have been, in compliance with all applicable Laws and Orders regarding the terms and conditions of employment or other labor related matters, and the payment and withholding of Taxes with respect to their employees, and there are no Actions relating to any such violation pending or threatened against REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, nor have there been any such actual or threatened Actions in the three years preceding the date of this Agreement.

(b) Section 4.17(b) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each REIT I Benefit Plan and its sponsoring entity or entities. Other than the REIT I Benefit Plans listed on Section 4.17(b) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries do not and are not required to, and have not and have never been required to, maintain, sponsor or contribute to, and do not have any liability (contingent or otherwise) with respect to, any Employee Benefit Plans. Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has any contract, plan or commitment, whether or not legally binding, to create any REIT I Benefit Plan.

 

40


(c) None of REIT I, any REIT I Subsidiaries nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has ever maintained, contributed to, or participated in, or otherwise has any obligation or liability in connection with: (i) a “pension plan” under Section 3(2) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 or 4971 of the Code, (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), or (iv) a “multiple employer plan” (as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code). No REIT I Benefit Plan promises or provides retiree medical or other retiree welfare benefits to any Person other than pursuant to COBRA (whether company paid or not) or other applicable legal requirements.

(d) Each REIT I Benefit Plan has been established, administered, and maintained in all material respects in accordance with its terms and in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable Laws. With respect to each REIT I Benefit Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of a “qualified plan” under Code Section 401(a), the REIT I Benefit Plan has received and is entitled to rely on a determination from the Internal Revenue Service that such REIT I Benefit Plan is so qualified (or if it is a prototype plan, it has a favorable opinion letter; or if it is a volume submitter, it has a favorable advisory letter), and REIT I, the REIT I Subsidiary, or their respective ERISA Affiliate (as applicable) has properly adopted such REIT I Benefit Plan. No event or documentation defect with respect to any REIT I Benefit Plan has occurred which would could cause such REIT I Benefit Plan to become disqualified for purposes of Section 401(a) of the Code or which could cause REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary to incur any monetary penalty or other liability. No audits, investigations, actions, suits, or claims (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course of business) are pending or threatened with respect to any REIT I Benefit Plan.

(e) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not constitute a triggering event that will result (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent event) in any payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise) becoming due, any “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G of the Code, any increase in payment, or accelerate the time of payment or vesting of compensation due to any current or former employee, independent contractor, officer or director (or dependents of such Persons). Neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary is a party to or has any obligation to compensate any Person for excise taxes payable pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code or for additional taxes payable pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. Any REIT I Benefit Plan which is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” as defined in Section 409A of the Code has been maintained and operated in compliance with Section 409A of the Code or an available exemption therefrom.

(f) All premiums for, contributions to, and payments from, any REIT I Benefit Plans have been timely made or timely accrued by REIT I and/or the REIT I Subsidiaries in the consolidated audited and unaudited financial statements of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries.

(g) None of REIT I, any REIT I Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, officers or employees, nor, to the Knowledge of

 

41


REIT I, any other “disqualified person” or “party in interest” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the Code and Section 3(14) of ERISA, respectively) has engaged in any transaction, act or omission to act in connection with any REIT I Benefit Plan that could result in the imposition of a penalty or fine pursuant to Section 502 of ERISA, damages pursuant to Section 409 of ERISA or a tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code.

(h) No event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that could subject REIT I, any REIT I Subsidiary, or any REIT I Benefit Plan to penalties or excise taxes under Sections 4980D, 4980H, or 4980I of the Code.

(i) All current and former employees of REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary who have been classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (the “FLSA”) have been properly classified and treated as such, and all current and former employees of REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary have been properly compensated for all time worked in accordance with the FLSA. All Persons who have provided services to REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary as independent contractors or consultants have been properly classified as independent contractors, rather than employees, for purposes of all applicable Laws and REIT I Benefit Plans.

(j) Section 4.17(j) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter contains a true, accurate and complete list of all employees of REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary, specifying each employee’s name and title. The current year annual base salary or hourly wage of each such employee has been separately provided to REIT II, and shall be deemed to be part of Section 4.17(j) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter.

(k) There are not any oral or informal arrangements, commitments or promises between REIT I, nor any REIT I Subsidiary, and any employees, independent contractors or consultants thereof that have not been documented as part of the formal written agreements between any such Persons and REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary. There are no agreements or understandings between REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary and any employee, independent contractor or consultant that the term of their employment or engagement will be for any particular period.

(l) In the three years preceding the date of this Agreement, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has failed to provide advance notice of any plant closing, layoff, termination or reduction in hours as required by, or incurred any liability under, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and including any similar foreign, state, or local Law (the “WARN Act”), and as of the date of this Agreement, neither REIT I nor any REIT I Subsidiary has taken any action that would reasonably be expected to cause the REIT II Parties to incur any liability or obligation under WARN following the Closing.

(m) REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary has complied in all material respects with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and all regulations promulgated thereunder (“IRCA”). Neither REIT I, nor any REIT I Subsidiary, has employed individuals not authorized to work in the United States. Neither REIT I, nor any REIT I Subsidiary, has received any written notice of any inspection or investigation relating to its alleged noncompliance with or violation of IRCA, nor has it been warned, fined or otherwise penalized by reason of any failure to comply with IRCA.

 

42


Section 4.18 Related-Party Transactions. Except as described in REIT I SEC Documents filed with or furnished to the SEC on or after December 31, 2017 and prior to the date hereof (the “REIT I Related-Party Agreements”), no agreements, arrangements or understandings between any of the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary (or binding on any of their respective properties or assets), on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other hand (other than those exclusively among REIT I and REIT I Subsidiaries), are in existence that are not, but are required to be, disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Section 4.19 Brokers. No broker, investment banker or other Person (other than the Persons listed in Section 4.19 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, each in a fee amount not to exceed the amount set forth in Section 4.19 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, pursuant to the terms of the engagement letter between REIT I and such Person, true, correct and complete copies of which have been provided to REIT II prior to the date hereof) is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary.

Section 4.20 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The REIT I Special Committee has received the oral opinion of Robert A. Stanger & Co., Inc. (which was confirmed in writing, as of the date of this Agreement), to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and conditions set forth in its written opinion, each of the REIT Merger Consideration to be paid to holders of the REIT I Common Stock and the REIT I Convertible Stock, and the Partnership Merger Consideration to be paid to holders of REIT I OP Units, is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of the REIT I Common Stock and the REIT I Convertible Stock and to the holders of REIT I OP Units (other than REIT II and its Affiliates). REIT I will deliver to REIT II a complete and correct copy of such opinion promptly after receipt thereof by the REIT I Special Committee solely for informational purposes. REIT I acknowledges that the opinion of Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. contemplated by Section 5.20 is for the benefit of the REIT II Special Committee and that REIT I shall not be entitled to rely on that opinion for any purpose.

Section 4.21 Takeover Statutes. None of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last two years has been, an “interested stockholder” of REIT II as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL. The REIT I Board has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to the REIT Merger the restrictions on business combinations contained in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL. The restrictions on control share acquisitions contained in Subtitle 7 of Title 3 of the MGCL are not applicable to the REIT Merger. No other “business combination,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium” or other takeover or anti-takeover statute or similar federal or state Law (collectively, “Takeover Statutes”) are applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights are available to the holders of REIT I Common Stock with respect to the REIT Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.22 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied in writing on or behalf of the REIT I Parties or any REIT I Subsidiary for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) REIT I Proxy Statement will, at the time it is first mailed to the REIT I

 

43


stockholders, at the time of the REIT I Stockholders Meeting, at the time the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC or at the REIT Merger Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or (b) the Form S-4 will, at the time such document is declared effective by the SEC, contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. All documents that REIT I is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to the extent relating to REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries (or other information supplied by or on behalf of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiaries for inclusion therein) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; provided, that no representation is made as to statements made or incorporated by reference by or on behalf of the REIT II Parties.

Section 4.23 No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations or warranties expressly set forth in this Article IV or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, none of the REIT I Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT I Party has made any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary, their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, future operating or financial results, estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects) or the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the REIT I Parties or any other REIT I Subsidiary. In particular, without limiting the foregoing disclaimer, none of the REIT I Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT I Party makes or has made any representation or warranty to any REIT II Party or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives with respect to, except for the representations and warranties made by the REIT I Parties in this Article IV or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, any oral or written information presented to the REIT II Parties or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence of the REIT I Parties, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the REIT I Parties acknowledge and agree that none of the REIT II Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT II Party has made or is making any representations or warranties relating to the REIT II Parties whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by the REIT II Parties in Article V or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, including any implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding any REIT II Party furnished or made available to the REIT I Parties or any of their respective Representatives.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE REIT II PARTIES

Except (a) as set forth in the disclosure letter prepared by the REIT II Parties and delivered by the REIT II Parties to the REIT I Parties at or prior to the execution and delivery of this

 

44


Agreement (the “REIT II Disclosure Letter”) (it being acknowledged and agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the REIT II Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds and any other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent the applicability of such disclosure to such other section or subsection of this Agreement is reasonably apparent on its face (it being understood that to be so reasonably apparent on its face, it is not required that the other section or subsection of this Agreement be cross-referenced), provided, that no disclosure shall qualify any Fundamental Representation unless it is set forth in the specific section or subsection of the REIT II Disclosure Letter corresponding to such Fundamental Representation, provided, further, that nothing in the REIT II Disclosure Letter is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the REIT II Parties made herein), (b) as required pursuant to the REIT III Merger Agreement or in connection with the REIT III Merger, or (c) as disclosed in the REIT II SEC Documents publicly available, filed with, or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC on or after December 31, 2019 and prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any information or documents incorporated by reference therein, or filed as exhibits thereto, and excluding any disclosures contained in such documents under the headings “Risk Factors” or “Forward Looking Statements” or any other disclosures contained or referenced therein to the extent they are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), and then only to the extent that the relevance of any disclosed event, item or occurrence in such REIT II SEC Documents to a matter covered by a representation or warranty set forth in this Article V is reasonably apparent on its face, provided, that the disclosures in the REIT II SEC Documents shall not be deemed to qualify (i) any Fundamental Representations, which matters shall only be qualified by specific disclosure in the respective corresponding section of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, and (ii) the representations and warranties made in Section 5.3 (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents), Section 5.5(a) through (c) (SEC Documents; Financial Statements), Section 5.6 (Absence of Certain Changes or Events), Section 5.7 (No Undisclosed Liabilities), Section 5.19 (Brokers) and Section 5.20 (Opinion of Financial Advisor), the REIT II Parties hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date (in which case as of such other date)), to the REIT I Parties that:

Section 5.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

(a) REIT II is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each of REIT II and Merger Sub is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

 

45


(b) Each REIT II Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has the requisite organizational power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each REIT II Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Section 5.1(c) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the REIT II Subsidiaries and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the jurisdictions in which REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries are qualified or licensed to do business, and the type of and percentage of interest held, directly or indirectly, by REIT II in each REIT II Subsidiary, including a list of each REIT II Subsidiary that is a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary and each REIT II Subsidiary that is an entity taxable as a corporation which is neither a Qualified REIT Subsidiary nor a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.

(d) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns any equity interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any Person (other than in the REIT II Subsidiaries and investments in short-term investment securities).

(e) REIT II has made available to REIT I complete and correct copies of the REIT II Governing Documents. Each of REIT II and REIT II Operating Partnership is in compliance with the terms of its REIT II Governing Documents in all material respects. True and complete copies of REIT II’s minute book have been made available by REIT II to REIT I.

(f) REIT II has not exempted any “Person” from the “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” or the “Common Stock Ownership Limit” or established or increased an “Excepted Holder Limit,” as such terms are defined in the REIT II Charter, which exemption or Excepted Holder Limit is currently in effect.

Section 5.2 Authority; Approval Required.

(a) Each of the REIT II Parties has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT II Parties and the consummation by the REIT II Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate and limited partnership action, and no other corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership proceedings on the part of the REIT II Parties are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Mergers or to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject, (i) with respect to the REIT Merger, to the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT and (ii) with respect to the Partnership Merger, to the filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Partnership Certificate of Merger by, the DE SOS.

 

46


(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the REIT II Parties, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the REIT I Parties, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the REIT II Parties enforceable against the REIT II Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c) On the recommendation of the REIT II Special Committee, the REIT II Board (including a majority of directors not otherwise interested in the Mergers) has (i) determined that the terms of this Agreement, the Mergers, the Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement, the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interest of REIT II and that this Agreement, the Mergers, the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to REIT II and on terms and conditions no less favorable to REIT II than those available from unaffiliated third parties and (ii) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Mergers, the Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement, the Amended and Restated REIT II OP Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which resolutions remain in full force and effect and have not been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way.

(d) REIT II, as the sole member of Merger Sub, has approved this Agreement and the REIT Merger.

Section 5.3 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT II Parties do not, and the performance of this Agreement and its obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the REIT II Governing Documents or Merger Sub Governing Documents or (B) any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other REIT II Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 5.3(b) have been obtained, all filings and notifications described in Section 5.3(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is bound, or (iii) except as set forth in Section 5.3(a)(iii) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter require any consent or approval (except as contemplated by Section 5.3(b)) under, result in any breach of any obligation or any loss of any benefit or material increase in any cost or obligation of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary under, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to any other Person any right of termination, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice or the lapse of time or both) of, or give rise to any right of purchase, first offer or forced sale under or result in the creation of a Lien on any property or asset of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary

 

47


pursuant to, any Contract or Permit to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party, except, as to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT II Parties do not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of the REIT II Parties will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority by such REIT II Parties, except (i) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Form S-4 and the declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, and (B) such reports under, and other compliance with, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT pursuant to the MGCL and the MLLCA, (iii) the filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Partnership Certificate of Merger by, the DE SOS pursuant to the DRULPA, (iv) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws, (v) the consents, authorizations, orders or approvals of each Governmental Authority or Agency listed in Section 8.1(a) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter and (vi) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.4 Capital Structure.

(a) The authorized capital stock of REIT II consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of REIT II Common Stock, 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (“REIT II Preferred Stock”) and 50,000 shares of convertible stock, $0.01 par value per share (“REIT II Convertible Stock”). As of the date hereof, (i) 60,206,508 shares of REIT II Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of REIT II Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding and (iii) 50,000 shares of REIT II Convertible Stock were issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of REIT II are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and all shares of REIT II Common Stock to be issued in connection with the REIT Merger, when so issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section 5.4(a), there is no other outstanding capital stock of REIT II.

(b) All the REIT II OP Units are held by REIT II or a Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances and free of preemptive rights. All of the REIT II OP Units are duly authorized and validly issued.

(c) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the REIT II Subsidiaries that is a corporation are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All equity interests in each of the REIT II Subsidiaries that is a partnership or limited liability company are duly authorized and validly issued. All shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) each of the REIT II Subsidiaries which may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options or exchange rights are duly authorized and, upon issuance will be validly issued, fully paid

 

48


and nonassessable. REIT II or REIT II Operating Partnership owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the REIT II Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances, and free of preemptive rights.

(d) There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights (or convertible into securities having such rights) of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary (“REIT II Voting Debt”) issued and outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 5.4(d) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding subscriptions, securities options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities (other than REIT II OP Units and REIT II Convertible Stock), preemptive rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments of any kind to which REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound obligating REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries to (i) issue, transfer or sell or create, or cause to be issued, transferred or sold or created any additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests or phantom stock or other contractual rights the value of which is determined in whole or in part by the value of any equity security of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, (ii) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments or (iii) except as provided under the REIT II Share Redemption Program, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock, REIT II Voting Debt or other equity interests.

(e) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Contracts concerning the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) of any capital stock of REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries. Except as set forth at Section 4.4(e) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has granted any registration rights on any of its capital stock. No REIT II Common Stock is owned by any REIT II Subsidiary.

(f) REIT II does not have a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan.

(g) All dividends or other distributions on the shares of REIT II Common Stock and any material dividends or other distributions on any securities of any REIT II Subsidiary which have been authorized or declared prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends have been publicly announced and are not yet due and payable).

Section 5.5 SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) REIT II has timely filed with, or furnished (on a publicly available basis) to, the SEC all forms, documents, statements, schedules and reports required to be filed by REIT II under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (together with all certifications required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act since December 31, 2016 (the forms, documents, statements and reports filed with the SEC since December 31, 2016 and those filed with the SEC since the date of this Agreement, if any, including any amendments thereto, the “REIT II SEC Documents”). As of their respective filing dates (or the date of their most recent amendment, supplement or

 

49


modification, in each case, to the extent filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement), the REIT II SEC Documents (i) complied, or with respect to REIT II SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will comply, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and (ii) did not, or with respect to REIT II SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the REIT II SEC Documents is, to the Knowledge of REIT II, the subject of ongoing SEC review and REIT II does not have any outstanding and unresolved comments from the SEC with respect to any REIT II SEC Documents. There are no internal investigations, any SEC inquiries or investigations or other governmental inquiries or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened. None of the REIT II SEC Documents is the subject of any confidential treatment request by REIT II.

(b) REIT II has made available to REIT I complete and correct copies of all written correspondence between the SEC, on one hand, and REIT II, on the other hand, since December 31, 2016. At all applicable times, REIT II has complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(c) The consolidated audited and unaudited financial statements of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries included, or incorporated by reference, in the REIT II SEC Documents, including the related notes and schedules (as amended, supplemented or modified by later REIT II SEC Documents, in each case, to the extent filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement), (i) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared from, are in accordance with, and accurately reflect the books and records of REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries in all material respects, (ii) complied or will comply, as the case may be, as of their respective dates in all material respects with the then-applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (iii) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto, or, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments and as may be permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q, Form 8-K, Regulation S-X or any successor or like form under the Exchange Act, which such adjustments are not, in the aggregate, material to REIT II) and (iv) fairly present, in all material respects (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments, none of which is material), the consolidated financial position of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as of their respective dates and the consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein. There are no internal investigations, any SEC inquiries or investigations or other governmental inquiries or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened, in each case regarding any accounting practices of REIT II.

(d) Since December 31, 2016, (A) REIT II has designed and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by REIT II in the

 

50


reports that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to REIT II’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of REIT II required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports, and (B) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting REIT II’s management to material information required to be included in REIT II’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act (if REIT II was required to file such reports). REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries have designed and maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances (i) regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (ii) that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (iii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements and to maintain asset accountability, (iv) that access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (v) that the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (vi) accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis. REIT II has disclosed to REIT II’s auditors and audit committee (and made summaries of such disclosures available to REIT I) (1) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect REIT II’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (2) any fraud, to the Knowledge of REIT II, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal control over financial reporting.

(e) REIT II is not and none of the REIT II Subsidiaries are, a party to, and none of REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract, including any Contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC), where the result, purpose or effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, REIT II, any REIT II Subsidiary or REIT II’s or such REIT II Subsidiary’s audited financial statements or other REIT II SEC Documents.

(f) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(g) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of REIT II, any director, officer or Representative of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or (iii) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, in each case, in violation in

 

51


any material respect of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law. Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received any written communication that alleges that REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, or any of their respective Representatives, is, or may be, in violation of, or has, or may have, any liability under, any Anti-Corruption Law.

Section 5.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth in Section 5.6 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, since December 31, 2019 through the date of this Agreement, (a) REIT II and all REIT II Subsidiaries have conducted their respective business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business, (b) neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has taken any action that would have been prohibited by Section 6.2(b) (Conduct of Business by REIT II) if taken from and after the date of this Agreement and (c) there has not been any REIT II Material Adverse Effect or any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with all other events, circumstances, changes, effects, developments, conditions or occurrences, would reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (a) as disclosed, reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of REIT II dated as of June 30, 2020 (including the notes thereto), (b) for liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (c) for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2020, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has any liabilities or obligations or Indebtedness (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above, has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.8 Permits; Compliance with Law.

(a) REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary is in possession of all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances of any Governmental Authority necessary for REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted (the “REIT II Permits”), and all such REIT II Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the REIT II Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred with respect to any of the REIT II Permits which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such REIT II Permits. To the Knowledge of REIT II, there is not pending any applicable petition, objection or other pleading with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction or authority over the operations of REIT II or the REIT II Subsidiaries that impairs the validity of any REIT II Permit or which would reasonably be expected, if accepted or granted, to result in the revocation of any REIT II Permit, except where the impairment or revocation of any such REIT II Permit, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

 

52


(b) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is, and for the past three years has been, in conflict with, or in default or violation of (i) any Law applicable to REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of REIT II or any other REIT II Subsidiary is bound, or (ii) any REIT II Permits, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that have been cured, or that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.9 Litigation. There is no material Action or investigation to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party (either as plaintiff or defendant) pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened before any Governmental Authority, and, to the Knowledge of REIT II, there is no basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation. None of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by any Order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority from engaging in or continuing to conduct the business of REIT II or the REIT II Subsidiaries. No Order of any Governmental Authority has been issued in any proceeding to which REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries is or was a party, or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, in any other proceeding, that enjoins or requires REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries to take action of any kind with respect to its businesses, assets or properties. Since December 31, 2019, none of REIT II, any REIT II Subsidiary or any Representative of the foregoing has received or made any settlement offer for any Action to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party or potentially could be a party (in each case, either as plaintiff or defendant), other than settlement offers that do not exceed $100,000 individually.

Section 5.10 Properties.

(a) Section 5.10(a) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter lists the REIT II Properties, and sets forth the REIT II Party or applicable REIT II Subsidiary owning such property. Except as disclosed in title insurance policies and reports (and the documents or surveys referenced in such policies and reports) copies of which policies and reports were made available for review to REIT I: (A) REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary owns fee simple title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the REIT II Properties, free and clear of Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances; (B) except as has not had and would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received written notice of any violation of any Law affecting any portion of any of the REIT II Properties issued by any Governmental Authority; and (C) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received notice to the effect that there are (1) condemnation or rezoning proceedings that are pending or threatened with respect to any of the REIT II Properties or (2) zoning, building or similar Laws, codes, ordinances, orders or regulations that are or will be violated by the continued maintenance, operation or use of any buildings or other improvements on any of the REIT II Properties or by the continued maintenance, operation or use of the parking areas.

(b) REIT II has not received written notice of, nor does REIT II have any Knowledge of, any latent defects or adverse physical conditions affecting any of the REIT II Properties or the improvements thereon, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

 

53


(c) REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all material personal property owned, used or held for use by them. Neither REIT II’s, nor the REIT II Subsidiaries’, ownership of any such personal property is subject to any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

(d) A policy of title insurance has been issued for each REIT II Property insuring, as of the effective date of such insurance policy, (i) fee simple title interest held by REIT II or the applicable REIT II Subsidiary and (ii) to the Knowledge of REIT II, such insurance policies are in full force and effect, and no material claim has been made against any such policy that remains outstanding as of the date hereof.

Section 5.11 Environmental Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect: (i) no notification, demand, directive, request for information, citation, summons, notice of violation or order has been received, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been asserted or assessed and no investigation, action, suit or proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, is threatened relating to any of the REIT II Parties, any of the REIT II Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, and relating to or arising out of any Environmental Law, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Substance; (ii) the REIT II Parties, the other REIT II Subsidiaries and their respective properties are and have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws and all applicable Environmental Permits; (iii) each of the REIT II Parties and each other REIT II Subsidiary is in possession of all Environmental Permits necessary for REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted as of the date hereof, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect with all necessary applications for renewal thereof having been timely filed, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the Environmental Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect; (iv) any and all Hazardous Substances disposed of by REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary was done so in accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (v) REIT II Parties, any of the REIT II Subsidiaries and their respective properties are not subject to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Laws, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Substance; and (vi) except as set forth on Section 5.11 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, there are no liabilities or obligations (and no asserted liability or obligations) of the REIT II Parties or any of the other REIT II Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise arising under or relating to any Environmental Law or any Hazardous Substance (including liability or responsibility for the costs of enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive relief) and there is no condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liability or obligation.

 

54


Section 5.12 Material Contracts.

(a) REIT II has made available to REIT I a true, correct and complete copy of each Contract (other than an Employee Benefit Plan) in effect as of the date hereof to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party or by which any of its properties or assets are bound that:

(i) is required to be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to REIT II’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2019 or any subsequent current or periodic report;

(ii) is required to be described pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act;

(iii) obligates the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary to make non-contingent aggregate annual expenditures (other than principal or interest payments or the deposit of other reserves with respect to debt obligations) in excess of $500,000 and is not cancelable within 90 days without material penalty to the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary;

(iv) contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any line of business or geographic area that restricts the business of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary, including upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or that otherwise restricts the lines of business conducted by the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary or the geographic area in which the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary may conduct business;

(v) is a Contract that obligates the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary to indemnify any past or present directors, officers, or employees of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary pursuant to which the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary is the indemnitor;

(vi) constitutes (A) an Indebtedness obligation of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary with a principal amount as of the date hereof greater than $500,000 or (B) a Contract under which (1) any Person including REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary, has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of REIT II or REIT II Subsidiary or (2) REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of any Person, including REIT II or another REIT II Subsidiary (in each case other than endorsements for the purpose of collection in the ordinary course of business);

(vii) requires the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary to dispose of or acquire assets or properties that (together with all of the assets and properties subject to such requirement in such Contract) have a fair market value in excess of $500,000, or involves any pending or contemplated merger, consolidation or similar business combination transaction;

(viii) constitutes an interest rate cap, interest rate collar, interest rate swap or other Contract relating to a swap or other hedging transaction of any type;

 

55


(ix) constitutes a loan to any Person (other than a Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary) by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary in an amount in excess of $500,000;

(x) sets forth the operational terms of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company or strategic alliance of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary with a third party;

(xi) prohibits the pledging of the capital stock of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or prohibits the issuance of guarantees by any REIT II Subsidiary;

(xii) contains covenants expressly limiting, in any material respect, the ability of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any material assets or business of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary;

(xiii) contains restrictions on the ability of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions (other than pursuant to the organizational documents of REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries);

(xiv) is with a Governmental Authority;

(xv) has continuing “earn-out” or other similar contingent purchase price payment obligations, in each case that could result in payments, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $500,000;

(xvi) is an employment Contract or consulting Contract;

(xvii) is a collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor organization, union or association;

(xviii) is a Contract with any professional employer organization, staffing agency, temporary employee agency, or similar company or service provider;

(xix) provides severance, retention, or transaction bonus payments, change-of-control payments, or similar compensation;

(xx) is a settlement agreement or release of claims with any current employee or with any former employee within the past five years;

(xxi) is a lease, sublease, license or other rental agreement or occupancy agreement (written or verbal) which grants any possessory interest in and to any space situated on or in the REIT II Properties or otherwise gives rights with regard to use of the REIT II Properties, other than third-party residential tenant leases or ancillary retail leases; or

(xxii) is both (A) not made in the ordinary course of business and (B) material to REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

56


(b) Each Contract in any of the categories set forth in Section 5.12(a) to which the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound as of the date hereof is referred to herein as a “REIT II Material Contract.”

(c) Each REIT II Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable on the REIT II Parties and each other REIT II Subsidiary that is a party thereto and, to the Knowledge of REIT II, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). The REIT II Parties and each other REIT II Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by it prior to the date hereof under each REIT II Material Contract and, to the Knowledge of REIT II, each other party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under such REIT II Material Contract prior to the date hereof. None of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary, nor, to the Knowledge of REIT II, any other party thereto, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any REIT II Material Contract, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a violation, breach or default under any REIT II Material Contract, except where in each case such breach, violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect. None of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary has received notice of any violation or default under, or currently owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages with respect to, any REIT II Material Contract, except for violations, defaults, fees or damages that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 2019, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received any written notice of the intention of any party to cancel, terminate, materially change the scope of rights under or fail to renew any REIT II Material Contract.

(d) Section 5.12(d) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter lists each management agreement pursuant to which any third party manages or operates any of the REIT II Properties on behalf of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, and describes the property that is subject to such management agreement, REIT II or the applicable REIT II Subsidiary that is a party, the date of such management agreement and each material amendment, guaranty or other agreement binding on REIT II or the applicable REIT II Subsidiary and relating thereto (collectively, the “REIT II Management Agreement Documents”). The true, correct and complete copies of all REIT II Management Agreement Documents have been made available to REIT I. Each REIT II Management Agreement Document is valid, binding and in full force and effect as against REIT II or the applicable REIT II Subsidiary and, to the Knowledge of REIT II, as against the other party thereto. Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages to any third party manager or operator.

Section 5.13 Taxes.

(a) Each REIT II Party and each other REIT II Subsidiary has timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority all United States federal income Tax Returns and all other material Tax Returns required to be filed, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file such Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns were complete and correct in all material

 

57


respects. Each REIT II Party and each other REIT II Subsidiary has duly paid (or there has been paid on its behalf), or made adequate provisions in accordance with GAAP for, all material Taxes required to be paid by them, whether or not shown on any Tax Return. True and materially complete copies of all United States federal income Tax Returns that have been filed with the IRS by REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary with respect to the taxable years ending on or after REIT II’s formation have been made available to REIT I. No written claim has been proposed by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary do not file Tax Returns that REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction.

(b) Beginning with its initial taxable year ending on December 31, 2014, and through and including the Closing Date (determined as if REIT II’s current taxable year ended immediately prior to Closing), REIT II (i) has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements to qualify as a REIT under the Code and the current and proposed method of operation for REIT II is expected to enable REIT II to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT through and including the Closing Date, without regard, however, to the distribution requirement described in Section 857(a) of the Code with respect to the taxable year, including the Closing, and (ii) has not taken or omitted to take any action which would reasonably be expected to result in REIT II’s failure to qualify as a REIT, and no challenge to REIT II’s status as a REIT is pending or threatened in writing. No REIT II Subsidiary is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, other than a corporation that qualifies as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary. REIT II’s dividends paid deduction, within the meaning of Section 561 of the Code, for each taxable year (other than the taxable year, including the Closing), taking into account any dividends subject to Sections 857(b)(8) or 858 of the Code, has not been less than the sum of (i) REIT II’s REIT taxable income, as defined in Section 857(b)(2) of the Code, determined without regard to any dividends paid deduction for such year and (ii) REIT II’s net capital gain for such year.

(c) (i) There are no audits, investigations by any Governmental Authority or other proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened with regard to any material Taxes or Tax Returns of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary; (ii) no material deficiency for Taxes of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary has been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened, by any Governmental Authority, which deficiency has not yet been settled except for such deficiencies which are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to pay, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has, waived any statute of limitations with respect to the assessment of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to any material Tax assessment or deficiency for any open tax year; (iv) neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return; and (v) neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has entered into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law).

(d) Each REIT II Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company and that has not elected to be a Taxable REIT Subsidiary has been since its formation treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a partnership, disregarded

 

58


entity, or a Qualified REIT Subsidiary, as the case may be, and not as a corporation, an association taxable as a corporation whose separate existence is respected for federal income tax purposes, or a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 7704(a) of the Code.

(e) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7, nor have they disposed of any such asset during its current taxable year.

(f) Since its inception, REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have not incurred (i) any liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b)(1), 857(b)(4), 857(b)(5), 857(b)(6)(A), 857(b)(7), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code, (ii) any liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b)(5) (for income test violations), 856(c)(7)(C) (for asset test violations), or 856(g)(5)(C) (for violations of other qualification requirements applicable to REITs) and (iii) REIT II has not, and none of the REIT II Subsidiaries have, incurred any material liability for Tax other than (A) in the ordinary course of business, or (B) transfer or similar Taxes arising in connection with sales of property. No event has occurred, and to the Knowledge of REIT II no condition or circumstances exists, which presents a material risk that any material liability for Taxes described in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence or any liability for Taxes described in clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence will be imposed upon REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary.

(g) REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have complied, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any state and foreign Laws) and have duly and timely withheld and, in each case, have paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.

(h) There are no REIT II Tax Protection Agreements (as hereinafter defined) in force at the date of this Agreement, and, as of the date of this Agreement, no person has raised in writing, or to the Knowledge of REIT II threatened to raise, a material claim against REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary for any breach of any REIT II Tax Protection Agreements. As used herein, “REIT II Tax Protection Agreements” means any written agreement to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (i) any liability to holders of limited partnership interests in a REIT II Subsidiary Partnership (as hereinafter defined) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (ii) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a holder of limited partnership interests or limited liability company in a REIT II Subsidiary Partnership, REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary has agreed to (A) maintain a minimum level of debt, continue a particular debt or provide rights to guarantee debt, (B) retain or not dispose of assets, (C) make or refrain from making Tax elections, or (D) only dispose of assets in a particular manner. As used herein, “REIT II Subsidiary Partnership” means a REIT II Subsidiary that is a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

(i) There are no Tax Encumbrances upon any property or assets of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary except Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

 

59


(j) There are no Tax allocation or sharing agreements or similar arrangements with respect to or involving REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, and after the Closing Date neither REIT II nor any other REIT II Subsidiary shall be bound by any such Tax allocation agreements or similar arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date.

(k) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has requested or received any written ruling of a Governmental Authority or entered into any written agreement with a Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, and neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is subject to written ruling of a Governmental Authority.

(l) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any REIT II Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract, or otherwise.

(m) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has participated in any “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b).

(n) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (i) in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(o) No written power of attorney that has been granted by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary (other than to REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary) currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to Taxes.

(p) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has taken any action or failed to take any action which action or failure would reasonably be expected to jeopardize, nor to the Knowledge of REIT II is there any other fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent, the REIT Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(q) REIT II is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

Section 5.14 Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Section 5.14 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary: (a) owns any registered trademarks, patents or copyrights, or (b) has any pending applications or registrations for any trademarks,

 

60


patents or copyrights. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, (i) no Intellectual Property owned by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary infringes or is alleged to infringe any Intellectual Property rights of any third party, (ii) to the Knowledge of REIT II, no Person is misappropriating, infringing or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, and (iii) REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries own or are licensed to use, or otherwise possess valid rights to use, all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted. To the Knowledge of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, since December 31, 2019, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received any written or verbal complaint, claim or notice alleging misappropriation, infringement or violation of any Intellectual Property rights of any third party.

Section 5.15 Information Privacy & Security. REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary has adopted written policies and procedures with respect to privacy, data protection, security and the collection and use of Personal Information gathered or accessed in the course of the operations of REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary, those policies and procedures are commercially reasonable and comply with applicable Information Privacy and Security Laws and contracts, and REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary is in compliance with such policies and procedures. REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary has disaster recovery plans, procedures and facilities in place that are appropriate to minimize the disruption of its business in the event of any material failure of any of the IT Assets in accordance with applicable legal requirements and customer contracts. REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary has not experienced any data security breach of any IT Assets, that would constitute a breach for which notification to individuals, third parties and/or any Governmental Authority. REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary has taken reasonable actions and measures to protect the confidentiality, integrity and security of its Personal Information and all of its IT Assets, against any unauthorized use, access, interruption, modification or corruption.

Section 5.16 Insurance. Section 5.16 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all material insurance policies and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance Contracts providing coverage for REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries (the “REIT II Insurance Policies”), which REIT II Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting businesses or owning assets similar to those of REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries and sufficient to allow each to replace any of its assets that might be damaged or destroyed. Each REIT II Insurance Policy is in full force and effect. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, all premiums due and payable under all REIT II Insurance Policies have been paid, and REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have otherwise complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all REIT II Insurance Policies and all claims, events and occurrences that may be covered under any REIT I Insurance Policy have been noticed pursuant to the conditions in such policy. No written notice of cancellation, termination or increase in premium has been received by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation. REIT II has made available to REIT I true and correct copies of all REIT II Insurance Policies. No REIT II Insurance Policies are written on retrospective, audited or similar premium basis.

 

61


Section 5.17 Benefit Plans. Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has, or has ever had, any employees. None of REIT II, any REIT II Subsidiary, nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has, or has ever, sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or been required to contribute to, or has or has ever had any liability or obligation with respect to any Employee Benefit Plans.

Section 5.18 Related-Party Transactions. Except as described in the REIT II SEC Documents filed with or furnished to the SEC on or after December 31, 2017 and prior to the date hereof (the “REIT II Related Party Agreements”), no agreements, arrangements or understandings between any of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary (or binding on any of their respective properties or assets), on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other hand (other than those exclusively among REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries), are in existence that are not, but are required to be, disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Section 5.19 Brokers. No broker, investment banker or other Person (other than the Persons listed in Section 5.19 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, each in a fee amount not to exceed the amount set forth in Section 5.19 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, pursuant to the terms of the engagement letter between REIT II and such Person, true, correct and complete copies of which have been provided to REIT I prior to the date hereof) is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary.

Section 5.20 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The REIT II Special Committee has received the oral opinion of Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. prior to execution of this Agreement (which, if initially rendered verbally, has been or will be confirmed by a written opinion, dated the same date), to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications, conditions and other matters considered in connection with the preparation of such opinion, the Exchange Ratio in the REIT Merger, taken together with the Exchange Ratio in the OP Merger, pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to REIT II. REIT II will deliver to REIT I a complete and correct copy of such opinion promptly after receipt thereof by the REIT II Special Committee solely for informational purposes. REIT II acknowledges that the opinion of Robert A. Stanger & Co., Inc. contemplated by Section 4.20 is for the benefit of the REIT I Special Committee and that REIT II shall not be entitled to rely on that opinion for any purpose.

Section 5.21 Takeover Statutes. None of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last two years has been, an “interested stockholder” of REIT I as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL. The REIT II Board has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to the REIT Merger the restrictions on business combinations contained in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL. The restrictions on control share acquisitions contained in Subtitle 7 of Title 3 of the MGCL are not applicable to the REIT Merger. No other Takeover Statutes are applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights are available to the holders of REIT II Common Stock with respect to the REIT Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

62


Section 5.22 Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities.

(a) Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All of the limited liability company membership interests of Merger Sub are owned, directly or indirectly, by REIT II.

(b) Except for the obligations or liabilities incurred in connection with its organization and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other documents, agreements, certificates and other instruments contemplated hereby, Merger Sub has not, and will not have prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, incurred, any obligations or liabilities or engaged in any business activities of any type or kind whatsoever.

Section 5.23 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied in writing on or behalf of the REIT II Parties or any REIT II Subsidiary for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) the REIT I Proxy Statement will, at the time it is first mailed to the REIT I stockholders, at the time of the REIT I Stockholders Meeting, at the time the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC or at the REIT Merger Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or (b) the Form S-4 will, at the time such document is declared effective by the SEC, contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. All documents that REIT II is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to the extent relating to REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries (or other information supplied by or on behalf of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiaries for inclusion therein) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; provided, that no representation is made as to statements made or incorporated by reference by or on behalf of the REIT I Parties.

Section 5.24 No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations or warranties expressly set forth in this Article V or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, none of the REIT II Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT II Party has made any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary, their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, future operating or financial results, estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects) or the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary. In particular, without limiting the foregoing disclaimer, none of the REIT II Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT II Party makes or has made any representation or warranty to any REIT I Party or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives with respect to, except for the representations and warranties made by the REIT II Parties in this Article V or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, any oral or written information presented to the REIT I Parties or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence of the REIT II Parties, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of

 

63


the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the REIT II Parties acknowledge and agree that none of the REIT I Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT I Party has made or is making any representations or warranties relating to the REIT I Parties whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by the REIT I Parties in Article IV or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, including any implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding any REIT I Party furnished or made available to the REIT II Parties or any of their respective Representatives.

ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGERS

Section 6.1 Conduct of Business by REIT I.

(a) REIT I covenants and agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier to occur of the REIT Merger Effective Time and the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1 (the “Interim Period”), except (1) to the extent required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by the REIT II Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (3) as may be expressly contemplated, expressly required or expressly permitted by this Agreement, or (4) as set forth in Section 6.1(b) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, each of the REIT I Parties shall, and shall cause each of the other REIT I Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct its business in all material respects in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practices, and (ii) use all reasonable efforts to (A) preserve intact its current business organization, goodwill, ongoing businesses and significant relationships with third parties and (B) maintain the status of REIT I as a REIT.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, REIT I covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by the REIT II Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (3) as may be expressly contemplated, expressly required or expressly permitted by this Agreement, or (4) as set forth in Section 6.1(b) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, the REIT I Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any other REIT I Subsidiary to, do any of the following:

(i) (A) amend or propose to amend the REIT I Governing Documents, (B) amend or propose to amend such equivalent organizational or governing documents of any REIT I Subsidiary material to REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, (C) amend the REIT I DRP or the REIT I Share Redemption Program in a manner material to REIT I, or (D) waive the stock ownership limit or create an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in the REIT I Charter) under the REIT I Charter;

(ii) adjust, split, combine, reclassify or subdivide any shares of stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary (other than any Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary);

 

64


(iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other actual, constructive or deemed distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) with respect to shares of capital stock of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary or other equity securities or ownership interests in REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary or otherwise make any payment to its or their stockholders or other equity holders in their capacity as such, except for (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to REIT I by any Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary and (B) distributions by any REIT I Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by REIT I, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational documents of such REIT I Subsidiary; provided, that, notwithstanding the restriction on dividends and other distributions in this Section 6.1(b), REIT I and any REIT I Subsidiary shall be permitted to make distributions, including under Sections 858 or 860 of the Code, reasonably necessary for REIT I to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code and avoid or reduce the imposition of any entity level income or excise Tax under the Code;

(iv) except as required under the Contribution Documents and Section 8.3(g) hereof, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests of REIT I or a REIT I Subsidiary; provided, that, after the filing of the Form S-4, REIT I may effect redemptions upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or confinement to a long-term care facility in accordance with the REIT I Share Redemption Program;

(v) except for transactions among REIT I and one or more Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiaries or among one or more Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiaries, issue, sell, pledge, dispose, encumber or grant any shares of capital stock of REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries’ capital stock (including the REIT I OP Units) or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock of REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity interests;

(vi) acquire or agree to acquire any material assets, except (A) acquisitions by REIT I or any Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary of or from an existing Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary, (B) acquisitions described in Section 6.1(b)(vi) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter and (C) other acquisitions of personal property for a purchase price of less than $2,000,000 in the aggregate;

(vii) except as described in Section 6.1(b)(vii) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter or as permitted by clause (viii) below, sell, mortgage, pledge, lease, assign, transfer, dispose of or encumber, or effect a deed in lieu of foreclosure with respect to, any property or assets, except in the ordinary course of business, provided that any sale, mortgage, pledge, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or deed in connection with (x) the satisfaction of any margin call or (y) the posting of collateral in connection with any Contract to which REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary is a party shall be considered to be done in the ordinary course of business;

(viii) incur, create, assume, guarantee, refinance, replace or prepay any Indebtedness for borrowed money or issue or materially amend the terms of any Indebtedness of REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries, except (A) Indebtedness incurred under REIT I’s existing Debt Facilities in the ordinary course of business (including to the extent necessary to pay

 

65


dividends permitted by Section 6.1(b)(iii)), (B) funding any transactions permitted by this Section 6.1(b), (C) Indebtedness that does not, in the aggregate, exceed $1,000,000; and (D) refinancing of existing Indebtedness (provided, that the terms of such new Indebtedness shall not be materially more onerous on REIT I compared to the existing Indebtedness and the principal amount of such replacement Indebtedness shall not be materially greater than the Indebtedness it is replacing);

(ix) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (including to any of its officers, directors, Affiliates, agents or consultants), make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons, other than by REIT I or a Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary to REIT I or a Wholly Owned REIT I Subsidiary;

(x) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into, renew, modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release, compromise or assign any rights or claims under, any REIT I Material Contract (or any Contract that, if existing as of the date hereof, would be a REIT I Material Contract), other than (A) any termination or renewal in accordance with the terms of any existing REIT I Material Contract that occurs automatically without any action (other than notice of renewal) by REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary or (B) as may be reasonably necessary to comply with the terms of this Agreement;

(xi) make any payment, direct or indirect, of any liability of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary before the same comes due in accordance with its terms, other than (A) in the ordinary course of business or (B) in connection with dispositions or refinancings of any Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder;

(xii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any Action, other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that (A) with respect to the payment of monetary damages, involve only the payment of monetary damages (excluding any portion of such payment payable under an existing property-level insurance policy) (x) equal to or less than the amounts specifically reserved with respect thereto on the most recent balance sheet of REIT I made available to REIT II prior to the date of this Agreement or (y) that do not exceed $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate, (B) do not involve the imposition of injunctive relief against REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary or the Surviving Entity, (C) do not provide for any admission of material liability by REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries and (D) with respect to any Action involving any present, former or purported holder or group of holders of REIT I Common Stock comply with Section 7.6(c) (excluding in each case any such matter related to Taxes (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be covered by Section 6.1(b)(xviii));

(xiii) (A) hire or, except where due to cause, terminate any officer of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, (B) increase in any manner the amount, rate or terms of compensation or benefits, in each case in any material respect, of any of REIT I’s directors, officers or employees except for increases in annual compensation or wage rate in the ordinary course of business or as set forth in such individual’s Contract or as may be required to comply with applicable Law, or (C) enter into, adopt, amend or terminate any employment, bonus, severance or retirement Contract or Employee Benefit Plan or other compensation or employee benefits arrangement, except in the ordinary course in conjunction with annual Employee Benefit Plan renewals or as may be required to comply with applicable Law;

 

66


(xiv) fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP or make any material change to its methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 2019, except as required by a change in GAAP or in applicable Law, or make any change with respect to accounting policies, principles or practices unless required by GAAP or the SEC;

(xv) enter into any new line of business;

(xvi) form any new funds, joint ventures or non-traded real estate investment trusts or other pooled-investment vehicles;

(xvii) fail to duly and timely file all material reports and other material documents required to be filed with any Governmental Authority, subject to extensions permitted by Law;

(xviii) enter into or modify in a manner adverse to REIT I any REIT I Tax Protection Agreement, make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, change a material method of Tax accounting, file or amend any material Tax Return, settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability, audit, claim or assessment, enter into any material closing agreement related to Taxes, or knowingly surrender any right to claim any material Tax refund or give or request any waiver of a statute of limitation with respect to any material Tax Return except, in each case, (A) to the extent required by Law or (B) to the extent necessary (x) to preserve REIT I’s qualification as a REIT under the Code or (y) to qualify or preserve the status of any REIT I Subsidiary as a disregarded entity or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes or as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xix) take any action that would, or fail to take any action, the failure of which to be taken would, reasonably be expected to cause REIT I to fail to qualify as a REIT or any REIT I Subsidiary to cease to be treated as any of (A) a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes or (B) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xx) make or commit to make any capital expenditures other than in the ordinary course of business or to address obligations under existing Contracts or for emergency repairs;

(xxi) adopt a plan of merger, complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such merger, liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or bankruptcy reorganization, except in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 6.1(b)(vi) or Section 6.1(b)(vii) in a manner that would not reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to REIT I or to prevent or impair the ability of the REIT I Parties to consummate the Mergers;

 

67


(xxii) amend or modify the engagement letters entered into with the Persons listed on Section 4.19 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, in a manner adverse to REIT I or engage other financial advisers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(xxiii) permit any Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances;

(xxiv) materially modify or reduce the amount of any insurance coverage provided by the REIT I Insurance Policies;

(xxv) take any action (or fail to take any action) that would make dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights available to the holders of the REIT I Common Stock with respect to the Merger;

(xxvi) enter into any transaction disclosable under item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act except in the ordinary course of business or as provided for in this Agreement; or

(xxvii) authorize, or enter into any Contract to do any of the foregoing.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit REIT I from taking any action, at any time or from time to time, that in the reasonable judgment of the REIT I Board, upon advice of counsel to REIT I, is reasonably necessary (i) for REIT I to avoid or to continue to avoid incurring entity level income or excise Taxes under the Code or to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time or (ii) to establish or maintain any exemption from or otherwise avoid the imposition of any requirement that REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, including in the case of clause (i) only, making dividend or any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution payments to stockholders of REIT I in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise as permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii).

Section 6.2 Conduct of Business by REIT II.

(a) REIT II covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by the REIT I Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (3) as may be expressly contemplated, expressly required or expressly permitted by this Agreement, (4) as may be required by the REIT III Merger Agreement, or (5) as set forth in Section 6.2(b) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, each of the REIT II Parties shall, and shall cause each of the other REIT II Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct its business in all material respects in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practices, and (ii) use all reasonable efforts to (A) preserve intact its current business organization, goodwill, ongoing businesses and significant relationships with third parties and (B) maintain the status of REIT II as a REIT.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, REIT II covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance

 

68


in writing by the REIT I Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (3) as may be expressly contemplated, expressly required or expressly permitted by this Agreement or the REIT III Merger Agreement, or (4) as set forth in Section 6.2(b) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, the REIT II Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any other REIT II Subsidiary to, do any of the following:

(i) (A) amend or propose to amend the REIT II Governing Documents, (B) amend or propose to amend such equivalent organizational or governing documents of any REIT II Subsidiary material to REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, (C) amend the REIT II DRP or the REIT II Share Redemption Program in a manner material to REIT II, or (D) waive the stock ownership limit or create an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in the REIT II Charter) under the REIT II Charter;

(ii) adjust, split, combine, reclassify or subdivide any shares of stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary (other than any Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary);

(iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other actual, constructive or deemed distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) with respect to shares of capital stock of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or other equity securities or ownership interests in REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or otherwise make any payment to its or their stockholders or other equity holders in their capacity as such, except for (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to REIT II by any Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary, and (B) distributions by any REIT II Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by REIT II, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational documents of such REIT II Subsidiary; provided, that, notwithstanding the restriction on dividends and other distributions in this Section 6.2(b), REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary shall be permitted to make distributions, including under Sections 858 or 860 of the Code, reasonably necessary for REIT II to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code and avoid or reduce the imposition of any entity level income or excise Tax under the Code;

(iv) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests of REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary; provided, that, after the filing of the Form S-4, REIT II may effect redemptions upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or confinement to a long-term care facility in accordance with the REIT II Share Redemption Program;

(v) except for transactions among REIT II and one or more Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiaries or among one or more Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiaries, issue, sell, pledge, dispose, encumber or grant any shares of capital stock of REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries’ capital stock (including the REIT II OP Units) or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock of REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity interests;

(vi) acquire or agree to acquire any material assets, except (A) acquisitions by REIT II or any Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary of or from an existing Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary, (B) acquisitions described in Section 6.2(b)(vi) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, and (C) other acquisitions of personal property for a purchase price of less than $2,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

69


(vii) except as described in Section 6.2(b)(vii) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter or as permitted by clause (viii) below, sell, mortgage, pledge, lease, assign, transfer, dispose of or encumber, or effect a deed in lieu of foreclosure with respect to, any property or assets, except in the ordinary course of business, provided that any sale, mortgage, pledge, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or deed in connection with (x) the satisfaction of any margin call or (y) the posting of collateral in connection with any Contract to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party shall be considered to be done in the ordinary course of business;

(viii) incur, create, assume, guarantee, refinance, replace or prepay any Indebtedness for borrowed money or issue or materially amend the terms of any Indebtedness of REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries, except (A) Indebtedness incurred under REIT II’s existing Debt Facilities in the ordinary course of business (including to the extent necessary to pay dividends permitted by Section 6.2(b)(iii)), (B) funding any transactions permitted by this Section 6.2(b), (C) Indebtedness that does not, in the aggregate, exceed $1,000,000; and (D) refinancing of existing Indebtedness (provided, that the terms of such new Indebtedness shall not be materially more onerous on REIT II compared to the existing Indebtedness and the principal amount of such replacement Indebtedness shall not be materially greater than the Indebtedness it is replacing);

(ix) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (including to any of its officers, directors, Affiliates, agents or consultants), make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons, other than by REIT II or a Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary to REIT II or a Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary;

(x) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into, renew, modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release, compromise or assign any rights or claims under, any REIT II Material Contract (or any Contract that, if existing as of the date hereof, would be a REIT II Material Contract), other than (A) any termination or renewal in accordance with the terms of any existing REIT II Material Contract that occurs automatically without any action (other than notice of renewal) by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or (B) as may be reasonably necessary to comply with the terms of this Agreement;

(xi) make any payment, direct or indirect, of any liability of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary before the same comes due in accordance with its terms, other than (A) in the ordinary course of business or (B) in connection with dispositions or refinancings of any Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder;

(xii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any Action, other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that (A) with respect to the payment of monetary damages, involve only the payment of monetary damages (excluding any portion of such payment payable under an existing property-level insurance policy) (x) equal to or less than the amounts specifically reserved with respect thereto on the most recent balance sheet of REIT II made available to REIT I prior to the date of this Agreement or (y) that do not exceed $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate, (B) do not involve the imposition of injunctive relief

 

70


against REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or the Surviving Entity, (C) do not provide for any admission of material liability by REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries and (D) with respect to any Action involving any present, former or purported holder or group of holders of REIT II Common Stock, comply with Section 7.6(c) (excluding in each case any such matter related to Taxes (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be covered by Section 6.2(b)(xviii));

(xiii) (A) hire or, except where due to cause, terminate any officer of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, (B) materially increase in any manner the compensation or benefits of any of REIT II’s directors or officers, or (C) enter into, adopt, amend or terminate any employment, bonus, severance or retirement Contract or Employee Benefit Plan or other compensation or employee benefits arrangement, except as may be required to comply with applicable Law;

(xiv) fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP or make any material change to its methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 2019, except as required by a change in GAAP or in applicable Law, or make any change with respect to accounting policies, principles or practices unless required by GAAP or the SEC;

(xv) enter into any new line of business;

(xvi) form any new funds, joint ventures or non-traded real estate investment trusts or other pooled-investment vehicles;

(xvii) fail to duly and timely file all material reports and other material documents required to be filed with any Governmental Authority, subject to extensions permitted by Law;

(xviii) enter into or modify in a manner adverse to REIT II any REIT II Tax Protection Agreement, make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, change a material method of Tax accounting, file or amend any material Tax Return, settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability, audit, claim or assessment, enter into any material closing agreement related to Taxes, or knowingly surrender any right to claim any material Tax refund or give or request any waiver of a statute of limitation with respect to any material Tax Return except, in each case, (A) to the extent required by Law or (B) to the extent necessary (x) to preserve REIT II’s qualification as a REIT under the Code or (y) to qualify or preserve the status of any REIT II Subsidiary as a disregarded entity or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes or as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xix) take any action that would, or fail to take any action, the failure of which to be taken would, reasonably be expected to cause REIT II to fail to qualify as a REIT or any REIT II Subsidiary to cease to be treated as any of (A) a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes or (B) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

 

71


(xx) make or commit to make any capital expenditures other than in the ordinary course of business or to address obligations under existing Contracts or for emergency repairs;

(xxi) adopt a plan of merger, complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such merger, liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or bankruptcy reorganization, except in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 6.2(b)(vi) or Section 6.2(b)(vii) in a manner that would not reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to REIT II or to prevent or impair the ability of the REIT II Parties to consummate the Mergers;

(xxii) amend or modify the engagement letters entered into with the Persons listed on Section 5.19 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter in a manner adverse to REIT II or engage other financial advisers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(xxiii) permit any Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances;

(xxiv) materially modify or reduce the amount of any insurance coverage provided by the REIT II Insurance Policies

(xxv) take any action (or fail to take any action) that would make dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights available to the holders of the REIT II Common Stock with respect to the Merger;

(xxvi) enter into any transaction disclosable under item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act except in the ordinary course of business or as provided for in this Agreement; or

(xxvii) authorize, or enter into any Contract to do any of the foregoing.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit REIT II from taking any action, at any time or from time to time, that in the reasonable judgment of the REIT II Board, upon advice of counsel to REIT II, is reasonably necessary (i) for REIT II to avoid or to continue to avoid incurring entity level income or excise Taxes under the Code or to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time or (ii) to establish or maintain any exemption from or otherwise avoid the imposition of any requirement that REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, including in the case of clause (i) only, making dividend or any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution payments to stockholders of REIT II in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise as permitted pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(iii).

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, any material amendment of the REIT III Merger Agreement shall require the prior approval of REIT I, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. If the REIT III Merger Agreement is not entered into concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, REIT II shall not, without the prior written approval of REIT I, alter the economic terms of the REIT III Merger Agreement.

 

72


Section 6.3 No Control of Other Parties’ Business. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give (a) REIT I, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary’s operations prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, or (b) REIT II, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary’s operations prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time. Prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, (i) REIT II shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and the REIT II Subsidiaries’ respective operations and (ii) REIT I shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and the REIT I Subsidiaries’ respective operations.

ARTICLE VII

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

Section 7.1 Preparation of the Form S-4 and the REIT I Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approval.

(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, (i) REIT I shall prepare and cause to be filed with the SEC the REIT I Proxy Statement in preliminary form with respect to the REIT I Stockholders Meeting, and (ii) REIT II shall prepare (with REIT I’s reasonable cooperation) and cause to be filed with the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act (the “Form S-4”), which will include the REIT I Proxy Statement, to register under the Securities Act the shares of REIT II Common Stock to be issued in the REIT Merger (the “Registered Securities”). Each of REIT II and REIT I shall use its reasonable best efforts to (A) have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing, (B) ensure that the Form S-4 complies in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and (C) keep the Form S-4 effective for so long as necessary to permit the REIT II Common Stock to be issued in the REIT Merger, unless this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article IX. Each of REIT II and REIT I shall furnish all information concerning itself, its Affiliates and the holders of its capital stock to such other Party and provide such other assistance as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the Form S-4 and the REIT I Proxy Statement and shall provide to their and each other’s counsel such representations as reasonably necessary to render the opinions required to be filed therewith. The Form S-4 and the REIT I Proxy Statement shall include all information reasonably requested by such other Party to be included therein. Each of REIT I and REIT II shall promptly notify the other Party upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or any request from the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Form S-4 or the REIT I Proxy Statement, and shall, as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof, provide the other Party with copies of all correspondence between it and its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, on the other hand, and all written comments with respect to the Form S-4 or the REIT I Proxy Statement received from the SEC and advise the other Party of any oral comments with respect to the Form S-4 or the REIT I Proxy Statement received from the SEC. Each of REIT I and REIT II shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond as

 

73


promptly as practicable to any comments from the SEC with respect to the Form S-4 or the REIT I Proxy Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to filing the Form S-4 (or any amendment or supplement thereto) with the SEC or responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, each of REIT I and REIT II shall cooperate and provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such document or response (including the proposed final version of such document or response) and shall give due consideration to all reasonable comments provided by the other Party. REIT II shall notify REIT I, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time of effectiveness of the Form S-4, the issuance of any stop order relating thereto or the suspension of the qualification for offering or sale in any jurisdiction of the Registered Securities, and REIT II and REIT I shall use their reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated. REIT II shall also use its reasonable best efforts to take any other action required to be taken under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any applicable foreign or state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with the issuance of the Registered Securities, and REIT I shall furnish all information concerning REIT I and its stockholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such actions.

(b) If, at any time prior to the receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval, any information relating to REIT I or REIT II, as the case may be, or any of their respective Affiliates, should be discovered by REIT I or REIT II which, in the reasonable judgment of REIT I or REIT II, should be set forth in an amendment of, or a supplement to, any of the Form S-4 or the REIT I Proxy Statement, so that any of such documents would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other Parties, and REIT I and REIT II shall cooperate in the prompt filing with the SEC of any necessary amendment of, or supplement to, the Form S-4 or the REIT I Proxy Statement and, to the extent required by Law, in disseminating the information contained in such amendment or supplement to stockholders of REIT I and REIT II. Nothing in this Section 7.1(b) shall limit the obligations of any Party under Section 7.1(a). For purposes of Section 5.24, Section 4.23 and this Section 7.1, any information concerning or related to REIT II or its Affiliates will be deemed to have been provided by REIT II, and any information concerning or related to REIT I, its Affiliates or the REIT I Stockholders Meeting will be deemed to have been provided by REIT I.

(c) As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, REIT I shall, in accordance with applicable Law and the REIT I Governing Documents, establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the REIT I Stockholders Meeting for the purpose of obtaining the REIT I Stockholder Approval (and other matters that shall be submitted to the holders of REIT I Common Stock at such meeting); provided, that such record date shall not be more than 90 days prior to the date of the REIT I Stockholders Meeting. REIT I shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the definitive REIT I Proxy Statement to be mailed to REIT I’s stockholders entitled to vote at the REIT I Stockholders Meeting and to hold the REIT I Stockholders Meeting as soon as practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act. REIT I shall, through the REIT I Board, recommend to its stockholders that they give the REIT I Stockholder Approval, include the REIT I Board Recommendation in the REIT I Proxy Statement and solicit and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the REIT I Stockholder

 

74


Approval, except to the extent that the REIT I Board shall have made a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change as permitted by Section 7.3(d); provided, however, that REIT I’s obligation to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the REIT I Stockholders Meeting shall be unconditional unless this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms and shall not be affected by any REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.1(c), if, on a date for which the REIT I Stockholders Meeting is scheduled, REIT I has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares of REIT I Common Stock to obtain the REIT I Stockholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, REIT I shall have the right to make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the REIT I Stockholders Meeting (provided, however, that the REIT I Stockholders Meeting shall not be postponed or adjourned to a date that is (i) more than 30 days after the date for which the REIT I Stockholders Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law) or (ii) more than 120 days from the record date for the REIT I Stockholders Meeting); provided, further, the REIT I Stockholders Meeting may not be postponed or adjourned on the date the REIT I Stockholders Meeting is scheduled if REIT I shall have received proxies in respect of an aggregate number of shares of REIT I Common Stock, which have not been withdrawn, such that REIT I Stockholder Approval would be obtained at such meeting.

Section 7.2 Access to Information; Confidentiality.

(a) During the period from the date of this Agreement to and including the REIT Merger Effective Time, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to, afford to the other Parties and to their respective Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to all of their respective properties, offices, books, Contracts, personnel and records and, during such period, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives to, furnish reasonably promptly to the other Parties (i) any information concerning such Party or its respective subsidiaries (including with respect to any pending or threatened Action) as the other Party may reasonably request and (ii) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws. In connection with such reasonable access to information, each of the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause its respective Representatives to participate in meetings and telephone conferences with the other Parties and their Representatives prior to the mailing of any REIT I Proxy Statement, prior to the REIT I Stockholders Meeting and at such other times as may be reasonably requested. No investigation under this Section 7.2(a) or otherwise shall affect any of the representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement or any condition to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Parties shall be required by this Section 7.2(a) to provide the other Parties or their respective Representatives with access to or to disclose information (A) that is subject to the terms of a confidentiality agreement with a third party entered into prior to the date of this Agreement or entered into after the date of this Agreement in the ordinary course of business in accordance with this Agreement (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the required consent of such third party to such access or disclosure), (B) the disclosure of which would violate any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Representatives (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall

 

75


use its reasonable best efforts to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable disclosure not in violation of any Law or duty), (C) that is subject to any attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to allow for such access or disclosure to the maximum extent that does not result in a loss of any such attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege, including by means of entry into a customary joint defense agreement that would alleviate the loss of such privilege) or (D) for the purpose of allowing Parties or their respective Representatives to collect samples of soil, air, water, groundwater or building materials. The Parties will use their reasonable best efforts to minimize any disruption to the businesses of the other Parties and any of their respective subsidiaries that may result from the requests for access, data and information hereunder. Prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, the Parties shall not, and shall cause their respective Representatives and Affiliates not to, contact or otherwise communicate with parties with which any of the other Parties or any other of their respective subsidiaries has a business relationship regarding the business of the other Parties and their respective subsidiaries or this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent of such other Party (provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 7.2(a) shall be deemed to restrict the Parties from contacting such parties in pursuing the business of the Parties operating in the ordinary course).

(b) Each Party will hold, and will cause its respective Representatives and Affiliates to hold, any nonpublic information, including any information exchanged pursuant to this Section 7.2, in confidence to the extent required by and in accordance with, and will otherwise comply with, the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect pursuant to the terms thereof notwithstanding the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the termination thereof.

Section 7.3 No Solicitation of Transactions; Change in Recommendation.

(a) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 7.3, during the Interim Period, REIT I shall (i) immediately cease any solicitation, encouragement, discussions or negotiations with any Persons that may be ongoing with respect to a Competing Proposal, or any inquiry or proposal that may be reasonably expected to lead to a Competing Proposal, and immediately terminate all physical and electronic dataroom access granted to any such Person or its Representatives and (ii) not, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or encourage, provide any nonpublic information to, or take any other action for the purpose of facilitating, any inquiry or the making of any proposal which constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Competing Proposal, (B) engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any other Person information in connection with or for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating, a Competing Proposal or (C) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, agreement in principle or other agreement with respect to a Competing Proposal.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.3, (i) if at any time on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the REIT I Stockholder Approval, REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives receives an unsolicited written Competing Proposal from any Person or group of Persons that the REIT I Board

 

76


determines in good faith, after consultation with REIT I’s outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel, constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal, which Competing Proposal was made in circumstances not otherwise involving a breach of this Agreement, and (ii) the REIT I Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with REIT I’s outside legal counsel, that a failure to take action with respect to such Competing Proposal would be inconsistent with the duties of the directors of REIT I under applicable Maryland Law, REIT I may or may cause its respective Representatives to, in response to such Competing Proposal, and subject to compliance with this Section 7.3(b), (A) contact such Person or group of Persons to clarify the terms and conditions thereof, (B) furnish, pursuant to an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, information (including non-public information) with respect to REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries to the Person or group of Persons who has made such Competing Proposal, provided that REIT I shall prior to or concurrently with the time such information is provided to such Person or group of Persons provide to REIT II any non-public information concerning REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries that is provided to any Person given such access which was not previously provided to REIT II or its Representatives and (C) engage in or otherwise participate in discussions or negotiations with the Person or group of Persons making such Competing Proposal regarding such Competing Proposal.

(c) REIT I shall promptly, and in any event no later than 24 hours after receipt of any Competing Proposal or request for non-public information in connection therewith, as applicable, (i) advise REIT II in writing of the receipt of such Competing Proposal and any request for confidential information in connection with such Competing Proposal, the material terms of such Competing Proposal or request for confidential information and the identity of the Person or group of Persons making such Competing Proposal or request for confidential information and (ii) keep REIT II promptly advised of all material developments (including all changes to the material terms of any Competing Proposal), discussions or negotiations regarding any Competing Proposal and the status of such Competing Proposal. REIT I agrees that it and the REIT I Subsidiaries will not enter into any confidentiality agreement with any Person subsequent to the date hereof which prohibits it or a REIT I Subsidiary from providing any information required to be provided to REIT II in accordance with this Section 7.3(c) within the time periods contemplated hereby.

(d) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 7.3(d), the REIT I Board shall not (i)(A) fail to recommend to its stockholders that the REIT I Stockholder Approval be given or fail to include the REIT I Board Recommendation in the REIT I Proxy Statement, (B) change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, or publicly propose to change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, the REIT I Board Recommendation, (C) take any formal action or make any recommendation or public statement in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer other than a recommendation against such offer or a temporary “stop, look and listen” communication by the REIT I Board pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) of the Exchange Act or (D) adopt, approve or recommend, or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend to the stockholders of REIT I a Competing Proposal (actions described in this clause (i) being referred to as a “REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change”) or (ii) authorize, cause or permit REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, agreement in principle or other agreement with respect to a Competing Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) (each, an “Acquisition Agreement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, prior to the time the REIT I

 

77


Stockholder Approval is obtained, the REIT I Board, may make (but in each case, subject to compliance with this Section 7.3(d) and Sections 7.3(a)-(c)), a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change and/or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) (Superior Proposal) to enter into a definitive Acquisition Agreement that constitutes a Superior Proposal, if and only if, (A) a written Competing Proposal that was not solicited in violation of this Section 7.3 is made to REIT I by a third party and such Competing Proposal is not withdrawn, and (B) prior to taking such action, the REIT I Board has determined in good faith (y) after consultation with REIT I’s outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the duties of the directors of REIT I under applicable Maryland Law and (z) after consultation with REIT I’s outside legal counsel and outside financial advisors, that such Competing Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; provided, however, that in connection with any such Competing Proposal (1) REIT I has given REIT II at least five Business Days’ prior written notice of its intention to take such action (which notice shall include the information with respect to such Superior Proposal that is specified in Section 7.3(c) as well as a copy of any proposal, agreement and all material documentation providing for such Superior Proposal), (2) REIT II and REIT I have negotiated, and have caused their respective Representatives to negotiate, in good faith during such notice period to enable REIT II to propose in writing revisions to the terms of this Agreement such that it would cause such Superior Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal, (3) following the end of such notice period, the REIT I Board shall have considered in good faith any proposed revisions to this Agreement proposed in writing by REIT II and shall have determined that, after consultation with the REIT I’s outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel, the Competing Proposal would continue to constitute a Superior Proposal if such revisions were to be given effect and (4) in the event of any change to the material terms of such Superior Proposal, REIT I shall, in each case, have delivered to REIT II an additional notice consistent with that described in subclause (1) above and the notice period shall have recommenced. Unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with Section 9.1(c)(ii), the REIT I Board shall submit the REIT Merger to its stockholders even if the REIT I Board shall have effected a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change, and the REIT I Board may not submit to the vote of their stockholders any Competing Proposal other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e) At any time prior to receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval and subject to Section 7.1(c), the REIT I Board may, if the REIT I Board determines in good faith, after consultation with REIT I’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the duties of the directors of REIT I under applicable Maryland Law, make a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an Intervening Event.

(f) Except to the extent expressly provided in this Section 7.3, nothing in this Section 7.3 shall prohibit the REIT I Board from: (i) taking and disclosing to the stockholders of REIT I, a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a), Rule 14d-9 or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act, if failure to do so would violate applicable Law or (ii) making any “stop, look and listen” communication to the stockholders of REIT I pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, in either case, if the REIT I Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the duties of the directors of REIT I under applicable Maryland Law; provided that any disclosure (other than those made pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 7.3(f)) permitted under this Section 7.3(f) that is not an express rejection of any applicable Competing Proposal or

 

78


an express reaffirmation of the REIT I Board Recommendation shall be deemed a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change and; provided, further, that the REIT I Board shall not, except as expressly permitted by Section 7.3(d), effect a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change.

(g) REIT I agrees that in the event any REIT I Subsidiary or any Representative of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary takes any action, that if taken by REIT I would constitute a material violation of this Section 7.3, then REIT I shall be deemed to be in violation of this Section 7.3 for all purposes of this Agreement.

(h) For purposes of this Agreement:

(i) “Competing Proposal” means, any proposal or offer, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, relating to any (1) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) and representing 20% or more of the consolidated assets of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (2) sale or other disposition, by merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar transaction, of any assets of REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries representing 20% or more of the consolidated assets of REIT I and the REIT I Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (3) issue, sale or other disposition by REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or more of the votes associated with the outstanding shares of REIT I Common Stock, (4) tender offer or exchange offer in which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) shall acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 20% or more of the votes associated with the outstanding shares of REIT I Common Stock, (5) recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other similar type of transaction with respect to REIT I in which a third party shall acquire beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of REIT I Common Stock, or (6) transaction that is similar in form, substance or purpose to any of the foregoing transactions; provided, however, that the term “Competing Proposal” shall not include (i) the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction solely among REIT I and one or more of the REIT I Subsidiaries or solely among the REIT I Subsidiaries.

(ii) “Superior Proposal” means a written Competing Proposal made by a third party (except for purposes of this definition, the references in the definition of “Competing Proposal” to 20% shall be replaced with 50%”) which the REIT I Board (based on the recommendation of the REIT I Special Committee) determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its legal and financial advisors and after taking into account (A) all of the terms and conditions of the Competing Proposal and this Agreement (as it may be proposed to be amended by REIT II) and (B) the feasibility and certainty of consummation of such Competing Proposal on the terms proposed (taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such Competing Proposal and conditions to consummation thereof) to be more favorable from a financial point of view to the stockholders of REIT I (in their capacities as stockholders) than the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (as it may be proposed to be amended by REIT II)).

 

79


Section 7.4 Public Announcements. Except with respect to any REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change or any action taken pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 7.1 or Section 7.3, so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Parties shall consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements or filings with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and none of the Parties shall issue any such press release or make any such public statement or filing prior to obtaining the other Parties’ consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided, that a Party may, without obtaining the other Parties’ consent, issue such press release or make such public statement or filing as may be required by Law or Order if it is not possible to consult with the other Party before making any public statement with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Parties have agreed upon the form of a joint press release announcing the Mergers and the execution of this Agreement, and shall make such joint press release no later than one Business Day following the date on which this Agreement is signed.

Section 7.5 Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings.

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the REIT I Parties and each of the REIT II Parties shall and shall cause the other REIT I Subsidiaries and the other REIT II Subsidiaries, respectively, and their respective Affiliates to use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other Party in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law or pursuant to any Contract to consummate and make effective, as promptly as practicable, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) taking all actions necessary to cause the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VIII to be satisfied, (ii) preparing and filing any applications, notices, registrations and requests as may be required or advisable to be filed with or submitted to any Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) obtaining all necessary or advisable actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental Authorities or other Persons necessary in connection with the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the making of all necessary or advisable registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Authorities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary or advisable to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Authority or other Persons necessary in connection with the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) subject to Section 7.6(c), defending any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Governmental Authority vacated or reversed, the avoidance of each and every impediment under any antitrust, merger control, competition or trade regulation Law that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Mergers so as to enable the Closing to occur as soon as reasonably possible, and (v) executing and delivering any additional instruments necessary or advisable to consummate the

 

80


Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement; provided, that neither Party will have any obligation (A) to propose, negotiate, commit to or effect, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture or disposition of any assets or businesses of such Party, any of its subsidiaries (including subsidiaries of REIT II after the Closing) or their Affiliates or (B) otherwise to take or commit to take any actions that would limit the freedom of such Party, its subsidiaries (including subsidiaries of REIT II after the Closing) or their Affiliates with respect to, or their ability to retain, one or more of their businesses, product lines or assets.

(b) In connection with and without limiting the foregoing Section 7.5(a), each of the Parties shall give (or shall cause their respective Affiliates to give) any notices to third parties, and each of the Parties shall use, and cause each of their respective Affiliates to use, its reasonable best efforts to obtain any third-party consents that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the Parties will, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, furnish to the other such necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other may request in connection with the preparation of any required applications, notices, registrations and requests as may be required or advisable to be filed with any Governmental Authority and will cooperate in responding to any inquiry from a Governmental Authority, including promptly informing the other Party of such inquiry, consulting in advance before making any presentations or submissions to a Governmental Authority, and supplying each other with copies of all material correspondence, filings or communications between either Party and any Governmental Authority with respect to this Agreement. To the extent reasonably practicable, the Parties or their Representatives shall have the right to review in advance and each of the Parties will consult the others on, all the information relating to the other and each of their Affiliates that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any Governmental Authority in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that confidential competitively sensitive business information may be redacted from such exchanges. To the extent reasonably practicable, neither Party shall, nor shall they permit their respective Representatives to, participate independently in any meeting or engage in any substantive conversation with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filing, investigation or other inquiry without giving the other Party prior notice of such meeting or conversation and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, without giving the other Party the opportunity to attend or participate (whether by telephone or in person) in any such meeting with such Governmental Authority.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in connection with obtaining any approval or consent from any Person (other than any Governmental Authority) with respect to the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, none of the Parties or any of their respective Representatives shall be obligated to pay or commit to pay to such Person whose approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any accommodation or commitment or incur any liability or other obligation to such Person other than commercially reasonable processing and consent fees in connection with obtaining the consent or approval of any lender with respect to an Indebtedness set forth at Section 4.3(b)(iii) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter and Section 5.3(b)(iii) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter. Subject to the immediately foregoing sentence, the Parties shall cooperate with respect to reasonable accommodations that may be requested or appropriate to obtain such consents.

 

81


Section 7.6 Notification of Certain Matters; Transaction Litigation.

(a) The REIT I Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT II Parties, and the REIT II Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT I Parties, of any notice or other communication received by such Party from any Governmental Authority in connection with this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) The REIT I Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT II Parties, and the REIT II Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT I Parties, if (i) any representation or warranty made by it contained in this Agreement becomes untrue or inaccurate such that it would be reasonable to expect that the applicable closing conditions would be incapable of being satisfied by the Outside Date or (ii) it fails to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the Parties or the conditions to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the failure by the REIT I Parties, the REIT II Parties or their respective Representatives to provide such prompt notice under this Section 7.6(b) shall not constitute a breach of covenant for purposes of Section 8.2(b), Section 8.3(b), Section 9.1(c)(i) (REIT II Terminating Breach), or Section 9.1(d)(i) (REIT I Terminating Breach).

(c) The REIT I Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT II Parties, and the REIT II Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT I Parties, of any Action commenced or, to such Party’s Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving such Party or any REIT I Subsidiary or REIT II Subsidiary, respectively, or any of their respective directors, officers or partners that relates to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The REIT I Parties and their respective Representatives shall give REIT II the opportunity to reasonably participate in the defense and settlement of any stockholder litigation against the REIT I Parties or their directors, officers or partners relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without REIT II’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). The REIT II Parties and their respective Representatives shall give the REIT I Parties the opportunity to reasonably participate in the defense and settlement of any litigation against the REIT II Parties and/or their directors, officers or partners relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without REIT I’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

Section 7.7 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance.

(a) Without limiting or being limited by the provisions of Section 7.7(b) and to the extent permitted by applicable Law and the REIT II Governing Documents, during the period commencing as of the REIT Merger Effective Time and ending on the sixth anniversary of the

 

82


REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT II shall (and shall cause the Surviving Entity to): (i) indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Indemnified Party against and from any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any Action to the extent such Action arises out of or pertains to any action or omission or alleged action or omission in such Indemnified Party’s capacity as a manager, director, officer, partner, member, or trustee of REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries, including such alleged acts or omissions with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers; and (ii) pay in advance of the final disposition of any such Action the expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and any expenses incurred by any Indemnified Party in connection with enforcing any rights with respect to indemnification) of any Indemnified Party without the requirement of any bond or other security, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Law, but subject to REIT II’s or the Surviving Entity’s receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, REIT II or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, (i) shall not settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment or otherwise seek termination with respect to any claim, action, suit or proceeding against or investigation of any Indemnified Party for which indemnification may be sought under this Section 7.7(a) without the Indemnified Party’s prior written consent (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, (ii) shall not be liable for any settlement effected without their prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and (iii) shall not have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine in a final and non-appealable order that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable Law, in which case the Indemnified Party shall promptly refund to REIT II or the Surviving Entity the amount of all such expenses theretofore advanced pursuant hereto.

(b) To the extent permitted by applicable Law, the Surviving Entity shall, and REIT II agrees to cause the Surviving Entity to, during the period commencing as of the REIT Merger Effective Time and ending on the sixth anniversary of the REIT Merger Effective Time, honor all rights to indemnification, advancement and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time now existing in favor of the current or former managers, directors, officers, partners, members and trustees of REIT I or any of the REIT I Subsidiaries (the “Indemnified Parties”) as currently provided in (i) the REIT I Governing Documents and (ii) indemnification agreements between REIT I and any Indemnified Party as scheduled on Section 7.7(b) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter. For a period of six years following the REIT Merger Effective Time, the REIT II Governing Documents and the equivalent governing or organizational documents of any applicable REIT II Subsidiary or REIT I Subsidiary shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years following the REIT Merger Effective Time in any manner that would adversely modify these rights, unless such modification shall be required by applicable Law and then only to the minimum extent required by Law.

 

83


(c) REIT I and REIT II shall (i) ensure that the current D&O insurance policies shared by REIT I and REIT II will continue in full force through the Mergers, including as to alleged acts or omissions occurring after the Closing; and (ii) take no action to cancel or terminate coverage under the six year D&O insurance tail policies purchased at the time of the REIT I Internalization Transaction.

(d) If REIT II or the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges with or into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation, partnership or other entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) liquidates, dissolves or winds-up, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of REIT II or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, assume the obligations set forth in this Section 7.7.

(e) REIT II shall cause the Surviving Entity to pay all reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by any Indemnified Party in enforcing the obligations provided in this Section 7.7.

(f) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are intended to be for the express benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party (who are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Section 7.7), his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives, shall be binding on all successors and assigns of REIT I, REIT II and the Surviving Entity.

Section 7.8 Dividends.

(a) In the event that a distribution with respect to the shares of REIT I Common Stock permitted under the terms of this Agreement has a record date prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time and has not been paid prior to the Closing Date, such distribution shall be paid to the holders of such shares of REIT I Common Stock on the Closing Date immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time. In the event that a distribution with respect to the shares of REIT II Common Stock permitted under the terms of this Agreement has a record date prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time and has not been paid prior to the Closing Date, such distribution shall be paid to the holders of such shares of REIT II Common Stock on the Closing Date immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time. After the signing of this Agreement and before the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT I shall coordinate with REIT II with respect to the declaration of, and the setting of record dates and payment dates for dividends on REIT I Common Stock so that holders of REIT I Common Stock do not receive both a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.1(b)(iii) on REIT I Common Stock and a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.2(b)(iii) on REIT II Common Stock received in the REIT Merger or fail to receive either a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.1(b)(iii) on REIT I Common Stock or a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.2(b)(iii) on REIT II Common Stock received in the REIT Merger.

(b) In the event that REIT I shall declare or pay any dividend or other distribution that is expressly permitted pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 6.1(b)(iii), it shall notify REIT II at least 20 days prior to the Closing Date, and REIT II shall be entitled to declare a dividend per share payable to holders of REIT II Common Stock, in an amount per share

 

84


of REIT II Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the dividend declared by REIT I with respect to each share of REIT I Common Stock by (y) the Exchange Ratio. In the event that REIT II shall declare or pay any dividend or other distribution that is expressly permitted pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 6.2(b)(iii), it shall notify REIT I at least 20 days prior to the Closing Date, and REIT I shall be entitled to declare a dividend per share payable to holders of REIT I Common Stock, in an amount per share of REIT I Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by multiplying (x) the dividend declared by REIT II with respect to each share of REIT II Common Stock by (y) the Exchange Ratio. The record date and time and payment date and time for any dividend payable pursuant to this Section 7.8(b) shall be prior to the Closing Date.

Section 7.9 Takeover Statutes. The Parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts (a) to take all action necessary so that no Takeover Statute is or becomes applicable to the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (b) if any such Takeover Statute is or becomes applicable to any of the foregoing, to take all action necessary so that the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to eliminate or minimize the effect of such Takeover Statute or the restrictions in the REIT I Charter or the REIT II Charter (“Charter Restrictions”) on the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No Party shall take any action to exempt any Person (other than the other Parties or their respective Affiliates) from any Takeover Statute of any jurisdiction or Charter Restrictions that may purport to be applicable to the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise cause any restrictions in any Takeover Statute or Charter Restrictions not to apply to any such Person.

Section 7.10 Obligations of the Parties. REIT I shall take all actions necessary to cause the other REIT I Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Mergers on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. REIT II shall take all actions necessary to (a) cause the REIT II Parties to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Mergers on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and (b) ensure that, prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, Merger Sub shall not conduct any business or make any investments or incur or guarantee any indebtedness other than as specifically contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 7.11 Certain Transactions. Except as set forth in Section 7.11 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter, REIT I shall cause all contracts (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the REIT I Related-Party Agreements) between any former, current or future officers, directors, partners, stockholders, managers, members, affiliates or agents of REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, on the one hand, and REIT I or any REIT I Subsidiary, on the other hand, to be settled or terminated on or prior to the Closing, without any further obligations, liability or payments (other than customary indemnification obligations) by or on behalf of REIT I as of the Closing. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not require the settlement or termination of an agreement that is solely between REIT I and/or any entities that will remain REIT I Subsidiaries after the Closing.

 

85


Section 7.12 Tax Matters.

(a) Each of REIT I and REIT II shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the REIT Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, including by executing and delivering the officers’ certificates referred to herein and reporting consistently for all federal, state, and local income Tax or other purposes. None of REIT I, REIT II or any REIT I Subsidiary or REIT II Subsidiary shall take any action, or fail to take any action, that would reasonably be expected to cause the REIT Merger to fail to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(b) REIT I shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be provided, the opinions of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, and (ii) deliver to Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP tax representation letters, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an officer of REIT I and REIT I Operating Partnership, containing representations of REIT I and REIT I Operating Partnership reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP to render the tax opinions described in Section 8.2(f) and Section 8.3(e).

(c) REIT II shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be provided, the opinions of DLA Piper LLP (US), and (ii) deliver to DLA Piper LLP (US) tax representation letters, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an officer of REIT II and REIT II Operating Partnership, containing representations of REIT II and REIT II Operating Partnership reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable DLA Piper LLP (US) to render the tax opinions described in Section 8.2(e) and Section 8.3(f).

(d) REIT I and REIT II shall reasonably cooperate in the preparation, execution and filing of all returns, questionnaires, applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer or gains, sales, use, transfer, value added, stock transfer or stamp taxes, any transfer, recording, registration and other fees and any similar taxes that become payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together with any related interest, penalties or additions to such taxes, “Transfer Taxes”), and shall reasonably cooperate in attempting to minimize the amount of Transfer Taxes.

Section 7.13 REIT II Board. The REIT II Board shall take or cause to be taken such action as may be necessary, in each case, to be effective as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, to cause the individuals set forth on Section 7.13 of the REIT I Disclosure Letter (the “REIT I Designees”) to be elected to the REIT II Board effective as of the REIT Merger Effective Time. If a REIT I Designee is not able or willing to serve on the REIT II Board, as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT I shall select, within a reasonable period of time prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, a replacement, and the REIT II Board shall appoint such replacement as a member of the REIT II Board, as of the REIT Merger Effective Time.

Section 7.14 REIT II Share Redemption Program. From and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT II shall take all such steps as may be required to cause the REIT II Share Redemption Program or any similar redemption program then in effect (as each may be amended from time to time) to provide for all purposes thereunder (including, without limitation, any holding period requirement or redemption price determination) that each share of REIT II Common Stock issued to REIT I stockholders in the Merger will be treated as having been outstanding from the date such stockholder acquired the corresponding share of REIT I Common Stock that was exchange in the Merger.

 

86


ARTICLE VIII

CONDITIONS

Section 8.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Mergers. The respective obligations of the Parties to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement on the Closing Date are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by each of the Parties at or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a) Regulatory Authorizations. All consents, authorizations, orders or approvals of each Governmental Authority necessary for the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement set forth in Section 8.1(a) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter and Section 8.1(a) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter shall have been obtained and any applicable waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired or been terminated.

(b) Stockholder Approval. The REIT I Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable Law and the REIT I Charter and REIT I Bylaws. The REIT I Charter Amendment shall have become effective pursuant to the MGCL.

(c) No Injunctions or Restraints. No Order issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction prohibiting consummation of the Mergers shall be in effect, and no Law shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement that, in any case, prohibits, restrains, enjoins or makes illegal the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have been declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated by the SEC that have not been withdrawn.

Section 8.2 Conditions to Obligations of the REIT I Parties. The obligations of the REIT I Parties to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by REIT I, at or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, of the following additional conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the REIT II Parties set forth in the Fundamental Representations (except Section 5.4(a) (Capital Structure), shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.4(a) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, and (iii) each of the other representations and warranties of the REIT II Parties contained in this Agreement shall be true and

 

87


correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, except (A) in each case, representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct only on and as of such date, and (B) in the case of clause (iii) where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or REIT II Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein), individually or in the aggregate, does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Performance of Covenants and Obligations of the REIT II Parties. The REIT II Parties shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants, required to be performed by them under this Agreement on or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time.

(c) Absence of Material Adverse Change. On the Closing Date, no circumstance shall exist that constitutes a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Delivery of Certificate. REIT II shall have delivered to REIT I a certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by its chief executive officer and chief financial officer on behalf of REIT II, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a), Section 8.2(b), Section 8.2(c) and Section 8.2(g) have been satisfied.

(e) REIT Opinion. REIT I shall have received a written opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), or other counsel to REIT II reasonably satisfactory to REIT I, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to REIT I, to the effect that, commencing with REIT II’s taxable year that ended on December 31, 2014, REIT II has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and its actual method of operation has enabled REIT II to meet, through the Closing, the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications and based on customary representations contained in an officer’s certificate executed by REIT II and REIT II Operating Partnership.

(f) Section 368 Opinion. REIT I shall have received a written opinion of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, or other counsel to REIT I reasonably satisfactory to REIT II, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to REIT I, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the REIT Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications. In rendering such opinion, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP may rely upon the tax representation letters described in Section 7.12.

(g) Board Designees. The REIT I Designees shall have been elected to the REIT II Board effective as of the REIT Merger Effective Time.

(h) Consents. REIT II shall have received the written Consents identified on Section 8.2(h) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter in form and substance reasonably acceptable to REIT I.

 

88


Section 8.3 Conditions to Obligations of the REIT II Parties. The obligations of the REIT II Parties to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by REIT II at or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, of the following additional conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the REIT I Parties set forth in the Fundamental Representations (except Section 4.4(a) (Capital Structure)) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.4(a) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, and (iii) each of the other representations and warranties of the REIT I Parties contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, except (A) in each case, representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct only on and as of such date, and (B) in the case of clause (iii) where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or REIT I Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein), individually or in the aggregate, does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Performance of Covenants and Obligations of the REIT I Parties. The REIT I Parties shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants, required to be performed by them under this Agreement on or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time.

(c) Absence of Material Adverse Change. On the Closing Date, no circumstance shall exist that constitutes a REIT I Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Delivery of Certificate. REIT I shall have delivered to REIT II a certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by its chief executive officer and chief financial officer on behalf of REIT I certifying to the effect that the factual conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a), Section 8.3(b), Section 8.3(c) and Section 8.3(g) have been satisfied.

(e) REIT Opinion. REIT II shall have received a written opinion of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, or other counsel to REIT I reasonably satisfactory to REIT II, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to REIT II, to the effect that, commencing with REIT I’s taxable year that ended on December 31, 2010, REIT I has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and its actual method of operation has enabled REIT I to meet, through the Closing, the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications and based on customary representations contained in an officer’s certificate executed by REIT I and REIT I Operating Partnership.

(f) Section 368 Opinion. REIT II shall have received a written opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), or other counsel to REIT II reasonably satisfactory to REIT I, dated as of the

 

89


Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to REIT II, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the REIT Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications. In rendering such opinion, DLA Piper LLP (US) may rely upon the tax representation letters described in Section 7.12.

(g) Contribution Agreement. The Contribution Agreement and all ancillary documents or agreements contemplated thereunder (the “Contribution Documents”) shall continue to be legal, valid, binding obligations of and enforceable against, the parties thereto, and shall continue to be in full force and effect and shall have not been subsequently rescinded, supplemented, modified or amended or withdrawn in any way. Each party to the Contribution Documents shall have performed all obligations required to be performed by such party as of the Closing Date under each Contribution Document. None of the parties to the Contribution Documents shall be in breach or violation of, or default under, any Contribution Document, and no event shall have occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a violation, breach or default under any Contribution Document. None of the parties to the Contribution Documents shall have received notice of any violation or default under any Contribution Document and no party to the Contribution Documents shall have received any written notice of the intention of any party to cancel, terminate, or materially change the scope of rights under any Contribution Document. REIT I has received all consents, complied with all notice requirements and cured or obtained waivers of defaults with respect to any third Person required as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Contribution Agreement.

(h) Consents. REIT I shall have received the written Consents identified on Section 8.3(h) of the REIT I Disclosure Letter in form and substance reasonably acceptable to REIT II.

ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION, FEES AND EXPENSES, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, notwithstanding receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval (except as otherwise specified in this Section 9.1):

(a) by mutual written consent of each of REIT I and REIT II;

(b) by either REIT I (with the prior approval of the REIT I Special Committee) or REIT II (with the prior approval of the REIT II Special Committee):

(i) if the REIT Merger shall not have occurred on or before 11:59 p.m. New York time on June 8, 2021 (the “Outside Date”); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any Party if the failure of such Party (and (A) in the case of REIT I, including the failure of the other REIT I Parties, and

 

90


(B) in the case of REIT II, including the failure of the other REIT II Parties) to perform or comply in all material respects with the obligations, covenants or agreements of such Party set forth in this Agreement shall have been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the REIT Merger to be consummated by the Outside Date;

(ii) if any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order permanently restraining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to a Party if the issuance of such final, non-appealable Order was primarily due to the failure of such Party (and (A) in the case of REIT I, including the failure of the other REIT I Parties, and (B) in the case of REIT II, including the failure of the other REIT II Parties) to perform in all material respects any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under this Agreement; or

(iii) if the REIT I Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at the REIT I Stockholders Meeting, duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at which a vote on the approval of the REIT Merger and REIT I Charter Amendment was taken; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(iii) shall not be available to a Party if the failure to receive the REIT I Stockholder Approval was primarily due to the failure of a Party to perform in all material respects any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under this Agreement;

(c) by REIT I (with the prior approval of the REIT I Special Committee):

(i) if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any obligation, covenant or agreement on the part of any of the REIT II Parties set forth in this Agreement has occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 not to be satisfied (a “REIT II Terminating Breach”), which breach or failure to perform cannot be cured, or, if capable of cure, has not been cured by the earlier of 20 days following written notice thereof from REIT I to REIT II and two Business Days before the Outside Date; provided, that REIT I shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c)(i) if a REIT I Terminating Breach shall have occurred and be continuing at the time REIT I delivers notice of its election to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c)(i);

(ii) if REIT I has accepted a Superior Proposal at any time prior to receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.3(d); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be so terminated unless concurrently with the occurrence of such termination the payment required by Section 9.3(b) is made in full to REIT II and the definitive agreement relating to the Superior Proposal is entered into, and in the event that such definitive agreement is not concurrently entered into and such payment is not concurrently made, such termination shall be null and void; or

(iii) if (A) all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 have been and continue to be satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature cannot be satisfied other than at Closing), (B) on or after the date the Closing should have occurred, REIT I has delivered written notice to REIT II to the effect that all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their

 

91


nature cannot be satisfied other than at Closing) and the REIT I Parties are prepared to consummate the Closing, and (C) the REIT II Parties fail to consummate the Closing within three Business Days after delivery of the notice referenced in the preceding clause (B) (it being understood that during such three Business Day period, REIT II shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement); or

(d) by REIT II (with the prior approval of the REIT II Special Committee):

(i) if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any obligation, covenant or agreement on the part of any of the REIT I Parties set forth in this Agreement has occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.3 not to be satisfied (a “REIT I Terminating Breach”), which breach or failure to perform cannot be cured, or if capable of cure, has not been cured by the earlier of 20 days following written notice thereof from REIT II to REIT I and two Business Days before the Outside Date; provided, that REIT II shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(d)(i) if a REIT II Terminating Breach shall have occurred and be continuing at the time REIT II delivers notice of its election to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(d)(i);

(ii) if, at any time prior to receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval, (A) the REIT I Board or any committee thereof, for any reason, shall have effected a REIT I Adverse Recommendation Change; (B) the REIT I Board or any committee thereof shall have approved, adopted or publicly endorsed or recommended any Competing Proposal, (C) a tender offer or exchange offer for any shares of REIT I Common Stock that constitutes an Competing Proposal (other than by REIT II or any of its Affiliates) is commenced and the REIT I Board fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by the stockholders of REIT I and to publicly reaffirm the REIT I Board Recommendation within ten Business Days of being requested to do so by REIT II, (D) the REIT I Board or any committee thereof fails to include the REIT I Board Recommendation in the REIT I Proxy Statement, or (E) REIT I shall have materially violated any of its obligations under Section 7.3, or shall be deemed pursuant to Section 7.3(b) to have materially violated any of its obligations under Section 7.3 (other than any immaterial or inadvertent violations thereof that did not result in a Competing Proposal); or

(iii) if (A) all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.3 have been and continue to be satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature cannot be satisfied other than at Closing), (B) on or after the date the Closing should have occurred, REIT II has delivered written notice to REIT I to the effect that all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.3 have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature cannot be satisfied other than at Closing) and the REIT II Parties are prepared to consummate the Closing, and (C) the REIT I Parties fail to consummate the Closing within three (3) Business Days after delivery of the notice referenced in the preceding clause (B) (it being understood that during such three Business Day period, REIT I shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement).

Section 9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Parties specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement

 

92


shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of the REIT I Parties or the REIT II Parties, except that the Confidentiality Agreement and the provisions of Section 7.4 (Public Announcements), this Section 9.2, Section 9.3 (Fees and Expenses), Section 9.4 (Amendment), and Article X (General Provisions) of this Agreement shall survive the termination hereof; provided, that no such termination shall relieve any Party from any liability or damages resulting from any fraud or willful and material breach of any of its covenants, obligations or agreements set forth in this Agreement.

Section 9.3 Fees and Expenses.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.3, all Expenses shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Mergers are consummated; provided that the Parties will share equally the Form S-4 filing fees as may be required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated:

(i) (A)(x) by REIT II pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(i) (REIT I Terminating Breach), and after the date hereof and prior to the breach or failure to perform giving rise to such right of termination, a bona fide Competing Proposal (with, for all purposes of this Section 9.3(b)(i), all percentages included in the definition of “Competing Proposal” increased to 50%) has been publicly announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to the REIT I Board or any Person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make such a Competing Proposal or (y) by REIT II or REIT I pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i) (Outside Date) (and at the time of such termination REIT I would not have been entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(iii) (REIT II Failure to Close)) or Section 9.1(b)(iii) (Failure to Obtain REIT I Stockholder Approval) and after the date of this Agreement but prior to the REIT I Stockholders Meeting, a Competing Proposal with respect to REIT I has been made to REIT I or publicly announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to REIT I’s stockholders (and not withdrawn) or any Person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make such a Competing Proposal and (B) within 12 months after the date of such termination, a transaction in respect of a Competing Proposal with respect to REIT I is consummated or REIT I enters into a definitive agreement in respect of a Competing Proposal with respect to REIT I that is later consummated, REIT I shall pay to REIT II the Termination Payment;

(ii) (A) by REIT I pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(iii) (Failure to Close), then REIT II shall pay to REIT I an amount equal to the Expense Reimbursement Payment, or (B) by REIT II pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(iii) (Failure to Close), then REIT I shall pay to REIT II an amount equal to the Expense Reimbursement Payment;

(iii) by REIT I pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) (Superior Proposal), then REIT I shall pay to REIT II an amount equal to the Termination Payment; or

(iv) by REIT II pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(ii) (Adverse Recommendation Change/No-Shop Violation), then REIT I shall pay to REIT II an amount equal to the Termination Payment.

 

93


(c) REIT II agrees that in no event shall REIT I be required to pay a Termination Payment on more than one occasion. Payment of a Termination Payment shall be made by wire transfer of same day funds to the account or accounts designated by REIT II (i) prior to or concurrently at the time of consummation of any transaction contemplated by an Competing Proposal, in the case of a Termination Payment payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(i), (ii) concurrently with termination in the case of a Termination Payment payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(iii), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably practicable after termination (and, in any event, within two Business Days thereof), in the case of a Termination Payment payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(iv).

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that a Termination Payment becomes payable, then such payment shall be the REIT II Parties’ sole and exclusive remedy as liquidated damages for any and all losses or damages of any nature against REIT I and its Subsidiaries and each of their respective Representatives in respect of this Agreement, any agreement executed in connection herewith, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the termination of this Agreement, the failure of the Mergers to be consummated or for a breach or failure to perform hereunder (whether intentionally, unintentionally, or otherwise) or otherwise.

(e) REIT I acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 9.3 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that without these agreements, REIT II would not enter into this Agreement. In the event that REIT I shall fail to pay the Termination Payment when due, REIT I shall reimburse REIT II for all reasonable costs and expenses actually incurred or accrued by REIT II (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with the collection under and enforcement of this Section 9.3. Further, if REIT I fails to timely pay any amount due pursuant to this Section 9.3, and, in order to obtain the payment, REIT II commences a suit that results in a judgment against REIT I for the payment set forth in this Section 9.3, REIT I shall pay to REIT II its reasonable and documented costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) in connection with such suit, together with interest on such amount at a rate per annum equal to the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made through the date of payment.

(f) If REIT I becomes obligated to pay a Termination Payment under this Section 9.3, then REIT I shall deposit into escrow an amount in cash equal to the Termination Payment with an escrow agent reasonably selected by REIT II, after reasonable consultation with REIT I, and pursuant to a written escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) reflecting the terms set forth in this Section 9.3 and otherwise reasonably acceptable to each of the Parties and the escrow agent. The payment or deposit into escrow of the Termination Payment pursuant to this Section 9.3(f) shall be made by REIT I promptly after receipt of notice from REIT II that the Escrow Agreement has been executed by the parties thereto. The Escrow Agreement shall provide that the Termination Payment in escrow or the applicable portion thereof shall be released to REIT II on an annual basis based upon the delivery by REIT II to the escrow agent of any one (or a combination) of the following:

 

94


(i) a letter from REIT II’s independent certified public accountants indicating the maximum amount that can be paid by the escrow agent to REIT II without causing REIT II to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code for the applicable taxable year of REIT II determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute income described in Sections 856(c)(2)(A)-(H) or 856(c)(3)(A)-(I) of the Code (such income, “Qualifying REIT Income”), in which case the escrow agent shall release to REIT II such maximum amount stated in the accountant’s letter;

(ii) a letter from REIT II’s counsel indicating that REIT II received a private letter ruling from the IRS holding that the receipt by REIT II of the Termination Payment would either constitute Qualifying REIT Income or would be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, in which case the escrow agent shall release to REIT II the remainder of the Termination Payment; or

(iii) a letter from REIT II’s counsel indicating that REIT II has received a tax opinion from REIT II’s outside counsel or accountant, respectively, to the effect that the receipt by REIT II of the Termination Payment should either constitute Qualifying REIT Income or should be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Section 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, in which case the escrow agent shall release to REIT II the remainder of the Termination Payment.

REIT I agrees to cooperate in good faith to amend this Section 9.3(f) at the reasonable request of REIT II in order to (A) maximize the portion of the Termination Payment that may be distributed to REIT II hereunder without causing REIT II to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, (B) improve REIT II’s chances of securing the favorable private letter ruling from the IRS described in this Section 9.3(f) or (C) assist REIT II in obtaining the favorable tax opinion from its outside counsel or accountant described in this Section 9.3(f). The Escrow Agreement shall provide that REIT II shall bear all costs and expenses under the Escrow Agreement and that any portion of the Termination Payment held in escrow for ten years shall be released by the escrow agent to REIT I. REIT I shall not be a party to the Escrow Agreement and shall not bear any liability, cost or expense resulting directly or indirectly from the Escrow Agreement (other than any Taxes imposed on REIT I in connection therewith). REIT II shall fully indemnify REIT I and hold REIT I harmless from and against any such liability, cost or expense.

Section 9.4 Amendment. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, this Agreement may be amended by mutual agreement of the Parties by action taken or authorized by the REIT I Board and the REIT II Board, respectively, at any time before or after receipt of the REIT I Stockholder Approval and prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time; provided, that after the REIT I Stockholder Approval has been obtained, there shall not be (i) any amendment of this Agreement that changes the amount or the form of the consideration to be delivered under this Agreement to the holders of REIT I Common Stock, or which by applicable Law requires the further approval of the stockholders of REIT I without such further approval of such stockholders, or (ii) any amendment or change not permitted under applicable Law. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Parties.

 

95


ARTICLE X

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 10.1 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties and Certain Covenants. None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the REIT Merger Effective Time. The covenants to be performed prior to or at the Closing shall terminate at the Closing. This Section 10.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the Parties that by its terms contemplates performance after the REIT Merger Effective Time.

Section 10.2 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, consents, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties or sent by facsimile or e-mail of an attachment in portable document form (providing confirmation of transmission) at the following addresses or facsimile numbers (or at such other address or facsimile number for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

(a) if to a REIT II Party to:

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc.

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attn: Gary Lichtenstein, Chair

email: gslick180@aol.com

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morrison and Foerster, LLP

3500 Lenox Road, N.E., Suite 1500

Atlanta, GA 30326

Attn: Heath D. Linsky

email: hlinsky@mofo.com

DLA Piper LLP (US)

4141 Parklake Ave., Suite 300

Raleigh, NC 27612

Attn: Robert H. Bergdolt

Email: rob.bergdolt@dlapiper.com

(b) if to a REIT I Party to:

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc.

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attn: Andrew Ceitlin, Chair

email: aceitlin22@gmail.com

 

96


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

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

1600 Atlanta Financial Center

3343 Peachtree Road, NE

Atlanta, GA 30326

Attention: Lauren Burnham Prevost

email: lprevost@mmmlaw.com

Section 10.3 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced under any present or future Law, or public policy, (a) such term or other provision shall be fully separable, (b) this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, and (c) all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable term or other provision or by its severance herefrom so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

Section 10.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall be deemed one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered (by telecopy, electronic delivery or otherwise) to the other Parties. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.

Section 10.5 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including the Exhibits, Schedules, the REIT I Disclosure Letter and the REIT II Disclosure Letter) and the Confidentiality Agreement (a) constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and, (b) except for the provisions of Article III and Section 7.14 (which, from and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, shall be for the benefit of holders of shares of REIT I Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time) and Section 7.7 (which, from and after the REIT Merger Effective Time shall be for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties) are not intended to confer upon any Person other than the Parties hereto any rights or remedies.

Section 10.6 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Merger Effective Time, the Parties may, to the extent legally allowed and except as otherwise set forth herein, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Parties, (b) waive any

 

97


inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) subject to the requirements of applicable Law, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. The failure of any Party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those rights.

Section 10.7 Governing Law; Venue.

(a) Except to the extent that the Laws of the State of Delaware are mandatorily applicable to the Partnership Merger, this Agreement, and all claims or causes of actions (whether at Law, in contract or in tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or related to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles (whether the State of Maryland or any other jurisdiction that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland).

(b) All disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Maryland state or federal court. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any such Maryland state or federal court, for the purpose of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party, (ii) agrees not to commence any such dispute except in such courts, (iii) agrees that any claim in respect of any such dispute may be heard and determined in any such Maryland state or federal court, (iv) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute, (v) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such dispute and (vi) agrees, with respect to any Action filed in a Maryland state court, to jointly request an assignment to the Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program. Each of the Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.2. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

Section 10.8 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

Section 10.9 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that, prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article IX, each Party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to

 

98


prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such Party is entitled at Law or in equity.

Section 10.10 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.10.

Section 10.11 Authorship. The Parties agree that the terms and language of this Agreement are the result of negotiations between the Parties and their respective advisors and, as a result, there shall be no presumption that any ambiguities in this Agreement shall be resolved against any Party. Any controversy over construction of this Agreement shall be decided without regard to events of authorship or negotiation.

 

99


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective duly authorized officers, all as of the date first written above.

 

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shelle Weisbaum

  Shelle Weisbaum
  Chief Legal Officer
RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY OP, LP
By:   RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC., as general partner
  By:  

/s/ Shelle Weisbaum

    Shelle Weisbaum
    Chief Legal Officer

 

[Signature Page to the REIT I Merger Agreement]


RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.
By:  

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

  Alan F. Feldman
  Chief Executive Officer
RRE OPPORTUNITY OP II, LP
By:   RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC., as general partner
  By:  

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

    Alan F. Feldman
    Chief Executive Officer
REVOLUTION I MERGER SUB, LLC
By:   RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC., its sole member
  By:  

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

    Alan F. Feldman
    Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to the REIT I Merger Agreement]

Exhibit 2.2

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND AMONG

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.,

RRE OPPORTUNITY OP II, LP,

REVOLUTION III MERGER SUB, LLC,

RESOURCE APARTMENT REIT III, INC.

AND

RESOURCE APARTMENT OP III, LP

DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2020


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

     3  

Section 1.1

 

Definitions

     3  

Section 1.2

 

Interpretation and Rules of Construction

     14  

ARTICLE II

 

THE MERGERS

     15  

Section 2.1

 

The Mergers

     15  

Section 2.2

 

Closing

     15  

Section 2.3

 

Effective Times

     15  

Section 2.4

 

Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity and the Surviving Partnership

     16  

Section 2.5

 

Managers of the Surviving Entity

     16  

Section 2.6

 

Tax Treatment of Mergers

     16  

Section 2.7

 

Subsequent Actions

     17  

ARTICLE III

 

EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS

     17  

Section 3.1

 

Effects of the Mergers

     17  

Section 3.2

 

Exchange Procedures; Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares

     19  

Section 3.3

 

Withholding Rights

     19  

Section 3.4

 

Dissenters Rights

     19  

Section 3.5

 

General Effects of the Mergers

     19  

ARTICLE IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE REIT III PARTIES

     20  

Section 4.1

 

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries

     21  

Section 4.2

 

Authority; Approval Required

     22  

Section 4.3

 

No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

     23  

Section 4.4

 

Capital Structure

     24  

Section 4.5

 

SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws

     25  

Section 4.6

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

     27  

Section 4.7

 

No Undisclosed Liabilities

     27  

Section 4.8

 

Permits; Compliance with Law

     28  

Section 4.9

 

Litigation

     28  

Section 4.10

 

Properties

     29  

Section 4.11

 

Environmental Matters

     29  

Section 4.12

 

Material Contracts

     30  

Section 4.13

 

Taxes

     33  

Section 4.14

 

Intellectual Property

     36  

Section 4.15

 

Information Privacy & Security

     36  

Section 4.16

 

Insurance

     36  

 

i


Section 4.17

 

Employee Matters

     37  

Section 4.18

 

Related-Party Transactions

     37  

Section 4.19

 

Brokers

     37  

Section 4.20

 

Opinion of Financial Advisor

     37  

Section 4.21

 

Takeover Statutes

     38  

Section 4.22

 

Information Supplied

     38  

Section 4.23

 

COVID-19

     38  

Section 4.24

 

No Other Representations and Warranties

     39  

ARTICLE V

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE REIT II PARTIES

     39  

Section 5.1

 

Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries

     40  

Section 5.2

 

Authority; Approval Required

     41  

Section 5.3

 

No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

     42  

Section 5.4

 

Capital Structure

     43  

Section 5.5

 

SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws

     44  

Section 5.6

 

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

     46  

Section 5.7

 

No Undisclosed Liabilities

     46  

Section 5.8

 

Permits; Compliance with Law

     47  

Section 5.9

 

Litigation

     47  

Section 5.10

 

Properties

     48  

Section 5.11

 

Environmental Matters

     48  

Section 5.12

 

Material Contracts

     49  

Section 5.13

 

Taxes

     52  

Section 5.14

 

Intellectual Property

     55  

Section 5.15

 

Information Privacy & Security

     55  

Section 5.16

 

Insurance

     55  

Section 5.17

 

Employee Matters

     56  

Section 5.18

 

Related-Party Transactions

     56  

Section 5.19

 

Brokers

     56  

Section 5.20

 

Opinion of Financial Advisor

     56  

Section 5.21

 

Takeover Statutes

     57  

Section 5.22

 

Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities

     57  

Section 5.23

 

Information Supplied

     57  

Section 5.24

 

COVID-19

     57  

Section 5.25

 

No Other Representations and Warranties

     58  

ARTICLE VI

 

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGERS

     58  

Section 6.1

 

Conduct of Business by REIT III

     58  

Section 6.2

 

Conduct of Business by REIT II

     63  

Section 6.3

 

No Control of Other Parties’ Business

     67  

 

ii


ARTICLE VII

 

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

     67  

Section 7.1

 

Preparation of the Form S-4 and the REIT III Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approval

     67  

Section 7.2

 

Access to Information; Confidentiality

     69  

Section 7.3

 

No Solicitation of Transactions; Change in Recommendation

     70  

Section 7.4

 

Public Announcements

     74  

Section 7.5

 

Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings

     74  

Section 7.6

 

Notification of Certain Matters; Transaction Litigation

     76  

Section 7.7

 

Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance

     77  

Section 7.8

 

Dividends

     78  

Section 7.9

 

Takeover Statutes

     79  

Section 7.10

 

Obligations of the Parties

     79  

Section 7.11

 

Certain Transactions

     80  

Section 7.12

 

Tax Matters

     80  

Section 7.13

 

REIT II Board

     81  

Section 7.14

 

REIT II Share Redemption Program

     81  

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONDITIONS

     81  

Section 8.1

 

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Mergers

     81  

Section 8.2

 

Conditions to Obligations of the REIT III Parties

     82  

Section 8.3

 

Conditions to Obligations of the REIT II Parties

     83  

ARTICLE IX

 

TERMINATION, FEES AND EXPENSES, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     84  

Section 9.1

 

Termination

     84  

Section 9.2

 

Effect of Termination

     87  

Section 9.3

 

Fees and Expenses

     87  

Section 9.4

 

Amendment

     89  

ARTICLE X

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

     90  

Section 10.1

 

Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties and Certain Covenants

     90  

Section 10.2

 

Notices

     90  

Section 10.3

 

Severability

     91  

Section 10.4

 

Counterparts

     91  

Section 10.5

 

Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries

     91  

Section 10.6

 

Extension; Waiver

     92  

Section 10.7

 

Governing Law; Venue

     92  

Section 10.8

 

Assignment

     92  

Section 10.9

 

Specific Performance

     93  

Section 10.10

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     93  

Section 10.11

 

Authorship

     93  

 

iii


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of September 8, 2020 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and among Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT II”), RRE Opportunity OP II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of REIT II (“REIT II Operating Partnership”), Revolution III Merger Sub, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II (“Merger Sub”), Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT III”) and Resource Apartment OP III, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of REIT III (“REIT III Operating Partnership”). Each of REIT II, REIT II Operating Partnership, Merger Sub, REIT III and REIT III Operating Partnership is sometimes referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in Article I.

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to effect a business combination in which (i) REIT III will be merged with and into Merger Sub (the “REIT Merger”), with Merger Sub being the surviving company, and each share of REIT III Common Stock (as defined herein) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time (as defined herein) will be converted into the right to receive the REIT Merger Consideration (as defined herein), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) and the Maryland Limited Liability Company Act (“MLLCA”), and (ii) REIT III Operating Partnership will be merged with and into REIT II Operating Partnership (the “Partnership Merger” and, together with the REIT Merger, the “Mergers”), with REIT II Operating Partnership being the surviving entity, and each REIT III OP Unit (as defined herein) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time (as defined herein) shall be retired and shall cease to exist, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “DRULPA”);

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, REIT II, REIT II Operating Partnership and Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, entered into a merger agreement with Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT I”), and Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“REIT I Operating Partnership”), pursuant to which REIT I Operating Partnership will merge into REIT II Operating Partnership and REIT I will merge into REIT I Merger Sub, LLC (collectively, the “REIT I Merger”);

WHEREAS, the Mergers are not conditioned on the REIT I Merger or vice versa;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, REIT II and Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and external advisor to REIT II (the “REIT II Advisor”) entered into an amended and restated advisory agreement (the “Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement”) providing for, among other things, the waiver of acquisition fees and debt financing fees in connection with the Mergers;

WHEREAS, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, REIT I Operating Partnership entered into and consummated a contribution and exchange agreement pursuant to

 

1


which, among other things, REIT I acquired Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and external advisor to REIT I, REIT II Advisor, and Resource REIT Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and external advisor to REIT III, so that REIT I has become self-managed and REIT II and REIT III have become indirectly managed by REIT I (the “REIT I Internalization Transaction”);

WHEREAS, prior to the execution of this Agreement, REIT III redeemed all of the outstanding shares of REIT III Convertible Stock (as defined herein);

WHEREAS, the Parties have conditioned the Merger on approval by the stockholders of REIT III of an amendment of the charter of REIT III, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “REIT III Charter Amendment”), which provides for the elimination of limitations on “roll-up transactions”;

WHEREAS, on the recommendation of the special committee (the “REIT III Special Committee”) of the Board of Directors of REIT III (the “REIT III Board”), the REIT III Board has (a) determined that this Agreement, the Mergers, the REIT III Charter Amendment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of REIT III and that this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to REIT III and are on terms and conditions no less favorable to REIT III than those available from unaffiliated third parties, (b) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (c) directed that the REIT Merger and the REIT III Charter Amendment be submitted for consideration at the REIT III Stockholders Meeting (as defined herein) and (d) recommended the approval of the REIT Merger and the REIT III Charter Amendment by the REIT III stockholders;

WHEREAS, on the recommendation of the special committee (the “REIT II Special Committee”) of the Board of Directors of REIT II (the “REIT II Board”), the REIT II Board has (a) determined that this Agreement, the Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of REIT II and that this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to REIT II and are on terms and conditions no less favorable to REIT II than those available from unaffiliated third parties and (b) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is intended that (i) the REIT Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” under, and within the meaning of, Section 368(a) of the Code, and this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for the REIT Merger for purposes of Section 354 of the Code pursuant to which REIT III will be treated as transferring the assets and liabilities of REIT III Operating Partnership to REIT II in a transaction governed by Section 361 of the Code and (ii) the Partnership Merger shall be treated as a tax-deferred contribution of the former assets and liabilities of REIT III Operating Partnership by REIT II to REIT II Operating Partnership pursuant to Section 721 of the Code; and

 

2


WHEREAS, each of the Parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Mergers, and to prescribe various conditions to the Mergers.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this Agreement:

Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means a confidentiality agreement that contains provisions that are no less favorable in the aggregate to REIT III than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement.

Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, mediation, interference, audit, assessment, hearing, or other legal proceeding (whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise, whether civil or criminal and whether brought, conducted, tried or heard by or before any Governmental Authority).

Affiliate” of a specified Person means a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the REIT II Parties and their respective subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the REIT III Parties and (ii) the REIT III Parties and their respective subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of the REIT II Parties.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means (i) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) any anti-bribery, anti-corruption or similar applicable Law of any other jurisdiction.

Book-Entry Share” means, with respect to any Party, a book-entry share registered in the transfer books of such Party.

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

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Confidentiality Agreement” means the non-disclosure agreement dated as of March 23, 2020 between REIT III and REIT II.

 

3


Contract” means any written or oral contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, instrument, lease, conditional sales contract, mortgage, license, guaranty, binding commitment or other agreement.

COVID-19 Measures” means any quarantine, shelter in place, stay at home, workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or any other Law, directive, policy, guideline or recommendation by any Governmental Authority in connection with, or in response to, the COVID-19 virus.

Debt Facilities” means, with respect to REIT III, any Contract set forth in Section 4.12(a)(vi) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter and with respect to REIT II, any Contract set forth in Section 5.12(a)(vi) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter.

Employee Benefit Plan” means any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), nonqualified deferred compensation plan (as defined in Section 409A of the Code), or employment, severance, change-in-control, bonus, incentive, equity or equity-based compensation, health, welfare, fringe benefit, retirement, and any other compensatory or employee benefit plan, contract or arrangement of any kind (whether or not subject to ERISA, written or oral, qualified or nonqualified, funded or unfunded, foreign or domestic, currently effective or terminated).

Environmental Law” means any Law (including common law) relating to the pollution (or cleanup thereof) or protection of the natural resources, endangered or threatened species, or environment (including ambient air, soil, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface land), or human health or safety (as such matters relate to Hazardous Substances), including Laws relating to the use, handling, presence, transportation, treatment, generation, processing, recycling, remediation, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Substances.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, license, exemption, action, consent or other authorization issued, granted, given, authorized by or required under any applicable Environmental Law.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to an entity (the “Referenced Entity”), any other entity, which, together with the Referenced Entity, would be treated as a single employer under Code Section 414 or ERISA Section 4001.

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

Expenses” means all expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a Party and its Affiliates) incurred by a Party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the other agreements and documents contemplated hereby, the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the REIT III Proxy Statement (with respect to REIT III), the preparation, printing and filing of the Form S-4 and all SEC and other regulatory filing

 

4


fees incurred in connection with the REIT III Proxy Statement, the solicitation of stockholder approval, engaging the services of the Transfer Agent, obtaining any third-party consents, making any other filings with the SEC and all other matters related to the Closing and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Expense Reimbursement Payment” means payment in an amount equal to the reasonable and documented Expenses of the Party that is entitled to receive such payment pursuant to Section 9.3; provided, that such payment shall not exceed $2,000,000.

Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.1 (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries); Section 4.2 (Authority; Approval Required); Section 4.3(a) (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents); Section 4.4(a) (Capital Structure); Section 4.13(b)(i)) (Taxes); Section 5.1 (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries); Section 5.2 (Authority; Approval Required); Section 5.3(a) (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents);Section 5.4(a) (Capital Structure) and Section 5.13(b)(i) (Taxes).

GAAP” means the United States generally accepted accounting principles.

Governmental Authority” means the United States (federal, state or local) government or any foreign government, or any other governmental or quasi-governmental regulatory, judicial or administrative authority, instrumentality, board, bureau, agency, commission, self-regulatory organization, arbitration panel or similar entity.

Hazardous Substances” means (i) those hazardous or toxic materials, substances, chemicals, wastes, products, compounds, solid, liquid, gas, minerals in each case, whether naturally occurred or man-made, that is listed in, defined in or regulated under any Environmental Law, including the following federal statutes and their state and local counterparts, as each may be amended from time to time, and all regulations thereunder, including: the Comprehensive, Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001 et seq.; the Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq.; and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq.; (ii) petroleum and petroleum-derived products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; and (iii) polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, mold, methane, asbestos in any form, radioactive materials or wastes and radon.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person and without duplication, (i) the principal of and premium (if any) of all indebtedness, notes payable, accrued interest payable or other obligations for borrowed money, whether secured or unsecured, (ii) all obligations under conditional sale or other title retention agreements, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to property acquired by such Person, (iii) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price for any property or assets, (iv) all obligations under capital leases,

 

5


(v) all obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or letters of credit, (vi) all obligations under interest rate cap, swap, collar or similar transaction or currency hedging transactions (valued at the termination value thereof), (vii) any guarantee of any of the foregoing, whether or not evidenced by a note, mortgage, bond, indenture or similar instrument and (viii) any agreement to provide any of the foregoing.

Information Privacy and Security Laws” means applicable legal requirements concerning the use, ownership, maintenance, storage, collection, transfer, processing, controlling, privacy and/or security of Personal Information.

Intellectual Property” means all United States and foreign (i) patents, patent applications, invention disclosures, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions and extensions thereof, (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, corporate names, Internet domain names, design rights and other source identifiers, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, (iii) registered and unregistered copyrights and copyrightable works, (iv) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, know-how, ideas, formulae, models, algorithms and methodologies, (v) all rights in the foregoing and in other similar intangible assets and (vi) all applications and registrations for the foregoing.

Intervening Event” means a change in circumstances or development occurring or arising after the date of this Agreement that materially affects the business, assets or operations of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that was not known to or reasonably foreseeable by the REIT III Board prior to the execution of this Agreement, which change in circumstances or development becomes known to the REIT III Board prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time; provided, however, that in no event shall the receipt, existence or terms of a Competing Proposal or any matter relating thereto or consequence thereof constitute an Intervening Event.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor agency.

IT Asset” means any company-owned information, system or hardware that is used in the course of business activities.

Knowledge” means (i) with respect to any REIT III Party, the actual knowledge, after reasonable investigation, of the persons named in Schedule A to the REIT III Disclosure Letter and (ii) with respect to any REIT II Party, the actual knowledge, after reasonable investigation, of the persons named in Schedule A to the REIT II Disclosure Letter.

Law” means any and all domestic (federal, state or local) or foreign laws, rules, regulations and Orders promulgated by any Governmental Authority.

Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, claim, condition, covenant, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, preferential arrangement, option or other third party right (including right of first refusal or first offer), restriction, right of way, easement, or title defect or encumbrance of any kind

 

6


in respect of such asset, including any restriction on the use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or other exercise of any attributes of ownership, excluding any restrictions on transfer of equity securities arising under applicable securities Laws.

Material Contract” means any REIT II Material Contract or any REIT III Material Contract, as applicable.

Merger Sub Governing Documents” means the articles of organization and limited liability company operating agreement of Merger Sub, as in effect on the date hereof.

Order” means a judgment, injunction, order or decree of any Governmental Authority.

Permitted Encumbrances” means any of the following: (i) Encumbrances for Taxes or governmental assessments, charges or claims of payment not yet delinquent, being contested in good faith or for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established; (ii) mechanics, suppliers’, construction, carriers’, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s and materialmen’s Encumbrances and other similar Encumbrances for amounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith or such Encumbrances which have been filed of record but which have been bonded over or otherwise insured against; (iii) with respect to any real property, post-closing escrow agreements, leases, license agreements and similar occupancy agreements, contribution and tax protection agreements, bottom dollar guarantees, terms and provisions of any joint venture agreements existing at the date of this Agreement, Encumbrances that are zoning, building or other regulations, requirements, entitlements (including associated security instruments encumbering any land for which REIT III or REIT II has an option to purchase) or other land use or environmental regulations by any Governmental Authority; (iv) with respect to REIT II, Encumbrances that are disclosed on Section 1.1(b) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter (together with associated documentation which evidences or secures such Encumbrances, including, without limitation, notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, assignments of leases and rents, guarantees, pledge agreements and similar documentation), and with respect REIT III, Encumbrances that are disclosed on Section 1.1(a) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter (together with associated documentation which evidences or secures such Encumbrances, including, without limitation, notes, mortgages, deeds of trust, assignments of leases and rents, guarantees, pledge agreements and similar documentation); (v) with respect to REIT II, Encumbrances that are disclosed on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of REIT II, or notes thereto (or securing liabilities reflected on such balance sheet), and with respect to REIT III, Encumbrances that are disclosed on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of REIT III, or notes thereto (or securing liabilities reflected on such balance sheet); (vi) with respect to REIT II or REIT III, Encumbrances arising pursuant to any Material Contracts of such Party; (vii) with respect to any real property of REIT II or REIT III, Encumbrances that are disclosed on existing title policies made available to the other Party prior to the date hereof; or (viii) with respect to REIT II or REIT III, Encumbrances that were incurred in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2019, and that do not materially interfere with the use, operation or transfer of, or any of the benefits of ownership of, the property of such Party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Person” or “person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, group (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or other entity or organization (including any Governmental Authority or a political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a Governmental Authority).

 

7


Personal Information” means data or other information relating, directly or indirectly, to an identified or identifiable natural person.

REIT” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

REIT I Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the date hereof among REIT II, the REIT II Operating Partnership, Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. and Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP.

REIT II Bylaws” means the Bylaws of REIT II, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.

REIT II Charter” means the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of REIT II dated December 17, 2013, as amended or supplemented and in effect on the date hereof.

REIT II Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of REIT II.

REIT II DRP” means the distribution reinvestment plan of REIT II.

REIT II Governing Documents” means the REIT II Bylaws, the REIT II Charter, the certificate of limited partnership of REIT II Operating Partnership, and the REIT II Partnership Agreement.

REIT II Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) would prevent or materially impair the ability of the REIT II Parties to consummate the Mergers before the Outside Date; provided, that, for purposes of the foregoing clause (i), “REIT II Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence to the extent arising out of or resulting from (A) any changes in economic, market or business conditions generally in the U.S. or any other jurisdiction in which REIT II or the REIT II Subsidiaries operate or in the U.S. or global financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates and including (for the avoidance of doubt) any such conditions related to or resulting from any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus) or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, (B) changes in general economic conditions in the industries in which REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries operate, (C) any changes in the legal, regulatory or political conditions in the United States or in any other country or region of the world, (D) the commencement, escalation or worsening of a war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage occurring after the date hereof, (E) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or the public announcement of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (F) the taking of any action expressly required by this Agreement, or the taking of any action at the written request or with the prior written consent of REIT III, (G) the consummation of the REIT I Merger, (H) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or

 

8


other natural disasters, (H) changes or prospective changes in Law or GAAP (or the interpretation or enforcement thereof), (I) pandemics, disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus or COVID-19 Measures) or other natural or manmade disasters or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, or (J) any Action made or initiated by any holder of REIT II Common Stock, including any derivative claims, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided, further, that if any event described in any of clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (H) and (I) has had a disproportionate adverse impact on REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies in the industry in which REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries operate, then the incremental impact of such event shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a REIT II Material Adverse Effect has occurred.

REIT II OP Units” means the units of limited partnership interests in REIT II Operating Partnership.

REIT II Parties” means REIT II, Merger Sub and REIT II Operating Partnership.

REIT II Partnership Agreement” means the Limited Partnership Agreement, dated as of January 16, 2014, as amended through the date hereof.

REIT II Properties” means each real property owned, or leased (including ground leased) as lessee or sublessee, by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (including all buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under such real property and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such real property).

REIT II Share Redemption Program” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Share Redemption Program of REIT II, as amended and in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

REIT II Subsidiary” means (a) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities is, directly or indirectly, owned by REIT II, and (b) any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity of which more than 50% of the total equity interest is, directly or indirectly, owned by REIT II or of which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a general partner, manager, managing member or the equivalent, including REIT II Operating Partnership.

REIT III Bylaws” means the Bylaws of REIT III, as amended and in effect on the date hereof.

REIT III Charter” means the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of REIT III dated April 11, 2016, as amended or supplemented and in effect on the date hereof.

REIT III Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of REIT III.

REIT III DRP” means the distribution reinvestment plan of REIT III.

 

9


REIT III Governing Documents” means the REIT III Bylaws, the REIT III Charter, the certificate of limited partnership of REIT III Operating Partnership and the REIT III Partnership Agreement.

REIT III Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) would prevent or materially impair the ability of the REIT III Parties to consummate the Mergers before the Outside Date; provided, that, for purposes of the foregoing clause (i), “REIT III Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence to the extent arising out of or resulting from (A) any changes in economic, market or business conditions generally in the U.S. or any other jurisdiction in which REIT III or the REIT III Subsidiaries operate or in the U.S. or global financial markets generally, including changes in interest or exchange rates, and including (for the avoidance of doubt) any such conditions related to or resulting from any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus) or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, (B) changes in general economic conditions in the industries in which REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries operate, (C) any changes in the legal, regulatory or political conditions in the United States or in any other country or region of the world, (D) the commencement, escalation or worsening of a war or armed hostilities or the occurrence of acts of terrorism or sabotage occurring after the date hereof, (E) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or the public announcement of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (F) the taking of any action expressly required by this Agreement, or the taking of any action at the written request or with the prior written consent of REIT II, (G) earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters, (H) changes or prospective changes in Law or GAAP (or the interpretation or enforcement thereof), (I) pandemics, disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus or COVID-19 Measures) or other natural or manmade disasters or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, or (J) any Action made or initiated by any holder of REIT III Common Stock, including any derivative claims, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided, further, that if any event described in any of clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (G) and (H) has had a disproportionate adverse impact on REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other companies in the industry in which REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries operate, then the incremental impact of such event shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a REIT III Material Adverse Effect has occurred.

REIT III OP Units” means the units of partnership interest in REIT III Operating Partnership.

REIT III Parties” means REIT III and REIT III Operating Partnership.

REIT III Partnership Agreement” means the Limited Partnership Agreement of REIT III Operating Partnership, dated as of April 28, 2016, as amended through the date hereof.

REIT III Properties” means each real property owned, or leased (including ground leased) as lessee or sublessee, by REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement (including all buildings, structures and other improvements and fixtures located on or under such real property and all easements, rights and other appurtenances to such real property).

 

10


REIT III Proxy Statement” means the proxy statement relating to the REIT III Stockholders Meeting, together with any amendments or supplements thereto.

REIT III Share Redemption Program” means the Second Amended and Restated Share Redemption Program of REIT III, as amended and in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

REIT III Stockholder Approval” means the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of REIT III Common Stock entitled to vote at the REIT III Stockholders Meeting on the REIT Merger and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of REIT III Common Stock entitled to vote at the REIT III Stockholders Meeting on the REIT III Charter Amendment.

REIT III Stockholders Meeting” means the meeting of the holders of shares of REIT III Common Stock for the purpose of seeking the REIT III Stockholder Approval, including any postponement or adjournment thereof.

REIT III Subsidiary” means (a) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities is, directly or indirectly, owned by REIT III, and (b) any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity of which more than 50% of the total equity interest is, directly or indirectly, owned by REIT III or of which REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is a general partner, manager, managing member or the equivalent.

Representative” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, advisors (including attorneys, accountants, consultants, investment bankers, and financial advisors), agents and other representatives.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including the staff thereof).

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

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes filed or required to be filed with a Governmental Authority, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

Tax” or “Taxes” means any United States federal, state, local and foreign income, gross receipts, capital gains, withholding, property, recording, stamp, transfer, sales, use, abandoned property, escheat, franchise, employment, payroll, excise, environmental and any other taxes, duties, assessments or similar governmental charges, together with penalties, interest or additions imposed with respect to such amounts by the U.S. or any Governmental Authority, whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or any other basis.

Termination Payment” means $3,123,459, plus an amount (capped at $1 million) equal to the reasonable and documented Expenses of REIT II.

 

11


Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary” means any directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of REIT III.

Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary” means any directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II.

(b) In addition to the terms defined in Section 1.1(a), the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth in the sections set forth below opposite such term:

 

Defined Term

  

Location of Definition

Acquisition Agreement    Section 7.3(d)
Agreement    Preamble
Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement    Recitals
Articles of Merger    Section 2.3(a)
Charter Restrictions    Section 7.9
Closing    Section 2.2
Closing Date    Section 2.2
Competing Proposal    Section 7.3(h)(i)
DE SOS    Section 2.3(b)
DRULPA    Recitals
Encumbrances    Section 4.10(a)
Escrow Agreement    Section 9.3(f)
Exchange Ratio    Section 3.1(a)(i)
Form S-4    Section 7.1(a)
Indemnified Parties    Section 7.7(a)
Interim Period    Section 6.1(a)
Merger Effective Time    Section 2.3(a)
Merger Sub    Preamble
Mergers    Recitals
MGCL    Recitals
MLLCA    Recitals
Outside Date    Section 9.1(b)(i)
Partnership Certificate of Merger    Section 2.3(b)
Partnership Merger    Recitals
Partnership Merger Effective Time    Section 2.3(b)
Party(ies)    Preamble
Qualified REIT Subsidiary    Section 4.1(c)
Registered Securities    Section 7.1(a)
REIT I    Recitals
REIT I Internalization Transaction    Recitals
REIT I Merger    Recitals
REIT I Operating Partnership    Recitals
REIT II    Preamble

 

12


REIT II Advisor    Recitals
REIT II Board    Recitals
REIT II Convertible Stock    Section 5.4(a)
REIT II Disclosure Letter    Article V
REIT II Insurance Policies    Section 5.16
REIT II Management Agreement Documents    Section 5.12(d)
REIT II Material Contract    Section 5.12(b)
REIT II Operating Partnership    Preamble
REIT II Permits    Section 5.8(a)
REIT II Preferred Stock    Section 5.4(a)
REIT II Related Party Agreements    Section 5.18
REIT II SEC Documents    Section 5.5(a)
REIT II Special Committee    Recitals
REIT II Subsidiary Partnership    Section 5.13(h)
REIT II Tax Protection Agreements    Section 5.13(h)
REIT II Terminating Breach    Section 9.1(c)(i)
REIT II Voting Debt    Section 5.4(d)
REIT III    Preamble
REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change    Section 7.3(d)
REIT III Board    Recitals
REIT III Board Recommendation    Section 4.2(c)
REIT III Charter Amendment    Recitals
REIT III Convertible Stock    Section 4.4(a)
REIT III Designee    Section 7.13
REIT III Disclosure Letter    Article IV
REIT III Insurance Policies    Section 4.16
REIT III Management Agreement Documents    Section 4.12(d)
REIT III Material Contract    Section 4.12(b)
REIT III Operating Partnership    Preamble
REIT III Permits    Section 4.8(a)
REIT III Preferred Stock    Section 4.4(a)
REIT III SEC Documents    Section 4.5(a)
REIT III Special Committee    Recitals
REIT III Subsidiary Partnership    Section 4.13(h)
REIT III Tax Protection Agreements    Section 4.13(h)
REIT III Terminating Breach    Section 9.1(d)(i)
REIT III Voting Debt    Section 4.4(d)
REIT Merger    Recitals
REIT Merger Consideration    Section 3.1(a)(i)
REIT Merger Effective Time    Section 2.3(a)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act    Section 4.5(a)
SDAT    Section 2.3(a)

 

13


Superior Proposal    Section 7.3(g)(ii)
Surviving Entity    Section 2.1(a)
Surviving Partnership    Section 2.1(b)
Surviving Partnership Agreement    Section 2.4(c)
Takeover Statutes    Section 4.21
Taxable REIT Subsidiary    Section 4.1(c)
Transfer Agent    Section 3.2(a)
Transfer Taxes    Section 7.12(d)

Section 1.2 Interpretation and Rules of Construction. In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

(a) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

(b) the table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;

(c) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limiting the generality of the foregoing” unless expressly provided otherwise;

(d) “or” shall be construed in the inclusive sense of “and/or”;

(e) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise specified;

(f) all references herein to “$” or dollars shall refer to United States dollars;

(g) no specific provision, representation or warranty shall limit the applicability of a more general provision, representation or warranty;

(h) it is the intent of the Parties that each representation, warranty, covenant, condition and agreement contained in this Agreement shall be given full, separate, and independent effect and that such provisions are cumulative;

(i) the phrase “ordinary course of business” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “consistent with past practice” and, as used in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2, similar in nature and magnitude to actions customarily taken without any authorization by the board of directors in the course of normal day-to-day operations, whether or not such words actually follow such phrase;

(j) references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns;

 

14


(k) any reference in this Agreement to a date or time shall be deemed to be such date or time in the City of New York, New York, U.S.A., unless otherwise specified;

(l) all terms defined in this Agreement have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto, unless otherwise defined therein; and

(m) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

ARTICLE II

THE MERGERS

Section 2.1 The Mergers.

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the MGCL and MLLCA, at the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT III shall be merged with and into Merger Sub, whereupon the separate existence of REIT III will cease, with Merger Sub surviving the REIT Merger (Merger Sub, as the surviving entity in the REIT Merger, sometimes being referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”), such that following and as a result of the REIT Merger, the Surviving Entity will be a wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II. The REIT Merger shall have the effects provided in this Agreement and the Articles of Merger, and as specified in the applicable provisions of the MGCL and MLLCA.

(b) Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DRULPA, at the Partnership Merger Effective Time, REIT III Operating Partnership shall be merged with and into REIT II Operating Partnership, with REIT II Operating Partnership surviving the Partnership Merger (the “Surviving Partnership”). The Partnership Merger shall have the effects set forth in the applicable provisions of the DRULPA and this Agreement.

Section 2.2 Closing. The closing of the Mergers (the “Closing”) will take place (a) by electronic exchange of documents and signatures at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time on the third Business Day after all the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or valid waiver of such conditions at the Closing) shall have been satisfied or validly waived by the Party entitled to the benefit of such condition (subject to applicable Law), or (b) such other place or date as may be agreed in writing by REIT II and REIT III. The date on which the Closing actually takes place is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

Section 2.3 Effective Times.

(a) On the Closing Date, REIT II, REIT III and Merger Sub shall (i) cause articles of merger with respect to the REIT Merger to be duly executed and filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) in accordance with the MGCL and the MLLCA (the “Articles of Merger”) and (ii) make any other filings, recordings or

 

15


publications required to be made by REIT III or the Surviving Entity under the MGCL or MLLCA in connection with the REIT Merger. The REIT Merger shall become effective at such time as the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT or on such other date and time (not to exceed 30 days after the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT) as specified in the Articles of Merger (such date and time, the “REIT Merger Effective Time” and together with the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the “Merger Effective Time”), it being understood and agreed that the Parties shall cause the REIT Merger Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date and before the Partnership Merger Effective Time. The Articles of Merger shall provide that the name of the Surviving Entity shall be “Revolution III Merger Sub, LLC.”

(b) On the Closing Date, REIT II Operating Partnership and REIT III Operating Partnership shall (i) cause a certificate of merger with respect to the Partnership Merger to be duly executed and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State (the “DE SOS”) in accordance with the DRULPA (the “Partnership Certificate of Merger”) and (ii) make any other filings, recordings or publications required to be made by REIT II Operating Partnership, REIT III Operating Partnership or the Surviving Partnership under the DRULPA in connection with the Partnership Merger. The Partnership Merger shall become effective at the time set forth in the Partnership Certificate of Merger (such date and time, the “Partnership Merger Effective Time”), it being understood and agreed that the Parties shall cause the Partnership Merger Effective Time to occur on the Closing Date after the REIT Merger Effective Time.

Section 2.4 Organizational Documents of the Surviving Entity and the Surviving Partnership.

(a) From and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, the charter of REIT II shall remain in effect as the charter of REIT II until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of the charter of REIT II.

(b) At the REIT Merger Effective Time and by virtue of the REIT Merger, the articles of organization and operating agreement of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, shall be the articles of organization and operating agreement of the Surviving Entity, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of such articles of organization and operating agreement.

(c) At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, (i) the certificate of limited partnership of REIT II Operating Partnership shall be the certificate of limited partnership of the Surviving Partnership and (ii) the REIT II Partnership Agreement shall be the limited partnership agreement of the Surviving Partnership (the “Surviving Partnership Agreement”), until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the applicable provisions of the Surviving Partnership Agreement.

Section 2.5 Managers of the Surviving Entity. At the REIT Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger, the member of Merger Sub shall manage the Surviving Entity.

Section 2.6 Tax Treatment of Mergers

(a) The Parties intend that, for United States federal income tax purposes (and, where applicable, state and local income tax purposes), the REIT Merger shall qualify as a

 

16


reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and this Agreement shall be, and is hereby adopted as, a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Section 354 and 361 of the Code. REIT III shall be treated as having transferred to REIT II pursuant to the REIT Merger all of the assets and liabilities of REIT III Operating Partnership in a transaction governed by Section 361 of the Code. Unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state of local Law), all Parties shall file all United States federal, state and local Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the intended tax treatment of the REIT Merger described in this Section 2.6(a), and no Party shall take a position inconsistent with such treatment.

(b) The Parties intend that, for United States federal income tax purposes (and, where applicable, state and local income tax purposes), the transfer pursuant to the Partnership Merger by REIT III Operating Partnership of all of its assets and liabilities to REIT III Operating Partnership shall be treated as a contribution of such assets and liabilities by REIT II to REIT II Operating Partnership that is described in Section 721 of the Code. Unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state of local Law), all Parties shall file all United States federal, state and local Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the intended tax treatment of the Partnership Merger described in this Section 2.6(b), and no Party shall take a position inconsistent with such treatment.

Section 2.7 Subsequent Actions. If at any time after the Partnership Merger Effective Time the Surviving Partnership shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion, that any actions are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Partnership its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights or properties of REIT III Operating Partnership acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Partnership as a result of, or in connection with, the Partnership Merger or otherwise to carry out the intent of this Agreement, then the partners and officers of the Surviving Partnership shall be authorized to take all such actions as may be necessary or desirable to vest all right, title or interest in, to or under such rights or properties in the Surviving Partnership or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

EFFECTS OF THE MERGERS

Section 3.1 Effects of the Mergers.

(a) The REIT Merger. At the REIT Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the REIT Merger and without any further action on the part of REIT III or Merger Sub or the holders of any securities of REIT II, REIT III or Merger Sub:

(i) Each share of REIT III Common Stock, or fraction thereof, issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement 0.925862 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) (upon the proper surrender of such Book-Entry Share) of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of REIT II Common Stock (the “REIT Merger Consideration”) in accordance with Section 3.2 and subject to Section 3.1(a)(ii), Section 3.1(a)(iii), Section 3.1(c), Section 3.3 and the next sentence of this Section 3.1(a)(i). The REIT Merger Consideration

 

17


payable to each holder of REIT III Common Stock will be aggregated and each such holder shall be entitled to receive such number of shares of REIT II Common Stock, including any fraction thereof (which fraction shall be rounded up to the nearest 1/1,000th of a share), consistent with the Exchange Ratio. (For each share of REIT II Common Stock issued pursuant to this Section 3.1(a), a common partnership unit will be issued by the REIT II Operating Partnership to REIT II.) From and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, all such shares of REIT III Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a share of REIT III Common Stock shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except for the right to receive the REIT Merger Consideration therefor in accordance with Section 3.2.

(ii) Each share of REIT III Common Stock, if any, then held by any Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary shall automatically be retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be paid, nor shall any right inure or be made with respect thereto in connection with or as a consequence of the REIT Merger.

(iii) Each share of REIT III Common Stock, if any, then held by REIT II or any Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be paid, nor shall any right inure or be made with respect thereto in connection with or as a consequence of the REIT Merger.

(iv) Each membership interest of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time shall remain the only issued and outstanding membership interests of Merger Sub, and REIT II shall remain the sole member of Merger Sub.

(b) The Partnership Merger. At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Partnership Merger and without any further action on the part of REIT II Operating Partnership or REIT III Operating Partnership or the holders of any securities of REIT II Operating Partnership or REIT III Operating Partnership:

(i) Each REIT III OP Unit outstanding as of immediately prior to the Partnership Merger Effective Time shall automatically be retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be paid, nor shall any right inure or be made with respect thereto in connection with or as a consequence of the Partnership Merger.

(ii) REIT II will be the general partner of the Surviving Partnership.

(c) Adjustment of the REIT Merger Consideration. Between the date of this Agreement and the applicable Merger Effective Time, if any of REIT III, REIT III Operating Partnership, REIT II or REIT II Operating Partnership should split, combine or otherwise reclassify the REIT III Common Stock, the REIT III OP Units, the REIT II Common Stock or the REIT II OP Units, or make a dividend or other distribution in shares of the REIT III Common Stock, the REIT III OP Units, the REIT II Common Stock or the REIT II OP Units (including any dividend or other distribution of securities convertible into REIT III Common Stock, REIT III OP Units, REIT II Common Stock or REIT II OP Units), or engages in a reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or exchange or other like change, then (without limiting any other rights of the Parties hereunder), the Exchange Ratio shall be ratably adjusted to reflect fully the effect of any such change, and thereafter all references to the Exchange Ratio shall be deemed to be the Exchange Ratio as so adjusted.

 

18


(d) Transfer Books. From and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, the share transfer books of REIT III and REIT III Operating Partnership shall be closed, and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of REIT III Common Stock or REIT III OP Units. From and after the Merger Effective Time, Persons who held REIT III Common Stock or REIT III OP Units outstanding immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time shall cease to have rights with respect to such shares or units, except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement or by applicable Law.

Section 3.2 Exchange Procedures; Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares.

(a) As soon as practicable following the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT II shall cause its transfer agent, DST Systems (or any successor transfer agent for REIT II, the “Transfer Agent”) to record the issuance on the stock records of REIT II of the amount of REIT II Common Stock equal to the REIT Merger Consideration that is issuable to each holder of shares of REIT III Common Stock (including any fractional shares thereof), pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(i). Shares of REIT II Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Section 3.2(a) in exchange for shares of REIT III Common Stock shall be in book-entry form.

(b) None of REIT II, REIT II Operating Partnership, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Transfer Agent or any other Person shall be liable to any holder of REIT III Common Stock for any REIT Merger Consideration or other amounts delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or other similar Law. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of shares of REIT III Common Stock immediately prior to the time at which such amounts would otherwise escheat to, or become property of, any Governmental Authority shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of REIT II free and clear of any claims or interest of such holders or their successors, assigns or personal representatives previously entitled thereto.

Section 3.3 Withholding Rights. Each and any REIT III Party, REIT II Party, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Partnership or the Transfer Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the REIT Merger Consideration and any other amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of REIT III Common Stock or REIT III OP Units, such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to such payments under the Code or any other provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. Any such amounts so deducted and withheld shall be paid over to the applicable Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

Section 3.4 Dissenters Rights. No dissenters’ or appraisal rights shall be available with respect to the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 3.5 General Effects of the Mergers.

(a) At the REIT Merger Effective Time, the effect of the REIT Merger shall be as set forth in this Agreement and as provided in the applicable provisions of the MGCL and

 

19


MLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the REIT Merger Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of REIT III and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Entity, and all debts, liabilities and duties of REIT III and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Entity.

(b) At the Partnership Merger Effective Time, the effect of the Partnership Merger shall be as set forth in this Agreement and as provided in the applicable provisions of the DRULPA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Partnership Merger Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of REIT II Operating Partnership and REIT III Operating Partnership shall vest in the Surviving Partnership, and all debts, liabilities and duties of REIT II Operating Partnership and REIT III Operating Partnership shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Partnership.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE REIT III PARTIES

Except (a) as set forth in the disclosure letter prepared by the REIT III Parties and delivered by the REIT III Parties to the REIT II Parties at or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “REIT III Disclosure Letter”) (it being acknowledged and agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the REIT III Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds and any other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent the applicability of such disclosure to such other section or subsection of this Agreement is reasonably apparent on its face (it being understood that to be so reasonably apparent on its face, it is not required that the other section or subsection of this Agreement be cross-referenced), provided, that no disclosure shall qualify any Fundamental Representation unless it is set forth in the specific section or subsection of the REIT III Disclosure Letter corresponding to such Fundamental Representation, provided, further, that nothing in the REIT III Disclosure Letter is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the REIT III Parties made herein) or (b) as disclosed in the REIT III SEC Documents publicly available, filed with, or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC on or after December 31, 2019 and prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any information or documents incorporated by reference therein, or filed as exhibits thereto, and excluding any disclosures contained in such documents under the headings “Risk Factors” or “Forward Looking Statements” or any other disclosures contained or referenced therein to the extent they are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), and then only to the extent that the relevance of any disclosed event, item or occurrence in such REIT III SEC Documents to a matter covered by a representation or warranty set forth in this Article IV is reasonably apparent on its face, provided, that the disclosures in the REIT III SEC Documents shall not be deemed to qualify (i) any Fundamental Representations, which matters shall only be qualified by specific disclosure in the respective corresponding section of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, and (ii) the representations and warranties made in Section 4.3 (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents), Section 4.5(a) through (c) (SEC Documents; Financial Statements), Section 4.6 (Absence of Certain Changes or Events), Section 4.7 (No Undisclosed Liabilities), Section 4.19 (Brokers) and Section 4.20 (Opinion of Financial Advisor), the REIT III Parties hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date (in which case as of such other date)), to the REIT II Parties that:

 

20


Section 4.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

(a) REIT III is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. REIT III is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each REIT III Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has the requisite organizational power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each REIT III Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Section 4.1(c) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the REIT III Subsidiaries and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the jurisdictions in which REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries are qualified or licensed to do business, and the type of and percentage of interest held, directly or indirectly, by REIT III in each REIT III Subsidiary, including a list of each REIT III Subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(i)(2) of the Code (each a “Qualified REIT Subsidiary”) or a “taxable REIT subsidiary” within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code (each, a “Taxable REIT Subsidiary”) and each REIT III Subsidiary that is an entity taxable as a corporation which is neither a Qualified REIT Subsidiary nor a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.

(d) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns any equity interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any Person (other than in the REIT III Subsidiaries and investments in short-term investment securities).

(e) REIT III has made available to REIT II complete and correct copies of the REIT III Governing Documents. Each of REIT III and REIT III Operating Partnership is in compliance with the terms of its REIT III Governing Documents in all material respects. True and complete copies of REIT III’s minute book have been made available by REIT III to REIT II.

(f) REIT III has not exempted any “Person” from the “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” or the “Common Stock Ownership Limit” or established or increased an “Excepted Holder Limit,” as such terms are defined in the REIT III Charter, which exemption or Excepted Holder Limit is currently in effect.

 

21


Section 4.2 Authority; Approval Required.

(a) Each of the REIT III Parties has the requisite corporate or limited partnership power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject to receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT III Parties and the consummation by the REIT III Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate and limited partnership action, and no other corporate or limited partnership proceedings on the part of the REIT III Parties are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Mergers or to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject, (i) with respect to the REIT Merger, to receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval, the filing of Articles of Amendment relating to the REIT III Charter Amendment with, and acceptance for record of such Articles of Amendment, by the SDAT and the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT and (ii) with respect to the Partnership Merger, to the filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Partnership Certificate of Merger by, the DE SOS.

(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the REIT III Parties, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the REIT II Parties, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the REIT III Parties enforceable against the REIT III Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c) On the recommendation of the REIT III Special Committee, the REIT III Board (including a majority of directors not otherwise interested in the Mergers) has (i) determined that the terms of this Agreement, the Mergers, the REIT III Charter Amendment and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interest of REIT III and that this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to REIT III and are on terms and conditions no less favorable to REIT III than those available from unaffiliated third parties, (ii) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) directed that the REIT Merger and the REIT III Charter Amendment be submitted to a vote of the holders of REIT III Common Stock and (iv) except as may be permitted pursuant to Section 7.3, resolved to include in the REIT III Proxy Statement the recommendation of the REIT III Board to holders of REIT III Common Stock to vote in favor of approval of the REIT Merger and the REIT III Charter Amendment (such recommendation, the “REIT III Board Recommendation”), which resolutions remain in full force and effect and have not been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way, except as may be permitted after the date hereof by Section 7.3.

 

22


(d) The REIT III Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of securities of REIT III or REIT III Operating Partnership required to approve the Mergers, except for the action of the general partner of REIT III OP, which has been taken.

Section 4.3 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT III Parties do not, and the performance of this Agreement and its obligations hereunder will not, (i) assuming receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval, conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the REIT III Governing Documents or (B) any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other REIT III Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 4.3(b) have been obtained, all filings and notifications described in Section 4.3(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is bound, or (iii) except as set forth in Section 4.3(a)(iii) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, require any consent or approval (except as contemplated by Section 4.3(b)) under, result in any breach of any obligation or any loss of any benefit or material increase in any cost or obligation of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary under, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to any other Person any right of termination, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice or the lapse of time or both) of, or give rise to any right of purchase, first offer or forced sale under or result in the creation of a Lien on any property or asset of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary pursuant to, any Contract or Permit to which REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is a party, except, as to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT III Parties do not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of the REIT III Parties will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority by such REIT III Parties, except (i) the filing with the SEC of (A) the REIT III Proxy Statement, (B) the Form S-4 and the declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, and (C) such reports under, and other compliance with, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT pursuant to the MGCL and the MLLCA, (iii) the filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Partnership Certificate of Merger by, the DE SOS pursuant to the DRULPA, (iv) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws, (v) the consents, authorizations, orders or approvals of each Governmental Authority or Agency listed in Section 8.1(a) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, and (vi) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

 

23


Section 4.4 Capital Structure.

(a) The authorized capital stock of REIT III consists of (x) 1,000,000,000 shares of REIT III Common Stock, of which 25,000,000 shares are classified as Class A Common Stock, 25,000,000 shares are classified as Class T Common Stock, 75,000,000 shares are classified as Class I Common Stock, and 750,000,000 shares are classified as Class R Common Stock, (y) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (“REIT III Preferred Stock”), and (z) 50,000 shares of convertible stock, $0.01 par value per share (“REIT III Convertible Stock”). At the close the date here, (i) 625,848 shares of Class A Common Stock were issued and outstanding, 1,121,639 shares of Class T Common Stock were issued and outstanding and 10,401,323 shares of Class I Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of REIT III Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding and (iii) no shares of REIT III Convertible Stock were issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of REIT III are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section 4.4, there is no other outstanding capital stock of REIT III.

(b) All the REIT III OP Units are held by REIT III or a Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances and free of preemptive rights. All of the REIT III OP Units are duly authorized and validly issued.

(c) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the REIT III Subsidiaries that is a corporation are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All equity interests in each of the REIT III Subsidiaries that is a partnership or limited liability company are duly authorized and validly issued. All shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) each of the REIT III Subsidiaries which may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options or exchange rights are duly authorized and, upon issuance will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. REIT III or REIT III Operating Partnership owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the REIT III Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances, and free of preemptive rights.

(d) There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights (or convertible into securities having such rights) of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary (“REIT III Voting Debt”) issued and outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 4.4(a) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding subscriptions, securities options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities, preemptive rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments of any kind to which REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound obligating REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries to (i) issue, transfer or sell or create, or cause to be issued, transferred or sold or created any additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests or phantom stock or other contractual rights the value of which is determined in whole or in part by the value of any equity security of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, (ii) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments or (iii) except as provided under the REIT III Share Redemption Program, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock, REIT III Voting Debt or other equity interests.

 

24


(e) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Contracts concerning the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) of any capital stock of REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries. Except as set forth at Section 4.4(e) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has granted any registration rights on any of its capital stock. No REIT III Common Stock is owned by any REIT III Subsidiary.

(f) REIT III does not have a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan.

(g) All dividends or other distributions on the shares of REIT III Common Stock and any material dividends or other distributions on any securities of any REIT III Subsidiary which have been authorized or declared prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends have been publicly announced and are not yet due and payable).

Section 4.5 SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) REIT III has timely filed with, or furnished (on a publicly available basis) to, the SEC all forms, documents, statements, schedules and reports required to be filed by REIT III under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (together with all certifications required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”)) since December 31, 2016 (the forms, documents, statements and reports filed with the SEC since December 31, 2016 and those filed with the SEC since the date of this Agreement, if any, including any amendments thereto, the “REIT III SEC Documents”). As of their respective filing dates (or the date of their most recent amendment, supplement or modification, in each case, to the extent filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement), the REIT III SEC Documents (i) complied, or with respect to REIT III SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will comply, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and (ii) did not, or with respect to REIT III SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the REIT III SEC Documents is, to the Knowledge of REIT III, the subject of ongoing SEC review and REIT III does not have any outstanding and unresolved comments from the SEC with respect to any REIT III SEC Documents. There are no internal investigations, any SEC inquiries or investigations or other governmental inquiries or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT III, threatened. None of the REIT III SEC Documents is the subject of any confidential treatment request by REIT III.

(b) REIT III has made available to REIT II complete and correct copies of all written correspondence between the SEC, on one hand, and REIT III, on the other hand, since December 31, 2016. At all applicable times, REIT III has complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(c) The consolidated audited and unaudited financial statements of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries included, or incorporated by reference, in the REIT III SEC

 

25


Documents, including the related notes and schedules (as amended, supplemented or modified by later REIT III SEC Documents, in each case, to the extent filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement), (i) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared from the books and records of REIT III and REIT III Subsidiaries in all material respects, (ii) complied or will comply, as the case may be, as of their respective dates in all material respects with the then-applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (iii) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto, or, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments and as may be permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q, Form 8-K, Regulation S-X or any successor or like form under the Exchange Act, which such adjustments are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to REIT III) and (iv) fairly present, in all material respects (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments, none of which is material, individually or in the aggregate), the consolidated financial position of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as of their respective dates and the consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein. There are no internal investigations, any SEC inquiries or investigations or other governmental inquiries or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT III, threatened, in each case regarding any accounting practices of REIT III.

(d) Since December 31, 2016, (A) REIT III has designed and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by REIT III in the reports that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to REIT III’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of REIT III required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports, and (B) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting REIT III’s management to material information required to be included in REIT III’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act (if REIT III was required to file such reports). REIT III and REIT III Subsidiaries have designed and maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances (i) regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (ii) that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (iii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements and to maintain asset accountability, (iv) that access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (v) that the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (vi) accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis. REIT III has disclosed to REIT III’s auditors and audit committee (and made summaries of such disclosures available to REIT II) (1) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect REIT III’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information

 

26


and (2) any fraud, to the Knowledge of REIT III, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal control over financial reporting.

(e) REIT III is not and none of the REIT III Subsidiaries are, a party to, and none of REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract, including any Contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among REIT III and any REIT III Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC), where the result, purpose or effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, REIT III, any REIT III Subsidiary or REIT III’s or such REIT III Subsidiary’s audited financial statements or other REIT III SEC Documents.

(f) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(g) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of REIT III, any director, officer or Representative of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or (iii) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, in each case, in violation in any material respect of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law. Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has received any written communication that alleges that REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary, or any of their respective Representatives, is, or may be, in violation of, or has, or may have, any liability under, any Anti-Corruption Law.

Section 4.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth in Section 4.6 of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, since December 31, 2019 through the date of this Agreement, (a) REIT III and all REIT III Subsidiaries have conducted their respective business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business, (b) neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has taken any action that would have been prohibited by Section 6.1(b) (Conduct of Business by REIT III) if taken from and after the date of this Agreement and (c) there has not been any REIT III Material Adverse Effect or any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with all other events, circumstances, changes, effects, developments, conditions or occurrences, would reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (a) as disclosed, reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of REIT III dated as of June 30, 2020 (including the notes thereto), (b) for liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (c) for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2020, neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has any liabilities or obligations or Indebtedness (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above, has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

 

27


Section 4.8 Permits; Compliance with Law.

(a) REIT III and each REIT III Subsidiary is in possession of all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances of any Governmental Authority necessary for REIT III and each REIT III Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted (the “REIT III Permits”), and all such REIT III Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the REIT III Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred with respect to any of the REIT III Permits which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such REIT III Permits. To the Knowledge of REIT III, there is not pending any applicable petition, objection or other pleading with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction or authority over the operations of REIT III or the REIT III Subsidiaries that impairs the validity of any REIT III Permit or which would reasonably be expected, if accepted or granted, to result in the revocation of any REIT III Permit, except where the impairment or revocation of any such REIT III Permit, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary is, and for the past three years has been, in conflict with, or in default or violation of (i) any Law applicable to REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of REIT III or any other REIT III Subsidiary is bound (except for compliance with Laws addressed in Section 4.10, Section 4.11, and Section 4.13, which are solely addressed in those Sections), or (ii) any REIT III Permits, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that have been cured, or that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.9 Litigation. There is no material Action or investigation to which REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is a party (either as plaintiff or defendant) pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT III, threatened before any Governmental Authority, and, to the Knowledge of REIT III, there is no basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation. None of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by any Order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority from engaging in or continuing to conduct the business of REIT III or the REIT III Subsidiaries. No Order of any Governmental Authority has been issued in any proceeding to which REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries is or was a party, or, to the Knowledge of REIT III, in any other proceeding, that enjoins or requires REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries to take action of any kind with respect to its businesses, assets or properties. Since December 31, 2019, none of REIT III, any REIT III Subsidiary or any Representative of the foregoing has received or made any settlement offer for any Action to which REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is a party or potentially could be a party (in each case, either as plaintiff or defendant), other than settlement offers that do not exceed $25,000 individually.

 

28


Section 4.10 Properties.

(a) Section 4.10(a) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter lists the REIT III Properties, and sets forth the REIT III Party or applicable REIT III Subsidiary owning such property. Except as disclosed in title insurance policies and reports (and the documents or surveys referenced in such policies and reports) copies of which policies and reports were made available for review to REIT II: (A) REIT III or a REIT III Subsidiary owns fee simple title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the REIT III Properties, free and clear of Liens, mortgages or deeds of trust, claims against title, charges which are liens, security interests or other encumbrances on title (“Encumbrances”), except for Permitted Encumbrances; (B) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect, neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has received written notice of any violation of any Law affecting any portion of any of the REIT III Properties issued by any Governmental Authority; and (C) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect, neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has received notice to the effect that there are (1) condemnation or rezoning proceedings that are pending or threatened with respect to any of the REIT III Properties or (2) zoning, building or similar Laws, codes, ordinances, orders or regulations that are or will be violated by the continued maintenance, operation or use of any buildings or other improvements on any of the REIT III Properties or by the continued maintenance, operation or use of the parking areas.

(b) REIT III has not received written notice of, nor does REIT III have any Knowledge of, any latent defects or adverse physical conditions affecting any of the REIT III Properties or the improvements thereon, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(c) REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all material personal property owned, used or held for use by them. Neither REIT III’s, nor the REIT III Subsidiaries’, ownership of any such personal property is subject to any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

(d) A policy of title insurance has been issued for each REIT III Property insuring, as of the effective date of such insurance policy, (i) fee simple title interest held by REIT III or the applicable REIT III Subsidiary and (ii) to the Knowledge of REIT III, such insurance policies are in full force and effect, and no material claim has been made against any such policy that remains outstanding as of the date hereof.

Section 4.11 Environmental Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect: (i) no written notification, demand, directive, request for information, citation, summons, notice of violation or order has been received, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been asserted or assessed and no investigation, action, suit or proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT III, is threatened relating to any of the REIT III Parties, any of the REIT III Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, and relating to or arising out of any Environmental Law, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Substance; (ii) the REIT III Parties, the other REIT III Subsidiaries and their respective properties are and have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws and all applicable Environmental Permits; (iii) each of the REIT III Parties and each other REIT III Subsidiary is in possession of all Environmental Permits necessary for REIT III and each REIT III Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business

 

29


substantially as they are being conducted as of the date hereof, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect with all necessary applications for renewal thereof having been timely filed, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the Environmental Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect; (iv) any and all Hazardous Substances disposed of by REIT III and each REIT III Subsidiary was done so in accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (v) REIT III Parties, any of the REIT III Subsidiaries and their respective properties are not subject to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Laws, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Substance; and (vi) there are no liabilities or obligations (and no asserted liability or obligations) of the REIT III Parties or any of the other REIT III Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise arising under or relating to any Environmental Law or any Hazardous Substance (including liability or responsibility for the costs of enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive relief) and there is no condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liability or obligation.

Section 4.12 Material Contracts.

(a) REIT III has made available to REIT II a true, correct and complete copy of each Contract in effect as of the date hereof to which REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is a party or by which any of its properties or assets are bound that:

(i) is required to be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to REIT III’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2019 or any subsequent current or periodic report;

(ii) is required to be described pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act;

(iii) obligates the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary to make non-contingent aggregate annual expenditures (other than principal or interest payments or the deposit of other reserves with respect to debt obligations) in excess of $200,000 and is not cancelable within 90 days without material penalty to the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary;

(iv) contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any line of business or geographic area that materially restricts the business of the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary, including upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or that otherwise restricts the lines of business conducted by the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary or the geographic area in which the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary may conduct business;

(v) is a Contract that obligates the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary to indemnify any past or present directors, officers, or employees of the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary pursuant to which the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary is the indemnitor;

 

30


(vi) constitutes (A) an Indebtedness obligation of the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary with a principal amount as of the date hereof greater than $200,000 or (B) a Contract under which (1) any Person including REIT III or a REIT III Subsidiary, has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of REIT III or REIT III Subsidiary or (2) REIT III or a REIT III Subsidiary has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of any Person, including REIT III or another REIT III Subsidiary (in each case other than endorsements for the purpose of collection in the ordinary course of business);

(vii) requires the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary to dispose of or acquire assets or properties that (together with all of the assets and properties subject to such requirement in such Contract) have a fair market value in excess of $200,000, or involves any pending or contemplated merger, consolidation or similar business combination transaction;

(viii) constitutes an interest rate cap, interest rate collar, interest rate swap or other Contract relating to a swap or other hedging transaction of any type;

(ix) constitutes a loan to any Person (other than a Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary) by REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary in an amount in excess of $200,000;

(x) sets forth the operational terms of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company or strategic alliance of the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary with a third party;

(xi) prohibits the pledging of the capital stock of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary or prohibits the issuance of guarantees by any REIT III Subsidiary;

(xii) contains covenants expressly limiting, in any material respect, the ability of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any material assets or business of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary;

(xiii) contains restrictions on the ability of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions (other than pursuant to the organizational documents of REIT III and REIT III Subsidiaries;

(xiv) is with a Governmental Authority;

(xv) has continuing “earn-out” or other similar contingent purchase price payment obligations, in each case that could result in payments, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $200,000;

(xvi) is an employment Contract or consulting Contract;

(xvii) is a collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor organization, union or association;

 

31


(xviii) is a Contract with any professional employer organization, staffing agency, temporary employee agency, or similar company or service provider;

(xix) provides severance, retention, or transaction bonus payments, change of control payments, or similar compensation;

(xx) is a settlement agreement or release of claims with any current employee or with any former employee within the past five years;

(xxi) is a lease, sublease, license or other rental agreement or occupancy agreement (written or verbal) which grants any possessory interest in and to any space situated on or in the REIT III Properties or otherwise gives rights with regard to use of the REIT III Properties; or

(xxii) is both (A) not made in the ordinary course of business and (B) material to REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) Each Contract in any of the categories set forth in Section 4.12(a) to which the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound as of the date hereof is referred to herein as a “REIT III Material Contract.”

(c) Each REIT III Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable on the REIT III Parties and each other REIT III Subsidiary that is a party thereto and, to the Knowledge of REIT III, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). The REIT III Parties and each other REIT III Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by it prior to the date hereof under each REIT III Material Contract and, to the Knowledge of REIT III, each other party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under such REIT III Material Contract prior to the date hereof. None of the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary, nor, to the Knowledge of REIT III, any other party thereto, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any REIT III Material Contract, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a violation, breach or default under any REIT III Material Contract, except where in each case such breach, violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect. None of the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary has received notice of any violation or default under, or currently owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages with respect to, any REIT III Material Contract, except for violations, defaults, fees or damages that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 2019, neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has received any written notice of the intention of any party to cancel, terminate, materially change the scope of rights under or fail to renew any REIT III Material Contract.

(d) Section 4.12(d) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter lists each management agreement pursuant to which any third party manages or operates any of the REIT III Properties on behalf of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary, and describes the property that is subject to such

 

32


management agreement, REIT III or the applicable REIT III Subsidiary that is a party, the date of such management agreement and each material amendment, guaranty or other agreement binding on REIT III or the applicable REIT III Subsidiary and relating thereto (collectively, the “REIT III Management Agreement Documents”). The true, correct and complete copies of all REIT III Management Agreement Documents have been made available to REIT II. Each REIT III Management Agreement Document is valid, binding and in full force and effect as against REIT III or the applicable REIT III Subsidiary and, to the Knowledge of REIT III, as against the other party thereto. Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages to any third party manager or operator.

Section 4.13 Taxes.

(a) Each REIT III Party and each other REIT III Subsidiary has timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority all United States federal income Tax Returns and all other material Tax Returns required to be filed, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file such Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns were complete and correct in all material respects. Each REIT III Party and each other REIT III Subsidiary has duly paid (or there has been paid on its behalf), or made adequate provisions in accordance with GAAP for, all material Taxes required to be paid by them, whether or not shown on any Tax Return. True and materially complete copies of all United States federal income Tax Returns that have been filed with the IRS by REIT III and each REIT III Subsidiary with respect to the taxable years ending on or after REIT III’s formation have been made available to REIT II. To the Knowledge of REIT III, no written claim has been proposed by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary do not file Tax Returns that REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction.

(b) Beginning with its initial taxable year ending on December 31, 2017, and through and including the Closing Date (determined as if REIT III’s current taxable year ended immediately prior to Closing), REIT III (i) has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements to qualify as a REIT under the Code and the current and proposed method of operation for REIT III is expected to enable REIT III to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT through and including the Closing Date, and (ii) has not taken or omitted to take any action which would reasonably be expected to result in REIT III’s failure to qualify as a REIT, and no challenge to REIT III’s status as a REIT is pending or threatened in writing. No REIT III Subsidiary is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, other than a corporation that qualifies as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary. REIT III’s dividends paid deduction, within the meaning of Section 561 of the Code, for each taxable year, taking into account any dividends subject to Sections 857(b)(9) or 858 of the Code, has not been less than the sum of (i) REIT III’s REIT taxable income, as defined in Section 857(b)(2) of the Code, determined without regard to any dividends paid deduction for such year and (ii) REIT III’s net capital gain for such year.

(c) (i) There are no audits, investigations by any Governmental Authority or other proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT III, threatened with regard to any material Taxes or Tax Returns of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary; (ii) no material deficiency for Taxes of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary has been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing or, to the Knowledge of REIT III, threatened, by any Governmental Authority, which deficiency has not

 

33


yet been settled except for such deficiencies which are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to pay, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has, waived any statute of limitations with respect to the assessment of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to any material Tax assessment or deficiency for any open tax year; (iv) neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return; and (v) neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has entered into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law).

(d) Each REIT III Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company and that has not elected to be a Taxable REIT Subsidiary has been since its formation treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a partnership, disregarded entity, or a Qualified REIT Subsidiary, as the case may be, and not as a corporation, an association taxable as a corporation whose separate existence is respected for federal income tax purposes, or a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 7704(a) of the Code.

(e) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7, nor have they disposed of any such asset during its current taxable year.

(f) Since its inception, REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries have not incurred (i) any material liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b)(1), 857(b)(4), 857(b)(5), 857(b)(6)(A), 857(b)(7), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code, (ii) any material liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b)(5) (for income test violations), 856(c)(7)(C) (for asset test violations), or 856(g)(5)(C) (for violations of other qualification requirements applicable to REITs) and (iii) REIT III has not, and none of the REIT III Subsidiaries have, incurred any material liability for Tax other than (A) in the ordinary course of business, or (B) transfer or similar Taxes arising in connection with sales of property. No event has occurred, and to the Knowledge of REIT III no condition or circumstances exists, which presents a material risk that any material liability for Taxes described in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence or any liability for Taxes described in clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence will be imposed upon REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary.

(g) REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, and to the Knowledge of REIT III, any predecessor employers of the foregoing, have complied, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any state and foreign Laws) and have duly and timely withheld and, in each case, have paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.

(h) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(h) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, there are no REIT III Tax Protection Agreements (as hereinafter defined) in force at the date of this Agreement, and, as of the date of this Agreement, no person has raised in writing, or to the Knowledge of REIT III threatened to raise, a material claim against REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary for any breach of any REIT III Tax Protection Agreements. As used herein, “REIT III

 

34


Tax Protection Agreements” means any written agreement to which REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (i) any liability to holders of limited partnership interests in a REIT III Subsidiary Partnership (as hereinafter defined) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (ii) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a holder of limited partnership interests or limited liability company in a REIT III Subsidiary Partnership, REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary has agreed to (A) maintain a minimum level of debt, continue a particular debt or provide rights to guarantee debt, (B) retain or not dispose of assets, (C) make or refrain from making Tax elections, or (D) only dispose of assets in a particular manner. As used herein, “REIT III Subsidiary Partnership” means a REIT III Subsidiary that is a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

(i) There are no Tax Encumbrances upon any property or assets of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary except Encumbrances for Taxes not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

(j) There are no Tax allocation or sharing agreements or similar arrangements with respect to or involving REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary, and after the Closing Date neither REIT III nor any other REIT III Subsidiary shall be bound by any such Tax allocation agreements or similar arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date.

(k) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(k) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has requested or received any written ruling of a Governmental Authority or entered into any written agreement with a Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, and neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary is subject to written ruling of a Governmental Authority.

(l) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any REIT III Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract (other than customary Tax indemnification provisions in commercial Contracts not primarily related to Taxes), or otherwise.

(m) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has participated in any “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(1).

(n) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (i) in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

35


(o) Except as set forth in Section 4.13(o) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, no written power of attorney that has been granted by REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary (other than to REIT III or a REIT III Subsidiary) currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to Taxes.

(p) REIT III is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

Section 4.14 Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Section 4.14 of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary: (a) owns any registered trademarks, patents or copyrights, or (b) has any pending applications or registrations for any trademarks, patents or copyrights. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, (i) no Intellectual Property owned by REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary infringes or is alleged to infringe any Intellectual Property rights of any third party, (ii) to the Knowledge of REIT III, no Person is misappropriating, infringing or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary, and (iii) REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries own or are licensed to use, or otherwise possess valid rights to use, all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted. To the Knowledge of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, since December 31, 2019, neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has received any written or verbal complaint, claim or notice alleging misappropriation, infringement or violation of any Intellectual Property rights of any third party.

Section 4.15 Information Privacy & Security. REIT III and any REIT III Subsidiary has adopted written policies and procedures with respect to privacy, data protection, security and the collection and use of Personal Information gathered or accessed in the course of the operations of REIT III and any REIT III Subsidiary, those policies and procedures are commercially reasonable and comply with applicable Information Privacy and Security Laws and contracts, and REIT III and any REIT III Subsidiary is in compliance with such policies and procedures. REIT III and any REIT III Subsidiary has disaster recovery plans, procedures and facilities in place that are appropriate to minimize the disruption of its business in the event of any material failure of any of the IT Assets in accordance with applicable legal requirements and customer contracts. REIT III and any REIT III Subsidiary has not experienced any data security breach of any IT Assets, that would constitute a breach for which notification to individuals, third parties and/or any Governmental Authority. REIT III and any REIT III Subsidiary has taken reasonable actions and measures to protect the confidentiality, integrity and security of its Personal Information and all of its IT Assets, against any unauthorized use, access, interruption, modification or corruption.

Section 4.16 Insurance. Section 4.16 of the REIT III Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all material insurance policies and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance Contracts providing coverage for REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries (the “REIT III Insurance Policies”), which REIT III Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting businesses or owning assets similar to those of REIT III and REIT III Subsidiaries and sufficient to allow each to replace any of its assets that might be damaged or destroyed. Each REIT III Insurance Policy is in full force and effect. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material

 

36


Adverse Effect, all premiums due and payable under all REIT III Insurance Policies have been paid, and REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries have otherwise complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all REIT III Insurance Policies and all claims, events and occurrences that may be covered under any REIT III Insurance Policy have been noticed pursuant to the conditions in such policy. No written notice of cancellation, termination or increase in premium has been received by REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation. REIT III has made available to REIT II true and correct copies of all REIT III Insurance Policies. No REIT III Insurance Policies are written on retrospective, audited or similar premium basis.

Section 4.17 Employee Matters. Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has, or has ever had, any employees. None of REIT III, any REIT III Subsidiary, nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has, or has ever, sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or been required to contribute to, or has or has ever had any liability or obligation with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.

Section 4.18 Related-Party Transactions. Except as described in REIT III SEC Documents filed with or furnished to the SEC on or after December 31, 2017 and prior to the date hereof (the “REIT III Related-Party Agreements”), no agreements, arrangements or understandings between any of the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary (or binding on any of their respective properties or assets), on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other hand (other than those exclusively among REIT III and REIT III Subsidiaries), are in existence that are not, but are required to be, disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Section 4.19 Brokers. No broker, investment banker or other Person (other than the Persons listed in Section 4.19 of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, each in a fee amount not to exceed the amount set forth in Section 4.19 of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, pursuant to the terms of the engagement letter between REIT III and such Person, true, correct and complete copies of which have been provided to REIT II prior to the date hereof) is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary.

Section 4.20 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The REIT III Special Committee has received the oral opinion of Truist Securities Inc. prior to execution of this Agreement (which, if initially rendered verbally, has been or will be confirmed by a written opinion, dated the same date), to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications, conditions and other matters considered in connection with the preparation of such opinion, the Exchange Ratio in the REIT Merger pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of the REIT III Common Stock (other than REIT II and its Affiliates). REIT III will deliver to REIT II a complete and correct copy of such opinion promptly after receipt thereof by the REIT III Special Committee solely for informational purposes. REIT III acknowledges that the opinion of Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. contemplated by Section 5.20 is for the benefit of the REIT II Special Committee and that REIT III shall not be entitled to rely on that opinion for any purpose.

 

37


Section 4.21 Takeover Statutes. None of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last two years has been, an “interested stockholder” of REIT II as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL. The REIT III Board has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to the REIT Merger the restrictions on business combinations contained in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL. The restrictions on control share acquisitions contained in Subtitle 7 of Title 3 of the MGCL are not applicable to the REIT Merger. No other “business combination,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium” or other takeover or anti-takeover statute or similar federal or state Law (collectively, “Takeover Statutes”) are applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights are available to the holders of REIT III Common Stock with respect to the REIT Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.22 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied in writing on or behalf of the REIT III Parties or any REIT III Subsidiary for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) the REIT III Proxy Statement will, at the time it is first mailed to the REIT III stockholders, at the time of the REIT III Stockholders Meeting, at the time the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC or at the REIT Merger Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or (b) the Form S-4 will, at the time such document is declared effective by the SEC, contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. All documents that REIT III is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to the extent relating to REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries (or other information supplied by or on behalf of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiaries for inclusion therein) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; provided, that no representation is made as to statements made or incorporated by reference by or on behalf of the REIT II Parties.

Section 4.23 COVID-19.

(a) Each of the REIT III Parties has complied with all applicable mandatory public health mandates announced by Governmental Authorities to address COVID-19, including the COVID-19 Measures, in all material respects.

(b) To the extent REIT III has Knowledge of any staff, whether employees or independent contractors, hired by or on behalf of REIT III or the REIT III Subsidiaries, or any employees, independent contractors, suppliers, customers or other visitors of tenants of REIT III Properties, have tested positive for COVID-19, REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable efforts to implement all material precautions and have made any announcements or disclosures required under applicable Law with respect to such Persons and REIT III Properties, as applicable.

(c) Neither REIT III nor any REIT III Subsidiary has incurred any Indebtedness or received any funding (regardless of whether constituting Indebtedness), or applied for any such Indebtedness or funding, pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or any other economic relief or stimulus legislation or program, in each case related to COVID-19.

 

38


Section 4.24 No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations or warranties expressly set forth in this Article IV or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, none of the REIT III Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT III Party has made any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary, their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, future operating or financial results, estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects) or the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the REIT III Parties or any other REIT III Subsidiary. In particular, without limiting the foregoing disclaimer, none of the REIT III Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT III Party makes or has made any representation or warranty to any REIT II Party or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives with respect to, except for the representations and warranties made by the REIT III Parties in this Article IV or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, any oral or written information presented to the REIT II Parties or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence of the REIT III Parties, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the REIT III Parties acknowledge and agree that none of the REIT II Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT II Party has made or is making any representations or warranties relating to the REIT II Parties whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by the REIT II Parties in Article V or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, including any implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding any REIT II Party furnished or made available to the REIT III Parties or any of their respective Representatives.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE REIT II PARTIES

Except (a) as set forth in the disclosure letter prepared by the REIT II Parties and delivered by the REIT II Parties to the REIT III Parties at or prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “REIT II Disclosure Letter”) (it being acknowledged and agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the REIT II Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosed with respect to the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds and any other section or subsection of this Agreement to the extent the applicability of such disclosure to such other section or subsection of this Agreement is reasonably apparent on its face (it being understood that to be so reasonably apparent on its face, it is not required that the other section or subsection of this Agreement be cross-referenced), provided, that no disclosure shall qualify any Fundamental Representation unless it is set forth in the specific section or subsection of the REIT II Disclosure Letter corresponding to such Fundamental Representation, provided, further, that nothing in the REIT II Disclosure Letter is intended to broaden the scope of any representation or warranty of the REIT II Parties made herein), (b) to the extent that the representations and warranties are made as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except as required pursuant to the REIT I Merger Agreement or in connection with the REIT I Merger, subject to

 

39


clause (C) of Section 8.2(a), or (c) as disclosed in the REIT II SEC Documents publicly available, filed with, or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC on or after December 31, 2019 and prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any information or documents incorporated by reference therein, or filed as exhibits thereto, and excluding any disclosures contained in such documents under the headings “Risk Factors” or “Forward Looking Statements” or any other disclosures contained or referenced therein to the extent they are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), and then only to the extent that the relevance of any disclosed event, item or occurrence in such REIT II SEC Documents to a matter covered by a representation or warranty set forth in this Article V is reasonably apparent on its face, provided, that the disclosures in the REIT II SEC Documents shall not be deemed to qualify (i) any Fundamental Representations, which matters shall only be qualified by specific disclosure in the respective corresponding section of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, and (ii) the representations and warranties made in Section 5.3 (No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents), Section 5.5(a) through (c) (SEC Documents; Financial Statements), Section 5.6 (Absence of Certain Changes or Events), Section 5.7 (No Undisclosed Liabilities), Section 5.19 (Brokers) and Section 5.20 (Opinion of Financial Advisor), the REIT II Parties hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date (in which case as of such other date)), to the REIT III Parties that:

Section 5.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

(a) REIT II is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each of REIT II and Merger Sub is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each REIT II Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has the requisite organizational power and authority to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each REIT II Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, operated or leased by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Section 5.1(c) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the REIT II Subsidiaries and their respective jurisdictions of incorporation or organization,

 

40


as the case may be, the jurisdictions in which REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries are qualified or licensed to do business, and the type of and percentage of interest held, directly or indirectly, by REIT II in each REIT II Subsidiary, including a list of each REIT II Subsidiary that is a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary and each REIT II Subsidiary that is an entity taxable as a corporation which is neither a Qualified REIT Subsidiary nor a Taxable REIT Subsidiary.

(d) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns any equity interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any Person (other than in the REIT II Subsidiaries and investments in short-term investment securities).

(e) REIT II has made available to REIT III complete and correct copies of the REIT II Governing Documents. Each of REIT II and REIT II Operating Partnership is in compliance with the terms of its REIT II Governing Documents in all material respects. True and complete copies of REIT II’s minute book have been made available by REIT II to REIT III.

(f) REIT II has not exempted any “Person” from the “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” or the “Common Stock Ownership Limit” or established or increased an “Excepted Holder Limit,” as such terms are defined in the REIT II Charter, which exemption or Excepted Holder Limit is currently in effect.

Section 5.2 Authority; Approval Required.

(a) Each of the REIT II Parties has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT II Parties and the consummation by the REIT II Parties of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate and limited partnership action, and no other corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership proceedings on the part of the REIT II Parties are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Mergers or to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject, (i) with respect to the REIT Merger, to the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT and (ii) with respect to the Partnership Merger, to the filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with, and acceptance for record of the Partnership Certificate of Merger by, the DE SOS.

(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the REIT II Parties, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the REIT III Parties, constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the REIT II Parties enforceable against the REIT II Parties in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c) On the recommendation of the REIT II Special Committee, the REIT II Board (including a majority of directors not otherwise interested in the Mergers) has (i) determined

 

41


that the terms of this Agreement, the Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are advisable and in the best interest of REIT II and that this Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair and reasonable to REIT II and on terms and conditions no less favorable to REIT II than those available from unaffiliated third parties and (ii) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Amended and Restated REIT II Advisory Agreement, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which resolutions remain in full force and effect and have not been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way.

(d) REIT II, as the sole member of Merger Sub, has approved this Agreement and the REIT Merger.

Section 5.3 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT II Parties do not, and the performance of this Agreement and its obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or violate any provision of (A) the REIT II Governing Documents or Merger Sub Governing Documents or (B) any equivalent organizational or governing documents of any other REIT II Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Section 5.3(b) have been obtained, all filings and notifications described in Section 5.3(b) have been made and any waiting periods thereunder have terminated or expired, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is bound, or (iii) except as set forth in Section 5.3(a)(iii) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter require any consent or approval (except as contemplated by Section 5.3(b)) under, result in any breach of any obligation or any loss of any benefit or material increase in any cost or obligation of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary under, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to any other Person any right of termination, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice or the lapse of time or both) of, or give rise to any right of purchase, first offer or forced sale under or result in the creation of a Lien on any property or asset of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary pursuant to, any Contract or Permit to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party, except, as to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the REIT II Parties do not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of the REIT II Parties will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority by such REIT II Parties, except (i) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Form S-4 and the declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, and (B) such reports under, and other compliance with, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) the filing of the Articles of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by, the SDAT pursuant to the MGCL and the MLLCA, (iii) the filing of the Partnership Certificate of Merger with, and the acceptance for record of the Partnership Certificate of Merger by, the DE SOS pursuant to the DRULPA, (iv) such filings and approvals as may be required by any applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws, (v) the consents, authorizations, orders or approvals of each Governmental

 

42


Authority or Agency listed in Section 8.1(a) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter and (vi) where failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.4 Capital Structure.

(a) The authorized capital stock of REIT II consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of REIT II Common Stock, 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (“REIT II Preferred Stock”) and 50,000 shares of convertible stock, $0.01 par value per share (“REIT II Convertible Stock”). As of the date hereof, (i) 60,206,508 shares of REIT II Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of REIT II Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding and (iii) 50,000 shares of REIT II Convertible Stock were issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of REIT II are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and all shares of REIT II Common Stock to be issued in connection with the REIT Merger, when so issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in this Section 5.4(a), there is no other outstanding capital stock of REIT II.

(b) All the REIT II OP Units are held by REIT II or a Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary (other than the REIT II OP Units issuable in connection with the REIT I Merger), free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances and free of preemptive rights. All of the REIT II OP Units are duly authorized and validly issued.

(c) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the REIT II Subsidiaries that is a corporation are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All equity interests in each of the REIT II Subsidiaries that is a partnership or limited liability company are duly authorized and validly issued. All shares of capital stock of (or other ownership interests in) each of the REIT II Subsidiaries which may be issued upon exercise of outstanding options or exchange rights are duly authorized and, upon issuance will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. REIT II or REIT II Operating Partnership owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock and other ownership interests of each of the REIT II Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances, and free of preemptive rights.

(d) There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights (or convertible into securities having such rights) of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary (“REIT II Voting Debt”) issued and outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 5.4(d) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding subscriptions, securities options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities, preemptive rights, anti-dilutive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments of any kind to which REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound obligating REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries to (i) issue, transfer or sell or create, or cause to be issued, transferred or sold or created any additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests or phantom stock or other contractual rights the value of which is determined in whole or in part by the value of any equity security of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or securities convertible into or exchangeable

 

43


for such shares or equity interests, (ii) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, profits interests, stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, convertible securities or other similar rights, agreements, arrangements, undertakings or commitments or (iii) except as provided under the REIT II Share Redemption Program, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock, REIT II Voting Debt or other equity interests.

(e) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Contracts concerning the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) of any capital stock of REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries. Except as set forth at Section 4.4Section 4.4(e) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has granted any registration rights on any of its capital stock. No REIT II Common Stock is owned by any REIT II Subsidiary.

(f) REIT II does not have a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan.

(g) All dividends or other distributions on the shares of REIT II Common Stock and any material dividends or other distributions on any securities of any REIT II Subsidiary which have been authorized or declared prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (except to the extent such dividends have been publicly announced and are not yet due and payable).

Section 5.5 SEC Documents; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Off Balance Sheet Arrangements; Investment Company Act; Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) REIT II has timely filed with, or furnished (on a publicly available basis) to, the SEC all forms, documents, statements, schedules and reports required to be filed by REIT II under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (together with all certifications required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act since December 31, 2016 (the forms, documents, statements and reports filed with the SEC since December 31, 2016 and those filed with the SEC since the date of this Agreement, if any, including any amendments thereto, the “REIT II SEC Documents”). As of their respective filing dates (or the date of their most recent amendment, supplement or modification, in each case, to the extent filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement), the REIT II SEC Documents (i) complied, or with respect to REIT II SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will comply, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and (ii) did not, or with respect to REIT II SEC Documents filed after the date hereof, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the REIT II SEC Documents is, to the Knowledge of REIT II, the subject of ongoing SEC review and REIT II does not have any outstanding and unresolved comments from the SEC with respect to any REIT II SEC Documents. There are no internal investigations, any SEC inquiries or investigations or other governmental inquiries or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened. None of the REIT II SEC Documents is the subject of any confidential treatment request by REIT II.

(b) REIT II has made available to REIT III complete and correct copies of all written correspondence between the SEC, on one hand, and REIT II, on the other hand, since December 31, 2016. At all applicable times, REIT II has complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

44


(c) The consolidated audited and unaudited financial statements of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries included, or incorporated by reference, in the REIT II SEC Documents, including the related notes and schedules (as amended, supplemented or modified by later REIT II SEC Documents, in each case, to the extent filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement), (i) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared from the books and records of REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries in all material respects, (ii) complied or will comply, as the case may be, as of their respective dates in all material respects with the then-applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (iii) have been or will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto, or, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments and as may be permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q, Form 8-K, Regulation S-X or any successor or like form under the Exchange Act, which such adjustments are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to REIT II) and (iv) fairly present, in all material respects (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, for normal and recurring year-end adjustments, none of which is material, individually or in the aggregate), the consolidated financial position of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as of their respective dates and the consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries for the periods presented therein. There are no internal investigations, any SEC inquiries or investigations or other governmental inquiries or investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened, in each case regarding any accounting practices of REIT II.

(d) Since December 31, 2016, (A) REIT II has designed and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by REIT II in the reports that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to REIT II’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of REIT II required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports, and (B) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting REIT II’s management to material information required to be included in REIT II’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act (if REIT II was required to file such reports). REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries have designed and maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances (i) regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (ii) that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (iii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements and to maintain asset accountability, (iv) that access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (v) that the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (vi) accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are

 

45


implemented to effect the collection thereof on a current and timely basis. REIT II has disclosed to REIT II’s auditors and audit committee (and made summaries of such disclosures available to REIT III) (1) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect REIT II’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (2) any fraud, to the Knowledge of REIT II, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal control over financial reporting.

(e) REIT II is not and none of the REIT II Subsidiaries are, a party to, and none of REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract, including any Contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC), where the result, purpose or effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, REIT II, any REIT II Subsidiary or REIT II’s or such REIT II Subsidiary’s audited financial statements or other REIT II SEC Documents.

(f) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(g) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of REIT II, any director, officer or Representative of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or (iii) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, in each case, in violation in any material respect of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law. Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received any written communication that alleges that REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, or any of their respective Representatives, is, or may be, in violation of, or has, or may have, any liability under, any Anti-Corruption Law.

Section 5.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth in Section 5.6 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, since December 31, 2019 through the date of this Agreement, (a) REIT II and all REIT II Subsidiaries have conducted their respective business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business, (b) neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has taken any action that would have been prohibited by Section 6.2(b) (Conduct of Business by REIT II) if taken from and after the date of this Agreement and (c) there has not been any REIT II Material Adverse Effect or any event, circumstance, change, effect, development, condition or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with all other events, circumstances, changes, effects, developments, conditions or occurrences, would reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (a) as disclosed, reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of REIT II dated as of June 30, 2020 (including the notes thereto), (b) for liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this

 

46


Agreement and (c) for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2020, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has any liabilities or obligations or Indebtedness (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that either alone or when combined with all other liabilities of a type not described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above, has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.8 Permits; Compliance with Law.

(a) REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary is in possession of all authorizations, licenses, permits, certificates, approvals, variances, exemptions, orders, franchises, certifications and clearances of any Governmental Authority necessary for REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted (the “REIT II Permits”), and all such REIT II Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the REIT II Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred with respect to any of the REIT II Permits which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, revocation or termination thereof or would result in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such REIT II Permits. To the Knowledge of REIT II, there is not pending any applicable petition, objection or other pleading with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction or authority over the operations of REIT II or the REIT II Subsidiaries that impairs the validity of any REIT II Permit or which would reasonably be expected, if accepted or granted, to result in the revocation of any REIT II Permit, except where the impairment or revocation of any such REIT II Permit, individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is, and for the past three years has been, in conflict with, or in default or violation of (i) any Law applicable to REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of REIT II or any other REIT II Subsidiary is bound (except for compliance with Laws addressed in Section 5.10, Section 5.11, and Section 5.13, which are solely addressed in those Sections), or (ii) any REIT II Permits, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that have been cured, or that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.9 Litigation. There is no material Action or investigation to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party (either as plaintiff or defendant) pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened before any Governmental Authority, and, to the Knowledge of REIT II, there is no basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation. None of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by any Order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority from engaging in or continuing to conduct the business of REIT II or the REIT II Subsidiaries. No Order of any Governmental Authority has been issued in any proceeding to which REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries is or was a party, or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, in any other proceeding, that enjoins or requires REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries to take action of any kind with respect to its businesses, assets or properties. Since December 31, 2019, none of REIT II, any REIT II Subsidiary or any Representative of the foregoing has received or made any settlement offer for any Action to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party or potentially could be a party (in each case, either as plaintiff or defendant), other than settlement offers that do not exceed $100,000 individually.

 

47


Section 5.10 Properties.

(a) Section 5.10(a) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter lists the REIT II Properties, and sets forth the REIT II Party or applicable REIT II Subsidiary owning such property. Except as disclosed in title insurance policies and reports (and the documents or surveys referenced in such policies and reports) copies of which policies and reports were made available for review to REIT I: (A) REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary owns fee simple title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the REIT II Properties, free and clear of Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances; (B) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received written notice of any violation of any Law affecting any portion of any of the REIT II Properties issued by any Governmental Authority; and (C) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received notice to the effect that there are (1) condemnation or rezoning proceedings that are pending or threatened with respect to any of the REIT II Properties or (2) zoning, building or similar Laws, codes, ordinances, orders or regulations that are or will be violated by the continued maintenance, operation or use of any buildings or other improvements on any of the REIT II Properties or by the continued maintenance, operation or use of the parking areas.

(b) REIT II has not received written notice of, nor does REIT II have any Knowledge of, any latent defects or adverse physical conditions affecting any of the REIT II Properties or the improvements thereon, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(c) REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all material personal property owned, used or held for use by them. Neither REIT II’s, nor the REIT II Subsidiaries’, ownership of any such personal property is subject to any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

(d) A policy of title insurance has been issued for each REIT II Property insuring, as of the effective date of such insurance policy, (i) fee simple title interest held by REIT II or the applicable REIT II Subsidiary and (ii) to the Knowledge of REIT II, such insurance policies are in full force and effect, and no material claim has been made against any such policy that remains outstanding as of the date hereof.

Section 5.11 Environmental Matters. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect: (i) no written notification, demand, directive, request for information, citation, summons, notice of violation or order has been received, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been asserted or assessed and no investigation, action, suit or proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, is threatened relating to any of the REIT II Parties, any of the REIT II Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, and relating to or arising out of any Environmental Law, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Substance; (ii) the REIT II Parties, the other REIT II Subsidiaries and their respective properties are and have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws and all applicable

 

48


Environmental Permits; (iii) each of the REIT II Parties and each other REIT II Subsidiary is in possession of all Environmental Permits necessary for REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary to own, lease and, to the extent applicable, operate its properties or to carry on its respective business substantially as they are being conducted as of the date hereof, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect with all necessary applications for renewal thereof having been timely filed, except where the failure to be in possession of, or the failure to be valid or in full force and effect of, any of the Environmental Permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect; (iv) any and all Hazardous Substances disposed of by REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary was done so in accordance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; (v) REIT II Parties, any of the REIT II Subsidiaries and their respective properties are not subject to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Laws, any Environmental Permit or Hazardous Substance; and (vi) there are no liabilities or obligations (and no asserted liability or obligations) of the REIT II Parties or any of the other REIT II Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise arising under or relating to any Environmental Law or any Hazardous Substance (including liability or responsibility for the costs of enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive relief) and there is no condition, situation or set of circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any such liability or obligation.

Section 5.12 Material Contracts.

(a) REIT II has made available to REIT III a true, correct and complete copy of each Contract in effect as of the date hereof to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party or by which any of its properties or assets are bound that:

(i) is required to be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to REIT II’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2019 or any subsequent current or periodic report;

(ii) is required to be described pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act;

(iii) obligates the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary to make non-contingent aggregate annual expenditures (other than principal or interest payments or the deposit of other reserves with respect to debt obligations) in excess of $500,000 and is not cancelable within 90 days without material penalty to the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary;

(iv) contains any non-compete or exclusivity provisions with respect to any line of business or geographic area that materially restricts the business of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary, including upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or that otherwise restricts the lines of business conducted by the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary or the geographic area in which the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary may conduct business;

 

49


(v) is a Contract that obligates the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary to indemnify any past or present directors, officers, or employees of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary pursuant to which the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary is the indemnitor;

(vi) constitutes (A) an Indebtedness obligation of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary with a principal amount as of the date hereof greater than $500,000 or (B) a Contract under which (1) any Person including REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary, has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of REIT II or REIT II Subsidiary or (2) REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of any Person, including REIT II or another REIT II Subsidiary (in each case other than endorsements for the purpose of collection in the ordinary course of business);

(vii) requires the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary to dispose of or acquire assets or properties that (together with all of the assets and properties subject to such requirement in such Contract) have a fair market value in excess of $500,000, or involves any pending or contemplated merger, consolidation or similar business combination transaction;

(viii) constitutes an interest rate cap, interest rate collar, interest rate swap or other Contract relating to a swap or other hedging transaction of any type;

(ix) constitutes a loan to any Person (other than a Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary) by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary in an amount in excess of $500,000;

(x) sets forth the operational terms of a joint venture, partnership, limited liability company or strategic alliance of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary with a third party;

(xi) prohibits the pledging of the capital stock of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or prohibits the issuance of guarantees by any REIT II Subsidiary;

(xii) contains covenants expressly limiting, in any material respect, the ability of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any material assets or business of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary;

(xiii) contains restrictions on the ability of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions (other than pursuant to the organizational documents of REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries);

(xiv) is with a Governmental Authority;

(xv) has continuing “earn-out” or other similar contingent purchase price payment obligations, in each case that could result in payments, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $500,000;

(xvi) is an employment Contract or consulting Contract;

 

50


(xvii) is a collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor organization, union or association;

(xviii) is a Contract with any professional employer organization, staffing agency, temporary employee agency, or similar company or service provider;

(xix) provides severance, retention, or transaction bonus payments, change of control payments, or similar compensation;

(xx) is a settlement agreement or release of claims with any current employee or with any former employee within the past five years;

(xxi) is a lease, sublease, license or other rental agreement or occupancy agreement (written or verbal) which grants any possessory interest in and to any space situated on or in the REIT II Properties or otherwise gives rights with regard to use of the REIT II Properties; or

(xxii) is both (A) not made in the ordinary course of business and (B) material to REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) Each Contract in any of the categories set forth in Section 5.12(a) to which the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound as of the date hereof is referred to herein as a “REIT II Material Contract.”

(c) Each REIT II Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable on the REIT II Parties and each other REIT II Subsidiary that is a party thereto and, to the Knowledge of REIT II, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law). The REIT II Parties and each other REIT II Subsidiary has performed all obligations required to be performed by it prior to the date hereof under each REIT II Material Contract and, to the Knowledge of REIT II, each other party thereto has performed all obligations required to be performed by it under such REIT II Material Contract prior to the date hereof. None of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary, nor, to the Knowledge of REIT II, any other party thereto, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any REIT II Material Contract, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a violation, breach or default under any REIT II Material Contract, except where in each case such breach, violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect. None of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary has received notice of any violation or default under, or currently owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages with respect to, any REIT II Material Contract, except for violations, defaults, fees or damages that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 2019, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received any written notice of the intention of any party to cancel, terminate, materially change the scope of rights under or fail to renew any REIT II Material Contract.

 

51


(d) Section 5.12(d) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter lists each management agreement pursuant to which any third party manages or operates any of the REIT II Properties on behalf of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, and describes the property that is subject to such management agreement, REIT II or the applicable REIT II Subsidiary that is a party, the date of such management agreement and each material amendment, guaranty or other agreement binding on REIT II or the applicable REIT II Subsidiary and relating thereto (collectively, the “REIT II Management Agreement Documents”). The true, correct and complete copies of all REIT II Management Agreement Documents have been made available to REIT III. Each REIT II Management Agreement Document is valid, binding and in full force and effect as against REIT II or the applicable REIT II Subsidiary and, to the Knowledge of REIT II, as against the other party thereto. Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary owes any termination, cancellation or other similar fees or any liquidated damages to any third party manager or operator.

Section 5.13 Taxes.

(a) Each REIT II Party and each other REIT II Subsidiary has timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority all United States federal income Tax Returns and all other material Tax Returns required to be filed, taking into account any extensions of time within which to file such Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns were complete and correct in all material respects. Each REIT II Party and each other REIT II Subsidiary has duly paid (or there has been paid on its behalf), or made adequate provisions in accordance with GAAP for, all material Taxes required to be paid by them, whether or not shown on any Tax Return. True and materially complete copies of all United States federal income Tax Returns that have been filed with the IRS by REIT II and each REIT II Subsidiary with respect to the taxable years ending on or after REIT II’s formation have been made available to REIT III. To the Knowledge of REIT II, no written claim has been proposed by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary do not file Tax Returns that REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction.

(b) Beginning with its initial taxable year ending on December 31, 2014, and through and including the Closing Date (determined as if REIT II’s current taxable year ended immediately prior to Closing), REIT II (i) has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements to qualify as a REIT under the Code and the current and proposed method of operation for REIT II is expected to enable REIT II to continue to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT through and including the Closing Date, without regard, however, to the distribution requirement described in Section 857(a) of the Code with respect to the taxable year, including the Closing, and (ii) has not taken or omitted to take any action which would reasonably be expected to result in REIT II’s failure to qualify as a REIT, and no challenge to REIT II’s status as a REIT is pending or threatened in writing. No REIT II Subsidiary is a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, other than a corporation that qualifies as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or as a Taxable REIT Subsidiary. REIT II’s dividends paid deduction, within the meaning of Section 561 of the Code, for each taxable year (other than the taxable year, including the Closing), taking into account any dividends subject to Sections 857(b)(8) or 858 of the Code, has not been less than the sum of (i) REIT II’s REIT taxable income, as defined in Section 857(b)(2) of the Code, determined without regard to any dividends paid deduction for such year and (ii) REIT II’s net capital gain for such year.

 

52


(c) (i) There are no audits, investigations by any Governmental Authority or other proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened with regard to any material Taxes or Tax Returns of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary; (ii) no material deficiency for Taxes of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary has been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing or, to the Knowledge of REIT II, threatened, by any Governmental Authority, which deficiency has not yet been settled except for such deficiencies which are being contested in good faith or with respect to which the failure to pay, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect; (iii) neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has, waived any statute of limitations with respect to the assessment of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to any material Tax assessment or deficiency for any open tax year; (iv) neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return; and (v) neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has entered into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law).

(d) Each REIT II Subsidiary that is a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company and that has not elected to be a Taxable REIT Subsidiary has been since its formation treated for United States federal income tax purposes as a partnership, disregarded entity, or a Qualified REIT Subsidiary, as the case may be, and not as a corporation, an association taxable as a corporation whose separate existence is respected for federal income tax purposes, or a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 7704(a) of the Code.

(e) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary holds any asset the disposition of which would be subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7, nor have they disposed of any such asset during its current taxable year.

(f) Since its inception, REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have not incurred (i) any material liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b)(1), 857(b)(4), 857(b)(5), 857(b)(6)(A), 857(b)(7), 860(c) or 4981 of the Code, (ii) any material liability for Taxes under Sections 857(b)(5) (for income test violations), 856(c)(7)(C) (for asset test violations), or 856(g)(5)(C) (for violations of other qualification requirements applicable to REITs) and (iii) REIT II has not, and none of the REIT II Subsidiaries have, incurred any material liability for Tax other than (A) in the ordinary course of business, or (B) transfer or similar Taxes arising in connection with sales of property. No event has occurred, and to the Knowledge of REIT II no condition or circumstances exists, which presents a material risk that any material liability for Taxes described in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence or any liability for Taxes described in clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence will be imposed upon REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary.

(g) REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have complied, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any state and foreign Laws) and have duly and timely withheld and, in each case, have paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over on or prior to the due date thereof under all applicable Laws.

 

53


(h) There are no REIT II Tax Protection Agreements (as hereinafter defined) in force at the date of this Agreement, and, as of the date of this Agreement, no person has raised in writing, or to the Knowledge of REIT II threatened to raise, a material claim against REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary for any breach of any REIT II Tax Protection Agreements. As used herein, “REIT II Tax Protection Agreements” means any written agreement to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party pursuant to which: (i) any liability to holders of limited partnership interests in a REIT II Subsidiary Partnership (as hereinafter defined) relating to Taxes may arise, whether or not as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (ii) in connection with the deferral of income Taxes of a holder of limited partnership interests or limited liability company in a REIT II Subsidiary Partnership, REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary has agreed to (A) maintain a minimum level of debt, continue a particular debt or provide rights to guarantee debt, (B) retain or not dispose of assets, (C) make or refrain from making Tax elections, or (D) only dispose of assets in a particular manner. As used herein, “REIT II Subsidiary Partnership” means a REIT II Subsidiary that is a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

(i) There are no Tax Encumbrances upon any property or assets of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary except Encumbrances for Taxes not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

(j) There are no Tax allocation or sharing agreements or similar arrangements with respect to or involving REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, and after the Closing Date neither REIT II nor any other REIT II Subsidiary shall be bound by any such Tax allocation agreements or similar arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date.

(k) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has requested or received any written ruling of a Governmental Authority or entered into any written agreement with a Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, and neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary is subject to written ruling of a Governmental Authority.

(l) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any REIT II Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract (other than customary Tax indemnification provisions in commercial Contracts not primarily related to Taxes), or otherwise.

(m) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has participated in any “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(1).

(n) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (i) in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

54


(o) No written power of attorney that has been granted by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary (other than to REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary) currently is in force with respect to any matter relating to Taxes.

(p) REIT II is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” within the meaning of Section 897(h)(4)(B) of the Code.

Section 5.14 Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Section 4.14 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary: (a) owns any registered trademarks, patents or copyrights, or (b) has any pending applications or registrations for any trademarks, patents or copyrights. Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, (i) no Intellectual Property owned by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary infringes or is alleged to infringe any Intellectual Property rights of any third party, (ii) to the Knowledge of REIT II, no Person is misappropriating, infringing or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, and (iii) REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries own or are licensed to use, or otherwise possess valid rights to use, all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted. To the Knowledge of REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, since December 31, 2019, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has received any written or verbal complaint, claim or notice alleging misappropriation, infringement or violation of any Intellectual Property rights of any third party.

Section 5.15 Information Privacy & Security. REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary has adopted written policies and procedures with respect to privacy, data protection, security and the collection and use of Personal Information gathered or accessed in the course of the operations of REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary, those policies and procedures are commercially reasonable and comply with applicable Information Privacy and Security Laws and contracts, and REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary is in compliance with such policies and procedures. REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary has disaster recovery plans, procedures and facilities in place that are appropriate to minimize the disruption of its business in the event of any material failure of any of the IT Assets in accordance with applicable legal requirements and customer contracts. REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary has not experienced any data security breach of any IT Assets, that would constitute a breach for which notification to individuals, third parties and/or any Governmental Authority. REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary has taken reasonable actions and measures to protect the confidentiality, integrity and security of its Personal Information and all of its IT Assets, against any unauthorized use, access, interruption, modification or corruption.

Section 5.16 Insurance. Section 5.16 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all material insurance policies and all material fidelity bonds or other material insurance Contracts providing coverage for REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries (the “REIT II Insurance Policies”), which REIT II Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting businesses or owning assets similar to those of REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries and sufficient to allow each to replace any of its assets that might be damaged or destroyed. Each REIT II Insurance Policy is in full force and effect. Except as,

 

55


individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, all premiums due and payable under all REIT II Insurance Policies have been paid, and REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have otherwise complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of all REIT II Insurance Policies and all claims, events and occurrences that may be covered under any REIT II Insurance Policy have been noticed pursuant to the conditions in such policy. No written notice of cancellation, termination or increase in premium has been received by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancellation. REIT II has made available to REIT III true and correct copies of all REIT II Insurance Policies. No REIT II Insurance Policies are written on retrospective, audited or similar premium basis.

Section 5.17 Employee Matters. As of the date hereof only, neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has, or has ever had, any employees. As of the date hereof only, none of REIT II, any REIT II Subsidiary, nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has, or has ever, sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or been required to contribute to, or has or has ever had any liability or obligation with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.

Section 5.18 Related-Party Transactions. Except as described in the REIT II SEC Documents filed with or furnished to the SEC on or after December 31, 2017 and prior to the date hereof (the “REIT II Related Party Agreements”), no agreements, arrangements or understandings between any of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary (or binding on any of their respective properties or assets), on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other hand (other than those exclusively among REIT II and REIT II Subsidiaries), are in existence that are not, but are required to be, disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

Section 5.19 Brokers. No broker, investment banker or other Person (other than the Persons listed in Section 5.19 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, each in a fee amount not to exceed the amount set forth in Section 5.19 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, pursuant to the terms of the engagement letter between REIT II and such Person, true, correct and complete copies of which have been provided to REIT III prior to the date hereof) is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary.

Section 5.20 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The REIT II Special Committee has received the oral opinion of Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. prior to execution of this Agreement (which, if initially rendered verbally, has been or will be confirmed by a written opinion, dated the same date), to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications, conditions and other matters considered in connection with the preparation of such opinion, the Exchange Ratio in the REIT Merger pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to REIT II. REIT II will deliver to REIT III a complete and correct copy of such opinion promptly after receipt thereof by the REIT II Special Committee solely for informational purposes. REIT II acknowledges that the opinion of Truist Securities Inc. contemplated by Section 4.20 is for the benefit of the REIT III Special Committee and that REIT II shall not be entitled to rely on that opinion for any purpose.

 

56


Section 5.21 Takeover Statutes. None of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is, nor at any time during the last two years has been, an “interested stockholder” of REIT III as defined in Section 3-601 of the MGCL. The REIT II Board has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to the REIT Merger the restrictions on business combinations contained in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL. The restrictions on control share acquisitions contained in Subtitle 7 of Title 3 of the MGCL are not applicable to the REIT Merger. No other Takeover Statutes are applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights are available to the holders of REIT II Common Stock with respect to the REIT Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 5.22 Ownership of Merger Sub; No Prior Activities.

(a) Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All of the limited liability company membership interests of Merger Sub are owned, directly or indirectly, by REIT II.

(b) Except for the obligations or liabilities incurred in connection with its organization and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other documents, agreements, certificates and other instruments contemplated hereby, Merger Sub has not, and will not have prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, incurred, any obligations or liabilities or engaged in any business activities of any type or kind whatsoever.

Section 5.23 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied in writing on or behalf of the REIT II Parties or any REIT II Subsidiary for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (a) the REIT III Proxy Statement will, at the time it is first mailed to the REIT III stockholders, at the time of the REIT III Stockholders Meeting, at the time the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC or at the REIT Merger Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, or (b) the Form S-4 will, at the time such document is declared effective by the SEC, contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. All documents that REIT II is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to the extent relating to REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries (or other information supplied by or on behalf of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiaries for inclusion therein) will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; provided, that no representation is made as to statements made or incorporated by reference by or on behalf of the REIT III Parties.

Section 5.24 COVID-19.

(a) Each of the REIT II Parties has complied with all applicable mandatory public health mandates announced by Governmental Authorities to address COVID-19, including the COVID-19 Measures, in all material respects.

 

57


(b) To the extent REIT II has Knowledge of any staff, whether employees or independent contractors, hired by or on behalf of REIT II or the REIT II Subsidiaries, or any employees, independent contractors, suppliers, customers or other visitors of tenants of REIT II Properties, have tested positive for COVID-19, REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable efforts to implement all material precautions and have made any announcements or disclosures required under applicable Law with respect to such Persons and REIT II Properties, as applicable.

(c) Neither REIT II nor any REIT II Subsidiary has incurred any Indebtedness or received any funding (regardless of whether constituting Indebtedness), or applied for any such Indebtedness or funding, pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or any other economic relief or stimulus legislation or program, in each case related to COVID-19.

Section 5.25 No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations or warranties expressly set forth in this Article V or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, none of the REIT II Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT II Party has made any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary, their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, future operating or financial results, estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections, forecasts, plans or prospects) or the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the REIT II Parties or any other REIT II Subsidiary. In particular, without limiting the foregoing disclaimer, none of the REIT II Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT II Party makes or has made any representation or warranty to any REIT III Party or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives with respect to, except for the representations and warranties made by the REIT II Parties in this Article V or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, any oral or written information presented to the REIT III Parties or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their due diligence of the REIT II Parties, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the REIT II Parties acknowledge and agree that none of the REIT III Parties or any other Person on behalf of a REIT III Party has made or is making any representations or warranties relating to the REIT III Parties whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by the REIT III Parties in Article IV or any document, agreement, certificate or other instrument contemplated hereby, including any implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding any REIT III Party furnished or made available to the REIT II Parties or any of their respective Representatives.

ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGERS

Section 6.1 Conduct of Business by REIT III.

(a) REIT III covenants and agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the earlier to occur of the REIT Merger Effective Time and the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1 (the “Interim Period”), except (1) to the extent

 

58


required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by the REIT II Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (3) as may be expressly contemplated, expressly required or expressly permitted by this Agreement, or (4) as set forth in Section 6.1(b) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, each of the REIT III Parties shall, and shall cause each of the other REIT III Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct its business in all material respects in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practices, and (ii) use all reasonable efforts to (A) preserve intact its current business organization, goodwill, ongoing businesses and significant relationships with third parties and (B) maintain the status of REIT III as a REIT.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, REIT III covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by the REIT II Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (3) as may be expressly contemplated, expressly required or expressly permitted by this Agreement, or (4) as set forth in Section 6.1(b) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, the REIT III Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any other REIT III Subsidiary to, do any of the following:

(i) (A) amend or propose to amend the REIT III Governing Documents, (B) amend or propose to amend such equivalent organizational or governing documents of any REIT III Subsidiary material to REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, (C) amend the REIT III DRP or the REIT III Share Redemption Program in a manner material to REIT III, or (D) waive the stock ownership limit or create an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in the REIT III Charter) under the REIT III Charter;

(ii) adjust, split, combine, reclassify or subdivide any shares of stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary (other than any Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary);

(iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other actual, constructive or deemed distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) with respect to shares of capital stock of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary or other equity securities or ownership interests in REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary or otherwise make any payment to its or their stockholders or other equity holders in their capacity as such, except for (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to REIT III by any Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary and (B) distributions by any REIT III Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by REIT III, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational documents of such REIT III Subsidiary; provided, that, notwithstanding the restriction on dividends and other distributions in this Section 6.1(b), REIT III and any REIT III Subsidiary shall be permitted to make distributions, including under Sections 858 or 860 of the Code, reasonably necessary for REIT III to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code and avoid or reduce the imposition of any entity level income or excise Tax under the Code;

(iv) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests of REIT III or a REIT III Subsidiary; provided, that, after the filing of the Form S-4, REIT III may effect redemptions upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or confinement to a long-term care facility in accordance with the REIT III Share Redemption Program;

 

59


(v) except for transactions among REIT III and one or more Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiaries or among one or more Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiaries, issue, sell, pledge, dispose, encumber or grant any shares of capital stock of REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries’ capital stock (including the REIT III OP Units) or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock of REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity interests;

(vi) acquire or agree to acquire any material assets, except (A) acquisitions by REIT III or any Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary of or from an existing Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary, (B) acquisitions described in Section 6.1(b)(vi) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, and (C) other acquisitions of personal property for a purchase price of less than $500,000 in the aggregate;

(vii) except as described in Section 6.1(b)(vii) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter or as permitted by clause (viii) below, sell, mortgage, pledge, lease, assign, transfer, dispose of or encumber, or effect a deed in lieu of foreclosure with respect to, any property or assets, except in the ordinary course of business, provided that any sale, mortgage, pledge, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or deed in connection with (x) the satisfaction of any margin call or (y) the posting of collateral in connection with any Contract to which REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary is a party shall be considered to be done in the ordinary course of business;

(viii) incur, create, assume, guarantee, refinance, replace or prepay any Indebtedness for borrowed money or issue or materially amend the terms of any Indebtedness of REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries, except (A) Indebtedness incurred under REIT III’s existing Debt Facilities in the ordinary course of business (including to the extent necessary to pay dividends permitted by Section 6.1(b)(iii)), (B) funding any transactions permitted by this Section 6.1(b), (C) Indebtedness that does not, in the aggregate, exceed $250,000; and (D) refinancing of existing Indebtedness (provided, that the terms of such new Indebtedness shall not be materially more onerous on REIT III compared to the existing Indebtedness and the principal amount of such replacement Indebtedness shall not be materially greater than the Indebtedness it is replacing);

(ix) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (including to any of its officers, directors, Affiliates, agents or consultants), make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons, other than by REIT III or a Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary to REIT III or a Wholly Owned REIT III Subsidiary;

(x) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into, renew, modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release, compromise or assign any rights or claims under, any REIT III Material Contract (or any Contract that, if existing as of the date hereof, would be a REIT III Material Contract) in any material respect, other than (A) any termination or renewal in accordance with the terms of any existing REIT III Material Contract that occurs automatically without any action (other than notice of renewal) by REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary or (B) as may be reasonably necessary to comply with the terms of this Agreement;

 

60


(xi) make any payment, direct or indirect, of any liability of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary before the same comes due in accordance with its terms, other than (A) in the ordinary course of business or (B) in connection with dispositions or refinancings of any Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder;

(xii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material Action, other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that (A) with respect to the payment of monetary damages, involve only the payment of monetary damages (excluding any portion of such payment payable under an existing property-level insurance policy) (x) equal to or less than the amounts specifically reserved with respect thereto on the most recent balance sheet of REIT III made available to REIT II prior to the date of this Agreement or (y) that do not exceed $25,000 individually or $63,000 in the aggregate, (B) do not involve the imposition of injunctive relief against REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary or the Surviving Entity, (C) do not provide for any admission of material liability by REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries and (D) with respect to any Action involving any present, former or purported holder or group of holders of REIT III Common Stock comply with Section 7.6(c) (excluding in each case any such matter related to Taxes (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be covered by Section 6.1(b)(xviii));

(xiii) (A) hire or, except where due to cause, terminate any officer of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary, (B) materially increase in any manner the compensation or benefits of any of REIT III’s officers or directors except for increases in annual compensation in the ordinary course of business or as set forth in such individual’s Contract, or (C) enter into, adopt, amend or terminate any employment, bonus, severance or retirement Contract or Employee Benefit Plan or other compensation or employee benefits arrangement, except as may be required to comply with applicable Law;

(xiv) fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP or make any material change to its methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 2019, except as required by a change in GAAP or in applicable Law, or make any change with respect to accounting policies, principles or practices unless required by GAAP or the SEC;

(xv) enter into any new line of business;

(xvi) form any new funds, joint ventures or non-traded real estate investment trusts or other pooled-investment vehicles;

(xvii) fail to duly and timely file all material reports and other material documents required to be filed with any Governmental Authority, subject to extensions permitted by Law;

(xviii) enter into or modify in a manner adverse to REIT III any REIT III Tax Protection Agreement, make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, change a material method of Tax accounting, file or amend any material Tax Return, settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability, audit, claim or assessment, enter into any material closing agreement related to Taxes, or knowingly surrender any right to claim any material Tax refund or give or request any waiver of a statute of limitation with respect to any

 

61


material Tax Return except, in each case, (A) to the extent required by Law or (B) to the extent necessary (x) to preserve REIT III’s qualification as a REIT under the Code or (y) to qualify or preserve the status of any REIT III Subsidiary as a disregarded entity or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes or as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xix) take any action that would, or fail to take any action, the failure of which to be taken would, reasonably be expected to cause REIT III to fail to qualify as a REIT or any REIT III Subsidiary to cease to be treated as any of (A) a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes or (B) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xx) make or commit to make any material capital expenditures other than in the ordinary course of business or to address obligations under existing Contracts or for emergency repairs;

(xxi) adopt a plan of merger, complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such merger, liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or bankruptcy reorganization, except in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 6.1(b)(vi) or Section 6.1(b)(vii) in a manner that would not reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to REIT III or to prevent or impair the ability of the REIT III Parties to consummate the Mergers;

(xxii) amend or modify the engagement letters entered into with the Persons listed on Section 4.19 of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, in a manner adverse to REIT III or engage other financial advisors in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(xxiii) permit any Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances;

(xxiv) materially modify or reduce the amount of any insurance coverage provided by the REIT III Insurance Policies;

(xxv) take any action (or fail to take any action) that would make dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights available to the holders of the REIT III Common Stock with respect to the Merger;

(xxvi) enter into any transaction disclosable under item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act except in the ordinary course of business or as provided for in this Agreement; or

(xxvii) authorize, or enter into any Contract to do any of the foregoing.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit REIT III from taking any action, or refraining to take any action, at any time or from time to time, if, in the reasonable judgment of the REIT III Board, such action or inaction is reasonably necessary (i) for REIT III to avoid or to continue to avoid incurring entity level income or excise Taxes under the Code or to maintain its qualification as a REIT under

 

62


the Code for any period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time or (ii) to establish or maintain any exemption from or otherwise avoid the imposition of any requirement that REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, including in the case of clause (i) only, making dividend or any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution payments to stockholders of REIT III in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise as permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii).

Section 6.2 Conduct of Business by REIT II.

(a) REIT II covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by the REIT III Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (3) as may be expressly contemplated, expressly required or expressly permitted by this Agreement, (4) as may be required by the REIT I Merger Agreement, or (5) as set forth in Section 6.2(b) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, each of the REIT II Parties shall, and shall cause each of the other REIT II Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct its business in all material respects in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practices, and (ii) use all reasonable efforts to (A) preserve intact its current business organization, goodwill, ongoing businesses and significant relationships with third parties and (B) maintain the status of REIT II as a REIT.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, REIT II covenants and agrees that, during the Interim Period, except (1) to the extent required by Law, (2) as may be consented to in advance in writing by the REIT III Special Committee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), (3) as may be expressly contemplated, expressly required or expressly permitted by this Agreement or the REIT I Merger Agreement, or (4) as set forth in Section 6.2(b) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, the REIT II Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any other REIT II Subsidiary to, do any of the following:

(i) (A) amend or propose to amend the REIT II Governing Documents, (B) amend or propose to amend such equivalent organizational or governing documents of any REIT II Subsidiary material to REIT II and the REIT II Subsidiaries, (C) amend the REIT II DRP or the REIT II Share Redemption Program in a manner material to REIT II, or (D) waive the stock ownership limit or create an Excepted Holder Limit (as defined in the REIT II Charter) under the REIT II Charter;

(ii) adjust, split, combine, reclassify or subdivide any shares of stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary (other than any Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary);

(iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend on or make any other actual, constructive or deemed distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) with respect to shares of capital stock of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or other equity securities or ownership interests in REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or otherwise make any payment to its or their stockholders or other equity holders in their capacity as such, except for (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or other distributions to REIT II by any Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary, and (B) distributions by any REIT II Subsidiary that is not wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by REIT II, in accordance with the requirements of the organizational documents of

 

63


such REIT II Subsidiary; provided, that, notwithstanding the restriction on dividends and other distributions in this Section 6.2(b), REIT II and any REIT II Subsidiary shall be permitted to make distributions, including under Sections 858 or 860 of the Code, reasonably necessary for REIT II to maintain its status as a REIT under the Code and avoid or reduce the imposition of any entity level income or excise Tax under the Code;

(iv) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests of REIT II or a REIT II Subsidiary; provided, that, after the filing of the Form S-4, REIT II may effect redemptions upon a stockholder’s death, “qualifying disability” or confinement to a long-term care facility in accordance with the REIT II Share Redemption Program;

(v) except for transactions among REIT II and one or more Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiaries or among one or more Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiaries, issue, sell, pledge, dispose, encumber or grant any shares of capital stock of REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries’ capital stock (including the REIT II OP Units) or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock of REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity interests;

(vi) acquire or agree to acquire any material assets, except (A) acquisitions by REIT II or any Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary of or from an existing Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary, (B) acquisitions described in Section 6.2(b)(vi) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, and (C) other acquisitions of personal property for a purchase price of less than $2,000,000 in the aggregate;

(vii) except as described in Section 6.2(b)(vii) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter or as permitted by clause (viii) below, sell, mortgage, pledge, lease, assign, transfer, dispose of or encumber, or effect a deed in lieu of foreclosure with respect to, any property or assets, except in the ordinary course of business, provided that any sale, mortgage, pledge, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or deed in connection with (x) the satisfaction of any margin call or (y) the posting of collateral in connection with any Contract to which REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary is a party shall be considered to be done in the ordinary course of business;

(viii) incur, create, assume, guarantee, refinance, replace or prepay any Indebtedness for borrowed money or issue or materially amend the terms of any Indebtedness of REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries, except (A) Indebtedness incurred under REIT II’s existing Debt Facilities in the ordinary course of business (including to the extent necessary to pay dividends permitted by Section 6.2(b)(iii)), (B) funding any transactions permitted by this Section 6.2(b), (C) Indebtedness that does not, in the aggregate, exceed $1,000,000; and (D) refinancing of existing Indebtedness (provided, that the terms of such new Indebtedness shall not be materially more onerous on REIT II compared to the existing Indebtedness and the principal amount of such replacement Indebtedness shall not be materially greater than the Indebtedness it is replacing);

(ix) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (including to any of its officers, directors, Affiliates, agents or consultants), make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons, other than by REIT II or a Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary to REIT II or a Wholly Owned REIT II Subsidiary;

 

64


(x) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into, renew, modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release, compromise or assign any rights or claims under, any REIT II Material Contract (or any Contract that, if existing as of the date hereof, would be a REIT II Material Contract) in any material respect, other than (A) any termination or renewal in accordance with the terms of any existing REIT II Material Contract that occurs automatically without any action (other than notice of renewal) by REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or (B) as may be reasonably necessary to comply with the terms of this Agreement;

(xi) make any payment, direct or indirect, of any liability of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary before the same comes due in accordance with its terms, other than (A) in the ordinary course of business or (B) in connection with dispositions or refinancings of any Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder;

(xii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material Action, other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that (A) with respect to the payment of monetary damages, involve only the payment of monetary damages (excluding any portion of such payment payable under an existing property-level insurance policy) (x) equal to or less than the amounts specifically reserved with respect thereto on the most recent balance sheet of REIT II made available to REIT III prior to the date of this Agreement or (y) that do not exceed $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate, (B) do not involve the imposition of injunctive relief against REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary or the Surviving Entity, (C) do not provide for any admission of material liability by REIT II or any of the REIT II Subsidiaries and (D) with respect to any Action involving any present, former or purported holder or group of holders of REIT II Common Stock, comply with Section 7.6(c) (excluding in each case any such matter related to Taxes (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be covered by Section 6.2(b)(xviii));

(xiii) except in connection with the REIT I Merger, (A) hire or, except where due to cause, terminate any officer of REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary, (B) materially increase in any manner the compensation or benefits of any of REIT II’s officers or directors except for increases in annual compensation in the ordinary course of business or as set forth in such individual’s Contact, or (C) enter into, adopt, amend or terminate any employment, bonus, severance or retirement Contract or Employee Benefit Plan or other compensation or employee benefits arrangement, except as may be required to comply with applicable Law;

(xiv) fail to maintain all financial books and records in all material respects in accordance with GAAP or make any material change to its methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 2019, except as required by a change in GAAP or in applicable Law, or make any change with respect to accounting policies, principles or practices unless required by GAAP or the SEC;

(xv) enter into any new line of business;

(xvi) form any new funds, joint ventures or non-traded real estate investment trusts or other pooled-investment vehicles;

 

65


(xvii) fail to duly and timely file all material reports and other material documents required to be filed with any Governmental Authority, subject to extensions permitted by Law;

(xviii) enter into or modify in a manner adverse to REIT II any REIT II Tax Protection Agreement, make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, change a material method of Tax accounting, file or amend any material Tax Return, settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability, audit, claim or assessment, enter into any material closing agreement related to Taxes, or knowingly surrender any right to claim any material Tax refund or give or request any waiver of a statute of limitation with respect to any material Tax Return except, in each case, (A) to the extent required by Law or (B) to the extent necessary (x) to preserve REIT II’s qualification as a REIT under the Code or (y) to qualify or preserve the status of any REIT II Subsidiary as a disregarded entity or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes or as a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xix) take any action that would, or fail to take any action, the failure of which to be taken would, reasonably be expected to cause REIT II to fail to qualify as a REIT or any REIT II Subsidiary to cease to be treated as any of (A) a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes or (B) a Qualified REIT Subsidiary or a Taxable REIT Subsidiary under the applicable provisions of Section 856 of the Code, as the case may be;

(xx) make or commit to make any material capital expenditures other than in the ordinary course of business or to address obligations under existing Contracts or for emergency repairs;

(xxi) adopt a plan of merger, complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such merger, liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or bankruptcy reorganization, except in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 6.2(b)(vi) or Section 6.2(b)(vii) in a manner that would not reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to REIT II or to prevent or impair the ability of the REIT II Parties to consummate the Mergers;

(xxii) amend or modify the engagement letters entered into with the Persons listed on Section 4.19 of the REIT II Disclosure Letter, in a manner adverse to REIT II or engage other financial advisors in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(xxiii) permit any Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances;

(xxiv) materially modify or reduce the amount of any insurance coverage provided by the REIT II Insurance Policies

(xxv) take any action (or fail to take any action) that would make dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights available to the holders of the REIT II Common Stock with respect to the Merger;

 

66


(xxvi) enter into any transaction disclosable under item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act except in the ordinary course of business or as provided for in this Agreement; or

(xxvii) authorize, or enter into any Contract to do any of the foregoing.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit REIT II from taking any action, or refraining to take any action, at any time or from time to time, if, in the reasonable judgment of the REIT II Board, such action or inaction is reasonably necessary (i) for REIT II to avoid or to continue to avoid incurring entity level income or excise Taxes under the Code or to maintain its qualification as a REIT under the Code for any period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time or (ii) to establish or maintain any exemption from or otherwise avoid the imposition of any requirement that REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, including in the case of clause (i) only, making dividend or any other actual, constructive or deemed distribution payments to stockholders of REIT II in accordance with this Agreement or otherwise as permitted pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(iii).

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, any material amendment of the REIT I Merger Agreement shall require the prior approval of REIT III, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

Section 6.3 No Control of Other Parties Business. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give (a) REIT III, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct REIT II or any REIT II Subsidiary’s operations prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, or (b) REIT II, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary’s operations prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time. Prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, (i) REIT II shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and the REIT II Subsidiaries’ respective operations and (ii) REIT III shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its and the REIT III Subsidiaries’ respective operations.

ARTICLE VII

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

Section 7.1 Preparation of the Form S-4 and the REIT III Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approval.

(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, (i) REIT III shall prepare and cause to be filed with the SEC the REIT III Proxy Statement in preliminary form with respect to the REIT III Stockholders Meeting, and (ii) REIT II shall prepare (with REIT III’s reasonable cooperation) and cause to be filed with the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act (the “Form S-4”), which will include the REIT III Proxy Statement, to register under the Securities Act the shares of REIT II Common Stock to be issued in the REIT Merger (the “Registered Securities”). Each of REIT II and REIT III shall use its reasonable best efforts to (A) have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as

 

67


promptly as practicable after such filing, (B) ensure that the Form S-4 complies in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act and (C) keep the Form S-4 effective for so long as necessary to permit the REIT II Common Stock to be issued in the REIT Merger, unless this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article IX. Each of REIT II and REIT III shall furnish all information concerning itself, its Affiliates and the holders of its capital stock to such other Party and provide such other assistance as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the Form S-4 and the REIT III Proxy Statement and shall provide to their and each other’s counsel such representations as reasonably necessary to render the opinions required to be filed therewith. The Form S-4 and the REIT III Proxy Statement shall include all information reasonably requested by such other Party to be included therein. Each of REIT III and REIT II shall promptly notify the other Party upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or any request from the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Form S-4 or the REIT III Proxy Statement, and shall, as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof, provide the other Party with copies of all correspondence between it and its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, on the other hand, and all written comments with respect to the Form S-4 or the REIT III Proxy Statement received from the SEC and advise the other Party of any oral comments with respect to the Form S-4 or the REIT III Proxy Statement received from the SEC. Each of REIT III and REIT II shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments from the SEC with respect to the Form S-4 or the REIT III Proxy Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to filing the Form S-4 (or any amendment or supplement thereto) with the SEC or responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, each of REIT III and REIT II shall cooperate and provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such document or response (including the proposed final version of such document or response) and shall give due consideration to all reasonable comments provided by the other Party. REIT II shall notify REIT III, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time of effectiveness of the Form S-4, the issuance of any stop order relating thereto or the suspension of the qualification for offering or sale in any jurisdiction of the Registered Securities, and REIT II and REIT III shall use their reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated. REIT II shall also use its reasonable best efforts to take any other action required to be taken under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any applicable foreign or state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with the issuance of the Registered Securities, and REIT III shall furnish all information concerning REIT III and its stockholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such actions.

(b) If, at any time prior to the receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval, any information relating to REIT III or REIT II, as the case may be, or any of their respective Affiliates, should be discovered by REIT III or REIT II which, in the reasonable judgment of REIT III or REIT II, should be set forth in an amendment of, or a supplement to, any of the Form S-4 or the REIT III Proxy Statement, so that any of such documents would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other Parties, and REIT III and REIT II shall cooperate in the prompt filing with the SEC of any necessary amendment of, or supplement to, the Form S-4 or the REIT III Proxy Statement and, to the extent required by Law, in disseminating the information contained in such amendment or supplement to stockholders of REIT III and REIT II. Nothing in this Section 7.1(b) shall limit the obligations of any Party under Section 7.1(a). For

 

68


purposes of Section 5.255, Section 4.244 and this Section 7.1, any information concerning or related to REIT II or its Affiliates will be deemed to have been provided by REIT II, and any information concerning or related to REIT III, its Affiliates or the REIT III Stockholders Meeting will be deemed to have been provided by REIT III.

(c) As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, REIT III shall, in accordance with applicable Law (and provided that the SEC has advised that is has no comments or no further comments to the REIT III Proxy Statement) and the REIT III Governing Documents, establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the REIT III Stockholders Meeting for the purpose of obtaining the REIT III Stockholder Approval (and other matters that shall be submitted to the holders of REIT III Common Stock at such meeting); provided, that such record date shall not be more than 90 days prior to the date of the REIT III Stockholders Meeting. REIT III shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the definitive REIT III Proxy Statement to be mailed to REIT III’s stockholders entitled to vote at the REIT III Stockholders Meeting and to hold the REIT III Stockholders Meeting as soon as practicable after the Form S-4 is declared effective under the Securities Act. REIT III shall, through the REIT III Board, recommend to its stockholders that they give the REIT III Stockholder Approval, include the REIT III Board Recommendation in the REIT III Proxy Statement and solicit and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the REIT III Stockholder Approval, except to the extent that the REIT III Board shall have made a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change as permitted by Section 7.3(d); provided, however, that REIT III’s obligation to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the REIT III Stockholders Meeting shall be unconditional unless this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms and shall not be affected by any REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.1(c), if, on a date for which the REIT III Stockholders Meeting is scheduled, REIT III has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares of REIT III Common Stock to obtain the REIT III Stockholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, REIT III shall have the right to make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the REIT III Stockholders Meeting (provided, however, that the REIT III Stockholders Meeting shall not be postponed or adjourned to a date that is (i) more than 30 days after the date for which the REIT III Stockholders Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments or postponements required by applicable Law) or (ii) more than 120 days from the record date for the REIT III Stockholders Meeting); provided, further, the REIT III Stockholders Meeting may not be postponed or adjourned on the date the REIT III Stockholders Meeting is scheduled if REIT III shall have received proxies in respect of an aggregate number of shares of REIT III Common Stock, which have not been withdrawn, such that REIT III Stockholder Approval would be obtained at such meeting.

Section 7.2 Access to Information; Confidentiality.

(a) During the period from the date of this Agreement to and including the REIT Merger Effective Time, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to, afford to the other Parties and to their respective Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to all of their respective properties, offices, books, Contracts, personnel and records and, during such period, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives to, furnish reasonably promptly to the other Parties (i) any information concerning such Party or its respective subsidiaries (including with respect to any

 

69


pending or threatened Action) as the other Party may reasonably request and (ii) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws. In connection with such reasonable access to information, each of the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause its respective Representatives to participate in meetings and telephone conferences with the other Parties and their Representatives prior to the mailing of any REIT III Proxy Statement, prior to the REIT III Stockholders Meeting and at such other times as may be reasonably requested. No investigation under this Section 7.2(a) or otherwise shall affect any of the representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement or any condition to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Parties shall be required by this Section 7.2(a) to provide the other Parties or their respective Representatives with access to or to disclose information (A) that is subject to the terms of a confidentiality agreement with a third party entered into prior to the date of this Agreement or entered into after the date of this Agreement in the ordinary course of business in accordance with this Agreement (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the required consent of such third party to such access or disclosure), (B) the disclosure of which would violate any Law applicable to such Party or any of its Representatives (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make appropriate substitute arrangements to permit reasonable disclosure not in violation of any Law or duty), (C) that is subject to any attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege (provided, however, that the withholding Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to allow for such access or disclosure to the maximum extent that does not result in a loss of any such attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege, including by means of entry into a customary joint defense agreement that would alleviate the loss of such privilege) or (D) for the purpose of allowing Parties or their respective Representatives to collect samples of soil, air, water, groundwater or building materials. The Parties will use their reasonable best efforts to minimize any disruption to the businesses of the other Parties and any of their respective subsidiaries that may result from the requests for access, data and information hereunder. Prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, the Parties shall not, and shall cause their respective Representatives and Affiliates not to, contact or otherwise communicate with parties with which any of the other Parties or any other of their respective subsidiaries has a business relationship regarding the business of the other Parties and their respective subsidiaries or this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent of such other Party (provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 7.2(a) shall be deemed to restrict the Parties from contacting such parties in pursuing the business of the Parties operating in the ordinary course).

(b) Each Party will hold, and will cause its respective Representatives and Affiliates to hold, any nonpublic information, including any information exchanged pursuant to this Section 7.2, in confidence to the extent required by and in accordance with, and will otherwise comply with, the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect pursuant to the terms thereof notwithstanding the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the termination thereof.

Section 7.3 No Solicitation of Transactions; Change in Recommendation.

(a) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 7.3, during the Interim Period, REIT III shall (i) immediately cease any solicitation, encouragement, discussions or negotiations

 

70


with any Persons that may be ongoing with respect to a Competing Proposal, or any inquiry or proposal that may be reasonably expected to lead to a Competing Proposal, and immediately terminate all physical and electronic dataroom access granted to any such Person or its Representatives and (ii) not, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or encourage, provide any nonpublic information to, or take any other action for the purpose of facilitating, any inquiry or the making of any proposal which constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Competing Proposal, (B) engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any other Person information in connection with or for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating, a Competing Proposal or (C) enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, agreement in principle or other agreement with respect to a Competing Proposal.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.3, if at any time on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the REIT III Stockholder Approval, (i) REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives receives an unsolicited written Competing Proposal from any Person or group of Persons that the REIT III Special Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with REIT III Special Committee’s outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel, constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal, which Competing Proposal was made in circumstances not otherwise involving a breach of this Agreement, and (ii) the REIT III Special Committee has determined in good faith, after consultation with REIT III Special Committee’s outside legal counsel, that a failure to take action with respect to such Competing Proposal would be inconsistent with the duties or standard of conduct of the directors of REIT III under applicable Maryland Law, REIT III may or may cause its respective Representatives to, in response to such Competing Proposal, and subject to compliance with this Section 7.3(b), (A) contact such Person or group of Persons to clarify the terms and conditions thereof, (B) furnish, pursuant to an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, information (including non-public information) with respect to REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries to the Person or group of Persons who has made such Competing Proposal, provided that REIT III shall prior to or concurrently with the time such information is provided to such Person or group of Persons provide to REIT II any non-public information concerning REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries that is provided to any Person given such access which was not previously provided to REIT II or its Representatives, and (C) engage in or otherwise participate in discussions or negotiations with the Person or group of Persons making such Competing Proposal regarding such Competing Proposal.

(c) REIT III shall promptly, and in any event no later than 24 hours after receipt of any Competing Proposal or request for non-public information in connection therewith, as applicable, (i) advise REIT II in writing of the receipt of such Competing Proposal and any request for confidential information in connection with such Competing Proposal, the material terms of such Competing Proposal or request for confidential information and the identity of the Person or group of Persons making such Competing Proposal or request for confidential information and (ii) keep REIT II promptly advised of all material developments (including all changes to the material terms of any Competing Proposal), discussions or negotiations regarding any Competing Proposal and the status of such Competing Proposal. REIT III agrees that it and the REIT III Subsidiaries will not enter into any confidentiality agreement with any Person subsequent to the date hereof which prohibits it or a REIT III Subsidiary from providing any information required to be provided to REIT II in accordance with this Section 7.3(c) within the time periods contemplated hereby.

 

71


(d) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 7.3(d), the REIT III Board shall not (i)(A) fail to recommend to its stockholders that the REIT III Stockholder Approval be given or fail to include the REIT III Board Recommendation in the REIT III Proxy Statement, (B) change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, or publicly propose to change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, the REIT III Board Recommendation, (C) take any formal action or make any recommendation or public statement in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer other than a recommendation against such offer or a temporary “stop, look and listen” communication by the REIT III Board pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) of the Exchange Act or (D) adopt, approve or recommend, or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend to the stockholders of REIT III a Competing Proposal (actions described in this clause (i) being referred to as a “REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change”) or (ii) authorize, cause or permit REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, agreement in principle or other agreement with respect to a Competing Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) (each, an “Acquisition Agreement”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, prior to the time the REIT III Stockholder Approval is obtained, the REIT III Board (based upon a recommendation of the REIT III Special Committee) may make (but in each case, subject to compliance with this Section 7.3(d) and Sections 7.3(a)-(c)), a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change and/or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii)(Superior Proposal) to enter into a definitive Acquisition Agreement that constitutes a Superior Proposal, if and only if, (A) a written Competing Proposal that was not solicited in violation of this Section 7.3 is made to REIT III by a third party and such Competing Proposal is not withdrawn, and (B) prior to the REIT III Board taking such action, the REIT III Special Committee has determined in good faith (y) after consultation with outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the duties or standard of conduct of the directors of REIT III under applicable Maryland Law and (z) after consultation with REIT III Special Committee’s outside legal counsel and outside financial advisors, that such Competing Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; provided, however, that in connection with any such Competing Proposal (1) REIT III has given REIT II at least five Business Days’ prior written notice of its intention to take such action (which notice shall include the information with respect to such Superior Proposal that is specified in Section 7.3(c) as well as a copy of any proposal, agreement and all material documentation providing for such Superior Proposal), (2) REIT II and REIT III have negotiated, and have caused their respective Representatives to negotiate, in good faith during such notice period to enable REIT II to propose in writing revisions to the terms of this Agreement such that it would cause such Superior Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal, (3) following the end of such notice period, the REIT III Special Committee shall have considered in good faith any proposed revisions to this Agreement proposed in writing by REIT II and shall have determined that, after consultation with the REIT III Special Committee’s outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel, the Competing Proposal would continue to constitute a Superior Proposal if such revisions were to be given effect and (4) in the event of any change to the material terms of such Superior Proposal, REIT III shall, in each case, have delivered to REIT II an additional notice consistent with that described in subclause (1) above and the notice period (which shall be three Business Days for this and subsequent notices) shall have recommenced. Unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with Section 9.1(c)(ii), the REIT III Board shall submit the REIT Merger to its stockholders even if the REIT III Board shall have effected a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change, and the REIT III Board may not submit to the vote of their stockholders any Competing Proposal other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

72


(e) At any time prior to receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval and subject to Section 7.1(c), the REIT III Board may (based upon a recommendation of the REIT III Special Committee), if the REIT III Special Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with REIT III’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the duties or standard of conduct of the directors of REIT III under applicable Maryland Law, make a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an Intervening Event.

(f) Except to the extent expressly provided in this Section 7.3, nothing in this Section 7.3 shall prohibit the REIT III Board from: (i) taking and disclosing to the stockholders of REIT III, a position required by Rule 14e-2(a), Rule 14d-9 or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any “stop, look and listen” communication to the stockholders of REIT III pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, in either case of (i) or (ii), if the REIT III Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the duties or standard of conduct of the directors of REIT III under applicable Maryland Law; provided that any disclosure (other than those made pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 7.3(f)) permitted under this Section 7.3(f) that is not accompanied by an express rejection of any applicable Competing Proposal or accompanied by an express reaffirmation of the REIT III Board Recommendation shall be deemed a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change and; provided, further, that the REIT III Board shall not, except as expressly permitted by Section 7.3(d), effect a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change.

(g) REIT III agrees that in the event any REIT III Subsidiary or any Representative of REIT III (other than any Representative who is also employed by REIT I or is also an officer of REIT I or REIT II) or any REIT III Subsidiary takes any action, that if taken by REIT III would constitute a material violation of this Section 7.3, then REIT III shall be deemed to be in violation of this Section 7.3 for all purposes of this Agreement.

(h) For purposes of this Agreement:

(i) “Competing Proposal” means, any proposal or offer, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, relating to any (1) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) and representing 20% or more of the consolidated assets of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (2) sale or other disposition, by merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar transaction, of any assets of REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries representing 20% or more of the consolidated assets of REIT III and the REIT III Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (3) issue, sale or other disposition by REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or more of the votes associated with the outstanding shares of REIT III Common Stock, (4) tender offer or exchange offer in which any Person or “group” (as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) shall acquire beneficial

 

73


ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 20% or more of the votes associated with the outstanding shares of REIT III Common Stock, or (5) recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other similar type of transaction with respect to REIT III in which a third party shall acquire beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of REIT III Common Stock; provided, however, that the term “Competing Proposal” shall not include (i) the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction solely among REIT III and one or more of the REIT III Subsidiaries or solely among the REIT III Subsidiaries.

(ii) “Superior Proposal” means a written Competing Proposal made by a third party (except for purposes of this definition, the references in the definition of “Competing Proposal” to 20% shall be replaced with 50%”) which the REIT III Board (based on the recommendation of the REIT III Special Committee) determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its legal and financial advisors and after taking into account (A) all of the terms and conditions of the Competing Proposal and this Agreement (as it may be proposed to be amended by REIT II) and (B) the feasibility and certainty of consummation of such Competing Proposal on the terms proposed (taking into account such legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such Competing Proposal and conditions to consummation thereof as the REI III Special Committee determines to be relevant) to be more favorable from a financial point of view to the stockholders of REIT III (in their capacities as stockholders) than the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (as it may be proposed to be amended by REIT II pursuant to Section 7.3(d))).

Section 7.4 Public Announcements. Except with respect to any REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change or any action taken pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 7.1 or Section 7.3, so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Parties shall consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements or filings with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and none of the Parties shall issue any such press release or make any such public statement or filing prior to obtaining the other Parties’ consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided, that a Party may, without obtaining the other Parties’ consent, issue such press release or make such public statement or filing as may be required by Law or Order if it is not possible to consult with the other Party before making any public statement with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Parties have agreed upon the form of a joint press release announcing the Mergers and the execution of this Agreement, and shall make such joint press release no later than one Business Day following the date on which this Agreement is signed.

Section 7.5 Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings.

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the REIT III Parties and each of the REIT II Parties shall and shall cause the other REIT III Subsidiaries and the other REIT II Subsidiaries, respectively, and their respective Affiliates to use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other Party in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law or pursuant to any Contract to consummate and make effective, as promptly

 

74


as practicable, the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) taking all actions necessary to cause the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VIII to be satisfied, (ii) preparing and filing any applications, notices, registrations and requests as may be required or advisable to be filed with or submitted to any Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) obtaining all necessary or advisable actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental Authorities or other Persons necessary in connection with the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the making of all necessary or advisable registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Authorities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary or advisable to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Authority or other Persons necessary in connection with the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) subject to Section 7.6(c), defending any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Governmental Authority vacated or reversed, the avoidance of each and every impediment under any antitrust, merger control, competition or trade regulation Law that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Mergers so as to enable the Closing to occur as soon as reasonably possible, and (v) executing and delivering any additional instruments necessary or advisable to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement; provided, that neither Party will have any obligation (A) to propose, negotiate, commit to or effect, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture or disposition of any assets or businesses of such Party, any of its subsidiaries (including subsidiaries of REIT II after the Closing) or their Affiliates or (B) otherwise to take or commit to take any actions that would limit the freedom of such Party, its subsidiaries (including subsidiaries of REIT II after the Closing) or their Affiliates with respect to, or their ability to retain, one or more of their businesses, product lines or assets.

(b) In connection with and without limiting the foregoing Section 7.5(a), each of the Parties shall give (or shall cause their respective Affiliates to give) any notices to third parties, and each of the Parties shall use, and cause each of their respective Affiliates to use, its reasonable best efforts to obtain any third-party consents that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the Parties will, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, furnish to the other such necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other may request in connection with the preparation of any required applications, notices, registrations and requests as may be required or advisable to be filed with any Governmental Authority and will cooperate in responding to any inquiry from a Governmental Authority, including promptly informing the other Party of such inquiry, consulting in advance before making any presentations or submissions to a Governmental Authority, and supplying each other with copies of all material correspondence, filings or communications between either Party and any Governmental Authority with respect to this Agreement. To the extent reasonably practicable, the Parties or their Representatives shall have the right to review in advance and each of the Parties will consult the others on, all the information relating to the other and each of their Affiliates that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any Governmental Authority in connection with the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that confidential competitively sensitive business

 

75


information may be redacted from such exchanges. To the extent reasonably practicable, neither Party shall, nor shall they permit their respective Representatives to, participate independently in any meeting or engage in any substantive conversation with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filing, investigation or other inquiry without giving the other Party prior notice of such meeting or conversation and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, without giving the other Party the opportunity to attend or participate (whether by telephone or in person) in any such meeting with such Governmental Authority.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in connection with obtaining any approval or consent from any Person (other than any Governmental Authority) with respect to the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, none of the Parties or any of their respective Representatives shall be obligated to pay or commit to pay to such Person whose approval or consent is being solicited any cash or other consideration, make any accommodation or commitment or incur any liability or other obligation to such Person other than commercially reasonable processing and consent fees in connection with obtaining the consent or approval of any lender with respect to an Indebtedness set forth at Section 4.3(b) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter and Section 5.3(b) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter. Subject to the immediately foregoing sentence, the Parties shall cooperate with respect to reasonable accommodations that may be requested or appropriate to obtain such consents.

Section 7.6 Notification of Certain Matters; Transaction Litigation.

(a) The REIT III Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT II Parties, and the REIT II Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT III Parties, of any notice or other communication received by such Party from any Governmental Authority in connection with this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) The REIT III Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT II Parties, and the REIT II Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT III Parties, if (i) any representation or warranty made by it contained in this Agreement becomes untrue or inaccurate such that it would be reasonable to expect that the applicable closing conditions would be incapable of being satisfied by the Outside Date or (ii) it fails to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the Parties or the conditions to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the failure by the REIT III Parties, the REIT II Parties or their respective Representatives to provide such prompt notice under this Section 7.6(b) shall not constitute a breach of covenant for purposes of Section 8.2(b), Section 8.3(b), Section 9.1(c)(i) (REIT II Terminating Breach), or Section 9.1(d)(i) (REIT III Terminating Breach).

(c) The REIT III Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT II Parties, and the REIT II Parties and their Representatives shall give prompt notice to the REIT III Parties, of any Action commenced or, to such Party’s Knowledge, threatened against,

 

76


relating to or involving such Party or any REIT III Subsidiary or REIT II Subsidiary, respectively, or any of their respective directors, officers or partners that relates to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The REIT III Parties and their respective Representatives shall give REIT II the opportunity to reasonably participate in the defense and settlement of any stockholder litigation against the REIT III Parties or their directors, officers or partners relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without REIT II’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned). The REIT II Parties and their respective Representatives shall give the REIT III Parties the opportunity to reasonably participate in the defense and settlement of any litigation against the REIT II Parties and/or their directors, officers or partners relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall consider in good faith REIT III’s advice with respect to such Action, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without REIT III’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

Section 7.7 Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance.

(a) Without limiting or being limited by the provisions of Section 7.7(b) and to the extent permitted by applicable Law and the REIT II Governing Documents, during the period commencing as of the REIT Merger Effective Time and ending on the sixth anniversary of the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT II shall (and shall cause the Surviving Entity to): (i) indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Indemnified Party against and from any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any Action to the extent such Action arises out of or pertains to any action or omission or alleged action or omission in such Indemnified Party’s capacity as a manager, director, officer, partner, member or trustee of REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries, including such alleged acts or omissions with respect to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers; and (ii) pay in advance of the final disposition of any such Action the expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and any expenses incurred by any Indemnified Party in connection with enforcing any rights with respect to indemnification) of any Indemnified Party without the requirement of any bond or other security, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Law, but subject to REIT II’s or the Surviving Entity’s receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, REIT II or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, (i) shall not settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment or otherwise seek termination with respect to any claim, action, suit or proceeding against or investigation of any Indemnified Party for which indemnification may be sought under this Section 7.7(a) without the Indemnified Party’s prior written consent (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, (ii) shall not be liable for any settlement effected without their prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and (iii) shall not have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine in a final and non-appealable order that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable Law, in which case the Indemnified Party shall promptly refund to REIT II or the Surviving Entity the amount of all such expenses theretofore advanced pursuant hereto.

 

77


(b) To the extent permitted by applicable Law, the Surviving Entity shall, and REIT II agrees to cause the Surviving Entity to, during the period commencing as of the REIT Merger Effective Time and ending on the sixth anniversary of the REIT Merger Effective Time, honor all rights to indemnification, advancement and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time now existing in favor of the current or former managers, directors, officers, partners, members and trustees of REIT III or any of the REIT III Subsidiaries (the “Indemnified Parties”) as currently provided in (i) the REIT III Governing Documents and (ii) indemnification agreements between REIT III and any Indemnified Party as scheduled on Section 7.7(b) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter. For a period of six years following the REIT Merger Effective Time, the REIT II Governing Documents and the equivalent governing or organizational documents of any applicable REIT II Subsidiary or REIT III Subsidiary shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six years following the REIT Merger Effective Time in any manner that would adversely modify these rights, unless such modification shall be required by applicable Law and then only to the minimum extent required by Law.

(c) REIT III and REIT II shall (i) ensure that the current D&O insurance policies shared by REIT III, REIT I and REIT II will continue in full force through the Mergers, including as to alleged acts or omissions occurring after the Closing; and (ii) take no action to cancel or terminate coverage under the six year D&O insurance tail policies purchased at the time of the REIT I Internalization Transaction.

(d) If REIT II or the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges with or into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation, partnership or other entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) liquidates, dissolves or winds-up, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of REIT II or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, assume the obligations set forth in this Section 7.7.

(e) REIT II shall cause the Surviving Entity to pay all reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that may be incurred by any Indemnified Party in enforcing the obligations provided in this Section 7.7.

(f) The provisions of this Section 7.7 are intended to be for the express benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party (who are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Section 7.7), his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives, shall be binding on all successors and assigns of REIT III, REIT II and the Surviving Entity.

Section 7.8 Dividends.

(a) In the event that a distribution with respect to the shares of REIT III Common Stock permitted under the terms of this Agreement has a record date prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time and has not been paid prior to the Closing Date, such distribution shall be

 

78


paid to the holders of such shares of REIT III Common Stock on the Closing Date immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time. In the event that a distribution with respect to the shares of REIT II Common Stock permitted under the terms of this Agreement has a record date prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time and has not been paid prior to the Closing Date, such distribution shall be paid to the holders of such shares of REIT II Common Stock on the Closing Date immediately prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time. After the signing of this Agreement and before the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT III shall coordinate with REIT II with respect to the declaration of, and the setting of record dates and payment dates for dividends on REIT III Common Stock so that holders of REIT III Common Stock do not receive both a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.1(b)(iii) on REIT III Common Stock and a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.2(b)(iii) on REIT II Common Stock received in the REIT Merger or fail to receive either a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.1(b)(iii) on REIT III Common Stock or a dividend permitted by the proviso to Section 6.2(b)(iii) on REIT II Common Stock received in the REIT Merger.

(b) In the event that REIT III shall declare or pay any dividend or other distribution that is expressly permitted pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 6.1(b)(iii), it shall notify REIT II at least 20 days prior to the Closing Date, and REIT II shall be entitled to declare a dividend per share payable to holders of REIT II Common Stock, in an amount per share of REIT II Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the dividend declared by REIT III with respect to each share of REIT III Common Stock by (y) the Exchange Ratio. In the event that REIT II shall declare or pay any dividend or other distribution that is expressly permitted pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 6.2(b)(iii), it shall notify REIT III at least 20 days prior to the Closing Date, and REIT III shall be entitled to declare a dividend per share payable to holders of REIT III Common Stock, in an amount per share of REIT III Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by multiplying (x) the dividend declared by REIT II with respect to each share of REIT II Common Stock by (y) the Exchange Ratio. The record date and time and payment date and time for any dividend payable pursuant to this Section 7.8(b) shall be prior to the Closing Date.

Section 7.9 Takeover Statutes. The Parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts (a) to take all action necessary so that no Takeover Statute is or becomes applicable to the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (b) if any such Takeover Statute is or becomes applicable to any of the foregoing, to take all action necessary so that the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to eliminate or minimize the effect of such Takeover Statute or the restrictions in the REIT III Charter or the REIT II Charter (“Charter Restrictions”) on the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No Party shall take any action to exempt any Person (other than the other Parties or their respective Affiliates) from any Takeover Statute of any jurisdiction or Charter Restrictions that may purport to be applicable to the Mergers or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise cause any restrictions in any Takeover Statute or Charter Restrictions not to apply to any such Person.

Section 7.10 Obligations of the Parties. REIT III shall take all actions necessary to cause the other REIT III Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Mergers on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. REIT II shall take all actions

 

79


necessary to (a) cause the REIT II Parties to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Mergers on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and (b) ensure that, prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, Merger Sub shall not conduct any business or make any investments or incur or guarantee any indebtedness other than as specifically contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 7.11 Certain Transactions. Except as set forth in Section 7.11 of the REIT III Disclosure Letter, REIT III shall cause all contracts (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the REIT III Related-Party Agreements) between any former, current or future officers, directors, partners, stockholders, managers, members, affiliates or agents of REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary, on the one hand, and REIT III or any REIT III Subsidiary, on the other hand, to be settled or terminated on or prior to the Closing, without any further obligations, liability or payments (other than customary indemnification obligations) by or on behalf of REIT III as of the Closing. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not require the settlement or termination of an agreement that is solely between REIT III and/or any entities that will remain REIT III Subsidiaries after the Closing.

Section 7.12 Tax Matters.

(a) Each of REIT III and REIT II shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the REIT Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, including by executing and delivering the officers’ certificates referred to herein and reporting consistently for all federal, state, and local income Tax or other purposes. None of REIT III, REIT II or any REIT III Subsidiary or REIT II Subsidiary shall take any action, or fail to take any action, that would reasonably be expected to cause the REIT Merger to fail to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(b) REIT III shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be provided, the opinions of Miles & Stockbridge P.C., and (ii) deliver to Miles & Stockbridge P.C. tax representation letters, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an officer of REIT III and REIT III Operating Partnership, containing representations of REIT III and REIT III Operating Partnership reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Miles & Stockbridge P.C. to render the tax opinions described in Section 8.2(f) and Section 8.3(e).

(c) REIT II shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be provided, the opinions of DLA Piper LLP (US), and (ii) deliver to DLA Piper LLP (US) tax representation letters, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an officer of REIT II and REIT II Operating Partnership, containing representations of REIT II and REIT II Operating Partnership reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable DLA Piper LLP (US) to render the tax opinions described in Section 8.2(e) and Section 8.3(f).

(d) REIT III and REIT II shall reasonably cooperate in the preparation, execution and filing of all returns, questionnaires, applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer or gains, sales, use, transfer, value added, stock transfer or stamp taxes, any transfer, recording, registration and other fees and any similar taxes that become payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (together with any related interest, penalties or additions to such taxes, “Transfer Taxes”), and shall reasonably cooperate in attempting to minimize the amount of Transfer Taxes.

 

80


Section 7.13 REIT II Board. The REIT II Board shall take or cause to be taken such action as may be necessary, in each case, to be effective as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, to cause the individual set forth on Section 7.13 of the REIT III Disclosure Letter (the “REIT III Designee”) to be elected to the REIT II Board effective as of the REIT Merger Effective Time. If a REIT III Designee is not able or willing to serve on the REIT II Board, as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT III shall select, within a reasonable period of time prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, a replacement, and the REIT II Board shall appoint such replacement as a member of the REIT II Board, as of the REIT Merger Effective Time.

Section 7.14 REIT II Share Redemption Program. From and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, REIT II shall take all such steps as may be required to cause the REIT II Share Redemption Program or any similar redemption program then in effect (as each may be amended from time to time) to provide for all purposes thereunder (including, without limitation, any holding period requirement or redemption price determination) that each share of REIT II Common Stock issued to REIT III stockholders in the Merger will be treated as having been outstanding from the date such stockholder acquired the corresponding share of REIT III Common Stock that was exchanged in the Merger.

ARTICLE VIII

CONDITIONS

Section 8.1 Conditions to Each Partys Obligation to Effect the Mergers. The respective obligations of the Parties to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement on the Closing Date are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by each of the Parties at or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a) Regulatory Authorizations. All consents, authorizations, orders or approvals of each Governmental Authority necessary for the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement set forth in Section 8.1(a) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter and Section 8.1(a) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter shall have been obtained and any applicable waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired or been terminated.

(b) Stockholder Approval. The REIT III Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable Law and the REIT III Charter and REIT III Bylaws. The REIT III Charter Amendment shall have become effective pursuant to the MGCL.

(c) No Injunctions or Restraints. No Order issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction prohibiting consummation of the Mergers shall be in effect, and no Law shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement that, in any case, prohibits, restrains, enjoins or makes illegal the consummation of the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

81


(d) Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have been declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated by the SEC that have not been withdrawn.

Section 8.2 Conditions to Obligations of the REIT III Parties. The obligations of the REIT III Parties to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by REIT III, at or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, of the following additional conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the REIT II Parties set forth in the Fundamental Representations (except Section 5.4(a) (Capital Structure), shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.4(a) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, and (iii) each of the other representations and warranties of the REIT II Parties contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, except (A) in each case, representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct only on and as of such date, (B) in the case of clause (iii) where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or REIT II Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein), individually or in the aggregate, does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT II Material Adverse Effect, and (C) if the transactions contemplated by the REIT I Merger Agreement have been consummated prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, to the extent that such representations and warranties must be modified solely to reflect the consummation of such transactions and the addition of disclosure exceptions or qualifications to representations and warranties that are as set forth in the disclosure letter prepared by REIT I and its affiliates and delivered to REIT II on the date of this Agreement in connection with the REIT I Merger Agreement.

(b) Performance of Covenants and Obligations of the REIT II Parties. The REIT II Parties shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants, required to be performed by them under this Agreement on or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time.

(c) Absence of Material Adverse Change. On the Closing Date, no circumstance shall exist that constitutes a REIT II Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Delivery of Certificate. REIT II shall have delivered to REIT III a certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by its chief executive officer and chief financial officer on behalf of REIT II, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a), Section 8.2(b), Section 8.2(c) and Section 8.2(g) have been satisfied.

(e) REIT Opinion. REIT III shall have received a written opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), or other counsel to REIT II reasonably satisfactory to REIT III, dated as of the Closing

 

82


Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to REIT III, to the effect that, commencing with REIT II’s taxable year that ended on December 31, 2014, REIT II has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and its actual method of operation has enabled REIT II to meet, through the Closing, the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications and based on customary representations contained in an officer’s certificate executed by REIT II and REIT II Operating Partnership.

(f) Section 368 Opinion. REIT III shall have received a written opinion of Miles & Stockbridge P.C. or other counsel to REIT III reasonably satisfactory to REIT II, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to REIT III, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the REIT Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications. In rendering such opinion, Miles & Stockbridge P.C. may rely upon the tax representation letters described in Section 7.12.

(g) Board Designees. The REIT III Designee shall have been elected to the REIT II Board effective as of the REIT Merger Effective Time.

(h) Consents. REIT II shall have received the written Consents identified on Section 8.2(h) of the REIT II Disclosure Letter in form and substance reasonably acceptable to REIT III.

Section 8.3 Conditions to Obligations of the REIT II Parties. The obligations of the REIT II Parties to effect the Mergers and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by REIT II at or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, of the following additional conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the REIT III Parties set forth in the Fundamental Representations (except Section 4.4(a) (Capital Structure)) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.4(a) (Capital Structure) shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, and (iii) each of the other representations and warranties of the REIT III Parties contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, as though made as of the REIT Merger Effective Time, except (A) in each case, representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct only on and as of such date, and (B) in the case of clause (iii) where the failure of such representations or warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or REIT III Material Adverse Effect qualifications set forth therein), individually or in the aggregate, does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

 

83


(b) Performance of Covenants and Obligations of the REIT III Parties. The REIT III Parties shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants, required to be performed by them under this Agreement on or prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time.

(c) Absence of Material Adverse Change. On the Closing Date, no circumstance shall exist that constitutes a REIT III Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Delivery of Certificate. REIT III shall have delivered to REIT II a certificate, dated the date of the Closing and signed by its chief executive officer and chief financial officer on behalf of REIT III certifying to the effect that the factual conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a), Section 8.3(b), and Section 8.3(c) have been satisfied.

(e) REIT Opinion. REIT II shall have received a written opinion of Miles & Stockbridge P.C. or other counsel to REIT III reasonably satisfactory to REIT II, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to REIT II, to the effect that, commencing with REIT III’s taxable year that ended on December 31, 2017, REIT III has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code and its actual method of operation has enabled REIT III to meet, through the Closing, the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications and based on customary representations contained in an officer’s certificate executed by REIT III and REIT III Operating Partnership.

(f) Section 368 Opinion. REIT II shall have received a written opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US), or other counsel to REIT II reasonably satisfactory to REIT III, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to REIT II, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the REIT Merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, which opinion will be subject to customary exceptions, assumptions and qualifications. In rendering such opinion, DLA Piper LLP (US) may rely upon the tax representation letters described in Section 7.12.

(g) Consents. REIT III shall have received the written Consents identified on Section 8.3(g) of the REIT III Disclosure Letter in form and substance reasonably acceptable to REIT II.

ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION, FEES AND EXPENSES, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time, notwithstanding receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval (except as otherwise specified in this Section 9.1):

(a) by mutual written consent of each of REIT III and REIT II;

 

84


(b) by either REIT III (with the prior approval of the REIT III Special Committee) or REIT II (with the prior approval of the REIT II Special Committee):

(i) if the REIT Merger shall not have occurred on or before 11:59 p.m. New York time on June 8, 2021 (the “Outside Date”); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(i) shall not be available to any Party if the failure of such Party (and (A) in the case of REIT III, including the failure of the other REIT III Parties, and (B) in the case of REIT II, including the failure of the other REIT II Parties) to perform or comply in all material respects with the obligations, covenants or agreements of such Party set forth in this Agreement shall have been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the REIT Merger to be consummated by the Outside Date;

(ii) if any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order permanently restraining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to a Party if the issuance of such final, non-appealable Order was primarily due to the failure of such Party (and (A) in the case of REIT III, including the failure of the other REIT III Parties, and (B) in the case of REIT II, including the failure of the other REIT II Parties) to perform in all material respects any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under this Agreement; or

(iii) if the REIT III Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at the REIT III Stockholders Meeting, duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at which a vote on the approval of the REIT Merger and REIT III Charter Amendment was taken; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(iii) shall not be available to a Party if the failure to receive the REIT III Stockholder Approval was primarily due to the failure of a Party to perform in all material respects any of its obligations, covenants or agreements under this Agreement;

(c) by REIT III (with the prior approval of the REIT III Special Committee):

(i) if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any obligation, covenant or agreement on the part of any of the REIT II Parties set forth in this Agreement has occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 not to be satisfied (a “REIT II Terminating Breach”), which breach or failure to perform cannot be cured, or, if capable of cure, has not been cured by the earlier of 20 days following written notice thereof from REIT III to REIT II and two Business Days before the Outside Date; provided, that REIT III shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c)(i) if a REIT III Terminating Breach shall have occurred and be continuing at the time REIT III delivers notice of its election to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c)(i);

(ii) if REIT III has accepted a Superior Proposal at any time prior to receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.3(d); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be so terminated unless concurrently with the occurrence of such termination the payment required by Section 9.3(b) is made in full to REIT II; or

 

85


(iii) if (A) all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 have been and continue to be satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature cannot be satisfied other than at Closing), (B) on or after the date the Closing should have occurred, REIT III has delivered written notice to REIT II to the effect that all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature cannot be satisfied other than at Closing) and the REIT III Parties are prepared to consummate the Closing, and (C) the REIT II Parties fail to consummate the Closing within three Business Days after delivery of the notice referenced in the preceding clause (B) (it being understood that during such three Business Day period, REIT II shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement); or

(d) by REIT II (with the prior approval of the REIT II Special Committee):

(i) if a breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any obligation, covenant or agreement on the part of any of the REIT III Parties set forth in this Agreement has occurred that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.3 not to be satisfied (a “REIT III Terminating Breach”), which breach or failure to perform cannot be cured, or if capable of cure, has not been cured by the earlier of 20 days following written notice thereof from REIT II to REIT III and two Business Days before the Outside Date; provided, that REIT II shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(d)(i) if a REIT II Terminating Breach shall have occurred and be continuing at the time REIT II delivers notice of its election to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(d)(i);

(ii) if, at any time prior to receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval, (A) the REIT III Board or any committee thereof, for any reason, shall have effected a REIT III Adverse Recommendation Change; (B) the REIT III Board or any committee thereof shall have approved, adopted or publicly endorsed or recommended any Competing Proposal, (C) a tender offer or exchange offer for any shares of REIT III Common Stock that constitutes an Competing Proposal (other than by REIT II or any of its Affiliates) is commenced and the REIT III Board fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by the stockholders of REIT III and to publicly reaffirm the REIT III Board Recommendation within ten Business Days of being requested to do so by REIT II, (D) the REIT III Board or any committee thereof fails to include the REIT III Board Recommendation in the REIT III Proxy Statement, or (E) REIT III shall have materially violated any of its material obligations under Section 7.3, or shall be deemed pursuant to Section 7.3(g) to have materially violated any of its obligations under Section 7.3; or

(iii) if (A) all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.3 have been and continue to be satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature cannot be satisfied other than at Closing), (B) on or after the date the Closing should have occurred, REIT II has delivered written notice to REIT III to the effect that all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.3 have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature cannot be satisfied other than at Closing) and the REIT II Parties are prepared to consummate the Closing, and (C) the REIT III Parties fail to consummate the Closing within three (3) Business Days after delivery of the notice referenced in the preceding clause (B) (it being understood that during such three Business Day period, REIT III shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement).

 

86


Section 9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Parties specifying the provision hereof pursuant to which such termination is made, and this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of the REIT III Parties or the REIT II Parties, except that the Confidentiality Agreement and the provisions of Section 7.4 (Public Announcements), this Section 9.2, Section 9.3 (Fees and Expenses), Section 9.4 (Amendment), and Article X (General Provisions) of this Agreement shall survive the termination hereof; provided, that no such termination shall relieve any Party from any liability or damages resulting from any fraud or willful and material breach of any of its covenants, obligations or agreements set forth in this Agreement.

Section 9.3 Fees and Expenses.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.3, all Expenses shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Mergers are consummated; provided that the Parties will share equally the Form S-4 filing fees as may be required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated:

(i) (A)(x) by REIT II pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(i) (REIT III Terminating Breach), and after the date hereof and prior to the breach or failure to perform giving rise to such right of termination, a bona fide Competing Proposal (with, for all purposes of this Section 9.3(b)(i), all percentages included in the definition of “Competing Proposal” increased to 50%) has been publicly announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to the REIT III Board or any Person shall have publicly announced an intention (whether or not conditional) to make such a Competing Proposal or (y) by REIT II or REIT III pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i) (Outside Date) (and at the time of such termination REIT III would not have been entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(iii) (REIT II Failure to Close)) or Section 9.1(b)(iii) (Failure to Obtain REIT III Stockholder Approval) and after the date of this Agreement but prior to the REIT III Stockholders Meeting, a Competing Proposal with respect to REIT III has been made to REIT III or publicly announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to REIT III’s stockholders (and not withdrawn) and (B) within 12 months after the date of such termination, a transaction in respect of a Competing Proposal with respect to REIT III is consummated or REIT III enters into a definitive agreement in respect of a Competing Proposal with respect to REIT III that is later consummated, REIT III shall pay to REIT II an amount equal to the Termination Payment;

(ii) (A) by REIT III pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(iii) (Failure to Close), then REIT II shall pay to REIT III an amount equal to the Expense Reimbursement Payment, or (B) by REIT II pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(iii) (Failure to Close), then REIT III shall pay to REIT II an amount equal to the Expense Reimbursement Payment;

(iii) by REIT III pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) (Superior Proposal), then REIT III shall pay to REIT II an amount equal to the Termination Payment; or

 

87


(iv) by REIT II pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(ii) (Adverse Recommendation Change/No-Shop Violation), then REIT III shall pay to REIT II an amount equal to the Termination Payment.

(c) REIT II agrees that in no event shall REIT III be required to pay a Termination Payment on more than one occasion. Payment of a Termination Payment shall be made by wire transfer of same day funds to the account or accounts designated by REIT II (i) prior to or concurrently at the time of consummation of any transaction contemplated by an Competing Proposal, in the case of a Termination Payment payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(i), (ii) concurrently with termination in the case of a Termination Payment payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(iii), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably practicable after termination (and, in any event, within two Business Days thereof), in the case of a Termination Payment payable pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(iv).

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that a Termination Payment becomes payable, then such payment shall be the REIT II Parties’ sole and exclusive remedy as liquidated damages for any and all losses or damages of any nature against REIT III and its Subsidiaries and each of their respective Representatives in respect of this Agreement, any agreement executed in connection herewith, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the termination of this Agreement, the failure of the Mergers to be consummated or for a breach or failure to perform hereunder (whether intentionally, unintentionally, or otherwise) or otherwise.

(e) REIT III acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 9.3 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that without these agreements, REIT II would not enter into this Agreement. In the event that REIT III shall fail to pay the Termination Payment when due, REIT III shall reimburse REIT II for all reasonable costs and expenses actually incurred or accrued by REIT II (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with the collection under and enforcement of this Section 9.3. Further, if REIT III fails to timely pay any amount due pursuant to this Section 9.3, and, in order to obtain the payment, REIT II commences a suit that results in a judgment against REIT III for the payment set forth in this Section 9.3, REIT III shall pay to REIT II its reasonable and documented costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) in connection with such suit, together with interest on such amount at a rate per annum equal to the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made through the date of payment.

(f) If REIT III becomes obligated to pay a Termination Payment under this Section 9.3, then, if requested by REIT II, REIT III shall deposit into escrow an amount in cash equal to the Termination Payment with an escrow agent reasonably selected by REIT II, after reasonable consultation with REIT III, and pursuant to a written escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) reflecting the terms set forth in this Section 9.3 and otherwise reasonably acceptable to each of the Parties and the escrow agent. The payment or deposit into escrow of the Termination Payment pursuant to this Section 9.3(f) shall be made by REIT III promptly after receipt of notice from REIT II that the Escrow Agreement has been executed by the parties thereto. The Escrow Agreement shall provide that the Termination Payment in escrow or the applicable portion thereof shall be released to REIT II on an annual basis based upon the delivery by REIT II to the escrow agent of any one (or a combination) of the following:

(i) a letter from REIT II’s independent certified public accountants indicating the maximum amount that can be paid by the escrow agent to REIT II without causing REIT II to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code for the applicable taxable year of REIT II determined as if the payment of such amount did not constitute income described in Sections 856(c)(2)(A)-(H) or 856(c)(3)(A)-(I) of the Code (such income, “Qualifying REIT Income”), in which case the escrow agent shall release to REIT II such maximum amount stated in the accountant’s letter;

 

88


(ii) a letter from REIT II’s counsel indicating that REIT II received a private letter ruling from the IRS holding that the receipt by REIT II of the Termination Payment would either constitute Qualifying REIT Income or would be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, in which case the escrow agent shall release to REIT II the remainder of the Termination Payment; or

(iii) a letter from REIT II’s counsel indicating that REIT II has received a tax opinion from REIT II’s outside counsel or accountant, respectively, to the effect that the receipt by REIT II of the Termination Payment should either constitute Qualifying REIT Income or should be excluded from gross income within the meaning of Section 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, in which case the escrow agent shall release to REIT II the remainder of the Termination Payment.

REIT III agrees to cooperate in good faith to amend this Section 9.3(f) at the reasonable request of REIT II in order to (A) maximize the portion of the Termination Payment that may be distributed to REIT II hereunder without causing REIT II to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, (B) improve REIT II’s chances of securing the favorable private letter ruling from the IRS described in this Section 9.3(f) or (C) assist REIT II in obtaining the favorable tax opinion from its outside counsel or accountant described in this Section 9.3(f). The Escrow Agreement shall provide that REIT II shall bear all costs and expenses under the Escrow Agreement and that any portion of the Termination Payment held in escrow for ten years shall be released by the escrow agent to REIT III. REIT III shall not be a party to the Escrow Agreement and shall not bear any liability, cost or expense resulting directly or indirectly from the Escrow Agreement (other than any Taxes imposed on REIT III in connection therewith). REIT II shall fully indemnify REIT III and hold REIT III harmless from and against any such liability, cost or expense.

Section 9.4 Amendment. Subject to compliance with applicable Law, this Agreement may be amended by mutual agreement of the Parties by action taken or authorized by the REIT III Board (based upon a recommendation of the REIT III Special Committee) and the REIT II Board (based upon a recommendation of the REIT II Special Committee), respectively, at any time before or after receipt of the REIT III Stockholder Approval and prior to the REIT Merger Effective Time; provided, that after the REIT III Stockholder Approval has been obtained, there shall not be (i) any amendment of this Agreement that changes the amount or the form of the consideration to be delivered under this Agreement to the holders of REIT III Common Stock, or which by applicable Law requires the further approval of the stockholders of REIT III without such further approval of such stockholders, or (ii) any amendment or change not permitted under applicable Law. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Parties.

 

89


ARTICLE X

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 10.1 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties and Certain Covenants. None of the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the REIT Merger Effective Time. The covenants to be performed prior to or at the Closing shall terminate at the Closing. This Section 10.1 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the Parties that by its terms contemplates performance after the REIT Merger Effective Time.

Section 10.2 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, consents, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties or sent by facsimile or e-mail of an attachment in portable document form (providing confirmation of transmission) at the following addresses or facsimile numbers (or at such other address or facsimile number for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

(a) if to a REIT II Party to:

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc.

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attn: Gary Lichtenstein, Chair

Email: gslick180@aol.com

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morrison and Foerster, LLP

3500 Lenox Road, N.E., Suite 1500

Atlanta, GA 30326

Attn: Heath D. Linsky

Email: hlinsky@mofo.com

DLA Piper LLP (US)

4141 Parklake Ave., Suite 300

Raleigh, NC 27612

Attn: Robert H. Bergdolt

Email: rob.bergdolt@dlapiper.com

 

90


(b) if to a REIT III Party to:

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc.

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attn: Harvey Magarick, Chair

Email: hmagarick@gmail.com

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

Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

100 Light Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Attention: J. W. Thompson Webb and Emily A. Higgs

Email: twebb@MilesStockbridge.com and ehiggs@milesstockbridge.com

Section 10.3 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced under any present or future Law, or public policy, (a) such term or other provision shall be fully separable, (b) this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, and (c) all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable term or other provision or by its severance herefrom so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

Section 10.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall be deemed one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered (by telecopy, electronic delivery or otherwise) to the other Parties. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.

Section 10.5 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including the Exhibits, Schedules, the REIT III Disclosure Letter and the REIT II Disclosure Letter) and the Confidentiality Agreement (a) constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and, (b) except for the provisions of Article III and Section 7.14 (which, from and after the REIT Merger Effective Time, shall be for the benefit of holders of shares of REIT III Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time) and Section 7.7 (which, from and after the REIT Merger Effective Time shall be for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties) are not intended to confer upon any Person other than the Parties hereto any rights or remedies.

 

91


Section 10.6 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Merger Effective Time, the Parties may, to the extent legally allowed and except as otherwise set forth herein, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) subject to the requirements of applicable Law, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. The failure of any Party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those rights.

Section 10.7 Governing Law; Venue.

(a) Except to the extent that the Laws of the State of Delaware are mandatorily applicable to the Partnership Merger, this Agreement, and all claims or causes of actions (whether at Law, in contract or in tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or related to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles (whether the State of Maryland or any other jurisdiction that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland).

(b) All disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Maryland state or federal court. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any such Maryland state or federal court, for the purpose of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party, (ii) agrees not to commence any such dispute except in such courts, (iii) agrees that any claim in respect of any such dispute may be heard and determined in any such Maryland state or federal court, (iv) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute, (v) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such dispute and (vi) agrees, with respect to any Action filed in a Maryland state court, to jointly request an assignment to the Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program. Each of the Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.2. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

Section 10.8 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the other Parties. This Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

92


Section 10.9 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that, prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article IX, each Party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such Party is entitled at Law or in equity.

Section 10.10 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 10.10.

Section 10.11 Authorship. The Parties agree that the terms and language of this Agreement are the result of negotiations between the Parties and their respective advisors and, as a result, there shall be no presumption that any ambiguities in this Agreement shall be resolved against any Party. Any controversy over construction of this Agreement shall be decided without regard to events of authorship or negotiation.

 

93


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective duly authorized officers, all as of the date first written above.

 

RESOURCE APARTMENT REIT III, INC.
By:  

/s/ Shelle Weisbaum

  Shelle Weisbaum
  Chief Legal Officer

 

RESOURCE APARTMENT OP III, LP
By:   RESOURCE APARTMENT REIT III, INC., as general partner
  By:  

/s/ Shelle Weisbaum

    Shelle Weisbaum
    Chief Legal Officer

 

[Signature Page to the REIT III Merger Agreement]


RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.
By:  

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

  Alan F. Feldman
  Chief Executive Officer

 

RRE OPPORTUNITY OP II, LP
By:   RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC., as general partner
  By:  

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

    Alan F. Feldman
    Chief Executive Officer

 

REVOLUTION III MERGER SUB, LLC
By:   RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC., its sole member
  By:  

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

    Alan F. Feldman
    Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to the REIT III Merger Agreement]

EXHIBIT 10.1

VOTING AGREEMENT

between

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.

and

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE, LLC


VOTING AGREEMENT

THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 8, 2020, is between Resource Real Estate, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Stockholder”) and Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT II”). REIT II and the Stockholder are each sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT I”), REIT II and Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II (“Merger Sub”), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), providing for, among other things, the merger (the “Merger”) of REIT I with and into Merger Sub pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement;

WHEREAS, in order to induce REIT II to enter into the Merger Agreement, Stockholder is willing to make certain representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements as set forth in this Agreement with respect to the 30,206 shares of convertible stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Convertible Stock”) of REIT I Beneficially Owned by Stockholder (the “Original Shares” and, together with any additional shares of REIT I Convertible Stock pursuant to Section 6 hereof, the “Shares”); and

WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, REIT II has required that Stockholder, and Stockholder has agreed to, execute and deliver this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency, and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases, and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.

“Action” shall have the meaning given in Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

1


“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Beneficially Own” or “Beneficial Ownership” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such rule is actually applicable in such circumstance). For the avoidance of doubt, “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall also include record ownership of securities.

“Beneficial Owner” shall mean the Person who Beneficially Owns the referenced securities.

“Convertible Stock” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Expiration Time” shall have the meaning given in Section 7 of this Agreement.

“Merger” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Merger Sub” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Original Shares” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Party” or “Parties” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“REIT I” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“REIT II” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Shares” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Stockholder” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Transfer” shall have the meaning given in Section 5 of this Agreement.

2. REPRESENTATIONS OF STOCKHOLDER.

Stockholder represents and warrants to REIT II that:

(a) Ownership of Shares. Stockholder: (i) is the Beneficial Owner of all of the Original Shares free and clear of any proxy, voting restriction, adverse claim, or other Liens, other than those created by this Agreement or under applicable federal or state securities laws; and (ii) has the sole voting power over all of the Original Shares. Except pursuant to this Agreement, there are no options, warrants, or other rights, agreements, arrangements, or commitments of any character to which Stockholder is a party relating to the pledge, disposition, or voting of any of the Original Shares and there are no voting trusts or voting agreements with respect to the Original Shares.

 

2


(b) Power and Authority; Binding Agreement. Stockholder has full limited liability company power and authority to enter into, execute, and deliver this Agreement and to perform fully Stockholder’s obligations hereunder (including the proxy described in Section 3(b) below)). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of Stockholder, enforceable against Stockholder in accordance with its terms except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

(c) No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the compliance with the provisions hereof will not, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Stockholder or result in any breach of or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Lien on any of the Shares pursuant to, any agreement or other instrument or obligation including organizational documents binding upon Stockholder or any of the Shares.

(d) No Consents. No consent, approval, Order, or authorization of, or registration, declaration, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person on the part of Stockholder is required in connection with the valid execution and delivery of this Agreement.

(e) No Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation, or proceeding (whether judicial, arbitral, administrative, or other) (each an “Action”) pending against, or, to the knowledge of Stockholder, threatened against or affecting, Stockholder that could reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially adversely affect the ability of Stockholder to perform Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on a timely basis.

3. AGREEMENT TO VOTE SHARES; IRREVOCABLE PROXY.

(a) Agreement to Vote and Approve. Stockholder irrevocably and unconditionally agrees during the term of this Agreement, at any annual or special meeting of REIT I called with respect to the following matters, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent or consents of the REIT I stockholders with respect to any of the following matters, to vote or cause the holder of record to vote the Shares in favor of (1) the Merger Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (2) any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting of stockholders of REIT I to a later date if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Merger.

 

3


(b) Irrevocable Proxy. Stockholder hereby appoints REIT II and any designee of REIT II, and each of them individually, until the Expiration Time (at which time this proxy shall automatically be revoked), its proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote or act by written consent during the term of this Agreement with respect to the Shares in accordance with Section 3(a). This proxy and power of attorney is given to secure the performance of the duties of Stockholder under this Agreement. Stockholder shall take such further action or execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy. This proxy and power of attorney granted by Stockholder shall be irrevocable during the term of this Agreement, shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy, and shall revoke any and all prior proxies granted by Stockholder with respect to the Shares. The power of attorney granted by Stockholder herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the bankruptcy, winding up or dissolution of Stockholder. The proxy and power of attorney granted hereunder shall terminate upon the termination of this Agreement.

4. NO VOTING TRUSTS OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT.

Stockholder agrees that during the term of this Agreement Stockholder will not, and will not permit any entity under Stockholder’s control to, deposit any of the Shares in a voting trust, grant any proxies with respect to the Shares, or subject any of the Shares to any arrangement with respect to the voting of the Shares other than agreements entered into with REIT II.

5. TRANSFER AND ENCUMBRANCE.

Stockholder agrees that during the term of this Agreement, Stockholder will not, directly or indirectly, transfer, sell, offer, exchange, assign, pledge, convey any legal or Beneficial Ownership interest in or otherwise dispose of (by merger (including by conversion into securities or other consideration), by tendering into any tender or exchange offer, by operation of Law, or otherwise), or encumber (“Transfer”) any of the Shares or enter into any contract, option, or other agreement with respect to, or consent to, a Transfer of, any of the Shares or Stockholder’s voting or economic interest therein. Any attempted Transfer of Shares or any interest therein in violation of this Section 5 shall be null and void. This Section 5 shall not prohibit a Transfer of the Shares by Stockholder to an Affiliate of Stockholder; provided, that a Transfer referred to in this sentence shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee agrees in a writing, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to REIT II, to be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement.

6. ADDITIONAL SHARES.

Stockholder agrees that all shares of REIT I Convertible Stock that Stockholder purchases, acquires the right to vote, or otherwise acquires Beneficial Ownership of after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Expiration Time shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and shall constitute Shares for all purposes of this Agreement. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares, or the like of the capital stock of REIT I affecting the Shares, the terms of this Agreement shall apply to the resulting securities and such resulting securities shall be deemed to be “Shares” for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

4


7. TERMINATION.

This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (the “Expiration Time”): (a) the REIT Merger Effective Time; (b) the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; and (c) the termination of this Agreement by mutual written consent of the Parties. Nothing in this Section 7 shall relieve or otherwise limit the liability of any Party for any intentional breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

8. NO SOLICITATION.

Stockholder shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, and shall use it reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates and Representatives not to, take any action that would be in violation of Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement if such action were taken by REIT I or a Representative thereof.

9. FURTHER ASSURANCES.

Stockholder agrees, from time to time, and without additional consideration, to execute and deliver such additional proxies, documents, and other instruments and to take all such further action as REIT II may reasonably request to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

10. STOP TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS.

At all times commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the Expiration Time, in furtherance of this Agreement, Stockholder hereby authorizes REIT I or its counsel to notify REIT I’s transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Shares (and that this Agreement places limits on the voting and transfer of the Shares), subject to the provisions hereof and provided that any such stop transfer order and notice will immediately be withdrawn and terminated by REIT I following the Expiration Time.

11. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.

Each Party hereto acknowledges that it will be impossible to measure in money the damage to the other Party if a Party hereto fails to comply with any of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, that every such obligation is material and that, in the event of any such failure, the other Party will not have an adequate remedy at Law or damages. Accordingly, each Party hereto agrees that injunctive relief or other equitable remedy, in addition to remedies at Law or damages, is the appropriate remedy for any such failure and will not oppose the seeking of such relief on the basis that the other Party has an adequate remedy at Law. Each Party hereto agrees that it will not seek, and agrees to waive any requirement for, the securing or posting of a bond in connection with the other Party’s seeking or obtaining such equitable relief.

 

5


12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended or supplemented, and no provisions hereof may be modified or waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by both of the Parties hereto. No waiver of any provisions hereof by either Party shall be deemed a waiver of any other provisions hereof by such Party, nor shall any such waiver be deemed a continuing waiver of any provision hereof by such Party.

13. NOTICES.

All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or email of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 13):

If to REIT II:

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc.

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attn: Gary Lichtenstein, Chair

Email: gslick180@aol.com

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morrison and Foerster, LLP

3500 Lenox Road, N.E., Suite 1500

Atlanta, GA 30326

Attn: Heath D. Linsky

Email: hlinsky@mofo.com

DLA Piper LLP (US)

4141 Parklake Ave., Suite 300

Raleigh, NC 27612

Attn: Robert H. Bergdolt

Email: robert.bergdolt@us.dlapiper.com

 

6


If to Stockholder:

[NAME]

[MAILING ADDRESS]

Attention: [NAME]

Fax: [NUMBER]

Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]

Copy to:

[COUNSEL’S NAME]

[MAILING ADDRESS]

Attention: [NAME]

Fax: [NUMBER]

Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]

14. Miscellaneous.

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of actions (whether at Law, in contract or in tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or related to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles (whether the State of Maryland or any other jurisdiction that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland).

(b) Submission to Jurisdiction. All disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Maryland state or federal court. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any such Maryland state or federal court, for the purpose of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party, (ii) agrees not to commence any such dispute except in such courts, (iii) agrees that any claim in respect of any such dispute may be heard and determined in any such Maryland state or federal court, (iv) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute, (v) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such dispute and (vi) agrees, with respect to any Action filed in a Maryland state court, to jointly request an assignment to the Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program. Each of the Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in this Section 13 of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

 

7


(c) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE; (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 14(C).

(d) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such cost or expense, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(e) Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(g) Section Headings. All section headings herein are for convenience of reference only and are not part of this Agreement, and no construction or reference shall be derived therefrom.

(h) Assignment. Neither Party to this Agreement may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party hereto, except that REIT II may assign, in its sole discretion, all or any of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to any of its Affiliates. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Any assignment contrary to the provisions of this Section 14(h) shall be null and void.

(i) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit, or remedy of any nature under or by reason of this Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

8


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

 

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC., a Maryland corporation
By:  

/s/ Shelle Weisbaum

  Shelle Weisbaum
  Chief Legal Officer
RESOURCE REAL ESTATE, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

  Alan F. Feldman
  Chief Executive Officer

[Signature page to Voting Agreement – REIT II and RRE]

 

9

Exhibit 10.2

VOTING AGREEMENT

between

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.

and

ALAN F. FELDMAN


VOTING AGREEMENT

THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 8, 2020, is between Alan F. Feldman (“Stockholder”) and Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT II”). REIT II and the Stockholder are each sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT I”), REIT II and Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II (“Merger Sub”), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), providing for, among other things, the merger (the “Merger”) of REIT I with and into Merger Sub pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement;

WHEREAS, in order to induce REIT II to enter into the Merger Agreement, Stockholder is willing to make certain representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements as set forth in this Agreement with respect to the 4,404 shares of convertible stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Convertible Stock”) of REIT I Beneficially Owned by Stockholder (the “Original Shares” and, together with any additional shares of REIT I Convertible Stock pursuant to Section 6 hereof, the “Shares”); and

WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, REIT II has required that Stockholder, and Stockholder has agreed to, execute and deliver this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency, and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases, and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.

“Action” shall have the meaning given in Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

1


“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Beneficially Own” or “Beneficial Ownership” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such rule is actually applicable in such circumstance). For the avoidance of doubt, “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall also include record ownership of securities.

“Beneficial Owner” shall mean the Person who Beneficially Owns the referenced securities.

“Convertible Stock” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Expiration Time” shall have the meaning given in Section 7 of this Agreement.

“Merger” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Merger Sub” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Original Shares” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Party” or “Parties” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“REIT I” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“REIT II” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Shares” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Stockholder” shall have the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Transfer” shall have the meaning given in Section 5 of this Agreement.

2. REPRESENTATIONS OF STOCKHOLDER.

Stockholder represents and warrants to REIT II that:

(a) Ownership of Shares. Stockholder: (i) is the Beneficial Owner of all of the Original Shares free and clear of any proxy, voting restriction, adverse claim, or other Liens, other than those created by this Agreement or under applicable federal or state securities laws; and (ii) has the sole voting power over all of the Original Shares. Except pursuant to this Agreement, there are no options, warrants, or other rights, agreements, arrangements, or commitments of any character to which Stockholder is a party relating to the pledge, disposition, or voting of any of the Original Shares and there are no voting trusts or voting agreements with respect to the Original Shares.

 

2


(b) Power and Authority; Binding Agreement. Stockholder has full power, authority and legal capacity to enter into, execute, and deliver this Agreement and to perform fully Stockholder’s obligations hereunder (including the proxy described in Section 3(b) below)). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of Stockholder, enforceable against Stockholder in accordance with its terms except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

(c) No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the compliance with the provisions hereof will not, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Stockholder or result in any breach of or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Lien on any of the Shares pursuant to, any agreement or other instrument or obligation binding upon Stockholder or any of the Shares.

(d) No Consents. No consent, approval, Order, or authorization of, or registration, declaration, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person on the part of Stockholder is required in connection with the valid execution and delivery of this Agreement. No consent of Stockholder’s spouse is necessary under any “community property” or other laws in order for Stockholder to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(e) No Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation, or proceeding (whether judicial, arbitral, administrative, or other) (each an “Action”) pending against, or, to the knowledge of Stockholder, threatened against or affecting, Stockholder that could reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially adversely affect the ability of Stockholder to perform Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on a timely basis.

3. AGREEMENT TO VOTE SHARES; IRREVOCABLE PROXY.

(a) Agreement to Vote and Approve. Stockholder irrevocably and unconditionally agrees during the term of this Agreement, at any annual or special meeting of REIT I called with respect to the following matters, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent or consents of the REIT I stockholders with respect to any of the following matters, to vote or cause the holder of record to vote the Shares in favor of (1) the Merger Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (2) any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting of stockholders of REIT I to a later date if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Merger.

 

3


(b) Irrevocable Proxy. Stockholder hereby appoints REIT II and any designee of REIT II, and each of them individually, until the Expiration Time (at which time this proxy shall automatically be revoked), its proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote or act by written consent during the term of this Agreement with respect to the Shares in accordance with Section 3(a). This proxy and power of attorney is given to secure the performance of the duties of Stockholder under this Agreement. Stockholder shall take such further action or execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of this proxy. This proxy and power of attorney granted by Stockholder shall be irrevocable during the term of this Agreement, shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy, and shall revoke any and all prior proxies granted by Stockholder with respect to the Shares. The power of attorney granted by Stockholder herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the bankruptcy, death, or incapacity of Stockholder. The proxy and power of attorney granted hereunder shall terminate upon the termination of this Agreement.

4. NO VOTING TRUSTS OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT.

Stockholder agrees that during the term of this Agreement Stockholder will not, and will not permit any entity under Stockholder’s control to, deposit any of the Shares in a voting trust, grant any proxies with respect to the Shares, or subject any of the Shares to any arrangement with respect to the voting of the Shares other than agreements entered into with REIT II.

5. TRANSFER AND ENCUMBRANCE.

Stockholder agrees that during the term of this Agreement, Stockholder will not, directly or indirectly, transfer, sell, offer, exchange, assign, pledge, convey any legal or Beneficial Ownership interest in or otherwise dispose of (by merger (including by conversion into securities or other consideration), by tendering into any tender or exchange offer, by testamentary disposition, by operation of Law, or otherwise), or encumber (“Transfer”) any of the Shares or enter into any contract, option, or other agreement with respect to, or consent to, a Transfer of, any of the Shares or Stockholder’s voting or economic interest therein. Any attempted Transfer of Shares or any interest therein in violation of this Section 5 shall be null and void. This Section 5 shall not prohibit a Transfer of the Shares by Stockholder to any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or to a trust for the benefit of Stockholder or any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or upon the death of Stockholder; provided, that a Transfer referred to in this sentence shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee agrees in a writing, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to REIT II, to be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement.

6. ADDITIONAL SHARES.

Stockholder agrees that all shares of REIT I Convertible Stock that Stockholder purchases, acquires the right to vote, or otherwise acquires Beneficial Ownership of after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Expiration Time shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and shall constitute Shares for all purposes of this Agreement. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares, or the like of the capital stock of REIT I affecting the Shares, the terms of this Agreement shall apply to the resulting securities and such resulting securities shall be deemed to be “Shares” for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

4


7. TERMINATION.

This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (the “Expiration Time”): (a) the REIT Merger Effective Time; (b) the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; and (c) the termination of this Agreement by mutual written consent of the Parties. Nothing in this Section 7 shall relieve or otherwise limit the liability of any Party for any intentional breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

8. NO SOLICITATION.

Stockholder shall not, and shall use it reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates and Representatives not to, take any action that would be in violation of Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement if such action were taken by REIT I or a Representative thereof.

9. NO AGREEMENT AS DIRECTOR OR OFFICER.

Stockholder makes no agreement or understanding in this Agreement in Stockholder’s capacity as a director or officer of REIT I or any of its subsidiaries (if Stockholder holds such office), and nothing in this Agreement: (a) will limit or affect any actions or omissions taken by Stockholder in stockholder’s capacity as such a director or officer, including in exercising rights under the Merger Agreement, and no such actions or omissions shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement; or (b) will be construed to prohibit, limit, or restrict Stockholder from exercising Stockholder’s fiduciary duties as an officer or director to REIT I or its stockholders.

10. FURTHER ASSURANCES.

Stockholder agrees, from time to time, and without additional consideration, to execute and deliver such additional proxies, documents, and other instruments and to take all such further action as REIT II may reasonably request to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

11. STOP TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS.

At all times commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the Expiration Time, in furtherance of this Agreement, Stockholder hereby authorizes REIT I or its counsel to notify REIT I’s transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Shares (and that this Agreement places limits on the voting and transfer of the Shares), subject to the provisions hereof and provided that any such stop transfer order and notice will immediately be withdrawn and terminated by REIT I following the Expiration Time.

 

5


12. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.

Each Party hereto acknowledges that it will be impossible to measure in money the damage to the other Party if a Party hereto fails to comply with any of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, that every such obligation is material and that, in the event of any such failure, the other Party will not have an adequate remedy at Law or damages. Accordingly, each Party hereto agrees that injunctive relief or other equitable remedy, in addition to remedies at Law or damages, is the appropriate remedy for any such failure and will not oppose the seeking of such relief on the basis that the other Party has an adequate remedy at Law. Each Party hereto agrees that it will not seek, and agrees to waive any requirement for, the securing or posting of a bond in connection with the other Party’s seeking or obtaining such equitable relief.

13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended or supplemented, and no provisions hereof may be modified or waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by both of the Parties hereto. No waiver of any provisions hereof by either Party shall be deemed a waiver of any other provisions hereof by such Party, nor shall any such waiver be deemed a continuing waiver of any provision hereof by such Party.

14. NOTICES.

All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or email of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 14):

If to REIT II:

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc.

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attn: Gary Lichtenstein, Chair

Email: gslick180@aol.com

 

6


with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Morrison and Foerster, LLP

3500 Lenox Road, N.E., Suite 1500

Atlanta, GA 30326

Attn: Heath D. Linsky

Email: hlinsky@mofo.com

DLA Piper LLP (US)

4141 Parklake Ave., Suite 300

Raleigh, NC 27612

Attn: Robert H. Bergdolt

Email: robert.bergdolt@us.dlapiper.com

If to Stockholder:

[NAME]

[MAILING ADDRESS]

Attention: [NAME]

Fax: [NUMBER]

Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]

Copy to:

[COUNSEL’S NAME]

[MAILING ADDRESS]

Attention: [NAME]

Fax: [NUMBER]

Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]

15. Miscellaneous.

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of actions (whether at Law, in contract or in tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or related to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland without giving effect to its conflicts of laws principles (whether the State of Maryland or any other jurisdiction that would cause the application of the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland).

(b) Submission to Jurisdiction. All disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Maryland state or federal court. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any such Maryland state or federal court, for the purpose of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party, (ii) agrees not to commence any such dispute except in such courts, (iii) agrees that any claim in respect of any such dispute may be heard and determined in any such Maryland state or federal

 

7


court, (iv) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute, (v) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such dispute and (vi) agrees, with respect to any Action filed in a Maryland state court, to jointly request an assignment to the Maryland Business and Technology Case Management Program. Each of the Parties agrees that a final judgment in any such dispute shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in this Section 14 of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

(c) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE; (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 15(C).

(d) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such cost or expense, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(e) Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8


(g) Section Headings. All section headings herein are for convenience of reference only and are not part of this Agreement, and no construction or reference shall be derived therefrom.

(h) Assignment. Neither Party to this Agreement may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party hereto, except that REIT II may assign, in its sole discretion, all or any of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to any of its Affiliates. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Any assignment contrary to the provisions of this Section 15(h) shall be null and void.

(i) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit, or remedy of any nature under or by reason of this Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

9


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

 

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC., a Maryland corporation
By:  

/s/ Shelle Weisbaum

  Shelle Weisbaum
  Chief Legal Officer
ALAN F. FELDMAN

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

[Signature page to Voting Agreement – REIT II and Feldman]

 

10

Exhibit 10.3

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

OF

RRE OPPORTUNITY OP II, LP

RRE Opportunity OP II, LP (the “Partnership”) was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to a Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 1, 2012. This Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into effective as of [________], 2020 among Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “General Partner”), the Limited Partners set forth on Exhibit A hereto, and such additional Limited Partners party hereto from time to time. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given them in Article 1.

WHEREAS, the General Partner and RRE Opportunity Holdings II, LLC, as the “Initial Limited Partner,” entered into a Limited Partnership Agreement of Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP dated as of January 16, 2014, pursuant to which the Partnership was formed (the “Original Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the General Partner, the Partnership, Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Partner (“Merger Sub”), Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT I”) and Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of REIT I (“REIT I Operating Partnership”) have entered an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of [________], 2020 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (i) first, REIT 1 will be merged with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub being the surviving company (the “REIT Merger”), and (ii) second, REIT I Operating Partnership will be merged with and into the Partnership, with the Partnership being the surviving entity (the “Partnership Merger”);

WHEREAS, on September 8, 2020, before entering into the Merger Agreement, pursuant to that certain Contribution and Exchange Agreement (the “Contribution and Exchange Agreement”) by and among REIT I Operating Partnership, Resource PM Holdings LLC (“PM Holdings”), Resource NewCo LLC (“Advisor Holdings”), C-III Capital Partners LLC (“PM Contributor”), Resource Real Estate, LLC (“Advisor Contributor”), and Resource America, Inc., PM Contributor and Advisor Contributor contributed certain assets to the REIT I Operating Partnership, including all of PM Contributor’s right, title and interest in all of the membership interests in PM Holdings and all of Advisor Contributor’s right, title and interest in all of the membership interests in Advisor Holdings in exchange for a total of 6,158,759 Common Units of REIT I Operating Partnership, 319,965 Series A Preferred Units of REIT I Operating Partnership and other good and valuable consideration (the “Contribution Transaction”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the proposed Partnership Merger and in order to preserve the rights and preferences of the minority limited partners of REIT I Operating Partnership, the General Partner now desires to amend and restate the Original Agreement to reflect, among other things, the issuance or existence of the Series A Preferred Units, as specified in Exhibit C hereto, the Common Units and the Convertible Units as contemplated pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and to make other amendments deemed necessary or desirable by the General Partner;

 

1


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, of mutual covenants between the parties hereto, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety and continue the Partnership as a limited partnership under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as amended from time to time, as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINED TERMS

The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified below:

Act means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, as it may be amended from time to time.

Additional Funds has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.

Additional Limited Partner means a Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 10.1 hereof and who is shown as a Limited Partner on Exhibit A hereto.

Additional Securities means any additional REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares issued in connection with an exchange pursuant to Section 8.5 hereof) or other interests in the General Partner, or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares or other interests in the General Partner, as set forth in Section 4.2(a)(iii).

Administrative Expenses means (i) all administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership, (ii) those administrative costs and expenses of the General Partner or its Affiliates, including any salaries or other payments to directors, officers or employees of the General Partner or its Affiliates, and any accounting and legal expenses of the General Partner or its Affiliates, which expenses, the Partners have agreed, are expenses of the Partnership and not the General Partner or such Affiliates, and (iii) to the extent not included in clause (ii) above, REIT Expenses.

Advisor Contributor has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

Advisor Holdings has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

Affiliate or Affiliated means, as to any Person, any of the following:

(a) any other Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with power to vote, 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such Person;

(b) any other Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, with power to vote, by such Person;

(c) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person;

(d) any executive officer, director, manager, trustee or general partner of such Person; and

(e) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, manager, trustee or general partner.

 

2


Agreed Value means the fair market value of a Partner’s non-cash Capital Contribution as of the date of contribution as agreed to by such Partner and the General Partner and as booked-up pursuant to the provisions set forth in this Agreement. The names and addresses of the General Partner and the Additional Limited Partners, the number of Partnership Units issued to each of them, their respective Capital Contributions as of the date of contribution and the booked-up value as of the date of this Agreement are set forth on Exhibit A.

Agreement means this Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, as the context requires.

Articles of Incorporation means the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the General Partner filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Book Value means with respect to any asset of the Partnership, the basis of such asset to the Partnership for federal income tax purposes; provided that if an asset is contributed to the Partnership or revalued in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), the Book Value of such asset shall be its fair market value as subsequently adjusted in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).

Capital Account has the meaning provided in Section 4.4 hereof.

Capital Contribution means the total amount of cash, cash equivalents, and the Agreed Value of any Property or other asset (other than cash), net of liabilities assumed, contributed or agreed to be contributed, as the context requires, to the Partnership by each Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Any reference to the Capital Contribution of a Partner shall include the Capital Contribution made by a predecessor holder of the Partnership Interest of such Partner.

Cash Amount means an amount of cash equal to the product of the Value of one REIT Share and the REIT Shares Amount on the date of receipt by the General Partner of a Notice of Exchange.

Certificate means any instrument or document that is required under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business, to be signed and sworn to by the Partners of the Partnership (either by themselves or pursuant to the power-of-attorney granted to the General Partner in Section 8.2 hereof) and filed for recording in the appropriate public offices within the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction to perfect or maintain the Partnership as a limited partnership, to effect the admission, withdrawal, or substitution of any Partner of the Partnership, or to protect the limited liability of the Limited Partners as limited partners under the laws of the State of Delaware or such other jurisdiction.

Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and as hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Code shall mean that provision in the Code as of the date hereof and any successor provision thereto.

Common Unit means a Partnership Unit that is not a Preferred Unit or a Convertible Unit (unless or until the Convertible Unit is converted into a Common Unit).

Contribution Common Units means the Common Units issued in connection with the Contribution Transaction.

 

3


Contribution and Exchange Agreement has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

Contribution Transaction has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

Conversion Factor means 1.0, provided that, subject to Section 4.2(a)(ii), in the event that the General Partner (i) declares or pays a dividend on its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares or makes a Distribution to all holders of its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares, (ii) subdivides its outstanding REIT Shares, or (iii) combines its outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of REIT Shares issued and outstanding on the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination (assuming for such purpose that such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination has occurred as of such time) and the denominator of which shall be the actual number of REIT Shares (determined without the above assumption) issued and outstanding on such date and, provided further, that in the event that an entity other than an Affiliate of the General Partner shall become General Partner pursuant to any merger, consolidation or combination of the General Partner with or into another entity (the “Successor Entity”), the Conversion Factor shall be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Factor by the number of shares of the Successor Entity into which one REIT Share is converted pursuant to such merger, consolidation or combination, determined as of the date of such merger, consolidation or combination. Any adjustment to the Conversion Factor shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event; provided, however, that if the General Partner receives a Notice of Exchange after the record date, but prior to the effective date of such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination, the Conversion Factor shall be determined as if the General Partner had received the Notice of Exchange immediately prior to the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination.

Convertible Stock has the meaning set forth in Exhibit D hereof.

Convertible Unit has the meaning set forth in Exhibit D hereof.

Defaulting Limited Partner has the meaning provided in Section 5.2(b) hereof.

Distributions means any dividends or other distributions of money or other property paid by the General Partner to the holders of its REIT Shares or preferred stock, including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes.

Event of Bankruptcy as to any Person means the filing of a petition for relief as to such Person as debtor or bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Code of 1978 or similar provision of law of any jurisdiction (except if such petition is contested by such Person and has been dismissed within 90 days); insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person as finally determined by a court proceeding; the filing by such Person of a petition or application to accomplish the same or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee for such Person or a substantial part of his assets; the commencement of any proceedings relating to such Person as a debtor under any other reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, adjustment of debt or liquidation law of any jurisdiction, whether now in existence or hereinafter in effect, either by such Person or by another, provided that if such proceeding is commenced by another, such Person indicates his approval of such proceeding, consents thereto or acquiesces therein, or such proceeding is contested by such Person and has not been finally dismissed within 90 days.

Exchange Right has the meaning provided in Section 8.5(a) hereof.

 

4


Exchanging Partner has the meaning provided in Section 8.5(a) hereof.

General Partner means Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and any Person who becomes a substitute or additional General Partner as provided herein, and any of their successors as General Partner.

General Partner Loan has the meaning provided in Section 5.2(b) hereof.

General Partnership Interest means a Partnership Interest held by the General Partner that is a general partnership interest. The number of Common Units held by the General Partner equal to one percent (1%) of all outstanding Common Units from time to time is hereby designated as the General Partnership Interest.

Indemnitee means (i) the General Partner or a director, officer or employee of the General Partner or Partnership, (ii) such other Persons (including Affiliates of the General Partner or the Partnership) as the General Partner may designate from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion.

Joint Venture or Joint Ventures means those joint venture, general partnership or similar arrangements in which the Partnership is a co-venturer or general partner, and which are established to acquire Properties.

Limited Partner means any Person named as a Limited Partner on Exhibit A attached hereto, and any Person who becomes a Substitute Limited Partner or Additional Limited Partner, in such Person’s capacity as a Limited Partner in the Partnership. A Limited Partner may hold Common Units, Preferred Units, or Convertible Units, or all of them.

Limited Partnership Interest means the ownership interest of a Limited Partner in the Partnership at any particular time, including the right of such Limited Partner to any and all benefits to which such Limited Partner may be entitled as provided in this Agreement and in the Act, together with the obligations of such Limited Partner to comply with all the provisions of this Agreement and the Act.

Liquidation Preference means, with respect to any Preferred Unit as of any date of determination, the amount (including distributions accumulated, due, or payable through the date of determination) payable with respect to such Preferred Unit (as established by the instrument designating such Preferred Unit) upon the voluntary or involuntary dissolution or winding up of the Partnership as a preference over distributions to Partnership Units ranking junior to such Preferred Unit.

Listing means the approval of the REIT Shares, issued by the General Partner pursuant to an effective registration statement, on a National Securities Exchange. Upon Listing, the shares shall be deemed Listed.

Loss has the meaning provided in Section 5.1(f) hereof.

Merger Agreement has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

Merger Sub has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

 

5


National Securities Exchange means any securities exchange registered with the SEC pursuant to Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Net Asset Value Per REIT Share means the most recently determined net asset value per share of the REIT Shares as determined on a quarterly basis (or more or less frequently) and published by the General Partner in a filing with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Notice of Exchange means the Notice of Exercise of Exchange Right substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.

Offer has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b)(ii) hereof.

Offering means an offering of Stock that is either (a) registered with the SEC, or (b) exempt from such registration, excluding Stock offered under any employee benefit plan.

Opt-Out Election has the meaning set forth in Section 11.5(c) hereof.

Original Agreement has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

Partner means any General Partner or Limited Partner.

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

Partnership means Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

Partnership Interest means an ownership interest in the Partnership held by either a Limited Partner or the General Partner and includes any and all benefits to which the holder of such a Partnership Interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Person to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

Partnership Loan has the meaning provided in Section 5.2(b) hereof.

Partnership Merger has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

Partnership Minimum Gain has the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(d). In accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(d), the amount of Partnership Minimum Gain is determined by first computing, for each Partnership nonrecourse liability, any gain the Partnership would realize if it disposed of the property subject to that liability for no consideration other than full satisfaction of the liability, and then aggregating the separately computed gains. A Partner’s share of Partnership Minimum Gain shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(1).

Partnership Record Date means the record date established by the General Partner for the distribution of cash pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for a Distribution to the Stockholders of some or all of its portion of such distribution.

 

6


Partnership Representative has the meaning set forth in Section 11.5(a) hereof.

Partnership Unit means a fractional, undivided share of the Partnership Interests of all Partners issued hereunder. Without limitation on the authority of the General Partner as set forth in Section 4.2 hereof, the General Partner may designate any Partnership Units, when issued, as Common Units or Preferred Units, may establish any other class of Partnership Units, and may designate one or more series of any class of Partnership Units. The allocation of Partnership Units among the Partners shall be as set forth on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

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

Percentage Interest means, with respect to a Partner, (i) when referring to a specific class or series of Partnership Units, such Partner’s interest in such class or series of Partnership Units as determined by dividing the number of Partnership Units in such class or series held by such Partner by the total number of Partnership Units in such class or series then outstanding, (ii) when not referring to a specific class of series of Partnership Units, (A) the aggregate number of Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and any other Partnership Units of any class or series having participation rights equivalent to the rights of a Common Unit held by such Partner divided by (B) the total aggregate number of Common Units, Series A Preferred Units and such other Partnership Units of any class or series having participation rights equivalent to the rights of a Common Unit held by such Partner then outstanding. For purposes of determining Percentage Interest, each Series A Preferred Unit outstanding shall count as 1.22423 Partnership Units.

Person means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, trust or other entity.

PM Contributor has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

PM Holdings has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

Preferred Unit means any Partnership Unit issued from time to time pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof that is specifically designated by the General Partner at the time of its issuance as a Preferred Unit. Each class or series of Preferred Units shall have such designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights, powers, and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to the Common Units, all as determined by the General Partner, subject to compliance with the requirements of Section 4.2 hereof.

Profit has the meaning provided in Section 5.1(f) hereof.

Property or Properties means the real properties or real estate investments which are acquired by the Partnership either directly or through Joint Ventures, partnerships or other entities.

Push-out Election has the meaning set forth in Section 11.5(c) hereof.

Regulations means the federal income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as amended and as hereafter amended from time to time. Reference to any particular provision of the Regulations shall mean that provision of the Regulations as of the date hereof and any successor provision of the Regulations.

REIT means a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

 

7


REIT Expenses means (i) costs and expenses relating to the formation and continuity of existence and operation of the General Partner and any Subsidiaries thereof (which Subsidiaries shall, for purposes hereof, be included within the definition of General Partner), including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any director, officer, or employee of the General Partner, (ii) costs and expenses relating to any Offering and registration of securities or exemption from registration by the General Partner and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, including, without limitation, underwriting discounts and sales commissions applicable to any such Offering of securities, and any costs and expenses associated with any claims made by any holders of such securities or any underwriters or placement agents thereof, (iii) costs and expenses associated with any repurchase of any securities by the General Partner, (iv) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic or other reports and communications by the General Partner under federal, state or local laws or regulations, including filings with the SEC, (v) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the SEC and any National Securities Exchange, (vi) costs and expenses associated with any 401(k) plan, incentive plan, bonus plan or other plan providing for compensation for the employees of the General Partner, (vii) costs and expenses incurred by the General Partner relating to any issuance or redemption of Partnership Interests or securities of the General Partner, and (viii) all other operating or administrative costs of the General Partner incurred in the ordinary course of its business on behalf of or in connection with the Partnership.

REIT I has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

REIT I Operating Partnership has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

REIT Merger has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

REIT Share means a share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, in the General Partner (or successor entity, as the case may be), the terms and conditions of which are set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.

REIT Shares Amount means a number of REIT Shares equal to the product of the number of Partnership Units offered for exchange or redemption, multiplied by the Conversion Factor as may be adjusted to and including the Specified Exchange Date or other applicable redemption or exchange date; provided that in the event the General Partner issues to all holders of REIT Shares rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the stockholders to subscribe for or purchase REIT Shares, or any other securities or property (collectively, the “rights”), and the rights have not expired at the Specified Exchange Date or other applicable redemption or exchange date, then the REIT Shares Amount shall also include the rights issuable to a holder of the REIT Shares Amount of REIT Shares on the record date fixed for purposes of determining the holders of REIT Shares entitled to rights.

SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Series A Preferred Units has the meaning set forth in Exhibit C hereto.

Service means the Internal Revenue Service.

Specified Exchange Date means the first business day of the month that is at least 60 business days after the receipt by the General Partner of the Notice of Exchange.

 

8


Stock means shares of stock of the General Partner of any class or series, including REIT Shares, preferred stock or shares-in-trust.

Stockholders means the registered holders of the General Partner’s Stock.

Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of (i) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (ii) the outstanding equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

Subsidiary Partnership means any partnership of which the partnership interests therein are owned by the General Partner or a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the General Partner.

Substitute Limited Partner means any Person admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof.

Successor Entity has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a)(ii) hereof.

Surviving General Partner has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c) hereof.

Transaction has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b) hereof.

Transfer has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a) hereof.

Value means, with respect to REIT Shares, the average of the daily market price of such REIT Share for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of such valuation. The market price for each such trading day shall be: (i) if the REIT Shares are Listed, the sale price, regular way, on such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, on such day; (ii) if the REIT Shares are not Listed, the Net Asset Value Per REIT Share on such day; provided that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten (10) days prior to the date in question, the value of the REIT Shares shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate. In the event the REIT Shares Amount includes rights that a holder of REIT Shares would be entitled to receive, then the value of such rights shall be determined by the General Partner acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

ARTICLE 2

PARTNERSHIP FORMATION AND IDENTIFICATION

2.1 Formation. The Partnership was formed as a limited partnership pursuant to the Act for the purposes and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2.2 Name, Office and Registered Agent. The name of the Partnership is RRE Opportunity OP II, LP. The specified office and place of business of the Partnership shall be 1845 Walnut Street, 17th Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 (telephone number (215) 231-7050). The General Partner may at any time change the location of such office, provided the General Partner gives notice to the Partners of any such change. The name and address of the Partnership’s registered agent is The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The sole duty of the registered agent as such is to forward to the Partnership any notice that is served on him as registered agent.

 

9


2.3 Partners.

(a) The General Partner of the Partnership is Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation. Its principal place of business is the same as that of the Partnership.

(b) The Limited Partners are those Persons identified as Limited Partners on Exhibit A hereto, as amended from time to time. The parties agree that Exhibit A will be confidential and maintained in the offices of the General Partner.

2.4 Term and Dissolution.

(a) The Partnership shall have perpetual duration, except that the Partnership shall be dissolved upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

(i) The occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner or the dissolution, death, removal or withdrawal of a General Partner unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b) hereof; provided that if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the dissolution of such General Partner as a result of the dissolution, death, withdrawal, removal or Event of Bankruptcy of a partner in such partnership shall not be an event of dissolution of the Partnership if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners, either alone or with additional partners, and such General Partner and such partners comply with any other applicable requirements of this Agreement;

(ii) The passage of 90 days after the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership (provided that if the Partnership receives an installment obligation as consideration for such sale or other disposition, the Partnership shall continue, unless sooner dissolved under the provisions of this Agreement, until such time as such note or notes are paid in full);

(iii) The exchange of all Limited Partnership Interests (other than any of such interests held by the General Partner or Affiliates of the General Partner) for REIT Shares or the securities of any other entity; or

(iv) The election by the General Partner that the Partnership should be dissolved.

(b) Upon dissolution of the Partnership (unless the business of the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b) hereof), the General Partner (or its trustee, receiver, successor or legal representative) shall amend or cancel the Certificate and liquidate the Partnership’s assets and apply and distribute the proceeds thereof in accordance with Section 5.6 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner (or such trustee, receiver, successor or legal representative) may either (i) defer liquidation of, or withhold from distribution for a reasonable time, any assets of the Partnership (including those necessary to satisfy the Partnership’s debts and obligations), or (ii) distribute the assets of the Partnership to the Partners in kind.

 

10


2.5 Filing of Certificate and Perfection of Limited Partnership. The General Partner shall execute, acknowledge, record and file at the expense of the Partnership, the Certificate any and all amendments thereto and all requisite fictitious name statements and notices in such places and jurisdictions as may be necessary to cause the Partnership to be treated as a limited partnership under, and otherwise to comply with, the laws of each state or other jurisdiction in which the Partnership conducts business.

2.6 Certificates Describing Partnership Units. At the request of a Limited Partner, the General Partner, at its option, may issue a certificate summarizing the terms of such Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership, including the number and class or series of Partnership Units owned and the Percentage Interest represented by such Partnership Units as of the date of such certificate. Any such certificate (i) shall be in form and substance as approved by the General Partner, (ii) shall not be negotiable and (iii) shall bear a legend to the following effect:

THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE. THE PARTNERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE GOVERNED BY AND TRANSFERABLE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY OP, LP, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.

ARTICLE 3

BUSINESS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

3.1 Purpose. The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Partnership is (i) to conduct any business that may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership organized pursuant to the Act, provided, however, that such business shall be limited to and conducted in such a manner as to permit the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT and in a manner such that the General Partner will not be subject to any taxes under Sections 856, 857 or 4981 of the Code to the greatest extent commercially reasonably possible, unless the General Partner otherwise ceases to qualify as a REIT, (ii) to enter into any partnership, joint venture or other similar arrangement to engage in any of the foregoing or to own interests in any entity engaged in any of the foregoing, and (iii) to do anything necessary or incidental to the foregoing. In connection with the foregoing, and without limiting the General Partner’s right in its sole and absolute discretion to cease qualifying as a REIT, the Partners acknowledge that the General Partner’s current status as a REIT and the avoidance of income and excise taxes on the General Partner inures to the benefit of all the Partners and not solely to the General Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Limited Partners agree that the General Partner may terminate its status as a REIT under the Code at any time to the full extent permitted under the Articles of Incorporation. The General Partner shall also be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code.

3.2 Powers. The Partnership is empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described herein and for the protection and benefit of the Partnership, including, without limitation, full power and authority, directly or through its ownership interest in other entities, to enter into, perform and carry out contracts of any kind, borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness, whether or not secured by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien, acquire, own, manage, improve and develop real property, and lease, sell, transfer and dispose of Real Estate Related Assets or other ownership interests; provided, however that nothing in this Section 3.2 is intended to eliminate or limit the rights of the Limited Partners included elsewhere in this Agreement.

 

11


3.3 Relationship with Partners. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed by the Partners that the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, waive or otherwise modify the application with respect to any Partner or assignee of any provision herein restricting, prohibiting or otherwise relating to (i) the transfer of a Limited Partner Interest or the Partnership Units evidencing the same, (ii) the admission of any Limited Partners and (iii) the redemption rights of such Partners, and that such waivers or modifications may be made by the General Partner at any time or from time to time, including, without limitation, concurrently with the issuance of any Partnership Units pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided, however that nothing in this Section 3.3 is intended to eliminate or limit the rights of the Limited Partners included elsewhere in this Agreement.

ARTICLE 4

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS

4.1 Capital Contributions. The General Partner and each Limited Partner has made a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in exchange for the Partnership Units set forth opposite such Partner’s name on Exhibit A, as amended from time to time by the General Partner to the extent necessary to accurately reflect sales, exchanges or other Transfers, redemptions, Capital Contributions, the issuance of additional Partnership Units or similar events having an effect on a Partner’s ownership of Partnership Units. The Capital Accounts of the Partners are being booked-up on the date of this Agreement as set forth on Exhibit A.

4.2 Additional Capital Contributions and Issuances of Additional Partnership Units. Except as provided in this Section 4.2 or in Section 4.3, the Partners shall have no right or obligation to make any additional Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership. The General Partner may contribute additional capital to the Partnership, from time to time, and receive additional Partnership Interests, in the form of Partnership Units, in respect thereof, in the manner contemplated in this Section 4.2.

(a) Issuances of Additional Partnership Units.

(i) General. The General Partner is hereby authorized to cause the Partnership to issue such additional Partnership Interests, in the form of Partnership Units, for any Partnership purpose at any time or from time to time, to the Partners (including the General Partner) or to other Persons for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as shall be established by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, all without the approval of any Limited Partner, including but not limited to, Partnership Units issued in connection with the issuance of REIT Shares or of other interests in the General Partner, Any additional Partnership Interests issued thereby may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, powers and duties, including rights, powers and duties senior to any Common Units, all as shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion and without the approval of any Limited Partner (subject to any consent rights expressly provided to holders of Preferred Units), subject to Delaware law, including, without limitation: (i) the allocations of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of Partnership Units; (ii) the right of each such class or series of Partnership Units to share in Partnership distributions; (iii) the rights of each such class or series of Partnership Units upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership; (iv) the voting rights, if any, of each such class or series of Partnership Units and (v) the conversion, redemption or exchange rights applicable to each such class or series of Partnership Units; provided, however, that no additional Partnership Units shall be issued to the General Partner unless:

 

12


(1) (A) the additional Partnership Units are issued in connection with an issuance of REIT Shares of, or other interests in, the General Partner, which shares or interests have designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to the designations, preferences and other rights of the additional Partnership Units issued to the General Partner by the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.2 and (B) the General Partner shall make a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in an amount equal to the net proceeds raised in connection with the issuance of such shares of stock of or other interests in the General Partner;

(2) the additional Partnership Units are issued in exchange for property owned by the General Partner with a fair market value, as determined by the General Partner, in good faith, equal to the value of the Partnership Units; or

(3) with respect to the class or series of Partnership Units so issued, additional Partnership Units are issued to all Partners holding Partnership Units in proportion to their respective Percentage Interests.

In addition, the General Partner may acquire Partnership Units from other Partners pursuant to this Agreement. In the event that the Partnership issues Partnership Units pursuant to this Section 4.2(a), the General Partner shall make such revisions to this Agreement, including amending Exhibit A, as are necessary to reflect the issuance of such additional Partnership Units and any special rights, powers, and duties associated therewith.

Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to cause the Partnership to issue Partnership Units (i) upon the conversion, redemption or exchange of any debt or other securities issued by the Partnership, (ii) for less than fair market value, so long as the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership and (iii) in connection with any merger of any other entity into the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership if the applicable merger agreement provides that entity or its owners are to receive Partnership Units in exchange for their interests in the entity merging into the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership.

(ii) Adjustment Events. In the event the General Partner (i) declares or pays a dividend on outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares or makes a distribution to all holders of its outstanding REIT Shares in REIT Shares, (ii) subdivides its outstanding REIT Shares, or (iii) combines its outstanding REIT Shares into a smaller number of REIT Shares, then a corresponding adjustment to the number of outstanding Common Units (or other Partnership Interests for other securities in the General Partner) necessary to maintain the proportionate relationship between the number of outstanding Common Units to the number of outstanding REIT Shares (or other Partnership Interests for other securities in the General Partner) shall automatically be made. Additionally, in the event that any other entity shall become General Partner pursuant to any merger, consolidation, or combination of the General Partner with or into another entity (the “Successor Entity”), the number of

 

13


outstanding Common Units (or other Partnership Interests for other securities in the General Partner) shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by the number of shares of the Successor Entity into which one REIT Share is converted pursuant to such merger, consolidation, or combination, determined as of the date of such merger, consolidation, or combination. Any adjustment to the number of outstanding Common Units (or other Partnership Interests for other securities in the General Partner) shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event; provided, however, that if the General Partner receives a Notice of Exchange after the record date, but prior to the effective date of such dividend, distribution, subdivision, or combination, or such merger, consolidation, or combination, the number of outstanding Common Units shall be determined as if the General Partner had received the Notice of Exchange immediately prior to the record date for such dividend, distribution, subdivision, or combination or such merger, consolidation, or combination. If the General Partner takes any other action affecting the REIT Shares other than actions specifically described above and, in the opinion of the General Partner such action would require an adjustment to the number of Common Units (or other Partnership Interests for other securities of the General Partner) to maintain the proportionate relationship between the number of outstanding Partnership Units and the number of outstanding REIT Shares, the General Partner shall have the right to make such adjustment to the number of Common Units, to the extent permitted by law, in such manner and at such time as the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent any such adjustment is made pursuant to this Section 4.2(a)(ii), the “Conversion Factor” shall not be adjusted with respect to such Common Units in any manner that would result in a duplicative adjustment with respect to the relevant event.

(iii) Upon Issuance of Additional Securities. The General Partner shall not issue any Additional Securities other than to all holders of REIT Shares, unless (A) the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner, as the General Partner may designate, Partnership Units or rights, options, warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Partnership having designations, preferences and other rights, all such that the economic interests are substantially similar to those of the Additional Securities, and (B) the General Partner contributes the net proceeds from the issuance of such Additional Securities and from any exercise of rights contained in such Additional Securities, directly and through the General Partner, to the Partnership; provided, however, that the General Partner is allowed to issue Additional Securities in connection with an acquisition of Property to be held directly by the General Partner, but if and only if, such direct acquisition and issuance of Additional Securities have been approved and determined to be in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership by a majority of the board of directors of the General Partner. Without limiting the foregoing, the General Partner is expressly authorized to issue Additional Securities for less than fair market value, and to cause the Partnership to issue to the General Partner corresponding Partnership Units, so long as (x) the General Partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership, including without limitation, the issuance of REIT Shares, stock options, incentive awards and corresponding Partnership Units pursuant to an employee share purchase plan providing for employee purchases of REIT Shares at a discount from fair market value or employee stock options that have an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the REIT Shares, either at the time of issuance or at the time of exercise, and (y) the General

 

14


Partner contributes all proceeds from such issuance to the Partnership. For example, and without limiting the foregoing, in the event the General Partner issues REIT Shares for a cash purchase price and contributes all of the net proceeds of such issuance to the Partnership as required hereunder, the General Partner shall be issued a number of additional Partnership Units equal to the product of (A) the number of such REIT Shares issued by the General Partner, the proceeds of which were so contributed, multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is 100%, and the denominator of which is the Conversion Factor in effect on the date of such contribution.

(b) Certain Deemed Contributions of Proceeds of Issuance of Interests in the General Partner. In connection with any and all issuances of REIT Shares, or other interests in the General Partner, the General Partner shall make Capital Contributions to the Partnership of the proceeds therefrom, provided that if the proceeds actually received and contributed by the General Partner are less than the gross proceeds of such issuance as a result of any underwriter’s discount or other expenses paid or incurred in connection with such issuance, then the General Partner shall be deemed to have made Capital Contributions to the Partnership in the aggregate amount of the gross proceeds of such issuance and the Partnership shall be deemed simultaneously to have paid such offering expenses in accordance with Section 6.5 hereof and in connection with the required issuance of additional Partnership Units to the General Partner for such Capital Contributions pursuant to Section 4.2(a) hereof. In connection with any and all issuances of REIT Shares pursuant to the General Partner’s distribution reinvestment plan, the General Partner shall be deemed to have made Capital Contributions to the Partnership in the aggregate amount of the distributions that have been reinvested in respect of the REIT Shares issued by the General Partner in return for an equal number of Common Units as the issued REIT Shares.

4.3 Additional Funding. If the General Partner determines that it is in the best interests of the Partnership to provide for additional Partnership funds (“Additional Funds”) for any Partnership purpose, the General Partner may (i) cause the Partnership to obtain such funds from outside borrowings, or (ii) elect to have the General Partner or any of its Affiliates provide such Additional Funds to the Partnership through loans or otherwise.

4.4 Capital Accounts. A separate capital account (a “Capital Account”) shall be established and maintained for each Partner in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). If (i) a new or existing Partner acquires an additional Partnership Interest in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution, (ii) the Partnership distributes to a Partner more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property as consideration for a Partnership Interest, (iii) the Partnership is liquidated within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) or (iv) a Partnership Interest (other than a de minimis interest) is granted as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership by an existing Partner acting in a partner capacity, or by a new Partner acting in a partner capacity in anticipation of being a Partner, the General Partner shall revalue the property of the Partnership to its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f). When the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner, the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f) and (g), which generally require such Capital Accounts to be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized gain or loss inherent in such property (that has not been reflected in the Capital Accounts previously) would be allocated among the Partners pursuant to Section 5.1 if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair market value (as determined by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, and taking into account Section 7701(g) of the Code) on the date of the revaluation.

 

15


4.5 Percentage Interests. If the number of outstanding Partnership Units increases or decreases during a taxable year, each Partner’s Percentage Interest shall be adjusted by the General Partner effective as of the effective date of each such increase or decrease to give effect to such increase or decrease. If the Partners’ Percentage Interests are adjusted pursuant to this Section 4.5, the Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs shall be allocated between the part of the year ending on the day when the Partnership’s property is revalued by the General Partner and the part of the year beginning on the following day either (i) as if the taxable year had ended on the date of the adjustment or (ii) based on the number of days in each part. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate Profits and Losses for the taxable year in which the adjustment occurs. The allocation of Profits and Losses for the earlier part of the year shall be based on the Percentage Interests before adjustment, and the allocation of Profits and Losses for the later part of the year shall be based on the adjusted Percentage Interests.

4.6 No Interest on Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contributions.

4.7 Return of Capital Contributions. No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw any part of its Capital Contribution or its Capital Account or to receive any distribution from the Partnership, except as specifically provided in this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no obligation to return to any Partner or withdrawn Partner any part of such Partner’s Capital Contribution for so long as the Partnership continues in existence.

4.8 No Third Party Beneficiary. No creditor or other third party having dealings with the Partnership shall have the right to enforce the right or obligation of any Partner to make Capital Contributions or loans or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity, it being understood and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and may be enforced solely by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. None of the rights or obligations of the Partners herein set forth to make Capital Contributions or loans to the Partnership shall be deemed an asset of the Partnership for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor may such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by the Partnership or pledged or encumbered by the Partnership to secure any debt or other obligation of the Partnership or of any of the Partners. In addition, it is the intent of the parties hereto that no distribution to any Limited Partner shall be deemed a return of money or other property in violation of the Act. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Limited Partner is obligated to return such money or property, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Limited Partner and not of the General Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless otherwise provided in a written agreement between the Partner and the Partnership, a deficit Capital Account of a Partner shall not be deemed to be a liability of such Partner nor an asset or property of the Partnership and upon a liquidation within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), if any Partner has a deficit Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, allocations and other Capital Account adjustments for all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), such Partner shall have no obligation to make any Capital Contribution to reduce or eliminate the negative balance of such Partner’s Capital Account.

4.10 Treatment of Merger. The parties to the Partnership Merger intend that, for United States federal income tax purposes and, where applicable, state or local income tax purposes, the Partnership Merger shall be treated as a transfer by REIT I Operating Partnership of all of its assets and liabilities to the Partnership in exchange for Partnership Units followed by the distribution of such units to the REIT I Operating Partnerships’ partners in a complete liquidation of REIT I Operating Partnership, the exchange

 

16


and distribution being respectively described in Section 721 of the Code and Section 731 of the Code. Unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code (or a similar determination under applicable state of local Law), all parties to the Partnership Merger shall file all United States federal, state and local tax returns in a manner consistent with the intended tax treatment of the Partnership Merger described in this Section 4.10, and no party to the Partnership Merger shall take a position inconsistent with such treatment.

ARTICLE 5

PROFITS AND LOSSES; DISTRIBUTIONS

5.1 Allocation of Profit and Loss.

(a) General Allocations.

(i) Profits. After making the special allocations set forth in Sections 5.1(b) and 5.1(c) and the priority allocation with respect to the Preferred Units in Section 5.1(d) below and subject to the application of Section 5.1(a)(ii), after adjusting for all Capital Contributions and distributions made during any Partnership Year (or portion thereof), the Partnership’s Profits and Losses for such Partnership Year (or portion thereof) shall be allocated among the Partners in a manner such that, after such allocations have been made, the balance of each Partner’s Capital Account shall, to the extent possible, be equal to an amount that would be distributed to such Partner if (A) the Partnership were to sell its assets for their Book Values, (B) all Partnership liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Book Value of the assets encumbering such liability), and (C) the Partnership were to distribute the proceeds of sale in accordance with Section 5.6 and dissolve in accordance with Section 2.4, minus the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain.

(ii) Losses. Losses shall not be allocated to a Limited Partner to the extent that such allocation would cause a deficit in such Partner’s Capital Account (after reduction to reflect the items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6)) to exceed the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain. Any Losses in excess of that limitation shall be allocated to the General Partner. After the occurrence of an allocation of Loss to the General Partner in accordance with this Section 5.1(a)(ii), to the extent permitted by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b), Profits shall first be allocated to the General Partner in an amount necessary to offset the Losses previously allocated to the General Partner under this Section 5.01(a)(ii).

(b) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, (i) any expense of the Partnership that is a “nonrecourse deduction” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1) shall be allocated in accordance with the Partners’ respective Percentage Interests, (ii) any expense of the Partnership that is a “partner nonrecourse deduction” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(2) shall be allocated to the Partner that bears the “economic risk of loss” with respect to the “partner nonrecourse debt” within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4) to which such partner nonrecourse deduction is attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1), (iii) if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(1) for any Partnership Year (or other period), then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(2),(3),

 

17


(4) and (5), items of gain and income shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and the ordering rules contained in Regulations Section 1.704-2(j), and (iv) if there is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) for any Partnership Year (or other period), then, subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-(2)(g), items of gain and income shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and the ordering rules contained in Regulations Section 1.704-2(j). A Partner’s “interest in partnership profits” for purposes of determining its share of the nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3) shall be such Partner’s Percentage Interest.

(c) Qualified Income Offset. If a Partner unexpectedly receives in any Partnership Year (or other period) an adjustment, allocation, or distribution described in subparagraphs (4), (5), or (6) of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) that causes or increases a deficit balance in such Partner’s Capital Account that exceeds the sum of such Partner’s shares of Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, as determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g) and 1.704-2(i), such Partner shall be allocated specially for such Partnership Year or other period (and, if necessary, later Partnership Years or other periods) items of income and gain in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such deficit Capital Account balance as quickly as possible as provided in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d); provided, that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.1(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Partner would have a deficit Capital Account balance after all other allocations provided for in Article 5 have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.1(c) were not in this Agreement. This Section 5.1(c) is intended to constitute a “qualified income offset” under Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

(d) Priority Allocation With Respect to Preferred Units. Profits, and if necessary, items of Partnership gross income or gain for any Partnership Year, shall be specially allocated to Partners that own Series A Preferred Units in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the cumulative distributions received by such Partner for or with respect to the current Partnership Year and all prior Partnership Years with respect to the Series A Preferred Priority Return on such Series A Preferred Units (with a distribution made in a Partnership Year that relates to a Partnership Record Date occurring at the end of the preceding Partnership Year being treated as made with respect to such preceding Partnership Year) over (ii) the cumulative allocations of Partnership Profits, gross income and gain to such Partner under this Section 5.1(d) for all prior Partnership Years.

(e) Allocations Between Transferor and Transferee. If a Partner transfers any part or all of its Partnership Interest, the distributive shares of the various items of Profit and Loss allocable among the Partners during such Partnership Year shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee Partner either (i) as if the Partnership’s taxable year had ended on the date of the transfer, or (ii) based on the number of days of such taxable year that each was a Partner without regard to the results of Partnership activities in the respective portions of such taxable year in which the transferor and the transferee were Partners. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine which method shall be used to allocate the distributive shares of the various items of Profit and Loss between the transferor and the transferee Partner.

 

18


(f) Definition of Profit and Loss. “Profit” and “Loss” and any items of income, gain, expense, or loss referred to in this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with federal income tax accounting principles, as modified by Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), except that Profit and Loss shall not include items of income, gain and expense that are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 5.1(b), 5.1(c), or 5.1(d). All allocations of income, Profit, gain, Loss and expense (and all items contained therein) for federal income tax purposes shall be identical to all allocations of such items set forth in this Section 5.1, except as otherwise required by Section 704(c) of the Code and Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4). The General Partner shall have the sole and absolute authority to elect the method to be used by the Partnership for allocating items of income, gain, and expense as required by Section 704(c) of the Code including a method that may result in a Partner receiving a disproportionately larger share of the Partnership tax depreciation deductions, and such election shall be binding on all Partners; provided, however, the Partnership shall allocate items of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to the assets contributed to REIT I Operating Partnership pursuant to the Contribution and Exchange Agreement using the “traditional method” under Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

(g) Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections 5.1(b) and 5.1(c) of this Agreement (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. The General Partner is authorized to offset all Regulatory Allocations either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 5.1(g). Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.1 (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the General Partner shall make such offsetting special allocations of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it deems appropriate so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Partner’s Capital Account is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Partner would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of this Agreement and all Partnership items were allocated pursuant to Sections 5.1(a), 5.1(d) and 5.1(e).

5.2 Distributions.

(a) Cash Available for Distribution. The Partnership shall distribute cash on a quarterly (or, at the election of the General Partner, more or less frequently) basis, in an amount determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, to the Partners who are Partners on the Partnership Record Date with respect to such quarter (or other distribution period) in the following order of priority:

(i) first, to the holders of Preferred Units, in such amounts as is required for the Partnership to pay all distributions and any other amounts with respect to such Preferred Units accumulated, due or payable in accordance with the instruments designating such Preferred Units through the last day of such quarter or other distribution period (such distributions shall be made to such Partners in such order of priority and with such preferences as have been established with respect to such Preferred Units as of the last day of such quarter or other distribution period); and

(ii) thereafter, to the holders of the Common Units, including the General Partner, in amounts proportionate to their respective Percentage Interests in the Common Units on the applicable Partnership Record Date;

provided, however, that if a new or existing Partner acquires additional Partnership Units in exchange for a Capital Contribution on any date other than the next day after a Partnership Record Date, the cash distribution attributable to such additional Partnership Units (other than Partnership Units acquired by the General Partner in connection with the issuance of additional REIT Shares, or other interests in the General Partner) relating to the Partnership Record Date next following the

 

19


issuance of such additional Partnership Units (or relating to the Partnership Record Date if such Partnership Units are acquired on a Partnership Record Date) shall be reduced in the proportion to (i) the number of days that such additional Partnership Units are held by such Partner bears to (ii) the number of days between such Partnership Record Date (inclusive of such Partnership Record Date) and the immediately preceding Partnership Record Date (exclusive of such immediately preceding Partnership Record Date).

(b) Withholding; Partnership Loans. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner is authorized to take any action that it determines to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Partnership to comply with any withholding requirements established under the Code or any other federal, state or local law including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445 and 1446 of the Code. To the extent that the Partnership is required to withhold and pay over to any taxing authority any amount resulting from the allocation or distribution of income to any Partner or assignee (including by reason of Section 1446 of the Code), either (i) if the actual amount to be distributed to the Partner equals or exceeds the amount required to be withheld by the Partnership, the amount withheld shall be treated as a distribution of cash in the amount of such withholding to such Partner, or (ii) if the actual amount to be distributed to the Partner is less than the amount required to be withheld by the Partnership, the excess of the amount required to be withheld over the actual amount to be distributed shall be treated as a loan (a “Partnership Loan”) from the Partnership to the Partner on the day the Partnership pays over such amount to a taxing authority. A Partnership Loan shall be repaid through withholding by the Partnership with respect to subsequent distributions to the applicable Partner or assignee. In the event that a Limited Partner (a “Defaulting Limited Partner”) fails to pay any amount owed to the Partnership with respect to the Partnership Loan within 15 days after demand for payment thereof is made by the Partnership on the Limited Partner, the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to make the payment to the Partnership on behalf of such Defaulting Limited Partner. In such event, on the date of payment, the General Partner shall be deemed to have extended a loan (a “General Partner Loan”) to the Defaulting Limited Partner in the amount of the payment made by the General Partner and shall succeed to all rights and remedies of the Partnership against the Defaulting Limited Partner as to that amount. Without limitation, the General Partner shall have the right to receive any distributions that otherwise would be made by the Partnership to the Defaulting Limited Partner until such time as the General Partner Loan has been paid in full, and any such distributions so received by the General Partner shall be treated as having been received by the Defaulting Limited Partner and immediately paid to the General Partner.

Any amounts treated as a Partnership Loan or a General Partner Loan pursuant to this Section 5.2(b) shall bear interest at the lesser of (i) the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal, or (ii) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date the Partnership or the General Partner, as applicable, is deemed to extend the loan until such loan is repaid in full.

(c) Limitation on Distributions. In no event may a Partner receive a distribution of cash with respect to a Partnership Unit if such Partner is entitled to receive a cash distribution as the holder of record of a REIT Share for which all or part of such Partnership Unit has been or will be exchanged.

 

20


5.3 REIT Distribution Requirements. The General Partner shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Partnership to distribute amounts sufficient to enable the General Partner to pay stockholder dividends that will allow the General Partner to (i) meet its distribution requirement for qualification as a REIT as set forth in Section 857 of the Code and (ii) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability imposed by the Code.

5.4 No Right to Distributions In Kind. No Partner shall be entitled to demand property other than cash in connection with any distributions by the Partnership.

5.5 Limitations of Return of Capital Contributions. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Article 5, no Partner shall have the right to receive and the General Partner shall not have the right to make, a distribution that includes a return of all or part of a Partner’s Capital Contributions, unless after giving effect to the return of a Capital Contribution, the sum of all Partnership liabilities, other than the liabilities to a Partner for the return of his Capital Contribution, does not exceed the fair market value of the Partnership’s assets.

5.6 Distributions Upon Liquidation. Upon liquidation of the Partnership, after payment of, or adequate provision for, debts and obligations of the Partnership, including any Partner loans, any remaining assets of the Partnership shall be distributed to the Partners as follows:

(a) first, to the holders of Preferred Units, in such amounts as is required for them to receive the Liquidation Preference with respect to the Preferred Units held by them in accordance with the instruments designating such Preferred Units (such distributions shall be made to such Partners in such order of priority and with such preferences as have been established with respect to such Preferred Units);

(b) thereafter, to the holders of the Common Units, including the General Partner, in amounts proportionate to their respective Percentage Interests in the Common Units.

To the extent deemed advisable by the General Partner, appropriate arrangements (including the use of a liquidating trust) may be made to assure that adequate funds are available to pay any contingent debts or obligations.

5.7 Substantial Economic Effect. It is the intent of the Partners that the allocations of Profit and Loss under this Agreement have substantial economic effect, or be consistent with the Partners’ interests in the Partnership, within the meaning of Section 704(b) of the Code as interpreted by the Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. Article 5 and other relevant provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

ARTICLE 6

RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS AND

POWERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER

6.1 Management of the Partnership.

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the General Partner shall have full, complete and exclusive discretion to manage and control the business of the Partnership for the purposes herein stated, and shall make all decisions affecting the business and assets of the Partnership. Subject to the restrictions specifically contained in this Agreement, the powers of the General Partner shall include, without limitation, the authority to take the following actions, as deemed necessary or desirable in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership (or any Subsidiary or Subsidiary Partnership):

 

21


(i) to acquire, purchase, own, operate, lease and dispose of (other than in a “prohibited transaction” within the meaning of Section 857(b)(6)(B)(iii) of the Code) any real property and any other property or assets including, but not limited to, notes and mortgages, that the General Partner determines are necessary or appropriate or in the best interests of the business of the Partnership;

(ii) to construct buildings and make other improvements on the Properties owned or leased by the Partnership;

(iii) to authorize, issue, sell, redeem or otherwise purchase any Partnership Interests or any securities (including secured and unsecured debt obligations of the Partnership, debt obligations of the Partnership convertible into any class or series of Partnership Interests, or options, rights, warrants or appreciation rights relating to any Partnership Interests) of the Partnership;

(iv) to borrow or lend money for the Partnership, issue or receive evidences of indebtedness in connection therewith, refinance, increase the amount of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for the payment of, any such indebtedness, and secure such indebtedness by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s assets;

(v) to pay, either directly or by reimbursement, for all Administrative Expenses to third parties or to the General Partner or its Affiliates as set forth in this Agreement;

(vi) to guarantee or become a co-maker of indebtedness of the General Partner or any Subsidiary thereof, refinance, increase the amount of, modify, amend or change the terms of, or extend the time for the payment of, any such guarantee or indebtedness, and secure such guarantee or indebtedness by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or other lien on the Partnership’s assets;

(vii) to use assets of the Partnership (including, without limitation, cash on hand) for any purpose consistent with this Agreement, including, without limitation, payment, either directly or by reimbursement, of all Administrative Expenses of the General Partner, the Partnership or any Subsidiary of either, to third parties or to the General Partner as set forth in this Agreement;

(viii) to lease all or any portion of any of the Partnership’s assets, whether or not the terms of such leases extend beyond the termination date of the Partnership and whether or not any portion of the Partnership’s assets so leased are to be occupied by the lessee, or, in turn, subleased in whole or in part to others, for such consideration and on such terms as the General Partner may determine;

(ix) to prosecute, defend, arbitrate, or compromise any and all claims or liabilities in favor of or against the Partnership, on such terms and in such manner as the General Partner may reasonably determine, and similarly to prosecute, settle or defend litigation with respect to the Partners, the Partnership, or the Partnership’s assets;

 

22


(x) to file applications, communicate, and otherwise deal with any and all governmental agencies having jurisdiction over, or in any way affecting, the Partnership’s assets or any other aspect of the Partnership business;

(xi) to make or revoke any election permitted or required of the Partnership by any taxing authority;

(xii) to maintain such insurance coverage for public liability, fire and casualty, and any and all other insurance for the protection of the Partnership, for the conservation of Partnership assets, or for any other purpose convenient or beneficial to the Partnership, in such amounts and such types, as it shall determine from time to time;

(xiii) to determine whether or not to apply any insurance proceeds for any Property to the restoration of such Property or to distribute the same;

(xiv) to establish one or more divisions of the Partnership, to hire and dismiss employees of the Partnership or any division of the Partnership, and to retain legal counsel, accountants, consultants, real estate brokers, and such other persons, as the General Partner may deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the Partnership business and to pay therefor such reasonable remuneration as the General Partner may deem reasonable and proper;

(xv) to retain other services of any kind or nature in connection with the Partnership business, and to pay therefor such remuneration as the General Partner may deem reasonable and proper;

(xvi) to negotiate and conclude agreements on behalf of the Partnership with respect to any of the rights, powers and authority conferred upon the General Partner;

(xvii) to maintain accurate accounting records and to file promptly all federal, state and local income tax returns on behalf of the Partnership;

(xviii) to distribute Partnership cash or other Partnership assets in accordance with this Agreement;

(xix) to form or acquire an interest in, and contribute property to, any further limited or general partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures or other relationships that it deems desirable (including, without limitation, the acquisition of interests in, and the contributions of property to, Subsidiaries of the Partnership and any other Person in which it has an equity interest from time to time);

(xx) to establish Partnership reserves for working capital, capital expenditures, contingent liabilities, or any other valid Partnership purpose;

 

23


(xxi) to merge, consolidate or combine the Partnership with or into another Person, subject to any limitations set forth in this Agreement, including those set forth in Articles 7 and 12;

(xxii) to do any and all acts and things necessary or prudent to ensure that the Partnership will not be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of Section 7704 of the Code;

(xxiii) to take any and all actions necessary to adopt or modify any distribution reinvestment plan of the Partnership or the General Partner;

(xxiv) to take any and all actions necessary to maintain the General Partner’s status as a REIT as set forth in Section 3.1; and

(xxv) to take such other action, execute, acknowledge, swear to or deliver such other documents and instruments, and perform any and all other acts that the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate for the formation, continuation and conduct of the business and affairs of the Partnership (including, without limitation, all actions consistent with allowing the General Partner at all times to qualify as a REIT unless the General Partner voluntarily terminates its REIT status) and to possess and enjoy all of the rights and powers of a general partner as provided by the Act.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, to the extent the duties of the General Partner require expenditures of funds to be paid to third parties, the General Partner shall not have any obligations hereunder except to the extent that Partnership funds are reasonably available to it for the performance of such duties, and nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or require the General Partner, in its capacity as such, to expend its individual funds for payment to third parties or to undertake any individual liability or obligation on behalf of the Partnership.

6.2 Delegation of Authority. The General Partner may delegate any or all of its powers, rights and obligations hereunder, and may appoint, employ, contract or otherwise deal with any Person for the transaction of the business of the Partnership, which Person may, under supervision of the General Partner, perform any acts or services for the Partnership as the General Partner may approve.

6.3 Indemnification and Exculpation of Indemnitees.

(a) The Partnership shall indemnify to the fullest extent allowed under applicable law, an Indemnitee from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the Partnership as set forth in this Agreement in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise.

Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall be made only out of the assets of the Partnership.

(b) The indemnification provided by this Section 6.3 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee or any other Person may be entitled under any agreement, pursuant to any vote of the Partners, as a matter of law or otherwise, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity.

 

24


(c) The Partnership may purchase and maintain insurance, on behalf of the Indemnitees and such other Persons as the General Partner shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expenses that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Partnership’s activities, regardless of whether the Partnership would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.

(d) For purposes of this Section 6.3, the Partnership shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Partnership also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of this Section 6.3; and actions taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Partnership.

(e) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Limited Partners to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.

(f) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 6.3 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

(g) The provisions of this Section 6.3 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.

(h) Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 6.3, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Agreement inconsistent with this Section 6.3, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

6.4 Liability of the General Partner.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership or any Partners for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of errors in judgment or of any act or omission if the General Partner acted in good faith. The General Partner shall not be in breach of any duty that the General Partner may owe to the Limited Partners or the Partnership or any other Persons under this Agreement or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity provided the General Partner, acting in good faith, abides by the terms of this Agreement.

 

25


(b) The Limited Partners expressly acknowledge that the General Partner is acting on behalf of the Partnership, itself and its stockholders collectively, that the General Partner is under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners (including, without limitation, the tax consequences to Limited Partners or the tax consequences of some, but not all, of the Limited Partners) in deciding whether to cause the Partnership to take (or decline to take) any actions. In the event of a conflict between the interests of its stockholders on one hand and the Limited Partners on the other, the General Partner shall endeavor in good faith to resolve the conflict in a manner not adverse to either its stockholders or the Limited Partners; provided, however, that for so long as the General Partner directly owns a controlling interest in the Partnership, any such conflict that the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines cannot be resolved in a manner not adverse to either its stockholders or the Limited Partner shall be resolved in favor of the stockholders. The General Partner shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred, or benefits not derived by Limited Partners in connection with such decisions, provided that the General Partner has acted in good faith.

(c) Subject to its obligations and duties as General Partner set forth in Section 6.1 hereof, the General Partner may exercise any of the powers granted to it under this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents. The General Partner shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent appointed by it in good faith.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act, any action of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or any decision of the General Partner to refrain from acting on behalf of the Partnership, undertaken in the good faith belief that such action or omission is necessary or advisable in order (i) to protect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT or (ii) to prevent the General Partner from incurring any taxes under Section 857, Section 4981, or any other provision of the Code, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.

(e) Any amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.4 or any provision hereof shall be prospective only and shall not in any way affect the limitations on the General Partner’s liability to the Partnership and the Limited Partners under this Section 6.4 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when claims relating to such matters may arise or be asserted.

6.5 Reimbursement of General Partner.

(a) Except as provided in this Section 6.5 and elsewhere in this Agreement (including the provisions of Articles 5 and 6 regarding distributions, payments, and allocations to which it may be entitled), the General Partner shall not be compensated for its services as general partner of the Partnership.

(b) REIT Expenses and Administrative Expenses shall be obligations of the Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to reimbursement for all REIT Expenses and Administrative Expenses incurred by the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership. Reimbursement of REIT Expenses and Administrative Expenses shall be treated as an expense of the Partnership and not as allocations of Partnership income or gain.

(c) The General Partner shall be reimbursed on a monthly basis, or such other basis as the General Partner may determine in its sole and absolute discretion, for all Administrative Expenses.

 

26


6.6 Outside Activities. Subject to the Articles of Incorporation and any agreements entered into by the General Partner or its Affiliates with the Partnership or a Subsidiary, any officer, director, employee, agent, trustee, Affiliate or stockholder of the General Partner shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the Partnership, including business interests and activities substantially similar or identical to those of the Partnership. Neither the Partnership nor any of the Limited Partners shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any such business ventures, interest or activities. None of the Limited Partners nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement or the partnership relationship established hereby in any such business ventures, interests or activities, and the General Partner shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement to offer any interest in any such business ventures, interests and activities to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, even if such opportunity is of a character which, if presented to the Partnership or any Limited Partner, could be taken by such Person.

6.7 Employment or Retention of Affiliates.

(a) Any Affiliate of the General Partner may be employed or retained by the Partnership and may otherwise deal with the Partnership (whether as a buyer, lessor, lessee, manager, furnisher of goods or services, broker, agent, lender or otherwise) and may receive from the Partnership any compensation, price, or other payment therefor which the General Partner determines to be fair and reasonable.

(b) The Partnership may lend or contribute to its Subsidiaries or other Persons in which it has an equity investment, and such Persons may borrow funds from the Partnership, on terms and conditions established in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. The foregoing authority shall not create any right or benefit in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person.

(c) The Partnership may transfer assets to joint ventures, other partnerships, corporations or other business entities in which it is or thereby becomes a participant upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the General Partner deems are consistent with this Agreement and applicable law.

(d) Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any of its Affiliates shall sell, transfer or convey any property to, or purchase any property from, the Partnership, directly or indirectly, except pursuant to transactions that are on terms that are fair and reasonable to the Partnership.

6.8 General Partner Participation. The General Partner agrees that all business activities of the General Partner, including activities pertaining to the acquisition, development or ownership of Properties, shall be conducted through the Partnership or one or more Subsidiaries of the Partnership (including a taxable REIT subsidiary within the meaning of Section 856(l) of the Code); provided, however, that the General Partner is allowed to make a direct acquisition, but if and only if, such acquisition is made in connection with the issuance of Additional Securities, which direct acquisition and issuance have been approved and determined to be in the best interests of the General Partner and the Partnership by a majority of the board of directors of the General Partner.

 

27


6.9 Title to Partnership Assets. Title to Partnership assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and no Partner, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Partnership assets or any portion thereof. Title to any or all of the Partnership assets may be held in the name of the Partnership, the General Partner or one or more nominees, as the General Partner may determine, including Affiliates of the General Partner. The General Partner hereby declares and warrants that any Partnership assets for which legal title is held in the name of the General Partner or any nominee or Affiliate of the General Partner shall be held by the General Partner for the use and benefit of the Partnership in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the General Partner shall use its best efforts to cause beneficial and record title to such assets to be vested in the Partnership as soon as reasonably practicable. All Partnership assets shall be recorded as the property of the Partnership in its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Partnership assets is held.

6.10 Miscellaneous. In the event the General Partner redeems any REIT Shares (other than REIT Shares redeemed in accordance with the share redemption program of the General Partner through proceeds received from the General Partner’s distribution reinvestment plan, which proceeds so used shall not become a Capital Contribution of the General Partner), then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to purchase from the General Partner an equivalent number of Common Units as determined based on the application of the Conversion Factor on the same terms that the General Partner redeemed such REIT Shares. Moreover, if the General Partner makes a cash tender offer or other offer to acquire REIT Shares, then the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to make a corresponding offer to the General Partner to acquire an equivalent number of Common Units held by the General Partner as determined based on the application of the Conversion Factor. In the event any REIT Shares are exchanged by the General Partner pursuant to such offer, the Partnership shall redeem an equivalent number of the General Partner’s Common Units as determined based on the application of the Conversion Factor for an equivalent purchase price.

6.11 Reliance by Third Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Person dealing with the Partnership shall be entitled to assume that the General Partner has full power and authority, without consent or approval of any other Partner or Person, to encumber, sell or otherwise use in any manner any and all assets of the Partnership and to enter into any contracts on behalf of the Partnership, and take any and all actions on behalf of the Partnership and such Person shall be entitled to deal with the General Partner as if the General Partner were the Partnership’s sole party in interest, both legally and beneficially. Each Limited Partner hereby waives any and all defenses or other remedies which may be available against such Person to contest, negate or disaffirm any action of the General Partner in connection with any such dealing. In no event shall any Person dealing with the General Partner or its representatives be obligated to ascertain that the terms of this Agreement have been complied with or to inquire into the necessity or expedience of any act or action of the General Partner or its representatives. Each and every certificate, document or other instrument executed on behalf of the Partnership by the General Partner or its representatives shall be conclusive evidence in favor of any and every Person relying thereon or claiming thereunder that (i) at the time of the execution and delivery of such certificate, document or instrument, this Agreement was in full force and effect, (ii) the Person executing and delivering such certificate, document or instrument was duly authorized and empowered to do so for and on behalf of the Partnership and (iii) such certificate, document or instrument was duly executed and delivered in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and is binding upon the Partnership.

 

28


ARTICLE 7

CHANGES IN GENERAL PARTNER

7.1 Transfer of the General Partner’s Partnership Interest.

(a) The General Partner shall not transfer all or any portion of its General Partnership Interest or withdraw as General Partner except as provided in or in connection with a transaction contemplated by Section 7.1(b), (c) or (d).

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1(c) or (d) hereof, the General Partner shall not engage in any merger, consolidation or other combination with or into another Person or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, (other than in connection with a change in the General Partner’s state of incorporation or organizational form) in each case which results in a change of control of the General Partner (a “Transaction”), unless:

(i) the approval of the holders of a majority of the Common Units is obtained;

(ii) as a result of such Transaction all Limited Partners will receive for each Common Unit an amount of cash, securities, or other property equal to the product of the Conversion Factor and the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property paid in the Transaction to a holder of one REIT Share in consideration of one REIT Share, provided that if, in connection with the Transaction, a purchase, tender or exchange offer (“Offer”) shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding REIT Shares, each holder of Common Units shall be given the option to exchange its Common Units for the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property which a Limited Partner would have received had it (A) exercised its Exchange Right and (B) sold, tendered or exchanged pursuant to the Offer the REIT Shares received upon exercise of the Exchange Right immediately prior to the expiration of the Offer; or

(iii) the General Partner is the surviving entity in the Transaction and either (A) the holders of REIT Shares do not receive cash, securities, or other property in the Transaction or (B) all Limited Partners (other than the General Partner or any Subsidiary of the General Partner) receive an amount of cash, securities, or other property (expressed as an amount per REIT Share) that is no less than the product of the Conversion Factor and the greatest amount of cash, securities, or other property (expressed as an amount per REIT Share) received in the Transaction by any holder of REIT Shares.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 7.1(b), the General Partner may merge with or into or consolidate with another entity if immediately after such merger or consolidation (i) substantially all of the assets of the successor or surviving entity (the “Surviving General Partner”), other than Partnership Units held by the General Partner, are contributed, directly or indirectly, to the Partnership as a Capital Contribution in exchange for Partnership Units with a fair market value equal to the value of the assets so contributed as determined by the Surviving General Partner in good faith and (ii) the Surviving General Partner expressly agrees to assume all obligations of the General Partner, as appropriate, hereunder. Upon such contribution and assumption, the Surviving General Partner shall have the right and duty to amend this Agreement as set forth in this Section 7.1(c). The Surviving General Partner shall in good faith arrive at a new method for the calculation of the Cash Amount, the REIT Shares Amount and Conversion Factor for a Partnership Unit after any such merger or consolidation so as to approximate the existing method for such calculation as

 

29


closely as reasonably possible. Such calculation shall take into account, among other things, the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property that was receivable upon such merger or consolidation by a holder of REIT Shares or options, warrants or other rights relating thereto, and which a holder of Partnership Units could have acquired had such Partnership Units been exchanged immediately prior to such merger or consolidation. Such amendment to this Agreement shall provide for adjustment to such method of calculation, which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for with respect to the Conversion Factor. The Surviving General Partner also shall in good faith modify the definition of REIT Shares and make such amendments to Section 8.5 hereof so as to approximate the existing rights and obligations set forth in Section 8.5 as closely as reasonably possible. The above provisions of this Section 7.1(c) shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations permitted hereunder.

In respect of any transaction described in the preceding paragraph, the General Partner is required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to structure such transaction to avoid causing the Limited Partners to recognize a gain for federal income tax purposes by virtue of the occurrence of or their participation in such transaction, provided such efforts are consistent with the exercise of the fiduciary duties of the board of directors of the General Partner to the Stockholders under applicable law.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 7.1(b),

(i) a General Partner may transfer all or any portion of its General Partnership Interest to (A) a wholly-owned Subsidiary of such General Partner or (B) the owner of all of the ownership interests of such General Partner, and following a transfer of all of its General Partnership Interest, may withdraw as General Partner; and

(ii) the General Partner may engage in Transactions not required by law or by the rules of any National Securities Exchange on which the REIT Shares are listed to be submitted to the vote of the holders of the REIT Shares.

7.2 Admission of a Substitute or Additional General Partner. A Person shall be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner of the Partnership only if the following terms and conditions are satisfied:

(a) the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart thereof and such other documents or instruments as may be required or appropriate in order to effect the admission of such Person as a General Partner, and a certificate evidencing the admission of such Person as a General Partner shall have been filed for recordation and all other actions required by Section 2.5 hereof in connection with such admission shall have been performed;

(b) if the Person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner is a corporation or a partnership it shall have provided the Partnership with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership of such Person’s authority to become a General Partner and to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and

 

30


(c) counsel for the Partnership shall have rendered an opinion (relying on such opinions from other counsel and the state or any other jurisdiction as may be necessary) that the admission of the person to be admitted as a substitute or additional General Partner is in conformity with the Act, that none of the actions taken in connection with the admission of such Person as a substitute or additional General Partner will cause (i) the Partnership to be classified other than as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, or (ii) the loss of any Limited Partner’s limited liability.

7.3 Effect of Bankruptcy, Withdrawal, Death or Dissolution of a General Partner.

(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.4(a) hereof) or the death, withdrawal, removal or dissolution of a General Partner (except that, if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of such General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners), the Partnership shall be dissolved and terminated unless the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3(b) hereof. The merger of the General Partner with or into any entity that is admitted as a substitute or successor General Partner pursuant to Section 7.2 hereof shall not be deemed to be the withdrawal, dissolution or removal of the General Partner.

(b) Following the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a General Partner (and its removal pursuant to Section 7.4(a) hereof) or the death, withdrawal, removal or dissolution of a General Partner (except that, if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to, or removal of a partner in, such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of such General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners), the holders of Common Units, within 90 days after such occurrence, may elect to continue the business of the Partnership for the balance of the term specified in Section 2.4 hereof by selecting, subject to Section 7.2 hereof and any other provisions of this Agreement, a substitute General Partner by consent of a majority in interest of the Common Units. If the holders of Common Units elect to continue the business of the Partnership and admit a substitute General Partner, the relationship with the Partners and of any Person who has acquired an interest of a Partner in the Partnership shall be governed by this Agreement.

7.4 Removal of a General Partner.

(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to, or the dissolution of, a General Partner, such General Partner shall be deemed to be removed automatically; provided, however, that if a General Partner is on the date of such occurrence a partnership, the withdrawal, death, dissolution, Event of Bankruptcy as to or removal of a partner in such partnership shall be deemed not to be a dissolution of the General Partner if the business of such General Partner is continued by the remaining partner or partners. The Limited Partners may not remove the General Partner, with or without cause.

(b) If a General Partner has been removed pursuant to this Section 7.4 and the Partnership is continued pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof, such General Partner shall promptly transfer and assign its General Partnership Interest in the Partnership to the substitute General Partner approved by a majority in interest of the Limited Partners in accordance with Section 7.3(b) hereof and otherwise admitted to the Partnership in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof. At the time of assignment, the removed General Partner shall be entitled to receive from the substitute General

 

31


Partner the fair market value of the General Partnership Interest of such removed General Partner as reduced by any damages caused to the Partnership by such General Partner. Such fair market value shall be determined by an appraiser mutually agreed upon by the General Partner and a majority in interest of the Limited Partners within 10 days following the removal of the General Partner. In the event that the parties are unable to agree upon an appraiser, the removed General Partner and a majority in interest of the Limited Partners each shall select an appraiser. Each such appraiser shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest within 30 days of the General Partner’s removal, and the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals; provided, however, that if the higher appraisal exceeds the lower appraisal by more than 20% of the amount of the lower appraisal, the two appraisers, no later than 40 days after the removal of the General Partner, shall select a third appraiser who shall complete an appraisal of the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest no later than 60 days after the removal of the General Partner. In such case, the fair market value of the removed General Partner’s General Partnership Interest shall be the average of the two appraisals closest in value.

(c) The General Partnership Interest of a removed General Partner, during the time after default until transfer under Section 7.4(b), shall be converted to that of a special Limited Partner; provided, however, such removed General Partner shall not have any rights to participate in the management and affairs of the Partnership, and shall not be entitled to any portion of the income, expense, profit, gain or loss allocations or cash distributions allocable or payable, as the case may be, to the Limited Partners. Instead, such removed General Partner shall receive and be entitled only to retain distributions or allocations of such items that it would have been entitled to receive in its capacity as General Partner, until the transfer is effective pursuant to Section 7.4(b).

(d) All Partners shall have given and hereby do give such consents, shall take such actions and shall execute such documents as shall be legally necessary and sufficient to effect all the foregoing provisions of this Section.

ARTICLE 8

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE LIMITED PARTNERS

8.1 Management of the Partnership. The Limited Partners shall not participate in the management or control of Partnership business nor shall they transact any business for or on behalf of the Partnership, nor shall they have the power to sign for or bind the Partnership, such powers being vested solely and exclusively in the General Partner.

8.2 Power of Attorney. Each Limited Partner hereby irrevocably appoints the General Partner its true and lawful attorney-in-fact, who may act for each Limited Partner and in its name, place and stead, and for its use and benefit, to sign, acknowledge, swear to, deliver, file or record, at the appropriate public offices, any and all documents, certificates, and instruments as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the General Partner to carry out fully the provisions of this Agreement and the Act in accordance with their terms, which power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall survive the death, dissolution or legal incapacity of the Limited Partner, or the transfer by the Limited Partner of any part or all of its Partnership Interest.

8.3 Limitation on Liability of Limited Partners. No Limited Partner shall be liable for any debts, liabilities, contracts or obligations of the Partnership. A Limited Partner shall be liable to the Partnership only to make payments of its Capital Contribution, if any, as and when due hereunder. After its Capital Contribution is fully paid, no Limited Partner shall, except as otherwise required by the Act, be required to make any further Capital Contributions or other payments or lend any funds to the Partnership.

 

32


8.4 Ownership by Limited Partner of Corporate General Partner or Affiliate. No Limited Partner shall at any time, either directly or indirectly, own any stock or other interest in the General Partner or in any Affiliate thereof, if such ownership by itself or in conjunction with other stock or other interests owned by other Limited Partners would, in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership, jeopardize the classification of the Partnership as a partnership for federal tax purposes. The General Partner shall be entitled to make such reasonable inquiry of the Limited Partners as is required to establish compliance by the Limited Partners with the provisions of this Section.

8.5 Exchange Right.

(a) Subject to Sections 8.5(b), 8.5(c), 8.5(d), 8.5(e), and 8.5(g) and the provisions of any agreements between the Partnership and one or more holders of Common Units with respect to Common Units held by them, each holder of Common Units shall have the right (the “Exchange Right”) to require the Partnership to redeem on a Specified Exchange Date all or a portion of the Common Units held by such Limited Partner at an exchange price equal to and in the form of the Cash Amount to be paid by the Partnership, provided that such Common Units shall have been outstanding for at least one year. The Exchange Right shall be exercised pursuant to a Notice of Exchange delivered to the Partnership (with a copy to the General Partner) by the Limited Partner who is exercising the Exchange Right (the “Exchanging Partner”); provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be obligated to satisfy such Exchange Right if the General Partner elects to purchase the Common Units subject to the Notice of Exchange pursuant to Section 8.5(b); and provided, further, that no holder of Common Units may deliver more than two Notices of Exchange during each calendar year. A Limited Partner may not exercise the Exchange Right for less than 1,000 Common Units or, if such Limited Partner holds less than 1,000 Common Units, all of the Common Units held by such Partner. The Exchanging Partner shall have no right, with respect to any Common Units so exchanged, to receive any distribution paid with respect to Common Units if the record date for such distribution is on or after the Specified Exchange Date.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.5(a), a Limited Partner that exercises the Exchange Right shall be deemed to have offered to sell the Common Units described in the Notice of Exchange to the General Partner, and the General Partner may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect to purchase directly and acquire such Common Units by paying to the Exchanging Partner either the Cash Amount or the REIT Shares Amount, as elected by the General Partner (in its sole and absolute discretion), on the Specified Exchange Date, whereupon the General Partner shall acquire the Common Units offered for exchange by the Exchanging Partner and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Common Units. If the General Partner shall elect to exercise its right to purchase Common Units under this Section 8.5(b) with respect to a Notice of Exchange, it shall so notify the Exchanging Partner within five business days after the receipt by the General Partner of such Notice of Exchange. Unless the General Partner (in its sole and absolute discretion) shall exercise its right to purchase Common Units from the Exchanging Partner pursuant to this Section 8.5(b), the General Partner shall have no obligation to the Exchanging Partner or the Partnership with respect to the Exchanging Partner’s exercise of the Exchange Right. In the event the General Partner shall exercise its right to purchase Common Units with respect to the exercise of an Exchange Right in the manner described in the first sentence of this Section 8.5(b), the Partnership shall have no obligation to pay any amount to the Exchanging Partner with respect to such Exchanging Partner’s exercise of such Exchange Right, and each of

 

33


the Exchanging Partner, the Partnership, and the General Partner, as the case may be, shall treat the transaction between the General Partner, as the case may be, and the Exchanging Partner for federal income tax purposes as a sale of the Exchanging Partner’s Common Units to the General Partner, as the case may be. Each Exchanging Partner agrees to execute such documents as the General Partner may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of REIT Shares upon exercise of the Exchange Right, including an assignment of the Common Units, and if the General Partner is relying upon the exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule, a document pursuant to which the Exchanging Partner makes a representation that it is an accredited investor; provided, however, that if the Exchanging Partner cannot make such representation, then the Exchanging Partner shall have no right to exercise its Exchange Right.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.5(a) and 8.5(b), a Limited Partner shall not be entitled to exercise the Exchange Right if the delivery of REIT Shares to such Partner on the Specified Exchange Date by the General Partner pursuant to Section 8.5(b) (regardless of whether or not the General Partner would in fact exercise its rights under Section 8.5(b)) would, in the determination of the General Partner (i) result in such Partner or any other person owning, directly or indirectly, shares of stock of the General Partner in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation and calculated in accordance therewith) or the Common Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation and calculated in accordance therewith), except as provided in the Articles of Incorporation, (ii) result in REIT Shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), except as provided in the Articles of Incorporation, (iii) result in the General Partner being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, (iv) cause the General Partner to own, directly or constructively, 9.9% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code, (v) cause a violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, either for the exchange or other securities offerings, (vi) require such REIT Shares to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (vii) cause the General Partner to no longer qualify as a REIT, or (viii) cause the Partnership to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may waive the restriction on exchange set forth in this Section 8.5(c).

(d) Any Cash Amount to be paid to an Exchanging Partner pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall be paid on the Specified Exchange Date; provided, however, that the General Partner may elect to cause the Specified Exchange Date to be delayed for up to an additional 180 days to the extent required for the General Partner to cause additional REIT Shares to be issued to provide financing to be used to make such payment of the Cash Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the closing of the acquisition of exchanged Common Units hereunder to occur as quickly as reasonably possible.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall place appropriate restrictions on the ability of the Limited Partners to exercise their Exchange Rights as and if deemed necessary to ensure that the Partnership does not constitute a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code. If and when the General Partner determines that imposing such restrictions is necessary, the General Partner shall give prompt written notice thereof to each of the Limited Partners, which notice shall state the restrictions the General Partner has instituted in order to avoid the Partnership being treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

34


(f) Each Limited Partner covenants and agrees with the General Partner that all Common Units delivered for exchange shall be delivered to the Partnership or the General Partner, as the case may be, free and clear of all liens; and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the General Partner nor the Partnership shall be under any obligation to acquire Common Units which are or may be subject to any liens. Each Limited Partner further agrees that, if any state or local property transfer tax is payable as a result of the transfer of its Common Units to the Partnership or the General Partner, such Limited Partner shall assume and pay such transfer tax.

(g) With respect to the Contribution Common Units, the Exchange Right provided for in this Article 8 shall not be exercisable or exercised by any holder of Contribution Common Units until such Contribution Common Units have been outstanding for at least two years.

(h) The exercise of an Exchange Right by a Limited Partner will be subject to compliance with securities laws applicable to the exchange and therefore the Exchange Right may not be exercisable in the absence of an effective registration statement or an available exemption from registration.

8.6 Outside Activities of Limited Partners. Subject to (i) any other agreements entered into by a Limited Partner or any of its Affiliates with the General Partner, including the Restrictive Covenants Agreements between PM Contributor, Advisor Contributor, PM Holdings, Advisor Holdings and the General Partner dated as of the date hereof, and (ii) any fiduciary duty owed by a Limited Partner or any officer, director, employee, agent, representative, trustee, Affiliate, manager, member or stockholder of any such Limited Partner or assignee, to the General Partner by virtue of such Person’s position as a director of the General Partner, any Limited Partner, any assignee of such Limited Partner admitted pursuant to Section 9.3, or any officer, director, employee, agent, representative, trustee, Affiliate, manager, member or stockholder of any such Limited Partner or assignee, as applicable, shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in business activities in addition to those relating to the General Partner, including business interests and activities that are in direct or indirect competition with the General Partner or that are enhanced by the activities of the General Partner. Neither the General Partner nor any Limited Partner shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any Limited Partner or assignee admitted pursuant to Section 9.3. Subject to such agreements, none of the General Partner, Limited Partners nor any other Person shall have any rights by virtue of this Agreement in any business ventures of any other Person (other than to the extent expressly provided herein), and such Person shall have no obligation pursuant to this Agreement, subject to any other agreements entered into by a Limited Partner or its Affiliates with the General Partner or its Affiliates to offer any interest in any such business ventures to the General Partner, any other Limited Partner, or any such other Person, even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the General Partner, any other Limited Partner or such other Person, could be taken by such Person.

8.7 Rights of Limited Partners Relating to the General Partner.

(a) In addition to other rights provided by this Agreement or by the Act, and subject to Section 8.7(c), the General Partner shall deliver to each Limited Partner that is a holder of a Contribution Common Unit a copy of any information mailed to all of the common stockholders of the General Partner as soon as practicable after such mailing.

(b) The General Partner shall notify any Limited Partner, on request, of the then current Conversion Factor or any change made to the Conversion Factor.

 

35


(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.7, the General Partner may keep confidential from the Limited Partners (or any of them, individually), for such period of time as the General Partner determines to be reasonable, any information that (i) the General Partner believes to be in the nature of trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which the General Partner in good faith believes is not in its best interests or (ii) the General Partner is required by law or by agreement to keep confidential.

ARTICLE 9

TRANSFERS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

9.1 Purchase for Investment.

(a) Each Limited Partner hereby represents and warrants to the General Partner and to the Partnership that the acquisition of its Partnership Interests is made as a principal for its account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the resale or distribution of such Partnership Interest.

(b) Each Limited Partner agrees that it will not sell, assign or otherwise transfer its Partnership Interest or any fraction thereof, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise, to any Person who does not make the representations and warranties to the General Partner set forth in Section 9.1(a) above and similarly agree not to sell, assign or transfer such Partnership Interest or fraction thereof to any Person who does not similarly represent, warrant and agree.

9.2 Restrictions on Transfer of Limited Partnership Interests.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 9.2(b), (c) and (d), no Limited Partner may offer, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its Limited Partnership Interest, or any of such Limited Partner’s economic rights as a Limited Partner, whether voluntarily or by operation of law or at judicial sale or otherwise (collectively, a “Transfer”) without the consent of the General Partner, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld. Any such purported transfer undertaken without such consent shall be considered to be null and void ab initio and shall not be given effect. The General Partner may require, as a condition of any Transfer to which it consents, that the transferor assume all costs incurred by the Partnership in connection therewith.

(b) No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership other than as a result of a permitted Transfer (i.e., a Transfer consented to as contemplated by clause (a) above or clause (c) below or a Transfer pursuant to Section 9.5 below) of all of its Partnership Units pursuant to this Article 9 or pursuant to an exchange of all of its Partnership Units pursuant to Section 8.5 or any instrument designating a Preferred Unit. Upon the permitted Transfer or redemption of all of a Limited Partner’s Partnership Interest, such Limited Partner shall cease to be a Limited Partner.

(c) Subject to Sections 9.2(e), (f) and (g) below, a Limited Partner may Transfer, with the consent of the General Partner, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, all or a portion of its Partnership Units to (i) its Affiliate; (ii) a parent or parent’s spouse, natural or adopted descendant or descendants, spouse of such descendant, or brother or sister, or a trust created by such Limited Partner for the benefit of such Limited Partner and/or any such Person(s), of which trust such Limited Partner or any such Person(s) is a trustee, (iii) a corporation controlled by a Person or Persons named in (i) above, or (iv) if the Limited Partner is an entity, its beneficial owners.

 

36


(d) Subject to Sections 9.2(e), (f) and (g) below, a Limited Partner may Transfer, with the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be granted or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, all or a portion of its Partnership Units to (i) any lender or lenders, or agents acting on their behalf, to whom any Partnership Unit Interest is transferred pursuant to (y) the formation of any secured pledge or (z) the exercise of remedies under a pledge; or (ii) any special purpose entities owned and used by the lenders or agents described in Section 9.2(d)(i) for the purpose of holding any such Partnership Unit.

(d) No Limited Partner may effect a Transfer of its Limited Partnership Interest, in whole or in part, if, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Partnership, such proposed Transfer would otherwise violate any applicable federal or state securities or blue sky law (including investment suitability standards).

(e) No Transfer by a Limited Partner of its Partnership Units, in whole or in part, may be made to any Person if (i) in the opinion of the General Partner based on the advice of legal counsel for the Partnership, the transfer would result in the Partnership’s being treated as an association taxable as a corporation (other than a qualified REIT subsidiary within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the Code), (ii) in the opinion of the General Partner based on the advice of legal counsel for the Partnership, it would adversely affect the ability of the General Partner to continue to qualify as a REIT or subject the General Partner to any additional taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the Code, (iii) in the opinion of the General Partner, such transfer would cause any of the Partnership Units to be deemed to be “traded” on an “established securities market” or “readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and the Regulations promulgated thereunder, (iv) would cause the Partnership to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA or to Section 4975 of the Code, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the Code) or (v) would, in the belief of the General Partner, cause any portion of the assets of the Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to 29 CFR Section 2510.3-101.

(f) No transfer of any Partnership Units may be made to a lender to the Partnership or any Person who is related (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-4(b)) to any lender to the Partnership whose loan constitutes a nonrecourse liability (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-1(a)(2)), without the consent of the General Partner, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, provided that as a condition to such consent the lender will be required to enter into an arrangement with the Partnership and the General Partner to exchange or redeem for the Cash Amount any Partnership Units in which a security interest is held simultaneously with the time at which such lender would be deemed to be a partner in the Partnership for purposes of allocating liabilities to such lender under Section 752 of the Code.

(g) Any Transfer in contravention of any of the provisions of this Article 9 shall be void and ineffectual and shall not be binding upon, or recognized by, the Partnership.

 

37


(h) Prior to the consummation of any Transfer under this Article 9, the transferor and/or the transferee shall deliver to the General Partner such opinions, certificates and other documents as the General Partner shall request in connection with such Transfer.

9.3 Admission of Substitute Limited Partner.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Article 9, an assignee of the Limited Partnership Interest of a Limited Partner (which shall be understood to include any purchaser, transferee, donee, or other recipient of any disposition of such Limited Partnership Interest) shall be deemed admitted as a Limited Partner of the Partnership only with the consent of the General Partner and upon the satisfactory completion of the following:

(i) The assignee shall have accepted and agreed to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement by executing a counterpart or an amendment thereof, including a revised Exhibit A, and such other documents or instruments as the General Partner may require in order to effect the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner.

(ii) To the extent required, an amended Certificate evidencing the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner shall have been signed, acknowledged and filed for record in accordance with the Act.

(iii) The assignee shall have delivered a letter containing the representation set forth in Section 9.1(a) hereof and the agreement set forth in Section 9.1(b) hereof.

(iv) If the assignee is a corporation, partnership or trust, the assignee shall have provided the General Partner with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership of the assignee’s authority to become a Limited Partner under the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

(v) The assignee shall have executed a power of attorney containing the terms and provisions set forth in Section 8.2 hereof.

(vi) The assignee shall have paid all legal fees and other expenses of the Partnership and the General Partner and filing and publication costs in connection with its substitution as a Limited Partner.

(vii) The assignee shall have obtained the prior written consent of the General Partner to its admission as a Substitute Limited Partner, which consent may be given or denied in the exercise of the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion.

(b) For the purpose of allocating Profits and Losses and distributing cash received by the Partnership, a Substitute Limited Partner shall be treated as having become, and appearing in the records of the Partnership as, a Partner upon the filing of the Certificate described in Section 9.3(a)(ii) hereof or, if no such filing is required, the later of the date specified in the transfer documents or the date on which the General Partner has received all necessary instruments of transfer and substitution.

 

38


(c) The General Partner shall cooperate with the Person seeking to become a Substitute Limited Partner by preparing the documentation required by this Section and making all official filings and publications. The Partnership shall take all such action as promptly as practicable after the satisfaction of the conditions in this Article 9 to the admission of such Person as a Limited Partner of the Partnership.

9.4 Rights of Assignees of Partnership Interests.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof, except as required by operation of law, the Partnership shall not be obligated for any purposes whatsoever to recognize the assignment by any Limited Partner of its Partnership Interest until the Partnership has received notice thereof.

(b) Any Person who is the assignee of all or any portion of a Limited Partner’s Limited Partnership Interest, but does not become a Substitute Limited Partner and desires to make a further assignment of such Limited Partnership Interest, shall be subject to all the provisions of this Article 9 to the same extent and in the same manner as any Limited Partner desiring to make an assignment of its Limited Partnership Interest.

9.5 Effect of Bankruptcy, Death, Incompetence or Termination of a Limited Partner. The occurrence of an Event of Bankruptcy as to a Limited Partner, the death of a Limited Partner or a final adjudication that a Limited Partner is incompetent (which term shall include, but not be limited to, insanity) shall not cause the termination or dissolution of the Partnership, and the business of the Partnership shall continue if an order for relief in a bankruptcy proceeding is entered against a Limited Partner, the trustee or receiver of his estate or, if he dies, his executor, administrator or trustee, or, if he is finally adjudicated incompetent, his committee, guardian or conservator, shall have the rights of such Limited Partner for the purpose of settling or managing his estate property and such power as the bankrupt, deceased or incompetent Limited Partner possessed to assign all or any part of his Partnership Interest and to join with the assignee in satisfying conditions precedent to the admission of the assignee as a Substitute Limited Partner.

9.6 Joint Ownership of Interests. A Partnership Interest may be acquired by two individuals as joint tenants with right of survivorship, provided that such individuals either are married or are related and share the same personal residence. The written consent or vote of both owners of any such jointly held Partnership Interest shall be required to constitute the action of the owners of such Partnership Interest; provided, however, that the written consent of only one joint owner will be required if the Partnership has been provided with evidence satisfactory to the counsel for the Partnership that the actions of a single joint owner can bind both owners under the applicable laws of the state of residence of such joint owners. Upon the death of one owner of a Partnership Interest held in a joint tenancy with a right of survivorship, the Partnership Interest shall become owned solely by the survivor as a Limited Partner and not as an assignee. The Partnership need not recognize the death of one of the owners of a jointly-held Partnership Interest until it shall have received notice of such death. Upon notice to the General Partner from either owner, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership Interest to be divided into two equal Partnership Interests, which shall thereafter be owned separately by each of the former owners.

 

39


ARTICLE 10

ADMISSION OF ADDITIONAL LIMITED PARTNERS

10.1 Admission of Additional Limited Partners. No Person shall be admitted as an Additional Limited Partner without the consent of the General Partner, which consent shall be given or withheld in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion. A Person who makes a Capital Contribution to the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement or who exercises an option to receive Partnership Units shall be admitted to the Partnership as an Additional Limited Partner only with the consent of the General Partner and only upon furnishing to the General Partner (i) evidence of acceptance in form satisfactory to the General Partner of all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the power of attorney granted in Section 8.2 and (ii) such other documents or instruments as may be required in the discretion of the General Partner to effect such Person’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner. The admission of any Person as an Additional Limited Partner shall become effective on the date upon which the name of such Person is recorded on the books and records of the Partnership, following the consent of the General Partner to such admission.

10.2 Allocations to Additional Limited Partners. If any Additional Limited Partner is admitted to the Partnership on any day other than the first day of a Partnership Year, then Profits, Losses, each item thereof and all other items allocable among Partners and assignees for such Partnership Year shall be allocated among such Additional Limited Partner and all other Partners and assignees by taking into account their varying interests during the Partnership Year in accordance with Section 706(d) of the Code, using the interim closing of the books method (unless the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, elects to adopt a daily, weekly or monthly proration method, in which event Profits, Losses, and each item thereof would be prorated based upon the applicable period selected by the General Partner). Solely for purposes of making such allocations, each of such item for the calendar month in which an admission of any Additional Limited Partner occurs shall be allocated among all the Partners and assignees including such Additional Limited Partner. All distributions by the Partnership with respect to which the Partnership Record Date is before the date of such admission shall be made solely to Partners and assignees other than the Additional Limited Partner, and all distributions by the Partnership thereafter shall be made to all the Partners and assignees including such Additional Limited Partner.

10.3 Amendment of Agreement and Certificate of Limited Partnership. For the admission to the Partnership of any Partner, the General Partner shall take all steps necessary and appropriate under the Act to amend the records of the Partnership and, if necessary, to prepare as soon as practical an amendment of this Agreement (including an amendment to Exhibit A) and, if required by law, shall prepare and file an amendment to the Certificate and may for this purpose exercise the power of attorney granted pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof.

ARTICLE 11

BOOKS AND RECORDS; ACCOUNTING; TAX MATTERS; REPORTS

11.1 Books and Records. At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the General Partner shall keep or cause to be kept at the Partnership’s specified office true and complete books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including: (a) a current list of the full name and last known business address of each Partner, (b) a copy of the Certificate and all certificates of amendment thereto, (c) copies of the Partnership’s federal, state and local income tax returns and reports, (d) copies of this Agreement and amendments thereto and any financial statements of the Partnership for the three most recent Partnership Years and (e) all documents and information required under the Act. Any Partner or its duly authorized representative, upon paying the costs of collection, duplication and mailing, shall be entitled to inspect or copy such records during ordinary business hours.

11.2 Custody of Partnership Funds; Bank Accounts.

(a) All funds of the Partnership not otherwise invested shall be deposited in one or more accounts maintained in such banking or brokerage institutions as the General Partner shall determine, and withdrawals shall be made only on such signature or signatures as the General Partner may, from time to time, determine.

 

40


(b) All deposits and other funds not needed in the operation of the business of the Partnership may be invested by the General Partner in investment grade instruments (or investment companies whose portfolio consists primarily thereof), government obligations, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and municipal notes and bonds, or other investments approved by the board of directors of the General Partner. The funds of the Partnership shall not be commingled with the funds of any other Person except for such commingling as may necessarily result from an investment in those investment companies permitted by this Section 11.2(b).

11.3 Fiscal and Taxable Year. The fiscal and taxable year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year.

11.4 Annual Tax Information and Report. Within 90 days after the end of each Partnership Year, the General Partner shall use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to each person who was a Limited Partner at any time during such Partnership Year the tax information necessary to file such Limited Partner’s individual tax returns as shall be reasonably required by law.

11.5 Partnership Representative; Tax Elections; Special Basis Adjustments.

(a) The General Partner is hereby designated as the “partnership representative” of the Partnership within the meaning of Section 6223(a) of the Code. If any state or local tax law provides for a partnership representative or person having similar rights, powers, authority or obligations, the person designated above shall also serve in such capacity (in any such federal, state or local capacity, the “Partnership Representative”). The General Partner may name a replacement Partnership Representative at any time; provided, however, that the designated Partnership Representative shall serve as the Partnership Representative until resignation, death, incapacity, or removal. In such capacity, the Partnership Representative shall have all of the rights, authority and power, and shall be subject to all of the obligations, of a partnership representative to the extent provided in the Code and the Regulations, and the Partners hereby agree to be bound by any actions taken by the Partnership Representative in such capacity. The Partnership Representative shall represent the Partnership in all tax matters to the extent allowed by law. Without limiting the foregoing, the Partnership Representative is authorized and required to represent the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities, including administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Partnership funds for professional services and costs associated therewith. Any decisions made by the Partnership Representative, including, without limitation, whether or not to settle or contest any tax matter, and the choice of forum for any such contest, and whether or not to extend the period of limitations for the assessment or collection of any tax, shall be made in the Partnership Representative’s sole discretion. The Partnership Representative (i) shall have the sole authority to make any elections on behalf of the Partnership permitted to be made pursuant to the Code or the Regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) may, in its sole discretion, make an election on behalf of the Partnership under Sections 6221(b) or 6226 of the Code, (iii) may request a modification to any assessment of an imputed underpayment, including a modification for any Partner who is a REIT or regulated investment company as defined in Section 851, based on such Partner making a deficiency dividend pursuant to Section 860, and a modification based on the tax-exempt status of a reviewed year Partner, and (iv) may take all actions the Partnership Representative deems necessary or appropriate in connection with the foregoing. The Partnership Representative shall be

 

41


reimbursed and indemnified by the Partnership for all claims, liabilities, losses, costs, damages and expenses, and for reasonable legal and accounting fees, incurred in connection with the performance of its duties as Partnership Representative in accordance with the terms hereof, unless the actions of the Partnership Representative constitute gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

(b) Each Partner hereby covenants to cooperate with the Partnership Representative and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Partnership Representative with respect to examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities (including, without limitation, promptly filing amended tax returns and promptly paying any related taxes, including penalties and interest) and shall provide promptly and update as necessary at any times requested by the Partnership Representative, all information, documents, self-certifications, tax identification numbers, tax forms, and verifications thereof, that the Partnership Representative deems necessary in connection with (1) any information required for the Partnership to determine the application of Sections 6221 through 6235 of the Code to the Partnership; (2) an election by the Partnership under Section 6221(b) or 6226 of the Code, and (3) an audit of the Partnership or a final adjustment of a Partnership item by a tax authority. The Partnership and the Partners hereby agree and acknowledge that (i) the actions of the Partnership Representative in connection with examinations of the Partnership’s affairs by tax authorities shall be binding on the Partnership and the Partners; and (ii) neither the Partnership nor the Partners have any right to contact the Service with respect to an examination of the Partnership or participate in an audit of the Partnership or proceedings under Sections 6221 through 6235 of the Code.

(c) The Partners acknowledge that the Partnership may elect the application of Section 6221(b) of the Code (the “Opt-Out Election”) for any Partnership Year in which it is eligible to make such election. The Partners further acknowledge that the Partnership may elect the application of Section 6226 of the Code (the “Push-out Election”) for any Partnership Year in which it is not eligible to make the Opt-Out Election. This acknowledgement applies to each Partner whether or not the Partner owns a Partnership Interest in both the reviewed year and the year of the tax adjustment. If the Partnership makes a Push-Out Election, the Partners shall take into account and report to the Service (or any other applicable tax authority) any adjustment to their tax items for the reviewed year of which they are notified by the Partnership in a written statement, in the manner provided in Section 6226(b) of the Code, whether or not any applicable Partner owns a Partnership Interest at such time. Any Partner that fails to report its share of such adjustments on its tax return, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner, the Partnership Representative, and each of their Affiliates from and against any and all liabilities related to taxes (including penalties and interest) imposed on the Partnership as a result of the Partner’s failure. Each Partner acknowledges and agrees that no Partner shall have any claim against the Partnership, the General Partner, the Partnership Representative, or any of their Affiliates for any tax, penalties or interest resulting from the Partnership making a Push-Out Election.

(d) If the Partnership does not make a Push-Out Election, the amount of any imputed underpayment assessed upon the Partnership, pursuant to Code Section 6232, attributable to a Partner (or former Partner), as reasonably determined by the Partnership Representative, shall be treated as a withholding tax with respect to such Partner. To the extent any portion of such imputed underpayment cannot be withheld from a current distribution, any such Partner (or former Partner) shall be liable to the Partnership for the amount that cannot be withheld and agrees to pay such amount to the Partnership. Any such amount withheld or any such payment shall not be treated as a Capital Contribution for purposes of any provision herein that affects distributions to the Partners and any amount not paid by any such Partner (or former Partner) at the time reasonably requested by the Partnership Representative shall accrue interest at the rate set by the Service for the underpayment of federal taxes, compounded quarterly, until paid.

 

42


(e) The provisions of this Section 11 shall survive the termination of the Partnership, the termination of this Agreement and, with respect to any Partner, the transfer or assignment of any portion of such Partner’s Partnership Interest.

(f) The Partnership Representative shall keep the Partners reasonably informed as to the status of any tax investigations, audits, lawsuits or other judicial or administrative tax proceedings and shall promptly copy all other Partners on any correspondence to or from the Service or applicable state, local or foreign tax authority relating to such proceedings. The Partnership Representative shall inform the Service, as promptly as possible upon the commencement of any examination or proceeding, of the tax-exempt status of any Partners and shall take any actions or refrain from taking any action to the extent necessary to preserve the tax-exempt status of such Partners and shall afford such Partners tax-free treatment, to the extent permissible under the Code. The Partnership Representative has an obligation to perform its duties as the Partnership Representative in good faith and in such manner as will serve the best interests of the Partnership and all of the Partners.

(g) The Partnership shall elect to deduct expenses, if any, incurred by it in organizing the Partnership as provided in Section 709 of the Code.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) each Partner hereby agrees to release and hold harmless the Partnership Representative for all decisions and actions made or untaken, as applicable, by the Partnership Representative in its capacity as such, provided that no such Partner shall be required to release and hold harmless the Partnership Representative for any such decisions and actions made or untaken, as applicable, to the extent such decisions or actions give rise to any right of recovery by such Partner under any other agreements entered into by such Partner or any of its Affiliates with the General Partner or any of its Affiliates (including the terms of the Contribution and Exchange Agreement), and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Partnership shall indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership Representative for all costs, expenses, claims, liabilities, losses, damages and legal and accounting fees that are incurred by the Partnership Representative in connection with this Section 11.5(h).

11.6 Reports Made Available to Limited Partners.

(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the close of each fiscal quarter (other than the last quarter of the Partnership Year), upon written request by a Limited Partner to the General Partner, the General Partner will make available, without cost, to each Limited Partner a quarterly report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the General Partner, for such fiscal quarter, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. As soon as practicable, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the close of each Partnership Year, upon written request by a Limited Partner to the General Partner, the General Partner will make available, without cost, to each Limited Partner an annual report containing financial statements of the Partnership, or of the General Partner if such statements are prepared solely on a consolidated basis with the General Partner, for such fiscal year, presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

43


(b) Any Partner shall further have the right to a private audit of the books and records of the Partnership at the expense of such Partner, provided such audit is made for Partnership purposes and is made during normal business hours.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner, in its sole discretion, may restrict receipt of the information identified in Section 11.1, if the General Partner reasonably believes that disclosure of such information is not in the best interest of the Partnership or could damage the Partnership or the General Partner or its business or the requesting Limited Partner’s reason for obtaining the applicable information is, in the General Partner’s sole discretion, related to the Limited Partner’s individual purposes and not for a Partnership purpose.

ARTICLE 12

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT; MERGER

12.1 General. The General Partner’s consent shall be required for any amendment to this Agreement. Subject to any consent rights expressly provided to holders of Preferred Units in this Agreement, or any amendment hereto, the General Partner, without the consent of the Limited Partners, may amend this Agreement in any respect or merge or consolidate the Partnership with or into any other partnership or business entity (as defined in Section 17-211 of the Act) in a transaction pursuant to Section 7.1(b), (c) or (d) hereof; provided, however, that the following amendments and any other merger or consolidation of the Partnership shall require the consent of a majority in interest of the Common Units:

(a) any amendment affecting the operation of the Exchange Right (except as provided in Section 8.5(d) or 7.1(c) hereof) in a manner adverse to the Limited Partners;

(b) any amendment that would adversely affect the rights of the Limited Partners to receive the distributions payable to them hereunder, other than with respect to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof;

(c) any amendment that would alter the Partnership’s allocations of Profit and Loss to the Limited Partners, other than with respect to the issuance of additional Partnership Interests pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof; or

(d) any amendment that would impose on the Limited Partners any obligation to make additional Capital Contributions to the Partnership.

12.2 Amendment Without the Consent of the Limited Partners. The ability of the General Partner to amend this Agreement without the consent of the Limited Partners, pursuant to Section 12.1, includes, but is not limited to, any amendment to:

(a) add or modify a distribution reinvestment plan for the General Partner or the Partnership;

(b) modify the allocation provisions of the Agreement to comply with Code Section 704(b) or 704(c);

(c) add to the representations, duties, services or obligations of the General Partner or any Affiliates for the benefit of the Limited Partners;

 

44


(d) cure any ambiguity or mistake, correct or supplement any provision in the Agreement that may be inconsistent with any other provision, or make any other provision with respect to matters or questions arising under the Agreement that will not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Agreement;

(e) amend the Agreement to reflect the addition or substitution of Limited Partners or the reduction of the Capital Accounts upon the return of capital to the Limited Partners;

(f) minimize the adverse impact of, or comply with, any “plan assets” for ERISA purposes;

(g) execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments to effectuate the foregoing, including the execution, acknowledgment and delivery of any such instrument by the attorney-in-fact for the General Partner under a special or limited power of attorney and to take all such actions in connection therewith as the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate with the signature of the General Partner acting alone;

(h) change the name and/or principal place of business of the Partnership;

(i) decrease the rights and powers of the General Partner (so long as such decrease does not impair the ability of the General Partner to manage the Partnership and conduct its business affairs);

(j) sell preferred units and other securities and admit preferred limited partners and other limited partners to the Partnership, subject to any consent rights expressly provided to holders of Preferred Units in this Agreement, or any amendment thereto;

(k) make any changes necessary or advisable to enable the General Partner to qualify or maintain its status as a REIT;

(l) establish or amend exchange rights for the exchange of Units for an equivalent number of REIT Shares;

(m) establish or amend a Unit repurchase program; or

(n) make any changes necessary or advisable to satisfy concerns of the Commission, any state securities regulator or any stock exchange in connection with a securities offering by the General Partner or otherwise.

No amendment will be adopted pursuant to Sections 12.2(j) or 12.2(n) without the consent of the Limited Partners unless the adoption thereof (i) is for the benefit of and not adverse to the interests of the Limited Partners and (ii) does not affect the limited liability of the Limited Partners or the status of the Partnership as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE 13

GENERAL PROVISIONS

13.1 Notices. All communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally or upon deposit in the United States mail, registered, postage prepaid return receipt requested, to the Partners at the addresses set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto; provided, however, that any Partner may specify a different address by notifying the General Partner in writing of such different address. Notices to the Partnership shall be delivered at or mailed to its specified office.

 

45


13.2 Survival of Rights. Subject to the provisions hereof limiting transfers, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partners and the Partnership and their respective legal representatives, successors, transferees and assigns.

13.3 Additional Documents. Each Partner agrees to perform all further acts and execute, swear to, acknowledge and deliver all further documents which may be reasonable, necessary, appropriate or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement or the Act.

13.4 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder hereof.

13.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and exhibits attached hereto constitute the entire Agreement of the Partners and supersede all prior written agreements and prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof.

13.6 Pronouns and Plurals. When the context in which words are used in the Agreement indicates that such is the intent, words in the singular number shall include the plural and the masculine gender shall include the neuter or female gender as the context may require.

13.7 Headings. The Article headings or sections in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing the scope of this Agreement or any particular Article.

13.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that all parties shall not have signed the same counterpart.

13.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that causes of action for violations of federal or state securities laws shall not be governed by this Section 13.9.

13.10 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTNER HEREBY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.

13.11 Electronic Signatures. Any electronic signature of a party to this Agreement and of a party to take any action related to this Agreement or any agreement entered into by the Partnership shall be valid as an original signature and shall be effective and binding. Any such electronic signature (including the signature(s) to this Agreement) shall be deemed (i) to be “written” or “in writing,” (ii) to have been signed and (iii) to constitute a record established and maintained in the ordinary course of business and an original written record when printed from electronic files.

 

46


13.12 Side Letter Agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Partners acknowledge and agree that the authority granted to the General Partner hereunder provides the General Partner with the authority to enter into agreements with any Limited Partner (a “Side Letter”) without the consent of any other Person (including, without limitation, any other Limited Partner), in connection with the relationship of such Limited Partner to the Partnership which may affect the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that the economic terms set forth in any such Side Letter shall not affect the economic rights or obligations of any other Limited Partner under any provision of this Agreement and the terms of such Side Letter shall be determined as to the relationship solely as between such Limited Partner and the General Partner.

 

47


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunder affixed their signatures to this Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, all as of the [__] day of ______, 2020.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.
By:  

 

  Alan Feldman, Chief Executive Officer and President
LIMITED PARTNERS:
By: RRE OPPORTUNITY HOLDINGS II, LLC
BY: RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC., its sole member
By:  

 

  Alan Feldman, Chief Executive Officer and President

 

48


EXHIBIT A

[To be provided]

 

Partners

   Common
Units
     Series A
Preferred Units
     Convertible
Units
     Book
Value**
 

REIT II

           

Merger Sub

     *           

C-III Capital Partners LLC

           

Resource Real Estate, LLC

           

 

*

[________] of the Common Units reflect the Common Units issued pursuant to the terms of the Resource Real Estate Operating REIT, Inc. 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan

**

On the date of this Agreement the assets of the Partnership shall be booked-up to reflect the following values:

Common Units: $______ per Common Unit

Series A Preferred Units: $______ per Series A Preferred Units

Convertible Units: $0 per Convertible Unit

The gross asset value of the assets on the date of this Agreement shall equal:

(i) $______ with respect to the assets of the Partnership prior to the Partnership Merger and

(ii) $______ with respect to the assets contributed by REIT I Operating Partnership prior to the Partnership Merger.

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF EXCHANGE RIGHT

In accordance with Section 8.5 of the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (the “Agreement”) of RRE Opportunity OP II, LP, the undersigned hereby irrevocably (i) presents for exchange _______ Common Units in RRE Opportunity OP II, LP in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and the Exchange Right referred to in Section 8.5 thereof, (ii) surrenders such Common Units and all right, title and interest therein, and (iii) directs that the Cash Amount or REIT Shares Amount (as defined in the Agreement) as determined by the General Partner deliverable upon exercise of the Exchange Right be delivered to the address specified below, and if REIT Shares (as defined in the Agreement) are to be delivered, such REIT Shares be registered or placed in the name(s) and at the address(es) specified below.

 

Dated: ________________, ___________

 

(Name of Limited Partner)

 

(Signature of Limited Partner)

 

(Mailing Address)

 

(City) (State) (Zip Code)

Signature Guaranteed by:

 

If REIT Shares are to be issued, issue to:
Name:

 

Social Security or Tax I.D. Number:

 

 

B-1


EXHIBIT C

DESIGNATION OF THE RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES, RESTRICTIONS,

QUALIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE

SERIES A CUMULATIVE PARTICIPATING REDEEMABLE PREFERRED UNITS

The following are the terms of the Series A Cumulative Participating Redeemable Preferred Units (the “Series A Preferred Units”) established pursuant to this Designation of Rights, Powers, Privileges, Restrictions, Qualifications and Limitations of the Series A Cumulative Participating Redeemable Preferred Units (the “Designation of Rights”). This Designation of Rights includes terms defined in the Agreement in addition to terms defined in this Designation of Rights. The following terms used in this Designation of Rights shall have the meanings specified below:

Original Issuance Date means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit, the date on which such Series A Preferred Unit was originally issued by the Partnership.

Redemption Date means, the date on which the Series A Preferred Units shall be redeemed, as set forth in Section 6 hereof.

Redemption Price means, as of any specified date with respect to a Series A Preferred Unit, an amount of cash equal to the sum of (i) the Series A Preferred Stated Value, (ii) the Series A Preferred Distribution Shortfall, and (iii) the product of the Value of 1.22423 REIT Share and the REIT Shares Amount as of such date.

Reset Date means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit, the fifth anniversary of the Original Issuance Date of such Series A Preferred Unit.

Series A Preferred Capital means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit as of any particular date, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Series A Preferred Stated Value, and (ii) the Series A Preferred Distribution Shortfall.

Series A Preferred Distribution Date means the 15th day of each January, April, July and October of each year (or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day).

Series A Preferred Distribution Period means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit, the period commencing on and including January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year and ending on and including the day preceding the first day of the next succeeding Distribution Period (other than the initial Distribution Period which shall commence on and include the Original Issuance Date of such Series A Preferred Unit and the Distribution Period during which such Series A Preferred Unit is redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Partnership which shall end on and include the date of such redemption or acquisition).

Series A Preferred Distribution Shortfall means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit as of any particular date, the excess of (i) the sum of the Series A Preferred Priority Return and the Series A Preferred Return for such Series A Preferred Unit as of such date over (ii) the cumulative amount distributed in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit pursuant to Section 5.2(a)(i) of the Agreement.

 

C-1


Series A Preferred Priority Return means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit as of any particular date, an amount equal to (i) 7.00% per annum on the Series A Preferred Stated Value for the period commencing on the Original Issuance Date and ending on the day prior to the Reset Date and (ii) 10.00% per annum on the Series A Preferred Stated Value for the period commencing on the Reset Date. For any partial period of less than a year, the amount of the Series A Preferred Priority Return shall be prorated and computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

Series A Preferred Return means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit as of any particular date, the amount of distributions to which a holder of such Series A Preferred Unit would be entitled to receive as of such date if the Series A Preferred Units were treated as part of a single class of units with the Common Units and the Series A Preferred Units shared in distributions with the Common Units pursuant to Section 5.2(a)(ii) and Section 5.6(b) proportionately based on the total number of outstanding Series A Preferred Units and Common Units; provided, however for this purpose each Series A Preferred Units shall be treated as 1.22423 Units.

Series A Preferred Stated Value means, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit, an amount equal to $200 as adjusted pursuant to Section 11 of this Designation of Rights.

(1) Designation and Number. A series of Preferred Units, designated as the Series A Cumulative Participating Redeemable Preferred Units, is hereby established. The number of authorized Series A Preferred Units is 319,965.

(2) Maturity. The Series A Preferred Units have no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption.

(3) Rank. The Series A Preferred Units will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership, rank: (a) senior to all classes and series of Common Units of the Partnership, and any other class or series of Preferred Units expressly designated as ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Units as to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership (the “Junior Units”); (b) on a parity with any other class or series of Preferred Units issued by the Partnership expressly designated as ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Units as to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership (the “Parity Preferred Units”); and (c) junior to any class or series of Preferred Units issued by the Partnership expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Units with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Partnership (“Senior Preferred Units”). The term “Preferred Units” does not include convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Partnership, which will rank senior to the Series A Preferred Units prior to conversion or exchange. The Series A Preferred Units will also rank junior in right or payment to the Partnership’s existing and future indebtedness.

(4) Distributions.

(a) Pursuant to Section 5.2(a)(i) of the Agreement, and subject to the preferential rights of holders of any class or series of Senior Preferred Units, each holder of Series A Preferred Units shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by the General Partner and declared by the Partnership, out of funds of the Partnership legally available for payment of distributions, with respect to each Series A Preferred Unit, an amount equal to such Series A Preferred Unit’s Series A Preferred Distribution Shortfall as of the applicable Partnership Record Date for the respective Series A Preferred Distribution Period.

 

C-2


(b) No distributions on the Series A Preferred Units shall be authorized by the General Partner or declared, paid or set apart for payment by the Partnership at such time as the terms and provisions of any agreement of the General Partner or the Partnership, including any agreement relating to the indebtedness of either of them, prohibits such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provides that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such declaration or payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Series A Preferred Priority Return will accrue and, to the extent not paid in cash, compound quarterly on each Series A Preferred Distribution Date, whether or not the restrictions referred to in Section 4(b) exist, whether or not the Partnership has earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of distributions, and whether or not such distributions are authorized or declared. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any distribution on the Series A Preferred Units which may be in arrears. When distributions are not paid in full upon the Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Preferred Units (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart), all distributions declared upon the Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Preferred Units shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of distributions declared per Series A Preferred Unit and such Parity Preferred Units shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated distributions per Series A Preferred Unit and such Parity Preferred Units (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distributions periods if such Parity Preferred Units do not have a cumulative distribution) bear to each other.

(d) Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless the Series A Preferred Distribution Shortfall for each Series A Preferred Unit has been or contemporaneously is (i) declared and paid in cash or (ii) declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof in cash is set apart for such payment for all past Distribution Periods that have ended, no distributions (other than a distribution in Junior Units or in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase any such Junior Units) shall be declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment nor shall any other distribution be declared and made upon the Junior Units or any Parity Preferred Units, nor shall any Junior Units or Parity Preferred Units be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such Units) by the Partnership (except (i) by conversion into or exchange for Junior Units, (ii) the purchase of Junior Units or Parity Preferred Units in connection with a redemption of stock pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation to the extent necessary to preserve the General Partner’s qualification as a REIT or (iii) the purchase of Parity Preferred Units pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding Series A Preferred Units). Holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to any distribution, whether payable in cash, property or units, in excess of the Series A Preferred Distribution Shortfall for the Series A Preferred Units as provided above.

(5) Liquidation Preference. Pursuant to Section 5.6(b) of the Agreement, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership, the holders of Series A Preferred Units are entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Partnership legally available for distribution to its Partners, after payment of or provision for the Partnership’s debts and other liabilities, an amount per Series A Preferred Unit that is equal to such Series A Preferred Unit’s Series A Preferred Capital (the “Liquidation Preference”) before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Junior Units. If the assets of the Partnership legally available for distribution to Partners are insufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference on the Series A Preferred Units and the liquidation preference on any Parity Preferred Units, all

 

C-3


assets distributed to the holders of the Series A Preferred Units and any Parity Preferred Units shall be distributed pro rata so that the amount of assets distributed per Series A Preferred Unit and per such Parity Preferred Unit shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that the Liquidation Preference per Series A Preferred Unit and the liquidation preference per such Parity Preferred Unit bear to each other. Written notice of any distribution in connection with any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership, stating the payment date or dates when, and the place or places where, the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable, shall be given by first class mail, postage pre-paid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the Series A Preferred Units at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the records of the Partnership. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A Preferred Units will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Partnership. The consolidation or merger of the Partnership with or into another entity, a merger of another entity with or into the Partnership, a statutory exchange by the Partnership or a sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s property or business shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership. Notwithstanding the above, for purposes of determining the amount each holder of Series A Preferred Units is entitled to receive with respect to a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Partnership, no effect shall be given to amounts that would be needed, if the Partnership were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of holders of the Series A Preferred Units.

(6) Redemption.

(a) Except as provided for in this Section 6(a) or in Section 6(b) below, the Series A Preferred Units shall not be redeemable by the Partnership prior to the first anniversary of the Original Issuance Date. Following the first anniversary of the Original Issuance Date, the Partnership shall redeem, at the option of a holder of the Series A Preferred Units, a number of Series A Preferred Units as follows: (i) between the first and second anniversary of the Original Issuance Date, up to 25% of the number of Series A Preferred Units issued to the holder thereof on the Original Issuance Date; (ii) between the second and third anniversary of the Original Issuance Date, up to 50% of the number of Series A Preferred Units issued to the holder thereof on the Original Issuance Date (less the number of Series A Preferred Units previously redeemed); (iii) between the third and fourth anniversary of the Original Issuance Date, up to 75% of the number of Series A Preferred Units issued to the holder thereof on the Original Issuance Date (less the number of Series A Preferred Units previously redeemed); and (iv) following the fourth anniversary of the Original Issuance Date, up to 100% of the number of Series A Preferred Units issued to the holder thereof on the Original Issuance Date (less the number of Series A Preferred Units previously redeemed) (the “Redemption Right”). The Series A Preferred Units redeemed in accordance with this Section 6 shall be redeemed for cash at a per unit redemption amount equal to such Series A Preferred Unit’s Redemption Price as of the Redemption Date; provided, however, that the Redemption Right provided under this Section 6 shall be suspended at such time that the General Partner (or any Successor Entity) applies to list REIT Shares (or the common stock of any Successor Entity) on a National Securities Exchange, and shall be terminated at such time as the National Securities Exchange approves such REIT Shares (or the common stock of any Successor Entity) for listing; provided further, that any payment pursuant to the Redemption Right shall be prohibited if the board of directors of the General Partner (or any Successor Entity) determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such redemption payment shall have a material adverse effect on the General Partner, including without limitation, effects on the General Partner’s cash available for operations or any restrictions set forth under any credit facility or loan agreements of the General Partner or the Partnership.

 

C-4


(b) Upon the occurrence of a Listing or a Change of Control (as defined below), the Partnership may at its option redeem for cash the outstanding Series A Preferred Units, in whole or from time to time, in part, at the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date. Any notice sent by the Partnership with respect to a redemption upon a Listing or a Change of Control shall include (i) instructions as to the tender of the Series A Preferred Units, (ii) the Redemption Date; (iii) the place or places where any certificates representing such Series A Preferred Units, if any, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; (iv) the amount of the Redemption Price; and (v) in the case of a Change of Control, a description of the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control. For purposes of this Section 6(b), “Change of Control” shall mean (x) a merger or consolidation of the General Partner with or into any other business entity (except one in which the holders of capital stock or other equity interests of the General Partner immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to hold at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity), or (y) the acquisition by any person or any group of persons (other than the General Partner or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries) acting together in any transaction or related series of transactions, of such number of shares of the General Partner’s capital stock or other equity interests as causes such person, or group of persons, to own beneficially, directly or indirectly, as of the time immediately after such transaction or series of transactions, 50% or more of the combined voting securities of the General Partner.

(c) Following the second anniversary of the Original Issuance Date, the Partnership may, at its option, redeem the outstanding Series A Preferred Units, in whole or from time to time, in part, at the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date. The Redemption Date shall be selected by the Partnership and shall be no less than 30 days and no more than 60 days after the date on which the Partnership sends the notice of redemption to the holder or holders of the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed.

(d) A holder of Series A Preferred Units desiring to exercise its Redemption Right under Section 6(a) hereof must deliver a written redemption notice (the “Redemption Exercise Notice”) in the form approved by the Partnership, duly completed, to the Partnership by certified or express delivery mail postage prepaid to the Partnership’s principal office c/o the General Partner. The Redemption Exercise Notice must state: (i) the number of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed by the Partnership; and (ii) that the Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof. The Redemption Date for the Series A Preferred Units properly tendered to the Partnership pursuant a Redemption Exercise Notice shall be the 90th day after receipt of the Redemption Exercise Notice (or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day). Upon receipt of a Redemption Exercise Notice, the Partnership shall provide the holder of the Series A Preferred Units subject to the Redemption Exercise Notice with the following information: (i) instructions as to the tender of the Series A Preferred Units; (ii) the Redemption Date; (iii) the place or places where any certificates representing such Series A Preferred Units, if any, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and (iv) the amount of the Redemption Price. The Partnership may elect to cause the Redemption Date to be delayed for up to an additional 90 days to the extent required for the General Partner to cause additional REIT Shares to be issued to provide financing to be used to make such payment of the Redemption Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership agrees to use its best efforts to redeem the Series A Preferred Units properly tendered to the Partnership as quickly as reasonably possible.

 

C-5


(e) On or after a Redemption Date, each holder of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed must present and surrender the certificates (or an affidavit of loss and indemnity satisfactory to the Partnership), if such units are certificated, representing the Series A Preferred Units to the Partnership to be redeemed at the place designated in the notice from the Partnership referenced in Sections 6(b) or 6(c) above, or the instructions from the Partnership referenced in Section 6(d) above, as the case may be, and thereupon the Redemption Price for such Series A Preferred Units, determined as of the Redemption Date, will be paid to or on the order of such holder by wire transfer pursuant to wire instructions provided by such holder and each surrendered certificate, if any, will be canceled. If the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed are certificated, then in the event that fewer than all the Series A Preferred Units are to be redeemed, a new certificate will be issued representing the unredeemed Series A Preferred Units.

(e) From and after a Redemption Date, all distributions on the Series A Preferred Units subject to such redemption will cease to accumulate and all rights of the holders thereof, except the right to receive the Redemption Price thereof (and all accumulated and unpaid distributions to but excluding the Redemption Date), will cease and terminate and such Series A Preferred Units shall not be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever, other than as provided in clause (f) below.

(f) In the event that the Partnership defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price for any Series A Preferred Units surrendered for redemption pursuant to Section 6(a), such Series A Preferred Units shall continue to be deemed to be outstanding for all purposes and to be owned by the respective holders, and the Partnership shall promptly return any surrendered certificates representing such Series A Preferred Units to such holders (although the failure of the Partnership to return any such certificates to such holders shall in no way affect the ownership of such Series A Preferred Units by such holders or their rights thereunder). Following such default, the Partnership shall remain obligated to deliver payment of the Redemption Price pursuant to clause (d) above as soon as reasonably practicable as determined by the board of directors of the General Partner.

(g) At its election, the Partnership, prior to a Redemption Date, may irrevocably deposit the Redemption Price of the Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed pursuant to this Section 6 in trust for the holders of the Series A Preferred Units with a bank or trust company, in which case the Partnership shall send a notice to the holders of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed which shall (i) state the date of such deposit, (ii) specify the office of such bank or trust company as the place of payment of the Redemption Price and (iii) require the holder of Series A Preferred Units to be redeemed to surrender the certificates, if any, representing such Series A Preferred Units (or an affidavit of loss and indemnity satisfactory to the Partnership) at such place on or about the date fixed in the redemption notice (which may not be later than the Redemption Date) against payment of the Redemption Price. Any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after the Redemption Date shall be returned by such bank or trust company to the Partnership.

(h) In the event any Series A Preferred Units have been redeemed by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 6, the Series A Preferred Units so redeemed shall become authorized but unissued Preferred Units without further designation as to class or series, available for future classification or reclassification by the General Partner and issuance by the Partnership.

 

C-6


(7) Listing Exchange Right.

(a) In the event that the Redemption Right is terminated in accordance with Section 6(a), beginning 180 days after the date that the REIT Shares (or the common stock of any Successor Entity) are listed on a National Exchange (the “Listed Shares”), each holder of the Series A Preferred Units shall have the right to require the General Partner to purchase all or a portion of such holder’s Series A Preferred Units (the “Listing Exchange Units”) in exchange for a number of Listed Shares determined by dividing (i) the number of Listing Exchange Units tendered for purchase multiplied by the Redemption Price as of the Listing Exchange Date (as defined below) by (ii) the volume-weighted average price of the Listed Shares over the 30 day period prior to the Exchange Date (the “Listing Exchange Right”). In connection with the issuance of Listed Shares pursuant to this Listing Exchange Right, the General Partner shall issue a corresponding number of additional Partnership Units, to be held by the General Partner, as set forth in Section 4.2(a)(i). A holder of Series A Preferred Units desiring to exercise its Listing Exchange Right must deliver a written notice (the “Listing Exchange Notice”) in the form approved by the Partnership, duly completed, to the Partnership by certified or express delivery mail postage prepaid to the Partnership’s principal office c/o the General Partner. The Listing Exchange Notice must state: (i) the number of Listing Exchange Units tendered for purchase by the General Partner; and (ii) that the Listing Exchange Units are to be purchased pursuant to this Section 7(a). The General Partner shall purchase the Listing Exchange Units properly tendered to the General Partner within 30 days after receipt of the Listing Exchange Notice (or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day) (the “Listing Exchange Date”). Upon receipt of a Listing Exchange Notice, the General Partner shall provide the holder of the Listing Exchange Units subject to the Listing Exchange Notice with (i) instructions as to the tender of the Listing Exchange Units, (ii) the Listing Exchange Date; (iii) the place or places where any certificates representing such Listing Exchange Units are to be surrendered against payment of the Listed Shares; and (iv) the Redemption Price on the Listing Exchange Date. The Series A Preferred Units are not convertible or exchangeable for any other property or securities of the Partnership except as provided in this Section 7(a).

(b) The Partnership, the General Partner and each holder of Series A Preferred Units that exercises its Listing Exchange Right, as the case may be, shall treat the transaction between the General Partner and such holder of Series A Preferred Units for federal income tax purposes as a sale of such holder’s Series A Preferred Units to the General Partner. Each holder of Series A Preferred Units that exercises its Listing Exchange Right agrees to execute such documents as the General Partner may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of REIT Shares upon exercise of the Listing Exchange Right.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7(a), a holder of Series A Preferred Units shall not be entitled to exercise the Listing Exchange Right if the delivery of REIT Shares to such Partner on the Listing Exchange Date by the General Partner pursuant to Section 7(a) would (i) result in such Partner or any other person owning, directly or indirectly, REIT Shares in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation and calculated in accordance therewith) or the Common Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation and calculated in accordance therewith), except as provided in the Articles of Incorporation, (ii) result in REIT Shares being owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), except as provided in the Articles of Incorporation, (iii) result in the General Partner being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, or (iv) cause the General Partner to own, directly or constructively, 9.9% or more of the ownership interests in a tenant within the meaning of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code. The General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion, may waive the restriction on exchange set forth in this Section 7(c).

 

C-7


(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Designation of Rights, the General Partner shall place appropriate restrictions on the ability of the holders of Series A Preferred Units to exercise their Listing Exchange Rights as and if deemed necessary to ensure that the Partnership does not constitute a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code. If and when the General Partner determines that imposing such restrictions is necessary, the General Partner shall give prompt written notice thereof to each holder of Series A Preferred Units, which notice shall be accompanied by a copy of an opinion of counsel to the Partnership which states that, in the opinion of such counsel, restrictions are necessary in order to avoid the Partnership being treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

(e) Each holder of Series A Preferred Units covenants and agrees with the Partnership and the General Partner that all Series A Preferred Units delivered for redemption or exchange pursuant to Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall be delivered to the Partnership or the General Partner, as the case may be, free and clear of all liens; and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the General Partner nor the Partnership shall be under any obligation to acquire Series A Preferred Units which are or may be subject to any liens. Each holder of Series A Preferred Units further agrees that, if any state or local property transfer tax is payable as a result of the transfer of its Series A Preferred Units to the Partnership or the General Partner, such Limited Partner shall assume and pay such transfer tax.

(8) Voting Rights. Except as set forth in Article 12 of the Agreement and as provided in Section 9 of this Designation of Rights, holders of the Series A Preferred Units will not have any voting rights.

(9) Restrictions on New Issuances. Unless (i) fewer than 39,995.625 Series A Preferred Units (as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 12 below) remain issued and outstanding, (ii) the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Series A Preferred Units consent, or (iii) an additional class or series of Preferred Units is being issued in connection with a full redemption of the Series A Preferred Units in accordance with Section 6, the Partnership shall not issue any Senior Preferred Units. The holders of the Series A Preferred Units may deliver a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to the Partnership, and if the holders of the Series A Preferred Units entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the issuance of the Senior Preferred Units deliver such consent to the Partnership, the Partnership shall not be required to seek the consent of the remaining holders of Series A Preferred Units, if any. The Partnership must give notice of any consent granted pursuant to this Section 8 to each holder of Series A Preferred Units not later than 10 days after the effective time of such action.

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

(11) No Preemptive Rights. No holder of the Series A Preferred Units will, as a holder of Series A Preferred Units, have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for Common Units or any other security of the Partnership (whether now or hereafter authorized).

 

C-8


(12) Adjustment. If the number of Common Units is adjusted pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(ii) of the Agreement, then a corresponding adjustment to the number of Series A Preferred Units shall automatically be made. The number of issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Units immediately after such adjustment shall be equal to the number of issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Units immediately prior thereto multiplied by a fraction (the “Adjustment Factor”) the numerator of which is equal to the number of issued and outstanding Common Units as adjusted pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(ii) of the Agreement immediately after the corresponding Adjustment Event and the denominator of which is the number of issued and outstanding Common Units prior to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.2(a)(ii) in connection with such Adjustment Event. In connection with such adjustment to the number of Series A Preferred Units, the Series A Preferred Stated Value per Series A Preferred Unit shall also be adjusted by multiplying the applicable Series A Preferred Stated Value immediately prior to such adjustment by the Adjustment Factor.

 

C-9


EXHIBIT D

DESIGNATION OF THE RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES, RESTRICTIONS,

QUALIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE

CONVERTIBLE UNITS

The following are the terms of the Convertible Units established pursuant to this Designation of Rights, Powers, Privileges, Restrictions, Qualifications and Limitations of the Convertible Units (the “Designation of Rights”). This Designation of Rights includes terms defined in the Agreement in addition to terms defined in this Designation of Rights. The following terms used in this Designation of Rights shall have the meanings specified below:

(1) Convertible Share shall mean the convertible stock issued by the General Partner pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation of the General Partner.

(2) Convertible Units.

(a) Distribution Rights. The holders of the outstanding Convertible Units shall not be entitled to receive distributions on the Convertible Units.

(b) Voting Rights.

(i) Except for the voting rights expressly conferred by this Section 1(b), the holders of the outstanding Convertible Units shall not be entitled (1) to vote on any matter, or (2) to receive notice of, or to participate in, any meeting of the Partnership’s Partners at which they are not entitled to vote.

(ii) Except to the extent the holders of the Convertible Stock have consented pursuant to their consent rights, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Convertible Units, voting together as a single class for such purposes with each Convertible Unit entitled to one vote, shall be required to (1) adopt any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Agreement that materially and adversely changes the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications or terms and conditions of redemption of the Convertible Units and (2) effect or validate a consolidation with or merger of the Partnership into another entity, or a consolidation with or merger of another entity into the Partnership, unless in each such case each Convertible Unit (A) shall remain outstanding without a material and adverse change to its terms and rights or (B) shall be converted into or exchanged for Partnership interests or other ownership interest of the surviving entity having preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption thereof identical to that of a Convertible Unit (except for changes that do not materially and adversely affect the holders of the Convertible Units); provided, however, that this vote shall be in addition to any other vote or consent of the Partners required by law or by the Agreement.

 

D-1


(c) Conversion.

(i) In the event that the Convertible Shares convert into REIT Shares pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Shares ast set forth in the Article of Incorporation, the Convertible Units shall convert into Common Units automatically and without any further action required. The conversion shall occur on the same date and time the Convertible Shares convert into REIT Shares. The number of Common Units shall equal the number of REIT Shares the Convertible Shares are converted into.

(ii) The issuance of Common Units on the conversion of the Convertible Shares shall be made by the Partnership without charge for expenses or for any tax in respect of the issuance of the Common Units.

(iii) In the event of any adjustment event described in Section 4.2(a)(ii) or in case of any consolidation or merger to which the Partnership is a party, except a merger in which the Partnership is the surviving Partnership and which does not result in any reclassification or recapitalization, the Partnership or the successor or purchasing business entity shall provide that the holder of each Convertible Unit then outstanding shall thereafter continue to have the right, with as nearly the same economic rights and effects as possible to the Convertible Units to reflect the securities issued to the holders of the Convertible Shares. The provisions of this paragraph (iii) of this Section (2)(c) shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, recapitalizations, consolidations or mergers.

(iv) Common Units issued on conversion of Convertible Units shall be issued as fully paid Common Units and shall be nonassessable by the Partnership. The Partnership shall, at all times, reserve and keep available, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the outstanding Convertible Units, the number of its duly authorized Common Units as shall be sufficient to effect the conversion of all of the outstanding Convertible Units.

 

D-2

EXHIBIT 10.4

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

ADVISORY AGREEMENT

between

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.

and

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY ADVISOR II, LLC

September 8, 2020

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS

     2  

ARTICLE 2 - APPOINTMENT

     8  

ARTICLE 3 - DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR

     8  

3.01 Organizational and Offering Services

     8  

3.02 Acquisition Services

     9  

3.03 Asset Management Services

     9  

3.04 Stockholder Services

     12  

3.05 Other Services

     12  

ARTICLE 4 - AUTHORITY OF ADVISOR

     12  

4.01 General

     12  

4.02 Powers of the Advisor

     13  

4.03 Approval by the Board

     13  

4.04 Modification or Revocation of Authority of Advisor

     13  

ARTICLE 5 - BANK ACCOUNTS

     13  

ARTICLE 6 - RECORDS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     14  

ARTICLE 7 - LIMITATION ON ACTIVITIES

     14  

ARTICLE 8 - FEES

     14  

8.01 Acquisition Fees

     14  

8.02 Asset Management Fees

     15  

8.03 Disposition Fees

     16  

8.04 Debt Financing Fees

     16  

8.05 Changes to Fee Structure

     17  

ARTICLE 9 - EXPENSES

     17  

9.01 General

     17  

9.02 Timing of and Limitations on Reimbursements

     19  

ARTICLE 10 – VOTING AGREEMENT

     20  

ARTICLE 11 - RELATIONSHIP OF ADVISOR AND COMPANY; OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISOR

     20  

11.01 Relationship

     20  

11.02 Time Commitment

     20  

11.03 Investment Opportunities and Allocation

     21  

ARTICLE 12 - THE RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY NAME

     21  

ARTICLE 13 - TERM AND TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT

     21  

13.01 Term

     21  

13.02 Termination by Either Party

     21  

13.03 Payments on Termination

     22  

13.04 Duties of Advisor Upon Termination

     22  

ARTICLE 14 - ASSIGNMENT

     22  

ARTICLE 15 - INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

     23  

15.01 Indemnification

     23  

15.02 Limitation on Indemnification

     23  

15.03 Limitation on Payment of Expenses

     23  

 

i


ARTICLE 16 – GUARANTEE

     24  

ARTICLE 17 - MISCELLANEOUS

     24  

17.01 Notices

     24  

17.02 Modification

     24  

17.03 Severability

     25  

17.04 Construction

     25  

17.05 Entire Agreement

     25  

17.06 Waiver

     25  

17.07 Gender

     25  

17.08 Titles Not to Affect Interpretation

     25  

17.09 Counterparts

     25  

 

 

ii


SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT

This Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2020 (the “Agreement”), is between Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Advisor”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company and the Advisor previously entered that certain Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement dated January 9, 2014, as amended by the First Amendment dated October 6, 2014 and the Second Amendment dated March 24, 2015, and as renewed by that certain Renewal Agreement dated December 20, 2019 (the “Initial Advisory Agreement”);

WHEREAS, on September 8, 2020, Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. (“REIT I”) acquired the Advisor and became self-advised;

WHEREAS, on September 8, 2020, the Company, RRE Opportunity OP II, LP, the operating partnership of the Company (the “Partnership”), Revolution III Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“REIT III Merger Sub”), Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc. (“REIT III”) and Resource Apartment OP III, LP, the operating partnership of REIT III (“REIT III Operating Partnership”), entered an Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which (i) REIT III will be merged with and into REIT III Merger Sub, with REIT III Merger Sub being the surviving company, and (ii) REIT III Operating Partnership will be merged with and into the Partnership (collectively, the “REIT III Merger”), with the Partnership being the surviving entity;

WHEREAS, on September 8, 2020, the Company, the Partnership, and Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“REIT I Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with REIT I and Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP, the operating partnership of REIT I (“REIT I Operating Partnership”), pursuant to which (i) REIT I will merge with and into REIT I Merger Sub, with REIT I Merger Sub being the surviving company, and (ii) the REIT I Operating Partnership will merge into the Partnership (collectively, the “REIT I Merger”), with the Partnership being the surviving entity;

WHEREAS, in connection with the proposed REIT III Merger, the Company and the Advisor have determined to amend and restate the Initial Advisory Agreement to reflect the following changes:

 

  (i)

waiver of the Acquisition Fee payable in connection with the REIT III Merger; and

 

  (ii)

waiver of the Debt Financing Fee payable in connection with the REIT III Merger;

WHEREAS, in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Advisor by REIT I and the REIT I Merger, the Company and the Advisor have determined to amend and restate the Initial Advisory Agreement to reflect the removal of the limitations on an internalization transaction;

 

1


WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to avail itself of the knowledge, experience, sources of information, advice, assistance and certain facilities available to the Advisor and to have the Advisor undertake the duties and responsibilities hereinafter set forth, on behalf of, and subject to the supervision of, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), all as provided herein; and

WHEREAS, the Advisor is willing to continue to undertake to render such services, subject to the supervision of the Board, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Initial Advisory Agreement as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified below:

“Acquisition Expenses” means any and all expenses, excluding the fee payable to the Advisor pursuant to Section 8.01, incurred by the Company, the Advisor or any Affiliate of either in connection with the selection, acquisition or development of any property, loan or other potential investment, whether or not acquired or originated, as applicable, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, costs of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on properties or other investments not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance premiums.

“Acquisition Fees” means the fee payable to the Advisor pursuant to Section 8.01 plus all other fees and commissions, excluding Acquisition Expenses, paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person in connection with making or investing in any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or the purchase, development or construction of any Property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Included in the computation of such fees or commissions shall be any real estate commission, selection fee, Development Fee, Construction Fee, nonrecurring management fee, loan fees or points or any fee of a similar nature, however designated. Excluded shall be Development Fees and Construction Fees paid to Persons not Affiliated with the Advisor in connection with the actual development and construction of a Property.

“Advisor” means (i) Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or (ii) any successor advisor to the Company.

 

2


“Affiliate” or “Affiliated” means, with respect to any first Person, any of the following: (i) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such first Person; (ii) any other Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling, or holding with the power to vote 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such first Person; (iii) any legal entity for which such first Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee, or general partner; (iv) any other Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held, with power to vote, by such first Person; and (v) any executive officer, director, trustee, or general partner of such first Person. An entity shall not be deemed to control or be under common control with an Advisor-sponsored program unless (i) the entity owns 10% or more of the voting equity interests of such program or (ii) a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such program is composed of Affiliates of the entity.

“Asset Management Fee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.02.

“Average Invested Assets” means, for a specified period, the average of the aggregate book value of the assets of the Company invested, directly or indirectly, in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments secured by real estate before reserves for depreciation or bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves, computed by taking the average of such book values at the end of each month during such period.

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company, as of any particular time.

“Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Company, as amended from time to time.

“Charter” means the articles of incorporation of the Company, as amended from time to time.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto. Reference to any provision of the Code shall mean such provision as in effect from time to time, as the same may be amended, and any successor provision thereto, as interpreted by any applicable regulations as in effect from time to time.

“Company” means Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland.

“Competitive Brokerage Commission” means a real estate or brokerage commission for the purchase or sale of a Property, Loan or Permitted Investment that is reasonable, customary, and competitive in light of the size, type, and location of the Property, Loan or Permitted Investment.

“Conflicts Committee” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s Charter.

“Construction Fee” means a fee or other remuneration for acting as general contractor and/or construction manager to construct improvements, supervise and coordinate projects or to provide major repairs or rehabilitation on a Property.

“Contract Sales Price” means the total consideration received by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries for the sale of a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment.

 

3


“Cost of Investments” means the sum of (i) with respect to the acquisition or origination of a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment to be owned by the Company or a Subsidiary, the amount actually paid or allocated to fund the acquisition, origination, development, construction or improvement of the Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment, inclusive of expenses associated with the acquisition or origination of such Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment and the amount of any debt associated with, or used to fund the investment in, such Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment and (ii) with respect to the acquisition or origination of a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment through any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner and which is not deemed a Subsidiary, the portion that is attributable to the Company’s direct or indirect investment in such Joint Venture or partnership of the amount actually paid or allocated to fund the acquisition, origination, development, construction or improvement of the Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment, inclusive of expenses associated with the acquisition or origination of such Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment, plus the amount of any debt associated with, or used to fund the investment in, such Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment.

“Dealer Manager” means (i) Resource Securities, Inc., or (ii) any successor dealer manager to the Company.

“Debt Financing Fee” means the fee payable under Section 8.04.

“Development Fee” means a fee for the packaging of a Property, including negotiating and approving plans, and undertaking to assist in obtaining zoning and necessary variances and necessary financing for the Property, either initially or at a later date.

“Director” means a member of the board of directors of the Company.

“Disposition Fee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.

“Distributions” means any distributions of money or other property by the Company to owners of Shares, including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes.

“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

“Gross Proceeds” means the aggregate purchase price of all securities sold for the account of the Company through an Offering, without deduction for Organization and Offering Expenses.

“Guaranteed Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 16.

“Guarantor” means Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, or any successor thereto or assignee thereof.

 

4


“Independent Appraiser” means a person or entity with no material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor or the Directors, who is engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets of the type held by the Company or its Subsidiaries, and who is a qualified appraiser of real estate as determined by the Board. Membership in a nationally recognized appraisal society such as the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers (M.A.I.) or the Society of Real Estate Appraisers (S.R.E.A.) shall be conclusive evidence of such qualification.

“Initial Public Offering” means the public offering of Shares registered on Registration Statement No. 333-184476 on Form S-11.

“Joint Venture” means any joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement between the Company and a third party or an Affiliate of the Company that owns, in whole or in part, on behalf of the Company any Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments.

“Listed” or “Listing” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s Charter.

“Loan Servicer” means an entity that has been retained to perform and carry out loan servicing functions with respect to one or more Loans.

“Loans” means mortgage loans and other types of debt financing investments made by the Company or the Partnership, either directly or indirectly, including through ownership interests in a Joint Venture or partnership, including, without limitation, mezzanine loans, B-notes, bridge loans, convertible mortgages, wraparound mortgage loans, construction mortgage loans, loans on leasehold interests, and participations in such loans.

“NASAA Guidelines” means the NASAA Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts as in effect on the date hereof.

“Net Income” means, for any period, the total revenues applicable to such period, less the total expenses applicable to such period excluding additions to reserves for depreciation, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves; provided, however, Net Income for purposes of calculating total allowable Operating Expenses (as defined herein) shall exclude the gain included in the Company’s consolidated accounts arising from the sale of assets.

“Offering” means any offering of the Company’s securities that is registered with the SEC, excluding Shares offered under any employee benefit plan.

“Operating Expenses” means all costs and expenses incurred by the Company, as determined under GAAP, that in any way are related to the operation of the Company or to Company business, including fees paid to the Advisor, but excluding (i) the expenses of raising capital such as Organization and Offering Expenses, legal, audit, accounting, underwriting, brokerage, listing, registration, and other fees, printing and other such expenses and tax incurred in connection with the issuance, distribution, transfer, registration and Listing of the Shares, (ii) interest payments, (iii) taxes, (iv) non-cash expenditures such as depreciation, amortization and bad loan reserves, (v) incentive fees paid in compliance with Section IV.F. of the NASAA Guidelines and (vi) Acquisition Fees, Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on the resale of real property, and other expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, and ownership of real estate interests, loans or other property (other than commissions on the sale of assets other than real property), such as the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, maintenance, repair and improvement of property.

 

5


“Operating Revenue Cash Flows” means the Company’s cash flow from ownership and/or operation of (i) Properties, (ii) Loans, (iii) Permitted Investments, (iv) short-term investments, and (v) interests in Properties, Loans and Permitted Investments owned by any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner.

“Organization and Offering Expenses” means all expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Company in connection with or preparing the Company for the offering and distributing of its Shares in an Offering, whether incurred before or after the date of this Agreement, which may include but are not limited to, total underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions (including fees of the underwriters’ attorneys); placement agent fees and expenses; expenses for printing, engraving and mailing; salaries of employees while engaged in sales activity; charges of transfer agents, registrars, trustees, escrow holders, depositaries and experts; and expenses of obtaining exemption or qualification of the sale of the securities under Federal and state laws, including taxes and fees, accountants’ and attorneys’ fees.

“Partnership” means RRE Opportunity OP II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership formed to own and operate Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on behalf of the Company.

“Permitted Investments” means all investments (other than Properties and Loans) in which the Company may acquire an interest, either directly or indirectly, including through ownership interests in a Joint Venture or partnership, pursuant to its Charter, Bylaws and the investment objectives and policies adopted by the Board from time to time, other than short-term investments acquired for purposes of cash management.

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

“Property” means any real property or properties transferred or conveyed to the Company or the Partnership, either directly or indirectly, including through ownership interests in a Joint Venture or partnership.

“Property Manager” means an entity that has been retained to perform and carry out at one or more of the Properties property-management services, excluding persons, entities or independent contractors retained or hired to perform facility management or other services or tasks at a particular Property, the costs for which are passed through to and ultimately paid by the tenant at such Property.

“Registration Statement” means the registration statement filed by the Company with the SEC on Form S-11 (Reg. No. 333-184476), as amended from time to time, in connection with the Initial Public Offering.

 

6


“REIT” means a “real estate investment trust” under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

“REIT I” means Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc.

“REIT I Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“REIT III” means Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc.

“REIT III Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Sale” means (i) any transaction or series of transactions whereby: (A) the Company or the Partnership sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof, including the transfer of any Property that is the subject of a ground lease, including any event with respect to any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment that gives rise to a significant amount of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards, and including the issuance by one of the Company’s subsidiaries of any asset-backed securities or collateralized debt obligations as part of a securitization transaction; (B) the Company or the Partnership sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of all or substantially all of the interest of the Company or the Partnership in any Joint Venture or any partnership in which it is a partner; or (C) any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is a partner, sells, grants, transfers, conveys, or relinquishes its ownership of any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof, including any event with respect to any Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment that gives rise to insurance claims or condemnation awards, and including the issuance by such Joint Venture or any partnership or one of its subsidiaries of any asset-backed securities or collateralized debt obligations as part of a securitization transaction, but (ii) not including any transaction or series of transactions specified in clause (i) (A), (i) (B), or (i) (C) above in which the proceeds of such transaction or series of transactions are reinvested in one or more Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments within 180 days thereafter.

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

“Settlement” means (i) the prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement of any Loan or other Permitted Investment or portion thereof owned, directly or indirectly, by (A) the Company or the Partnership or (B) any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner, but (ii) not including any transaction or series of transactions specified in clause (i) (A) or (i) (B) above in which the proceeds of such prepayment, maturity, workout or other settlement are reinvested in one or more Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments within 180 days thereafter.

“Shares” means shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.

“Stockholders” means the registered holders of the Shares.

 

7


“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”), at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, more than 50% of the general partnership interests or managing member interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, directly or indirectly, by one or more of the parent and its Subsidiaries.

“Termination Date” means the date of termination of the Agreement determined in accordance with Article 13 hereof.

“2%/25% Guidelines” means the requirement pursuant to the NASAA Guidelines that, in any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, total Operating Expenses not exceed the greater of 2% of the Company’s Average Invested Assets during such 12-month period or 25% of the Company’s Net Income over the same 12-month period.

ARTICLE 2

APPOINTMENT

The Company hereby appoints the Advisor to serve as its advisor and asset manager on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Advisor hereby accepts such appointment.

ARTICLE 3

DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR

The Advisor is responsible for managing, operating, directing and supervising the operations and administration of the Company and its assets. The Advisor undertakes to use its best efforts to present to the Company potential investment opportunities, to make investment decisions on behalf of the Company subject to the limitations in the Company’s Charter, the direction and oversight of the Board and Section 4.03 hereof, and to provide the Company with a continuing and suitable investment program consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company as determined and adopted from time to time by the Board. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, including Article 4 hereof, and the continuing and exclusive authority of the Board over the management of the Company, the Advisor shall, either directly or by engaging an Affiliate or third party, perform the following duties:

3.01 Organizational and Offering Services. The Advisor shall perform all services related to the organization of the Company or any Offering of the Company’s securities, other than services that (i) are to be performed by the Dealer Manager, (ii) the Company elects to perform directly or (iii) would require the Advisor to register as a broker-dealer with the SEC or any state.

 

8


3.02 Acquisition Services.

(i) Serve as the Company’s investment and financial advisor and provide relevant market research and economic and statistical data in connection with the Company’s assets and investment objectives and policies;

(ii) Subject to Section 4 hereof and the investment objectives and policies of the Company: (a) locate, analyze and select potential investments; (b) structure and negotiate the terms and conditions of transactions pursuant to which investments in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments will be made; (c) acquire, originate and dispose of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (d) arrange for financing and refinancing and make other changes in the asset or capital structure of investments in Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (e) enter into leases, service contracts and other agreements for Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(iii) Perform due diligence on prospective investments and create due diligence reports summarizing the results of such work;

(iv) With respect to prospective investments presented to the Board, prepare reports regarding such prospective investments that include recommendations and supporting documentation necessary for the Directors to evaluate the proposed investments;

(v) Obtain reports (which may be prepared by the Advisor or its Affiliates), where appropriate, concerning the value of contemplated investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(vi) Deliver to or maintain on behalf of the Company copies of all appraisals obtained in connection with the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ investments; and

(vii) Negotiate and execute approved investments and other transactions, including prepayments, maturities, workouts and other settlements of Loans and other Permitted Investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

3.03 Asset Management Services.

(i) Real Estate and Related Services:

(a) Investigate, select and, on behalf of the Company, engage and conduct business with (including enter contracts with) such Persons as the Advisor deems necessary to the proper performance of its obligations as set forth in this Agreement, including but not limited to consultants, accountants, lenders, technical advisors, attorneys, brokers, underwriters, corporate fiduciaries, escrow agents, depositaries, custodians, agents for collection, insurers, insurance agents, developers, construction companies, Property Managers and any and all Persons acting in any other capacity deemed by the Advisor necessary or desirable for the performance of any of the foregoing services;

 

9


(b) Negotiate and service the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ debt facilities and other financings;

(c) Monitor applicable markets and obtain reports (which may be prepared by the Advisor or its Affiliates) where appropriate, concerning the value of investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(d) Monitor and evaluate the performance of each asset of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ overall portfolio of assets, provide daily management services to the Company and perform and supervise the various management and operational functions related to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ investments;

(e) Formulate and oversee the implementation of strategies for the administration, promotion, management, operation, maintenance, improvement, financing and refinancing, marketing, leasing and disposition of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments on an overall portfolio basis;

(f) Consult with the Company’s officers and the Board and assist the Board in the formulation and implementation of the Company’s financial policies, and, as necessary with respect to investment and borrowing opportunities presented to the Board, furnish the Board with advice and recommendations with respect to the making of investments consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company and in connection with any borrowings proposed to be undertaken by the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(g) Oversee the performance by the (1) Property Managers of their duties, including collection and proper deposits of rental payments and payment of Property expenses and maintenance and (2) Loan Servicers of their duties, including collection and application of payments, restructurings, workouts, foreclosures and accounting for Loans;

(h) Conduct periodic on-site property visits to some or all (as the Advisor deems reasonably necessary) of the Properties to inspect the physical condition of the Properties and to evaluate the performance of the Property Managers;

(i) Review, analyze and comment upon the operating budgets, capital budgets and leasing plans prepared and submitted by each Property Manager and aggregate these property budgets into the Company’s overall budget;

(j) Coordinate and manage relationships between the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Joint Venture partners on the other; and

 

10


(k) Consult with the Company’s officers and the Board and provide assistance with the evaluation and approval of potential asset disposition, sale and refinancing opportunities that are presented to the Board.

(ii) Accounting and Other Administrative Services:

(a) Provide the day-to-day management of the Company and perform and supervise the various administrative functions reasonably necessary for the management of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(b) From time to time, or at any time reasonably requested by the Board, make reports to the Board on the Advisor’s performance of services to the Company and its Subsidiaries under this Agreement;

(c) Make reports to the Conflicts Committee each quarter of the investments that have been made by other programs sponsored by the Advisor or any of its Affiliates, as well as any investments that have been made by the Advisor or any of its Affiliates directly;

(d) Provide or arrange for any administrative services and items, legal and other services, office space, office furnishings, personnel and other overhead items necessary and incidental to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses and operations;

(e) Provide financial and operational planning services;

(f) Maintain accounting and other record-keeping functions at the Company and investment levels, including information concerning the activities of the Company as shall be required to prepare and to file all periodic financial reports, tax returns and any other information required to be filed with the SEC, the Internal Revenue Service and any other regulatory agency;

(g) Maintain and preserve all appropriate books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(h) Provide tax and compliance services and coordinate with appropriate third parties, including the Company’s independent auditors and other consultants, on related tax matters;

(i) Provide the Company and its Subsidiaries with all necessary cash management services;

(j) Manage and coordinate with the transfer agent the periodic dividend process and payments to Stockholders;

(k) Consult with the Company’s officers and the Board and assist the Board in evaluating and obtaining adequate insurance coverage based upon risk management determinations;

 

11


(l) Consult with the Company’s officers and the Board relating to the corporate governance structure and appropriate policies and procedures related thereto;

(m) Perform all reporting, record keeping, internal controls and similar matters in a manner to allow the Company and its Subsidiaries to comply with applicable law, including federal and state securities laws and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and provide the Company’s officers and the Board with timely updates regarding the Company’s compliance with applicable law;

(n) Notify the Board of all proposed material transactions before they are completed and get approval where necessary; and

(o) Do all things necessary to assure its ability to render the services described in this Agreement.

3.04 Stockholder Services.

(i) Manage services for and communications with Stockholders, including answering phone calls, preparing and sending written and electronic reports and other communications;

(ii) Oversee the performance of the transfer agent and registrar;

(iii) Establish technology infrastructure to assist in providing Stockholder support and service; and

(iv) Consistent with Section 3.01, the Advisor shall perform the various subscription processing services reasonably necessary for the admission of new Stockholders.

3.05 Other Services. Except as provided in Article 7, the Advisor shall perform any other services reasonably requested by the Company (acting through the Conflicts Committee).

ARTICLE 4

AUTHORITY OF ADVISOR

4.01 General. All rights and powers to manage and control the day-to-day business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be vested in the Advisor. The Advisor shall have the power to delegate all or any part of its rights and powers to manage and control the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries to such officers, employees, Affiliates, agents and representatives of the Advisor or the Company as it may deem appropriate. Any authority delegated by the Advisor to any other Person shall be subject to the limitations on the rights and powers of the Advisor specifically set forth in this Agreement or the Charter.

 

12


4.02 Powers of the Advisor. Subject to the express limitations set forth in this Agreement and the continuing and exclusive authority of the Board over the management of the Company, the power to direct the management, operation and policies of the Company, including making, financing and disposing of investments, shall be vested in the Advisor, which shall have the power by itself and shall be authorized and empowered on behalf and in the name of the Company to carry out any and all of the objectives and purposes of the Company and to perform all acts and enter into and perform all contracts and other undertakings that it may in its sole discretion deem necessary, advisable or incidental thereto to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

4.03 Approval by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Advisor may not take any action on behalf of the Company (or its Subsidiaries) without the prior approval of the Board or duly authorized committees thereof if the Charter or Maryland General Corporation Law require the prior approval of the Board (or if the governing documents or governing law applicable to any Subsidiary require the prior approval of the governing body of such Subsidiary). If the Board or a committee of the Board must approve a proposed investment, financing or disposition or chooses to do so, the Advisor will deliver to the Board or committee, as applicable, all documents required by it to evaluate such investment, financing or disposition.

4.04 Modification or Revocation of Authority of Advisor. The Board may, at any time upon the giving of notice to the Advisor, modify or revoke the authority or approvals set forth in Article 3 and this Article 4 hereof; provided, however, that such modification or revocation shall be effective upon receipt by the Advisor and shall not be applicable to investment transactions to which the Advisor has committed the Company or its Subsidiaries prior to the date of receipt by the Advisor of such notification.

ARTICLE 5

BANK ACCOUNTS

The Advisor may establish and maintain one or more bank accounts in the name of the Company (and its Subsidiaries) and may collect and deposit into any such account or accounts, and disburse from any such account or accounts, any money on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, under such terms and conditions as the Board (or the governing body of such Subsidiary) may approve, provided that no funds shall be commingled with the funds of the Advisor. The Advisor shall from time to time render appropriate accountings of such collections and payments to the Board and the independent auditors of the Company.

 

13


ARTICLE 6

RECORDS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Advisor, in the conduct of its responsibilities to the Company, shall maintain adequate and separate books and records for the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ operations in accordance with GAAP, which shall be supported by sufficient documentation to ascertain that such books and records are properly and accurately recorded. Such books and records shall be the property of the Company and its Subsidiaries and shall be available for inspection by the Board and by counsel, auditors and other authorized agents of the Company, at any time or from time to time during normal business hours. Such books and records shall include all information necessary to calculate and audit the fees or reimbursements paid under this Agreement. The Advisor shall utilize procedures to attempt to ensure such control over accounting and financial transactions as is reasonably required to protect the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets from theft, error or fraudulent activity. All financial statements that the Advisor delivers to the Company shall be prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with GAAP, except for special financial reports that by their nature require a deviation from GAAP. The Advisor shall liaise with the Company’s officers and independent auditors and shall provide such officers and auditors with the reports and other information that the Company so requests.

ARTICLE 7

LIMITATION ON ACTIVITIES

Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Advisor shall not take any action that, in its sole judgment made in good faith, would (i) adversely affect the ability of the Company to qualify or continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code, (ii) subject the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (iii) violate any law, rule, regulation or statement of policy of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, its Shares or its other securities, (iv) require the Advisor to register as a broker-dealer with the SEC or any state, (v) violate the Charter or Bylaws, or (vi) violate the governing documents of any Subsidiary of the Company. In the event an action that would violate (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence but such action has been ordered by the Board, the Advisor shall notify the Board of the Advisor’s judgment of the potential impact of such action and shall refrain from taking such action until it receives further clarification or instructions from the Board. In such event, the Advisor shall have no liability for acting in accordance with the specific instructions of the Board so given.

ARTICLE 8

FEES

8.01 Acquisition Fees. As compensation for the investigation, selection, sourcing and acquisition or origination (by purchase, investment or exchange) of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments, the Company shall pay an Acquisition Fee to the Advisor for each such investment (whether an acquisition or origination). With respect to the acquisition or origination of a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment to be owned by the Company or a Subsidiary, the Acquisition Fee payable to the Advisor shall equal 2.0% of the sum of the amount actually paid or allocated to fund the acquisition, origination, development, construction or improvement of the Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment, inclusive of the Acquisition Expenses associated with such Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment and the amount of any debt associated with, or used to fund the investment in, such Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment. Acquisition Fees will also include any amounts incurred or reserved for capital expenditures that will be used to provide funds for capital improvements and repairs applied to

 

14


any real property investment acquired where the Company plans to add value. With respect to the acquisition or origination of a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment through any Joint Venture or any partnership in which the Company or the Partnership is, directly or indirectly, a partner and which is not deemed a Subsidiary, the Acquisition Fee payable to the Advisor shall equal 2.0% of the portion that is attributable to the Company’s direct or indirect investment in such Joint Venture or partnership of the amount actually paid or allocated to fund the acquisition, origination, development, construction or improvement of the Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment, inclusive of the Acquisition Expenses associated with such Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment, plus the amount of any debt associated with, or used to fund the investment in, such Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment of Acquisition Fees by the Company shall be subject to the limitations on Acquisition Fees contained in (and defined in) the Company’s Charter. The Advisor shall submit an invoice to the Company following the closing or closings of each acquisition or origination, accompanied by a computation of the Acquisition Fee. Generally, the Acquisition Fee payable to the Advisor shall be paid at the closing of the transaction upon receipt of the invoice by the Company. However, the Acquisition Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any year in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Acquisition Fees not taken as to any fiscal year shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other fiscal year as the Advisor shall determine.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Advisor hereby waives any Acquisition Fee payable in connection with the REIT III Merger.

8.02 Asset Management Fees. The Company shall pay the Advisor as compensation for the services described in Section 3.03 hereof a monthly fee (the “Asset Management Fee”) in an amount equal to one-twelfth of 1.0% of the Cost of Investments, as of the end of the current month subject to the following adjustments:

(a) For any month in which a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment is disposed of, the Company shall prorate the portion of the Asset Management Fee related to that specific Property, Loan, or other Permitted Investment by using a numerator equal to the number of days owned during the month of disposal, divided by a denominator equal to the total number of days in such month and add the resulting amount to the fee due for such month; and

(b) For any month in which a Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment is acquired, the Company shall prorate the portion of the Asset Management Fee related to that specific Property, Loan, or other Permitted Investment by using a numerator equal to the number of days in the month less the number of days owned during the month (including the full day of closing), divided by a denominator equal to the total number of days in such month and deduct the resulting amount from the fee due for such month.

The Advisor shall submit a monthly invoice to the Company, accompanied by a computation of the Asset Management Fee for the applicable period. Generally, the Asset Management Fee payable to the Advisor for any month shall be paid on the last day of such month, or within the first three business days following the last day of such month. As an example, the Asset Management Fee calculated with respect to the Property, Loans, or other Permitted Investments owned at the end of the month of January shall be due and payable between January 31 and the third business day of February in any year.

 

15


The Asset Management Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any year in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Asset Management Fees not taken as to any fiscal year shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other fiscal year as the Advisor shall determine.

8.03 Disposition Fees. If the Advisor or any of its Affiliates provide a substantial amount of services (as determined by the Conflicts Committee) in connection with a Sale, the Advisor or such Affiliate shall receive a fee at the closing (the “Disposition Fee”) equal to the lesser of (i) (A) one-half of the aggregate brokerage commission paid, including the brokerage commission payable pursuant to this clause 8.03(i)(A) or (B) if none is paid, the Competitive Brokerage Commission or (ii) 2.00% of the Contract Sales Price; provided, however, that no Disposition Fee shall be payable to the Advisor for any Sale if such Sale involves the Company selling all or substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions designed to effectuate a business combination transaction (as opposed to a Company liquidation, in which case the Disposition Fee would be payable if the Advisor or an Affiliate provides a substantial amount of services as provided above). The Company will not pay a disposition fee upon the maturity, prepayment or workout of a loan or other real estate related debt investment; however, if the Company takes ownership of a property as a result of a workout or foreclosure of a loan or the Company provides substantial assistance during the course of a workout, the Company will pay a disposition fee upon the sale of such property or disposition of such loan or other real estate related debt investment. The payment of any Disposition Fees by the Company shall be subject to the limitations contained in the Company’s Charter. Any Disposition Fee payable under this Section 8.03 may be paid in addition to commissions paid to non-Affiliates, provided that the total commissions (including such Disposition Fee) paid to all Persons by the Company for each Sale shall not exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 6% of the aggregate Contract Sales Price of each Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment or (ii) the Competitive Brokerage Commission for each Property, Loan or other Permitted Investment. The Advisor shall submit an invoice to the Company following the closing or closings of each disposition, accompanied by a computation of the Disposition Fee. Generally, the Disposition Fee payable to the Advisor shall be paid at the closing of the transaction upon receipt of the invoice by the Company. However, the Disposition Fee may or may not be taken, in whole or in part, as to any year in the sole discretion of the Advisor. All or any portion of the Disposition Fees not taken as to any fiscal year shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other fiscal year as the Advisor shall determine.

8.04 Debt Financing Fees. In the event of any debt financing obtained or assumed by or for the Company or its Subsidiaries (and any Joint Ventures that are not Subsidiaries but for which the Advisor provides substantial services in connection with obtaining such debt financing), the Company will pay to the Advisor a debt financing fee equal to 0.5% of the amount available under the financing. The Debt Financing Fee includes the reimbursement of the specified cost incurred by the Advisor of engaging third parties to source debt financing, and nothing herein shall prevent the Advisor from entering fee-splitting arrangements with third parties with respect to the Debt Financing Fee. All or any portion of the Debt Financing Fees not taken as to any fiscal year shall be deferred without interest and may be paid in such other fiscal year as the Advisor shall determine. In no event will the Debt Financing Fee be paid more than once in respect of the same debt. For example, upon refinancing, the Advisor would only receive 0.5% of the incremental amount of additional debt financing obtained in the refinancing.

 

16


Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Advisor hereby waives any Debt Financing Fee payable in connection with the REIT III Merger.

8.05 Changes to Fee Structure. In the event of Listing, the Company and the Advisor shall negotiate in good faith to establish a fee structure appropriate for a perpetual-life entity.

ARTICLE 9

EXPENSES

9.01 General. In addition to the compensation paid to the Advisor pursuant to Article 8 hereof, the Company shall pay directly or reimburse the Advisor for all of the expenses paid or incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates on behalf of the Company or in connection with the services provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement, including, but not limited to:

(i) All Organization and Offering Expenses; provided, however, that:

(a) the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor to the extent such reimbursement would cause the total amount spent by the Company on Organization and Offering Expenses (excluding underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions) to exceed 2.5% of Gross Proceeds raised in an Offering, as of the termination of the Offering;

(b) within 60 days after the end of the month in which an Offering terminates, the Advisor shall reimburse the Company to the extent the Company incurred Organization and Offering Expenses (excluding underwriting and brokerage discounts and commissions) exceeding 2.5% of Gross Proceeds of raised in an Offering; and

(c) the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor for any Organization and Offering Expenses that the Conflicts Committee determines are not fair and commercially reasonable to the Company.

(ii) Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses incurred in connection with the selection and acquisition of Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments and Joint Venture opportunities, including such expenses incurred related to assets pursued or considered but not ultimately acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment of Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses by the Company shall be subject to the limitations contained in the Company’s Charter;

 

17


(iii) The actual out-of-pocket cost of goods and services used by the Company and its Subsidiaries and obtained from entities not Affiliated with the Advisor, including travel, meals and lodging expenses incurred by the Advisor in performing duties associated with the acquisition or origination of Properties, Loans or other Permitted Investments;

(iv) Interest and other costs for borrowed money, including discounts, points and other similar fees;

(v) Taxes and assessments on income or Properties, taxes as an expense of doing business and any other taxes otherwise imposed on the Company and its Subsidiaries and their business, assets or income;

(vi) Out-of-pocket costs associated with insurance required in connection with the business of the Company or by its officers and Directors or by its Subsidiaries;

(vii) Expenses of managing, improving, developing, operating and selling Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, as well as expenses of other transactions relating to such Properties, Loans and other Permitted Investments, including but not limited to prepayments, maturities, workouts and other settlements of Loans and other Permitted Investments;

(viii) All out-of-pocket expenses in connection with payments to the Board and meetings of the Board and Stockholders;

(ix) Personnel and related employment costs incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in performing the services described in Article 3 hereof, including but not limited to reasonable salaries and wages, benefits and overhead of all employees directly involved in the performance of such services, provided that no reimbursement shall be made for costs of such employees of the Advisor or its Affiliates to the extent that such employees perform services for which the Advisor receives Acquisition Fees, Disposition Fees or Debt Financing Fees;

(x) Out-of-pocket expenses of providing services for and maintaining communications with Stockholders, including the cost of preparation, printing, and mailing annual reports and other Stockholder reports, proxy statements and other reports required by governmental entities;

(xi) Audit, accounting and legal fees, and other fees for professional services relating to the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and all such fees incurred at the request, or on behalf of, the Board, the Conflicts Committee or any other committee of the Board;

(xii) Out-of-pocket costs for the Company and its Subsidiaries to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances;

(xiii) Expenses connected with payments of Distributions made or caused to be made by the Company to the Stockholders;

 

18


(xiv) Expenses of organizing, redomesticating, merging, liquidating or dissolving the Company or of amending the Charter or the Bylaws; and

(xv) All other out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Advisor in performing its duties hereunder.

9.02 Timing of and Additional Limitations on Reimbursements.

(i) Expenses incurred by the Advisor on behalf of the Company and reimbursable pursuant to this Article 9 shall be reimbursed no less than monthly to the Advisor. The Advisor shall prepare a statement documenting the expenses of the Company during each quarter and shall deliver such statement to the Company within 45 days after the end of each quarter.

(ii) The Company shall not reimburse the Advisor to the extent such reimbursement would cause the total amount spent by the Company on Organization and Offering Expenses to exceed 15% of the Gross Proceeds raised as of the termination of the Offering and provided further that within 60 days after the end of the month in which an Offering terminates, the Advisor shall reimburse the Company to the extent the Company incurred Organization and Offering Expenses exceeding 15% of the Gross Proceeds raised in the completed Offering; the Company shall not reimburse the Advisor for any Organization and Offering Expenses that the Conflicts Committee determines are not fair and commercially reasonable to the Company.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything else in this Article 9 to the contrary, the expenses enumerated in this Article 9 shall not become reimbursable to the Advisor unless and until the Company has raised $2 million in the Initial Public Offering.

(iv) Commencing four fiscal quarters after the earlier to occur of (i) the Company’s acquisition of an asset or, (ii) the date that is six months after the commencement of the Initial Public Offering, the following limitation on Operating Expenses shall apply: The Company shall not reimburse the Advisor at the end of any fiscal quarter for Operating Expenses that in the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended (the “Expense Year”) exceed (the “Excess Amount”) the greater of 2% of Average Invested Assets or 25% of Net Income (the “2%/25% Guidelines”) for such year unless the Conflicts Committee determines that such excess was justified, based on unusual and nonrecurring factors that the Conflicts Committee deems sufficient. If the Conflicts Committee does not approve such excess as being so justified, any Excess Amount paid to the Advisor during a fiscal quarter shall be repaid to the Company. If the Conflicts Committee determines such excess was justified, then, within 60 days after the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company for which total reimbursed Operating Expenses for the Expense Year exceed the 2%/25% Guidelines, the Advisor, at the direction of the Conflicts Committee, shall cause such fact to be disclosed to the Stockholders in writing (or the Company shall disclose such fact to the Stockholders in the next quarterly report of the Company or by filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC within 60 days of such quarter end), together with an explanation of the factors the Conflicts Committee considered in determining that such excess expenses were justified. The Company will ensure that such determination will be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board. All figures used in the foregoing computation shall be determined in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

 

19


ARTICLE 10

VOTING AGREEMENT

The Advisor agrees that, with respect to any Shares now or hereinafter owned by it, the Advisor will not vote or consent on matters submitted to the stockholders of the Company regarding (i) the removal of the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Advisor or (ii) any transaction between the Company or its Subsidiaries and the Advisor or any of its Affiliates. This voting restriction shall survive until such time that the Advisor is both no longer serving as such and is no longer an Affiliate of the Company.

ARTICLE 11

RELATIONSHIP OF ADVISOR AND COMPANY;

OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE ADVISOR

11.01 Relationship. The Company and the Advisor are not partners or joint venturers with each other, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to make them such partners or joint venturers. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Advisor from engaging in other activities, including, without limitation, the rendering of advice to other Persons (including other REITs) and the management of other programs advised, sponsored or organized by the Advisor or its Affiliates. Nor shall this Agreement limit or restrict the right of any manager, director, officer, employee or equityholder of the Advisor or its Affiliates to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other Person. The Advisor may, with respect to any investment in which the Company is a participant, also render advice and service to each and every other participant therein. The Advisor shall promptly disclose to the Board the existence of any condition or circumstance, existing or anticipated, of which it has knowledge, that creates or could create a conflict of interest between the Advisor’s obligations to the Company and its obligations to or its interest in any other Person.

11.02 Time Commitment. The Advisor shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and their respective employees, officers and agents to, devote to the Company such time as shall be reasonably necessary to conduct the business and affairs of the Company in an appropriate manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement. The Company acknowledges that the Advisor and its Affiliates and their respective employees, officers and agents may also engage in activities unrelated to the Company and may provide services to Persons other than the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

20


11.03 Investment Opportunities and Allocation. The Advisor shall be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to present a continuing and suitable investment program to the Company that is consistent with the investment policies and objectives of the Company, but neither the Advisor nor any Affiliate of the Advisor shall be obligated generally to present any particular investment opportunity to the Company even if the opportunity is of character that, if presented to the Company, could be taken by the Company. In the event an investment opportunity is located, the allocation procedure set forth under the caption “Conflicts of Interest – Certain Conflict Resolution Measures – Allocation of Investment Opportunities” in the Registration Statement shall govern the allocation of the opportunity among the Company and Affiliates of the Advisor.

ARTICLE 12

THE RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY NAME

The Advisor and its Affiliates have a proprietary interest in the name “RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY.” The Advisor hereby grants to the Company a non-transferable, non-assignable, non-exclusive royalty-free right and license to use the name “RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY” during the term of this Agreement. Accordingly, and in recognition of this right, if at any time the Company ceases to retain the Advisor or one of its Affiliates to perform advisory services for the Company, the Company will, promptly after receipt of written request from the Advisor, cease to conduct business under or use the name “RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY” or any derivative thereof and the Company shall change its name and the names of any of its subsidiaries to a name that does not contain the name “RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY” or any other word or words that might, in the reasonable discretion of the Advisor, be susceptible of indication of some form of relationship between the Company and the Advisor or any its Affiliates. At such time, the Company will also make any changes to any trademarks, servicemarks or other marks necessary to remove any references to the word “RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY.” Consistent with the foregoing, it is specifically recognized that the Advisor or one or more of its Affiliates has in the past and may in the future organize, sponsor or otherwise permit to exist other investment vehicles (including vehicles for investment in real estate) and financial and service organizations having “RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY” as a part of their name, all without the need for any consent (and without the right to object thereto) by the Company.

ARTICLE 13

TERM AND TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT

13.01 Term. Subject to Section 4.02 hereof, this Agreement shall continue in full force until December 20, 2020. Thereafter, this Agreement may be renewed for an unlimited number of successive one-year terms upon mutual consent of the parties. The Company (acting through the Conflicts Committee) will evaluate the performance of the Advisor annually before renewing this Agreement, and each such renewal shall be for a term of no more than one year. Any such renewal must be approved by the Conflicts Committee.

13.02 Termination by Either Party. This Agreement may be terminated upon 60 days written notice without cause or penalty by either the Company (acting through the Conflicts Committee) or the Advisor. The provisions of Articles 1, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 17 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

21


13.03 Payments on Termination. Payments to the Advisor pursuant to this Section 13.03 shall be subject to the 2%/25% Guidelines to the extent applicable. After the Termination Date, the Advisor shall not be entitled to compensation for further services hereunder except it shall be entitled to receive from the Company within 30 days after the effective date of such termination all unpaid reimbursements of expenses and all earned but unpaid fees payable to the Advisor prior to termination of this Agreement.

13.04 Duties of Advisor Upon Termination. The Advisor shall promptly upon termination:

(i) pay over to the Company all money collected pursuant to this Agreement, if any, after deducting any accrued compensation and reimbursement for its expenses to which it is then entitled;

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

(iii) deliver to the Board all assets and documents of the Company then in the custody of the Advisor; and

(iv) cooperate with the Company to provide an orderly transition of advisory functions.

ARTICLE 14

ASSIGNMENT

This Agreement may be assigned by the Advisor to an Affiliate with the consent of the Conflicts Committee. The Advisor may assign any rights to receive fees or other payments under this Agreement without obtaining the approval of the Board. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company without the consent of the Advisor, except in the case of an assignment by the Company to a corporation or other organization that is a successor to all of the assets, rights and obligations of the Company, in which case such successor organization shall be bound hereunder and by the terms of said assignment in the same manner as the Company is bound by this Agreement.

 

22


ARTICLE 15

INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

15.01 Indemnification. Except as prohibited by the restrictions provided in this Section 15.01, Section 15.02 and Section 15.03, the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Advisor and its Affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, equity holders, partners and employees, from all liability, claims, damages or losses arising in the performance of their duties hereunder, and related expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, to the extent such liability, claims, damages or losses and related expenses are not fully reimbursed by insurance. Any indemnification of the Advisor may be made only out of the net assets of the Company and not from Stockholders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not indemnify the Advisor or its Affiliates for any loss, liability or expense arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by such party unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged material securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the SEC and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.

15.02 Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not provide for indemnification of the Advisor or its Affiliates for any liability or loss suffered by any of them, nor shall any of them be held harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Company, unless all of the following conditions are met:

(i) The Advisor or its Affiliates have determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company.

(ii) The Advisor or its Affiliates were acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company.

(iii) Such liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the Advisor or its Affiliates.

15.03 Limitation on Payment of Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse reasonable legal expenses and other costs incurred by the Advisor or its Affiliates in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding only if (in addition to the procedures required by the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time) all of the following are satisfied: (a) the proceeding relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company, (b) the legal proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not a stockholder or, if by a stockholder acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction approves such advancement and (c) the Advisor or its Affiliates undertake to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it is ultimately determined that the particular indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification.

 

23


ARTICLE 16

GUARANTEE

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc., the ultimate parent company of the Advisor (the “Guarantor”) will in all respects guarantee the due and proper performance of the services to be provided under this Agreement by the Advisor, which guarantee shall extend to include any renewal or amendment to this Agreement, provided Guarantor’s obligations are not materially increased by such renewal or amendment without the Guarantor’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. If the Advisor fails to perform all or any of its obligations, duties, undertakings, and covenants to provide services (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”) under this Agreement (unless relieved from the performance of any part of this Agreement by statute, by the decision of a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction or by waiver of the Company), upon written notice from the Company, the Guarantor shall perform or cause to be performed such Guaranteed Obligations. This guarantee is a guarantee of performance of the Guaranteed Obligations and not of payment of any liabilities of the Advisor. The termination of the Advisor shall constitute a termination of this guarantee. This guarantee will be applicable to and binding upon the successors and assigns of Guarantor.

ARTICLE 17

MISCELLANEOUS

17.01 Notices. Any notice, report or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing unless some other method of giving such notice, report or other communication is required by the Charter, the Bylaws or is accepted by the party to whom it is given, and shall be given by being delivered by hand or by overnight mail or other overnight delivery service to the addresses set forth herein:

To the Company or the Board:

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc.

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Floor

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Resource Real Estate Opportunity Advisor II, LLC

1845 Walnut Street, 17th Floor

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Either party may at any time give notice in writing to the other party of a change in its address for the purposes of this Section 17.01.

17.02 Modification. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified, terminated or discharged, in whole or in part, except by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto, or their respective successors or permitted assigns.

 

24


17.03 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are independent of and severable from each other, and no provision shall be affected or rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact that for any reason any other or others of them may be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part.

17.04 Construction. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

17.05 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof. This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than by an agreement in writing.

17.06 Waiver. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

17.07 Gender. Words used herein regardless of the number and gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter, as the context requires.

17.08 Titles Not to Affect Interpretation. The titles of Articles and Sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only, and they neither form a part of this Agreement nor are they to be used in the construction or interpretation hereof.

17.09 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.

 

25


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

 

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT II, INC.
  By:  

/s/ Alan F. Feldman

  Alan F. Feldman
  Chief Executive Officer
RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY ADVISOR II, LLC
  By:  

/s/ Shelle Weisbaum

  Shelle Weisbaum
  Chief Legal Officer
RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC., with respect to Article 16
  By:  

/s/ Shelle Weisbaum

  Shelle Weisbaum
  Chief Legal Officer

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement—REIT II and REIT II Advisor]

Exhibit 10.5

RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC.

2020 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

1.  Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan

     1  

1.1   Establishment

     1  

1.2   Purpose

     1  

1.3   Term of Plan

     1  

2.  Definitions and Construction

     1  

2.1   Definitions

     1  

2.2   Construction

     9  

3.  Administration

     9  

3.1   Administration by the Committee

     9  

3.2   Authority of Officers

     9  

3.3   Administration with Respect to Insiders

     10  

3.4   Powers of the Committee

     10  

3.5   Option or SAR Repricing

     11  

3.6   Indemnification

     11  

4.  Shares Subject to Plan

     12  

4.1   Maximum Number of Shares Issuable

     12  

4.2   Share Counting

     12  

4.3   Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure

     12  

4.4   Assumption or Substitution of Awards

     13  

5.  Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations

     13  

5.1   Persons Eligible for Awards

     13  

5.2   Participation in the Plan

     13  

5.3   Incentive Stock Option Limitations

     13  

5.4   Nonemployee Director Award Limit

     14  

5.5   Minimum Vesting

     14  

6.  Stock Options

     15  

6.1   Exercise Price

     15  

6.2   Exercisability and Term of Options

     15  

6.3   Payment of Exercise Price

     15  

6.4   Effect of Termination of Service

     16  

6.5   Transferability of Options

     17  

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

7.  Stock Appreciation Rights

     18  

7.1   Types of SARs Authorized

     18  

7.2   Exercise Price

     18  

7.3   Exercisability and Term of SARs

     18  

7.4   Exercise of SARs

     19  

7.5   Deemed Exercise of SARs

     19  

7.6   Effect of Termination of Service

     19  

7.7   Transferability of SARs

     19  

8.  Restricted Stock Awards

     20  

8.1   Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized

     20  

8.2   Purchase Price

     20  

8.3   Purchase Period

     20  

8.4   Payment of Purchase Price

     20  

8.5   Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer

     20  

8.6   Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions

     21  

8.7   Effect of Termination of Service

     21  

8.8   Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights

     21  

9.  Restricted Stock Units

     22  

9.1   Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards

     22  

9.2   Purchase Price

     22  

9.3   Vesting

     22  

9.4   Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions

     22  

9.5   Effect of Termination of Service

     23  

9.6   Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards

     23  

9.7   Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards

     23  

10.  Performance Awards

     24  

10.1  Types of Performance Awards Authorized

     24  

10.2  Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units

     24  

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

10.3  Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula

     24  

10.4  Measurement of Performance Goals

     24  

10.5  Settlement of Performance Awards

     26  

10.6  Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions

     27  

10.7  Effect of Termination of Service

     28  

10.8  Nontransferability of Performance Awards

     28  

11.  Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards

     29  

11.1  Grant of Cash-Based Awards

     29  

11.2  Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards

     29  

11.3  Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards

     29  

11.4  Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards

     29  

11.5  Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions

     30  

11.6  Effect of Termination of Service

     30  

11.7  Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards

     30  

12.  Standard Forms of Award Agreement

     30  

12.1  Award Agreements

     30  

12.2  Authority to Vary Terms

     31  

13.  Change in Control

     31  

13.1  Effect of Change in Control on Awards

     31  

13.2  Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards

     32  

13.3  Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code

     33  

14.  Compliance with Securities Law

     33  

15.  Compliance with Section 409A

     34  

15.1  Awards Subject to Section 409A

     34  

15.2  Deferral and/or Distribution Elections

     34  

15.3  Subsequent Elections

     35  

15.4  Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation

     35  

16.  Tax Withholding

     37  

16.1  Tax Withholding in General

     37  

16.2  Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares

     37  

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

17.  Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan

     38  

18.  Miscellaneous Provisions

     38  

18.1  Repurchase Rights

     38  

18.2  Forfeiture Events

     39  

18.3  Provision of Information

     39  

18.4  Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director

     39  

18.5  Rights as a Stockholder

     39  

18.6  Delivery of Title to Shares

     39  

18.7  Fractional Shares

     40  

18.8  Retirement and Welfare Plans

     40  

18.9  Beneficiary Designation

     40  

18.10  Severability

     40  

18.11  No Constraint on Corporate Action

     40  

18.12  Unfunded Obligation

     40  

18.13  Choice of Law

     41  

 

 

-iv-


Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc.

2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan

1. ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.

1.1 Establishment. The Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) is hereby established effective as of _________, 2020, the date of its approval by the Board (the Effective Date).

1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.

1.3 Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Committee; provided, however, that all Awards shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

2. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

2.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

(a) Affiliate means (i) a parent entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) a subsidiary entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the terms “parent,” “subsidiary,” “control” and “controlled by” shall have the meanings assigned such terms for the purposes of registration of securities on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

(b) Award means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

(c) Award Agreement means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to an Award.

(d) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) Cash-Based Award means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 11.


(f) Cashless Exercise means a Cashless Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(i).

(g) Cause means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by a Participating Company’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of a Participating Company (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company.

(h) Change in Control means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, the occurrence of any one or a combination of the following:

(i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Fair Market Value or total combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if such degree of beneficial ownership results from any of the following: (A) an acquisition by any person who on the Effective Date is the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of such voting power, (B) any acquisition directly from the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to or in connection with a public offering of securities, (C) any acquisition by the Company, (D) any acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (E) any acquisition by an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company; or

 

2


(ii) an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a Transaction) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(ff)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the Transferee), as the case may be; or

(iii) a date specified by the Committee following approval by the stockholders of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

provided, however, that a Change in Control shall be deemed not to include a transaction described in subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.1(h) in which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the continuing, surviving or successor entity, or parent thereof, immediately after such transaction is comprised of Incumbent Directors.

For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Committee shall determine whether multiple events described in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.1(h) are related and to be treated in the aggregate as a single Change in Control, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

(i) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations and administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.

(j) Committee means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. If, at any time, there is no committee of the Board then authorized or properly constituted to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers.

(k) Company means Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and any successor corporation thereto.

(l) Consultant means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

(m) Director means a member of the Board.

(n) Disability means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

3


(o) Dividend Equivalent Right means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.

(p) Employee means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a Director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the terms of the Plan as of the time of the Company’s determination of whether or not the individual is an Employee, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive as to such rights, if any, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination as to such individual’s status as an Employee.

(q) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(r) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:

(i) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if, on such date, the Stock is listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the national or regional securities exchange or quotation system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or quotation system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded or quoted prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the basis of the opening, closing, or average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Stock on such date or the preceding trading day, the actual sale price of a share of Stock received by a Participant, any other reasonable basis using actual transactions in the Stock as reported on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, or on any other basis consistent with the requirements of Section 409A. The Committee may also determine the Fair Market Value upon the average selling price of the Stock during a specified period that is within thirty (30) days before or thirty (30) days after such date, provided that, with respect to the grant of an Option or SAR, the commitment to grant such Award based on such valuation method must be irrevocable before the beginning of the specified period. The Committee may vary its method of determination of the Fair Market Value as provided in this Section for different purposes under the Plan to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

4


(iii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

(s) Full Value Award means any Award settled in Stock, other than (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right, or (iii) a Restricted Stock Purchase Right or an Other Stock-Based Award under which the Company will receive monetary consideration equal to the Fair Market Value (determined on the effective date of grant) of the shares subject to such Award.

(t) Good Reason means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, any of the following with respect to a particular Participant without the Participant’s informed written consent: (i) a material diminution of the Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities causing the Participant’s authority, duties or responsibilities to be of materially lesser rank within the Company or an equivalent business unit of its parent, as measured against the Participant’s authority, duties and responsibilities immediately prior to such diminution; (ii) a material reduction by the Company of the Participant’s base salary or annual bonus opportunity, other than any such material reduction that occurs in connection with a reduction that is imposed on all Participants at the time of such reduction; (iii) the relocation of the Participant’s work place for the Company to a location that increases the Participant’s regular one-way commute distance between the Participant’s residence and work place by more than thirty-five (35) miles. The existence of Good Reason shall not be affected by the Participant’s temporary incapacity due to physical or mental illness not constituting a Disability. The Participant’s continued employment for a period not exceeding six (6) months following the initial occurrence of any condition constituting Good Reason shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, such condition.

(u) Incentive Stock Option means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

(v) Incumbent Director means a director who either (i) is a member of the Board as of the Effective Date or (ii) is elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but excluding a director who was elected or nominated in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company).

 

5


(w) Insider means an Officer, a Director or other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

(x) Involuntary Termination means, as to a particular Participant, the occurrence of any of the following upon or within a period of time established by the Committee (not exceeding twenty-four (24) months) following a Change in Control: (i) the Participant’s Service is terminated without Cause or (ii) the Participant terminates his or her Service for Good Reason; provided the Participant has given the Company written notice of the existence of a condition constituting Good Reason within sixty (60) days following the initial occurrence of such condition, the Company fails to remedy such condition within thirty (30) days following such written notice, and the Participant’s resignation from Service is effective no later than six (6) months following the initial occurrence of such condition. Involuntary Termination shall not include any termination of the Participant’s Service which is (i) for Cause, (ii) a result of the Participant’s death or Disability, or (iii) a result of the Participant’s voluntary termination of Service other than for Good Reason.

(y) Net Exercise means a Net Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(iii).

(z) Nonemployee Director means a Director who is not an Employee.

(aa) Nonemployee Director Award means any Award granted to a Nonemployee Director.

(bb) Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) or which does not qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

(cc) Officer means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.

(dd) Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

(ee) Other Stock-Based Award means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 11.

(ff) Ownership Change Event means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).

 

6


(gg) Parent Corporation means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

(hh) Participant means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.

(ii) Participating Company means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.

(jj) Participating Company Group means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.

(kk) Performance Award means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

(ll) Performance Award Formula means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.

(mm) Performance Goal means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3.

(nn) Performance Period means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.

(oo) Performance Share means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Share, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).

(pp) Performance Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).

(qq) Performance-Vesting Award means an Award granted to a Participant, the vesting or earning of which is conditioned in whole or in part upon the achievement of one or more performance goals (including, without limitation, Performance Goals established pursuant to Section 10.3), notwithstanding that the vesting or earning of such Award may also be conditioned upon the continued Service of the Participant.

(rr) Restricted Stock Award means an Award of a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.

(ss) Restricted Stock Bonus means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.

 

7


(tt) Restricted Stock Purchase Right means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.

(uu) Restricted Stock Unit means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 to receive on a future date or occurrence of a future event a share of Stock or cash in lieu thereof, as determined by the Committee.

(vv) Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.

(ww) SAR or Stock Appreciation Right means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Award over the exercise price thereof.

(xx) Section 409A means Section 409A of the Code.

(yy) Section 409A Deferred Compensation means compensation provided pursuant to an Award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.

(zz) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(aaa) Service means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether as an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. Furthermore, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have been interrupted or terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company. However, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if any such leave taken by a Participant exceeds three (3) months, then on the first (1st) day following the end of such three-month period the Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated, unless the Participant’s right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, an unpaid leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Participant’s Award Agreement. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the business entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of and reason for such termination.

(bbb) Stock means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.3.

(ccc) Stock Tender Exercise means a Stock Tender Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(ii).

 

8


(ddd) Subsidiary Corporation means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

(eee) Ten Percent Owner means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.

(fff) Time-Vesting Award means any Award granted to a Participant, the vesting or earning of which is based solely upon the continued Service of the Participant over a specified period of time.

(ggg) Trading Compliance Policy means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company’s equity securities by Directors, Officers, Employees or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.

(hhh) Vesting Conditions mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which an Award or shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participant’s monetary purchase price, if any, for such shares upon the Participant’s termination of Service or failure of a performance condition to be satisfied.

2.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

3. ADMINISTRATION.

3.1 Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. All expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

3.2 Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Company herein, provided that the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to a

 

9


committee comprised of one or more Officers the authority to grant one or more Awards, without further approval of the Committee, to any Employee, other than a person who, at the time of such grant, is an Insider, and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that (a) the Committee shall fix the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that may be granted by such Officers, (b) each such Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the appropriate standard form of Award Agreement approved by the Board or the Committee and shall conform to the provisions of the Plan, and (c) each such Award shall conform to such other limits and guidelines as may be established from time to time by the Committee.

3.3 Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, of Rule 16b-3.

3.4 Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:

(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock, units or monetary value to be subject to each Award;

(b) to determine the type of Award granted;

(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;

(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Measures, Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of any Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;

(e) to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, other property or in any combination thereof;

(f) to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;

 

10


(g) to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, provided that no such amendment or waiver shall accelerate the vesting of any Award unless the power of the Committee to accelerate the vesting of such Award is expressly provided by another provision of the Plan;

(h) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service;

(i) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose residents may be granted Awards; and

(j) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

3.5 Option or SAR Repricing. Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares of Stock is present or represented by proxy, the Committee shall not approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a share of Stock (“Underwater Awards”) and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options or SARs having a lower exercise price, Full Value Awards or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof. This Section shall not be construed to apply to (i) “issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) applies,” within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, (ii) adjustments pursuant to the assumption of or substitution for an Option or SAR in a manner that would comply with Section 409A, or (iii) an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.3.

3.6 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, to the extent permitted by applicable law, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

 

11


4. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.

4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2, 4.2 and 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be equal to three million five hundred thousand (3,500,000) shares, and such shares shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof.

4.2 Share Counting. If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash or to the extent that shares are withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 16.2. Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of an SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the SAR is exercised. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, or by means of a Net Exercise, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares purchased in the open market with proceeds from the exercise of Options shall not be added to the limit set forth in Section 4.1. Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to the exercise or settlement of Options or SARs pursuant to Section 16.2 shall not again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to the vesting or settlement of Full Value Awards pursuant to Section 16.2 shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

4.3 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting regular, periodic cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, the Award limits set forth in Section 5.3, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of

 

12


any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the New Shares), the Committee may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its discretion. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the exercise or purchase price per share shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent. In no event may the exercise or purchase price, if any, under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The Committee in its discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate, including modification of Performance Goals, Performance Award Formulas and Performance Periods. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.

4.4 Assumption or Substitution of Awards. The Committee may, without affecting the number of shares of Stock reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code. In addition, subject to compliance with applicable laws, and listing requirements, shares available for grant under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for awards under the Plan to individuals who were not Employees or Directors of the Participating Company Group prior to the transaction and shall not reduce the number of shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan.

5. ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATION AND AWARD LIMITATIONS.

5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Employees, Consultants and Directors.

5.2 Participation in the Plan. Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.

5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations.

(a) Maximum Number of Shares Issuable Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed three million five hundred thousand (3,500,000) shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to all Awards other than Incentive Stock Options shall be the number of shares determined in accordance with Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2, 4.2 and 4.3.

 

13


(b) Persons Eligible. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an ISO-Qualifying Corporation). Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

(c) Fair Market Value Limitation. To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a limitation different from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Upon exercise of the Option, shares issued pursuant to each such portion shall be separately identified.

5.4 Nonemployee Director Award Limit. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States) of all Awards granted to any Nonemployee Director during any fiscal year of the Company, taken together with any cash compensation paid to such Nonemployee Director during such fiscal year, shall not exceed $250,000.

5.5 Minimum Vesting. Except with respect to five percent (5%) of the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan, as provided in Section 4, no Award which vests on the basis of the Participant’s continued Service shall vest earlier than one year following the date of grant of such Award; provided, however, that such limitations shall not preclude the acceleration of vesting of such Award upon the death or disability of the Participant, or in connection with a Change in Control, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

 

14


6. STOCK OPTIONS.

Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

6.1 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price less than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A or Section 424(a) of the Code.

6.2 Exercisability and Term of Options. Subject to the minimum vesting provisions of Section 5.5, Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option and (c) no Option granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such Option (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.

6.3 Payment of Exercise Price.

(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent; (ii) if permitted by the Committee and subject to the limitations contained in Section 6.3(b), by means of (1) a Cashless Exercise, (2) a Stock Tender Exercise or (3) a Net Exercise; (iii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iv) by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

 

15


(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration.

(i) Cashless Exercise. A Cashless Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.

(ii) Stock Tender Exercise. A Stock Tender Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice accompanied by a Participant’s tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, in a form acceptable to the Company of whole shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. A Stock Tender Exercise shall not be permitted if it would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock. If required by the Company, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for a period of time required by the Company (and not used for another option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.

(iii) Net Exercise. A Net Exercise means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice followed by a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will reduce the number of shares otherwise issuable to a Participant upon the exercise of an Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued.

6.4 Effect of Termination of Service.

(a) Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided by this Plan and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with this Section and thereafter shall terminate.

(i) Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option’s term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option (the Option Expiration Date).

 

16


(ii) Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the Participant’s termination of Service.

(iii) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act.

(iv) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

(b) Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of Service for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.4(a) is prevented by the provisions of Section 14 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (ii) the end of the applicable time period under Section 6.4(a), but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

6.5 Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, only as permitted by applicable regulations under Section 421 of the Code in a manner that does not disqualify such Option as an Incentive Stock Option. An Option may not be transferred to a third-party financial institution for value without the approval of the stockholders.

 

17


7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

7.1 Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a Tandem SAR) or may be granted independently of any Option (a Freestanding SAR). A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.

7.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs.

(a) Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.

(b) Freestanding SARs. Subject to the minimum vesting provisions of Section 5.5, Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that (i) no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR and (ii) no Freestanding SAR granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such SAR (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of a Freestanding SAR, each Freestanding SAR shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the SAR, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.

 

18


7.4 Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 7.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made (a) in the case of a Tandem SAR, solely in shares of Stock in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR and (b) in the case of a Freestanding SAR, in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee, in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR. When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant or as otherwise provided in Section 7.5.

7.5 Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion.

7.6 Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 6.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.

7.7 Transferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, a Tandem SAR related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Freestanding SAR shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

 

19


8. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.

Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

8.1 Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted in the form of either a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of or satisfaction of Vesting Conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).

8.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award.

8.3 Purchase Period. A Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Restricted Stock Purchase Right.

8.4 Payment of Purchase Price. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be made (a) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (b) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (c) by any combination thereof.

8.5 Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer. Subject to the minimum vesting provisions of Section 5.5, Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event or as provided in Section 8.8. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

 

20


8.6 Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares; provided, however, that if so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such dividends and distributions shall be subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid, and otherwise shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders (or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders). In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.

8.7 Effect of Termination of Service. If a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (other than upon the Participant’s death or disability or in connection with a Change in Control if so provided by the Committee), then (a) the Company shall have the option to repurchase for the purchase price paid by the Participant any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Purchase Right which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service and (b) the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.

8.8 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights. Rights to acquire shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

21


9. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award or the Vesting Conditions with respect to such Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).

9.2 Purchase Price. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if any) shall be required as a condition of receiving a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock issued upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award.

9.3 Vesting. Subject to the minimum vesting provisions of Section 5.5, Restricted Stock Unit Awards may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award.

9.4 Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting or dividend rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with a cash amount or with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. If so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such cash amount or additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time as

 

22


the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.

9.5 Effect of Termination of Service. If a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (other than upon the Participant’s death or disability or in connection with a Change in Control if so provided by the Committee), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.

9.6 Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Committee in compliance with Section 409A, if applicable, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 9.4) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes, if any. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Unit Award that if the settlement date with respect to any shares issuable upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then the settlement date shall be deferred until the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy but in any event no later than the 15th day of the third calendar month following the year in which such Restricted Stock Units vest. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred issuance date(s) and amount(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide for settlement of any Restricted Stock Unit Award by payment to the Participant in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value on the payment date of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section.

9.7 Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The right to receive shares pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

23


10. PERFORMANCE AWARDS.

Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

10.1 Types of Performance Awards Authorized. Performance Awards may be granted in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award shall specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units subject thereto, the Performance Award Formula, the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Period applicable to the Award, and the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.

10.2 Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in granting a Performance Award, each Performance Share shall have an initial monetary value equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, on the effective date of grant of the Performance Share, and each Performance Unit shall have an initial monetary value established by the Committee at the time of grant. The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula will depend on the extent to which Performance Goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period established by the Committee.

10.3 Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula. In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period (subject to the minimum vesting provisions of Section 5.5), Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the Performance Period, shall determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant. The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period, Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.

10.4 Measurement of Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of targets to be attained (Performance Targets) with respect to one or more measures of business or financial performance or other criteria established by the Committee (each, a Performance Measure), subject to the following:

(a) Performance Measures. Performance Measures based on objective criteria shall be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, or, if such measures are not reported in the Company’s financial statements, they shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, a method used generally in the Company’s industry, or in accordance with a methodology established by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award. Performance Measures based on subjective criteria shall be determined on the basis established by the Committee in granting the Award. As specified by the Committee, Performance Measures may be calculated with respect to the Company and each

 

24


Subsidiary Corporation consolidated therewith for financial reporting purposes, one or more Subsidiary Corporations or such division or other business unit of any of them selected by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee prior to the grant of the Performance Award, the Performance Measures applicable to the Performance Award shall be calculated prior to the accrual of expense for any Performance Award for the same Performance Period and excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) on the Performance Measures of any change in accounting standards or any unusual or infrequently occurring event or transaction, as determined by the Committee, occurring after the establishment of the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of Performance Measures in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights with respect to a Performance Award. Performance Measures may be based upon one or more of the following, without limitation, as determined by the Committee:

(i) revenue;

(ii) sales;

(iii) expenses;

(iv) operating income;

(v) gross margin;

(vi) operating margin;

(vii) earnings before any one or more of: stock-based compensation expense, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization;

(viii) pre-tax profit;

(ix) net operating income;

(x) net income;

(xi) economic value added;

(xii) free cash flow;

(xiii) operating cash flow;

(xiv) balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities;

(xv) stock price;

(xvi) earnings per share;

(xvii) return on stockholder equity;

 

25


(xviii) return on capital;

(xix) return on assets;

(xx) return on investment;

(xxi) total stockholder return;

(xxii) employee satisfaction;

(xxiii) employee retention;

(xxiv) market share;

(xxv) customer satisfaction;

(xxvi) product development;

(xxvii) research and development expenses;

(xxviii) completion of an identified special project;

(xxix) completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction and

(xxx) personal performance objectives established for an individual Participant or group of Participants.

(b) Performance Targets. Performance Targets may include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the Performance Target level attained during the applicable Performance Period. A Performance Target may be stated as an absolute value, an increase or decrease in a value, or as a value determined relative to an index, budget or other standard selected by the Committee.

10.5 Settlement of Performance Awards.

(a) Determination of Final Value. As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.

(b) Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula. In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula applicable to a Performance Award to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine.

 

26


(c) Effect of Leaves of Absence. Unless otherwise required by law or a Participant’s Award Agreement, payment of the final value, if any, of a Performance Award held by a Participant who has taken in excess of thirty (30) days in unpaid leaves of absence during a Performance Period shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period during which the Participant was not on an unpaid leave of absence.

(d) Notice to Participants. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), the Company shall notify each Participant of the determination of the Committee.

(e) Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Sections 10.5(a) and (b), but in any event within the Short-Term Deferral Period described in Section 15.1 (except as otherwise provided below or consistent with the requirements of Section 409A), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award. Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, payment shall be made in a lump sum. If permitted by the Committee, the Participant may elect, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the payment to be made to the Participant pursuant to this Section, and such deferred payment date(s) elected by the Participant shall be set forth in the Award Agreement. If any payment is to be made on a deferred basis, the Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, provide for the payment during the deferral period of Dividend Equivalent Rights or interest.

(f) Provisions Applicable to Payment in Shares. If payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of such shares shall be determined by dividing the final value of the Performance Award by the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock determined by the method specified in the Award Agreement. Shares of Stock issued in payment of any Performance Award may be fully vested and freely transferable shares or may be shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions as provided in Section 8.5. Any shares subject to Vesting Conditions shall be evidenced by an appropriate Award Agreement and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8.5 through 8.8 above.

10.6 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting or dividend rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Performance Share Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares, if any (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date the Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or the date on which they are forfeited. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be credited to the Participant either in cash or in the form of additional whole Performance Shares as of the date of

 

27


payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Committee. The number of additional Performance Shares (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Performance Shares previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on such date. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be accumulated and paid to the extent that the related Performance Shares become nonforfeitable. Settlement of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 10.5. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Performance Share Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Performance Share Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Performance Goals as are applicable to the Award.

10.7 Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing a Performance Award, the effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Performance Award shall be as follows:

(a) Death or Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death or Disability of the Participant before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award shall be determined by the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained with respect to the entire Performance Period and shall be prorated based on the number of months of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period. Payment shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.

(b) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, such Award shall be forfeited in its entirety; provided, however, that in the event of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s Service, the Committee, in its discretion, may waive the automatic forfeiture of all or any portion of any such Award and determine the final value of the Performance Award in the manner provided by Section 10.7(a). Payment of any amount pursuant to this Section shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 10.5.

10.8 Nontransferability of Performance Awards. Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

28


11. CASH-BASED AWARDS AND OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.

Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

11.1 Grant of Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions, including the achievement of performance criteria, as the Committee may determine.

11.2 Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted securities, stock-equivalent units, stock appreciation units, securities or debentures convertible into common stock or other forms determined by the Committee) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Other Stock-Based Awards may be made available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may involve the transfer of actual shares of Stock to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Stock and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

11.3 Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a monetary payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of shares of Stock or units based on such shares of Stock, as determined by the Committee. Subject to the minimum vesting provisions of Section 5.5, the Committee may require the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance criteria, the final value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance criteria are met.

11.4 Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Payment or settlement, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash, shares of Stock or other securities or any combination thereof as the Committee determines. To the extent applicable, payment or settlement with respect to each Cash-Based Award and Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

29


11.5 Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting or dividend rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Other Stock-Based Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares of Stock (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), if any, in settlement of such Award. However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Other Stock-Based Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 9.4. Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be granted with respect to Cash-Based Awards. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Other Stock-Based Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of such Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions and performance criteria, if any, as are applicable to the Award.

11.6 Effect of Termination of Service. Each Award Agreement evidencing a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain such Award following termination of the Participant’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination, subject to the requirements of Section 409A, if applicable.

11.7 Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Prior to the payment or settlement of a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may impose such additional restrictions on any shares of Stock issued in settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such shares of Stock are then listed and/or traded, or under any state securities laws or foreign law applicable to such shares of Stock.

12. STANDARD FORMS OF AWARD AGREEMENT.

12.1 Award Agreements. Each Award shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the appropriate form of Award Agreement approved by the Committee and as amended from time to time. No Award or purported Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement, which execution may be evidenced by electronic means.

 

30


12.2 Authority to Vary Terms. The Committee shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Award Agreement either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Award or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Award Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

13. CHANGE IN CONTROL.

13.1 Effect of Change in Control on Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the definitive agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the Change in Control. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the Committee may provide pursuant to such agreement for any one or more of the following:

(a) Assumption, Continuation or Substitution. In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the Acquiror), may, without the consent of any Participant, assume or continue the Company’s rights and obligations under each or any Award or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control or substitute for each or any such outstanding Award or portion thereof a substantially equivalent award with respect to the Acquiror’s stock, as applicable. For purposes of this Section, if so determined by the Committee in its discretion, an Award denominated in shares of Stock shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, for each share of Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration is not solely common stock of the Acquiror, the Committee may, with the consent of the Acquiror, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, for each share of Stock subject to the Award, to consist solely of common stock of the Acquiror equal in Fair Market Value to the per share consideration received by holders of Stock pursuant to the Change in Control. Any Award or portion thereof which is neither assumed or continued by the Acquiror in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised or settled as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the time of consummation of the Change in Control.

(b) Cash-Out of Outstanding Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant, determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each or any Award denominated in shares of Stock or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control and not previously exercised or settled shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share of Stock subject to such canceled Award in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control, reduced (but not below zero) by the exercise or purchase price per share, if any, under such Award. In the event such

 

31


determination is made by the Committee, an Award having an exercise or purchase price per share equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control may be canceled without payment of consideration to the holder thereof. Payment pursuant to this Section (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be made to Participants in respect of the vested portions of their canceled Awards as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control.

(c) Accelerated Vesting of Time-Vesting Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that if either:

(i) the Acquiror will not assume or continue the Time-Vesting Award or substitute a substantially equivalent award pursuant to Section 13.1(b), in each case for equity securities of the Acquiror which are or promptly will be registered under the Securities Act and tradable on an established United States securities exchange, or

(ii) the Acquiror has so assumed, continued or substituted for the Time-Vesting Award, but the Participant’s Service terminates as a result of Involuntary Termination,

then the exercisability, vesting and/or settlement of the Time-Vesting Award and shares acquired pursuant thereto will accelerate in full or in part to such extent as the Committee determines.

(d) Accelerated or Pro Rata Settlement of Performance-Vesting Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide that if either:

(i) the Acquiror will not assume or continue the Performance-Vesting Award or substitute a substantially equivalent award pursuant to Section 13.1(b), in each case for equity securities of the Acquiror which are or promptly will be registered under the Securities Act and tradable on an established United States securities exchange, or

(ii) the Acquiror has so assumed, continued or substituted for the Performance-Vesting Award, but the Participant’s Service terminates as a result of Involuntary Termination,

then the exercisability, vesting and/or settlement of the Performance-Vesting Award and shares acquired pursuant thereto will be determined, as specified by the Committee, either (A) based upon the actual achievement of the applicable performance goals(s) under the terms of the Performance-Vesting Award through the date of the Change in Control or the Involuntary Termination, as applicable or (B) to such extent as would occur under the terms of the Performance-Vesting Award had 100% of the target level of the applicable performance goals(s) been achieved but with the result prorated based on the period of the Participant’s actual Service during the applicable full performance period.

13.2 Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, including as provided by Section 15.4(f), in the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Nonemployee Director Award shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full and, except to the extent assumed, continued or substituted for pursuant to Section 13.1(b), shall be settled effective immediately prior to the time of consummation of the Change in Control.

 

32


13.3 Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code.

(a) Excess Parachute Payment. If any acceleration of vesting pursuant to an Award and any other payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant would subject the Participant to any excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code due to the characterization of such acceleration of vesting, payment or benefit as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, then, provided such election would not subject the Participant to taxation under Section 409A, the Participant may elect to reduce the amount of any acceleration of vesting called for under the Award in order to avoid such characterization.

(b) Determination by Tax Firm. To aid the Participant in making any election called for under Section 13.3(a), no later than the date of the occurrence of any event that might reasonably be anticipated to result in an “excess parachute payment” to the Participant as described in Section 13.3(a), the Company shall request a determination in writing by the professional firm engaged by the Company for general tax purposes, or, if the tax firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the Acquiror, the Company will appoint a nationally recognized tax firm to make the determinations required by this Section (the “Tax Firm”). As soon as practicable thereafter, the Tax Firm shall determine and report to the Company and the Participant the amount of such acceleration of vesting, payments and benefits which would produce the greatest after-tax benefit to the Participant. For the purposes of such determination, the Tax Firm may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Participant shall furnish to the Tax Firm such information and documents as the Tax Firm may reasonably request in order to make its required determination. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses the Tax Firm charges in connection with its services contemplated by this Section.

14. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.

The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award, or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares under the Plan shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

 

33


15. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A.

15.1 Awards Subject to Section 409A. The Company intends that Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A, and the Plan shall be so construed. The provisions of this Section 15 shall apply to any Award or portion thereof that constitutes or provides for payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation. Such Awards may include, without limitation:

(a) A Nonstatutory Stock Option or SAR that includes any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the later of (i) the exercise or disposition of the Award or (ii) the time the stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Award first becomes substantially vested.

(b) Any Restricted Stock Unit Award, Performance Award, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award that either (i) provides by its terms for settlement of all or any portion of the Award at a time or upon an event that will or may occur later than the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period (as defined below) or (ii) permits the Participant granted the Award to elect one or more dates or events upon which the Award will be settled after the end of the Short-Term Deferral Period.

Subject to the provisions of Section 409A, the term “Short-Term Deferral Period means the 212 month period ending on the later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Company’s taxable year in which the right to payment under the applicable portion of the Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. For this purpose, the term “substantial risk of forfeiture” shall have the meaning provided by Section 409A.

15.2 Deferral and/or Distribution Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, the following rules shall apply to any compensation deferral and/or payment elections (each, an “Election”) that may be permitted or required by the Committee pursuant to an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation:

(a) Elections must be in writing and specify the amount of the payment in settlement of an Award being deferred, as well as the time and form of payment as permitted by this Plan.

(b) Elections shall be made by the end of the Participant’s taxable year prior to the year in which services commence for which an Award may be granted to the Participant.

(c) Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the Election determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above or as permitted by Section 15.3.

 

34


15.3 Subsequent Elections. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, any Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation which permits a subsequent Election to delay the payment or change the form of payment in settlement of such Award shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) No subsequent Election may take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the subsequent Election is made.

(b) Each subsequent Election related to a payment in settlement of an Award not described in Section 15.4(a)(ii), 15.4(a)(iii) or 15.4(a)(vi) must result in a delay of the payment for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.

(c) No subsequent Election related to a payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(iv) shall be made less than twelve (12) months before the date on which such payment would otherwise have been made.

(d) Subsequent Elections shall continue in effect until a written revocation or change in the subsequent Election is received by the Company, except that a written revocation or change in a subsequent Election must be received by the Company prior to the last day for making the subsequent Election determined in accordance the preceding paragraphs of this Section 15.3.

15.4 Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation.

(a) Permissible Payments. Except as otherwise permitted or required by Section 409A, an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation must provide for payment in settlement of the Award only upon one or more of the following:

(i) The Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A);

(ii) The Participant’s becoming “disabled” (as defined by Section 409A);

(iii) The Participant’s death;

(iv) A time or fixed schedule that is either (i) specified by the Committee upon the grant of an Award and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or (ii) specified by the Participant in an Election complying with the requirements of Section 15.2 or 15.3, as applicable;

(v) A change in the ownership or effective control or the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with Section 409A; or

 

35


(vi) The occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency” (as defined by Section 409A).

(b) Installment Payments. It is the intent of this Plan that any right of a Participant to receive installment payments (within the meaning of Section 409A) shall, for all purposes of Section 409A, be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

(c) Required Delay in Payment to Specified Employee Pursuant to Separation from Service. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, no payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(i) in settlement of an Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation may be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s separation from service before the date (the Delayed Payment Date) that is six (6) months after the date of such Participant’s separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.

(d) Payment Upon Disability. All distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation payable pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(ii) by reason of a Participant becoming disabled shall be paid in a lump sum or in periodic installments as established by the Participant’s Election. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon becoming disabled, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon the determination that the Participant has become disabled.

(e) Payment Upon Death. If a Participant dies before complete distribution of amounts payable upon settlement of an Award subject to Section 409A, such undistributed amounts shall be distributed to his or her beneficiary under the distribution method for death established by the Participant’s Election upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death. If the Participant has made no Election with respect to distributions of Section 409A Deferred Compensation upon death, all such distributions shall be paid in a lump sum upon receipt by the Committee of satisfactory notice and confirmation of the Participant’s death.

(f) Payment Upon Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount constituting Section 409A Deferred Compensation would become payable under this Plan by reason of a Change in Control, such amount shall become payable only if the event constituting a Change in Control would also constitute a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. Any Award which constitutes Section 409A Deferred Compensation and which would vest and otherwise become payable upon a Change in Control as a result of the failure of the Acquiror to assume, continue or substitute for such Award in accordance with Section 13.1(b) shall vest to the extent provided by such Award but shall be converted automatically at the effective time of such Change in Control into a right to receive, in cash on the date or dates such award would have been settled in accordance with its then existing settlement schedule (or as required by Section 15.4(c)), an amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the intrinsic value of the Award at the time of the Change in Control.

 

36


(g) Payment Upon Unforeseeable Emergency. The Committee shall have the authority to provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Award providing for Section 409A Deferred Compensation for payment pursuant to Section 15.4(a)(vi) in settlement of all or a portion of such Award in the event that a Participant establishes, to the satisfaction of the Committee, the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency. In such event, the amount(s) distributed with respect to such unforeseeable emergency cannot exceed the amounts reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of such distribution(s), after taking into account the extent to which such emergency need is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or by cessation of deferrals under the Award. All distributions with respect to an unforeseeable emergency shall be made in a lump sum upon the Committee’s determination that an unforeseeable emergency has occurred. The Committee’s decision with respect to whether an unforeseeable emergency has occurred and the manner in which, if at all, the payment in settlement of an Award shall be altered or modified, shall be final, conclusive, and not subject to approval or appeal.

(h) Prohibition of Acceleration of Payments. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, this Plan does not permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment under an Award providing Section 409A Deferred Compensation, except as permitted by Section 409A.

(i) No Representation Regarding Section 409A Compliance. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company makes no representation that Awards shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. No Participating Company shall be liable for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on a Participant by Section 409A.

16. TAX WITHHOLDING.

16.1 Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including social insurance), if any, required by law to be withheld by any Participating Company with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.

16.2 Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company. The Fair Market

 

37


Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates (or the maximum individual statutory withholding rates for the applicable jurisdiction if use of such rates would not result in adverse accounting consequences or cost). The Company may require a Participant to direct a broker, upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of an Award, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Award determined by the Company in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to such Participating Company in cash.

17. AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF PLAN.

The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Sections 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule, including the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Stock may then be listed or quoted. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Award unless expressly provided by the Committee. Except as provided by the next sentence, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may have a materially adverse effect on any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend the Plan or any Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as it deems necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or such Award Agreement to any present or future law, regulation or rule applicable to the Plan, including, but not limited to, Section 409A.

18. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

18.1 Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

 

38


18.2 Forfeiture Events.

(a) The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for Cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute Cause for termination of Service, or any accounting restatement due to material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirements of securities laws as a result of which, and to the extent that, such reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment is required by applicable securities laws. In addition, to the extent that claw-back or similar provisions applicable to Awards are required by applicable law, listing standards and/or policies adopted by the Company, Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to such provisions.

(b) If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, any Participant who knowingly or through gross negligence engaged in the misconduct, or who knowingly or through gross negligence failed to prevent the misconduct, and any Participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, shall reimburse the Company for (i) the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award received by such Participant during the twelve- (12-) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, and (ii) any profits realized by such Participant from the sale of securities of the Company during such twelve- (12-) month period.

18.3 Provision of Information. Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common stockholders.

18.4 Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Consultant or Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.

18.5 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.3 or another provision of the Plan.

18.6 Delivery of Title to Shares. Subject to any governing rules or regulations, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued the shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award and shall deliver such shares to or for the benefit of the Participant by means of one or more of the following: (a) by delivering to the Participant evidence of book entry shares of Stock credited to the account of the Participant, (b) by depositing such shares of Stock for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship, or (c) by delivering such shares of Stock to the Participant in certificate form.

 

39


18.7 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.

18.8 Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor shares of Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under any Participating Company’s retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit. In addition, unless a written employment agreement or other service agreement specifically references Awards, a general reference to “benefits” or a similar term in such agreement shall not be deemed to refer to Awards granted hereunder.

18.9 Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participant’s spouse. If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant’s legal representative.

18.10 Severability. If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

18.11 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or another Participating Company’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or another Participating Company to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

18.12 Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be considered unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall

 

40


retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

18.13 Choice of Law. Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict of law rules.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing sets forth the Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan as duly adopted by the Board on _____________, 2020.

 

/s/

, Secretary

 

41


PLAN HISTORY AND NOTES TO COMPANY

 

________, 2020    Board adopts Plan with a reserve of ______ shares (subject to increases and other adjustments as provided by the Plan), subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company.
_______, 2020    Plan approved by the stockholders of the Company.

Exhibit 10.6

FORM OF RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY REIT, INC.

NOTICE OF GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK

(For U.S. Participants)

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. (the Company) has granted to the Participant an award (the Award) of certain shares of Stock (the Shares) pursuant to the Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan), as follows:

 

Participant:                                Employee ID:                                
Date of Grant: Total Number of Shares:                            , subject to adjustment as provided by the Restricted Stock Agreement.
Fair Market Value per Share on Date of Grant:    $                      
Vested Shares:    Except as provided in the Restricted Stock Agreement and provided that the Participant’s Service has not terminated prior to the applicable date, the number of Vested Shares (disregarding any resulting fractional share) as of any date is determined by multiplying the Total Number of Shares by the Vested Ratio determined as of such date, as follows:
      Vested Ratio
   Upon closing of the Merger (as defined below)                                                                                 4/10
   Upon consummation of a Liquidity Event (as defined below)                                                          10/10
  

Liquidity Event” means (i) a listing of the common stock of Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“REIT II”), on a national securities exchange, (ii) a sale, merger or other transaction in which the stockholders of REIT II either receive, or have the option to receive, cash, securities redeemable for cash, and/or securities of a publicly traded company, or (iii) the sale of all or substantially all of REIT II’s assets where stockholders either receive, or have the option to receive, cash or the securities of a publicly traded company.

 

Merger” means that transaction described in that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of [●], 2020, entered into by and among REIT II, RRE Opportunity OP II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of REIT II, Revolution I Merger Sub, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of REIT II, the Company and Resource Real Estate Opportunity OP, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of REIT I.

Superseding Agreement:    None

 


By their signatures below or by electronic acceptance or authentication in a form authorized by the Company, the Company and the Participant agree that the Award is governed by this Grant Notice and by the provisions of the Restricted Stock Agreement and the Plan, both of which are made a part of this document, and by the Superseding Agreement, if any. The Participant acknowledges that copies of the Plan, the Restricted Stock Agreement and the prospectus for the Plan are available on the Company’s internal web site and may be viewed and printed by the Participant for attachment to the Participant’s copy of this Grant Notice. The Participant represents that the Participant has read and is familiar with the provisions of the Restricted Stock Agreement and the Plan, and hereby accepts the Award subject to all of their terms and conditions.

 

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT,

INC.

  PARTICIPANT
By:  

 

     

 

  [officer name]       Signature
  [officer title]      

 

        Date
Address:      

 

        Address
       

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended to the Date of Grant; Restricted Stock Agreement; Assignment Separate from Certificate; form of Section 83(b) Election.

 

2


RESOURCE REAL ESTATE OPPORUNITY REIT, INC.

RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT – PERFORMANCE

(For U.S. Participants)

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. (the Company) has granted to the Participant named in the Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock (the Grant Notice) to which this Restricted Stock Agreement (the Agreement) is attached an Award consisting of Shares subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice and this Agreement. The Award has been granted pursuant to and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and conditions of the Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan), as amended to the Date of Grant, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. By signing the Grant Notice, the Participant: (a) acknowledges receipt of and represents that the Participant has read and is familiar with the Grant Notice, this Agreement, and the Plan and a prospectus for the Plan prepared in connection with the registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Shares (the Plan Prospectus), (b) accepts the Award subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the Plan and (c) agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Grant Notice, this Agreement or the Plan.

1. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

1.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Grant Notice or the Plan.

1.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

2. ADMINISTRATION.

All questions of interpretation concerning the Grant Notice, this Agreement, the Plan or any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or the Award shall be determined by the Committee. All such determinations by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or the Award or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Award. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, or election.


3. THE AWARD.

3.1 Grant and Issuance of Shares. On the Date of Grant, the Participant shall acquire and the Company shall issue, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, a number of Shares equal to the Total Number of Shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9. As a condition to the issuance of the Shares, the Participant shall execute and deliver the Grant Notice to the Company, and, if required by the Company, an Assignment Separate from Certificate duly endorsed (with date and number of shares blank) in the form provided by the Company.

3.2 No Monetary Payment Required. The Participant is not required to make any monetary payment (other than to satisfy applicable tax withholding, if any, with respect to the issuance or vesting of the Shares) as a condition to receiving the Shares, the consideration for which shall be past services actually rendered or future services to be rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the Shares issued pursuant to the Award.

3.3 Beneficial Ownership of Shares; Certificate Registration. To the extent certificated, the Participant hereby authorizes the Company, in its sole discretion, to deposit the Shares with the Company’s transfer agent, including any successor transfer agent, to be held in book entry form during the term of the Escrow pursuant to Section 6. Furthermore, the Participant hereby authorizes the Company, in its sole discretion, to deposit, following the term of such Escrow, for the benefit of the Participant with any broker with which the Participant has an account relationship of which the Company has notice any or all Shares which are no longer subject to such Escrow. Except as provided by the foregoing and to the extent certificated, a certificate for the Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant, or, if applicable, in the names of the heirs of the Participant. Uncertificated Shares shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or the Company’s transfer agent shall have given to the participant by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the participant, at the participant’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records).

3.4 Issuance of Shares in Compliance with Law. The issuance of the Shares shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities. No Shares shall be issued hereunder if their issuance would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Shares shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to the issuance of the Shares, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company. Uncertificated Shares shall be accompanied by a notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Shares are vested as provided herein.

 

2


4. VESTING OF SHARES.

Shares acquired pursuant to this Agreement shall become Vested Shares as provided in the Grant Notice. For purposes of determining the number of Vested Shares following an Ownership Change Event, credited Service shall include all Service with any corporation which is a Participating Company at the time the Service is rendered, whether or not such corporation is a Participating Company both before and after the Ownership Change Event.

5. COMPANY REACQUISITION RIGHT.

5.1 Grant of Company Reacquisition Right. Except to the extent otherwise provided by the Superseding Agreement, if any, in the event that (a) the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason or no reason, with or without cause, or (b) the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, or other holder of the Shares, attempts to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event), including, without limitation, any transfer to a nominee or agent of the Participant, any Shares which are not Vested Shares (Unvested Shares), the Participant shall forfeit and the Company shall automatically reacquire the Unvested Shares, and the Participant shall not be entitled to any payment therefor (the Company Reacquisition Right).

5.2 Ownership Change Event, Non-Cash Dividends, Distributions and Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of an Ownership Change Event, a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company paid in shares of Stock or other property, or any other adjustment upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 9, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends paid on Stock pursuant to the Company’s dividend policy) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s ownership of Unvested Shares shall be immediately subject to the Company Reacquisition Right and included in the terms “Shares,” “Stock” and “Unvested Shares” for all purposes of the Company Reacquisition Right with the same force and effect as the Unvested Shares immediately prior to the Ownership Change Event, dividend, distribution or adjustment, as the case may be. For purposes of determining the number of Vested Shares following an Ownership Change Event, dividend, distribution or adjustment, credited Service shall include all Service with any corporation which is a Participating Company at the time the Service is rendered, whether or not such corporation is a Participating Company both before and after any such event.

5.3 Cash Dividends and Distributions. Cash dividends payable with respect to Unvested Shares shall be accumulated and paid upon, or as soon as practicable after, the vesting of the underlying Shares. The Participant shall, at the discretion of the Company, be obligated to promptly repay to the Company upon termination of the Participant’s Service any dividends and other distributions paid to the Participant in cash with respect to Unvested Shares reacquired by the Company pursuant to the Company Reacquisition Right.

 

3


6. ESCROW.

6.1 Appointment of Agent. To ensure that Shares (including and any cash dividends or distributions as provided by Section 5.3) subject to the Company Reacquisition Right will be available for reacquisition, the Participant and the Company hereby appoint the Secretary of the Company, or any other person designated by the Company, as their agent and as attorney-in-fact for the Participant (the Agent) to hold any and all Unvested Shares and to sell, assign and transfer to the Company any such Unvested Shares reacquired by the Company pursuant to the Company Reacquisition Right. The Participant understands that appointment of the Agent is a material inducement to make this Agreement and that such appointment is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. The Agent shall not be personally liable for any act the Agent may do or omit to do hereunder as escrow agent, agent for the Company, or attorney in fact for the Participant while acting in good faith and in the exercise of the Agent’s own good judgment, and any act done or omitted by the Agent pursuant to the advice of the Agent’s own attorneys shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The Agent may rely upon any letter, notice or other document executed by any signature purporting to be genuine and may resign at any time.

6.2 Establishment of Escrow. The Participant authorizes the Company to deposit the Unvested Shares with the Company’s transfer agent to be held in book entry form, as provided in Section 3.3, and the Participant agrees to deliver to and deposit with the Agent each certificate, if any, evidencing the Shares and, if required by the Company, an Assignment Separate from Certificate with respect to such book entry shares and each such certificate duly endorsed (with date and number of Shares blank) in the form attached to this Agreement, to be held by the Agent under the terms and conditions of this Section 6 (the Escrow). Upon the occurrence of an Ownership Change Event, a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company paid in shares of Stock or other property (other than regular, periodic dividends paid on Stock pursuant to the Company’s dividend policy) or any other adjustment upon a change in the capital structure of the Company, as described in Section 9, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property to which the Participant is entitled by reason of his or her ownership of the Shares that remain, following such Ownership Change Event, dividend, distribution or change described in Section 9, subject to the Company Reacquisition Right shall be immediately subject to the Escrow to the same extent as the Shares immediately before such event. The Company shall bear the expenses of the Escrow.

6.3 Delivery of Shares to Participant. The Escrow shall continue with respect to any Shares for so long as such Shares remain subject to the Company Reacquisition Right. Upon termination of the Company Reacquisition Right with respect to Shares, the Company shall so notify the Agent and direct the Agent to deliver such number of Shares (and any related cash dividends or distributions payable with respect to such Shares) to the Participant. As soon as practicable after receipt of such notice, the Agent shall cause the Shares (and any related cash dividends or distributions payable with respect to such Shares) specified by such notice to be delivered to the Participant, and the Escrow shall terminate with respect to such Shares.

 

4


7. TAX MATTERS.

7.1 Tax Withholding.

(a) In General. At the time the Grant Notice is executed, or at any time thereafter as requested by a Participating Company, the Participant hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Participant, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for, any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax (including any social insurance) withholding obligations of the Participating Company, if any, which arise in connection with the Award, including, without limitation, obligations arising upon (a) the transfer of Shares to the Participant, (b) the lapsing of any restriction with respect to any Shares, (c) the filing of an election to recognize tax liability, or (d) the transfer by the Participant of any Shares. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver the Shares or to release any Shares from the Escrow established pursuant to Section 6 until the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company have been satisfied by the Participant.

(b) Assignment of Sale Proceeds. Subject to compliance with applicable law and the Company’s Trading Compliance Policy, if permitted by the Company, the Participant may satisfy the Participating Company’s tax withholding obligations in accordance with procedures established by the Company providing for delivery by the Participant to the Company or a broker approved by the Company of properly executed instructions, in a form approved by the Company, providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale with respect to some or all of the shares becoming Vested Shares on a Vesting Date as provided in the Grant Notice.

(c) Withholding in Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require the Participant to satisfy all or any portion of a Participating Company’s tax withholding obligations by withholding a number of whole, Vested Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant or by the Participant’s tender to the Company of a number of whole, Vested Shares or vested shares acquired otherwise than pursuant to the Award having, in any such case, a fair market value, as determined by the Company as of the date on which the tax withholding obligations arise, not in excess of the amount of such tax withholding obligations determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates if required to avoid liability classification of the Award under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

7.2 Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code.

(a) The Participant understands that Section 83 of the Code taxes as ordinary income the difference between the amount paid for the Shares, if anything, and the fair market value of the Shares as of the date on which the Shares are “substantially vested,” within the meaning of Section 83. In this context, “substantially vested” means that the right of the Company to reacquire the Shares pursuant to the Company Reacquisition Right has lapsed. The Participant understands that he or she may elect to have his or her taxable income determined at the time he or she acquires the Shares rather than when and as the Company Reacquisition Right lapses by filing an election under Section 83(b) of the Code with the Internal Revenue Service no later than thirty (30) days after the date of acquisition of the Shares. The Participant understands that failure to make a timely filing under Section 83(b) will result in his or her recognition of ordinary income, as the Company Reacquisition Right lapses, on the difference between the purchase price, if anything, and the fair market value of the Shares at the time such restrictions lapse. The Participant further understands, however, that if Shares with respect to which an election under Section 83(b) has been made are forfeited to the Company pursuant to its Company

 

5


Reacquisition Right, such forfeiture will be treated as a sale on which there is realized a loss equal to the excess (if any) of the amount paid (if any) by the Participant for the forfeited Shares over the amount realized (if any) upon their forfeiture. If the Participant has paid nothing for the forfeited Shares and has received no payment upon their forfeiture, the Participant understands that he or she will be unable to recognize any loss on the forfeiture of the Shares even though the Participant incurred a tax liability by making an election under Section 83(b).

(b) The Participant understands that he or she should consult with his or her tax advisor regarding the advisability of filing with the Internal Revenue Service an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, which must be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the acquisition of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement. Failure to file an election under Section 83(b), if appropriate, may result in adverse tax consequences to the Participant. The Participant acknowledges that he or she has been advised to consult with a tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to the Participant of the acquisition of Shares hereunder. ANY ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b) THE PARTICIPANT WISHES TO MAKE MUST BE FILED NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE PARTICIPANT ACQUIRES THE SHARES. THIS TIME PERIOD CANNOT BE EXTENDED. THE PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT TIMELY FILING OF A SECTION 83(b) ELECTION IS THE PARTICIPANT’S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN IF THE PARTICIPANT REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE TO FILE SUCH ELECTION ON HIS OR HER BEHALF.

(c) The Participant will notify the Company in writing if the Participant files an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code. The Company intends, in the event it does not receive from the Participant evidence of such filing, to claim a tax deduction for any amount which would otherwise be taxable to the Participant in the absence of such an election.

8. EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL.

In the event of a Change in Control, the Award shall be subject to the definitive agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the Change in Control. Except to the extent that the Committee determines to cash out the Award in accordance with Section 13.1(b) of the Plan, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the Acquiror), may, without the consent of the Participant, assume or continue in full force and effect the Company’s rights and obligations under the Award or substitute for the Award a substantially equivalent award for the Acquiror’s stock. For purposes of this Section, the Award shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to receive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, other securities or property or a combination thereof) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective date of the Change in Control was entitled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shares acquired pursuant to the Award prior to the Change in Control and any consideration received pursuant to the Change in Control with respect to such shares shall continue to be subject to all applicable provisions of this Agreement except as otherwise provided herein.

 

6


9. ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (other than regular, periodic cash dividends paid on Stock pursuant to the Company’s dividend policy) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares of stock or other property subject to the Award, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights under the Award. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” Any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends paid on Stock pursuant to the Company’s dividend policy, subject to Section 5.3) to which Participant is entitled by reason of ownership of shares acquired pursuant to this Award will be immediately subject to the provisions of this Award on the same basis as all shares originally acquired hereunder. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number. Such adjustments shall be determined by the Committee, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

10. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER, DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT.

The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares subject to the Award until the date of the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 9. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Participant shall exercise all rights and privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to Shares deposited in the Escrow pursuant to Section 6, including the right to vote such Shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, subject to Section 5.3. If the Participant is an Employee, the Participant understands and acknowledges that, except as otherwise provided in a separate, written employment agreement between a Participating Company and the Participant, the Participant’s employment is “at will” and is for no specified term. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the Service of a Participating Company or interfere in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time.

11. LEGENDS.

Participant understands that the Shares have not been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the securities commission of any state and accordingly may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an effective registration statement or in a transaction exempt from registration. The Company may at any time place legends referencing the Company Reacquisition Right and any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates representing the Shares. The Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly

 

7


present to the Company any and all certificates representing the Shares in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions of this Section. Unless otherwise specified by the Company, each certificate or book entry representing the Shares will bear a legend that includes, but shall not be limited to, the following form:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THIS CORPORATION AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER, OR HIS PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS CORPORATION.”

12. TRANSFERS IN VIOLATION OF AGREEMENT.

No Shares may be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, including by operation of law, in any manner which violates any of the provisions of this Agreement and, except pursuant to an Ownership Change Event, until the date on which such shares become Vested Shares, and any such attempted disposition shall be void. The Company shall not be required (a) to transfer on its books any Shares which will have been transferred in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this Agreement or (b) to treat as owner of such Shares or to accord the right to vote as such owner or to pay dividends to any transferee to whom such Shares will have been so transferred. In order to enforce its rights under this Section, the Company shall be authorized to give a stop transfer instruction with respect to the Shares to the Company’s transfer agent.

13. ACCREDITED INVESTOR

The Participant represents that he or she (i) is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined under the Securities Act. The Participant understands and has fully considered the risks of this investment and understands that (i) this investment is suitable only for an investor who is able to bear the economic consequences of losing his or her entire investment, (ii) an investment in the Shares is a speculative investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss by the Participant of his or her entire investment, and (iii) there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of, and there will (for the foreseeable future) be no public market for, the Shares, and accordingly, it may not be possible for an indeterminate period of time to liquidate his or her investment in the Shares (if ever). Furthermore, the Participant represents that he or she has sufficient liquid assets so that the lack of liquidity associated with this investment will not cause any undue financial difficulties or affect the ability of the Participant to provide for his or her current needs and possible financial contingencies. The Participant further represents that he or she is sophisticated in financial matters and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Shares.

 

8


14. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

14.1 Termination or Amendment. The Committee may terminate or amend the Plan or this Agreement at any time; provided, however, that no such termination or amendment may have a materially adverse effect on the Participant’s rights under this Agreement without the consent of the Participant unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with applicable law or government regulation. No amendment or addition to this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing.

14.2 Nontransferability of the Award. The right to acquire Shares pursuant to the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to the Award shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

14.3 Further Instruments. The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.

14.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, be binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

14.5 Delivery of Documents and Notices. Any document relating to participation in the Plan or any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (except to the extent that this Agreement provides for effectiveness only upon actual receipt of such notice) upon personal delivery, electronic delivery at the e-mail address, if any, provided for the Participant by a Participating Company, or upon deposit in the U.S. Post Office or foreign postal service, by registered or certified mail, or with a nationally recognized overnight courier service, with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party at the address of such party set forth in the Grant Notice or at such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the other party.

(a) Description of Electronic Delivery and Signature. The Plan documents, which may include but do not necessarily include: the Plan, the Grant Notice, this Agreement, the Plan Prospectus, and any reports of the Company provided generally to the Company’s stockholders, may be delivered to the Participant electronically. In addition, if permitted by the Company, the parties may deliver electronically any notices called for in connection with the Escrow and the Participant may deliver electronically the Grant Notice to the Company or to such third party involved in administering the Plan as the Company may designate from time to time. Such means of electronic delivery may include but do not necessarily include the delivery of a link to a Company intranet or the Internet site of a third party involved in administering the Plan, the delivery of the document via e-mail or such other means of electronic delivery specified by the Company. Any and all such documents and notices may be electronically signed.

 

9


(b) Consent to Electronic Delivery and Signature. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant has read Section 14.5(a) of this Agreement and consents to the electronic delivery of the Plan documents and, if permitted by the Company, the delivery of the Grant Notice and notices in connection with the Escrow, as described in Section 14.5(a). The Participant agrees that any and all such documents requiring a signature may be electronically signed and that such electronic signature shall have the same effect as handwritten signature for the purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility. The Participant acknowledges that he or she may receive from the Company a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost to the Participant by contacting the Company by telephone or in writing. The Participant further acknowledges that the Participant will be provided with a paper copy of any documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. Similarly, the Participant understands that the Participant must provide the Company or any designated third party administrator with a paper copy of any documents if the attempted electronic delivery of such documents fails. The Participant may revoke his or her consent to the electronic delivery of documents described in Section 14.5(a) or may change the electronic mail address to which such documents are to be delivered (if Participant has provided an electronic mail address) at any time by notifying the Company of such revoked consent or revised e-mail address by telephone, postal service or electronic mail. Finally, the Participant understands that he or she is not required to consent to electronic delivery of documents described in Section 14.5(a).

14.6 Integrated Agreement. The Grant Notice, this Agreement and the Plan, together with the Superseding Agreement, if any, shall constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the Participant and the Participating Company Group with respect to the subject matter contained herein or therein and supersede any prior agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or warranties among the Participant and the Participating Company Group with respect to such subject matter. To the extent contemplated herein or therein, the provisions of the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the Plan shall survive any settlement of the Award and shall remain in full force and effect.

14.7 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland as such laws are applied to agreements between Maryland residents entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of Maryland.

14.8 Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

10


ASSIGNMENT SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATE

FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

 

___________________________________________________ (_________________) shares of the Capital Stock of Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. standing in the undersigned’s name on the books of said corporation represented by Certificate No. __________________ herewith and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of said corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:                         

 

 

Signature

 

Print Name

Instructions: Please do not fill in any blanks other than the signature line. The purpose of this assignment is to enable the Company to exercise its Company Reacquisition Right set forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement without requiring additional signatures on the part of the Participant.


SAMPLE

 

Internal Revenue Service

 

 

[IRS Service Center where Form 1040 is Filed]

 

Re:

Section 83(b) Election

Dear Sir or Madam:

The following information is submitted pursuant to section 1.83-2 of the Treasury Regulations in connection with this election by the undersigned under section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

1.

The name, address and taxpayer identification number of the taxpayer are:

 

  Name:                                                                                                     
  Address:                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                  
  Social Security Number:                                                                        

 

2.

The following is a description of each item of property with respect to which the election is made:

________________ shares of common stock of Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. (the “Shares”), acquired from Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to a restricted stock grant.

 

3.

The property was transferred to the undersigned on:

Restricted stock grant date: ________________________

The taxable year for which the election is made is:

Calendar Year ___________

 

4.

The nature of the restriction to which the property is subject:

The Shares are subject to automatic forfeiture to the Company upon the occurrence of certain events. This forfeiture provision lapses with regard to a portion of the Shares based upon the continued performance of services by the taxpayer over time.


5.

The following is the fair market value at the time of transfer (determined without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which by its terms will never lapse) of the property with respect to which the election is made:

$__________________ (_____________ Shares at $__________ per Share).

The property was transferred to the taxpayer pursuant to the grant of an award of restricted stock.

 

6.

The following is the amount paid for the property:

No monetary consideration was provided in exchange for the Shares.

 

7.

A copy of this election has been furnished to the Company, the corporation for which the services were performed by the undersigned.

Please acknowledge receipt of this election by date or received-stamping the enclosed copy of this letter and returning it to the undersigned. A self-addressed stamped envelope is provided for your convenience.

 

Very truly yours,     

 

              Date:                                                              

Enclosures

cc: Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc.

Exhibit 99.1

Dear stockholder,

We are pleased to share exciting news regarding your investment(s) in Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. (“REIT I”), Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc. (“REIT II”), and Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc. (“REIT III,” collectively the “REITs”).

On September 8, 2020, Resource Real Estate, LLC (“Resource”), the REITs’ sponsor, announced that the REITs have entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which REIT II would acquire REIT I and REIT III in separate stock-for-stock transactions. The mergers will combine three highly complementary portfolios of suburban apartment communities in targeted markets with proven income and employment growth. This should significantly improve scale, operating efficiencies, geographic diversification and access to capital, and create future options for stockholder liquidity.

Following the acquisition of its external advisors from C-III Capital Partners LLC on September 8, 2020, REIT I announced that it became self-administered. As part of the same transaction, REIT I also acquired the external advisors of REIT II and REIT III. It will continue to advise and manage REIT II and REIT III until the mergers are completed. Self-administration provides immediate benefits to REIT I stockholders, including a considerable reduction in the operating expenses of REIT I. These benefits will also extend to the stockholders of REIT II and REIT III following the completion of the mergers.

As a result of the transactions:

 

   

The combined company will be renamed Resource REIT

 

   

The senior management team will include Resource senior executives that have been working together for the past 16 years

 

   

REIT I stockholders are expected to receive 1.224230 shares of REIT II valued at $11.12 per share1

 

   

REIT III stockholders are expected to receive 0.925862 shares of REIT II valued at $8.41 per share1

Despite the unprecedented global health crisis that has impacted each and every one of us, our REITs have performed remarkably well; across all three REITs, the current portfolio is approximately 94% occupied, and rent collections have consistently averaged approximately 98% of historical collections over the past five months. This is a testament to the resiliency of the asset class, the specific communities owned, and our keen focus on operations and management.

These transactions are a result of diligent analysis by the special committees of each REIT, comprised of independent directors who worked with their own legal firms and financial advisors. The Boards of Directors of REIT I, REIT II and REIT III have approved these transactions upon the unanimous recommendation of each REITs’ respective special committees. Joint proxy statements/prospectuses will describe the proposed transactions in more detail, and will be filed on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The closings of the proposed mergers are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020 and are subject to the satisfaction of various customary closing conditions, including the approval of stockholders of REIT I and REIT III, and cannot be assured. The merger transactions are expected to close concurrently but are not conditioned on the consummation of each other. Stockholders seeking additional information should read the Form 8-K and Investor Presentation filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 11, 2020, which can be found at www.resourcereit.com, www.resourcereit2.com, www.resourcereit3.com or www.sec.gov.


We are truly excited about the future and believe we are well-positioned to increase value and create opportunity as a stronger company. Thank you for your investment(s) in and support of the Resource REITs.

Sincerely,

Alan Feldman

Chief Executive Officer

REIT I, REIT II and REIT III

 

1 

Based on REIT II’s most recently estimated NAV per share of $9.08 as of 12/31/19 and does not reflect developments in the portfolio since that time. For a full description of the methodologies and assumptions used to value REIT II’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of its estimated value per share, see Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities – Market Information” of REIT II’s annual report on Form 10-k for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Additional Information and Where to Find It:

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the federal securities laws.

In connection with the proposed transaction, REIT II will prepare and file with the SEC two Registration Statements on Form S-4. One registration statement will contain a proxy statement of REIT I and also constitute a prospectus for REIT II. The other registration statement will contain a proxy statement of REIT III and also constitute a prospectus for REIT II. The applicable proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to REIT I’s and REIT III’s respective stockholders. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE APPLICABLE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY REIT I, REIT II AND REIT III IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT REIT I, REIT II, REIT III AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY. Investors will be able to obtain these materials and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition, these materials will also be available free of charge by accessing REIT I’s website (http://www.resourcereit.com/), by accessing REIT II’s website (http://www.resourcereit2.com/), or by accessing REIT III’s website (http://www.resourcereit3.com/).


Participants in the Proxy Solicitation:

REIT I, REIT II and REIT III and their respective directors and officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transactions. Information regarding REIT I’s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2020 and its proxy statement filed with the SEC by REIT I on April 29, 2020 in connection with its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders; information regarding REIT II’s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2020 and its proxy statement filed with the SEC by REIT II on April 29, 2020 in connection with its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders; information regarding REIT III’s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 20, 2020 and its proxy statement filed with the SEC by REIT III on April 29, 2020 in connection with its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. Certain directors and executive officers of REIT I and/or REIT II and/or REIT III and other persons may have direct or indirect interests in the merger due to securities holdings, pre-existing or future indemnification arrangements and rights to severance payments and retention bonuses if their employment is terminated prior to or following the merger. If and to the extent that any of the participants will receive any additional benefits in connection with the merger, the details of those benefits will be described in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the merger. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests of REIT I, REIT II, and REIT III and their respective executive officers and directors in the merger by reading the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the merger when it becomes available.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This communication contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements; no assurance can be given that these expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk that the proposed mergers will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the inability of REIT I or REIT III to obtain stockholder approval of the respective mergers or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to completion of the mergers; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from the ongoing business operations due to the proposed mergers; the potential adverse impact of the ongoing pandemic related to COVID-19 and the related measures put in place to help control the spread of the virus on the operations of the REITs and their tenants, which impact remains highly uncertain; availability of suitable investment opportunities; changes in interest rates; the availability and terms of financing; general economic conditions; market conditions; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of REIT I, REIT II or REIT III. In addition, with respect to the estimated NAV per share for REIT II, the appraisal methodology for REIT II’s real estate properties assumes the properties realize the projected net operating income and expected exit cap rates and that investors would be willing to invest in such properties at yields equal to the expected discount rates. Though the appraisals of the real estate properties, by Duff & Phelps, LLC, and the valuation estimates used in calculating the estimated NAV per share as of December 2019, by Duff & Phelps, LLC, the REIT II advisor and REIT II, are the respective party’s best estimates as of December 31, 2019, REIT II can give no assurance in this regard. Even modest changes to these assumptions could result in significant differences in the appraised values of REIT II’s real estate properties, the December 2019 estimated value per share and the related estimated value of the merger consideration for REIT I and REIT III stockholders. Actual events may cause the value and returns on REIT II’s


investments to be materially less than that used for purposes of the December 2019 estimated NAV per share which does not reflect the impact of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of REIT II or its tenants. The forward-looking statements also depend on other factors, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of REIT I’s, REIT II’s and REIT III’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as updated by the subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and filed with the SEC, and other reports filed by REIT I, REIT II and REIT III with the SEC, copies of which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Resource undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this communication, except as required by law.

SLIDE 1

Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT (“REIT I”) Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II (“REIT II”) Resource Apartment REIT III (“REIT III”) Proposed Merger & Self-administration Transaction September 2020 Exhibit 99.2


SLIDE 2

Disclosures No Offer or Solicitation This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Important Additional Information In connection with the proposed transaction, Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT II, Inc. (“REIT II”) will file two Registration Statements on Form S-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). One registration statement will contain a proxy statement of Resource Real Estate Opportunity REIT, Inc. (“REIT I”) and also constitute a prospectus for REIT II. The other registration statement will contain a proxy statement of Resource Apartment REIT III, Inc. (“REIT III”) and also constitute a prospectus of REIT II. The applicable proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to REIT I’s and REIT III’s respective stockholders. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE APPLICABLE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY REIT I, REIT II AND REIT III, AS APPLICABLE, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT REIT I, REIT II AND REIT III AND THE PROPOSED MERGERS. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY. Investors will be able to obtain these materials and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). In addition, these materials will also be available free of charge by accessing REIT I’s website (www.resourcereit.com), by accessing REIT II’s website (www.resourcereit2.com), or by accessing REIT III’s website (www.resourcereit3.com). Participants in the Solicitation REIT I, REIT II, REIT III and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about REIT I’s directors and executive officers is available in REIT I’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020. Information about REIT II’s directors and executive officers is available in REIT II’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020. Information about REIT III’s directors and executive officers is available in REIT III’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the applicable proxy statement/prospectus for REIT I, REIT II and REIT III and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when they become available. Investors should read the applicable proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of the applicable documents from REIT I, REIT II and REIT III as indicated above. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. REIT I, REIT II and REIT III can give no assurances that their expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from REIT I’s, REIT II’s and REIT III’s expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk that the proposed mergers will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreements; the inability to obtain the stockholder approvals with respect to REIT I and REIT III or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to completion of the proposed mergers; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from the ongoing business operations due to the proposed mergers; availability of suitable investment opportunities; changes in interest rates; the availability and terms of financing; general economic conditions; market conditions; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of REIT I, REIT II and REIT III; and other factors, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of REIT I’s, REIT II’s and REIT III’s most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and other reports filed by REIT I, REIT II and REIT III with the SEC, copies of which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. REIT I, REIT II and REIT III undertake no obligations to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this communication, except as required by law.


SLIDE 3

Overview Multifamily focus Leverage neutral Merger Agreements Signed September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 Shareholder Voting Process Anticipated Closing of Mergers SEC Proxy Filings Self-administration Transaction Completed


SLIDE 4

1Based on REIT II’s most recently estimated NAV per share of $9.08 as of 12/31/19 and does not reflect developments in the portfolio since that time. For a full description of the methodologies and assumptions used to value REIT II’s assets and liabilities in connection with the calculation of its estimated value per share, see Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities – Market Information” of REIT II’s annual report on Form 10-k for the year ended December 31, 2019. Transaction Overview REIT I and REIT III to merge with REIT II, creating a $3 Billion, self-managed REIT REIT II will be the surviving entity and renamed Resource REIT 100% stock-for-stock mergers The exchange ratio was determined by the REIT Special Committees REIT I stockholders to receive 1.224230 shares of REIT II valued at $11.12 per share1 REIT III stockholders to receive 0.925862 shares of REIT II valued at $8.41 per share1 Mergers expected to be tax-deferred to stockholders


SLIDE 5

Transaction Overview Self-administration Transaction REIT I acquired the advisory contracts for REIT I, REIT II and REIT III, and simultaneously hired the management team from the advisor REIT I operating partnership issued $135 MM of equity securities to C-III Capital Partners consisting of $67.5 MM of preferred units and $67.5 MM of common units and will pay a total of $27 MM in cash for various services over the next 12 months  


SLIDE 6

Strategic Rationale and Benefits* Shareholder Benefits *Statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties. See Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements. Scale and diversification Reduced overhead Aligned management Access to capital Liquidity options


SLIDE 7

Strategic Rationale and Benefits* *Statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties. See Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements. 1By 2019 appraised value. 2By MSA population. $3 billion portfolio of ~15,000 apartments 51 properties in 15 states Highly desirable “recession resistant” Class B multifamily properties 70% of assets1 located in top 20 markets2 High barrier to entry submarkets Scale and diversification Improves efficiencies by reducing overhead costs Aligns management and shareholder interests Expands access to debt and equity capital Enhances liquidity options for shareholders


SLIDE 8

Strategic Rationale and Benefits* *Statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties. See Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements. 1Excludes $4.5 million of stock based compensation, and any common and preferred distributions paid to C-III Capital Partners. Expected annual operational synergies of $24 million1 Fixed G&A costs spread over a larger asset base Pricing power with contractors and vendors Scale and diversification Reduced overhead Aligns management and shareholder interests Expands access to debt and equity capital Enhances liquidity options for shareholders


SLIDE 9

Strategic Rationale and Benefits* *Statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties. See Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements. All employees 100% focused on the company’s profitability Senior management team 16-year average tenure at Resource Knowledge of the existing portfolio Proven track record Relationships with industry participants Scale and diversification Reduced overhead Aligned management Expands access to debt and equity capital Enhances liquidity options for shareholders


SLIDE 10

Strategic Rationale and Benefits* *Statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties. See Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements. Bigger balance sheet offers more flexibility and access to better borrowing terms Opportunity to lock in low fixed rate debt at ~2.5% Self-managed REITs more attractive to institutional investors Scale and diversification Reduced overhead Aligned management Access to capital Enhances liquidity options for shareholders


SLIDE 11

Strategic Rationale and Benefits* *Statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties. See Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements. Sufficient scale for public listing Internally managed REITs are generally viewed more favorably than externally managed REITs in the public markets More attractive candidate for strategic private recapitalization Scale and diversification Reduced overhead Aligned management Access to capital Liquidity options


SLIDE 12

Multifamily – the Right Asset Class Over the last 30 years, multifamily has achieved high-risk adjusted returns Multifamily is a recession resistant asset class COVID-19 has impacted other sectors more dramatically Source: NCREIF Property Indices. The NCREIF Property Index is a quarterly time series composite total rate of return measure of investment performance of a large pool of individual commercial real estate properties acquired for investment purposes only as of 3/31/2020. Total Return is calculated by NCREIF and reflects an annualized measure of investment return that takes into account the effects of compounding. Risk (beta) is a measure of the volatility of a portfolio compared to the NCREIF U.S. Property Index (NPI) as a whole.


SLIDE 13

Apartment Demand & Supply 1Information provided by Green Street Advisors, LLC (“GSA”) and is copyrighted and proprietary to GSA. Any reproduction or distribution of this information without GSA’s written consent is forbidden. This information is solely for use by subscribing customer. GSA assumes no fiduciary or other legal duty to any other person or entity who may rely upon it. 2CoStar, Q2 2020. Annual US Multifamily Completions2 Forecast Homeownership Rate & Renters1 U.S. Homeownership Rate remains low, while the number of renters continues to climb Near-term new multifamily completions expected to remain low


SLIDE 14

Why Workforce Housing Strong demand: A family earning the median income in the U.S. can afford rent of ~$1,450/month New construction, Class A apartments typically rent for $2,000+/month Downside protection: In recessions, renters seek affordable, renovated apartments Median Household Income of ~$62,000 obtained from US Census Bureau; assumes a family spends 30% of its pre-tax income on rent plus a $100 monthly utility allowance. Renovated Class B: $1,450 Class A: $2,000 - $3,000


SLIDE 15

REIT I REIT II REIT III1 Illustrative Combination2 Equity Value ($ BN)3 $0.77 $0.55 $0.10 $1.40 Net Debt ($ BN)4 $0.76 $0.51 $0.12 $1.38 Enterprise Value ($ BN)5 $1.53 $1.06 $0.22 $2.78 Leverage 49% 48% 53% 50% Avg. Effective Rent6 $1,274 $1,357 $1,249 $1,300 Total Units 8,487 5,159 1,349 14,995 Top Five States7 TX GA CA FL CO TX IL OR CO GA FL GA TX NC VA TX GA IL CO FL Combined Company Portfolio 1 Excludes Payne Place due to 1Q 2020 sale. 2 Includes estimated transaction costs related to merger and internalization of management. 3 Equity Value is calculated as 12/31/2019 NAV/Share x 12/31/2019 Outstanding Shares. REIT III Equity Value has been reduced by $4.2 MM, which reflects deferred O&O and G&A expense as of 12/31/2019. 4 Mortgage Notes Payable less unrestricted cash as of 12/31/2019. 5 Enterprise Value is calculated as Equity Value plus Net Debt. . 6Gross Rent less Concessions/Number of Units as of 6/30/2020. 7 Ranked by number of units.


SLIDE 16

Estimated Value & Cumulative Distributions Per Share Illustrative Stockholder Value as of 12/31/19 1Initial offering price. REIT III’s initial offering price is the weighted average of A, T, I, and R shares. 2Cumulative distributions per share include the time period from the date the first cash distributions were declared through 12/31/19. Distributions were paid beginning in May 2012 for REIT I, August 2014 for REIT II, and October 2016 for REIT III. 3Based on REIT II’s most recently estimated NAV per share of $9.08 as of 12/31/19, REIT I stockholders will receive 1.224230 shares of REIT II, and REIT III stockholders will receive 0.925862 shares of REIT II. Does not include any impact of the internalization transaction or mergers. Estimated Value Per Share3 Cumulative Distributions Per Share2 Cost Per Share1 $15.14 $12.04 $9.82


SLIDE 17

Combined Investment Portfolio Assets owned as of 1/21/2020. 1Calculated based on trailing 12-month NOI as of May 2020. Dallas-Fort Worth: 16.4% Houston: 2.7% Austin: 4.0% Denver: 9.4% Phoenix: 5.4% Southern California: 7.3% Portland: 4.7% Minneapolis: 4.9% Chicago: 10.0% Durham: 2.6% Washington D.C.: 1.3% Orlando: 2.0% Charlotte: 1.3% Atlanta: 12.7%


SLIDE 18

Management Resource Leadership Team Alan F. Feldman Chief Executive Officer Resource REIT Marshall P. Hayes Managing Director Resource Management, LLC Yvana L. Rizzo Senior Vice President Resource Management, LLC Tom Elliott Chief Financial Officer Resource REIT Shelle Weisbaum Chief Legal Officer Resource REIT Peggy L. Gold Executive Vice President Resource Management, LLC


SLIDE 19

Special Committee Process Each REIT formed a Special Committee of independent directors which retained its own advisors to assist in the transaction. Robert A. Stanger & Company acted as financial advisor to the REIT I Special Committee and Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP acted as legal advisor to the REIT I Special Committee Houlihan Lokey acted as financial advisor to the REIT II Special Committee and Morrison & Forester LLP and DLA Piper acted as legal advisors to the REIT II Special Committee TRUIST Securities acted as financial advisor to the REIT III Special Committee and Miles & Stockbridge P. C. acted as legal advisor to the REIT III Special Committee The REIT I, REIT II and REIT III Special Committees each approved the Mergers after considering many strategic options over 11 months. Fairness opinions for the transaction were delivered by the financial advisors of each Committee. The Boards of Directors of REITs I, II and III have unanimously determined that the transaction is in the best interests of their shareholders.


SLIDE 20